The NoMa BID announced three semifinalists for its new initiative, NoMa Artscapes: Transforming Public Spaces, which aims to contribute to the visual character and texture of NoMa’s public spaces through the commissioning of a distinctive and precedent-setting work. Last month, the NoMa BID received over 60 applications from U.S. and international artists, architects, and designers. An eleven-member selection committee comprising public and private sector stakeholders named the following three semifinalists:

• Stephen Glassman, Artist, Venice, CA
• Parker Rodriguez, Landscape Architecture, Alexandria, VA, teamed with Chris Doyle, Artist, Brooklyn, NY
• Office dA, Architecture & Design, Boston, MA

Each semifinalist will receive a $1,500 honorarium to create a site-specific design proposal for the public space adjacent to the newly constructed Capitol Plaza Building at 1200 First Street NE (intersection of 1st Street and M Street NE). In late May, the selection committee will review the semifinalists’ proposals, and select the finalist, who will be commissioned $100,000 for design, fabrication and installation. This project is funded by the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities’ (DCCAH) Public Art Building Communities Program, in addition to a matching grant provided by the NoMa BID. DCCAH is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information, contact Dana Chieco, dchieco@nomabid.org.

NoMa's first hotel, the 218-room Courtyard by Marriott, opened on April 15th. Located just steps from the New York Avenue Metro station, the NoMa Courtyard by Marriott is the District’s first majority Hispanic-owned hotel and the first in the District to showcase Courtyard by Marriott’s exciting new design and service concepts. The lobby features the Central Bistro restaurant, which is open to the public, along with grab-and-go food and the Market, which provides food and sundries around the clock. Also in the lobby are comfortable lounge and working areas, media pods, free Wi-Fi, printers, fax machines, computers, and numerous flat-panel TVs and 2,800 square feet of meeting and event space. Newly designed guest rooms, some with Capitol views, offer large work desks, ergonomic chairs, king-size beds with plush mattresses, rich linens, and soundproofing that shuts out city noise for a good night’s sleep. The Courtyard by Marriott is situated just steps from the Metro station entrance, with direct access to the elevated Metropolitan Branch bicycle and pedestrian trail adjacent to the Metro track. It has a state-of-the-art exercise facility, indoor swimming pool, green roof, and meeting rooms holding up to 100 people.

Joining the rapidly developing retail corridor of NoMa is the casual French themed bakery and café, Au Bon Pain. Serving artisan breads, soups, sandwiches and coffee, it is a welcome development alongside NoMa’s newest restaurants including Five Guys, Heidi’s Brooklyn Deli, Sister’s Pizza and Mussels and Pound Coffee. The restaurant, which is located directly next to the New York Avenue Metro entrance on the ground floor of the Courtyard Marriott features outdoor patio seating and a free Wi-Fi connection. Au Bon Pain is open M-F 6am-8pm, Sa-Su 7am-5pm.

The NoMa BID partnered with the National Park Service and the Casey Tree Foundation on March 18 for a special reforestation project of National Park Service land at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and New Jersey Avenue, NW. The project resulted in the planting of 12 trees; eight were planted on the Park Service parcels in a pattern designed by the Park Service’s landscape architect. Four trees were planted in immediately adjacent tree boxes. Helping to plant the trees were staff from the Government Printing Office, the NoMa BID’s Clean Team from Gospel Rescue Ministry’s Ready To Work Program, and volunteers from the World Bank and from the community. The trees, tools and technical support were provided by the Casey Tree Foundation, and the NoMa BID is watering the trees to ensure that they thrive. The trees are a welcome addition to one of NoMa’s gateways and we anticipate additional plantings with Casey Trees in the NoMa BID area next year.

The NoMa BID participated in a community tree planting day on April 5 at the J.O. Wilson Elementary School in the 600 block of K Street, NE. The event, part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, resulted in the planting of three cherry trees on the school grounds. The trees were provided by the Festival, and complement a new, recently completed playground. Several groups joined together to make this event a success; these included the Capitol Hill North Neighborhood Association, the Friends of J.O. Wilson School, and DCPS staff and faculty. The NoMa BID helped with preparing the grant application and the Clean Team supported the day with cleaning services. For more information, contact Merrit Drucker at mdrucker@nomabid.org.

New leases totaling 94,000 square feet were recently signed at three of the new office buildings located within the NoMa BID.

• On behalf of the Veterans Administration, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) leased 35,000 square feet at One NoMa Station at 131 M Street, N.E., bringing the building to 90 percent occupancy. David Alperstein of Jones Lang LaSalle represented the ownership, San Francisco-based Bristol Group.

