Information on each sector of the Downtown BID area’s robust economy is summarized in the new report, published annually and scheduled for release on June 12. Designed to inform public and private sector decision makers about the current and future state of economic development in Downtown, the report highlights the employment, office and residential, hospitality and tourism, culture and entertainment, retail and transportation sectors.
 
Key findings are as follows: The Downtown BID area added 5,000 jobs in 2007 and will continue to add approximately 2,000 to 4,000 jobs each year until full build out is reached in 2014 or 2015. From 1997 through 2007, $8.6 billion has been invested in Downtown BID area development, bringing the number of surface parking lots and developable sites from 115 in 1997 to just 19 today. And the area’s office market boasts Class A rental rates of $59 per square feet (SF)—second to midtown Manhattan—and a Class A vacancy rate of 6.3%—fifth nationally behind midtown Manhattan, downtown Manhattan, Denver and Boston.

Other report highlights include the following:

•	Downtown is at the forefront of the movement advancing environmentally sustainable building practices and is home to five of DC’s eight LEED certified office buildings.
•	In 2007, 500 new residents arrived in the Downtown BID area, bringing the total population to 8,400 residents. In the 10 blocks surrounding the BID area, the population increased by 700 residents for a total of 36,200 residents.
•	Visitor attendance in the Downtown BID area hit an all time high of 9.5 million, fueled by the first full year of attendance at the Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture (8th and F Streets) and over one million visitors to the Washington Convention Center (11th and H Streets).
•	BID Metrorail ridership rose to 102,000 per weekday, up 2,000 riders per day from 2006. The DC Circulator bus carried about 6,600 daily riders in 2007, and served its 5 millionth passenger in December 2007.
•	The Downtown BID area is a significant contributor to DC’s fiscal resurgence. The net fiscal impact of the Downtown and Golden Triangle BID areas is estimated at $644 million for fiscal year 2007.

Copies of the report will be available beginning June 12 at www.downtowndc.org/sod.

Sprucing Up
It’s that time of year, and Downtown has sprung into its seasonal cleanup mode. Freshly painted street poles, new hanging flower baskets and new tree boxes are all popping into view as the Downtown BID’s Spring Beautification Initiative swings into high gear. During this time, sidewalks are power washed, flowers are planted, gum is removed from sidewalks, and tree grates and dead and dying trees are removed. This annual ritual is a collaborative effort with the National Park Service, the District Department of Transportation’s Urban Forestry Administration, Casey Trees and Downtown property managers to improve the area’s physical environment through a variety of beautification efforts. Members of the Downtown BID’s maintenance team—part of the safety, hospitability and maintenance corps known as SAMs—perform most of the duties and can be seen over the one square mile of the Downtown BID area making physical improvements to provide a remarkable urban experience for workers, residents and visitors.

Blooming Success
Washington’s best-known annual event, the National Cherry Blossom Festival®, may be over for now but the memories linger on. The big news: The 2007 Parade of the National Cherry Blossom Festival has won a nomination for a local Emmy Award. The parade is one of three nominated for live special events coverage, other than news or sports. The local chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences will announce the winners at the 50th Emmy Awards in DC on June 14.

This year’s Festival lured more than 160,000 DC residents and a total of more than 1 million visitors. More than 120 million TV viewers tuned in to keep up with the parade, and Festival events were featured in more than 622 broadcast news stories nationwide and covered in more than 400 newspaper and magazine articles. If you somehow managed to miss this event, which included 200 cultural performances by local DC community groups, mark your 2009 calendar. The Festival will run from Saturday, March 28 to Sunday, April 12. The parade will take place on Saturday, April 4.

And the Winner Is?
Pensare Design Group (1313 F Street) has done it again. The firm has coveted a second honor for work on the Downtown BID’s VISion invitation, used to promote our 10th anniversary celebration at Sidney Harman Hall in November 2007. The International Academy of the Visual Arts (IAVA) recognized Pensare with a 2008 Communicator Award of Excellence. The award, the highest issued by the organization, is given to entries that demonstrate an ability to communicate that puts them among the best in the field. IAVA received more than 8,000 entries from communications professionals in companies and agencies of all sizes. Pensare was recognized in the Marketing/Promotion-Invitation category. The ultra-creative firm also recently received a silver award from Summit International Awards for its design of the VISion invitation. 
 

