The Wharf will host its tonight. Activities, including s’more building, ornament decorating and visits with Santa, start at 5 p.m.

The boat parade will begin at 7 p.m., followed by an 8 p.m. fireworks show. Over 60 boats are expected to sail down the Channel.

Mike Egan, managing partner of , said he’s very excited after participating in the boat parade last year.

The restaurant will be floating its Whitlows on Water 48-passenger tiki boat this year.

“We’ve got it decked out with some Christmas lights, and we’ll have our friends and family on there celebrating,” he said. “Last year, we won the most likely to capsize because we were getting after it out there.”

The restaurant is thrilled to have a bigger part in the celebration, Egan said. The restaurant first started displaying its holiday decorations Thanksgiving weekend.

Egan said he hopes for good cheer and great energy since Whitlows at The Wharf has a great vantage point for the fireworks show.

“I’m really excited to see all the customers come out in their best Christmas sweaters, and hats, and Buddy the Elf costumes,” he said. “Everyone kind of celebrates together to really get that Christmas spirit going.”

Mark Spicer, founder of said the donut trailer will be selling mini donuts that customers can decorate with various toppings.

Spicer said he is very confident his business will see increased demand because of its popularity at the Anthem Shop kiosk last year.

Capitol Dough’s trailer is open 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. Saturday.

“I’m excited to see all of the families down here,” Spicer said. “Just enjoying this beautiful place at The Wharf and seeing everybody in that holiday spirit.”

The Capitol Snow Christmas Tree Market sells tabletop trees, wreaths, eight-foot trees, lights, candles, and ornaments. It can be found facing The Wharf’s recreation pier.

The tree market opens at 9 a.m. and will close early at 6:30 p.m.

Virginia resident Sarah N’Guessan said it is important for The Wharf to host events like the parade since it brings the community together.

N’Guessan is staying at a hotel on The Wharf to easily attend the parade for what she describes as a staycation. The area is one of her favorite locations in the district, she said.

“I think it will be great,” she said. “I saw some signs for it at the hotel I’m staying at, so it looks like it’s going to be a popular event.”

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But a remedy for their concerns is expected next year. The D.C.-based supermarket chain Streets Market announced in August that it will open a location at The Wharf in 2026.

For now, though, Safeway, which sits steps away from the Waterfront Metro Station, continues to be the only supermarket in Southwest, serving over 3,000 people. Some residents prefer to travel a mile to shop at Navy Yard grocery stores like Harris Teeter and Whole Foods rather than face the crowded aisles, empty shelves and a potential lack of produce at their local Safeway.

Southwest produce

The Safeway is located in the center of Southwest at 1100 Fourth St. SW. The grocery store sells fresh fruits and vegetables, boxed and canned goods, and features a hot bar so residents can prepare meals quickly while shopping.

Malachi Hansen, assistant store director for Safeway, said problems can arise because it is the sole chain grocery store in the Southwest. He said it is unfortunate that residents are faced with the inconveniences of their location.

“We will continue to be an option,” Hansen said. “Even though we are the only option.”

Safeway will continue to provide an abundance of food to Southwest residents, even if some residents choose to shop at further grocery stores, he said.

Hansen, a Southwest resident himself, said the area needs more shops to provide customers with options.

“A little more availability,” Hansen said. “More places to allow customers to shop at, providing them with affordable groceries.”

Friendly Food Market sits at 1399 Half St. SW, just one block from Nationals Park in the eastern portion of the Southwest Waterfront. Though the market does sell groceries, it mainly offers items like canned vegetables, prepackaged dry foods and frozen ready-to-eat meals.

Residents who live closer to the store don’t have the same fresh produce options as Safeway consumers do when shopping for convenience. They face a 12-minute walk to Safeway or a 17-minute walk to the nearest grocery store in Navy Yard.

The Southwest Business Improvement District holds the weekly Farmers Market SW on Saturday mornings at the 425 M St. SW lot from Spring through Fall. The market offers fresh locally grown food by providing residents with pasture meats, local produce and eggs.

The market also creates a safe space for residents browsing produce by providing hot meals, activities and live music.

The market’s final day of the season, Dec. 20, will leave residents without a secondary source of fresh produce in Southwest until spring 2026.

We are thrilled to announce that is opening at in 2026!

Offering a wide selection of local, everyday practical goods, Streets Market offers fresh produce, groceries, flowers, prepared dishes, and more coming to 798 Maine Ave SW near .

— The Wharf (@TheWharfDC)

Streets Market announced the 2026 arrival of a new location at 798 Maine Ave. SW. The store is expected to replace a closed Orangetheory Fitness next to a CVS Pharmacy.

The D.C. area-based grocery store chain first opened shops in 2014. Its stores sell fresh produce, meat, seafood and packaged meals. They also include a kitchen and bar.

