WASHINGTON, D.C. — The long-in-waiting redevelopment of the former D.C. convention center site has finally gotten started. The groundbreaking ceremony has been held for the $700 million City Center DC mixed-use project.
The project is being developed by a joint venture between Houston-based Hines and Colorado-based Archstone. It will be built on a 10-acre site bounded by New York Avenue and 9th, H, and 11th streets. Phase I construction will include six buildings surrounding a central pedestrian plaza. The buildings will collectively contain 520,000 square feet of office space, 458 rental apartments, 216 condominiums and 185,000 square feet of street-level retail space. They will sit atop 1,555 below-grade parking spaces. Substantial completion of the phase is slated for the end of 2013. A planned second phase of the project will add a 350-room hotel and 110,000 square feet of retail space.
The developers, along with master plan designer Foster + Partners and architect-of-record Shalom Baranes Associates, have designed the project with sustainability in mind. The project will participate in the U.S. Green Building Council's new LEED-Neighborhood Development program. In addition, the office component of the project is pre-certified LEED-Gold, and the residential component is pre-certified LEED-Silver. Architectural renderings of City Center DC show that green roofs and landscaped public areas will be features of the project. The general contractor is a joint venture between Clark Construction Group and Smoot Construction.
According to local reports, the District is leasing the property to Hines and Archstone for $500,000 annually for a 99-year term. The story goes on to say 92 of the apartments will be rented at below-market rates. The principal investor in City Center DC is Qatari Real Estate Investment Co., the real estate investment arm of the country of Qatar. This project represents the fund's first U.S. investment.
— Coleman Wood