WASHINGTON, DC-The benefits of transit-orient development are undeniable. Little wonder then that The Donohoe Cos. is considering changing the use of its proposed 200,000-square foot office building at the Navy Yard Metro from office to multifamily—specifically, a 315-unit luxury building.

"We have approval for the office building but we are also seeking approval for a multifamily project," Steve Twohig, executive vice chairman at Donohoe, tells GlobeSt.com. "We've acquire some more density so we want to have the option to go in either direction." Probably, though, he says, "we'll be saying goodbye to office." The Ballpark District does have a lot of multifamily product available and in the pipeline, he notes. "But our site, being directly on top of the metro, is a major advantage."

Another apartment building broke ground at another metro stop in the DC area, albeit across town: Insight Property Group LLC and Nova-Habitat LLC started construction work this week on Fenwick Station, a six-story, 310-unit apartment development two blocks from the Silver Spring Metro Station at the site of the former U.S. Post Office distribution facility at 8616 Second Ave.

According to Jones Lang LaSalle, just 0.9% of the land in the entire Washington region is currently devoted to transit-oriented projects, even as these areas house 34% of the region's jobs.