Center of Attention
It’s official. The 10-acre old Convention Center redevelopment project has a new name, CityCenter DC. An $850 million mixed-use project—to include retail, housing, and office space—is planned for the site, located between New York Avenue and 9th and H and 11th Streets, featuring an upscale, 400-room hotel and 100,000 square feet (SF) of additional retail space. The city hails this latest move as another significant step toward creating a new, 24-hour Downtown destination. It positions the Downtown BID area as the heart and soul of an emerging and robust shopping district, one destined also to become a regional destination. “All the cards are either in place or falling decisively into place, making for what will amount to a very radical, new shopping experience for the region’s visitors, residents and workers,” asserts Richard Bradley, executive director of the Downtown BID.
 
The hotel will accommodate up to 40 percent of demand spurred by visitors to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and will house at least three floors of high-end retail, including, perhaps, Downtown’s second department store, or a big box retailer. Hines and Archstone, the master developers, signed a 99-year lease with the city for the final 53,000 SF parcel. For more information and to view plans, visit www.oldconventioncenter.com.

A Last Refuge 
Wah Luck House (6th and H Streets), a Chinatown landmark, is up for sale. Built with city assistance 28 years ago to house Chinese residents displaced by the old Convention Center, the 153-unit building was constructed in less than a month. It is the last low-income housing built in DC with federal Section 8 funding. Wah Luck’s contract with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) expires in 2010. But Scott Casselman with Coldwell Banker Commercial’s Ideal Realty Group says the building “will remain affordable and no one will be kicked out.” Meanwhile, as discussions are being held with potential national buyers and a few local parties, it is slated to undergo a complete renovation.

New Digs
A new apartment building, Ashton Judiciary Square, is under construction at 750 3rd Street, just south of existing residential buildings along Massachusetts Avenue and one block northeast of the National Building Museum (401 F Street). Developed by Texas-based Hanover Company, the project will add 49 high-end rental units and 41 underground parking spaces to the Downtown BID area when it delivers in Spring 2009.

The site formerly was home to a Best Western hotel, which Abdo Development demolished before the company abandoned plans to build a 90-unit condominium building, Penn Tower, in 2007. Abdo sold the property to Hanover, which broke ground in February 2008. When completed, the $45 million building will bring the total number of units delivered in the Downtown BID area since 2000 to 3,420. As Downtown approaches full build out, the only remaining sites to be developed for residential use include the old Convention Center site, which will include 215 condos and 458 apartments, and the air rights over I-395.

Condominiums		Apartments	Total
2000	0	0	0
2001	0	0	0
2002	9	154	163
2003	80	665	745
2004	257	513	770
2005	835	0	835
2006	348	0	348
2007	186	135	321
YTD 2008	0	189	189
Under Construction	0	49	49
Total	1,715	1,705	3,420

Doctoring Up the Skyline
The American College of Surgeons broke ground on its new DC home at 20 F Street last month. The 165,000 SF office building—which offers amenities such as a fitness and conference center, a rooftop deck and a two-story atrium lobby—will house the organization’s growing DC staff and create a more visible presence for the surgical profession on Capitol Hill. The surgeons and affiliated organizations will occupy two of 10 floors in the building developed by Boston Properties (505 9th Street), the Greater Washington Commercial Association of Realtors’ 2007 Developer of the Year awardee.

Speaking of awards, Boston Properties received more recognition last month when the DC Building Industry Association bestowed an achievement award upon Raymond Ritchey, executive vice president and national director of acquisitions & development. He was one of three recipients honored at a black tie dinner.

Downtown Hospitality
After a very strong 2007, Downtown BID area hotels are hoping to continue their impressive performance in a slowing economy. According to Smith Travel Research, 1st Quarter (1Q) 2008 figures demonstrate mixed results. Downtown BID area hotels continue to outshine local competition with occupancy rates of 70% (versus 67% for all other DC hotels) and revenue per available room of $153 (16% higher than for hotels outside the Downtown BID’s boundaries). However, 1Q 2008 occupancy rates, revenue per available room and total revenues are lower than 1Q 2007. The Downtown BID area’s 24 operating hotels, representing 8,691 rooms, generated $120 million in revenue in the first three months of 2008, down 4% from total 1Q revenues a year ago.

Positive signs for the industry include healthy average daily room rates, which have increased 3% from 1Q 2007. Preliminary reports for April 2008 indicate a very strong month for DC and Downtown BID area hotels.

