Hoffman-Madison Waterfront, the master developer of the 3.2 million square foot Southwest Waterfront project , announced today the groundbreaking of The Wharf, the most significant, mixed-use, master-planned, waterfront environments in the history of the nation’s capital.
David Brainerd, Managing Director of Madison Marquette, and Monty Hoffman, founder and CEO of PN Hoffman, will be joined by Mayor Vincent Gray, District of Columbia Councilmembers, elected officials, development partners and more than 250 invited guests for a public celebration and the “turning of the dirt” onsite at 11:00 a.m.
The Wharf site comprises a 24-acre, 3.2 million square feet of buildable area along one mile of the Washington’s Southwest waterfront and 50 acres of riparian rights in the historic Washington Channel. Easily accessible by every major transportation mode, the Wharf blends residential, retail, restaurant, cultural venues, hotels and open space in what will be a new community unique to both the District of Columbia and the region. To be built in two phases, the Wharf, adjacent to the historic, 200-year-old Fish Market, will be a collection of best-in-class, destination restaurants, local and international boutique retailers, high-quality entertainment venues, waterfront hotels, first-class apartments and luxury condominiums plus two premier office buildings overlooking public piers, waterfront activity and the nation’s monuments.
“This day is especially meaningful to all of us at Madison Marquette where for many years we have been uniquely focused on making the Wharf a reality,” said Amer Hammour, CEO of Madison Marquette. “When complete, this extraordinary project will inspire and engage an iconic neighborhood and destination in the nation’s capital with a compelling combination of world class experiences found in the historic cities of Europe and Asia.”
“The Wharf is a rare development opportunity. Our plan is a combination of aesthetics and activity,” said Monty Hoffman. We want to reclaim the waterfront and transform this corner of the District. We want this to be people’s favorite place. A place of beauty by the water where something is always going on. “Whether you come to The Wharf for work, dining, music, to enjoy the water – or, even better, to live here – it will feel uniquely authentic.”
Located on the Potomac River on a site which extends from the Municipal Fish Market to Fort McNair along the Washington Channel, The Wharf neighborhood’s will have a distinct architecture and the ambiance of a village, adjacent to but distinct from the national mall, National’s Stadium, Capitol Hill and the Smithsonian Institutions. As the maritime front porch to the nation’s capital, the redevelopment of the Southwest Waterfront will embrace a clean and active river; eliminate barriers and provide public access; produce an active urban riverfront and park system; showcase distinctive cultural destinations; and build a strong waterfront community. The redevelopment of the Southwest Waterfront will set a new standard for waterfront environments in the region and internationally.
“This is simply one of the most important projects to the District of Columbia in history and I am proud to see the culmination of profound commitment and extraordinary creativity today,” said Mayor Vincent Gray. “When you truly recognize the benefits for culture, infrastructure, transportation and the enjoyment of life here in the District, it is a first in kind.”
“I have always believed in the vision for not only the greater Southwest area, but what this great city has to offer in every quadrant, every neighborhood, every zip code,” said DC Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes-Norton. “I applaud the determination of this development team in pursing the project for more than eight years in order to now bring it to fruition for the enjoyment of the Greater Washington Area and beyond.”
“The Wharf is a model of development for major cities across the country,” said Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA). “This is a tremendous opportunity for the District as a great new place and a showcase of the wonderful innovation we have in the nation’s capital.”
“Our design goal is to reunite the city with the water’s edge and enliven the waterfront with a mix of uses and year-round urban vibrancy,” said Stan Eckstut, senior principal of Perkins Eastman, master planner of The Wharf. “We’ve designed a neighborhood of waterfront places—not a project—and each is independently intended to create an inviting and memorable public environment.”
ABOUT THE WHARF
The Wharf is a world-class, mixed-use waterfront development located on the historic Washington Channel. Situated along the District of Columbia’s Southwest Waterfront, The Wharf is adjacent to the National Mall with a development area that stretches across 24 acres of land and more than 50 acres of water from the Municipal Fish Market to Fort McNair. When complete, it will feature 3.2 million square feet of new residential, office, hotel, retail, cultural, and public uses including waterfront parks, promenades, piers, and docks.
The Wharf is a large-scale waterfront development by Hoffman-Madison Waterfront as part of the District of Columbia’s Anacostia Waterfront Initiative. The Wharf development team is led by PN Hoffman and Madison Marquette and is comprised of ER Bacon Development, City Partners, Paramount Development and Triden Development. The Greenwich Group International provided financial advisory services for the development team. More information is available at www.wharfdc.com
