| www.downtowndc.org/update |
May 2010 |
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| BID BIZ |
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Building Confidence in the Future
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Downtown BID Board Chair Bradley Edwards addresses the State of Downtown Forum.
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The Downtown BID released its annual State of Downtown Report during a public forum at the W Hotel (515 15th Street) last month. Panelists William B. “Bart” Bush, regional commissioner of the US General Services Administration’s National Capital Region; David Mayhood, president of The Mayhood Company; Valerie Santos, deputy mayor of the Office of Planning and Economic Development; and Mitchell N. Schear, president of Vornado/Charles E. Smith provided a candid discussion on Downtown’s future and highlights from the 2009 State of Downtown Report. Richard H. Bradley, executive director of the Downtown BID, moderated the discussion, a synopsis of which is available at www.downtowndc.org/forum.
The report shows Downtown’s economic performance was off from recent highs in many areas, with a slight decline in employment and office absorption for the first time in many years. Still, many areas of the Downtown BID area economy flourished due to federal government leasing and investment, record hotel revenues, increased investment in green buildings, an influx of new destination restaurants and increased visitor attendance. Strong Downtown BID partnerships with federal and DC governments, stakeholders and other businesses since 1997 continue to guide the area’s economic growth and vitality and move it toward recovery.
Information on each sector of the Downtown economy is summarized in the new report, published annually to update public and private decision-makers about the current and future status of economic development in Downtown. The report highlights the development, employment, office, residential, hospitality, tourism, culture, entertainment, restaurant, retail and transportation sectors. New this year is data on green buildings.
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| Some key findings: |
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Downtown BID employment fell by 1,100 jobs but is expected to increase by 1,500 to 2,000 jobs per year over the next four years. |
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Downtown’s office market has Class A rental rates of $61 per square foot, the nation’s second highest, and a Class A vacancy rate of 10.8%, the nation’s second lowest. |
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About 5,000 new residents have arrived in the BID area since 2000. |
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Downtown BID area visitors increased by 6% to 10.7 million. |
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Downtown restaurants continued to grow in number and quality, with a net gain of nine, leading to a total of 131 destination restaurants. |
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The Downtown BID area contributed significantly to DC’s fiscal health—when combined with the Golden Triangle BID, the net fiscal impact is about $800 million per year, about equal to the annual DC public and charter school operating budgets. |
There were no major groundbreakings in the Downtown BID area in 2009 for the first time since 1995. Including the first quarter of 2010, the area has had six consecutive quarters without a major groundbreaking—partly because the Downtown is virtually built out. Only 18 of about 118 surface parking lots or redevelopment sites that existed in 1997 now remain undeveloped, and only five are large sites, including CityCenterDC.
Copies of the report are available at www.downtowndc.org/state.
Global Welcome
The Downtown BID’s Safety, Hospitality and Maintenance employees, known as SAMs, were a vital part of the summit preparations and follow up when 47 world leaders convened recently at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center (801 Mount Vernon Place) for President Obama’s two-day Nuclear Security Summit. The Downtown BID worked cooperatively with federal and local government agencies to minimize the impact of diverted traffic and other disruptions, and to disseminate critical information to Downtown property managers and others about official Summit plans related to Metro access, street closings and other security measures.
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Groomes praises SAMs
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Assistant DC Police Chief Diane Groomes and Commander James Crane of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) enlisted assistance from the SAMs to help guide people through the maze and keep Downtown streets safe. “What you do out there is extremely important,” Groomes told SAMs gathered at a meeting held at the US Navy Memorial (701 Pennsylvania Avenue). “You’re a real asset for MPD because you see a lot and you do a lot. You’re like a front line for us. You’re a really special group of people, who make the city shine.”
Fifty-eight Hospitality SAMs provide a reassuring presence on Downtown streets seven days a week by offering directions; notifying police when trouble arises; and escorting workers to their vehicles or public transportation after hours. During the Summit, they were armed with information to help pedestrians and motorists find their destinations easily and avoid cordoned off areas.
