Washington, D.C.’s Mayor Muriel Bowser has announced Tax Increment financing (TIF) funds – totaling over $50 million – and broke ground at the new Northeast Heights, located at the Minnesota Ave. NE and Benning Rd. NE corridor in Ward 7.
Northeast Heights is designed as a destination location to include mixed-use development consisting of new and reimagined retail, dining, and residential spaces. A primary anchor of the development is the relocation of the Department of General Services (DGS) headquarters, to be located at 3924 Minnesota Ave. NE.
Northeast Heights is part of the Mayor’s East of the River leasing strategy that includes using district government buildings as a catalyst for economic growth in communities currently experiencing underinvestment and needing retail, including grocery stores.
Through this partnership between the district and Cedar Realty Trust, approximately two million square feet of the corridor will be transformed to revitalize and boost the Ward 7 economy. The project will include a new full service supermarket and over a hundred affordable housing units. A joint venture partnership has been formed with the district, Cedar Realty Trust, Asland Capital Partners and Goldman Sachs for phase one of the project which will include a new six-story, 257,000 sq. ft. office building that will serve as the DGS headquarters and be leased by the district.
DGS will occupy 239,800 sq. ft. of space to accommodate approximately 400 members of its workforce, including 300 parking spaces for an initial lease term period of 20 years. The building will seek a minimum Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified Silver rating or above.
Completion of the DGS headquarters is anticipated for winter 2022.