The location can be reached in 11 minutes on foot or 8 minutes by the C55 bus from the Waterfront Metro Station.

Streets currently has .

The supermarket chain didn’t respond to requests for comment.

Navy Yard’s availability

As they wait for Streets to open, many residents say they are frequenting Whole Foods and Harris Teeter in Navy Yard, further from their homes.

Whole Foods is located at 101 H St. SE, blocks away from the Navy Yard – Ballpark Metro Station. Harris Teeter sits at 401 M St. SE in central Navy Yard.

Residents who choose to skip the Waterfront Safeway travel about a mile, or 20 minutes on foot, to and from the Navy Yard grocery stores. Those who walk may end up lugging heavy grocery bags back across the quadrants.

Residents traveling to the grocery stores by Metrorail could ride the green line to the Navy Yard – Ballpark Metro Station, followed by a seven-minute walk. Residents can travel also via the five-minute C11 bus ride and an eight-minute walk.

What’s in the cart for SW residents?

Southwest resident David Moore said that shopping in Southwest is “a bit annoying.” Safeway serves too many people at a time, he said.

Residents may have to plan out their trips to the grocery store, aligning with stocking schedules, to avoid shopping among empty shelves, the longtime resident said.

“I mean, as soon as they put it out, it’s pretty much gone because there’s just not enough for everybody that lives here,” Moore said.

Moore visits Whole Foods and Harris Teeter located in Navy Yard, though he generally shops at Safeway because of its proximity. However, commuting from the Southeast grocery stores back home with bags of food has become an issue during the trips, he said.

“If I ride a bike, I can be there in six, seven minutes,” Moore said. “But if I got a bunch of bags, I’m walking. So, it’s about 20 minutes.”

Moore said plopping down another grocery store in the area could improve the shopping experience of residents, citing the planned construction of Streets Market in the neighborhood.

Sofia Abdirizak, an American University graduate student, said that she often does not have issues when choosing where to shop for groceries, living on the border of Waterfront and Navy Yard.

The Southwest resident told 91ÇŃ×Ó the cost of produce is her only concern when shopping in the area. Biweekly grocery store runs to Whole Foods or Harris Teeter can cost her more than $240 a month, she said.

“I mean, I’m not trying to go to Whole Foods every time,” Abdirizak said. “It’s expensive.”

Abdirizak said she shops at Navy Yard grocery stores by car for convenience, rarely visiting the Safeway in Southwest.

While driving to grocery stores is an advantage for her, scattered market locations may hinder residents who do not own cars, she said.

“It is a bit of a walk … if you don’t have a car or want to take the bus,” Abdirizak said. “I have a car, so it’s not too bad if I need to do big trips.”

Abdirizak said that another grocery store in Southwest would allow residents to have more choices when deciding where to shop. People in the surrounding neighborhoods would also benefit from an extra market, she said.

“I think one more grocery store, especially closer to Capitol Hill, would be helpful,” Abdirizak said. “Like maybe another Safeway or a Giant.”

The post Southwest residents want more room on the table for fresh produce first appeared on 91ÇŃ×Ó.

Fiesta DC and the Mexican Cultural Institute assisted organizers but left planning for possible Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations to The Wharf, despite concerns over mass arrests of participants by organizers of other festivals nationwide.

Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday celebrated Nov. 1 and 2 to honor deceased loved ones through altar and cemetery gatherings. Officials across the United States feared that those celebrating the holiday would be intentionally targeted by immigration enforcement.

As a result, some cities decided to cancel their Dia de los Muertos festivals, finding that the expansion of immigration enforcement could trigger mass arrests at the large gatherings.

Increased arrests recently in Long Beach, California, Decatur, Georgia and Santa Barbara, California caused officials to call off their Dia de los Muertos celebrations. Celebrations in the California cities of Senoma and Half Moon Bay were limited.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker pleaded in an October letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to pause immigration enforcement operations during Halloween weekend.

Noem, responding to Pritzker’s letter, declined.

“No, we’re absolutely not willing to put on pause any work that we will do to keep communities safe,” Noem said during a press conference.

Noem said operations would continue to bring “criminals” to justice, ensuring the safety of children during the holiday season.

The Wharf hosted the Dia de los Muertos celebration in partnership with Modelo, Fiesta DC, Giant, and the Mexican Cultural Institute. FundaciĂłn Elena and De Colores, nonprofits that work to improve the quality of life in Latino communities, also collaborated with The Wharf in organizing.

Services provided by the Mexican Cultural Institute included face painting, sugar skull decorating, and live music. Latin Celtic band La Unica, Sol y Rumba, DJ Danny, and singer Roberto Aparicio performed as residents enjoyed Mexican festivities.