The Downtown BID also worked with the Department of Public Works (DPW) to ensure a safe environment. Maintenance SAMs, who remove litter, trash and graffiti from Downtown streets seven days a week, assisted with removing trashcan liners from nearly two-dozen bins around the Convention Center.
“We call our SAMs the eyes, ears and caretakers of Downtown for a reason,” said Richard Bradley, executive director of the Downtown BID. “They bring great value to the Downtown experience and are second to none when it comes to mobilizing in force to ensure that visitors have a pleasant and memorable stay when they visit Downtown.”
 Safety First
The Downtown BID works to ensure workers and visitors’ safety by offering customized services that are designed to ensure a safe, satisfying and trouble-free experience in Downtown. Safety, Hospitality and Maintenance employees, known as SAMs, are in part roving concierges, law enforcement aides and goodwill ambassadors who create a safe and welcoming environment on Downtown streets seven days a week, 362 days a year. Last year, SAMs assisted more than 345,000 citizens by offering directions, handing out maps and notifying police when trouble arose.
Through lunchtime Safety Information Lobby Fairs, held in conjunction with the Metropolitan, Metro Transit and US Park Police, the Downtown BID also shares timely safety information with workers. These weekly fairs attracted more than 5,660 workers last year. SAM-At-Your-Side is another courtesy service where SAMs are available to accompany Downtown workers to public transportation, garages or vehicles parked on secluded streets after dark.
All of these services, including valuable safety tips, appear in the latest Downtown BID Safety First brochure, which is only available at our Safety Information Lobby Fairs. To schedule a fair for your building, contact Hiram Brewton, the BID’s environmental services director, at safety@downtowndc.org or 202.661.7571.
Committed to Excellence
Kudos to the March SAMs of the Month, who are new corps members: Michael Stewart and Prosper Daziorlor.
 Maintenance Team member Michael Stewart was born and raised in Washington and can recall the days when Downtown was far from vibrant, inviting and smart. Today, the area’s transformation makes him proud, especially now that he has joined the SAMs. “It makes you feel good to know you’re a part of that turnaround,” says the former security guard, who is known for his contagious grin and calm demeanor. Stewart is single with two children, aged two and nine. He enjoys family time, outdoor grilling and traveling.
 Safety and Hospitality Team member Prosper Daziorlor gets a kick out of how surprised people are to discover that he knows so much about Downtown. His African accent might throw them off guard initially, but his knowledge runs deep. Before coming to the US, the Ghana native was an elementary school teacher. Sharing and acquiring knowledge are commonplace to him. So is discipline, which is why he always can be found positioned where he’s assigned and fulfilling his role as a neighborhood concierge. In his free time, Daziorlor cherishes moments to read, listen to music and watch movies.
Congratulations, Michael and Prosper!
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| DEVELOPMENT DOINGS |
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A New Look
The building known as 666 11th Street, located on the corner of 11th and G Streets, has a new address and a new look. The free-standing property’s address has been changed to 1100 G Street to better reflect its new image and owners. When J Street Development purchased the 42-year-old building through a joint venture in September 2008, it announced plans then to improve property management and leasing, implement major renovations and fully reposition the strategically located asset. The pace picked up this year after the building received $18 million to finance the upgrades.
SunTrust, a major tenant, has a newly spruced up exterior, including a bold corner column advertising its name. Other improvements in the 11-story, 109,959 square feet (SF) office building include a new main entry and significant restorations to the entrance, main lobby, elevators, common area corridors and restrooms and ongoing renovations to the exterior façade. The building offers views from three sides, has 10,000 SF floor plates and a high window ratio. It also features a three-level underground parking garage. The renovations are creating a more contemporary look.
