Ward Eight Development Highlights
This issue of Capital Columns On-Line will feature two developments in Ward 8, Henson Ridge and THEARC.
Henson Ridge
Henson Ridge is one of the newest communities to emerge East of the River. The new Hope VI development is located at 2001 Stanton Road in the heart of Anacostia and Congress Heights and is expected to bring about the revitalization of the Frederick Douglass and Stanton Dwellings.
This new construction project broke ground in 2002 and is expected to be completed late-2005. The mixed-income, 780,000 square foot project is being developed in three phases.
Phase I involved the construction of 280 rental homes and was unveiled in 2003. Currently, all of the rental homes are occupied.
Phase II involves the construction of 320 townhouses for homeownership. Developers expect that this phase will be completed by the end of 2005.
Phase III, which is currently in the planning stages, includes the construction of a community center, school and open space.
Mid-City Urban LLC, Integral Group and the DC Housing Authority are the developers and Torti Gallas & Partners are the architects for the $115 million project.
THEARC
Southeast DC’s newest development project is nearing completion. THEARC (The Town Hall Education Arts and Recreation Campus), located at 19th Street & Mississippi Avenue, SE is expected to be completed in April 2005.
THEARC sits on 16.5 acres and was divided into two phases.
The Covenant House, Phase I of the 110,000 square foot project has been completed and is open. The Covenant House provides education, counseling, job training and job placement services to at-risk teenagers.
Phase II of the THEARC includes a satellite gallery for Corcoran Gallery of Art; a full-service family wellness center provided by Children’s Hospital DC; a Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington; a 370-seat performing arts theater and town hall.
William C. Smith & Co., a District-based development and property management firm, formed the non-profit organization, Building Bridges Across the River, to fundraise for the development of THEARC. Building Bridges Across the River are the developers with Ayers Saint Gross Inc serving as architects for the $25 million project.