Save the Date
Mark your calendars and get ready for the DowntownDC BID’s State of Downtown public forum, taking place on Thursday, April 28, at the Newseum (555 Pennsylvania Avenue) from 8:00 am to 9:30 am. This year’s theme: “Kicking into High Gear.” The forum will include a panel discussion on Downtown’s economic future and highlights from the 2010 State of Downtown Report. The report, published annually, shows Downtown’s growth and economic trends and how they relate to the larger DC and regional economies. It provides the best information available on the Downtown economy for BID members, property owners, commercial tenants, developers, investors and policymakers. Stay tuned. Invitations and further details will follow.

A Blossoming Affair

For more information about the National Cherry Blossom Festival, including donations to the fund and a full schedule of events, visit www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org.

Community Connection
The March SAM of the Month meeting took place at the Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church (900 Massachusetts Avenue), the historic neoclassical church now uniquely linked to a 12-story, 280,000-square-foot (SF) trophy office building by a soaring glass atrium. Christopher Weathers, the church’s director of operations, informed the SAMs that the new building—which won a 2010 DowntownDC BID Momentum Award—was developed on land previously owned by the church. During its development, the church received a new fellowship hall, café and commercial offices. Following a drastic dip in membership and attendance that began in the 1960s, the church’s congregation has grown to about 90 members in the past six years.

At the meeting, Diana Mayhew, president of the National Cherry Blossom Festival and Director of Events for the DowntownDC BID, also thanked the SAMs for their assistance with the Festival and gave an overview of this year’s festivities. Scott Pomeroy, the BID’s sustainability program manager, spoke briefly about recent partnerships and initiatives, including wind power at the SAM headquarters building at 1229 New York Avenue and the expanded Downtown public recycling program. The SAMs will be responsible for maintaining 300 new recycling cans in Downtown and serving as on-the-street liaisons who educate people about public recycling.

The SAM of the Month meetings recognize individual SAMs for their stellar performance and informs all SAMs of new developments in the DowntownDC BID area by enhancing their understanding of Downtown institutions, which enables them to better assist visitors, workers and residents.

During the meeting, Maintenance Team Member Nelson Giron and Safety/Hospitality Team Member Brenda Holmes were recognized as the February SAMs of the Month.

Nelson Giron joined the SAMs three years ago and has been recognized for putting forth his best efforts and setting an example for the Maintenance Team. A first-time SAM of the Month winner, Giron says that he likes his job because it allows him to assist the city with keeping Downtown clean for stakeholders. A former restaurant worker, he has three children aged 11, 10 and 6. Giron relishes doing activities and going places with his family.

Brenda Holmes has been a member of the Safety/Hospitality team since February 2009. The job suits the erstwhile security guard well. “I like people. I’m a people person and enjoy helping them,” she said. “I truly like to meet and greet.” Her supervisor agrees, contending that Holmes receives praise from her fellow SAMs and the public for her diligence. Like Nelson, Holmes enjoys spending time with family and is a first-time SAM of the Month winner. In her spare time, she fancies cooking, entertaining and going to the movies.

Transforming the Landscape
The “hole in the doughnut of Downtown” is about to disappear. On April 4, Hines/Archstone will officially break ground on Phase I of the CityCenterDC mixed-use development slated for the Old Convention Center site located between 9th and 11th Streets and New York Avenue and H Street.  When completed, the project will create a bustling new focal point for Downtown and serve as the capstone to Downtown DC’s remarkable revitalization as its office buildings will support Downtown’s role as the region’s premier office market; its housing will support Downtown’s growing residential community; and its retail will anchor the Downtown DC Shopping District.

The timing couldn’t be better. The credit markets are now more fluid, DC’s job growth is strong, the Downtown and near Downtown apartment and condo markets are exhibiting solid performance, and several new residential projects have broken ground over the past few months, with others expected —all of which bodes well for future retail demand at CityCenterDC.

Construction on the 10-acre Downtown site will include 1 million square feet (SF) of office space, 458 apartments, 216 condos, 325,000 SF of retail, a 350- to 400-room hotel and a 1,555 space underground parking garage, which will be developed in the first phase. Development costs for Phase I of the project are $700 million. The second phase, which includes the hotel and retail, is approximately $140 million. The third phase will be developed by Gould Properties as a 500,000 SF-plus office building and 30,000 to 40,000 SF of retail for approximately $200 million. Thus, the total investment is $1.04 billion—impressive, indeed.

