CFL Ribbon-Cutting on Monday

After several years in the making, the Consolidated Forensic Laboratory will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday at noon. The LEED-Gold building, located at 4th & E Street contains green elements such as a solar shade louver system, a green roof, and chilled beams. The CFL will be home to MPD's Crime Lab, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, and the DC Public Health Lab. A total of 300 - 350 employees will be housed at the facility. The Washington Post reported last week that the new crime lab division will be run by civilians instead of MPD officers.

The site was formally MPD's First District headquarters before it moved to Bowen Elementary School on M Street and the building was demolished in early 2010.

A Stroll Down 4th Street

View 4th Street Development in a larger map

There is a lot of construction activity either underway or planned along 4th Street with something going on at almost every block from the National Mall to N Street. Above is a map of construction projects along the corridor with a summary of each project listed below from north to south.

Going south on 4th from the National Mall, the first project that comes up is the reseeding of the lawn on a section of the Mall stretching from 7th Street to 3rd Street. 

After crossing Independence Avenue, the west side of the street in front of the Department of Education will be transformed into a memorial to President Eisenhower. The memorial will take up the rectangle bordered by 6th Street to the west, Independence Avenue to the north, 4th Street to the east, and the Department of Education headquarters to the south. There’s been a lot of controversy over the memorial’s design, done by famed architect Frank Gehry.

Image courtesy of Gehry Partners, LLP

On the next block between C Street and D Street, renovations continue at the Mary E. Switzer federal building. Interior work is being done, along with the creation of green space along C Street that will replace the surface parking lot that once was there.

At the northwest corner of 4th & E Streets, the new Consolidated Forensic Laboratory (CFL) is nearing completion.  I took a tour of the building last fall (unfortunately we were not allowed to take photos inside) which will include a forensic lab, MPD test firing range, and the coroner’s office.  Interior build-out is underway.

On the southwest corner of the intersection, a new office building with the address 400 E Street will replace the parking lot, and a new Engine 13 firehouse will be on the ground floor on the 4th Street side. In addition, there will be space on the E Street side for DC Central Kitchen and KidPower. A sign on the lot says the building will deliver in the 4th Quarter of 2013, but I don’t see that deadline being met since a major tenant hasn’t been lined up yet for the office building and construction has not begun.

Rendering courtesy of WDG Architecture

On 4th Street from School Street to I Street, a bike lane has been created on either side of the street.  The bike lanes were supposed to be installed a couple years ago shortly after the I Street to M Street segment was done, but better late than never I guess.

Potomac Place Tower, the condo conversion by Monument Realty at 800 4th Street has sold over 80% of its 396 units and is the largest condo project currently selling in the city.

The northeast and northwest parcels of Waterfront Station are currently slated for residential.  Construction on the northwest parcel may begin in 2014 once Sky House Apartments are completed a couple blocks south. The District owns the northeast parcel and the timetable for issuing a RFP has not been determined yet.

Construction at Sky House I Apartments began in February, the conversion of the former EPA towers at Waterfront Station by Urban Atlantic and the JBG Companies. Upon completion, both buildings will contain 530 apartments with 20% set aside as affordable housing for households earning up to 50% of Area Median Income (AMI).

The two vacant lots (well, one of those lots has a Bank of America trailer) at Waterfront Station fronting M Street are slated for office buildings.  No timetable has been set yet for construction.  

Tiber Island is planning to redo the stark, wind-swept plaza area that connects the four towers at the complex with a new oval-shaped fountain, seating, a pergola, and plantings.

 Rendering courtesy of SmithGroup

A Couple Quick Items: New Traffic Pattern at 4th & M Street, Sidewalk to Temporarily Close Next to CFL

- DDOT has finally implemented promised changes to the intersection of 4th & M Street at the end of last week.  Left turns are no longer allowed from southbound 4th Street to eastbound M Street.  In addition, No U-Turn signs have been put up along M Street.  However, the Metrobus stop remains in front of the Bank of America trailer.  Has anyone noticed whether the timing at pedestrian crossings have been altered?

- ANC Commissioner Craycraft brings word that the sidewalk on the west side of 4th Street in front of the Consolidated Forensic Laboratory under construction between E & School Streets will be closed for two months starting on September 6 to rebuild a new sidewalk. In addition, four new oak trees will be planted where the current sidewalk is located and 15 trees will be planted on E Street and School Street. New streetlights will be installed with the Washington Globe fixtures seen near Arena Stage and Waterfront Station. Several bike racks will be installed - Capital Bikeshare will be opening a new station at the corner of 4th & E Street.