• The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ), whose 521,000 square foot lease at Constitution Square was announced last year, recently inked a 54,790 SF expansion to occupy all 575,790 SF of office space in the building, Two Constitution Square at 145 N Street, N.E. The building is part of the 1.6 million square foot mixed-use Constitution Square development that also will include a Harris Teeter grocery store, a Hilton Garden Inn, a residential building and additional office space. The largest private-sector development currently under construction in the District, Constitution Square is being developed by affiliates of StonebridgeCarras of Bethesda, MD and Walton Street Capital of Chicago, IL. Cassidy & Pinkard Colliers represented the landlord in the lease transaction, while Studley represented GSA, which leased the building on behalf of DoJ.

• VITAS Innovative Hospice Care, one of the nation’s largest providers of end-of-life care, has leased 4,600 SF at the Capitol Plaza building for its Washington regional office. Joe Michel of CBRE represented the landlord, an affiliate of The Polinger Company. Designed by renowned architect Shalom Baranes, Capitol Plaza offers 293,000 rentable square feet of Class A office space, with dramatic Capitol and city views from the upper floors.

Washington Life Magazine held its annual The Young & The Guest List party in NoMa on April 16th, bringing together 250 of the most influential Washingtonians under 40. The neighborhood welcomed these rising stars from a diverse array of industries, including politics, media, foreign affairs, government, art and culture, business, real estate, finance and more. The event was hosted at Capitol Plaza, a beautiful new building designed by DC architect Shalom Baranes and owned by an affiliate of the Polinger Company. Guests enjoyed a festive evening with great food, drink, live music and stunning views of the city.

The NoMa BID has recently published a guide to DC's newest neighborhood, titled “Go NoMa!” This convenient pocket-sized guide provides an introduction to NoMa, including its history and landmarks, and tells visitors where to shop, dine, and play. It includes a development map, list of restaurants, summary of office tenants, description of the bike trail, and information about green living opportunities coming to NoMa. Copies are available in the BID office and an interactive version will be available shortly on our website. To request a copy of the brochure, please email info@nomabid.org.

The sustainable revitalization of NoMa was the focus of the fourth annual Case Studies in Urban Development program at Cornell University’s College of Architecture, Art, and Planning in late March. Speakers at the conference included: Liz Price, President of the NoMa Business BID; James Curtis, Managing Partner, Bristol Group; Harriet Tregoning, Director of the D.C. Office of Planning; Rustom Cowasjee, Managing Director of Design and Construction for Tishman Speyer's Washington, D.C. Office; Mark Sexton, Principal, Krueck & Sexton Architects, and Artist David Batchelor. Case Studies in Urban Development (CSUD) is an annual conference that provides students, faculty, and area practitioners with the opportunity to learn from international examples of successful urban development and design.

Photo Credit: Robert Stuart

In yet another example of how NoMa’s revitalization is attracting national attention, about 60 public and private sector leaders and stakeholders from downtown Denver, Colorado spent three days in Washington, D.C. learning about NoMa and other District neighborhoods as part of downtown Denver’s Urban Explorations program. The Urban Exploration Program was developed help implement Denver’s 2007 Downtown Area Plan. Program participants spent April 5-7 meeting with their public and private counterparts in Washington, learning about the city’s most catalytic public and private sector programs, projects, and initiatives. The NoMa BID’s Liz Price and Doug Firstenberg of StonebridgeCarras spoke to the group at the Capitol Plaza Building on April 6, and other members of the BID Board were in attendance to answer the Coloradans’ questions.

In the effort to create green office buildings, homes, vehicles, and communities, planners sometimes overlook an important segment of every vital neighborhood: its restaurants. On April 22 – Earth Day – The D.C. Department of Small and Local Business Development and GreenHOME will hold a free three-hour workshop for DC restaurant owners, providing information on how they can positively impact the environment while reducing operating costs and increasing sales. The seminar is open to the public, but priority is given to business owners in target DC neighborhoods. To register, restaurant owners are invited to complete an online survey at www.dslbd.dc.gov at “Green/Sustainability Business Resources.” For more information, contact Camille Nixon at 202/727-3900, Camille.nixon@dc.gov.

• The Apartment and Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington is hosting a briefing on the new Impervious Area Surface Charge and the changes to the DC Stormwater Fee on April 24 at 10:00 AM at 1350 Eye Street, NW (lower level). Representatives from the DC Water and Sewer Authority and the District Department of the Environment will be on hand to discuss the recent fee changes.

• NoMa BID Public Safety Meeting - Tuesday, May 12th, 2pm-3pm - NoMa BID Offices, 131 M St, NE, Suite 105.

The NoMa BID is on Facebook! Become a fan by clicking here.

Please click here if you cannot view this email.
If you wish to no longer receive emails from the NoMa Business Improvement District, click here to unsubscribe.