CityCenterDC also will provide a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood with entertainment and civic/cultural uses. Special features will include a park that offers public programming, a central plaza and pedestrian-oriented alleyway with retail shops, green terraces and roof tops, and bike parking spaces. The developers will reintroduce 10th and I Streets by extending them through the project and offering curbside parking. The site will also include sidewalk vendors and could possibly be used as a demonstration project for mobile vendors. Once completed in the second half of 2013, the development will bring Downtown’s total shoppers’ goods retail presence to approximately 700,000 SF, the size of a good regional mall.

The development follows by five months the construction that began in November 2010 on the new $520 million Washington, DC Marriott Marquis Convention Center headquarters hotel. Scheduled for completion in 2014, the hotel will generate $15 million to $20 million in local tax revenues.

Chinatown Opportunity
Douglas Development Corporation (792 H Street) has nabbed prime real estate on the northeast corner of 7th and H Streets near one of the city’s busiest pedestrian intersections and where Douglas has redeveloped the historic block of 7th Street between G and H Streets in Chinatown.  The company partnered with McCaffery Interests, Inc., a fully integrated Chicago-based real estate firm, to purchase 675 H Street, formerly occupied by CVS near the Chinatown Arch. Expect to see national and international retailers and office space spring up at the 45,000-plus SF site. The property, boarded up for years and bought at auction, will be redeveloped into a state-of-the-art, mixed-use development. It abuts three neighboring lots, 627-631 H Street, purchased recently by Monument Realty. Those properties were once home to the popular China Doll Gourmet restaurant and will be developed into an 80,000 SF Class A office building.

Location, Location, Location
Market Square has sold for $615 million, or $904 per SF, setting a new record for office building sales in DC. The 679,710 SF property is located at 701 & 801 Pennsylvania Avenue halfway between the US Capitol and the White House. Built in 1990, the Class A office buildings form an arc around the US Navy Memorial. The certified LEED silver and Energy Star rated property is home to leading global law firms and well-known Fortune 500 companies such as Procter & Gamble, Bayer Corporation, United Healthcare and AstraZeneca. Beacon Capital partners LLC of Boston sold the buildings to Georgia-based Wells Real Estate Investment Trust II, Inc.

More Room for Thought
Progress continues on the $28 million Cato Institute (1000 Massachusetts Avenue) headquarters expansion and renovation project that began last year. The adjacent National Medical Association building (1012 10th Street) purchased by Cato in 2009 was razed to make way for nearly doubling the size of Cato’s existing facility to 76,000 SF. The public policy research foundation will increase its six-story building height by one level. When completed, the new, seven-story building will include expanded office space, a new 200-seat auditorium, conference and classroom facilities, below-grade parking, a fitness center, a library and a roof terrace. Akridge (601 13th Street), the full-service real estate firm, manages the project, which is expected to be completed in early 2012.

Back on Track?
Noodle fans rejoice … maybe. Word on the street is that Wagamama is wagging its tail, and once again it’s pointing toward Downtown DC. The pan-Asian restaurant, with more than 90 locations worldwide, has its sights on 418 7th Street, where it plans to open later this year. The company announced two years ago that it would move into the former Olsson’s Books & Records space in the spring of 2010. Then things changed. Now it appears the award-winning chain that cooks food fresh to order might be back on track and ready to satisfy local cravings for its popular chicken katsu curry and signature yaki soba dishes in a fast-casual setting. We’ll see. For more information about Wagamama, visit www.wagamama.us.

Soupy Sales
Looking for low-fat, vegetarian, dairy-free and gluten-free soup? Zoup! Fresh Soup Company is opening at 1101 Vermont Avenue this month, bringing more than 100 varieties of soups—from pumpkin pie bisque and macaroni and cheese soup to Mulligatawny and hearty chicken pot pie soup—to the Downtown and DC dining experience. As the nation’s leading fast-casual soup restaurant concept, Zoup! offers 12 hand-crafted soup varieties per day, served with fresh baked bread and meeting assorted culinary and dietary needs. Salads, grilled and rolled sandwiches, baked desserts and beverages also round out the menu. For more information, visit www.zoup.com.