ANC 6D Meeting Recap

- Redistricting: At-large council members Phil Mendelson and Michael Brown attended the ANC 6D meeting – both of whom are members of the special committee in charge of redistricting. After a brief presentation by the council members, the floor was open to questions and comments from commissioners and the audience that lasted over a half hour. Just about all of the comments revolved around the proposal by Ward 8 council member Barry to annex Near SE and/or Near SW - everyone was against. The initial mark-up of the new Ward boundary map will be done after the council’s next meeting on May 25 and the entire process must be complete by mid-July. Once the redistricting map has been finalized, Ward taskforces will be created to work on ANC boundaries. After the council members left, commissioners Garber and Litsky introduced a resolution to keep Near SW/SE in Ward 6 which passed unanimously.

- Consolidated Forensic Laboratory (CFL): The new CFL under construction at 4th and E Street is 55% complete and on track for completion by June 2012. Components of the facility currently underway include waterproofing of the lab space and installation of the sun shade louver system along E Street, which is one of the green components of the building (the CFL is aiming for LEED-Gold certification). Next month, the protected sidewalk along the west side of 4th Street will be removed. It may be moved into the curb lane of 4th Street or removed completely – approval for shifting the structure to 4th Street is pending DDOT approval. The protected sidewalk is being moved so new sidewalks, trees, and plants can be installed from July – November. By Halloween, the exterior of the building should be complete. So far in 2011, 113 tradesmen have been hired, out of which 67 (or 59%) are District residents. Through the duration of the project, 257 tradesmen have been hired, of which 133 (or 52%) have been District residents, and only three have been Southwest residents.

- 4th & M Street Intersection: Commissioner McBee mentioned that DDOT has issued a notice of intent for changes to the 4th & M Street intersection. Back in March, the ANC voted to request DDOT to make the following changes:

• 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).

Within the past couple of weeks, DDOT has made changes to the 4th & I Street intersection (as I tweeted previously) which include the conversion from a “Barnes Dance” hybrid to a normal intersection. There is no longer a pedestrian-only window at the intersection; however, pedestrians are given a couple extra seconds to cross the street before the traffic light turns green for vehicles. This was probably done to facilitate the movement of vehicles from the Waterfront Station Safeway towards Near SE since the left turn lane from southbound 4th Street to M Street will be eliminated once that intersection is reworked by DDOT.

- Team to End AIDS: The ANC approved (6-1) the use of Town Center East Park temporarily by the Team to End AIDS endurance program to use as a staging area for their weekly runs around the city on Saturday mornings from May 21 – December 1 in preparation for the Marine Corps Marathon and other races. The use of Town Center East Park is temporary due to the proximity of housing and potential disruption of library patrons as 70-100 runners gather at the park each week. The ANC is looking into other locations where the running group may gather instead, including the northwest parcel of Waterfront Station and 7th Street Landing.

- 7th Street Landing Farmers Market: Bob Rubenkonig and Elinor Bacon from Hoffman-Madison Waterfront presented their security plan for the weekly Mobile Market, which will take place each Thursday from 5-8pm (June 2 – September 22). The park will be reconfigured for market days, with security barriers erected along the top border by the CaBi station and near the entry points to the waterfront promenade at the water-facing side of the park, resulting in three entrances. Near the top entrance, there will be six market vendors set up and behind them new benches will be installed. A stroller corral will be located in the top right corner of the park and the port-o-potties will remain on the opposite corner. Prepared fresh foods will be sold near the music stage (while jazz is being performed) and on the opposite side near the DC Harbor Cruises kiosk. Beer and wine will be sold on the left corner near the water-facing side of the park, next to one of the prepared fresh foods booth, and seating will be located in the center of 7th Street Landing. Bracelets will be required to purchase beer or wine and 100% ID check will be in effect. There will be 3 security officers and 10 staff members at the market, including those from the Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food & Agriculture and Hoffman-Madison Waterfront.

