NoMa Celebrates Constitution Square Topping Out

NoMa celebrated the topping out of Constitution Square, the largest mixed-use project currently under construction in DC. The project contains 1.6 million square feet of office, residential, hotel and retail. Phase I of the multimillion-dollar project includes 929,000 square feet of office space, 79,200 square feet of retail, 440 apartments, and a 204-room Hilton Garden Inn. Developer StonebridgeCarras has already signed several leases, including a 589,000-square-foot lease for the Department of Justice, and a 50,000-square-foot Harris Teeter grocery store.

Opening a grocery store in the first phase is unique for such a large mixed-use project, and Harris Teeter will provide an important amenity for the growing residential and office populations in NoMa. Additional retail announcements are anticipated this fall. Constitution Square’s Phase I will start delivering in the second quarter of 2010. A third office building and additional apartments are planned for future phases.

Walker Jones Education Campus Opens, Anchoring Northwest One Development

In August, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty unveiled the new $50 million Walker Jones Education Campus at New Jersey Avenue and Pierce Street, N.W., just across North Capitol Street from NoMa. The complex comprises a 100,000-square-foot K-8 school; a 20,000-square-foot community recreation center; a 5,000-square-foot library; and new athletic fields and playgrounds. The facility anchors the planned $700 million Northwest One New Community project, which will ultimately include retail and community services along with 1,600 new units of mixed-income housing. Roughly half of the new housing will be located on North Capitol Street in NoMa, just north of the new NPR headquarters.

The school opened for the first day of classes in late August, while the library and recreation center will open in November. The Walker Jones Education Campus marks a number of “firsts:”

• First new school construction project completed by the Fenty administration;
• First combined school, recreation, and library facility in DC. The school replaces two former public schools – the Terrell Junior High School and Walker Jones Elementary School – and can accommodate 850 students.
• One of the first LEED Certified green school buildings in the District.

In July, the D.C. Council released the first Northwest One parcel, located in NoMa at North Capitol and M Streets, N.E., to the developer, a partnership of the William C. Smith Companies and The Warren Group. The project will include 313 housing units in a 12-story building, townhouses, and two levels of underground parking. It is scheduled to break ground the second quarter of 2010.

New Marketing Staff Member

Rachel L. Davis, LEED AP^®, has joined the BID as Marketing and Events Manager. She will be responsible for the BID’s marketing, communications, events, and public relations, as well as implementing a strategic marketing vision for the neighborhood. Ms. Davis joins the BID from the national design firm Cooper Carry in Alexandria, Virginia, where she was the firm’s first marketing professional to earn the LEED AP accreditation from the U.S. Green Building Council.

A graduate of the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, Ms. Davis worked as a growth and development reporter for a small daily newspaper in the South. A car-free resident of the District’s Mount Pleasant neighborhood, she also works on local economic development and promotion issues as a board member with Mount Pleasant Main Street. Ms. Davis is excited to join the growing crowds biking to work in NoMa each morning. You can reach her at 289-0111 x. 3, or at rdavis@nomabid.org.

NoMa Walking Tour – September 19th

Join the NoMa Business Improvement District along with WalkingTown DC for a guided walking tour through this up-and-coming neighborhood. Covering everything from the Beatles’ first performance in North America, to the anticipated addition of NPR on North Capitol Street, you’ll get a chance to see all the excitement happening in NoMa. The one-hour tour will meet on Saturday, September 19, at 10 a.m. at the M Street exit of the New York Avenue Metro station.

Other tours of interest include:

• A two-hour tour of the Florida Market/Capital City Market starts at 11 a.m. outside the Florida Avenue exit of the same Metrorail station.
• A two-hour biking tour of the Metropolitan Branch Bike Trail begins at the New York Avenue Metro station at 2 p.m. For more information on the trail, visit www.metbranchtrail.com.

Find additional tours of interest at www.walkingtowndc.org.

Youth Ambassador Heading to the Military

Thomas Cowan, the BID’s Youth Ambassador during the summer, is headed to Arkansas for a GED completion program with the National Guard. After a brief stint there, he’ll move to Kentucky for basic training and join the Army proper. The DC resident is excited about the upcoming travel. “This gives me the opportunity to get my equivalent, and then I can join the military,” he said.

Working at the BID for the summer, he enjoyed interacting with people on the street. “I am able to speak with confidence a little bit more now,” he said. The BID team enjoyed a farewell lunch with Thomas and wishes him all the best. We’re expecting a postcard!

Cigarette Litter Grant

For the second year in a row, the NoMa BID has received a Cigarette Litter Prevention Grant from the Keep America Beautiful foundation. With support from the grant, the BID purchased ash receptacles to be placed on top of trash cans. Last year’s program focused on the area around Union Station, while this year the ash receptacles will target the developments at the New York Avenue Metro station.

• BID Tax Bills: The BID tax bills have been mailed and are due on October 1st. If you have not yet received your bill or have any questions, please contact the BID at 202-289-0111.
• BID Survey Available: Please take the annual NoMa Business Improvement District survey so we can gain a better understanding of how we have been doing and what we can do in the future to serve the neighborhood better. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=H3cxL3JzdQju5xUTRY0J8Q_3d_3d

Saturday, September 26

Latin Jazz Celebration at the Postal Museum
11am – 2pm
Free
Enjoy the tropical rhythms, colors, and sounds of Latin Jazz! Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with jazzy activities, recorded music, and story time related to Hispanic musicians.

The postal museum is located at 2 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E. Union Station is the closest Metrorail stop.

September 29 – 30

"Disney A Christmas Carol" Train Tour at Union Station
Disney is pulling out all the whistle stops and taking its show on the road with an interactive 40-city train tour including a 3-D sneak peek of film footage from the upcoming movie "Disney’s A Christmas Carol." Set amidst a snowy backdrop – complete with all of the sights and sounds of Christmas including carolers, decorations, and giveaways– the Train Tour is being launched with HP on board as the title and technology sponsor and driven by Amtrak. This family event is for guests of all ages and is free to the public. Come join the fun in the Main Hall at Union Station.

Operating Hours:
September 29th - 9:00am– 7:00pm
September 30th –9:00am- 4:00pm
http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/christmascaroltraintour/

Saturday, October 3

Callbox Unveiling at 1100 block of 3rd Street, NE
10am
The Capitol Hill North Neighborhood Association will be unveiling their very first 'Art on Call' callbox project located in the 1100 block of 3rd St. NE in front of the Uline Arena/Washington Coliseum. The callbox will feature The Beatles as their first North American concert was located at the Uline Arena.

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