Greek Eats
Everybody knows the 7th Street corridor near the Verizon Center (601 F Street) is home to lots of national and up-and-coming eateries catering to a range of savory traditional and ethnic fare. Recent arrivals include Carmine’s (425 7th Street), Hill Country (which opened at 410 7th Street last month) and Merzi (415 7th Street). Now Cava Grill, a Greek-inspired eatery with locations on Capitol Hill and in Bethesda and Rockville, Maryland, hopes to join them. Think lamb, hummus, pita, feta, tzatziki and falafel—you get the picture. Cava Mezze, the team behind the concept, offers both fast-casual and full service restaurants. It’s on the hunt for 2,000 SF to 2,500 SF of space to open a fast-casual spot along the lines of Chipotle (601 F Street). We’ll keep you posted. Meanwhile, for more information, visit www.cavagrill.com.

House of Pancakes
Let them eat crepes takes on a whole new meaning for Downtown residents, workers and visitors, who can now purchase the sweet and savory French pancakes at a second DowntownDC BID area creperie, Point Chaud Café & Crepes (1012 14th Street). It joins Crepes on the Walk, located on the Gallery Walk at 7th and G Streets, in the race to fill hungry tummies with the thin pancakes that are whetting appetites throughout the metropolitan Washington area. Point Chaud also offers illy, the authentic Italian espresso coffee, along with an assortment of teas, soy milk, hot chocolate and steamed milk. For more information click here.

Downtown Represents
Kudos once again to the minibar’s (405 8th Street) Jose Andres, named an Outstanding Chef in the prestigious James Beard Foundation Awards for the second year running. Dubbed “The Oscars of the food world,” the nation’s top culinary honor spans 10 categories. Only two other DC restaurants made the cut: Komi and Obelisk, for Outstanding Regional Chef. Winners will be feted at an annual Awards Ceremony and Gala Reception in New York City on May 9.

Historical Significance
The Willard InterContinental (1401 Pennsylvania Avenue) is now one of more than 250 hotels and resorts nationwide recognized by Historic Hotels of America, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, for preserving and maintaining its historic integrity, architecture and ambiance. We're not surprised. Membership is reserved for properties that are at least 50 years old, listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, or recognized locally as having historic significance. And boy does the Willard have history. Known as the “Residence of Presidents,” it has hosted several presidential inaugural events and is where Julia Ward Howe wrote The Battle Hymn of the Republic; Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., finished his famous “I Have a Dream speech; and President Ulysses S. Grant popularized the quintessential DC term, “lobbyist.” Congrats.

A Purifying Experience
To sharpen its competitive edge and purify the guest experience, Hyatt Regency Washington (400 New Jersey Avenue) has turned 34 of its 834 guestrooms into hypo-allergenic sanctuaries. Although intended for all travelers, the rooms are especially suited for guests with asthma, allergies and other respiratory sensitivities. Powered by Pure Solutions, a leader in the indoor air quality industry, the rooms are designed to remove up to 98% of air pollutants, including viruses, bacteria and pollen. All surfaces and fabrics are treated for maximum comfort, mattresses and pillows are encased in protective hypo-allergenic covering, and air is continuously circulated through a medical grade purifier. What all of this means, according to Hyatt, is that the rooms are, on average, 10 times more pure than outside air because of the lower particulate counts. Well, well.

Wholesome Fare
To the delight of shoppers who favor seasonal and local products from small family farms, the Penn Quarter FRESHFarm Market reopened on 8th Street between D and E Streets last month, with Robert Weland, executive chef at Poste Moderne Brasserie (555 8th Street), on hand for the opening day cooking demo. New this year: fresh milk and cheese from Clear Spring Creamery and heat-and-eat meals crafted from local seasonal ingredients by a new company, Harvest. In addition, Red Apron, which provides cured meats, will expand its offerings to include hotdogs and half smokes on a bun. Local fruits, vegetables, eggs, baked goods, handmade soaps, orchids and more still will be available every Thursday from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm through December 22—a day longer than last year, five days more than in 2009.

