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More Help for the Homeless
The Downtown BID’s Homeless Services Team has partnered with the DC Public Library, particularly Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library (901 G Street), to offer an innovative outreach program that addresses the dire needs of  homeless individuals who frequently use libraries as a temporary refuge and to train library staff and security about their needs. MLK Library has a large homeless population during daytime hours. It has set aside second floor office space for the Homeless Services Team, which is on hand to help provide social services and assist the library in handling daily crises and addressing concerns about individuals who display mental health problems. The office is not open to the public.
"We’re grateful for the partnership and believe our relationship with our customers without homes will improve," said Pamela Stovall, associate director of the DC Public Library. "We have a social worker here now and can pick up the phone in order to get people connected to the proper social services. Thus far, it’s working out fine."
Downtown Homeless Services Team members will begin training MLK Library staff and security this month. Stovall says the library hopes to expand the training into branches citywide. Meanwhile, the Downtown BID is tapping into established relationships with its partners, including the District Departments of Human Services and Mental Health, to focus on client-centered services that can connect the homeless to adequate services that improve their lives. Over the years, Downtown Homeless Services Team members have proven to be great assets in helping homeless individuals obtain medical attention and other social services.
Getting Better All the Time
Earlier this year, the Downtown BID re-launched its website to make it more attractive and easier for users to follow their interests. As of today, we have garnered, on average, more than 550 additional viewing sessions per day compared to when the site was first revamped in January. That's almost 800 sessions per day more than this time last year and a total of nearly 2,500 sessions per day. It appears that we're not only gaining new viewers, but they are more loyal, too. At more than 7,600 average page views per day, our daily average is up by 1,740 pages since January and 2,400 pages a day more than in May 2009. We expect at least 1 million more page views in 2010 than we had in 2009. We can spot a trend when we see
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Downtown BID environmental services director Hiram K. Brewton (right) presents a special award to First District Commander David Kamperin.
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one and think we're getting closer to our goal of becoming "the first stop for anyone seeking Downtown business information."
Giving Thanks
The Downtown BID partners with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) to keep Downtown safe and track the most vulnerable homeless people so that they can be moved into supportive services and housing. Last month, the Downtown BID formally acknowledged First District Commander David Kamperin for his continued support of Downtown and his outstanding leadership on the BID’s Safety Alliance Council. The Council consists of members of the safety community, including the First District MPD, US Park Police and Metro Transit Police Department managers and security contractors, who join with property managers to confer about personal safety and auto, office and nuisance crimes.
Hiram K. Brewton, the Downtown BID’s environmental services director, presented Kamperin with a plaque during the First District 2010 Awards Gala held at Nationals Ballpark. Kamperin has chaired the Safety Alliance for two years.
Looking to Excel
The April SAMs of the Month have more than three years of experience among them: Safety and Hospitality Team Member Catherine Thompson and Maintenance Team Member Timothy Hillie.
 Catherine Thompson joined the SAM Hospitality team in February 2009 and, by all accounts, has been a great teammate and tremendous asset. From the beginning, she vowed to excel and receive a letter of appreciation from Downtown patrons at least once a month. She has not disappointed herself or others and receives praiseworthy letters from Downtown patrons almost monthly. Thompson’s performance has been consistently outstanding. Her incident reports are always thorough and concise. Patrons often cite her friendly nature and astute knowledge of the city. Always one to accentuate the positive, she knows how to handle stressful situations with lucidity and grace, making her a shining example to others. "I’ve always loved people, and every job that I’ve had has dealt with people," says the former Marine, who also has worked for the Departments of the Army and Navy. Thompson writes poetry in her share time.
 Timothy Hillie became a Maintenance SAM in April 2008, and his work ethic has set an example for the entire maintenance team. Affectionately dubbed the "Go to Guy," the former US Boxing Association light heavyweight champion is relentless in his zeal to do his job, do it right and do it well. Hillie often volunteers for special operations and works to excel at all tasks. He follows directives extremely well but takes the initiative when needed, all the while maintaining a positive and winning attitude. "I make it my business to do the best that I can do," he says. "I want to set an example and work really hard to keep Downtown clean." The father of four (one son followed him into the SAM Program) is a reliable and dedicated champion in every sense of the word, inside the gym--where he still trains--and out.
