The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development has provided an $8 million grant and $4 million in Great Streets Tax Increment Financing (TIF) toward the restoration of the historic Howard Theatre at 620 T Street, NW to its original 1910 façade and grandeur.

The Howard Theatre, placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, was the nation’s first full-sized theater for African American audiences and entertainers. Originally constructed as a variety hall featuring vaudeville performances, musicals, circuses, local variety programs, movies and community events, Howard Theatre hosted luminary artists like Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Lena Horne, Diana Ross and has the distinction of being the location where Ella Fitzgerald was discovered.

The project broke ground on September 2, 2010. The renovations included a 34,000-square-foot multipurpose entertainment venue, a museum, a restaurant, and an educational center. Renovations were completed in December 2011 for a total of $25 million. The Howard Theatre reopened in 2012, .

The developers for the project were the Howard Theatre Restoration Inc. and Howard Theatre Development Group.