- Lucky Kabob liquor license: The ANC unanimously approved Lucky Kabob’s application for a CR-01 liquor license (may serve beer, wine, and spirits) at the restaurant, located at 1548 1st Street. Lucky Kabob opened last year and according to the proprietor, has done pretty well so far. After a six-month probation period, the ANC will reconsider the restaurateur’s request to allow dancing at the establishment at weddings, parties, etc. The Indian restaurant’s operating hours are as follows:

Carry Out

Monday – Friday: 7:30am – 7:30pm; Saturday: 9am – 7:30pm; Sunday: 10am – 5pm

Dine In

Monday – Friday: 10am – 9pm, Saturday: 10am – 9pm

A Couple Quick Items: Commander Kamperin Retires, King Memorial Celebration

- MPD's First District Commander David Kamperin announced his retirement last week after 32 years of service in law enforcement (almost 26 years with MPD). In his email announcing his retirement, Kamperin mentions some of his accomplishments as commander:

Over the past nearly four years we have accomplished many things within the First District: increased foot patrols throughout the community, decreased response time for calls for service, improved customer service, enhanced Community Policing within the Patrol Service Areas and annual crime reductions. In 2010, through the dedication and efforts of the men and women of the First District, working closely with the community, 1D received the Department’s Crime Reduction Award.

First District Headquarters moved from 4th and E Street in 2009 to the former Bowen Elementary School along M Street.  The former headquarters building was demolished and the city's new Consolidated Forensic Laboratory is rising on the site. 

Kamperin's last day will be May 21, but the Citizen Advisory Council (CAC) for 1D will hold an event this evening at 7pm.  The event will take place in the community room at 1D HQ.

- The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial is getting closer to completion along the Tidal Basin and plans are underway to celebrate the opening in August. The Washington Post reports there will be a week-long celebration leading to the unveiling on August 29th. The dedication will take place on the 48th anniversary of King's "I Have a Dream" speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.  Here are some details from the article:

The dedication will take place at 11 a.m. in West Potomac Park, near the site of the memorial, which is on Independence Avenue, southwest of the World War II Memorial. There will be musical tributes in the park before and after the dedication. Among the week’s events, a public expo marking King’s legacy will be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Aug. 25-28.The memorial will also have an inscription wall, water features, landscaping and a bookstore and visitors center. Reserved tickets to the dedication will be distributed through an online lottery system, the foundation said. People can request up to two tickets by visiting DedicateTheDream.org. Visitors must register by 11:59 p.m. on May 31 to be included in the lottery. Ticket recipients for the seated and reserved standing areas will be notified by e-mail on June 15. Public standing areas that do not require tickets will also be available.

CFL Reaches Ground Level

The new Consolidated Forensic Laboratory (CFL), under construction at the corner of 4th & E Street, has reached ground level. Construction began on the project earlier this year, after a five-month delay caused by alleged irregularities with the awarding of the construction contract. A covered walkway was constructed over the past couple of months that allows pedestrians to walk along the west side of 4th Street as construction continues. The walkway has lighting to illuminate the area at night, which can be a desolate stretch since there is not much foot traffic after work hours. The CFL is scheduled to deliver in 2012. Progress photos to come! Update: Photos have been added.

Here is a close-up view of the covered walkway.

Upcoming Meetings This Week

- SWNA will have its monthly meeting on Monday at 7pm, located at St. Augustine's Episcopal Church. Items to be discussed include the arts in Southwest, as well as a tribute to Dr. Dorothy Height, who died on Tuesday at the age of 98.

- On Tuesday, there will be a Traffic Operations and Parking Plan (TOPP) meeting at Westminster Presbyterian Church fr0m 6:30pm - 8:30pm, which is located at 400 I Street. The meeting will discuss traffic issues in the area, with the following participants: Ward 6 Council member Tommy Wells, DDOT, DPW, MPD, the Washington Nationals, and ANC 6D.

- Also on Tuesday, there will be a Community Meeting to discuss the Consolidated Forensic Laboratory at Whiting-Turner's construction trailer at 200 E Street. The meeting will be from 6pm - 7pm.

