(Washington, DC) Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Neil O. Albert announced today that the District will issue on August 10 a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) for Poplar Point, a 110-acre site along the eastern banks of the Anacostia River in Ward 8.
“Poplar Point is one of the District’s greatest assets and we expect there will be no shortage of interest from the development community,” Albert said. “We are going to move swiftly, but we fully expect to hold an open, transparent and community-driven process to determine the maximum benefits to our residents.”
District officials expect the solicitation will stimulate interest from both the national and international development communities. Respondents will have about 60 days to reply to the solicitation and the District expects to select a development partner about 30 days after the submissions are due.
The Fenty Administration announced late last month that it would seek competitive bids for Poplar Point, an underutilized expanse of land currently controlled largely by the federal government. District officials are working closely with the National Park Service to consummate a land transfer that will give the District title to the land. The District must reserve at least 70 acres at Poplar Point for a park and produce a plan for the area that is certified by the Secretary of the Interior.
Poplar Point is one of the key sites in the District’s ambitious Anacostia Waterfront Initiative, which calls for more than $10 billion worth of investment–new parks, trails, housing, retail, office space and cultural amenities—along the river’s banks during the next 20 years. Its redevelopment will reconnect residents of nearby Barry Farm, Hillsdale, Fairlawn and Historic Anacostia to the river.
Desired uses for Poplar Point include a mix of housing, retail, commercial and cultural space. A soccer stadium has been proposed for the site, though the solicitation will not require developers to include a stadium in their proposals.
Copies of the RFEI will be available on the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development’s website.