Takoma Theatre Apartments Proposed

Takoma Theatre Apartments is a project that has proposed restoration and adaptive reuse of the historic Takoma Theatre at 6833 4th Street in Northwest DC. The plan calls for apartment homes with ground-level flex space.

The original Takoma Theatre was built to show movies, but also included a community forum, two stores, and a suite of offices. The two-story brick building was completed in 1923 at a cost of $60,000. In 1929, the Takoma Theatre became one of the first neighborhood theatres to show movies with sound. The theatre was acquired by Warner Brothers in 1935, but closed in 1980. The theatre reopened as a live performance venue in 1983, but closed again in 2002.

With the new proposal, various parts of the original Takoma Theatre will remain to preserve the history of the property. The exterior facade including the gable front parapet, gooseneck lamps, decorative brick and sandstone panels, monumental cornice with dentil details, suspended canopy, continuous frieze, and fire stair with counterweight will be preserved. In addition, the vestibule and lobby configuration will be retained in the Takoma Theatre Apartments. The theatre signs and marquee will also be used in the new design. Plus, the height of the new Takoma Theatre Apartments will remain unchanged at 35 feet.

Last week, the developer presented plans for Takoma Theatre Apartments to the community. They showed three exterior options, as well as a proposed site plan with 10 parking spaces outside. The proposed floor plans show 20 apartment units ranging in size from 625 square feet to 1500 square feet. The largest unit spans both floors, while eight units on the 2nd floor will include loft space.  It looks like all of the units, even the larger ones, have a single bathroom. The first floor of the building shows a small area for bike storage. An elevator is also included in the proposal.

There may be new housing options in the Takoma Park neighborhood with the approval of Takoma Theatre Apartments.