We’ve watched for a while now as development crept up 14th Street, from the Whole Foods at P Street to the rebuilt blocks north of Rhode Island Avenue, continuing on to the restaurants and condo buildings around U Street. We’ve also seen the complete overhaul of the land around the Columbia Heights Metro station, a development project that’s rendered the blocks between Columbia Road and Monroe Street unrecognizable. And we’ve followed along as buildings popped up here and there, attempting to connect the two pockets of construction along one of the city’s main thoroughfares. Now it appears an old holdout will be closing, leaving in its place a new link in the street-long chain.

Back in September, the Washington Business Journal reported developer PN Hoffman’s failure to purchase the Nehemiah Shopping Center. The shopping strip sits between Belmont and Chapin Streets on 14th, just east of Meridian Hill park, and it contains a convenience store and a wig shop, in addition to a Papa John’s franchise. Hoffman had originally wanted to put a 140,000 square foot development there, including 130 condos and some retail, but they have apparently lost out to a new, “upstart” developer, called Level 2 Development, which will build a $100 million condominium project, including 220 condos and some retail likely including restaurants and a small grocer. Level 2 is also developing the former auto repair shop across the street.

Level 2 reportedly paid at least $13 million for the shopping center.

Picture taken by Daquella manera.