Washington, D.C., January 4, 2011 – NoMa kicked into high gear in 2010, with continued leasing momentum, thousands of new residents and employees, and stellar retail success.
A few highlights:
- Harris Teeter: DC’s largest (50,000 SF) Harris Teeter opened in December, anchoring NoMa’s growing retail offerings and marking First and M Streets, NE, as the new heart of the neighborhood.
- Retail: Seven other retailers opened in 2010, including: Potbelly Sandwich Works, Georgetown Valet, TD Bank, 7-11, Café Phillips, Tynan Coffee & Tea, and Constitution Café.
- Leasing: NoMa inked 1 million SF of commercial leases for the third straight year. More than 38,000 people now work in NoMa each day.
- Living: Three residential buildings opened in NoMa in 2010, bringing 1,400 residents to the neighborhood and a total of 992 units.
- Development: In July, the cranes returned when Archstone broke ground at First and M Streets, NE, on 469 units – Washington’s largest residential groundbreaking in 2010.
“2010 was the year of retail for NoMa,” said NoMa BID President Liz Price. “Our eight new restaurants and retailers accentuate NoMa’s momentum as DC’s fastest growing neighborhood, and we continue to be a top choice for savvy employers and residents alike.”
Retail
NoMa’s streets grow busier each day, as more than 70,000 square feet of retail space has opened or leased in NoMa this year. All told, 16 shops and restaurants have opened in NoMa in the past three years.
2011 is shaping up to be another great retail year, with Roti Mediterranean Grill and CVS opening soon, and two well-known local chefs opening unique, full-service restaurants this spring. Todd Gray’s Watershed, featuring seafood from the Eastern seaboard, opens in April with the Hilton Garden Inn, NoMa’s second hotel. Chef Gillian Clark of Colorado Kitchen fame, will open Kitchen on K Street in the Loree Grand in late spring.
Live in NoMa
Residential growth surged in 2010 as well, with more than 1,400 people calling NoMa home.
- In May, The Washington Center, a nonprofit that places interns in the Washington region, opened its first student residence facility, providing housing for 340 national and international college students year round.
- Leasing activity continues at a rapid pace for the Loree Grand, which opened in June with 212 apartments and 30 artist housing units; the building is already 60 percent leased.
- In October, the Flats 130 opened with 414 luxury apartments in Constitution Square; the building is 16 percent leased.
New residents, tenants and retailers all cite NoMa’s unparalleled transit connectivity, Washington’s fastest New York connection at Union Station, and 15 modes of transportation, including two Red Line Metro stops. NoMa is Washington’s most sustainable neighborhood, offering a car-free lifestyle, 20 LEED buildings, nine green roofs and more than 123 trees planted since 2007.
In addition to rails, NoMa also offers trails – and cycling options for everyone. NoMa is served by the only Bikestation on the East Coast, the 8-mile Metropolitan Branch Trail, and 6 Capital Bikeshare stations.
Development
NoMa remains Washington’s fastest growing neighborhood. In just five years, NoMa has developed eight million SF of office, residential, hotel and retail space totaling $3 billion in private investment.
- Archstone broke ground in July on 469 luxury apartments at First and M Streets, NE.
- NPR is currently under construction on its new headquarters on North Capitol Street.
- In November, StonebridgeCarras announced plans to break ground in May on Phase II of Constitution Square, which will include 345,000 square feet of office space and 203 residential units.
- Northwest One will break ground on a 300-unit apartment building in NoMa in 2011.
Leasing
In 2010, government tenants continued to lease large swaths of NoMa real estate, as the neighborhood inked 1 million SF of commercial leases for the third straight year. All told, the federal government leased 565,000 SF in NoMa in 2010 alone.
Private sector leasing continued to increase, as associations, nonprofits and media companies gravitated toward NoMa. CQ-Roll Call leased 71,500 SF, marking NoMa as a growing media hub with big names such as CNN, Sirius XM Radio and NPR’s new headquarters. The Community College of DC opened at 801 North Capitol Street in September, bringing 2,500 students, faculty and staff to NoMa.
About NoMa
NoMa is a vibrant, growing neighborhood north of Union Station and four blocks from the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. In the last five years, private developers have invested more than $3 billion in the 35-block area covered by the NoMa BID, and have plans to develop more than 20 million square feet of office, residential, hotel, and retail space. In 2010, more than 6,000 people moved into NoMa to live or work; and eight new retailers opened for business. NoMa has 15 modes of transportation, including two Red Line Metro stops, and the best biking facilities in DC, with the only East Coast Bikestation, the 8-mile Met Branch Trail, and six Capital Bikeshare stations. For more information about NoMa, visit nomabid.wpengine.com and sign up for our bimonthly newsletter.
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