Stellar Property Owner
Mid-Atlantic Construction magazine has jointly named both the General Services Administration’s (GSA) National Capital and Mid-Atlantic Regions 2010 Owner of the Year. The annual designation recognizes an owner’s impact as measured by work volume, innovation, sustainability program and reputation within the industry. Both regions were saluted, in part, due to significantly escalating construction activity. The Recovery Act has boosted GSA’s construction program to a historic level, including greening several federal buildings. GSA, which manages 8,600 government-owned or leased buildings nationwide, plans to spend more than $395 million in the Downtown BID area on 11 buildings slated for construction, repairs or retrofitting. Two buildings identified for major green building modernization are the Lafayette Building(Phase I), located at 811 Vermont Avenue, and the Herbert C. Hoover Building (Phases II and III) at 1401 Constitution Avenue. The Hoover building is also known as the US Department of Commerce Building.
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Pew Charitable Trusts, continues to fill space in its “Non-profit Village" at 901 E Street.
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Nonprofit Rental Haven
The Pew Charitable Trusts, the Philadelphia-based charitable organization, continues to fill space in its DC headquarters at 901 E Street. The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, which signed a 10-year lease to occupy about 8,000 SF, moved into the “Non-profit Village” last month. Other non-profit tenants include the Alliance for Climate Protection, the American Cancer Society, the National Wildlife Federation and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Pew purchased the 10-story building for $155 million in February 2008 to house its Washington staff and provide less expensive rental options for non-profit organizations. Since then, the building has received upgrades to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.
Saluting Excellence
Cheers to the three Downtown BID area projects that are finalists in the Washington Business Journal’s Best Real Estate Deals of 2009 awards. The honors recognize the region’s most prominent real estate projects from the previous year.
| The winners are: |
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Land Deal – Skanska USA, for 733 10th Street. Skanska bought out PN Hoffman Inc.’s position in the $85 million First Congregational United Church of Christ (UCC) project, which will include Class A office space, first floor retail and church space. |
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Lease Renewal – Troutman Sanders LLP, for 401 9th Street. The international law firm landed a 15-year lease renewal and tacked on an additional 38,000 SF—a more than 50% expansion—in the 114,000 SF building. |
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New Office Development – JBG Cos. and Rogers Stirk Harbour and Partners, for 300 New Jersey Avenue. JBG Cos. developed this 255,000 SF building, designed by architect Richard Rogers, in a deal valued at $72 million; the building is married to the 1935 Acacia Building (51 Louisiana Avenue). |
All were saluted at a special ceremony last month and profiled in a special section of the Journal.
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| DOWNTOWN DISH |
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International Blend
Already dubbed Restaurant Row, 7th Street will get another eatery this summer—an English-Indian eating place. The name of the roughly 1,400 SF restaurant, which the owner hopes to expand into a national brand, is still under review. But word on the street is that it will be called Merzi, opening at 415 7th Street. Owner Qaiser Kazmi says the concept will be on the level of Chipotle Mexican Grill (601 F Street), but with distinct European-Asian flair. Kazmi once owned another restaurant, Kazo Kitchen, near Baltimore. He says the new concept will specialize in tandisserie chicken, a cross between tandoori and rotisserie chicken. The restaurant is slated to open in June.
Hyped Up Fare
The Tynan Coffee & Tea shop could make its way into Downtown. Owners Jim and Brian Sullivan, who are brothers, are scouting for a BID-based site. The coffee and teashop serves beverages—including spirits at some locations—as well as sandwiches, soups, salads, waffles, pastries, bagels and fruit. The first Tynan opened last year in Columbia Heights, replete with a fireplace and Wi-Fi.
 Springing into Action
Aria Trattoria (1300 Pennsylvania Avenue), the Italian restaurant located on Woodrow Wilson Plaza at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, closed for renovations in January. But as promised, a revamped look and concept are blossoming this spring. Get ready for Aria Pizzeria & Bar, opening this month at Downtown DC’s largest outdoor patio. The focus will be on pizza, beer and live entertainment. Until the new website, www.ariapizzeria.com, is operational, you can visit www.itcdc.com for more information, or call 202.312.1250.