YTD (Jan-March)		Occupancy	Average Daily  Room Rate	RevPar (a)	Room Revenues  (millions)
2008		70%	$220	$153	$120
2007		74%	$213	$156	$125
2006		66%	$203	$133	$110
2005		72%	$195	$141	$117
Year-End
2007		76%	$213	$163	$527
2006		72%	$201	$145	$477
2005		75%	$192	$144	$487
(a) Revenue Per Available Room is calculated by dividing room revenue by rooms available. (Occupancy rate multiplied by average room rate also will closely approximate RevPar.) Source: Smith Travel Research

Saluting the Best
The Maryland/DC Chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties recognized some of the area’s best commercial real estate properties and firms at its annual Awards of Excellence ceremony last month at the Willard Hotel. Included in the lineup were several potent Downtown BID area notables. They are as follows:

•	Best Urban Office up to 150,000 SF – 1121 14th Street, designed by Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum
•	Best Urban Office over 150,000 SF – 620 F Street, designed by SmithGroup
•	Best Mixed Use Project – The Newseum, built by Turner Construction Company
•	Best Interiors over 25,000 SF – Miller & Chevalier (655 15 Street), designed by SKB Architecture & Design
•	Best Marketing Program – 1201 K Street, developed by JBG Companies
•	Firm of the Year – Akridge (601 13 Street)

Awards of Merits also went to the following two Downtown BID area finalists:

•	Best Urban Office over 150,000 SF – Columbia Center (1152 15 Street), designed by Hickok Cole Architects
•	Best Real Estate Transaction—Sale or Re-capitalization – 777 6th Street, developer Trammell Crow Company

Food Glitz ‘n Glamour
Since the finalists were announced at a reception in March, we’ve been anxiously awaiting the 26th Annual RAMMY Restaurant Awards Gala, presented by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW). Come June 29, we’ll finally discover which Washington, DC, area winners walk away with the big dish. 

Downtown BID area restaurants dominate many award categories. For instance, there’s Brasserie Beck (1101 K Street), Central Michel Richard (1001 Pennsylvania Avenue), Proof (775 G Street), and The Source by Wolfgang Puck (575 Pennsylvania Avenue) all in the New Restaurant of the Year category; Oyamel (401 7th Street), Poste Moderne Brasserie (555 8th Street) and Zaytinya (701 9th Street) in the Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year category; and—with input from the public—Brasserie Beck, Central Michel Richard, Poste Moderne Brasserie, Proof and The Source by Wolfgang Puck in the Hottest Restaurant Bar Scene of the Year category. By the way, only Downtown BID area restaurants even made it as finalists in this category!

Oh, the choices, the choices! Stay tuned; we’ll list the winners. Can’t wait? Tickets to the gala are $200 for RAMW members, $250 for non-members. For more information, visit www.ramw.org or call 202.331.5990.

Sweet
Co Co. Sala (929 F Street) is Downtown’s first step into the world of dessert tasting menus, replete with wine and cocktail pairings. This trendy new lounge and restaurant has blown diners away with its chocolate-infused menu, including four different five-course chocolate tasting menus, each with its own theme: India, Italy, Aztec and childhood favorites. Along with the desserts and pastries, patrons also can satisfy cravings of the salty and savory variety with Co Co. Sala’s trio dishes that incorporate chocolate and coffee in surprising mediums. The lounge takes reservations, caters to private events and offers carry out. Visit www.cocosala.com for more information or call 202.347.4265.

…and Spicy
In addition to rolling out savory food—mango and sticky-rice dessert included—Asian Nine (915 E Street), also new to the Downtown BID area, has found a way to one-up the competition.  It will offer wine and sake tasting toward the end of the month and says a raw bar, bento boxes and brunch are all on the drawing board, as are take out, delivery, valet parking and a weekend happy hour. For more about this colorful restaurant go to www.asianine.com, or call 202.629.4355.

Read All About It
Pastry chef Roger Potter, a former landscaper turned baker, has landed at The Source by Wolfgang Puck (575 Pennsylvania Avenue), the new restaurant at the Newseum. Look for his seasonal desserts, including “very fruit-forward” spring and summer menus, in the 130-seat dining room and the 70-seat bar and lounge. Potter plans to put a fun twist on classic desserts such as cobblers and cheesecakes. No stranger to Washington, he has worked as a pastry chef most recently at Rock Creek at Mazza Gallerie and has also held local pastry positions at 1789 and Clyde’s of Gallery Place.

