The 411 on 202

The information that follows present data from the Downtown BID’s 2007 State of Downtown report(website: www.downtowndc.org/state) and new data from 2008.

DC Highlights of the year:

• Office market set record rents
• DC government had a $191 million surplus for its 2008 fiscal year on a local budget of $5.3 billion
• Pew Charitable Trust purchased 901 E Street NW, and is creating a “non-profit” village
• Hotel market had record revenues (the Obama inauguration assured an excellent start to 2009)
• Newseum and National Museum of Crime and Punishment opened
• DC adopted metered taxicabs
• Verizon Center had 2.6 million visitors–up 100,000 over 2007
• Downtown BID area restaurants grew by 9 (15 opened and 6 closed) to a total of 123 restaurants
• Downtown fashion retail expanded on F Street with Peruvian Connection’s opening, and Forever 21 and Guess Jeans signing leases
• Safeway opened a new grocery store at 5th and L Streets, NW
• Metrorail recorded 7 of its top 10 ridership days
• DC government released the Center City Action Agenda, making the case for continued investment in both Downtown and emerging markets of the Center City