The Washington DC Zoning Commission in December gave Abdo Development permission to build a mix

The Washington, DC, Zoning Commission in December gave Abdo Development permission to build a mix of stores, housing, and restaurants on nine acres in a neighborhood adjoining Catholic University. The plan, prepared for Abdo by Torti Gallas and Partners in a competition organized by the university, calls for 825 residential units and 85,000 sq. ft. of retail. The Washington Post described the proposed development as including “a public square, a clock tower and a college main street with bookstores and mom-and-pop shops.” Artists’ spaces are to be provided at below-market rents. John Torti, president of Torti Gallas, told New Urban News that the development firm’s founder, Jim Abdo is “a natural-born new urbanist — he came out of renovating townhouses in a historic district.” Architecture for the project will be supplied by Maurice Walters Architect and Torti Gallas.