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| DEVELOPMENT DOINGS |
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Picking Up Steam
There’s new movement on the long-anticipated CityCenterDC mixed-use project, which will transform the 10-acre lot between H Street and New York Avenue from 9th to 11th Streets. A lead office tenant reportedly has signed a non-binding letter of intent to lease approximately 333,000 square feet (SF) of office space in the development. Word on the street is that developer Hines/Archstone is very close to completing negotiations with equity investors, and if things stay on schedule, construction will begin on Phase I in January 2011.
Clark/Smoot, a joint venture of Clark Construction Group and the project’s general contractor, is set to hold a Pre-Solicitation Workshop on June 21 at the Embassy Suites Hotel (900 10th Street) to discuss contracting and joint venture requirements and the bid schedule. They will begin taking bids next month.
Once all phases are complete, CityCenterDC will culminate a more than 30-year effort by the city to create a "living downtown" replete with retail space, three office buildings, two apartment buildings, two condominium buildings, a hotel, underground parking and generous public spaces and civic/cultural amenities. It will create the largest cluster of planned Downtown destination retail, with about 325,000 SF. For more information about CityCenterDC, visit www.citycenterdc.com.
Leading the Way
Construction at 733 10th Street, the future site of a 10-story building that will consist of a church facility, retail space and Class A office space, represents a resurgence of development in the Downtown BID area. Skanska USA Commercial Development, the First Congregational United Church of Christ (UCC) and PN Hoffman will hold a ceremonial groundbreaking this month to mark the project’s resurrection. The project stalled last year after most of the excavation work already had been completed due to the financial crisis and lacking a lead office tenant. Skanska, the US subsidiary of the global Sweden-based construction firm Skanska, bought out PN Hoffman Inc.’s position in the $85 million project last year, though PN Hoffman remains involved in the project as a non-equity partner. The new building will include the UCC church--which will occupy part of the first floor and the entire second floor--165,000 SF of Class A office space and about 5,000 SF of ground floor retail. The building will be completed next year.
Industry Stand Outs
The Maryland/DC Chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) recognized a few of the area’s best commercial real estate properties and firms at its annual Awards of Excellence ceremony in April at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel (1401 Pennsylvania Avenue). Included in the lineup were several Downtown BID area standouts. They are as follows:
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Best Urban Office up to 150,000 SF - 1050 K Street, designed by Hickok Cole Architects |
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Best Urban Office over 150,000 SF - 300 New Jersey Avenue, developed by JBG Companies
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Best First Floor Retail - Potenza Restaurant (1430 H Street), built out by Forrester Construction Company and located in the historic Woodward Building |
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| DOWNTOWN DISH |
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 Culinary Excellence
The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) has announced the finalists for the 28th annual RAMMY Awards. Seventeen Downtown BID area chefs and restaurants are in the running to take the top prize in 12 of 14 categories. They are:
Bibiana Osteria-Enoteca (1100 New York Avenue) for New Restaurant of the Year; Minibar (405 8th Street) and The Source (575 Pennsylvania Avenue) for Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year; Central Michel Richard (1001 Pennsylvania Avenue), Proof (775 G Street) and Zaytinya (701 9th Street) for Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year; Scott Drewno, The Source, Vikram Sunderam, Rasika (633 D Street) and Haidar Karoum, Proof for Chef of the Year; Michael Isabella, Zaytinya and Nicholas Stefanelli, Bibiana Osteria-Enoteca for Rising Culinary Star of the Year; Fabrice Bendano, Adour (923 16th Street) for Pastry Chef of the Year; Proof for Wine Program of the Year; Brasserie Beck (1101 K Street) and PS 7’s (777 Eye Street) for Beverage/Mixology Program of the Year; Art & Soul (415 New Jersey Avenue) and The Source for Power Spot of the Year; POV (515 15th Street) for Hottest Restaurant Bar Scene of the Year; Souheil Moussadik, Co Co. Sala (929 F Street) and Passion Food Hospitality--which owns Acadiana (901 New York Avenue), Ceiba (701 14th Street), DC Coast (1401 K Street) and TenPenh (1001 Pennsylvania Avenue)--for Manager of the Year; Marco Guzman, Café Atlantico (405 8th Street) for Employee of the Year.