Get ready, too, for the FRESHFarm Market, By the White House on Vermont Avenue between H and I Streets, which returns on May 5 and continues through October 27.  It also will offer ready-to-eat food prepared by food vendors using locally-sourced ingredients. Other new participants this year: Capitol Kettle Corn and The Red Zebra, the pizza maker. Chef Olivier Perret of Ici Urban Bistro (806 15th Street) will host the opening day Chef at Market demo. The market will be open every Thursday, from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

For more information, including a full roster of farmers and producers, visit www.freshfarmmarket.org.

Artistic Allure
The Walter E. Washington Convention Center (801 Mount Vernon Place) is more than a colossal meeting place, it’s a fine arts house as well. The convention center has DC’s largest public art collection outside of a museum. And, get this—it’s worth $4 million. Who knew? More than 130 pieces of art from around the world, dating from 1968 to the present, is located throughout the facility. We’re talking sculptures, paintings, photography and more, created by both nationally and internationally recognized artists. The collection was assembled for the building’s opening in 2003 and adds “a sense of warmth and human scale to the large spaces.” Although public tours began around mid-2004, the notion of incorporating self-guided tours was put to rest following 9-11. Curator-guided tours are available by appointment but are limited. To register for a tour, call 202.249.3200.

And the Nominees Are …
Hats off to the Helen Hayes Awards nominees recognized recently for artistic excellence in local theater. DowntownDC BID area theaters received nods in 20 of 27 categories!

The categories ranged from Outstanding Director, Resident Musical to Outstanding Set Design, Resident Production. The Shakespeare Theatre Company (the Lansburgh Theatre, 450 7th Street, and Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F Street) picked up 20 nominations; Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company (641 D Street) gathered nine; and Ford’s Theatre (511 10th Street) received one.

The Helen Hayes Awards is one of the country’s most esteemed cultural events. This year’s black-tie awards ceremony will convene at the Warner Theatre (513 13th Street) on Monday, April 25. For the complete list of 2011 nominees, visit www.helenhayes.org.

A Taste of Italy
Many historic and elegant churches grace the Downtown landscape. Among them is Holy Rosary Church (595 3rd Street), serving the Italian-American and Catholic community since 1913. Originally established to serve Italian immigrants residing in nearby neighborhoods, the church not only offers spiritual and religious enlightenment today but also an active social and cultural agenda. Ten times a year, it publishes the Voce Italiana newspaper—dubbed the Italian American Gazette of the metropolitan Washington area and published in Italian and English—and houses Casa Italiana, the place for all things Italian. Throughout the year, Casa Italiana hosts events and cultural activities, including a language school (offering a range of classes from beginners to CELI exam preparations), summer camp, and cooking classes. Even choral groups from Italy use Casa Italiana Hall when touring major US cities. To jump on the bandwagon and to learn more, visit www.holyrosarychurchdc.org.

Case Closed
After 55 years, Howrey LLP (1299 Pennsylvania Avenue) is no more. Its partners voted to dissolve the law firm on March 15 and appointed a Dissolution Committee to oversee the day-to-day operations of the partnership’s business during the wind down. Howrey specialized in antitrust, intellectual property, and complex global litigation and arbitration. Those with inquiries can send an email to wind-down@howrey.com.

Creating a Green Community
DC’s efforts to green the environment have caught the eye of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which recently recognized the city as the nation’s leading EPA Green Power Community—meaning the local government, businesses and residents here collectively committed to buy green power in amounts that meet or exceed EPA's Green Power Community purchase requirements. Qualifying EPA energy sources include wind, solar, geothermal, biogas, biomass, and low-impact hydro-electric power. So, how well has DC performed? Very well. The city purchased nearly 756 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually—enough to meet 8% of the community's total electricity use. This voluntary feat catapulted DC into the nation’s No. 1 spot. There are 36 Green Power Communities across the country. Now, the challenge is to increase green power purchases 33% citywide by August 31.  This would mean that DC electricity users are purchasing a full 10% from green power—more than 1 billion kWh annually.

As an EPA Green Power Partner, the DowntownDC BID is one of 71 DC organizations that have, by committing to purchase green power, helped the city reach its No. 1 standing. “This is one of many initiatives the DowntownDC BID is launching this year to create a Downtown EcoDistrict,” according to DowntownDC BID Executive Director Richard Bradley. “We are incredibly excited to demonstrate how easy it is to join the Green Power Challenge and to do our part to generate interest among other businesses and buildings to purchase green power.”

