(Washington, DC) – Mayor Adrian M. Fenty on Thursday provided an update on the District’s effort to secure control of up to 62.5 acres of land at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, which is slated to close in 2011 as part of the Defense Department’s Base Realignment And Closure (BRAC) process.

“We have an incredible opportunity to re-integrate a major portion of this federal campus back into the Brightwood neighborhood and create a new sense of vitality along Georgia Avenue,” said Mayor Fenty. “We’re going to work very closely with the community and our federal partners in the months ahead.”

The Deputy Mayor’s Office for Planning and Economic Development will lead the District’s master planning effort in partnership with a number of District agencies including the Office of Planning, and Departments of Transportation, Human Services, Environment and Employment Services.

During the next 12 months the District will produce a reuse plan for the southern half of the campus, about 62.5 acres that includes substantial frontage along Georgia Avenue. While it is still very early in the process, it is likely the final plans will call for mixed-use development along the Georgia Avenue corridor.

The Army is expected to move its operations off the campus in 2011, but the General Services Administration plans to take control of northern portion of the installation, while the State Department is making plans for the western portion of the installation.

Residents can follow the District’s planning efforts on a new dedicated web page: walterreedlra.dc.gov.

Mayor Fenty announced the District’s plans at a press conference held at 6925-9 Georgia Avenue – a pair of empty District-controlled lots overlooking the Walter Reed campus. Mayor Fenty also announced the District, led by DMPED, issued a solicitation seeking a development partner to redevelop these properties in housing, retail or other potential uses favored by the surrounding community. Bids are due in January.

Media Contacts

• Sean Madigan, (202) 615-2029