The winners in these categories and those chosen by the public in four categories--Neighborhood Gathering Place, Power Spot, Hottest Restaurant Bar Scene and "Your Favorite Restaurant"-will be announced at the annual gala on Sunday, June 6. For more information and a complete list of nominees, visit www.ramw.org.
Hold the Mojitos
Despite the window dressing at the corner of H and 9th Streets that has enticed us for weeks with thoughts of Cuban cuisine, tropical drinks, Latin music and a June opening, Cuba Libre Restaurant and Rum Bar will not open until September. We can still look forward to having Guillermo Pernot, the two-time James Beard Award winning chef, in town. Pernot introduced Nuevo Latino cuisine to Philadelphia, one of three Cuba Libre locations, and oversees the restaurant’s culinary operations. He will join other celebrity chefs who now grace the DC cuisine scene. For more about Cuba Libre, visit www.cubalibrerestaurant.com.
Lights, Camera, Action!
If you’ve never watched the Food Network’s "Chefs vs. City" series, tune in this month. Downtown restaurant Jackey Café (611 H Street) will appear on what has been described as "a sort of culinary ‘Amazing Race’" featuring chefs Aaron Sanchez and Chris Cosentino. The Chinatown restaurant was challenged to make a century egg, a Chinese delicacy also known as thousand-year egg or pidan. Duck, quail or chicken eggs are usually preserved in a mixture of charcoal and lime for several months. Their strong aroma didn’t keep the crowds away from Jackey’s once the Food Network’s camera crew showed up last month. More information about Jackey Café is available at www.jackeycafedc.com.
 Bagging It
No time to eat out? Oya (777 9th Street), the contemporary Asia-French fusion restaurant and lounge, has a quick solution. It now offers To Go Lunch in a Bag for $10, plus tax. You can choose sushi, an entrée, salad or sandwich. The 2009 Diners’ Choice Awards winner’s meal comes with Artisan Chips or a seaweed salad and edamame with sushi and your choice of a delectable sweet-banana bread pudding, carrot ginger bars or fresh fruit & granola parfait. For more information, visit www.oyadc.com.
Philanthropic Award
Are you a restaurateur who believes in community service and has the track record to prove it? Then you’re probably a candidate for the National Restaurant Association’s 2010 Restaurant Neighbor Award. The annual award is given to restaurants that exemplify the industry’s philanthropic spirit. Four national winners will receive $5,000 each to contribute to their charitable project. The application deadline is June 11. For more information, visit www.restaurant.org.
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| HOTEL HAPPENINGS |
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 Fluent Communicator
Front desk employees at the Hamilton Crowne Plaza Hotel (1001 14th Street) speak 10 different languages. The luxury hotelier’s website features eight--English, French, German, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish and Portuguese. Click on the national flags at www.hamiltonhoteldc.com to get information on hotel accommodations, meeting space, social events, hotel news and other tidbits in the language of your choice. In addition to providing rooms and meeting space to international guests and others, the Crowne Plaza also leases meeting space for its next-door neighbor, the Almas Temple (1315 K Street), owned by the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, better known as the Shriners. The 81-year-old building is featured in Dan Brown’s latest book, "The Lost Symbol."
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| RETAIL RAMBLINGS |
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 Shopper’s Paradise
The economic recovery and the CityCenterDC project are expected to help Downtown retail move closer to creating a critical mass of shoppers’ goods retail, according to the Downtown BID’s newly published retail report. The report, Downtown DC Shopping District, notes that a walkable retail destination complemented by iconic attractions and buoyed by steady growth already exists. Once planned development projects are completed, however, the area--with more than 500,000 square feet (SF) of existing shoppers’ goods retail, 90,000 SF of available retail space and another 600,000 SF planned--will have a total of 1.2 million SF of shoppers’ goods retail space, boosting its capacity to compete with the region’s large shopping centers.