Italian Prodigy
He’s back! After months of speculation on opening dates, Roberto Donna says he is launching a soft opening for his much anticipated Galileo III restaurant this month in the space once occupied by Butterfield 9 (600 14th Street). The award-winning chef used to operate Galileo, the upscale Italian restaurant he ran for more than two decades. The latest version, which will be up and running in June, will have an intimate restaurant-within-a-restaurant similar to its namesake. Donna, born in the Piedmont region of Italy, has operated six acclaimed restaurants in the Washington area and was a 1996 James Beard Award winning chef and restaurateur. Visit his website at www.robertodonna.com.
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| HOTEL HAPPENINGS |
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 Oui, Oui, We Like
A fan of fashion and photography? Head over to the Sofitel Washington DC Lafayette hotel (806 15th Street). Sofitel Worldwide, the Paris-based hotel chain, has brought the “Fashion Stills” photo exhibit to DC to instill a little French culture into Americana and attract tourists and business travelers to its hotels. The free exhibit is open to the public and features works by world renowned fashion photographers, who have snapped shots of fashion designers and supermodels from the 1990s to more recent times. Sofitel is hosting “Fashion Stills” all year at 10 North American and European Sofitel Hotels. DC, where the exhibit will run until June 16, is the seventh stop on the tour. Sofitel hotel guests are fortunate—they get to keep a free “Fashion Stills” catalog. |
| RETAIL RAMBLINGS |
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A Sturdy Addition
 Capitol Hemp (519 H Street), the tiny earth-friendly store, opened just in time for Earth Day. The store offers high-quality products—from soap and lotion to art and clothing—made from industrial hemp, the planet’s greatest natural fiber. Hemp also has other redeeming values. It can replace petrochemical based products in many different ways and is an excellent substitute for cotton, which is heavily sprayed with chemicals. Hemp paper reduces pressure on forests, while hemp food is rich in protein and omega 3 essential fatty acids. Although it is legal to import and sell hemp in the US, farmers are banned from growing the crop in this country. Capitol Hemp, which opened its first store in Adams Morgan two years ago, uses renewable non-toxic hemp fiber board to construct its store displays. For more information, click here.
Dotting the Landscape
More mobile food vendors have sprung up on Downtown streets. Perhaps you’ve seen them. They roll around in colorful trucks and operate at gathering spots around transportation hubs and special events. Among them: Curbside Cupcakes, the Saucamobile (a food-on-bread concept), sweetgreen’s sweetflow mobile (the salad and frozen yogurt concept) and fojol bros. (healthy vegetarian and meat-based meals with no preservatives). With the warming trend in the weather, expect to see more. |
| AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD |
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Richard H. Bradley (left) joins other DC luminaries at the April 28th ribbon cutting for the NY Avenue Sculpture Project: Marcia Carlucci, Carol Lascaris, Mary Mochary, Harriet Tregoning, Wilhelmina Cole Holladay, Dr. Jill Biden, Jack Evans, Eleanor Holmes Norton
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Whimsical Art
They're here! Since the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) installed French artist Niki de Saint Phalle’s fanciful and colorful sculptures along the New York Avenue median from 12th to 13th Streets, heads have been turning, cameras snapping and people gawking at the larger than life figurines now gracing one of Downtown’s major throughways. The initiative, a private-public partnership between the NMWA, the Downtown BID and the DC Office of Planning, promotes cultural tourism, provides free access to the arts for Downtown workers, visitors and residents and is changing the face of New York Avenue.
