(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser was joined by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon Todd, Assistant Secretary of the Army Katherine Hammack, and Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Brian Kenner for a ceremony recognizing the transfer of the Walter Reed Campus to the District Government.
“The wait is over and a new beginning is in sight at Walter Reed,” said Mayor Bowser. “Today marks an important milestone for Ward 4 and for residents across all eight wards. The Walter Reed Campus is one of the most important development projects in the District – it will bring jobs, affordable housing, economic opportunity and pathways to the middle class for thousands of residents.”
The Walter Reed development project is the result of a successful community-driven process led by then-Councilmember Bowser and now by Mayor Bowser. The District and its partners convened over 100 public meetings throughout the planning process, which began in 2009; a strong example of what can be accomplished when residents have a voice in shaping the future of their neighborhoods. In meeting the local and federal requirements necessary to acquire the Walter Reed site, the District underwent an extensive planning process, steeped in community engagement and resulting in the development of two Council-approved plans. The WRAMC Base Reuse Plan established the framework for mixed use development, and the WRAMC Small Area Plan provided land use and design guidance and a transportation analysis – all of which guided the zoning process.
Earlier this year, Mayor Bowser signed the Walter Reed Development Omnibus Act of 2015, which authorized the District to acquire 66 acres of the 110-acre Walter Reed Campus from the U.S. Army. Development of the catalytic project will create over three million square feet of residential, office, and retail space and bring nearly 5,000 jobs to Washington, D.C. Under the terms of the agreement, the District will pay about $22 million for the property.
“Walter Reed is a clear example of this Administration’s commitment to moving major projects forward in the District,” said Deputy Mayor Brian Kenner. “Our goal is to deliver a transformative project that meets and exceeds the expectations of the community, and to make Walter Reed a national model for job creation and urban development.”
Today’s ceremony follows recent activity at the Walter Reed Campus led by the Bowser Administration. Last month, Mayor Bowser announced that the District and U.S. Army came to terms on a license agreement that will expedite construction of the District of Columbia International School (DCI) at the campus, ensuring 775 students will have a facility by the 2017 school year. And last year, Mayor Bowser broke ground on Engine Company 22, a new $12 million state-of-the-art fire station that is part of the Walter Reed Campus development project. Soon after the transfer, construction will begin on one of the largest development projects in the region.
“Today begins a new chapter for Ward 4 marked with much-needed community amenities and housing,” said Congresswoman Norton. “As the federal base closing process began in 2005, we saw Walter Reed as a prize Ward 4 and D.C. had to have. Our main competitors for these 66 acres were federal agencies, but in the end the U.S. Army and GSA agreed with us that the transfer to D.C. was the best fit.”
“The redevelopment of Walter Reed is undoubtedly the greatest economic development opportunity the District of Columbia will ever see,” said Councilmember Todd. “It presents an incredible opportunity for Ward 4 and our City. It will enhance the quality of life for our residents and businesses, and provide growth opportunities for our most Northern neighborhoods."
“The list of memorable individuals who spent their last days at Walter Reed Army Medical Center is synonymous with American history itself: Dwight Eisenhower, John Pershing, Douglas MacArthur, John Foster Dulles, Creighton Abrams, Everett Dirksen, Leslie Groves. The transfer of 66.25 acres from the Army to the District of Columbia, which we are recognizing today, will mark a new chapter in the storied history of this land. That chapter is about economic rebirth and revitalization,” said Assistant Secretary Hammack.
The Walter Reed development project is part of Mayor Bowser’s continued commitment to providing economic opportunities for residents across all 8 Wards and getting more residents on pathways to the middle class.
For more information on Water Reed, visit DMPED’s site: www.walterreedlra.com.