- JDLand reports that the Florida Rock concrete plant across from Nationals Park on Potomac Avenue, SE will be razed, but it will be moved a few blocks away to another Florida Rock Properties-owned site in...you guessed it, Buzzard Point, located at S Street and the Anacostia River.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
A Few Quick Items: On the Ground Floor in SW, Buzzard Point, Circulator Changes, DC CAS Tests, SW Duck Pond
- JDLand reports that the Florida Rock concrete plant across from Nationals Park on Potomac Avenue, SE will be razed, but it will be moved a few blocks away to another Florida Rock Properties-owned site in...you guessed it, Buzzard Point, located at S Street and the Anacostia River.
Waterfront Station Construction Photos
Station 4 and Z-Burger build-outs continue on the west side of 4th Street. I was told a couple weeks ago by Med Lahlou that Station 4 is now aiming for a mid-April opening and the last I heard about Z-Burger was it's planning on opening in May. Brown paper has covered up most of the windows at Station 4, which seems to be further along than Z-Burger.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Prepping for Saturday's Festival
This year, the party is down on the Southwest waterfront - at the old Zanzibar - where the entertainment includes performance art, burlesque and graffiti, plus music from quirky, hook-filled Brooklyn indie band Bear Hands, the Beach Boys-influenced synth-pop group ANR and a number of DJs. Check out murals while snacking at food trucks. And Zanzibar’s deck offers a perfect spot to watch the official Cherry Blossom Festival fireworks. The $10 admission includes one free drink, but no tickets will be sold at the door, so get yours in advance.
Monday, March 28, 2011
A Few Quick Items: Clark Honored, Constitution Center Lease-Up
“Due to uncertainties regarding our long-term funding and the current cash-flow crunch that makes it impossible to fund build out and moves, we are staying at the Ops Center for a short time while the budget situation is clarified,” said John Nester, spokesman for the agency, in a statement to the Washington Business Journal. The SEC signed a lease for 900,000 square feet — the largest federal lease in a decade — in August with David Nassif Associates at 400 Seventh St. SW, but just four months later reported 600,000 square feet of excess space under a federal policy that mandates agencies report their extra real estate. The landlord has said the agency will end up with one quadrant of the building, or about 340,000 square feet.
Jaroch maintains that the SEC’s lease was carefully thought out and a good strategic move for the agency, which handles its own leasing and does not work with the General Services Administration as most other federal agencies do. He did not anticipate the SEC walking away from the majority of its space.
“We have to build out tenant and amenity space equal to about five typical good-sized Washington office buildings in 18 months,” he said. “This is just the start.”
Change in Comments Policy
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
SWNA Elections This Saturday
- District 1: North of M Street, West of 4th Street
- District 2: North of M Street, East of 4th Street
- District 3: South of M Street, West of Delaware Avenue
- District 4: South of M Street, East of Delaware Avenue
Update: Below are the results from Saturday's election. Winnners are written in bold.
President: Kael Anderson (251), write-in candidates (9)
Vice President: Jodi McCarthy (205), Grace E. Daughtridge (102), write-in candidates (2)
Treasurer: Jo Chang (172), Ellen Winship (108)
Secretary: Laura Shin (251)
District 1 Representative: Gita Morris (42), Zev Feder (39), Mike Flick (28), write-ins (2)
District 2 Representative: Saadia Athias (21), Ben Curran (19), Monique Stuart (10), Shannon Vaughn (10)
District 3 Representative: David Campbell (87), Kenneth Prater (67), Zach Dobelbower (40), Matthew Johnson (36), write-ins (1)
District 4 Representative: Robert Smith (8), Ken LaCruise (5)
Saturday, March 19, 2011
SW Ecodistrict Public Comment Forum Created

Thursday, March 17, 2011
SW Waterfront Fireworks Festival Schedule
- Childrens’ Activities and Waterfront Demonstrations
- Community Displays and Information
- Costumed Characters and Strolling Musical Entertainment
- Face Painting and Balloon Artists
- Food and Beverage Vendors
- Festival Merchandise
- National Cherry Blossom Goodwill Ambassadors
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
SW Library Playground Project Well Underway!
