Friday, May 28, 2010
Design Team Selected for Randall School
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Waterfront Station Presser Planned
Patriots Plaza Gets HHS Lease
Screen on the Green to Return this Summer
- July 12: "Goldfinger"
- July 19: "The Goodbye Girl"
- July 26: "12 Angry Men"
- August 2: "Bonnie and Clyde"
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Constitution Center Under Consideration for Massive DHS Lease
P. Brian Connolly, senior vice president at Akridge, said his firm had hoped to pitch a proposed 2.7 million-square-foot development it plans at 100 V St. SW, but the GSA ruled the property ineligible because it is slightly more than the required half-mile from a Metro entrance.
Connolly said that when he read the solicitation, he thought the specifications seemed to match those for Constitution Center, the renovated former headquarters for the Transportation Department in Southwest D.C.
"If it didn't say it, it hinted around all four corners of that," he said.
That building, owned by David Nassif Associates, has 1.4 million square feet to rent, is highly secure, energy efficient and only three Metro stops from the future DHS headquarters, at the site of the former St. Elizabeths Hospital.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
South Capitol Shopping Center Redo Closer to Reality
A 530,000-square-foot $108 million project to replace South Capitol Shopping Center, a strip of stores in the 4000 block near the District’s southern tip that currently includes Domino’s Pizza, Mai’s Nails, a liquor store and Jackson Hewitt tax service. It would include 220 residential units, 85,000 square feet of office space, 500 parking spaces and 47,000 square feet of retail.
Bike Share Expansion Announced
Monday, May 24, 2010
Cannon Shots Tomorrow at Fort McNair
During ceremonies at Ft McNair tomorrow there will be a total of 34 cannon shots to honor the changing of the Commodore & Vice-Commodore of the USCG. The event spans from 10:00am - 1:00pm. It may sound like “explosions”.
Poolside this Summer at the Capitol Skyline Hotel
WASHINGTON (May 24, 2010)—Nocturnal Vibe, DC’s premier nightlife events planning and multimedia organization announces an exclusive partnership with the popular Capitol Skyline Hotel to produce Saturday afternoon pool parties. The parties, sponsored by Vida Fitness, have been named Liquid Lounge and will feature some of the best house music DJs from Washington, DC and beyond. The hotel and Nocturnal Vibe will host their inaugural event on Saturday, June 5th from 2 p.m. – 9 p.m., poolside at the architecturally iconic DC destination. The event will feature DJ Mr. Greene, RGF, Eric D. and Billy Quest as well as live percussion and saxophone along with other performers and guests.The Liquid Lounge parties cost $15 at the door and will include $8 drink specials and $5 beers all day long, including an exclusive Liquid Lounge cocktail for $5. Guests will also be able to buy food from the hotel and chill in the swanky hotel lounge if they wish to take a break from the sun. But if you’re a sunseeker wishing to soak up the rays, you’ll have one of the largest poolside decks in DC to enjoy the entertainment. Liquid Lounge features a capacity of 1300 people including 17,000 sq ft of VIP space. Large umbrellas and seating areas are available for rent for larger groups and guests receive special room rates if they wish to spend the night and party poolside again the next day. In other words, DC has never seen a poolside party quite like this.Nocturnal Vibe is made up of four professionals dedicated to doing something different with the DC nightlife scene. Their passion comes from their love of house music, which is the driving force behind the Nocturnal Vibe brand. Their parties consist of blending local talent with powerhouse names in the house music world to introduce DC to a new style of pool party more commonly found in South Beach during the Winter Music Conference and the famed Nikki Beach. Nocturnal Vibe also wants to use the opportunity to introduce guests to various artists and performers to provide an ultimate user experience by the pool.The Capitol Skyline Hotel is located just a few blocks from the Navy Yard Metro station at 10 I Street SW. For more information about the event, visit http://www.nocturnalvibe.com/. To schedule DJ interviews or inquire about press access, please contact Douglas Van Sant at 202-579-6055 or nocturnalvibe@gmail.com
Potomac Place Tower Delayed Again
The general contractor, Dietze Construction Group, filed Chapter 11 today. Apparently, Dietze had not been paying its subcontractors, despite being paid by the Declarant [Monument Realty], and the pattern of non-payment wasn't confined to this project. The developer is working expeditiously with the subcontractors to resolve the matter, which is expected to take between 14-21 days. In the interim, there will be no settlements or significant progress in the Phase III renovation schedule. We will forward an update when new dates are set for the items remaining, including the presently vacant Phase III units, canopy roof repair and community room upgrade. Due to the fluidity of the matter, there is very little information available at this time. However, we will do our best to update you on the matter on a weekly basis until the project resumes normal pace.
