(Washington, DC) – Mayor Adrian M. Fenty along with executives of Florida Rock Properties on Monday unveiled plans for more than a million square feet of development at the foot of Nationals Park along the Anacostia River.
“No other project really captures the radical transformation of the Anacostia waterfront like Florida Rock where we are replacing old, industrial uses with the elements of a vibrant new neighborhood,” said Mayor Fenty. “At the same time, we are leveraging this investment to create great public spaces that open up the river to the entire community.”

In May, Florida Rock received zoning approval to redevelop its concrete plant along Potomac Avenue SE into more than a million square feet of housing, office, retail and hotel space as well as a large waterfront plaza and promenade. As a condition of the zoning approval, Florida Rock agreed to donate $800,000 to the District to help pay for the construction of Diamond Teague Park, which will be built alongside the concrete plant site, providing a green gateway between Nationals Park and the Anacostia River.

Florida Rock’s “Riverfront on the Anacostia” will include about 560,000 square feet of residential and hotel space – with 29,000 square feet is reserved for affordable housing. It will also include about 545,000 square feet of commercial office space, at least 80,000 square feet of retail and a large waterfront plaza with a waterfront promenade. Construction could begin as soon as 2011.

The District will use the $800,000 contribution from Florida Rock to help pay for Diamond Teague Park, which is dedicated to the memory of Diamond Teague, a member of the Earth Conservation Corps (ECC) who was murdered five years ago. The Park will include a water taxi; new boat slips for the ECC and fire and life safety vessels; an environmental pier for educational groups, kayaks and canoes; and a riverfront boardwalk and a half–acre park. Construction of the park is expected to start in November and will be completed this spring.