Community support is vital and several local companies and individuals have made fundraising pledges. Frager’s Hardware, restaurants along the waterfront, including Captain White's Seafood, and local SW residents are all supporting SWLPP.
Councilmember Tommy Wells, ANC members, and the Department of Parks and Recreation are working with SWLPP volunteers to bring the park to life for SW DC children.
The “Community Build Day” is in late September 2011. The whole community -- children and adults -- is invited to help build the playground. Although there will be professional assistance, volunteers of all skill levels will be valuable to this effort!
We still need your help! Make a secure PayPal donation or send a check at our website. Email us to inquire about volunteering.
Help us bring the children a safe, fun, playground!
Felicia Couts
Project Manager
Facebook: SW Library Playground Project
Twitter: SWLPlayground
Oh Safeway.
- The SW Safeway has 35,000 customer counts per week - more than any other Safeway in the city.
- The clientele is diverse (including residents, office workers, tourists, and baseball fans) which serves as a microcosm of the District's population.
- They have faith in the store's management team to implement the test.
- There has been an increase in shrink.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
More Changes Coming to 4th & M
- Restore left-turn traffic signals on east & westbound M Street to turn on 4th Street.
- Allow drivers to make left turns on two lanes of northbound 4th Street towards M Street so employees at Fort McNair can get out of the neighborhood faster (the left lane would be left turn only and the next lane will allow cars to either turn left, go straight, or turn right).
- The Metrobus stop will return to the northeast corner of the intersection.
- U-turns will be illegal again on M Street.
- Restrict drivers from turning left from southbound 4th Street onto M Street (drivers leaving Safeway can use I Street as an alternative to go towards Near SE).
Restricting drivers from turning left onto eastbound M Street from 4th Street will allow pedestrians more time to cross the intersection on all sides since traffic signals in the District operate on a 100-second cycle. DDOT will have MPD enforce the new traffic rules. The commissioners voted 5-1-1 to approve these changes, which will take place once DDOT gives 30 days notice to residents.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Graduate School to Anchor The Wharf

D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray is expected to announce Thursday that the Graduate School, currently headquartered at 600 Maryland Ave. SW, will build upward of 200,000 square feet at the Wharf, what Hoffman-Madison Waterfront is now calling its waterfront project. A press conference is scheduled for noon at 700 Water St. SW. "The Graduate School will be a significant anchor for The Wharf development on the Southwest DC waterfront," Linda Wharton Boyd, Gray's spokeswoman, said in an e-mail. "In keeping with the Gray administration agenda for education reform, fiscal stability and job creation, this development hits all three priorities. We are excited that they decided to expand their mission right here in this landmark waterfront development."