LEEDing the Way
DC continues to lead the pack when it comes to green initiatives. The city recently ranked No. 1 on the US Green Building Council’s list of the most Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified space per capita in 2010. Although certainly not a state, its SF of certified LEED space per person--at 25.15 SF--outranked other states. The second leading contender on the Top 10 list, the state of Nevada, had 10.92 SF of LEED-certified space per capita. Not even close!

Keeping it All in the Family
As developers of the 10-acre CityCenterDC development begin preparing for the project’s official groundbreaking on April 4, the city is preparing to recycle and make available the site’s existing furniture, pavers, stick and ground lights, steel frames and other materials—for free. The former site of the Old Convention Center became a hot spot for some of Downtown’s most exciting events and activities, including Washington Kastles tennis matches, Cirque du Soleil, the Trapeze School New York and the pick-up/drop off point for Megabus and Boltbus. Under the “Re-Use the City” project, DC is seeking parties interested in the location’s Art Walk Frame, recycled glass pavers, bike racks, benches and even plants and trees. If you can use some of these materials, contact Paul Germain at Paul.German@clarkconstruction.com, or call 703.898.3466. Appointments must be made to pick up and transport the materials.

Biking into the Future
The League of American Bicyclists held its National Bike Summit at the Grand Hyatt Washington (1000 H Street) last month, attracting the likes of US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, New York City Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan and US Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. The three-day meeting drew bicycle planners, engineers and advocates from across the country and focused on multiple issues, including bike-transit planning and innovative facility design. The DowntownDC BID seized the opportunity to host a luncheon featuring a presentation by Mia Birk and Steve Durrant, executives at Alta Planning + Design, the creator of safe and healthy bicycling and walking communities. Held at BID headquarters, the discussion centered on bicycles and streetcars and pulled together transportation planning and engineering professionals from the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), Arlington County and Toole Design Group, which specializes in multi-modal transportation.

The BID’s intent was simple: to foster discussion and further collaboration. It was helpful that Birk and Durrant’s presentation provided an overview of best practices for integrating bicycle and streetcar infrastructure, particularly as DC seeks to develop a 37-mile, eight-line streetcar network. Examples were drawn from Portland, Oregon, which has the nation’s oldest modern streetcar network, as well as Seattle and Arlington, whose systems are in the design phases. Discussions also focused on safety and design issues.

For more information about the National Bike Summit, visit www.bikeleague.org.

Reaching Out to Bikers
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is gearing up to encourage more people to walk or bike to their destinations. A recent Metrorail Bicycle and Pedestrian Access Improvements Study recommends that the transit system triple bicycle access by 2020, quintuple it by 2030 and beef up the number of covered, secure bicycle parking facilities. Today, about 1,600 Metrorail riders access the rail system by bicycle—a number that WMATA wants to see increase to 12,000 riders by 2030. Metro now has roughly 1,700 bicycle racks and 1,270 key-operated bicycle lockers at 86 stations. The racks are free and available on a first-come, first-use basis; lockers are $200 annually, plus a $10 key deposit. More information about WMATA’s Bike ‘N Ride Bicycle Program is available at www.wmata.com/getting_around/bike_ride.

Moving On
Megabus and Boltbus have moved near Union Station from their temporary perch at CityCenterDC. Megabus moved on March 1 and has landed temporarily in another parking lot, on K and North Capitol Streets, while it scouts for a long-term home. The carrier will offer evening shuttle service to and from Union Station. Boltbus moved its service to 90 F Street, near the intersection of New Jersey Avenue, on February 28.  The carrier also began offering discount travelers curbside bus service at Union Station under a new pilot program established between the city and the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation early last year. Boltbus operates from the parking deck located on the mezzanine level.

The city’s long-term plan is to locate intercity buses in a yet-to-be constructed facility on the parking deck of Union Station, the city’s intermodal transportation center. This will provide a better customer experience than the current curb-side operations. Bus travelers will be able to get to their final destination by Metro, the DC Circulator or cab. Relocating the bus lines also has the benefit of easing the congestion on our sidewalks and streets that the current curbside operations create. For more information about Boltbus and Megabus, visit www.boltbus.com and www.megabus.com.