Concerns over ICE attending the Saturday celebration had stemmed from extensive immigration enforcement operations in businesses, restaurants and bars across the D.C. metro area. Community churches and organizations have also had an uptick in their members or employees detained by ICE.

Organizations’ concern

In D.C., Daniela Madrid, event logistics member at the Mexican Cultural Institute, said that she did not hear any concerns about possible ICE arrests before planning the Saturday celebration.

She told 91ÇŃ×Ó the institution’s responsibilities included supplying traditional references from other Mexican festivals, highlighting that they were not the main planners for event specifics, such as security.

Madrid said that event planning was left up to The Wharf.

Wharf organizers did not respond to requests for comment.

Fiesta DC president Maria Patricia Corrales said that the structure of the event was directed by The Wharf, while her organization contributed altars and the locations of musicians. The organization also provided catrinas, the skeletal figures that have become a symbol of DĂ­a de Muertos celebrations.

Corrales told 91ÇŃ×Ó that despite public fears, the celebration was a success.

“The public might have expressed concerns,” Corrales said. “We did not come out with any issues.”

Corrales said that organizations cannot always wage the continuation of celebrations due to the presence of law enforcement.

“You can never expect something unexpected,” Corrales said. “We announce and hope people come. People want to come out and enjoy themselves.”

Participant safety

Waterfront resident Andrew Braner said that he felt safe attending the celebration as a regular. He said that he did think about the possibility of immigration enforcement coming to the event while attending.

“I live here and I feel safe all the time,” Braner said. “I was actually wondering if ICE would show up.”

Braner, who has celebrated past Dia de los Muertos in Mexico, said that though the D.C. celebration was “small beans” compared to those in the Latin country, it is still essential to curate in a diverse space.

“The world is [in D.C.] and there’s a lot of cultures here,” Braner said. “So, when you can celebrate Dia de los Muertos as a tradition, it just encourages the community to come together.”

Alex McKenna, an attendee at the Dia de Los Muertos celebration, said it’s important to continue cultural celebrations around the U.S. to avoid negative stereotyping.

He told 91ÇŃ×Ó this was his first time attending a Dia de los Muertos celebration.

“I think it shares with people something that’s important to them,” McKenna said. “And it’s important that we see other people for what’s important to them and understand that about others before we say something negative about it ourselves.”

McKenna said though he could not comment on the concerns of ICE conducting arrests at Dia de los Muertos celebrations, he felt safe when attending Saturday. He said he felt safe because of the celebration’s security presence.

“It’s amazing,” McKenna said. “I mean, the night is alive, and they’ve done such a great job, I think, of bringing everyone together and showing their culture.”

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Rent prices in Southwest have increased by 32% in the last three years, causing a greater demand for affordable housing. Some groups, like the Riverside Baptist Church and the Westminster Presbyterian Church, have addressed the demand, but residents still say that the D.C. Housing Authority should play its part.

The redevelopment of the Greenleaf Gardens public housing complex also is a factor in residents’ concern about the operability of public housing in Southwest.

Rising costs

The Southwest Waterfront neighborhood’s fair market rent has increased 32% median between the 2022 and 2026 fiscal years, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The median fair market rent prices for apartments ranging from efficiencies to four bedrooms have increased from $1,980 in 2022 to $2,620 in 2026.

Resident concerns

Melvin Ellis, a former Southwest resident, previously lived in The Tides apartment building under the Inclusionary Zoning Affordable Housing Program.

Ellis said he didn’t mind the program, saying that it wasn’t “too bad.”

However, Ellis said the “disparity in investment” in complexes across the Waterfront neighborhood is troubling to him.

“It really took me aback,” Ellis said. “Knowing that the Wharf got so much investment, and like not even a couple blocks over where those littler like projects (Greenleaf Gardens) are, there’s such a lack of investment, it’s crazy.”

Ellis said that while the Inclusionary Zoning Affordable Housing program is necessary for residents who can’t afford high fair market rent prices, the D.C. Housing Authority should address the lack of emergency housing.

He said the program’s lottery system prioritizes those who apply first. Leaving those who may not receive housing “sitting on a waiting list.”

“I think the city is in need of more immediate housing resources because of what’s happening in D.C., how people are kind of being priced out of the area,” Ellis said. “Like, this is their homeland.”

Ellis said the lottery system is “like a catch-22,” where people who need affordable housing the most will likely be overlooked for the benefit of those who applied to housing earlier.

Ronee Washington, a Southwest resident, said that access to affordable housing has a good impact on her quality of life.

She said that she was able to move into the recently constructed MDXL Flats in 2024 and feels “wonderful” about living in affordable housing.

Washington said affordable housing has eased her ability to manage finances and find housing.

However, Washington said that D.C. Housing Authority can make an extra effort to provide further affordable leasing opportunities for single residents.

