(Washington, DC) The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development today announced the selection of a Capitol Hill-based organization to restore and reuse the Old Naval Hospital and grounds on Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, in the heart of Capitol Hill.

The organization, the Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, was chosen competitively from among several extremely worthy proposals because of the Center’s commitment to a broad range of community programs and to historical restoration of the site.

The Hill Center proposal, centered on educational and life-long learning opportunities for local youth and adults and restoration of the entire site, will advantage the entire Capitol Hill community and beyond. The District’s Office of Property Management (OPM) led the selection process. The organization’s proposal was also the preferred choice of both Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6B and the OPM public-private advisory panel.
In addition, to the recommendations by the ANC and the public-private panel, OPM invited and carefully considered a wide range of public comment on the future ONH tenant.

The Hill Center, a five-year-old 501(c)(3) organization, will offer classes in computer literacy, languages, music, drawing and painting, parenting, creative writing and cooking and nutrition as well as space for lectures, recitals, art shows and other community events.

Built in 1864 to serve Civil War forces, the site was a Naval Hospital until 1911. Subsequently, it offered lodging for those pressing pension claims in Washington. Now largely vacant, it is a Distinct historic landmark at 921 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, just east of the United States Capitol in the heart of Capitol Hill.