(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) announced that Redbrick LMD will develop Parcel 15 into a vibrant town square destination with retail, housing, and a stand-alone hotel on the St. Elizabeths East Campus next to the new Entertainment and Sports Arena and steps away from the Congress Heights Metro.
“When we cut the ribbon the new Entertainment and Sports Arena last year, I said that it was just the beginning of the exciting transformation of Congress Heights,” said Mayor Bowser. “Today’s announcement brings us closer to reaching yet another milestone in the redevelopment of the St. Elizabeths East Campus, but most importantly, it will deliver more jobs, more opportunity, and more amenities to the residents of Ward 8.”
The Redbrick team proposal envisions a mixed-use town square concept with two residential buildings, an office building, a stand-alone hotel, ground floor retail, a pedestrian promenade, and a central community plaza – approximately 567,000 square feet of development at total build-out. The residential buildings will include a mix of 288 units – 120 affordable below 50 percent of the area median income (AMI), 31 workforce units affordable below 80 percent of the AMI, and 137 market rate units. Thirty percent of the affordable units will include family-sized units and housing for seniors. The hotel would be the first full service hotel east of the river with approximately 125 rooms.
“The Redbrick LMD development team provided forward-thinking economic development opportunities that complement the Entertainment and Sports Arena and build on our pledge to increase employment and retail amenities for the Ward 8 community,” said Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Brian Kenner.
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 8C supported Redbrick’s proposal citing their commitment to hiring Ward 8 residents and working with Ward 8 Certified Business Enterprises (CBEs) to redevelop and beautify the community. Redbrick’s proposal for Parcel 15 also emphasizes retail activation, meeting a need for more retail access for nearby residents. The proposal included approximately 35,000 square feet of ground floor retail space with the potential for more. The development team also laid out a plan for immediate retail use via pop-ups on the existing parking lot while other phases are being constructed.