Exterior Demolition of Old First District Underway

I noticed on Monday that a part of the old MPD First District headquarters building has been demolished by Whiting-Turner to make way for the new Consolidated Forensic Lab (CFL). Interior abatement began last month. At Monday's ANC 6D meeting, it was revealed by Bill Vosburgh, project director of the CFL, that five mature oak trees along E Street cannot be saved during the construction process because their root systems will be severely disturbed as 10'-22' trenches are dug for utilities removal and replacement. As a result, the trees will be cut down and replaced by eight oak trees. In total, there will be 19 new oak trees around the perimeter of the CFL - eight trees on E Street, four trees on 4th Street, and seven trees on School Street. The trees will be 2-3 inches in diameter, which is much smaller than the trees currently on E Street, but they will grow as time passes and were chosen at the suggestion of the city's Arborist as street trees. The tree boxes for the new trees will be connected to the cistern system for the CFL, so storm water can help water them, which will contribute to the LEED-Gold certified rating the project is pursuing.

On another note, a construction camera was set up this past Friday on top of NASA headquarters to track progress at the CFL.

Top Southwest Stories of 2009

Despite an economic downturn, several events occurred in The Little Quadrant That Could in 2009...some were major projects that have been ongoing for years, while other events had their start in 2009. Below is a list of what I think were the top stories in Southwest during the past year (in no particular order). Feel free to comment on which of these events you think is the top local story of the year, and/or vote in January's poll at the top left corner of the blog.

Arena Stage Looms Large

Construction on the new Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater was in full swing in 2009 and was getting attention from bloggers around the city. In June, DCMetrocentric gave a critique of the new theater complex and by November, the structure was fully enclosed. Interior work is now taking place and construction is on schedule for a community day event open to the public on October 24, 2010. The following day, there will be a black-tie opening night gala. Above is a construction photo of the new Arena Stage taken in late December.

CFL Drama
Progress was made in 2009 towards creating the city's very own Consolidated Forensic Lab (CFL), but not without delays. On the progress front, MPD's First District moved in April from their old building on 4th Street to their new headquarters on M Street at the former Bowen Elementary School. This move would allow the old headquarters building to be demolished and replaced by the CFL. The city then named Whiting-Turner the contractor for the construction project. However, after the announcement, the mayor had to withdraw the contract after an appeals court ruled that the Mayor skirted city laws when awarding the contract. After more than a five month delay, the city's appellate board dismissed the case a rival contractor had against Whiting-Turner and the city was free to re-award the contract to the same contractor in November and start interior demolition in December. The CFL is now scheduled to open in 2012. Above is a rendering of the CFL, from the CFL website.

Demolition Derby
Several parcels in Southwest were leveled during the past year, but not replaced with new buildings, in order to wait for the recovery of the economy. For example, Vornado demolished the Bernstein Liquors building and other small structures at South Capitol and M Street and paved over the site to serve as a parking lot. Eventually, the developer has plans for a mixed-use project. Along South Capitol Street, the Ruben Companies demolished a gas station and the old Taco Bell/KFC site in September to make way for their planned 1101 South Capitol Street office building, which hasn't gotten underway yet. In December, the old Market Inn restaurant was demolished and will most likely be replaced by an office building. Also in December, interior demolition started at the old First District headquarters building on 4th Street. Above is a photo of the lot owned by the Ruben Companies on South Capitol Street, which was taken this fall after the Exxon gas station on the site was demolished.

First District Moves to New Digs

In April, MPD's First District headquarters moved from 4th & E Street to the former Bowen Elementary School at 1st & M Street. In October, there was an open house to welcome the community. The new site is located in the heart of the Southwest Waterfront neighborhood, whereas the former headquarters was north of the freeway in the Federal Center SW area. Despite moving closer to a crime hot spot, a fatal shooting occurred less than two blocks from the new building in mid-October. Above is a photo of the new First District headquarters building, taken right before it was opened.

Engine 13 Not That Unlucky

In February, three developer teams made presentations to the community to garner support for their proposals for the Engine 13 sites at 4th & E Street and 6th & E Street. DMPED ended up choosing the proposal made by E Street Development in April, following the recommendation of ANC 6D. E Street Development is a combination of Potomac Investment Properties, CityPartners, and Adams Investment Group. Their architect is Beyer, Blinder, Belle. Highlights of the proposal include a partnership with community organizations including Kid Power Inc. and D.C. Central Kitchen, LEED-Silver certification, green roof technology, and neighborhood retail along E Street. Approval of the land lease was delayed by the DC Council over the summer, but final approval was given in November. Construction of the firehouse is supposed to start in August of 2010. Above is a rendering of the proposed fire house/office building complex planned at the corner of 4th & E Street, from the February presentation.