Hoffman-Struever to Become Hoffman-Marquette

The two D.C. companies are still going through due diligence before the deal, signed this month, can be finalized. The partnership would allow construction to begin in 2012, [PN Hoffman CEO Monty] Hoffman said. "We'll be staying on schedule, basically," he said. "This summer we'll be working on our master plan." He said he will seek zoning changes this fall "so we'll be staying on track with what we were planning a year or two ago."PN Hoffman will retain majority interest and managing control of the project, which encompasses 26 acres along Maine Avenue SW facing Washington Channel. The plan calls for three hotels, 800 residential units, 250,000 to 300,000 square feet of retail, offices, a marina, underground parking, and parks and promenades along the waterfront nearly a mile long.
Friday, May 21, 2010
WalkingTown Tours This Weekend
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Free Pet Vaccinations Offered by DC Government
Oscar Mayer Wienermoblie & Curbside Cupcakes Spotting!
The Wienermobile is stationed outside of the Waterfront Station Safeway today to promote Oscar Mayer products.
Curbside Cupcakes also was spotted on 4th Street. The traveling truck serves Southwest, Capitol Hill, Capitol Riverfront, NoMa, Downtown, Shaw, and Dupont/Logan Circle. Keep track of where the truck is located here.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
4th & I Street Signal Timing Fixed?
Monday, May 17, 2010
Wells to Hold Campaign Event on Sunday
Here are three of the four tables installed in front of Safeway.
Benches have been installed around several of the trees planted in the Metro plaza.
Straw has been placed in the northwest parcel owned by Waterfront Associates, eventually slated for either a residential tower or an office building.
Marquee signage is being installed in three retail spots under construction at 1101 4th Street.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Upcoming Events in Southwest

Update on King Memorial
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Truck Crashes into Hirshhorn
Outside the building, according to officials' accounts, the truck ran through the low concrete structures that serve as flower pots and provide protection. Linda St. Thomas, spokeswoman for the Smithsonian Institution, of which the circular-shaped museum is part, said the truck came about one foot into the building...The museum, described as a low cylinder perched on legs, exhibits art on the two floors above the ground level. No art was affected by the crash, officials said.
Monday, May 10, 2010
ANC Votes to Urge Community Uses at Vacant Parcels at Waterfront Station
Whereas, Waterfront Station is now open and after nearly fifty years Fourth Street, SW is again the primary commercial corridor in the dynamic urban center of our neighborhood connecting both sides of Southwest and generating renewed pedestrian, bicycle and automobile traffic to and from the site and points north toward Pennsylvania Avenue, and
Whereas, the large parcel of vacant land located on the northeastern most section of Waterfront Station is currently in the real estate portfolio of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) and is slated to be built upon with residential housing and community serving retail in the Waterfront Station Second Stage PUD, and
Whereas, the Zoning Commission has already agreed to delay the completion of the First Stage Waterfront Station PUD for another two years, and Whereas, a Second Stage Waterfront Station PUD is unlikely to be actively developed until such time as the First Stage Waterfront Station PUD is completed and until the climate for residential real estate construction significantly improves, and
Whereas, the Southwest Community, although undergoing significant revitalization with the construction of the first stage of Waterfront Station containing three District agencies, a brand new Safeway, and 35,000 sq/ft of additional retail, the architecturally significant Arena Stage project and hundreds of units of both redeveloped and new housing stock, still lacks centrally located communal open space for our residents to meet, gather and recreate,
Therefore, be it resolved that ANC-6D, on May 10, 2010 at a regularly scheduled meeting by a vote of 7-0, supported the adaptive temporary re-use of the northeastern most parcel of land at Waterfront Station by the Southwest Community until such time as DMPED is ready to build the residential housing and community serving retail upon that parcel, as has been previously approved, and do hereby encourage DMPED to engage in discussions with the ANC in conjunction with Council member Wells’ office to ensure that the parcel may be productively utilized for, among other potential uses, a children's playground, a dog park and a community garden.
Be it further resolved that ANC-6D will request of the owners of Waterfront Station that the parcel of land that they control on the northwestern portion of that property, also slated to be developed as residential housing in the Second Stage PUD, be left as open space for picnicking and occasionally programmed for community special events until such time as it is built upon.
Submitted, Commissioner Andy Litsky, May 10, 2010