Kitchen Delights
Seeking a hip new experience? Or are you just tired of scorching pots and pans? Well, head out for a little culinary fun. CulinAerie, a recreational cooking school, expects to open this fall at 1131 14th Street. The street level space, with a glass-front, will feature two large, state-of-the-art kitchen classrooms for both participation and demonstration cooking classes. The focus will include baking and pastry, wine tastings, series classes, technique workshops and international cuisine seminars. Two L’Academie de Cuisine graduates, business partners Susan Holt and Susan Watterson, also will offer an array of private events, including team-building and team-bonding sessions and amateur Iron Chef competitions. CulinAerie begins accepting reservations July 1. For more information, call 202.236.6111.

Bread Winner
Rising early to serve Downtowners fresh bagels hardly fazes the folks at Bruegger’s, which opened a new bagel shop last month at 505 9th Street. The bakery is the second to sprout in DC in less than three months, and another is slated to open later this year. The Downtown BID area location seats 58 and offers a menu that includes signature soups, Green Mountain coffee roasters and absolutely no artificial trans fats. 

The Comeback Kid
Brace yourself for a massive shopping spree. Come 2012, the Downtown DC shopping district is expected to be in full bloom. That’s when the area will reach a critical mass of shoppers’ goods retail, according to a new retail brochure released by the Downtown BID. The report, Downtown DC Shopping District, notes while retail has yet to achieve regional success, that will all change in the next four years. With more than 500,000 square feet (SF) of existing shoppers’ retail already in place, the Downtown BID shopping district has 90,000 SF of retail space available today and another 600,000 SF in the pipeline.

The old Convention Center (11th & H Streets), the largest cluster of planned Downtown retail space at 400,000 SF, will anchor a blend of shops, restaurants, cafes and boutique grocery stores. Richard Bradley, the BID’s executive director, says “Essentially, in a few short years, the Downtown will return to its former retail glory, and then some.” So, get ready to shop until you drop. Until then, to review a copy of the report, which provides extensive data on retail demand drivers and market statistics and projections, visit www.downtowndc.org/retail.

The Long Arm of the Law
The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Visitors Center is moving its gift shop, exhibits and offices from the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) building (605 E Street) later this month to settle into the historic Jenifer Building (400 7th Street), the location of its administrative offices. AARP allowed the Visitors Center to stay past the April expiration of its lease as it sought the space formerly vacated by Moto Photo, which closed in January. The Center will lease about 1,200 SF of space and says it expects to attract more foot traffic at its busy, new location. 
 

On the Edge
It’s wacky, it’s risky—and it’s back! The Capital Fringe Festival descends on Downtown this summer for 18 full days—its longest run yet—from July 10 through July 27. The independent performing arts festival promises to amuse and delight revelers of all ages again this year with more original performances than ever. According to the organizers, “presentations run the gamut—there will be one-act plays, comedies, dramas, musicals, dance, audience participation, puppetry, improvisation, clowns, hip-hop, jazz, poetry, social commentaries, mime and more that is just simply unclassifiable.” Go figure.

Ticket prices to the award-winning Festival typically run $15 to $35, although savings are available this year with $50, $75, $110 and $300 festival passes. For $300, you can get an All Access Pass and see as many shows as you want, choosing to reserve tickets or get them at the door. The other three ticket options are flexible passes and can be used discriminately. With a Six-Pack Pass ($75), for example, you can get six shows for the price of five and have the flexibility to see six individual performances, bring five friends to one performance or anything in between. Merrymakers forgoing the pass option are required to also pay $5 for the Fringe button, required to enter all performances.

Fort Fringe (607 New York Avenue), the location of the Fringe box office, will open in a circus tent July 7 from noon to 8 pm. The Opening Night Party at Fort Fringe kicks off immediately afterwards. Also, Festival tickets go on sale online and by phone beginning June 23. For more information, visit www.capitalfringe.org or call 1.866.811.4111. 

Welcome Back
Steven J. Smith returned to Washington last month as the new general manager of the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capital Hill (400 New Jersey Avenue). Smith started his Hyatt career 23 years ago at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington before being promoted a year later to the Hyatt Regency Washington, where he held various positions, including front office manager and assistant executive housekeeper, until 1990. In his new duties, Smith will oversee the entire operation of the 834-room hotel and its 460 employees. He returns to Washington from the Hyatt Regency Long Beach in California, where he served as general manager for three years.