Highlands Library
Bellevue will soon get a new library. The new Washington Highlands library was designed by London architect David Adjaye and will be located at 115 Atlantic Street. Once the community saw the plans for the library, there was some criticism of the design. The new library will be three stories tall, contain approximately 20,000 square feet of space, and will aim for LEED-Silver certification. By the spring of 2011, the new library should be open. Above is a rendering of the Washington Highlands Library, from the DCPL website.

L'Enfant Promenade Renovations Begin
Back in November, the JBG Companies began a $40 renovation of the retail promenade at L'Enfant Plaza. The first phase of renovations will be complete in 2011 and will bring a revamped food court to the corridor nearest the Metro entrance. Subsequent phases of the renovation will include a new sculptural glass entryway and expanded retail options. In addition, the developer has plans to expand L'Enfant Plaza by building two new office buildings, an extended-stay hotel, and an apartment building. Above is a rendering of the renovated food court area, courtesy of JBG.

Southeastern University Shuts Its Doors

A major institution in Southwest closed its doors at the end of August, when Southeastern University lost its accreditation with the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools due to financial instability, dwindling enrollment, and a lack of academic rigor. At one point, SEU was in talks with UDC to become a part of that university. Then, it was trying to merge with the GS Graduate School, which is affiliated with the USDA. The University, which had been in existence since the 1800s, had its final graduation ceremony in June. Above is a photo of Southeastern University taken this past summer, located at the corner of 6th & I Streets.

Waterfront Station

Major milestones at Waterfront Station during 2009 included: the topping off of the two office buildings in March; the installation of the glass and terracotta façade; designs for the Metro plaza; the unveiling of the features of the new Safeway; the addition of a sit-down restaurant to the retail mix; and the paving of 4th Street. The first phase of Waterfront Station will open in the first half of 2010, with two office buildings, a new Safeway, CVS, convenience retailers, restaurants, a Metro plaza and a reopened 4th Street. Above is a photo of the 1100 4th Street building taken in the last week of December.

Movement at Old First District HQ

This evening I noticed that fencing has been put up around the perimeter of the old First District headquarters on 4th Street, which means demolition can't be far behind. About a month ago, there was a ceremonial demolition ceremony at the site, right after Whiting-Turner was renamed the contractor for the CFL project. By 2012, the new CFL should be complete, which will house MPD's Crime Lab, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, and the DC Public Health Lab. Above is a photo of the old headquarters building taken last Saturday, before the fencing went up.

Ceremonial Demolition of Old First District HQ

Last week, DC Metrocentric reported that the case a rival contractor had against Whiting-Turner, the contractor the city chose in May to build the new Consolidated Forensic Lab (CFL), was dismissed by the city appellate board. The city wasted no additional time once the case was dropped, because today, the mayor announced once again that Whiting-Turner has been selected to build the CFL with a $133 million contract, six months after the original announcement. At the press announcement, the mayor ceremoniously took down a portion of the rear wall of the old first district headquarters, which is located at 415 4th Street. However, interior abatement must occur first before the old hq building can be demolished to make way for the CFL. The CFL will be home to MPD's Crime Lab, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, and the DC Public Health Lab. A total of 300 - 350 employees will be housed at the facility. The Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum, PC-designed building will aim for LEED-Gold certification and will cost $220 million to build. It will be 287,000 SF and 6-stories tall, will accommodate 160 underground parking spaces and 60 street-level spaces. Construction should now be complete by 2012, due to the delay, instead of the original fall 2011 deadline. Above is a rendering of the CFL from the CFL website.

Weekend Events

Marine Corps Marathon: The Marine Corps Marathon will be held on Sunday morning and as a result, several streets will be closed between 4am to 1:30pm according to DDOT, including the following:

