Today, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) Valerie Santos, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) General Manager Richard Sarles, and representatives from Urban Atlantic and A & R Development Corporation joined community members to break ground on the mixed-use project at the Rhode Island Avenue/ Brentwood Metro Station.

The mixed-use project transforms an 8.5 acre parking lot into two buildings with a total of 70,000 square feet of retail space and 274 luxury, residential units. 10 percent of the retail space is reserved for local business and 20 percent of the residential units are affordable housing at 60 percent of the area median income.  The project also includes the construction of a community center, two private parking garages for residents, and a 215-car parking garage for Metro users.

The Rhode Island Avenue project is the first mixed-use development in the nation to combine US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) multifamily financing with US Department of the Treasury New Markets Tax Credit equity.

"We are committed to investing in our communities in the most efficient and effective manner," said Mayor Adrian M. Fenty.  "The private-public partnership that brings mixed-use development plans to the Rhode Island Avenue neighborhood encourages economic growth while providing new housing."

"Additional retail, community amenities, improved streetscape and overall revitalization are especially important at our transit-oriented locations," said Deputy Mayor Valerie Santos. "We are pleased to help move this project forward."

Located in the heart of the District's newest Great Streets Corridor, the Rhode Island Avenue, NE project serves as an important anchor for the ambitious Great Streets program. The project creates a town center for the Rhode Island Avenue corridor and builds upon the success of the adjacent retail development.