The big development plans for the Southwest Waterfront aren’t generating much news these days. But I keep hearing little tidbits about Baltimore-based Struever Bros Eccles & Rouse, one of the project’s backers, which has been having money troubles (loan-defaulting troubles, more specifically) lately.

Today, the Washington Business Journal reports the group is being sued by staffing firm, KForce Inc, for unpaid contracts.

Read More “Southwest Developer Sued for Nonpayment” »

People are constantly griping about development projects in their neighborhood. Is anyone ever working on that damn thing? Is there any progress being made? When was the last time a construction crew came out? I purchased a condo in this damn half-finished building two years ago…

Well for those living in Southwest, there’s no need to spend hours walking around the neighborhood construction site or posting whining questions on the local listserv. A web camera has been taking pictures of this project—the new Waterside Mall now called “Waterfront”—from two angles for more than a year. I just discovered this link today.

Read More “In Southwest, Camera Monitors Project All Day Long…” »

Changes are already coming to the Southwest Waterfront, though not the ones everyone’s excited about. Some buildings down by the Maine Avenue Fish Market are going to be razed, DCmud reports. The Virgo Fish House will soon be gone, as well as another building which held a crab house.”The intent of these small moves is to keep the Fish Market in safe and operable condition until the redevelopment occurs,” according to Nina Albert with the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development.

Image by  Jean-Francois Chenier, Flickr Creative Commons

Yup. It finally happened.  

From the Washington Business Journal:

The D.C. Council unanimously approved a land deal for a $1.5 billion redevelopment of the Southwest waterfront Tuesday, conveying 16 acres of city property to a development team led by D.C.-based PN Hoffman and Baltimore-based Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse on a furious last day of voting before the end of the year.

Though the developers face a tough financing environment, the project could bring 770 housing units, 700,000 square feet of offices, three hotels, 280,000 square feet of retail and 150,000 square feet of cultural attractions.

Meanwhile over at SWDC Blog, residents are already starting to compile wish lists of stores and businesses they’d like to see open as soon as possible in the area.

In the last week, I’ve blogged a few times about Councilmember Kwame Brown’s various moves with a bill that would convey 16 acres of land by the Southwest Waterfront to the developers that seek to rebuild the area. I won’t go over all the details. But to be brief: the bill has been long-delayed, and finally last week Brown, who chairs the Council’s Committee on Economic Development, agreed to take it up again.

But not without some of his own personal touches that seem to significantly impact the resolution. Last night, Brown sent out a statement about these changes, and of course, to give “thanks” to the mayor for pushing him to review the bill again. I’m going to post his summary of how the proposal was altered.  (SWDC Blog’s on the story, as well.) The full statement is after the jump:

- Affordable Housing: The developer is required to create affordable housing units in accordance with the NCRC and AWC Reorganization Act of 2008.

- Fulfilling the Community s Vision: The developer is required to abide by terms promised to the community in the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative Framework Plan and the Southwest Waterfront Plan Approval Resolution of 2003.

- Don t Flip the Property: The property cannot be transferred without prior consent of the District and approval of the Council. The city will have the right to repossess the property if the developer fails to meet the requirements of the agreement.

- Local Small Business Participation: Small businesses are required to receive 35% of the contracting dollars, 20% equity participation and 20% development participation.

- Oversight and Transparency: To review the financial stability of the developer, the Mayor will submit an amended Initial Project Funding and Financing Plan by May 1, 2009 to the Council and will submit further reports upon written request by the Council.

Read More “Kwame Brown and Mayor “Work Cooperatively” On Southwest Land Transfer Resolution” »

An artistic rendering of the Southwest Waterfront

In fall 2006, the city announced a deal with Hoffman-Struever Waterfront LLC that will allow the company to transform the Southwest Waterfront into a $1.5 billion “world-class mixed-use waterfront destination,” according to the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development. (For more project details, check below the jump.)

In October, the Washington Business Journal reported that developers wanted 16 acres of Southwest property. “A vote on the land deal is expected in November,” the newspaper stated. No such vote occurred, but now it looks like Councilmember Kwame Brown, chairman of the economic development committee, has decided to get moving with the bill (via yesterday’s Journal):

D.C. Council Chairman Vincent Gray jump-started the long-awaited land deal for the $1.5 billion Southwest waterfront project Tuesday, convincing the chairman of the economic development committee to take up legislation needed for the project.

Gray arranged a meeting between the chairman, Councilman Kwame Brown, D-at large, and Neil Albert, deputy mayor for planning and economic development, to discuss the project Tuesday evening. Councilman Tommy Wells, D-Ward 6, whose ward includes the Southwest waterfront, also attended.

Brown agreed to reconvene a long-delayed hearing on the legislation on Thursday. It will begin at 12:30 p.m. in the Wilson Building. A mark-up on the bill is scheduled for Friday, and the full council could consider the deal on the last day of voting this year, Dec. 16. Read More “Southwest Waterfront $1.5 Billion Development Moving Forward?” »

The Southwest waterfront reminds me of Savannah, or perhaps, the less impressive and aristocratic parts of Charleston. I’ve only been to both places once. But why go back when I can just jump on the Metro and head down to our own version of a sweet, old-fashioned, sleepy southern town?

I last visited Southwest in June. Here’s what I saw: empty streets, overgrown tufts of grass, vacant apartment buildings with broken blinds and other busted things in the windows, and a collection of block-like brick buildings—presumably government-subsidized housing—with laundry lines and fluttering white sheets and clothes. Also, there was clanging. Nothing says coastal, early-American shipping town like a little ClaaaAAAAaaang!!! (I think the sounds originated at a condo project, though I can’t be sure.)

The place is crying out for a little development. No, sorry, correction: a lot, lot, lot of development. And now apparently, the District has selected a team to tackle this task.

Yesterday, the city announced a Land Disposition Agreement (LDA) with Hoffman-Struever Waterfront LLC that will allow the company to transform the Southwest Waterfront into a $1.5 billion “world-class mixed-use waterfront destination,” according to the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development. I checked over at the website for PN Hoffman. Here is a rundown of what’s in the works:

• Housing – approximately 650 units of market-rate residential and 290 units of affordable housing.

• Cultural – a 150,000 square foot cultural component focused on education.

• Hotel – 360 hotel rooms.

• Neighborhood amenities – neighborhood-serving retail such as a gourmet grocery, casual and upscale dining, cafes, shops and opportunities for local, small retailers.

• Parks – 14 acres of parks, open space, and promenades throughout the project.

• Water-focused development – significant improvements to the existing marina and pier facilities.

• Sustainable Design – the first LEED-Silver certified mixed-use project in the city.

• Significant local, small and disadvantaged business enterprises (LSDBE) Participation – participation by Washington DC-based LSDBE team members in all aspects of the project, including ownership. (More from the press release after the jump.) Read More “Developer Selected for Southwest Waterfront Project” »