From a press release:
“The first new cinema complex to be developed in the southeast quadrant of the District of Columbia will be located at The Yards. The lease signing by Showplace Icon Theaters was announced today by Forest City Washington, master developer of The Yards.
The 16-screen, all-digital, premium cinema complex with approximately 1,500 seats will occupy 66,400 SF in a new building to be constructed on a site that is currently used by DC Water on N Place SE, one block east of the Washington Nationals’ ballpark at the western edge of The Yards. Each theater in the new Showplace Icon at The Yards will feature wall-to-wall screens and premium sound, deluxe leather recliner seats and reserved seating. The facility will also have exclusive VIP levels with adults-only access and tables for enjoying food and beverages inside the auditoriums. The theatre’s Lobby Lounge will feature a full bar, along with a tasty menu of appetizers, small plates, snacks and desserts for enjoying before, during or after the show. Showplace Icon at The Yards will also have its own integrated parking garage with 320 spaces, a premium convenience factor for cinema patrons.
Construction is expected to begin in early 2016 with opening projected for early 2018. Forest City has finalized a deal with the District of Columbia through the Deputy Mayor’s Office for Planning and Economic Development to acquire additional parcels that are adjacent to The Yards site along First Street SE. DC Water operations currently on those sites are to be relocated. The theatre construction start is dependent upon DC Water’s timetable for vacating that portion of the property.
“Showplace Icon will add an exciting new facet of high-end, cinematic entertainment to The Yards,” said Forest City President Deborah Ratner Salzberg. “It has been a complicated process to get this project to this point and we thank Kerasotes Showplace Theatres, the DC Government and DC Water for the wonderful cooperation and patience they have shown throughout this process,” she added.
This latest addition announced for The Yards comes as construction on the project’s third residential building is nearing completion. Arris, a 327-unit luxury apartment community located nearby at Fourth and Tingey Streets SE, will welcome its first residents in early 2016. Pre-leasing will begin this fall. Arris will also bring another 19,000 SF of street-level retail space to this growing waterfront neighborhood in the Capitol Riverfront district.
Across Fourth Street SE from Arris, construction is expected to begin in spring 2016 on a three- building residential project that will bring the first for-sale units to The Yards via a 140-unit condo building to be developed by PN Hoffman. Concurrent with that development, Forest City will develop a two-building, 190-unit apartment community. Both projects are expected to be completed by spring 2018.
The dining scene at The Yards continues to grow, as well. The latest concept from DC restaurateur Bo Blair‘s Georgetown Events is well under construction in the Lumber Shed on Water Street at Third Street SE. To be known as Due South, the new restaurant will feature a menu of southern-style cuisine when it opens this summer. In addition, a construction permit was issued recently for Nicoletta Pizzeria, a popular NYC pizza operation from Osteria Morini’s Chef Michael White. Nicoletta will operate its carryout service from two of the riverfront retail spaces beneath the overlook area in Yards Park.”