• Francis Scott Key Bridge
• Canal Road, NW from M Street to Reservoir Road
• Reservoir Road, NW from MacArthur Blvd. to Canal Road
• MacArthur Blvd., NW from Foxhall Road to Reservoir Road
• Foxhall Road, NW from Canal Road to MacArthur Blvd.
• M Street, NW from Canal Road to Wisconsin Avenue
• Wisconsin Ave, NW from M Street to K Street
• K Street, NW from Wisconsin Avenue to Rock Creek and Potomac Pkwy.
• Rock Creek and Potomac Pkwy., NW from K Street to Independence Ave.
• Memorial Bridge
• West Potomac Park
• East Potomac Park (Access to Golf Course and Tennis Courts will be Available)
• Maine Avenue, SW from East Basin Drive to Independence Avenue
• Independence Avenue, SW from Maine Avenue to Ohio Drive
• Ohio Drive, SW between Independence Avenue and Lincoln Circle
• Lincoln Circle from Ohio Drive, SW to Henry Bacon Drive, NW
• 23rd Street, NW from Lincoln Circle to Constitution Avenue
• Constitution Avenue, NW from Henry Bacon Drive to 15th Street
• 15th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
• 17th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
• Madison Drive, NW from 15th Street to 3rd Street
• 3rd Street, NW from Pennsylvania Ave, NW to Maryland Ave., SW
• Pennsylvania Avenue, NW from 3rd Street to E. Capitol Circle
• 1st Street from Pennsylvania Ave., NW to Maryland Ave., SW
• Maryland Avenue, SW from S. Capitol Circle to 3rd Street
• Jefferson Drive, SW from 3rd Street to 15th Street
• 14th Street, SW from Jefferson Drive to northbound HOV lanes
• HOV lanes from 14th Street, SW to HOV ramp at S. Eads Street

Citywide Candlelight Vigil: Also on Sunday, Mothers of Unsolved Murders (MUM) is planning a candlelight vigil at the site of planned Consolidated Forensic Lab at 415 4th Street from 7-9pm. Construction of the lab was supposed to start this past spring, but it has been delayed due to an improper awarding of a contract to Whiting Turner by the mayor. Above is a photo of the sign at the site of the new forensics lab. The old First District headquarters building is next door to this sign and is still standing several months after it was supposed to be demolished.

Open House at 1D HQ

There will be an open house at the new MPD District 1 Headquarters this Tuesday from 5pm - 8pm. There will be refreshments, music, interactive crime prevention presentations, raffles, door prizes, and guided tours of 1D’s station house. The new headquarters, located at the former Bowen School at 101 M Street, opened in April. The old headquarters building at 4th & E Street will be demolished and replaced by the Consolidated Forensics Laboratory.

CFL Update

The Consolidated Forensics Laboratory (CFL) is closer to reality now that several milestones have occurred. MPD moved into their new District 1 HQ building at the former Bowen Elementary School in April. Then, on May 6th, Mayor Fenty announced that Whiting-Turner was selected as the contractor for design-build services for construction of the CFL, worth $148 million. Demolition of the old 1D HQ can start once the contract is approved by the D.C. Council, which could happen as soon as next month. On May 19th, the D.C. Council held a round table on the proposed contract. A vote could happen at the Council's June 2 meeting. Take a look at my post from June 2008 for more details on the CFL and the following link shows what green features will be offered. (Above is a rendering of the new CFL, which will be located at the NW corner of 4th and E Street, from the CFL website)

Update: There's an article in yesterday's Washington Examiner that states Mayor Fenty has withdrawn the Whiting-Turner contract after an appeals court ruled the Mayor skirted city contracting laws when awarding the CFL construction contract to the firm. This latest development may stall construction of the CFL, which was supposed to get underway this spring.

Forensics Lab Update

According to January's issue of the Consolidated Forensics Laboratory (CFL) newsletter, construction continues at the former Bowen Elementary School, which will be transformed into the new HQ for MPD's 1st District within the next couple of months. Once the new HQ is complete, the old 1st District HQ building at 4th & E Street can be demolished, which will make way for the CFL. Construction services for the CFL gave gone to bid and a general contractor should be named soon. So far, the project is still on target for completion in Fall 2011. (The above rendering is of the CFL from the CFL website)

Click on the graphic below to see a list of green features that will be incorporated into the new CFL.

Southwest Projects May Benefit from Stimulus

The WBJ reports that under the $800+ billion stimulus package approved by the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday, about $900 million will be allocated to the District, which includes money for infrastructure improvements and public school renovations. From the article:

D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty wrote [DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes] Norton Jan. 7 with a list of priorities for stimulus spending that included school modernization, construction of a new police forensics lab, Medicaid matching funds, reconstruction of the Eleventh Street and South Capitol Street bridges, and [other] environmental and housing needs.