A Passionate Affair
The DowntownDC BID is a sponsor of Rail~Volution, the premier conference on transit and livable communities, which is coming to DC on Sunday, October 16 through Wednesday, October 19. Passionate practitioners who believe strongly in the role of land use and transit as equal partners in the quest for greater livability and greater communities are encouraged to attend. The conference and workshops will showcase what's happening around the region—from streetcars to Capital Bikeshare, from the Silver Line to the Purple Line, from Tyson's Corner to Silver Spring—and offer the opportunity for people to interact and learn from their peers around the nation. Rail~Volution started as a series of outreach and advocacy events in 1989. It was designed to develop advocates for the Portland metropolitan region's MAX Light Rail System but went national in 1995. For more information, including sponsorship opportunities and to enlist as a speaker, visit www.railvolution.com.

Tales from the 'Hood
The Washington, DC Economic Partnership’s (1495 F Street) 2011 Neighborhood Profiles book is now available. The book offers an in-depth look at more than 37 DC communities and major commercial corridors, including Downtown DC. It gives businesses the tools they need to make business decisions, such as information on neighborhood demographics, maps, local highlights and contact information for investment opportunities. The Profiles enable national, regional and local retailers to learn how DC and its neighborhoods are changing and what opportunities exist now and in the future. This year’s highlights include new maps highlighting retail anchors and traffic generators, as well as updated Metrorail rider counts and walk scores, which measure the walkability of neighborhoods. Copies of the Profiles are available online at www.wdcep.com and at WDCEP’s office.

A Different City
Long known as “chocolate city,” DC is gradually becoming “vanilla.” 2010 Census data show the city lost its black majority status for the first time since 1950. It now stands at 50% of the population—dropping 11.5% since 2000, a dip that happened faster than expected and which led experts to predict DC’s black majority will be no more come the next census. At the same time, DC’s overall population grew 5% since 2000, to 601,723—the first boost since a decline that began in the 1950s. The Hispanic and non-Hispanic white population combined grew more than 29%. Behind the trend is an economic disparity attributed in part to the job market, which is creating thousands of high-paying and high-skilled positions but producing fewer lower level ones. From 2000 to 2009, DC had a net gain of 64,000 jobs, according to an analysis by George Mason University and reported by the Washington Post. During the same period, a Brookings Institution analysis shows the city gained 39,000 households with incomes of $75,000 or more and lost 37,600 households with incomes of $50,000 or less.

Jamie Foxx at the 2011 BET Awards

Lights, Camera, Action!
Hurray to DC for attracting several new television projects this year, boosting the local economy in the process. This is especially good news for actors, electricians, engineers and production assistants. But several hotels, restaurants, hardware stores and other businesses also are benefiting from the onslaught from TV land. Who’s set up shop here, or will: Showtime’s Homeland drama pilot; a pilot episode of ABC’s Georgetown; HBO’s Veep comedy series; E! Entertainment’s new Potomac Fever project; and TLC’s DC Cupcakes reality series. Special televised events also had an impact. Who could forget The BET Honors at the Warner Theatre (515 13th Street) in January, or the White House tribute to Berry Gordy in February, which PBS filmed? Both events generated more than $1.5 million for the city and created work for 250 local residents.

Constructive Art Form
Graffiti got you down? Don’t despair. The DC Department of Public Works (DPW) offers DC residents a few ways to remove the public markings from private property to ensure that graffiti doesn’t cause blight, increase crime or reduce property values. DPW crews will remove the graffiti once it receives a waiver from you. Click here for a form. Or you can opt to receive a voucher, redeemable for paint supplies at several local paint stores or request a graffiti removal kit that includes a non-toxic solvent. DC residents should call 311 to obtain a voucher or request the kit.

To further combat illegal graffiti and reduce urban blight, DPW has collaborated with the DC Commission on Arts & Humanities to turn blighted walls into neighborhood art. MuralsDC, a free program, seeks privately-owned commercial buildings that are chronic targets of graffiti and located in areas highly visible from the street. In exchange for a colorful, more pleasurable art form, volunteer property owners consent to donate their DC-based space for at least one year and keep the mural intact for the entire year. Interested parties must apply to the program by the April 15 postmark deadline. For more information, click here.