The 10-acre CityCenterDC mixed-use project will transform the site along H Street and New York Avenue from 9th to 11th Streets and nearby areas into a more pedestrian-friendly and retail rich environment by 1) reintroducing 10th and I Streets through the project as shopping-friendly boulevards with generous street parking and wide, landscaped sidewalks and 2) introducing two pedestrian alleyways modeled on classic European retail corridors and featuring a variety of specialty merchants and boutiques.
A copy of the Downtown DC Shopping District report, which provides extensive data on retail demand drivers and market statistics and projections, is available at www.downtowndc.org/retail.
Lou Lou’s Now in Town
A new boutique is coming to F Street this month. Lou Lou, an accessories retailer, will occupy 1,000 SF at 950 F Street, next door to Peruvian Connection, the high-end clothing store. Among the boutique’s offerings: jewelry, scarves, handbags, hats, sunglasses, belts, hair accessories, as well as unique gift items ranging from soaps and perfumes to hand creams and candles. Price points will range from inexpensive for fun, fashion items to high-end for designer labels such as Kenneth Jay Lane, Ray Ban, Hobo and Latico. Lou Lou has six local stores in the metropolitan region. Store hours will be Monday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm and Sunday from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. For more information, and to shop online, visit www.loulouboutiques.com.
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| AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD |
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 Help an Artist Out
The Capital Fringe Festival will celebrate its fifth anniversary in Downtown next month. Established and emerging artists across the country will participate in the award-winning festival and present their work free of a selection process. Where to house them is always a challenge. Both the festival and the artists have limited resources. Volunteers are needed to house what could be a future Jerry Bruckheimer or Woody Allen. No extra beds? A living room floor might do because the artists aren’t picky. The 2010 Fringe Festival descends on Downtown from July 8 through July 25. Most artists begin arriving in DC on or around July 5. For more information, including ticket sales, visit www.capitalfringe.org. Oh, while you’re at it, check out the Fringe’s Donation Wish List. Miscellaneous production items such as lighting gels, paint, brushes, screws and rent for performance venues are needed.
Star-Studded Affair
Ford’s Theatre (511 10th Street) will roll out the red carpet for an impressive list of dignitaries and celebrities when the Ford’s Theatre Society presents its annual gala on June 6. The celebration, titled "America Celebrates July 4th at Ford’s Theatre," is by invitation only but will air on ABC on July 2 at 9:00 pm. South African human rights activists Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and Justice Albie Sachs, whose accomplishments exemplify President Abraham Lincoln’s character and lasting legacy, will receive the Ford’s Theatre Lincoln Medal. "Modern Family" cast member Ty Burrell will host the star-studded evening, and Kelly Clarkson, George Lopez, Lionel Richie, Robin Roberts, Dick Van Dyke, Renee Fleming and others will make appearances. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, the gala’s honorary chair, have been invited to attend. While the event is closed to the public, who says you can’t gawk from the sidelines--if onlookers will be allowed to get close enough.
Loving Monday Morning
The Washington Business Journal has announced the 2010 winners of its 50 Best Places to Work awards, and three Downtown BID area companies and establishments--including a design and construction firm--came out smelling like roses. One, the Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group LLC, made the cut for the second consecutive year. The awards recognize companies with the best work morale, engagement and retention. Employees of nominated businesses were surveyed to vouch for their employers’ positive attributes.
Successful Leaders
The Washington Business Journal has heralded this year’s honorees of the third annual Minority Business Leaders Awards. The awards salute the entrepreneurial drive, creativity and success of the Washington area’s top minority business leaders and owners who have demonstrated outstanding performance for their companies. Downtown BID area honorees walked away with five of this year’s 24 awards.
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They are:
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Thomas H. Graham, president, Pepco Region, Pepco Holdings, Inc. (701 Ninth Street) |
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Lillian Harris, president, Man-Machine Systems Assessments, Inc. (1101 14th Street)
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Thomas Penny, general manager, Courtyard Washington Convention Center (900 F Street) |
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Grace Speights, managing partner, DC, Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP (1111 Pennsylvania Avenue) |
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William R. Teel, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer, 1Source Consulting, Inc. (1250 H Street) |
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| GREEN GAINS |
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 Green Tracking Guide
If you’re looking for "green" places to scout, visit or learn more about consider using the District Department of the Environment’s (DDOE) new Green DC Map. The map highlights DC’s environmental resources--including green buildings, bike share locations, farmers’ markets, community gardens, scenic walks and river restoration projects--and is available both in print and as an interactive online map. The print version showcases high profile sites that are easy to visit and also features information about Anacostia restoration initiatives, the Green DC Agenda and DC’s Climate Action Initiative. The online version uses a Google-based web platform and offers more sites and detailed information about each location. Users can customize the types of green venues and projects of particular interest and create their own trails and tours by selecting specific locations.
