Public art is on the way out and a 10-acre development is on the way in at the site of the old Washington Convention Center.
The D.C. Office for Planning and Economic Development this week approved a plan to redevelop the site as office space, retail, residential units and a new central library.
Mayor Anthony A. Williams said the $650 million project would become an “icon” of the city’s culture and business.
The site is controlled by the Washington Convention Center Authority, which paved and landscaped it after the old convention center was demolished in December 2004. Since then, it has been used for public art and special events, such as the Cirque du Soleil.
“We will create a vibrant urban neighborhood with housing for all income levels, as well as outdoor cafes, retail outlets and cultural attractions,” Mr. Williams said while announcing the plan for the old Washington Convention Center site at 10th and I streets Northwest in downtown’s East End.
The buildings would be separated by wide boulevards and a central plaza. City officials plan to use the plaza for performing arts and civic attractions.
Mr. Williams designated a consortium to redevelop the site, which includes apartment company Archstone-Smith Residential and mixed-use real estate firm Hines Interests Ltd.
The D.C. Council approved a proposal to redevelop the site in 2002 and began negotiating with developers. The negotiations, plus reviews of proposals from developers and public meetings, led Mr. Williams to choose the Hines/Archstone-Smith team for the project.
He said the consortium would help the city get the best return on its redevelopment investment. The city also would benefit from 5,217 permanent jobs and an estimated $30 million a year in new tax revenue.
The project is being financed privately through a combination of debt and equity. Construction is set to begin in late 2008 and be completed by mid-2011.
William B. Alsup, Hines Interests’ vice president, said the development would “create a uniquely Washington center for downtown urban life, as well as a new architectural focal point” for the city.
The master plan sets aside 280,000 square feet for retail space, 686 residential units, 415,000 square feet for office space and 110,000 square feet of land for a new central library or other cultural attraction. The developers also plan to build 1,700 underground parking spaces.
In other news …
Land near the Addison Road Metro station in Prince George’s County has attracted another large residential project with the recent start of construction on a $36 million development of town houses and a community center.
The 96 town houses will be spread over 20 acres in Capitol Heights, offering a relatively low-density alternative to the condominiums that are springing up in Prince George’s County and the rest of the Washington area. The project, called the Villages at Pepper Mill, is being developed by D.C.-based Structures Unlimited and Baltimore-based Foster Communities of Maryland.
In August, work started near the Addison Metro station on the Icon Condominiums, a $70 million mixed-use project designed to include 170 condominiums along with retail and commercial space.
The Villages at Pepper Mill is scheduled for completion in 2010, but the first homes are expected to be sold in about one year.
Property Lines runs on Thursdays. Call Tom Ramstack at 202/636-3180 or e-mail tramstack@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.