The Conrad Hotel is now officially open
The Conrad Hotel has officially opened. This first property for the Conrad brand to debut in the nation’s capital is a 360-room, 10-floor hotel that features 30,000 square feet of luxury retail space on its ground floor and 32,000 square feet of purpose-built meeting space, all above ground level.
The property’s signature restaurant, Estuary, features a menu helmed by James Beard Award recipients and “Top Chef” finalists, Bryan and Michael Voltaggio. Summit The Rooftop at Conrad and its associated event terrace deliver panoramic views of Washington’s most notable landmark.
Its exclusive, full-service Sakura Club on the 10th floor offers an exquisite Japanese whisky collection and a traditional afternoon tea.
Professional swimming comes to D.C.
The International Swimming League, a new professional outfit for elite swimming announced a D.C. team. The D.C. Trident will be one of four U.S. teams, along with four European-based squads, that plans to boast world-class swimmers and give them a chance to earn competitive bonuses, prize money and appearance fees. Five-time Olympic gold-medal winner Katie Ledecky, a D.C. native, has signed on as a league ambassador and will compete in meets.
DC Water considering change in fee calculation
DC Water fees are currently calculated based only on the impermeable square footage of a property that could create stormwater runoff. Therefore, people with large patios, driveways and parking areas likely pay more than some residents who live in taller buildings, which might have more residents but a smaller footprint. Pending final approval by the DC Water board this summer, a new fee calculation would begin phasing in Oct. 1.
Under the new calculation, 37 percent of the fee would be based on water and sewer usage, so fees for the HOA with no water usage would drop. Likewise, homeowners whose property includes a portion of private roadway or sidewalk would also be likely to see lower bills. The new formula was designed to bring more equity to those who’d been most drastically impacted.
Glover Park’s Rite-Aid closing
According to reports from staff, the Rite-Aid in Glover Park, located on the first floor of the Washington Sports Center Club, will close on May 16th.