NCRC Narrows Potential McMillan Site Developers to Three, Awaits Its Future

The National Capital Revitalization Corporation (NCRC) has whittled its list of potential development teams that responded to its solicitation for development of Phase I of the 25-acre McMillan Reservoir sand filtration site along N. Capitol Street down to three finalists: Republic Land Development, EYA, and Federal Development. Original plans call for a massive mixed-use development, including 1200 residential units, with affordable housing, 100,000 sf of retail, a community center, and a "cultural center," though it is unclear what the final product will eventually be. Phase I work will include site assessment, land use planning, and land development activities designed to deliver ready-to-build bases for a mixed-use project. The NCRC is moving forward with its plans despite moves by the DC Council to eliminate both it and the Anacostia Waterfront Corp. (AWC) and transfer their projects to either the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development or a new agency called the DC Economic Development Authority. A final decision is expected from the DC Council on this move in June.

Poplar Point Plan Meets Resident Resistance

On Saturday, the Anacostia Waterfront Corp. (AWC) and DC government officials finally unveiled at a public hearing in Anacostia the long-awaited plans for a mixed-use project on 110 acres along the Anacostia River that would include a new soccer stadium for DC United, but the plan as it currently stands is meeting some resistance from area residents. The Poplar Point plans call for 2,000 housing units, a 27,000-seat stadium, a hotel and conference center, and a 70-acre park. Residents and neighborhood activists quickly voiced concern over the upscale nature of the project, which might preclude them from enjoying the development, if not price them out of the area. Also, the hotel, conference center, and stadium were not services they need or would use, and there was no guarantee regarding job creation for the community. The AWC will continue to hold public hearings through the Spring (when the US Department of Interior will complete transfer of this land to DC) in hopes of addressing these concerns and altering the project accordingly.

Anacostia Waterfront Corp. Reveals Poplar Point Plans

The Anacostia Waterfront Corp. (AWC) is keeping itself quite busy these days, first with selecting a development team to work on its $800 million redevelopment of the Southwest waterfront along the Washington Channel, and now announcing at a recent community hearing its preliminary plans for its 110-acre Poplar Point project, located across the river from the Washington Navy Yard at the eastern foot of the South Capitol Street bridge in Southeast DC. The AWC expects the federal government to transfer this land to it in November. In addition to the site possibly hosting a new DC United soccer stadium and a hotel, initial plans also call for townhouses and mixed-income rental developments to be built, along with new retail and parks. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP has been assigned the task of creating a design for Poplar Point.