DowntownDC BID Celebrates the 2014 Momentum Awards

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The Downtown DC Business Improvement District held its 14th Annual Momentum Awards ceremony last night at the iconic Carnegie Library.  The majestic hall was resplendent in colorful classic lighting that set the mood for the evening.  Over 125 people including local city dignitaries were in attendance to celebrate the best of DowntownDC.  The BID’s Board Chairman, Michael McCarthy, Vice President and Director of Acquisitions for Quadrangle Development Corporation, kicked off the celebration welcoming guests and highlighting 2014 BID accomplishments including turning its fleet of SAMs into “Smart SAMs” equipped with Smartphone technology to better serve the community and report issues, the DowntownDC ecoDistrict helping create the first globally comparable building energy data report and taking steps toward positioning the DowntownDC as a leader in Smart cities and healthy communities 24/7.

In addition he discussed continued works on projects that will have significant positive impacts on downtown including the Franklin Park redesign and support for the renovation of the MLK Library, supporting new transportation plans and ways to facilitate biking in Downtown and more.

At the core of this year’s awards was the BID’s recently unveiled #healthy247 initiative to support healthy options 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for everyone in Downtown from farmer’s markets to recycling to green roofs. The effort represents an exciting direction for Downtown.

After a moment of silence for former Mayor Marion Barry and noting his contribution to the BIDs by signing into law in 1996 the Business Improvement Districts Act, the program began and recognized 8 awardees for their stellar contributions to creating remarkable urban experiences in Downtown DC.

“Our efforts are diverse and wide-ranging but what makes our work at all possible is the fruitful partnerships we have developed in Downtown,” said McCarthy. “It’s thanks to all of our dedicated partners that we are able to do great things for the Downtown community and that is the reason why we are here tonight—to honor their efforts.”

The Momentum Awards provide an opportunity every year to showcase the best of the best in Downtown DC by saluting the people, programs, and projects that have helped Downtown reach new heights.

The 2014 Momentum Awards winners represent a cross section of individuals and organizations in the public and private sectors. They are:

 

Ann Harvey Yonkers
Downtown Person-of-the-Year

With the recent opening of her third FRESHFARM Markets in DowntownDC (Penn Quarter – 2003, White House – 2009, CityCenterDC – 2014), Ann Harvey Yonkers, Co-Executive Director of FreshFarm Markets has redefined local cuisine influencing Downtown restaurants and providing healthy food alternatives for residents, workers and visitors. She has played a major role in supporting the DowntownDC BID’s Healthy Communities #healthy247 initiative, which is focused on improving individual and community health.

 

District Department of Transportation (DDOT)
Public Sector Person, Project or Program

As cycling has grown in popularity as a means for commuting, the DowntownDC BID has been working with District Department of Transportation on a multi-phase plan to increase bike parking. This summer saw the installation of 195 new, black U-racks care. The new bike racks are the second phase of a three-year plan to double the number of bike racks in the DowntownDC BID’s 138-block area. 

 

Brookfield Properties and Metropolitan Police Department
Private Sector Person, Project or Program

Brookfield Properties partnered with the Metropolitan Police Department in piloting the Downtown CCTV program which allows the property to offer another layer of security to the facility’s security infrastructure and has opened up the opportunity to offer more security technology-based services such as alarm and CCTV monitoring.

Office of the City Administrator, District Department of Transportation (DDOT), Events DC and the National Portrait Gallery
Partnership/Program

The District’s Department of Transportation (DOT) provided leadership on the successful World Cup viewing party on Freedom Plaza, in collaboration with the Office of the City Administrator and in conjunction with Events DC. Close to 5,000 soccer fans peacefully gathered on Freedom Plaza to watch the U.S. play Belgium on a 17-foot screen in the heart of Downtown.  

While the city government and the DowntownDC BID were coordinating the event on Freedom Plaza, the National Portrait Gallery hosted an additional 1,000 people to their cavernous courtyard for an insider’s view of the event and then followed it up one more time with over 1,000 fans for the final match between Argentina and Germany inviting a whole new audience to DowntownDC.

Hines
Landmark Development Project

CityCenterDC is Downtown DC’s signature neighborhood where an unmatched mix of shops and restaurants, apartments, condominiums, office buildings and common area blend for a vibrant urban experience. The project encompasses 520,000 square feet of office space, 458 rental apartment units and 216 condominium units, a 1,550 space parking garage, a public park, a central plaza and pedestrian-oriented streets and alleyways.  The project combines landscape, plant and water elements along with green roof and construction materials that support and promote a sustainble environment in the heart of Downtown DC.

New York Avenue Presbyterian Church
Downtown Detail

The facade of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, located at 1313 New York Avenue NW received a deep cleaning, restoration of the building’s masonry and limestone, new gilding on its crosses, clock faces and other decorations on the clock tower and steeple, updated exterior lighting, and new energy-efficient window as part of a $1 million exterior restoration effort facilitated by Grunley Construction.   

National Building Museum
Downtown Experience

The National Building Museum, in partnership with BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group, created a never-before-seen large-scale maze for the Museum’s historic Great Hall. Inspired by ancient labyrinths, garden and hedge mazes of 17th and 18th-century Europe, and modern American corn mazes, the Museum’s Big Maze soared approximately 18 feet high and measured 60 feet by 60 feet, the maple plywood structure boasted a series of twists and turns for visitors to weave through and explore. 

Brookfield Properties
Private Sector Person, Project or Program Award

Brookfield Properties for the installation of two beehives containing 10,000 live bees with one queen bee on the roof of the Brookfield Office Property at 650 Massachusetts Ave NW. Brookfield is the first to participate in the DowntownDC BID’s beekeeping initiative which directly supports DowntownDC’s healthy communities initiative, and is an exciting and fun way to promote sustainability.