Metropolitan Branch Trail Progresses

Mayor Adrian Fenty joined Metropolitan Branch Trail officials for a ribbon cutting ceremony near Rhode Island Avenue Metro to announce construction of the next phase of the trail which will extend one mile north of NoMa to Catholic University. Future phases will complete the planned 8-mile trail from Silver Spring to Union Station and connect to regional trails like the Capitol Crescent Trail. NoMa is becoming a haven for bicyclists with the Union Station Bike Station underway and slated for completion later this summer.

Phillip Café, a popular gourmet deli restaurant known for its made-to-order sandwiches and fresh carving stations, will open in NoMa this fall. Café owner Phillip Yun has leased 2,360 square feet of space on the ground floor of 77 K Street, developed by Brookfield Properties and located at the corner of 1st and K Streets, N.E. The café will open in November and serve breakfast, lunch, and snacks from 7 am to 4 pm daily. This will be Phillip Café’s sixth location in Washington. Along with Heidi’s Brooklyn Deli, Naples Sisters’ Pizza and Mussels, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Au Bon Pain, and Pound Coffee, Phillip Café joins a growing roster of restaurants and delis providing numerous dining options for NoMa’s many workers and visitors. Brookfield Properties’ 77 K Street is a 326,000 square foot new office building offering excellent access to both the Union Station and New York Avenue Metro stations.

NoMa Summer Screen

Despite the rainy weather this summer, NoMa Summer Screen has been a big hit. On June 24th 200 people gathered for free fun, music and delicious BBQ and enjoyed “Ray” under the stars. Make sure to join in on this great summertime activity which takes place every Wednesday with the DJ starting at 7 PM and the movies starting at 9 PM. Special thanks to the Cohen Company for hosting the event on their property adjacent to NoMa’s soon-to-be-complete, first apartment building, the Loree Grand at Union Place. Check out the full lineup of movies at http://www.nomasummerscreen.com/.

Over 100 people attended the NoMa BID’s 2009 annual meeting on June 22, held in the brand-new Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in the heart of NoMa. In her BID update, BID President Elizabeth Price noted that NoMa has come a long way since the BID launched in March 2007:

• $1.5 billion in private-sector investment
• 5 million square feet of new residential, office, retail, and hotel space completed or under construction
• 1.2 million square feet leased and sold over the last year
• A 39 percent decrease in crime last year

“We couldn’t have done it without the support of the District government, the many private businesses that share a vision for NoMa, and the community organizations that make our city a better place to live,” she said, before presenting special awards to D.C. Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray (D-Ward 7) and Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) for their strong support of NoMa.

The BID also presented awards to Chance Patterson, formerly with XM Radio, and Bristol Group, developer and owner of One NoMa Station, for their early investment in NoMa and continuing leadership. Two community organizations – the Two Rivers Charter School and Gospel Rescue Ministries – also received awards from the BID.

The BID also elected seven new members to its Board of Directors, with terms ending in 2011 and 2012:

Bart Bush, GSA
Lorraine Cole, YWCA
Stuart Goldberg, Sirius XM Radio
Gary Goodweather, OTO Development
Maury Schlesinger, NPR
Rob Seldin, Archstone
Michael Smith, The Washington Center

Pictured: BID President Liz Price, far right, with Board of Directors at 2009 Annual Meeting

In July, NPR will undertake the first phase of its new headquarters project at 1111 North Capitol Street in NoMa – removal and abatement of hazardous materials from the 83-year-old former C&P Telephone Companies warehouse, and interior demolition. Construction of the new building, which will incorporate portions of the old building and integrate it with a new office tower, is expected to begin in 2010 or early 2011. Last year, NPR acquired the 165,000 square foot building, which was most recently used as warehouse space by the Smithsonian Institution, and selected Boston Properties as the developer. When NPR’s new headquarters is completed in 2012, it will house all of NPR’s Washington-based journalism, multimedia, business and executive activities. The new headquarters will include a 60,000 SF space for NPR News’ extensive broadcast and multimedia operations and a public space for live shows and events.

NAIOP

The NoMa Business Improvement District was pleased to be spotlighted in the successful rooftop event for NAIOP on June 18th. NAIOP, the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties, held the event at 77 K Street to highlight the neighborhood and bring together developers and property owners from the NoMa Corridor.

Pictured: Brookfield’s Eddie Trujillo, BID President, Liz Price; DMPED’s Jamie Weinbaum; Brookfield’s Greg Meyer

Youth Ambassador

NoMa is pleased to welcome back our youth ambassador Thomas Cowan. Thomas was a part of the NoMa ambassador team last summer through the Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program and has joined us once again for the summer. Thomas, who graduated from Anacostia Senior High School, is also actively interested in the military. He attended and recently graduated from Free State Youth Academy, a military academy located at Aberdeen Proving Grounds and plans to eventually join the service.

Pictured: NoMa BID Ambassdor, Robert Walker, training youth ambassador, Thomas Cowan.

Go NoMa! Interactive Online Map is Launched

NoMa BID recently launched an online interactive retail map of NoMa. The map, which can be found on our website, features locations, hours, website information and more for our many restaurants, shops, businesses, landmark, hotels and other amenities. Check out what NoMa has to offer today!

The NoMa BID is currently seeking to fill two positions including:

Communications and Events Manager

Transportation and Planning Manager

If you, or anybody you know is interested please go to our website, http://www.nomabid.org to view the job description. Applications are due by July 17th.

The District Department of Transportation has begun construction on several projects that will improve vehicular and pedestrian safety and access along New York Avenue in the vicinity of NoMa. The following projects will affect traffic patterns in the area from Summer 2009 through Spring 2011.

• Brentwood Road (Work on Bridge over NY Ave)
• 9th Street Bridge, NE (Over NY Ave)
• New York Avenue Bridge (Over railroad tracks)
• New York/Florida Ave Intersection (Virtual Circle)

Upcoming Events in NoMa

NoMa Public Safety Meeting
Tuesday July 14th
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
1200 First Street, NE
Suite 310

Postal Museum Events:

Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Family Festival
Saturday, July 11
11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
President Abraham Lincoln saw big changes in mail during his lifetime, as a postmaster and as a president. Communication innovations connected the country just as the Civil War tore it apart. Discover how the Civil War challenged the postal system in a variety of hands-on family activities. Sort mail in a Railway Post Office train car, explore stamps commemorating Lincoln and learn about Confederate postage.

Stamps for a New Deal
Friday, July 24
1-3 p.m.
Stamps may be small, but they carry powerful messages. Discover how “stamp collector in chief” President Franklin D. Roosevelt used stamp designs to deliver a message of hope to the nation during the Great Depression. Drop by to explore stamps inspired by Roosevelt’s personal and political passions.

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