The Museum dedicated Phase I of the bold, new outdoor arts project at a ribbon-cutting ceremony and gala celebration inside the museum. This phase includes four 12- and 15-foot high Saint Phalle sculptures: Les Trois Graces (The Three Graces), representing women in Greek mythology who personified charm and beauty; Nana on a Dolphin, which links women with nature (Saint Phalle’s robust female figures are called “Nanas”); Arbre Serpents (Serpent Tree), similar to the Tree of Life, celebrates the connection between living beings; and #23 Basketball Player, 1999, which alludes to a well-known professional basketball player. All are made of fiberglass and encrusted with mirrors, colored stones and mosaic glass.
The New York Avenue Sculpture Project will feature changing installations of world-class contemporary art by women. The temporary sculpture installations will be created in four phases between 2010 and 2015 and will change every one to three years. For more information about the Sculpture Project, click here.
Just a Phone Call Away
How cool is this: The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in the 400 block of E Street now offers visitors a new cell phone audio tour. The audio tour covers important dates in law enforcement history and tells the story of some of the fallen officers whose names are engraved on the Memorial’s walls. A brochure and walking tour map also are available as a companion to the audio tour, which began in March. To take the tour, call 202.747.3461 from your cell phone. For more about the memorial, click here.
Outstanding Achievement
Congratulations to Robert A. Peck, commissioner of the US General Services Administration’s (GSA) Public Buildings Service. He is one of three honorees who will be presented with the District of Columbia Building Industry Association’s (DCBIA) Building Industry Achievement Award this month. The Association has been honoring outstanding individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to DC since 1984. As commissioner, Peck is responsible for managing assets nationwide, designing, constructing, leasing, and disposing of 362 million SF of government-owned and leased space. Since Peck returned to GSA’s Public Buildings Service nearly a year ago, the agency has executed 40 leases totaling 4 million SF. GSA is spending $1.2 billion of federal stimulus funds in DC on building projects, more than one-fifth of the total allotted to the agency. The Downtown BID area accounts for more than $395 million of the total. 
Celebrating Whimsy
Pensare Design Group (1313 F Street), the award-winning Downtown graphics powerhouse, raked in another award recently. Three of its designers—Amy Billingham, Lauren Szymkowicz and Rob Black—created a diorama that the Washington Post selected as one of five finalists in the 4th Annual Peep Diorama Contest. The team executed a fabulous interpretation of an “Alice in Wonderland” theme: “The Mad Hatter’s Peep Party.” The entry was chosen from more than 1,137 entries. To view the finalists, click here.
Helping Out
Would you like to see great theater for free? Ford’s Theatre (511 10th Street) needs volunteer ushers to help with performances of Little Shop of Horrors this month. To sign up, e-mail volunteer@fords.org. Put “Little Shop Volunteer” in the subject line. You will receive a welcome letter and list of available volunteer dates. Play performances will run Mondays through Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Thursdays at noon, and Saturdays at 2:30 pm. For more information about Ford’s Theatre, click here.
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| GREEN GAINS |
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Ahead of the Crowd
The DC area’s greening revolution continues. The region received the number two spot in a national Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) survey of metropolitan regions with energy-efficient buildings. The Washington area moved to second place last year after coming in fourth in 2008. The region now has 204 commercial buildings with Energy Star ratings, up from 136 in 2008. The Los Angeles area, with 293 energy-efficient buildings, ranked first. What’s behind the Washington metropolitan area’s newfound status? New laws, primarily. A 2008 DC law requires building owners to disclose property energy costs publicly, while a federal law requires federal agencies to give preferred status to energy-efficient buildings. It’s all good. Buildings saved nearly $62 million on energy bills last year.
 Leading by Example
The federal government will replace older cars in its fleet with fuel-efficient hybrids and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. The goal is to reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign oil and cut carbon dioxide and other pollution. Thus, the US General Services Administration (GSA) will double the federal hybrid fleet this year and purchase about 100 plug-in vehicles next year. It will replace slightly more than 5,600 of the least fuel efficient cars and trucks with fuel efficient hybrids. Ultimately, the government will reduce its petroleum fleet 30% by 2020.