Bye to the Y
Say it isn’t so! The YWCA Gallery Place Fitness and Aquatics Center (624 9th Street) shut it doors for the last time May 19. Beset by financial woes, the YWCA National Capital Area was forced to close the popular destination, which had a gym and pool and offered a number of exercise and combat sports classes. Luckily, about 1,000 members weren’t left high and dry. May fees were canceled, refunds will be issued for pre-paid accounts and arrangements were made to get members special rates at the YMCA on Rhode Island Avenue, Vida Fitness (601 F Street) and the Fit Club at the Hyatt (400 New Jersey Avenue). No word yet on plans for the space, which is owned by the YWCA National Capital Area.

A Taste of the Town
By all accounts, the Verizon Center’s Taste of Ten luncheon last month was a smash. More than 1,500 people turned out—twice the number expected—to nibble on delectable dishes prepared by local restaurants. But the big number of the day was $15,000. That’s how much was raised for local charities—in less than an hour! The luncheon capped the Verizon Center’s 10th Anniversary festivities and benefited local Washington Sports & Entertainment charities. For $10, the packed crowd got to sample the fares of up to six of 13 participating restaurants. So overwhelming was the response, 500 people were turned away. Not to worry, the Verizon Center (601 F Street) plans to continue the luncheon next year, with plans to make it even bigger and better.

Get Out the Vote
Many Chinatown voters have trekked a long way to cast electoral ballots on, of all places, Capitol Hill. No more. Precinct 130 on the Hill was redrawn last month to create a separate, new polling station Downtown to better serve Chinatown’s changing housing and residential needs. Now, the area’s growing residential population and seniors from the northeast side of the neighborhood can avoid lengthy walks to and from the polls to cast votes closer to home. The new polling station, Precinct 143, is located at the Chinese Community Church at 500 Eye Street.

Economic Wax
Since cutting ticket prices last month, Madame Tussauds (1025 F Street) has lured more recession wary visitors to its doors. The wax attraction, which opened in October, reduced adult tickets from $25 to $18; children’s tickets from $18 to $12; and senior tickets from $23 to $15. They also reduced the standard price cut always in place for students, firefighters and military and police officers to $18 for adults and $12 for children. But Maryland, Virginia and DC residents now get to save more than anyone (tickets are $13 for adults and seniors; $9 for children). Nothing like a price cut to seduce the crowds. That and, perhaps, higher gas prices, which have forced some families to participate in recreational activities closer to home. Then, too, maybe recently adding the Denzel Washington wax figure has paid off.

Quiet!
“Bans on “noncommercial free speech” were removed years ago, but recent flare-ups in DC neighborhoods have caused the City Council to revisit the issue. Last month, it passed an initial bill setting a 70-decibel limit—equal to the sounds made by busy traffic or a vacuum cleaner—for residential-zoned areas. A higher threshold of 80 decibels—equivalent to a busy street sound or an alarm clock—was established for nonresidential areas. The amendment to the DC Noise Control Protection Amendment of 2008 seeks to limit noise made by daytime public speakers, thereby providing relief to some residential communities. But it allows protestors to increase the noise level slightly Downtown, much to the chagrin of Downtown residents, who cite potential quality of life and safety issues. The Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA) says an allowable level of 70 decibels is “both harmful and a penalty for those of us who chose Downtown living.”
 
Well, the City Council thought otherwise. On June 3, it approved an amended bill that sets the decibel limit for noncommercial speech in residential areas at 80 decibels--as measured in someone's home. Downtown was excluded from the bill, meaning there are no noise control limits as it relates to noncommercial speech.

Greening the Meeting
After winning the International Hotel & Restaurant Association Environmental Award for Hospitality Sustainable Development last year, the Willard InterContinental Hotel (1401 Pennsylvania Avenue) is still making waves on the eco-friendly front. Recently, using money it collected via carbon footprint offset efforts, the hotel donated five trees to the National Park Service’s National Capital Region Cherry Tree Replacement Fund. It also has unveiled Willard Green Meeting, a multi-optional, eco-conscious meeting structure that embraces environmental considerations throughout all stages of the meeting, from food and supplies to amenities and team-building eco-activities. Never a dull moment. Planners can access the Green Meeting Guide at www.washington.intercontinental.com.