“I feel like D.C. needs more affordable housing down in Southwest, or anywhere,” Washington said. “Market price is over $3,000. I feel like D.C. needs more opportunities for people, especially the ones who don’t have kids.”

Church renovations

Westminster Presbyterian Church and Riverside Baptist Church have tried to address concerns around public housing by including the development of affordable units within the churches’ recent reconstruction plans.

Elder George Kerr of the Westminster Presbyterian Church said that the church is still developing a plan to construct 225 affordable housing units on its property.

“Since COVID, we haven’t been able to get the funding. But were still, were still going to make it happen,” Kerr said. “It’s just going to take us a little longer than we like.”

In the meantime, Westminster Presbyterian church has focused on building relationships within the Waterfront community.

Kerr said that the church has fostered a “great connection” with the residents of Greenleaf Gardens, James Creek, and Syphax Gardens public housing complexes.

This project would mirror the Riverside Baptist Church Redevelopment.

Riverside Baptist Church partnered with PN Hoffman in 2017 to develop a mixed-use building that would be attached to the church.

The redevelopment project included the development of The Banks apartment complex, first-story retail space, and a downsized Riverside Baptist Church.

Construction of the Banks apartment complex was completed in 2019, offering a total of 173 units. Of those, 21 units are affordable housing residences, as mandated under the Inclusive Zoning Affordable Housing Program.

The Inclusionary Zoning Affordable Housing Program, available since 2010, requires new residential developments, like apartments and townhouses, to include affordable units.

Greenleaf Gardens

Greenleaf Gardens, one of the largest public housing complexes in Southwest, was planned for rehabilitation after residents voiced concerns with the safety of the dated buildings.

D.C. Housing Authority changed the process to a redevelopment project after saying that the cost of rehabilitation exceeded the cost of replacement.

Planning for reconstruction originally began in 2017; however, DCHA announced in a 2024 ANC meeting that some units started undergoing redevelopment.

Successful calls from community organizations such as Empower DC and Westminster Presbyterian Church have influenced the DCHA to avoid resident displacement during redevelopment.

The D.C. Housing Authority declined requests to comment.

The post Southwest rent prices are high, resident concerns are higher first appeared on 91ÇŃ×Ó.

Waterfront organizations such as the Westminster Presbyterian Church and the Southwest Neighborhood Library still plan events to allow residents to participate with neighbors, businesses, and history in an actively changing community. In addition, the organizers of the market are finalizing a calendar of events to take place over the next few months.

takes place every other Friday night from May to September at the 425 M St lot. The last market took place Friday, Sept. 19.

The night market hosts musical guests and small businesses from D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. It allows these small businesses to promote their merchandise.

Southwest residents can enjoy and purchase food, music, jewelry, and clothing that range in cultural variety.

It is sponsored by the Southwest Business Improvement District and the mixed-use development Waterfront Station.

Creating community

The Southwest Business Improvement District invites small business owners to showcase products at Market SW to increase community engagement within the Waterfront neighborhood.

Maria Corbitt, co-owner of Claudia Alvarez Jewelry, said that hosting a table at the market for her business lets her “create a community” with her clients. Corbitt said that the night market helps her build relationships with recurring customers.

“I see a lot of young girls who purchase from me. And I call them my D.C. daughters. They come back, and they talk to me. I give them stuff, and they bake stuff for me,” she said.

Corbitt said that the relationships she makes are more rewarding than the money she earns. She said this is “the satisfaction that you’re doing it right.”

“It’s more than selling in this small market. It’s like creating a community,” she added.

Miguel Palacios, owner of Migue’s Minis, has been hosting a table at Market SW for 12 years. The vegan donut business also attends the .

Palacios said attending both makes him “feel part of the community.”

“We’re here all year round, every Saturday morning. We love being part of the community, it’s a big family now,” he said.

Palacios said that the presence of the National Guard in D.C. has caused a slowdown of his business. Since some of his customers are uneasy with the idea that “somebody’s watching over your shoulder all the time.”

“But in the last year, due to all that is happening around, it’s sort of a kind of slowdown to all the markets,” said Palacios. “But, like I said, we are in the community, and the community supports us a lot.”

Palacios said that business at Migue’s Minis is steady due to the community around him.

Southwest resident Carmen-Mitzi Sinnott has been familiar with the neighborhood for the last year. She said that Market SW is essential for the makeup of Southwest, which she describes as “socioeconomically diverse.”

“Everybody’s mixing in, and music and art have the capacity to do that, especially music,” she said.

Sinnott said that although the Market SW increases community engagement, it can improve in the future to represent more residents in the neighborhood by hosting various musical guests from other cultures.

“So, if anybody wants to think about bringing people together across the vibes here, you need to put some soul bands there,” she said. “Put some hip-hop artists and some jazz artists, and you’ll be able to blend the neighborhood better.”