Speaking of the South Capitol Street bridge, there will be an ANC 6D presentation meeting on Monday, February 2nd at 7pm, where DDOT will give a briefing on the new bridge design (and hopefully a timetable). The meeting will take place at 1501 Half Street.

Patriots Plaza Tops Off

Thanks to reader Curtis for the tip that Biznow recently had a feature on the topping off ceremony at Patriots Plaza that occurred last Friday. Back in December, Southwest...TLQTC had a post showing updated photos at phase II and phase III of Patriots Plaza. In the Biznow article, it describes some of the security features Trammell Crow implemented at the two buildings:

30' setbacks, shatter-resistant windows, and a lobby designed to blow air pressure outward during a blast. Trammell can lease each building as an individual facility or combine Phases II and III into one, which is what they proposed to DoJ before it landed in NoMa.

Phase II & III are scheduled to deliver in September and no tenants have been lined up yet, however, they are targeting the GSA as a potential tenant. The article also mentions other developments in the area, including Constitution Center, the CFL, and the two parcels the DC government is offering up to developers, all of which has been written about in this blog. (The above photo shows phase II of Patriots Plaza back in December 2008)

Top Southwest Stories of 2008

Although it's no longer 2008, I wanted to put together a list of top stories from the prior year. Southwest...TLQTC came into existence on June 4, 2008, and since then, several events have happened in the neighborhood - some good, some bad, and some ugly. Following is a recap of what I think are the top local stories of the year, in no particular order:

Southwest Waterfront Redevelopment Advances

The drama surrounding the land transfer of the Southwest Waterfront dominated the news in the last couple months of the year, with the D.C. Council finally approving the deal on December 16th, at their last legislative session of 2008. Back in July, the Council permitted the use of $198 million in bonds for infrastructure improvements along the waterfront. For instance, as a part of the redevelopment, Water Street will be closed, and utilities will have to be moved. The Hoffman-Struever development team plans a $1.5 billion mixed-use project along 51 acres of the Southwest Waterfront. Here's a description of what's planned from the press release announcing the land transfer approval:

• Housing – approximately 770 residential units with 30% being affordable housing.
  
• Cultural – a Maritime Center showcasing the region’s maritime history through a variety of educational, entertainment, and cultural exhibits
  
• Hotel – Three new hotels
  
• Office – Significant Class A commercial office space
  
• Neighborhood amenities – neighborhood-serving retail such as a gourmet grocery, casual and upscale dining, cafes, jazz venues, shops and opportunities for local, small retailers
  
• Parks – Acres of quality public parks, open space, and waterfront promenades throughout the project
  
• Water-focused development – significant improvements to the existing marina and pier facilities, water taxis and public piers
  
• Sustainable Design – the first LEED-Silver certified mixed-use project in the city and a LEED-ND Pilot Project
  
• Significant Certified Business Enterprises (CBE) – participation in all aspects of the project, including ownership and development

The development will go through the design phase starting in 2009 and construction of phase one is slated to begin in 2011-12.

(The above photo is a sunset shot of the Southwest Waterfront taken from Cantina Marina in July of 2007)

Waterfront Station Comes Out of the Ground

Demolition of the old Waterside Mall started in November of 2007, but by mid-2008, the site had been cleared and foundation work was underway on the two new office buildings that are a part of phase one of Waterfront Station. In October, more demolition was done to make way for the reopening of 4th Street and construction had reached ground level. By December, the east and west office buildings reached the third and fourth floors. The Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs and the Office of Tax & Revenue have pre-leased all 500,000 SF of the office space planned in phase one. Also included in the first phase will be a 55,000 SF urban lifestyle Safeway, which will replace the current store. In November, I visited the recently opened urban lifestyle Safeway at CityVista in NW to get an idea of what we have in "store" for us once our new Safeway opens in May 2010. The office buildings and 4th Street will open by March 2010.

(The above photo is of the 4th Street right-of-way at Waterfront Station taken in December 2008)

The New Arena Stage Begins to Take Shape

Groundbreaking of the new Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater occurred in January 2008. Since then, the new cradle theater has risen to its maximum height on the north side of the construction site. Canadian architect Bing Thom designed the new Arena Stage with a transparent exterior with three theaters connected together by a common lobby and a cantilevered roof. While Arena Stage is under construction, performances have moved to Crystal City and the Lincoln Theater. Arena Stage should be reopened in time for the 2010-11 season.