Room for Improvement
Casey Trees, the non-profit organization that restores, enhances and protects the city’s tree canopy, recently graded DC with a "B-" for tree care. The group’s second tree report card for the city shows DC received a "B-" for tree health; a "B+" for tree coverage; a “C-“ for planting; a “B” for awareness; and a "C+" for tree protection (both regulatory and voluntary efforts). Since the last report, Mayor Adrian Fenty has announced plans to increase the city’s tree canopy—the percentage of the ground that has tree cover overhead—to 40% by 2035. The benefits are worth noting: healthy tree canopies reduce stormwater runoff, carbon emissions and energy consumption. Casey estimates that 8,600 trees must be planted every year for the next 25 years to reap full environmental benefits.
On another note, to draw attention to the threats—both natural and manmade—that trees must endure, Casey Trees has created a series of Arbor Issues that explain the problem and offer practical recommendations to address them. Past issues have focused on power lines, sidewalks, snowstorm damage and ginkgo trees. Have an arbor issue you would like to have addressed? E-mail Maisie Hughes at mhughes@caseytrees.org, or 202.349.1893.
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| TRANSPORTATION TALK |
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 Streetcar Mania
It’s no secret that the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is developing a 37-mile, eight line streetcar system that will serve 150,000 riders a day. Construction on two lines has already begun, and streetcar service is expected to start in 2012 in Anacostia and on H Street/Benning Road. But there’s no need to wait that long to get in on the action. The public will have the opportunity to experience DC’s modern streetcars up close and personal May 5 through May 8 when DDOT will host a DC streetcar showcase at CityCenterDC. DC residents, workers and visitors will be able to board one of the streetcars and learn more about how they will operate in the city. For more information, visit click here.
As the streetcar frenzy heats up, expect more informational public meetings. The DC Surface Transit Inc. (DCST), a nonprofit that includes the Downtown BID and its organizational partners, will hold a free seminar on streetcar propulsion technology from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Thursday, May 6, at the Renaissance Hotel (999 9th Street). Richard Bradley, executive director of the Downtown BID and president of the DCST, will moderate the panel, which will include transit and urban design experts who will address the current legal and environmental framework for modern streetcar systems. You don’t have to be an uber-geek to attend.
In the meantime, DDOT is busy seeking streetcar funding. To extend the H Street/Benning Road line to Union Station and across the Anacostia River, the agency has applied for a $25 million federal grant from the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Urban Circulator program for transit projects. The program gives priority to projects that connect destinations and redevelop communities into walkable, mixed use, high-density environments. If approved, the funding would help expedite DDOT’s $74 million, 2.2-mile link to the Benning Road Metro station.
Moving Forward
Since beginning service in 2005, the DC Circulator has grown into a successful Downtown surface transit system, with 43 buses operating on five routes. It provides a more flexible, well-integrated transit system that meets the mobility needs of residents, workers and visitors. Now the focus is on future growth. Last month, the DC Surface Transit Inc. (DCST) concluded a Request for Proposals (RFP) to have a comprehensive five- and 10-year Transit Development and Implementation Plan created to help improve and expand Circulator service. The plan also would serve as a management tool for the system and include more specific route planning for the next three years. Work on the plan begins this month.
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) owns the DC Circulator; Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) manages it; First Transit—a private sector transit operator— runs the buses; and DCST, a nonprofit corporation consisting of seven business improvement districts, including the Downtown BID, the Washington Convention Center Authority, Destination DC and the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) provides marketing support.
Quick Fix
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is using innovative technological tools to enhance the DC parking experience. Last spring, the agency installed multi-space meters throughout commercial corridors in Downtown and, in January, began testing solar-powered single space meters that accept credit and debit cards as well as coins.
