How Southwest D.C. could become three new neighborhoods
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The James V. Forrestal Building. Photo: Kevin Carter/Getty Images
Big discussions are happening throughout D.C. regarding a once-in-a-century opportunity: redeveloping the massive federal enclave that is Southwest D.C.
Why it matters: It's a chance to reimagine a 230-acre chunk of the city between the Mall and the Southwest waterfront that people have long bemoaned as desolate, imposing and confusing.
- For comparison: The nearby Wharf is 27 acres.
The big picture: This comes as D.C. is trying to make its office-heavy downtown more mixed-use — a move the city also sees as critical for Southwest amid mass federal worker layoffs and agency closures and relocations.
- And while talks about Southwest's future have long been a thing, there's a sense of urgency now because the Trump administration is all-in on offloading federal buildings.
What they're saying: The vision for an area this large can't be thought of as "a monolith," D.C. Deputy Mayor Nina Albert said at a recent development summit.
- "230 acres is not a project," she said. "That's three new neighborhoods, basically."
Albert told Axios in an interview how she envisions it:
- The western portion near the Tidal Basin: Probably more residential. Federal buildings here — think the U.S. Department of Agriculture South Building, or the already converted Cotton Annex — date to the 1920s and '30s and are better for housing conversion, per Albert. Bonus: Their large scale means they could fit 3- to 4-bedroom apartments, something the city is missing.
- The middle core around 10th Street below the Smithsonian Castle: A good spot for a "cultural axis," says Albert — think entertainment spaces and more museums to join the Spy Museum.
- And the eastern portion near Capitol Hill: office forward, with a more concentrated footprint for federal headquarters.
State of play: Everyone's focused on one site: The Forrestal Building.
- Tearing it down after the Department of Energy vacates it would open 11 acres linking Southwest and the Wharf — stimulating more development, said speakers at the summit.
Meanwhile, the Regional Office Building and the Liberty Loan Building were purchased by private developers, and the District is coordinating with them on development plans, says Albert.
The intrigue: Albert told Axios that she doesn't think a redevelopment authority is needed for this project.
- Yes, but: Presumptive mayor Janeese Lewis George has said she would establish a "downtown development corporation" to consolidate planning.
Zoom in: Albert likens Southwest's potential story to that of Navy Yard's — former-federal-land-turned-destination.
- But she says Southwest needs an anchor tenant to draw in developers like Nats Park in Navy Yard.
- A possible option: Homes for the forthcoming National Museum of the American Latino and the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum.
Between the lines: Mayor Muriel Bowser included the Downtown Revitalization Fund in her new budget — which would use taxes from federal properties to improve downtown, the Golden Triangle and Southwest — as well as tax breaks for federal sites redeveloped by private groups.
Reality check: This is in the brainstorming stage. TBD on how it plays out.
- And don't expect a transformation overnight: Things of this scale tend to be built over decades, says Albert.
What we're watching: How this evolves under the new mayor.