View the online map. The print version is available by request from DDOE by calling 202.535.2600. If you would like to see other locations added to the map, DDOE wants to hear from you. Contact Stella Tarnay at stella.tarnay@dc.gov.
Positions Available
DC is a haven for green jobs, at least when compared to other parts of the country. The city ranked second behind California on GreenJobSpider.com’s list of the Top 5 states posting green job openings online in May. Researchers at the green job search engine checked more than 20 green-specific job boards and major job search aggregators to decide which states had the most positions available. Each state was ranked according to the total number of jobs across various green job titles, such as solar installers and engineers. Individual company sites were not part of the study. The company defines green jobs are those that create, support, maintain or regulate recycling, energy efficiency or renewable energy products and services. For more information, visit www.greenjobspider.com.
Green Recognition
Kudos to Hamilton Square (600 14th Street) for serving as a model of sustainability. The nine-story landmark building recently obtained silver certification for an Existing Building: Operations & Maintenance (EB O&M) under the US Green Building Council’s program for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). The 250,548 SF building was constructed in 1929 and once operated as the flagship store for Garfinckel’s department store. Redeveloped into a modern office building in 1999, Hamilton Square now has a fitness center, a three-story parking garage and a rooftop terrace. The building earned a LEED designation because it has an aggressive lighting control policy, uses green cleaning and pest control products and emphasizes recycling. It has installed occupancy sensors and lighting retrofits and reduced lighting in common areas after work hours.
Tougher Stance
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has spoken. DC must improve its Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program for controlling stormwater runoff. The public has until June 4 to weigh in on EPA’s proposed permit requiring the city to make the upgrades, which will prevent runoff from washing harmful pollutants into local waterways. According to EPA, innovations in the new permit also will serve as a model for other municipalities. Federal law requires medium and large MS4s to have permits covering their discharges. The new permits cover steps that were not required by an old one issued in 2004. To review the permit online, click here. To submit comments, e-mail Garrison Miller at Miller.Garrison@epa.gov. EPA expects to make the permit final following any necessary modifications and within three months of closing the public review and comment period.
System Upgrades
Energy Star, the popular Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) program that helps businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency, will make several important upgrades to Portfolio Manager, the interactive energy management tool that allows users to track and assess building energy and water consumption online. The updates are effective on June 7. To prepare for system upgrades, however, Portfolio Manager will be unavailable from 5:00 pm on Friday, June 4 to 8:00 am on Monday, June 7. For questions, e-mail buildings@energystar.gov. Guidance related to the changes will be available at www.energystar.gov on June 7.
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| TRANSPORTATION TALK |
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 Bike Sharing Success
Talk about building a bike culture! Last year, the city said it would expand the SmartBikeDC bike-sharing program tenfold in fiscal year 2010, from 10 locations with 100 bikes to 100 locations with 1,000 bikes. Last month, it announced even bigger plans: a joint partnership with Arlington, Virginia, to create a regional bike sharing system with 1,100 bikes at 114 stations--the nation’s largest bike-sharing network. Expect the system to be fully operational this year, when residents and visitors will be able to pick up a bike in DC and drop it off in Arlington, and vice versa. Annual, monthly and daily memberships will be available for area residents and visitors. The new system needs a name; both cities are asking the public to participate in an online survey to help come up with one. To vote for a favorite name, or to suggest a new one, visit www.goDCgo.com. Hurry. All votes must be submitted by 5:00 pm on Friday, June 4.
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) launched SmartBikeDC in partnership with Clear Channel Outdoor in 2008. Since then, the bike-sharing program--which has four kiosks located in Downtown near the Gallery Place, Judiciary Square, Metro Center and McPherson Square Metrorail stations--has grown increasingly popular.