Now you can use a cell phone to feed parking meters. The city rolled out the second parking meter pilot program in three months recently. This time, say hello to the Pay by Phone option, available for meters with green stickers. Three Downtown BID area locations offer the cashless payment option: K and Eye Streets and New York Avenue. The meters eliminate the need to carry change or rush back to the car to add more time. Neat? You bet, particularly if it extends your Downtown stay and reduces your chance of getting a parking ticket.
To sign up for a free Pay by Phone account, visit www.paybyphone.com or call 1-888-510-PARK. To make parking payments, call the toll free number from your cell phone, enter the location number posted on the meter or nearby sign and enter the desired parking time. What’s really cool: you can opt to receive a text message reminder minutes before the time expires—and call back (repeat, call back, not walk back to your car) to add more parking time. Parking receipts also are available online. 
Setting a New Pace
Metrorail recorded seven of its top 25 ridership days in April due to the roaring success of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, the start of the baseball season and other local sporting events—namely Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals games at the Verizon Center (601 F Street). The transit system recorded its second and third highest ridership in its 34-year history—891,240 on Friday, April 2 and 877,890 on Thursday, April 1—topped only by President Barack Obama’s inauguration on January 20. In addition, Saturday, April 3, was the fourth highest ridership ever for a Saturday, with 674,173 riders.
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| NEWS YOU CAN USE |
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Ending Homelessness
The DC Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH) has released the final plan of the city’s Strategic Action Plan to End Homelessness. The plan outlines a set of policies and strategies that will guide DC’s activities related to homelessness over the next five years and reflects input from a broad group of community stakeholders. The Strategic Action Plan also includes an initial Work Plan, which will be updated annually, and 10 outcome measures that DC will track to evaluate efforts to prevent homelessness and move individuals and families off the streets more quickly. For a copy of the plan, visit www.ich.dc.gov.
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| MEETINGS AND MORE |
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Thursday, May 6, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
DC Surface Transit, Inc.
Streetcar Technology Seminar
Renaissance Hotel
999 9th Street
This DC Surface Transit, Inc. (DCST) seminar on streetcar propulsion technology will address the current legal and environmental framework for modern streetcar systems. Richard Bradley, DCST’s president and executive director of the Downtown BID, will moderate a panel of transit and urban design experts, which will include panelists Martin Schroeder, chief engineer, the American Public Transit Association and Greg Baldwin, partner, ZGF Architects LLP. The seminar is free and open to the public. No registration is required. |
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Tuesday, May 18, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
National Capital Planning Commission and US Commission of Fine Arts
Density and the Form of the City in the 21st Century: Centennial of the 1910 Height Act with Larry Beasley, CM
US Navy Memorial’s Naval Heritage Center
701 Pennsylvania Avenue
Join the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) and the US Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) for a look at Washington’s Height Act, which helped shape an unmistakable skyline recognized worldwide. Larry Beasley, former Vancouver planning director and self-described evangelist for urban density, will lead a discussion about whether this skyline can coexist with the contemporary architecture, density and sustainable policies of modern times and also challenge basic assumptions about density and the city’s 21st century form. To register for this free seminar, visit www.speakerseries@ncpc.gov, or call 202.482.7200. Walk-ins also are welcome.
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Thursday, May 27, 7:30 am – 10:30 am
District of Columbia Building Industry Association
Annual State of the Housing Market: Highs, Lows, Need to Knows!
National Press Club
529 14th Street
Get the latest housing news at this District of Columbia Building Industry Association (DCBIA) meeting. Experts in the public and private sectors will discuss affordable and mixed-income housing, debt and equity related to market rate rental housing, as well as condominiums and the legislative and regulatory environment. Speakers will include Valerie Santos, deputy mayor, Office of Planning and Economic Development; Robert Youngentob, president, EYA; W. Matthew Kelly, managing director, The JBG Companies; Jeffrey H. Gelman, Esq., partner, Saul Ewing LLP; and David R. Mayhood, president, The Mayhood Company. The cost is $70 for members and $95 for nonmembers. For more information and to register, visit www.dcbia.org.
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