(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will enter into a new lease in historic Anacostia keeping its headquarters in an east of the river location just steps away from its current location on Martin Luther King Jr Avenue, SE.
“DHCD has been a cornerstone presence in historic Anacostia for many years and we wanted to ensure that the agency could continue to be a part of a community they have been pivotal in seeing grow and change,” said Mayor Bowser. “My Administration will continue to use the District’s leasing power to invest in East of the River neighborhoods and attract much-needed retail and other businesses.”
In accordance with the Mayor’s Order directing the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) and the Department of General Services (DGS) to first identify potential relocation properties in Wards 7 and 8 neighborhoods when considering office space for District government agencies, the Mayor submitted to Council a lease for 55,0000 rentable square feet of office space located at 1909 Martin Luther King Jr Avenue, SE for DHCD. The lease agreement was deemed approved by DC Council July 19, 2020. Completion of the new DCHD headquarters is expected by July 2022.
“DHCD has called Historic Anacostia home since 2009 when we relocated to our current building from North Capitol Street, NE,” said DHCD Director Polly Donaldson “We’re thrilled at the opportunity to stay in Ward 8 and witness first hand efforts we make every day to make DC a more affordable place to live, work, and play.”
Today’s announcement follows earlier announcements that the Department of Health would relocate to the Reunion Square development in Ward 8 at Shannon Place and W Street, SE; and that the Department of General Services signed a letter of intent for a new headquarters on Minnesota Avenue, NE in Ward 7.
“Mayor Bowser has directed my team to work with our agencies to generate more economic activity in Wards 7 and 8, and part of that is making sure that we keep foundational tenants like DHCD in the communities,” said Acting Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development John Falcicchio. “This is another way we are setting up our communities for the economic success that comes from having daytime traffic as well as the neighborhood amenities that residents want, and visitors enjoy.”
“In alignment with Mayor Bowser’s strategy to bolster economic development East of the River, DGS was pleased to collaborate with DHCD to lead the search, identify and maintain a headquarters in Ward 8,” said DGS Director Keith A. Anderson. “DGS is also excited to be a part of the East of the River economic landscape by bringing its nearly 700 member workforce to Ward 7.”
The development of the MLK Gateway is a collaboration of DC Government and the private sector, including DMPED, DHCD and The Menkiti Group. Mayor Bowser celebrated the groundbreaking of phase one of MLK Gateway in January 2020, which represents the renovation of the historic retail buildings at 1201-1215 Good Hope Road, SE including a two-story office addition above the retail. Phase two of MLK Gateway would infill an office building at 1109 Good Hope Road, 1905-1909 Martin Luther King Jr Avenue, SE, and along the adjacent portion of Shannon Place, SE, restoring the existing buildings at 1901 Martin Luther King Jr Avenue, SE and 1111 Good Hope Road, SE.
“We are excited to welcome DHCD as an anchor tenant for the second phase of the MLK Gateway development project in the heart of historic Anacostia,” said Bo Menkiti, founder and chief executive officer, The Menkiti Group. “We truly believe MLK Gateway is an innovative example of community-led participative development and serves as a model for how public and private sectors can collaborate to drive neighborhood impact through place-based investment. We are looking forward to working with DHCD to design and develop a new office space within this vibrant community to fully meet their needs and goals.”