Paying Respect
Last month, a mix of sobering news and good tidings highlighted National Police Week, the weeklong tribute to the heroes of American law enforcement. The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) at 400 7th Street added 358 new names of officers killed last year and those whose names were uncovered from previous years to its Memorial during the annual Candlelight Vigil, which attracted more than 20,000 officers, survivors and supporters—the largest crowd ever.

Among other highlights of the week: More than 1,200 participants in the Police Unity Tour rode their bicycles into town and handed NLEOMF a $1.2 million check for the Memorial Fund. Also, Target Corporation became the eighth million-dollar-plus donor to the National Law Enforcement Museum, committing $1.5 million and becoming an official sponsor of the Museum’s forensics lab.  
 

Checking the Pulse
Stand up, or sit down, and be heard. If you’re a Circulator customer, now is the time to provide valuable feedback about this Downtown transportation service. The annual Circulator survey will be available on buses this month during all days and hours of service. So when you see those friendly surveyors, say “Yes!” when asked to complete the simple, one-page questionnaire. They’re eager to get your input, so why not add your two-cents? Besides, your efforts will be rewarded. On The Fly, the green prototype-vending stand, is giving away $1.50 coupons to all participants.

Little White Lines
The Downtown BID and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) are collaborating to create four new Downtown bike lanes along the F, G, 6th and 11th Street corridors. The new lanes will connect existing bike lanes throughout the city, providing cyclists with expanded routes and defining shared road space. The plan, as DDOT rolls out its Smart Bike rental program, is to have the bike lanes complement citywide efforts to promote bicycling as a key component of public transportation in DC. To view the city’s Bicycle Master Plan, visit www.ddot.dc.gov.

Ease of Use
Don’t rush to register that bike! Effective June 1, bicycle registration is no longer required by law in DC, nor will it be available at any city police or fire station. Instead, bikers are encouraged to register bicycles with the National Bicycle Registry (NBR), a service that allows users to register bikes by serial number in a national database. Law enforcement officers love the database because NBR makes it easier and faster for them to identify and prove ownership of stolen bikes and return them to their rightful owners. To register a bike, you can purchase a NBR registration kit for $10 at area bicycle shops. For more information or to register online, visit www.nationalbikeregistry.com or call 1.800.848.BIKE.

Biking Into the Future
DC has yet to win an award for Best Bicycling City. But for those who believe the glass is half full, it’s certainly not impossible. Particularly since the city recently received faint praise from Bicycling Magazine, which ranked DC the No. 1 Most Improved Bicycling City in the country. There’s a lot riding on that assertion, including the fact that the city started the nation’s first bike sharing program and it has a greater number of elected officials who are avid cyclists. The bad news, according to the magazine, is that DC lacks bike lanes and has been slower than planned laying down more miles for the lanes.  A bike lane along Q all the way to 11th Street was completed just weeks ago, and painting on the remaining road was done a few days later.

Safe Travels
To make DC streets safer for pedestrians and to boost pedestrian activity, the city has released its final draft of the Pedestrian Master Plan, which will be phased in over 10 years. The $18 million plan caps an 18-month, extensive study of all aspects of the DC pedestrian environment.  Its recommendations include improving access and safety at crossings controlled by traffic lights and at uncontrolled intersections; providing sidewalks on both sides of all streets; increasing penalties for motorists for infractions that impact pedestrian safety and alloting points on their driving licenses; and expanding the city’s Photo Radar Speeding Reduction Program.

The detailed planning process was all-inclusive, bringing to the table DDOT and community stakeholders through a Technical Advisory Committee, an online survey, focus group meetings, field surveys in specific corridors and a citywide public meeting. DDOT plans to schedule public comment meetings this month in Wards 3, 6 and 7. The meetings are open to all city residents and comments will be accepted through June 20. For more information, visit www.ddot.dc.gov.
 

The Gift of Life
It’s time to sign up for the 19th Annual Susan G. Komen National Race for the Cure. The annual 5K event will be held on the National Mall on Saturday, June 7, rain or shine. As in the past, thousands of heartfelt walkers and racers—including Mayor Adrian Fenty and more than 50,000 breast cancer survivors—are expected to participate. The race raises significant funds—the goal is $2.5 million this year—and awareness for the fight against breast cancer, the most common cancer among American women, who have a 1 in 8 lifetime chance of developing the disease. Washington, DC, has the highest breast cancer mortality rate in the country. Last year, the Washington area received $3 million of the funds raised through the 2007 Race. Sign up and join the fight. For more information, and to register, visit www.nationalraceforthecure.org. 

