A 2008 rendering showing the Waterfront Park at the Yards, as seen from above the Anacostia River.
Official Web site: DCYards.com
Developers: Forest City Washington and GSA
Lead Office Architect: Shalom Baranes Assoc.
Design Principal: SMWM
Park Designers: M. Paul Friedberg and Partners
The Yards/Waterfront Park

A huge public-private partnership spanning 42 acres, 1.8 million sq ft office space, 2,800 residential units, 160,000-350,000 sq ft retail, and a 5.87-acre riverfront park. The first construction (170 residential units and 40,000-sq-ft of retail) is expected to begin in 2008, with the entire project to be completed in three phases over 10-20 years. Much of the property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in January 2008 thanks to an expansion of the Navy Yard's historic district boundaries.

Links:
Oct. 3 2007 Groundbreaking: Photos | News Release | DC16 Video
SFC Overlay (Zoning rules and regulations for the site) | SFC PUD Order (3/04)
NCPC Review (July 07) | Temporary Surface Parking Lots (July 07)
Southeast Federal Public-Private Development Act of 2000
Stories: March 2003, Feb. 2003, April 2002 (WBJ); Name Unveiling, 10/24/06
Developer Selection: FC Press Release | Post Story | Slatin Report (1/30/04)
JD's Yards News Items & Additional Links


            Overview            First Phase Renderings/Photos            More Photos/Later Phases            Yards News Items            

The first phase of the redevelopment of the 44 acres of the Southeast Federal Center site will see the renovation of three existing buildings and the construction of one new one. Note that specifics such as start dates are estimates, and all designs may still undergo modifications. All renderings are courtesy Forest City Washington.

Choose Other First-Phase Projects to View



Waterfront Park at The Yards

A June 2008 rendering showing an aerial view of the Waterfront Park at the Yards at dusk. The "Great Lawn" is the green patch at left, the expanded Canal Basin with its pedestrian bridge is just to the right, the Lumber Storage Shed (to be rehabbed with glass walls) and its plaza is at top center, and the boardwalk runs across the bottom past marinas and piers and west to Diamond Teague Park. The first phase of the park should be completed in summer 2010; a $42 million public-private financing and maintenance agreement was announced in October, 2008. Piers, marinas, and the retail buildings would come in later phases. Image courtesy Forest City Washington.

A somewhat similar view to the above rendering, showing the riverside frontage of the Yards as seen from the Douglass Bridge, in June 2008, with river recreation not waiting for parks and marinas to be built. The terra cotta-colored building at center is the old Lumber Storage Shed (Building 173), which will be turned into a restaurant pavilion; behind it will be the waterfront park. (6/5/08)



(Above) A rendering of "Great Lawn" on the western portion of the park that will lie south of a new Second Street, with the pedestrian bridge across the Canal Basin seen at far left. (Left) What the same spot currently looks like, as of April 2008. The Canal Basin will be dug out at left. (4/5/08)



(Above) The proposed waterfront boardwalk. (Left) A similar view of same location (use the Lumber Storage Shed at right to orient yourself). Nationals Park is straight ahead, about three blocks away. (7/17/08)



(Above) Standing on the great lawn and looking to the northeast, with the Canal Basin at right (you can also see the renovated Foundry Lofts at left-center). (Left) A similar view of the same spot, in August 2005. (05/04)



(Above) Entering the park at Third Street, with the renovated Lumber Storage Shed at left and the Canal Basin with pedestrian bridge straight ahead. (Left) What the same spot currently looks like, as of April 2008. (4/5/08)



Two more renderings, showing Water Street as it runs between the Foundry Lofts (left) and the Lumber Storage Shed (right), first during a daytime festival where the street would be closed....


... And at night, with traffic.


Looking east across the park's footprint in July, 2008, standing next to the Lumber Storage Shed near where the new Canal Basin and the pedestrian bridge will be. This space will become a terraced area that steps down to the boardwalk and the eventual piers and marinas. Farther off in the distance will be the more passive lush area of the park. Beyond that is the Navy Yard and the Display Ship Barry. (7/17/08)

The currently-less-than-inviting interior of the old Lumber Storage Shed, the terra-cotta-colored building that sits in the middle of the park's footprint. The corregated tin exterior will be completely removed and replaced with glass walls (as seen in the renderings above), showcasing the retail spaces inside. The concrete pillars inside the building will be retained. (7/17/08)



The second floor of the storage shed, showing the concrete columns that will be retained after the tin exterior is removed. (7/17/08)


Looking down onto the shed's ground floor. (7/17/08)



Standing at the bulkhead south of Third Street, looking across the Anacostia to Poplar Point, in August 2005. (It doesn't look any different in 2008.) The pedestrian bridge will be directly overhead of this location when it's completed. (08/05)


Turning around and looking north up Third Street, with work underway. This is where the pedestrian bridge will be built, with the new Canal Basin water feature to be dug just in front of this location. (Note the beginnings of the two new floors on top of the Foundry Lofts.) (10/29/08)  Click to see all available photos of this location.



The northern end of the park will be marked by a new road called Water Street; this is a view of the eventual intersection of Water and Third streets, looking east. (4/5/08)


Standing near what will eventually be the intersection of Fourth and Water streets, looking southwest into what will be the park. Additional retail pavilions will be built near this spot in Phase 2 of the park's construction. The Douglass Bridge is visible at left. (6/21/08)



Looking west into what will be the eastern footprint of the park, from the riverwalk in front of the Navy Yard, in April 2004. (04/04)


The educational organization Living Classrooms of the National Capital Area will be eventually building their new main campus building on this location. There's no timeline yet for construction, and it will probably be a while, since Living Classrooms will be undertaking a fundraising drive to pay for the project. (Rendering from STUDIOS Architecture)



Two more renderings of the proposed Living Classrooms campus building. This one is standing at the equivalent of Fifth Street, looking northeast toward the Navy Yard.... (Rendering from STUDIOS Architecture)


... And this one is looking southeast at the new building and toward Poplar Point. (Rendering from STUDIOS Architecture)


Standing as close to the water's edge as possible in July 2008, south of what will be the Fourth-and-River intersection. A boardwalk and marinas will eventually be accessible from here. (7/17/08)






Choose a Phase One Project to View, or View All:

The Foundry Lofts

The Boilermaker Shop

401 M Street/400 Tingey

Factory 202

Waterfront Park at the Yards



            Overview            First Phase Renderings/Photos            More Photos/Later Phases            Yards News Items            




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