Sinnott added that it is important that the community should “be more thoughtful about how we collaborate with our art.”

Engagement beyond the market

The Southwest Business Improvement District plans programs to encourage communication among residents and participation in community events. These programs range in topics such as art, food, and music.

Jessie Himmelrich, public space director of the Southwest BID, said that planning within the organization is important to bridge meaningful relationships between the community and small businesses.

“It is just a way to help bring the community out, bring them together. A little free entertainment. An opportunity to support local makers,” she said.

SW BID is in the process of planning its event calendar for the next year.

The organization plans to host pop-up art shows, out-to-lunch series, and seasonal events such as the Jingle Block Rock.

Residents can browse events on the organization’s.

“I think we do a lot of different programming that contributes to community engagement. We have over 20 signature events throughout the year,” she said.

Himmelrich said that , hosted at the 425 M St lot from March to December, will still provide a place for residents to immerse themselves in the beauty of Southwest.

“I think Southwest is a very active community. I think it’s very diverse, and we get tons of different kinds of folks who come and participate,” said Himmelrich.

The Southwest Neighborhood Library holds several events that invite all residents to events that allow them to be immersed in creative, social, and productive atmospheres.

The library hosts events such as Baby Play Time, Story Time, Teen Lounge, and Cozy Boom Club to appeal to various age demographics, increasing the library’s outreach in the local community. Residents can browse events in the .

Southwest Neighborhood Library also hosts the in partnership with other D.C. libraries. This program allows residents to celebrate public art with local artists and small businesses.

The library recently celebrated Art All Night the weekend of Sept. 12.

Francia Baker, library technician at the Southwest Neighborhood Library, said that programs at the library have a great impact on the community, especially on the youth.

“It gives the kids a safe place to be,” said Baker.

The Westminster Presbyterian Church sits just a block away from the 425 M St lot that hosts the Market SW. The church blends music, history, and social awareness to increase engagement in the diverse community of Southwest.

Elder George Kerr said that programs at the church preserve its community and the relationship it has with its visitors. The church has hosted for 28 years, for 19 years, and the for 24 years.

“We have been a staple in our community for many years,” Kerr said.

Kerr said that the church has “great relationships” with and hosts many events with the Southwest BID and Carron Baptist Church.

The church has partnered with other entities to host programs like back-to-school events and Juneteenth festivals to expand its reach and inform residents of the history of Southwest and the greater D.C. area.

Kerr said that “gentrification has taken quite a bit here in D.C.” The church uses D.C.’s rich history to host community events.

Some examples include the church’s visit to the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the , which informs residents of the largest escape attempt by enslaved people.

“The Wharf has a lot of history down there with markers. It is incredible,” said Kerr.

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On Thursday, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that the Southwest waterfront will become the first Mobility Innovation District, an area dedicated to equitable access to transportation.

Mayor Bowser, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Development and the Southwest Business Innovation District are working to transform how residents get around the city.Ěý

Along with new developments bridging The Wharf and Buzzard’s Point near the Jefferson Memorial, a new all-electric bus system will connect the area with the National Mall.Ěý

At her announcement, Mayor Bowser said, “Through the activation of our beautiful waterfront, we have brought more jobs, opportunities, retail, restaurants, and entertainment to Southwest DC. In turn, that means more people coming to and through the community.”Ěý

Southwest BID received a $3 million grant from DMPED to fund the new Circuit transit system and support a call for innovation that seeks to invite tech innovators to create new solutions for sustainable and equitable transportation throughout the capital.Ěý

was the first winner of the calls for innovation and the buses are expected to start running early next year.Ěý

The company runs all-electric shuttles in major cities across the country like San Diego and Palm Beach.

DMPED said the bus route will run northbound on Independence Avenue and southbound on Q Street SW, with service to 15th Street SW and South Capitol Street from east to west.Ěý

Lexie Albe is the managing director of the Southwest BID. She said that Southwest is in a unique position to solve transportation issues as new job and recreational opportunities come to the Capital Waterfront.

To Albe, equitable access to mobility means that all residents can enjoy everything the area has to offer, regardless of status or ability.Ěý

“You have one of the largest concentrations of public housing in the entire city, here in Southwest,” she said. “And so there are folks with different types of needs down here and accessibility challenges, both for economic accessibility of jobs, accessing health care, accessing grocery stores, and you know, fresh fruits and vegetables, things like that.”

D.C. was ranked the fourth most walkable city in a 2018 study from the George Washington University School of Business, but residents still struggle with slow Metro rail and bus commutes.Ěý

Deputy Mayor John Falcicchio said that one in four adults across the country do not have access to reliable transportation.Ěý

“The solutions we uncover will help create a more equitable city and create models that can be replicated nationally, so every Washingtonian and American can access opportunities and make the most of their fair shot,” he said in a press release on Thursday.