Easy Does It
If you need a public space permit, the process to obtain one just got a little easier. The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) has introduced the Transportation On-Line Permitting System (TOPS), which allows businesses, tenants and homeowners to apply for public space permits for activities such as construction, occupancy and excavation from the convenience of your office, home or kiosks located in Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) district offices and DDOT’s Public Space Permit Office. The streamlined application process saves contractors and residents valuable time--and cuts short the time spent at the Public Permit Center. A big plus: People can now visit any MPD station to apply for emergency or reserved parking signs and print them right there on the spot. DDOT also says the system allows it to better track and improve enforcement capabilities. For more information, visit www.ddot.dc.gov.
On the Move
Phasing streetcars into the DC landscape so that they eventually operate in eight corridors is but one transportation mode the city has adopted to provide enhanced mobility and support continued economic development. The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) identify others in DC’s Transit Future System Plan, including limited-stop bus service along 13 major corridors and a dedicated transit way on K Street with reserved lanes. The report indicates that these transit opportunities will join with the city’s DC Circulator bus service and bike sharing program to form a new, local transit network to accommodate population and employment growth. It also recommends investments to capitalize on these new services. For more detailed information about needs assessment, the planning process, system plan and funding, click here.
Information, Please
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) on the DC streetcar. The agency is seeking advice from industry experts and manufacturers that build and power streetcars about how best to design streetcars that are capable of operating in DC’s unique environment. As the DC streetcar program moves beyond the first two lines--in Anacostia and on H Street/Benning Road--the city wants to use more advanced vehicles that can operate for limited distances without an overhead power supply. The aim is to preserve critical views and areas with scenic or historical value, of which DC has many. For more information about the RFI, contact DDOT’s Mass Transit Division at 202.673.1740.
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| NEWS YOU CAN USE |
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 Making Progress
A status update on DC’s Comprehensive Plan, "Moving from Vision to Reality: A Comprehensive Plan Progress Report," is now available. The Comp Plan, as it is called, is used to set policies and provide a 20-year blueprint for growing, developing and preserving the city so that it can be more inclusive, vibrant and sustainable. The plan was revised from 2004 to 2006; the City Council approved it in 2006; and the city began tracking its implementation in 2007. It includes 626 action items, the agencies responsible for leading certain initiatives, timelines and funding implications. The Progress Report, produced biennially, keeps the planning process open, transparent and responsive. It shows, among other things, that 31% of the 626 action items identified in the Comp Plan were slated to begin before 2010, but DC agencies actually started 74% of them. In addition, of the 130 priority-action items, work began on 62% of them and 16% have been completed. Both the Comp Plan and the Progress Report can be found at www.planning.dc.gov.
The Big Payback
Every summer, DC turns into intern city. More than 20,000 young adults and students flood the area to provide local businesses, nonprofits and government agencies with their time, energy and new ideas. No other city compares when it comes to attracting such a valuable corps of eager beavers. To reward their hard work and contributions, The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars (TWC) is urging local restaurants, retailers and cultural and entertainment venues to cut the interns some slack by offering them discounts on their goods and services from Friday, June 11 to Friday, June 18. InternsRock!, as the program is called, already has attracted such Downtown notables as the Newseum (555 Pennsylvania Avenue) and Madame Tussauds (1025 F Street). Interested vendors must complete an online participation form by June 6 at www.internsrockdc.com. Interns can e-mail Jackie McConville at jackie.mcconville@twc.edu or call 202.238.7909. More information also is available on TWC’s Facebook page.
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| MEETINGS AND MORE |
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Tuesday, June 1, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Wednesday, June 2, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities
Washington Regional Green Roofs and Walls Conference and Training
Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities invites the business community to learn about federal facilities and new regulations that are driving more federal buildings to use green roofs. Gain an inside track on what could be billions of dollars worth of federal investment in green roofs and green walls. More than 400 government-building officials, local designers and developers will address issues such as economic benefits, new government incentives, maintenance and procurement best practices during expert sessions and the trade show. Learn how your company can bid competitively to provide green roof and green wall products and design, engineering and installation services. Hear from the General Services Administration (GSA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the DC government. Members pay $299 for a full attendee pass or only $55 to attend the trade show. Nonmembers pay $399 and students $69. For more information, visit www.greenroofs.org, or contact Jennifer Sprout at jsprout@greenroofs.org.
