2 More Big Groundbreakings – O St Market and Howard Theater

A few readers note that there are two more huge groundbreakings that took place this week. A few weeks ago I posed a FQotD asking which projects will have the biggest impact on their surrounding communities (most voted O St. Market and McMillian Filtration Site).

Yesterday we finally saw the O St. Market break ground. We learned that, “The first phase of construction – to be completed in 2013 – will include the new Giant store, 395 apartments, a 190-room hotel and 500 parking spaces. The second phase of construction will bring 80 units of affordable housing for seniors and a 130-unit condominium building.”

Full press release:

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty today joined officials from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) Valerie Santos and the Shaw community to break ground on a long-awaited 1 million square foot development expected to bring vital economic opportunities to the neighborhood in the form of commercial, hotel and housing space.

“Shaw is one of the District’s revered historic communities,” said Mayor Fenty. “My administration is committed to investing in development that extends economic opportunities into our most cherished neighborhoods.”

Shaw residents have long called for the redevelopment of the O Street Market area. The Fenty administration committed $35 million in tax increment financing (TIF) and $2.5 million in predevelopment funds for the project.

Situated on two blocks between 7th and 9th Streets and O and P Streets, NW, the CityMarket at O project will include more than 87,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space and more than 600 units of residential and affordable housing. First constructed in 1881, the historic O Street Market will be reconstructed and incorporated into a new 71,000 square foot Giant Food Store.

CityMarket at O will have major economic benefits for the surrounding community, producing up to 390 full time jobs and up to 500 construction jobs. The Roadside Development team has given over a quarter of a million dollars back to the neighborhood in the form of scholarships, donations and amenities to local resident programs. Additionally, both Roadside Development and Giant have committed to recruiting and hiring Shaw residents for CityMarket at O.

The first phase of construction – to be completed in 2013 – will include the new Giant store, 395 apartments, a 190-room hotel and 500 parking spaces. The second phase of construction will bring 80 units of affordable housing for seniors and a 130-unit condominium building.

“This project represents true collaboration between the community and the public and private sectors,” said Deputy Mayor Santos. “The creation of a great new grocery store as part of this exciting mixed-use development demonstrates the District’s commitment to increasing resident access to quality retail across all of our neighborhoods.”

And this morning at 10:30am there was a groundbreaking for the Howard Theater at 620 T Street, NW. Council Member Graham tells us:

” The Howard Theatre Restoration Foundation and the Howard Theatre Community Committee will announce the year-long, $28-million restoration tomorrow at 10:45 in front of the Howard Theatre.

Council Member Graham has fought for more than a decade to get the Howard Theatre restored. Over his entire term he has gotten passed millions in grant appropriations and tax incentives culminating in a partnership with Ellis Development. The new Howard Theatre will include a museum, banquet hall and the most technologically advanced acoustic and video recording equipment. The theatre is scheduled to be fully restored by November 2011.

The concrete base covering the original façade of the Howard Theatre is in the process of being removed exposing the original exterior for the first time in decades.”

A great week for Shaw!