The multi-year project also seeks to create a new payment method for D.C. public transit through a .Ěý

Albe said that rather than having several apps for buses and trains, the mobility wallet will let D.C. residents access all forms of public transportation through one app or one card.Ěý

The MID hopes to bring more and charging stations to the neighborhood through their calls for innovation and change the way people experience the capital city.Ěý

The post First Mobility District comes to Southwest D.C. first appeared on 91ÇŃ×Ó.

Tens of thousands of people came to The Wharf to look at the nearly completed phase 2 with excitement and celebration.Ěý

After 10 years of construction, it’s almost done.Ěý

The Wharf Community Association hosted a fifth anniversary celebration of completion of its phase one construction on Oct. 12,Ěý which revitalized the Southwest Waterfront neighborhood into a bustling city center.Ěý

The Wharf is anticipating the completion of phase two of construction by the end of 2022.Ěý

The Wharf’s website states that 1.15 million sq. ft. of mixed-use space is almost complete at the east side of the development, towards Buzzards Point.Ěý

Patrick Revord works with The Wharf Community Association. He said the $3.6 billion completed project is estimated to generate over $90 million in annual tax revenue for D.C.Ěý

“The Wharf is, I’m sure, going to be regarded as one of the great waterfronts and urban developments in the world,” he said. “Already, people study and travel to this area and it’s just a tremendous honor to be part of the team that brought this to life.”Ěý

Construction workers have been pushing to get new restaurants like Gordon Ramsey’s Hell’s Kitchen and Bartaco built on schedule for the end of the year.Ěý

Other restaurants and stores scheduled to open are a new Matchbox pizza location and a Kilwins Chocolates and Ice Cream.

Shannon Batson, 31, has been a sales associate at Diament Jewelry, one of the few retail stores in the area, for three months.Ěý

She said she thinks the new construction will help attract customers to her store.Ěý

“It’s gonna definitely help. Because whenever there’s events, it makes all the businesses thrive a little bit more that day,” Batson said.Ěý

Batson’s favorite part of working at The Wharf is meeting new people who may come in from out of town.Ěý

She said Diament gets “the best customers who are always excited to visit.”Ěý

Along with 20 exciting new businesses, The Wharf’s phase 2 will introduce over 250 apartments, a fourth hotel, and 547,000 sq. ft. of office space.Ěý

Even The Atlantic magazine will be a new Southwest neighbor. The company hosted its Atlantic Festival in September and announced it would move its headquarters to The Wharf in the coming months.Ěý

Tamika Jacobs, 47, is the manager at Praline Bakery, which has been at The Wharf since 2019.Ěý

A Starbucks opened next to the store last month, which created some tension for the bakery.Ěý

But despite feeling nervous about losing customers to competing restaurants, Jacobs said she feels the development will be positive for her business and will help bring new jobs to the district.Ěý

“Sometimes when things are new, people kind of tend to gravitate towards them,” Jacobs said. “But at the end of the day, things will balance out.”Ěý

After years of notoriety as one of the only active fish markets in the United States, Hoffman-Madison Waterfront began a $2 billion project to transform the waterfront into the hottest district destination.Ěý

In 2017, it was the biggest private development project in the city’s history.Ěý

Phase 1 construction introduced a revamped marina for boaters, three hotels, and a mile stretch of restaurants and new condominiums.Ěý

Concert venues like Union Stage and The Anthem have hosted iconic musicians like Lil Nas X, Blondie and Lorde, making The Wharf a music lover’s dream destination.Ěý

Revord said he is proud of his community and the work that has been done to improve it.Ěý

“As a resident of Southwest and Ward 6 I’m really looking forward to all the new businesses that are coming,” Revord said. “There’s gonna be something for everyone.”

His favorite part of the new construction is the introduction of 17 acres of new public parks, which will change the way D.C residents access the waterfront.Ěý

The Wharf welcomed 7 million visitors last year and anticipates even higher rates of tourism after the new locations are fully operational.Ěý

*CORRECTION. A previous version of this article incorrectly stated the development would include a D.C. branch of celebrity chef Jose Andres’ World Central Kitchen.Ěý

The post Second Phase of Wharf development gets ready to open first appeared on 91ÇŃ×Ó.

The non-profit organization signed a lease agreement with Hoffman and Developers for 25,000 square feet on the third floor of the building located at 610 Water St. SW after a temporary stay at America’s Square.

“We are excited that 610 Water Street and the vibrant Wharf community will be the future home of the Freedom Forum,” Jan Neuharth, The Freedom Forum’s CEO and the chair said in a statement.

“The dynamic combination of flexible work and community spaces offer a variety of opportunities, both virtual and in-person, to further our First Amendment mission,” Jan Neuharth said.