[Graduate School President and Chief Executive Jerry] Ice said Graduate School USA will begin tailoring new programs to meet the needs of city government. "We have not been that kind of provider . . . and we think we are in a good position in a number of key issue areas to provide that locally," he said. The school also plans to open the doors of its new educational center to other colleges, universities and nonprofit groups offering programs that would help D.C. residents acquire skills needed to compete for local jobs.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Station 4 to be "White Tablecloth Without the White Tablecloths"
Also, the menu appears to be more upscale than other restaurants owned by the operators (like Tunnicliffs and Stoney's). Station 4 is looking for an early April opening and Z-Burger is supposed to open by May, or sooner. A fourth food establishment is supposedly close to a lease agreement with the landlord and ANC Chair Ron McBee mentioned to me at the CBCC summit on Saturday that an AT&T Wireless store is supposed to open. My guess is the AT&T Wireless store will open in the vacant retail space in the 1100 4th Street building (the one with the green door). I'll post about other items from Craycraft's e-newsletter throughout the week.Rather than the traditional wood-paneled pub/sports bar design, Station 4 looks to be very contemporary and uses plenty of wood, metal, glass, and even stone to echo the modernist architecture of Southwest.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Kastles Stadium at The Wharf

WASHINGTON – March 7, 2011 – Today, the Washington Kastles announced that they will play the 2011 and 2012 seasons in a new stadium that will be specially constructed for them in Southwest Washington, D.C. The new Kastles Stadium at The Wharf will be located at 800 Water Street, S.W. Fans at the new stadium will watch some of the world’s best known and most iconic players against a backdrop of the Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial and the Potomac River. The Kastles, led by Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Sam Querrey, will inaugurate their new home during the 2011 World TeamTennis (WTT) season, which runs from July 4-24. “As a native Washingtonian, I am committed to investing in our community and, through the Kastles, hope to create lifelong memories for people throughout our region,” said team owner Mark Ein. “We are excited to bring the Kastles and lots of other entertaining events to our spectacular new home in Southwest Washington and
are thrilled to be part of the rebirth of that part of town. We know our fans will be treated to great summer nights in one of the most unique venues anywhere.” “It has been impressive to see how the Kastles have brought the city together for the past three summers and I am thrilled to welcome them to their new home,” said D.C. Councilman Tommy Wells. “I would like to offer my thanks to Mark for bringing the Kastles to Southwest Washington and the wharf area. I can think of no better way to commemorate the new Kastles Stadium than with another title.” "We are on track to begin our outward process of creating a world class waterfront and we are thrilled that the Kastles will be part of our year-round programming plans for The Wharf, attracting lots of new people to this spectacular part of the city," said Monty Hoffman, CEO of PN Hoffman. "Kastles Stadium at The Wharf will be a great addition to the neighborhood and we look forward to working with Mark and the Kastles to bring world class tennis and community events to the site." Kastles Stadium at The Wharf, located on the site formerly occupied by Hogates Restaurant, will be easily accessible by Metro via the Waterfront-SEU and L’Enfant Plaza stations, both within three blocks of the stadium. In addition, the stadium will feature an underground parking lot and several surface lots adjacent to the site. The stadium will also host other programming throughout the year. Kastles Stadium at The Wharf will host John McEnroe and Anna
Kournikova as they return to Washington during the 2011 season, as members of the New York Sportimes and the St. Louis Aces, respectively. The full 2011 Kastles roster will be determined during the March 15 WTT Roster Draft. A core principal of the Kastles franchise and its mission is to give back to those less fortunate in the Washington region and, since inception, the team has donated more than 6,000 match tickets, 3,000 tennis rackets and cash grants and other donations totaling more than $500,000 to local charities, youth groups and armed forces organizations. For the past three seasons, the Kastles and other visiting WTT players – including Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Martina Hingis and Anna Kournikova – have hosted more than 800 local children at tennis clinics. Tickets for all seven home matches go on sale to the general public on Friday, April 15 through the website or Ticketmaster. Season tickets are now available and can be purchased by contacting info@washingtonkastles.com or calling 202-4TENNIS (483-6647). For exclusive Kastles news, ticket information and player updates, follow the Kastles on Facebook and on Twitter.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Washington Kastles Moving to the Southwest Waterfront
Construction is expected to start in coming weeks on a temporary facility, which is expected to cost about $10 million to build and operate for two years, [Kastles owner Mark] Ein said. Like the Kastles' former stadium, the new venue will have grandstands on all four sides, with openings at each corner. The openings will offer views of the waterfront and skyline. The seating capacity will remain roughly the same, 2,700 to 3,000, with a range of ticket prices. The stadium will be available to host other events after the Kastles' season, which runs July 4-24 this year. As existing structures are demolished along the waterfront in coming years, the Kastles could move to a stadium erected a bit farther east, or they might play indoors at a 4,000-seat music hall that Hoffman plans to build...Fans in premium seats will be able to have food and drinks delivered at courtside, and the venue will be ringed with
concession stands. In keeping with the WTT's fan-friendly ethos, the area around the stadium will have family-oriented activities, such as "QuickStart" tennis, in which children play on smaller courts and hit oversized balls; face-painting; a moon bounce; and an autograph zone where fans can collect players' signatures after matches.
