Via Property Group Partners.

Oh, Eataly. You’ve burned us once, yet we still desire you. Today it’s Urban Turf reviving hope that a location of Mario Batali’s Italian market may come to D.C.

Eataly has signed a letter of intent for somewhere in the vicinity of 30,000 to 35,000 square feet of retail space at the massive Capitol Crossing project planned for above I-395 of Massachusetts Avenue NW, UrbanTurf has learned.

Urban Turf takes great pains to note that it will be years before Capitol Crossing — a major mixed-use development planned “around and over the Center Leg Freeway portion of I-395” — is completed: “And, an LOI is just the first step in securing a tenant, so there is always the possibility that Eataly could back out.”

While Urban Turf does not specify when the letter of intent was signed, The Triangle blog actually noted back in January that renderings showed an Eataly at Capitol Crossing.

So what does Eataly say about this? “D.C. is among the cities we are/will be looking into. At this present moment though, we do not have firm plans yet,” a rep told City Paper’s Jessica Sidman. DCist is waiting to hear back from the group behind Capitol Crossing.

Update: Robert H. Braunohler, regional vice president at Property Group partners writes: “Eataly has created a phenomenal Italian Emporium at their locations in NYC, Chicago and internationally that have led the transformation of the surrounding urban fabric. Capital Crossing is in discussions with a number of world class retail and hospitality brands. We look forward to creating a vibrant new neighborhood at Capitol Crossing with partners who can bring spectacular amenities to those who live and work in downtown D.C. We prefer not to comment on specifics of any agreements in place at this time.”