The 610 Water Street property was designed by New York City-based architect firm Morris Adjmi as part of The Wharf’s development.

The building itself was designed to look like a jewel box and contains a 10,000-square-foot outdoor terrace.

While the building has yet to be completed, the Freedom Forum’s snagged lease marks the final available lease.

A new home for the organizationĚý

The non-profit’s lease comes almost two years after its high-profile sale of the Newseum in 2019 to Johns Hopkins University for more than $300 million.

The Newseum was the organization’s home from 2008 to 2019 until it sold it to the university after years of financial issues.

Jonathan Thompson, the organization’s chief outreach officer, said the relocation to the Wharf will provide it with access to flexible office spaces with educational and conference center areas that will help further its mission.

“The new offices at 610 Water Street will also offer public gathering spaces and digital capabilities that can foster dynamic in-person conversations while continuing to offer the accessible reach and inclusivity of virtual events,” Thompson said.

Thompson said the spaces will be outfitted with the latest in digital media production technology, including video and audio studios.

Despite the organization having to shut down and sell its former home, Thompson said comparing the costs of owning a building and leasing an office is tricky.

“The costs to operate the property on Pennsylvania Avenue became unsustainable, but overall the new space will be considerably less expensive,” Thompson said.

He said the Wharf is an incredible development and expects the organization to take advantage of it post-COVID to host in-person events and programs that foster First Amendment freedoms.

The first event the organization has planned is its , which will take place spring 2022 at The Anthem.

Not the only new tenantĚý

It was announced in that The Atlantic’s tenure at The Watergate would be coming to an end after signing a lease agreement to occupy about 35,000 square feet on the top two floors of the Water street property.

Anna Bross, senior vice president of communications for The Atlantic, said the media company settled on the Water Street property due to its location, amenities and cost.

“610 Water offers an updated space in an excellent location, and we hope that the space is a draw for our staff and that it enhances the way that we work,” Bross said.

She said the new location will consist of two interconnected floors at the top of the five-story office building, with access to a large terrace off the top floor, with stunning views of the Potomac River.

“The building offers improved amenities for our employees, as well as increased accessibility options and has allowed us to anticipate some growth within the building,” Bross said.

Bross said the company hopes the new location will provide a long-term home for it, adding it is unclear when operations will officially begin at the location.

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Brookfield Properties, the company behind The Yards in Navy Yard as well as the extensive , plans to build a big tech campus in the Capital subarea, further adding to its decades-long renovations project.

Speaking with about the intent to pitch the site to tech companies out West, Greg Meyer, the head of Brookfield Properties’ Washington region properties, said the proposed site would be the large grassy plot of land located at M and First Streets SW.

Meyer told the proposed campus would ideally be three buildings that would come close to 1 million square feet in size.

The proposal would rival the tech campus currently being developed across the Anacostia River in Arlington, Va.

But Laura Montross,Ěý director of communications for Brookfield’s District office, said the possibility of the project coming to fruition any time soon is slim given the District’s height limitations and other building restrictions.

Montross said while the big tech campus might not happen, the company has its sights set on moving forward with another project that is part of the .

While the full project is expected to be completed by 2030, construction on Yards Place is expected to begin in the next few months.

The project is the most recent chapter of a decade-plus improvement of the Capitol Hill subarea. Redevelopment began in 2008 with the construction of the . Further development came in 2010 with the opening of The Yards, a 42-acre residential and business hub.

Phase I included 2,800 new residential units and 2,200,000 square feet of office and retail space. The centerpiece of the development is Yards Park, a waterfront recreation area, boardwalk, and outdoor performance space.

Yards Park was developed as a public-private partnership and is operated by the Capitol Riverfront BID.

Brookfield Properties’ intentions to further develop the area have been met with positive responses.ĚýAdvisory Neighborhood Committee representative Jared Weiss (SMD 6D02) said he is excited for the potential of Phase II.

“I think just about anything that draws more people to this area is a good thing. It is a beautiful part of D.C. that’s probably still underutilized, even given all the recent construction,” Weiss said.

He said one real challenge the project might face are transportation issues as street parking in the area is “already at a premium” and on certain game days it is an “absolute nightmare.”

“The more public transit can be thoughtfully planned, the more likely it is that the area can be used the best it can,” Weiss said.

Brookfield’s Phase II renovation will make it the second waterfront development and the largest in the D.C. region.

Announced in February of this year, Phase II will see the construction of 10 buildings spanningĚý 3.4 million square feet that will provide office space, mixed-income residential offerings, restaurants, retail and public amenities.

“We’re excited for these new additions to the neighborhood and to continue the tradition of our community-wide events and activations in our many open-air public spaces,” Toby Millman, senior vice president of development for Brookfield Properties, said in a statement.