CBCC Summit Debrief

- Workforce Development/Jobs/Community Centers
- Neighborhood Oriented Retail and Services
- Housing Diversity and Affordability
- Youth-Education and Services
- Environmental Concerns
Each person got to choose which issue they wanted to focus on for the day and then the room was divided into groups of people who wanted to discuss the same issue. I sat at one of the tables discussing Neighborhood Oriented Retail and Services. Most people chose Youth Education and Services, while the other four issues were pretty evenly distributed. Each group discussed assets and challenges that their issue presented to the community, then brainstormed ideas that could be implemented over the next 1-3 years to help resolve their particular issue. Out of the large lists of ideas for each issue, everyone in the room voted on which top two ideas were most important.
Issue #1
- Incorporate Ward 6 in the SW Waterfront development's workforce program (currently only Wards 5, 7 & 8 are targeted)
- Identify and create a workforce clearing house
Issue #2
- Increase of locally-owned businesses
- Use vacant land at Waterfront Station until new development is completed
Issue #3
- Stronger coalitions to represent all types of residents' interests to developers and policymakers
- Make sure residential developers commit to specific housing preferences for current residences/residents
Issue #4
- Bolster pre-K program
- Utilize Jefferson Middle School for adult vocational education and workforce development
Issue #5
- Develop community gardens using public land and church offered space and transitional dog parks
- Avoid over development: keep height and density restrictions
Once the top two ideas for each issue were voted on, the groups met again to discuss how to implement those ideas. The CBCC will make the results of the brainstorming session available in about a week or so and will use these ideas to come up with suggestions for community benefits agreements between developers and the ANC.
Did any of you attend the summit? What did you think?
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Waterfront Tower Almost Sold Out
4th & M Intersection Changes Confusing Drivers
1. M Street traffic east/west (no left turn arrow in either direction anymore) -- pedestrians cross 4th street East/West2. Left turn arrow only for 4th street turning left from both directions, while also a right turn arrow for M street west/east bound -- no pedestrian traffic3. 4th street North/south bound (no left turns) -- pedestrians cross M street North/South4. Cycle back to step 1.
Arena Stage Nominated for 23 Helen Hayes Awards
The awards program will be held on April 25 at the Warner Theater. Click here for a full list of nominees. Good luck to Arena!Arena's 23 nominations were matched by the Kennedy Center, which, as usual, dominated the nonresident categories (touring shows, with multiple nods going to "Hair," "Mary Poppins," "Thurgood," "South Pacific" and "Golden Age"). Arena crowded the resident musical categories, with "Sophisticated Ladies" garnering seven noms; Maurice Hines is up for best choreography and leading actor awards, and both of his young tap dance proteges, brothers John and Leo Manzari, found themselves in the supporting actor category. Arena's "The Light in the Piazza" picked up four nominations, and Arena Artistic Director Molly Smith was named for directing that show and for "Oklahoma!," the troupe's new box-office champ. The 10 nominations for "Oklahoma!" were bested, though, by the 12 for "Candide," which came to the Shakespeare by way of Chicago's Goodman Theatre.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
SW Waterfront to Transform Washington

The Hoffman-Madison Marquette Waterfront team submitted their stage one Planned Unit Development application on February 10 to the Zoning Commission and expect to start construction on phase one by the end of 2012.The master planner, Ehrenkrantz Eckstut & Kuhn Architects, has avoided the mistakes previously made in Southwest by conceiving an urban design at a finer grain than in other parts of the city. According to the plan, the new buildings will be narrow enough to preserve the views from Arena Stage and nearby buildings while allowing for pedestrian access to the water. Parcels within the new development will be no larger than 240 feet by 240 feet, compared with the typical 400-by-325-foot commercial blocks found along K Street NW. “By breaking our site into smaller component blocks, we are increasing the porosity of the design and allowing for significant views out to the water,” says Matthew Steenhoek, development manager of PN Hoffman.