Clinching a Top Spot
Washington ranks fifth among 50 U.S. metropolitan areas in a measure of interstate economic competitiveness, according to a recent report by the Beacon Hill Institute at Suffolk University in Boston. The area did well in the government and fiscal policy category, where it ranked second, and in the human resources and technology categories, where it ranked fourth. Not so strong was infrastructure, where the area ranked 48th. The Institute defines competitiveness as “the policies and conditions that ensure and sustain a high level of per capita income and its continued growth.” Cities rounding out the top five in the Metro Area Competitiveness Report 2007 are Salt Lake City; Boston; Denver; Portland, Oregon; and Washington, DC. For a copy of the report, visit www.beaconhill.org. 
   

Wednesday, June 11, 8:00 am 10:15 am
Washington, DC Economic Partnership
inDC economic trendsetters: Are We Building DC as the Knowledge Capital of the World?
WilmerHale
1875 Pennsylvania Avenue

Join the Washington, DC Economic Partnership for an engaging conversation on how to take advantage of the city’s knowledge assets. The discussion, part of the organization’s inDC economic trendsetters event series, will focus on how business, community, academia, culture and the public sector come together to build a knowledge capital. Featured speakers include Vivek Kundra, chief technology officer of the District of Columbia, and Steven Knapp, president of The George Washington University. To register, call 202.661.8670.

Thursday, June 12, 8:15 am – 10:00 am
Downtown DC BID
“Still Moving Forward: A Report on the State of Downtown”
Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue

The BID releases its annual State of Downtown Report showing the area’s growth and economic trends and how it relates to the larger DC and regional economies. The event will be held in conjunction with the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) as part of a weeklong series of events celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Ronald Reagan Building. Due to limited seating, the event is by invitation only. For more information, visit www.downtowndc.org.

Thursday, June 12 – Friday, June 13
Urban Land Institute
Developing Master-Planned Communities
Washington Convention Center
801 Mount Vernon Place

Hear how developers and consultants are creating successful, sustainable developments by making higher densities work, designing concepts for livable communities, dealing with NIMBYism and employing sales strategies for today’s markets. For more information or to register, visit www.uli.org/conferences, or call 1.800.321.5011.

Friday, June 13, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Downtown Neighborhood Association
Happy Hour
The Caucus Room
401 9th Street

Downtown residents and friends are invited to attend this happy hour sponsored by the Downtown Neighborhood Association. Complimentary appetizers and a cash bar will be available.

Tuesday, June 17, 8:00 am – 10:00 am
District Department of Transportation
Breakfast in the Bullpen
Nationals Park
1 Potomac Avenue SE

Learn about flexible commuting options, housing programs and resources to share with your employees at this event for large DC employers. Emeka Moneme, director of the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), and other regional transportation experts will explore housing and transportation solutions for living and working in DC. This event, co-sponsored by the Downtown BID, Commuter Connections and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, includes a tour of the ballpark. Space is limited and registration is required, so RSVP by June 13th. Call 202.293.1391, extension 301.

Tuesday, June 17, 9:00 am – 10:30 am
Energy Star and Cool Capital Challenge
Training Workshop on the Energy Star Portfolio Manager
Downtown DC BID – Boardroom
1250 H Street

The Downtown BID is hosting a free workshop for property and energy managers and engineers and organizational leaders interested in learning how to use Portfolio Manager to perform energy performance benchmarking. See a live, step-by-step demonstration of how the system works at this training co-sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star program and the Cool Capital Challenge. For more information and to register, visit www.downtowndc.org/energystar or call 202.661.7580.

Thursday, June 19, 7:30 am – 11:00 am
Greater Washington Commercial Association of Realtors
RealTOUR 2008
Nationals Stadium
1500 South Capitol Street

Take a comprehensive development tour through the Capital Riverfront, NoMa, Mt. Vernon, Downtown and other BID areas to see firsthand how development is progressing. The event starts with breakfast and speakers from the Capital Riverfront BID area before buses leave for separate development tours. Tickets are $70 for members, $90 for nonmembers, if purchased before June 13. Later, ticket prices increase to $110 for both members and nonmembers. For more information and to register, visit www.gwcar.org.