(The above photo is the 6th Street frontage of Arena Stage under construction in November 2008)

CSI: Southwest

Designs were approved for the new Consolidated Forensic Laboratory (CFL) in 2008. Currently, the District doesn't have its own forensics lab and has to use the FBI's lab in Quantico, VA. As a result, evidence takes longer to get analyzed and crimes don't get solved fast enough. The CFL will be home to MPD's Crime Lab, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, and the DC Public Health Lab. A total of 300 - 350 employees will be housed at the facility. The HOK-designed CFL will be a LEED Gold-certified building at the site of the MPD 1st District headquarters building at 4th Street & School Street. The 1st District headquarters will be moved to the former Bowen Elementary School site on M Street once renovations are complete during the 1st quarter of 2009. Once the MPD headquarters is moved, the building will be demolished and the new CFL will be complete by 2011.

(The above rendering is of the new CFL, from the CFL website)

Fall Crime Spree Brings Guardian Angels

The new CFL can't come soon enough to help get crimes solved in the city, including Southwest, where during the fall, there were a rash of assaults by juveniles, including the brutal attack of Waterside Towers resident Mark Blank, who subsequently died from his injuries. As a result, in November the Guardian Angels descended on Southwest to do weekly neighborhood walks in order to highlight safety concerns and help empower residents.

Delays at Randall School

The credit crunch and bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers over the summer caused local developer Monument Realty to back out of a deal with the Corcoran Gallery of Art to redevelop the Randall School on I Street into a campus for the Corcoran and an apartment building. Before the Corcoran purchased the Randall School, it served as the Millennium Arts Center and a homeless shelter. Currently, the building's windows are boarded up and a security guard patrols the school complex. Now, the Corcoran is looking for a new development partner and hopes to find one in 2009.

(The above rendering is of the Randall School site, courtesy of Monument Realty)

As you can see, a lot has been going on in Southwest...The Little Quadrant That Could over the past year. 2009 should be no different, despite the weakened economy.

Forensics Lab Delayed?

According to this article from The Examiner, Council member Mendelson held a hearing today to find out the progress towards creating the Consolidated Forensics Laboratory in Southwest. From the article: "D.C. has set aside tens of millions of federal and local dollars to build itself what officials are promising will be a top-notch crime lab. But the administration scrapped early plans to move the lab to 225 Virginia Ave. SE despite a rent-free lease for the first year of the space." However, the article incorrectly states that the 1st District HQ will move to the Virginia Avenue site. Actually, the 1st District HQ is moving to the former Bowen Elementary School on M Street. There is a construction fence around the school and from what I could tell from walking by the site last week, the retrofit has begun. In fact, this press release from the DC Government from last Wednesday states the following: "Mayor Adrian M. Fenty showcased construction progress the city has made in completing renovating Bowen Elementary School, the relocation site for the Metropolitan Police Department’s First District Station. Renovations at Bowen ES are being completed by the Office of Public Education Facilities Modernization (OPEFM) who began working on the project in July 2008. Bowen is currently undergoing the last stage of demolition and is expected to be completed by Jan. 2009." The Consolidated Forensics Laboratory is scheduled to be complete in 2011. You can read my post from June about this project.

Update on Consolidated Forensics Laboratory (CFL)

At Monday evening's SWNA (Southwest Neighborhood Assembly) meeting, Dr. William Vosburgh, the CFL's Laboratory Director, gave an update on the development schedule of the CFL. The CFL will be located at 4th and E Street, which currently is the site of MPD's 1st District Headquarters. The police station will relocate by winter 2009 to Bowen Elementary School at Delaware Avenue & M Street, one of the schools that was closed this year by the Schools Chancellor. Once the 1st District HQ moves to Bowen, construction of the CFL will begin. Construction should last about 30 months and by mid to late 2011, workers should start moving into the new facility. The CFL will be home to MPD's Crime Lab, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, and the DC Public Health Lab. A total of 300 - 350 employees will be housed at the facility. The Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum, PC-designed building will aim for LEED Gold certification and will cost $220 million to build. It will be 287,000 SF and 6-stories tall, will accommodate 160 underground parking spaces and 60 street-level spaces. The main entrance to the CFL will be on E Street, which faces the vacant lot the DC Government recently put out to bid (see earlier post).