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Wednesday, June 2, 8:30 am - 10:00 am
DC Chamber of Commerce
Business Speakers Series: Featuring Tom Donohue
Arnold & Porter
555 12th Street
The DC Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Arnold & Porter, will host the first distinguished guest in its Business Speakers Series, Thomas J. Donohue, president and chief executive officer of the US Chamber of Commerce. Donohue will share insights, innovations and lessons learned as he built the US Chamber into a $200 million a year lobbying and political powerhouse. Hear about the Chamber’s many legislative victories, including tax cuts and increased funding for transportation. The cost to members is $75; nonmembers pay $100. For more information, contact Annette Coram at acoram@dcchamber.org or 202.638.7338.
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Tuesday, June 8, 7:30 am - 9:30 am
District of Columbia Building Industry Association
Recapitalizations and Incentive Alignment in Real Estate
Arnold & Porter LLP
555 12th Street
The District of Columbia Building Industry Association’s (DCBIA) Distressed Assets, Workouts and Restructurings Group will present a panel discussion to inform and educate members about the challenges presented by the current economic environment. Warren Dahlstrom, principal, Dahlstrom Real Estate Advisors, will moderate. Panelists include Roger Simon, of counsel, Greenstein DeLorme & Luchs; David Dorros, managing director and an executive vice president, CB Richard Ellis; John Randall, senior vice president, PCCP, LLC; and Chris Keber, director of Global Capital Raising, Starwood Capital Group. Networking and coffee begins at 7:30 am. The panel discussion, followed by questions, starts at 8:00 am. There is no charge for this event, which is open only to representatives of DCBIA member firms. Registration is required and space is limited. To RSVP, e-mail info@dcbia.org.
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Thursday, June 10, 8:00 am - 10:00 am
Washington, DC Economic Partnership
inDC Economic Trendsetters: Revenue Bond Program
Reed Smith LLP
1301 K Street
Join the Washington, DC Economic Partnership (WDCEP) for a thought-provoking conversation on how you can use DC’s Revenue Bond Program to further your organization’s mission. Senior executives from the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development; Graves & Horton, LLC; Venable LLP; Squire, Sanders & Dempsey; Orrick, Herrington, Sutcliffe; and Reed Smith LLP will discuss what the bonds provide and how they can be used. The program begins at 8:30 am, immediately after registration and breakfast. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required. Seating is limited, and registration may close early if room capacity is reached. For more information, and to register, visit www.wdcep.com.
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Friday, June 11, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
Apartment and Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington
TOBY Awards Celebration
JW Marriott Washington
1331 Pennsylvania Avenue
Join the Apartment and Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington (AOBA-Metro) as it celebrates the companies that competed for the Office Building of the Year (TOBY) awards and salutes the winners. This year’s guest speaker is workforce expert Mary Abbajay, a partner at the Careerstone Group. Members pay $125; nonmembers pay $145. To register, visit www.aoba-metro.org. For more information, contact Pam Oeler at poeler@aoba-metro.org or 202.296.3390.
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Monday, June 21, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
Clark/Smoot and Hines/Archstone
Pre-Solicitation Workshop for CityCenterDC
Embassy Suites Hotel
900 10th Street
Clark/Smoot, CityCenterDC’s general contractor, and Hines/Archstone, its master developer, invite firms to this Pre-Solicitation Workshop for the 10-acre mixed-use project. The two-hour morning session begins at 8:30 am for exterior and MEP trade contractors and the two-hour afternoon session begins at 1:30 pm for finish and specialty trade contractors. Topics will include contracting requirements and the bid schedule, with a special session from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm on CBE joint venture requirements. To attend, register online at www.citycenterdc.com by June 14. For more information, contact Chrystal Stowe at cstowe@srsmoot.com or call 202.243.6688.
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The Downtown BID’s 2009 Annual Report shows that the organization relied on its strengths--visioning, stimulating discussions and building coalitions and consensus--to support endeavors that improved street vitality and rejuvenated and spurred economic activity.