The major attraction of Phase II will be Yards Place, a pedestrian-only street that runs from the Navy Yard metro station to Diamond Teague park on the Southwest Waterfront.

The street will be curbless and cobblestone and will span an estimated six blocks of the Phase II project.

While the full project is expected to be completed by 2030, construction on Yards Place is expected to begin in the next few months.

The project is the most recent chapter of a decade-plus improvement of the Capitol Hill subarea. Redevelopment began in 2008 with the construction of the $600 million Nationals Park stadium. Further development came in 2010 with the opening of The Yards, a 42-acre residential and business hub.

Phase I included 2,800 new residential units and 2,200,000 square feet of office and retail space. The centerpiece of the development is Yards Park, a waterfront recreation area, boardwalk, and outdoor performance space.

Yards Park was developed as a public-private partnership and is operated by the Capitol Riverfront BID.

Brookfield Properties’ intentions to further develop the area have been met with positive responses.

Advisory Neighborhood Committee representative Jared Weiss (SMD 6D02) said he is excited for the potential of Phase II.

“I think just about anything that draws more people to this area is a good thing. It is a beautiful part of D.C. that’s probably still underutilized, even given all the recent construction,” Weiss said.

He said one real challenge the project might face are transportation issues as street parking in the area is “already at a premium” and on certain game days it is an “absolute nightmare.”

“The more public transit can be thoughtfully planned, the more likely it is that the area can be used the best it can,” Weiss said.

Brookfield’s Phase II renovation will make it the second waterfront development and the largest in the D.C. region.

The post Big tech campus, pedestrian-only street among projects eyed by longtime Navy Yard developer first appeared on 91ÇŃ×Ó.

The Municipal Fish Market, located at the end of is underwater–and still conducting business.Ěý

Historic flooding hit Washington, D.C. in the early hours of October 29th and is expected to persist through Sunday morning.Ěý

According to the National Weather Service, The DMV region could be hit with the worst flooding the area has seen in 10 to 20 years, possibly since

One of the biggest tidal flood events of the past 10-20 years (possibly since Hurricane Isabel at some locales), is expected Friday & Saturday. Those along tidal shores should get ready for exceptional tidal inundation! Tidal forecasts here:

— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash)

District Wharf is situated right on the banks of the Potomac, and is vulnerable to severe flooding.Ěý

Diane Groomes, who runs security at The Wharf, said the fish market is especially vulnerable because of its location. The fish market, which , is the oldest continuously-operating open-air fish market in the United States, and still conducts business off of old barges at the end of The Wharf.

Groomes said while many of the other businesses are built above the floodplain,Ěý the fish market sits in the danger zone.Ěý

“Once you get past these buildings we built above the floodplain from the 100-year-old flood, that was the worst ever on record,” she said. “But right now, the fish market historically, even on high tide, takes on water. But as you see, it’s about three feet deep right now.”

Nonetheless, fish market employees made runs back and forth into the murky water. Most of the employees were just wearing t-shirts and jeans, occasionally stopping to shake out water from their shoes or dry off the credit card machine.Ěý

Employee Antonio Senabria said this has been going on all day.

“We’ve just been walking through…we keep all the customers behind the line and as we come up and cash the order…we walk through the water so that way they don’t have to get wet pretty much,” he said.Ěý

Sergio Munoz drove from Alexandria to pick up his fresh fish, and waited patiently in his rain jacket for his bag of shrimp to be handed across yellow caution tape.Ěý

“It’s more than accommodating, I guess. The guys are walking up and getting our orders,” he said.Ěý

Wharf resident Michael Douglas also came down to get his fresh catch of the day. He said the only real inconvenience was that he couldn’t go up to the counter himself to decide what he wanted to buy.Ěý

“If the rain doesn’t stop, it’s [the flooding] going to get a whole lot worse,” he said.Ěý

At the same time, other fish market workers used a shovel and a small boat to paddle through the water to get to the far barge.

ĚýSenabria said it’s a minor roadblock in what otherwise has been a reasonably busy day down at the market.Ěý

“Seems like everybody still wants their seafood, so that’s what we’re here for,” he said.Ěý

Munoz was among several customers who expressed awe and appreciation for the employees’ persistence.Ěý

“I mean, it’s crazy, but you know, I mean, they got to get their business going. So you gotta do what you got to do,” he said.

Neighboring businesses like closed down because of the flooding. Water levels crept up right up to the first step of the restaurant.Ěý

Right next to them, Groomes said had to put up bars to keep the floodwaters from getting in.Ěý

Overall, Groomes said it’s a historic day. The last time the fish market flooded was back in 2018.

“A lot of people are coming to record the history. You know, if you live down here, it’s kind of cool,” she said.

The post Flooding doesn’t stop sales at District Wharf Municipal Fish Market first appeared on 91ÇŃ×Ó.