Anacostia’s Waterfront to Become Social, Business, and Residential Center

The fate of Florida Rock Industries' South East Waterfront property was as left undetermined at the January zoning meeting. The current gravel yard is in the planning stages of becoming a four-building, 1.1 million square foot project, on 6.5 acres next to the new Nationals ballpark. The mixed-use project by FRP Development, located at 100 Potomac Avenue, SE, at the southern end of the Anacostia River and directly below the new Nationals ballpark, will include two office buildings, a residential complex, and a hotel to replace the current concrete plant. A Cinderella Story for the commercialization of the formerly industrial area, lower levels of the East office building will include waterfront retail stores in a Georgetown Waterfront–esque approach. Residents and visitors will have access to the newly planned First Street Plaza, a 40,000-sq-ft park that will also overlook the Anacostia River. Architects Davis and Buckley have released renderings depicting an urban center with a view of both the Anacostia River and the Frederick Douglass Bridge. A final decision on the 2nd stage of the PUD was delayed until February. Jenny Shaffer, an Executive Assistant at FRP Development, said the development team was waiting for feedback from the zoning commission before finalizing or releasing plans about the project. The issue is expected to be taken up in early to mid February.