(Washington, DC) – Mayor Adrian M. Fenty today joined Councilmembers Muriel Bowser (Ward 4), Jim Graham (Ward 1) and Kwame Brown (At-Large), community members, and representatives of Donatelli Development for a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the opening of Park Place, a new 200,000 square-foot housing and retail project atop the Georgia Avenue-Petworth Metro Station.

“Park Place is yet another development milestone in the Petworth neighborhood that will stimulate economic growth and improve the quality of life for District residents,” said Mayor Fenty. “In Donatelli, we are fortunate to partner with a developer that shares my Administration’s commitment to bringing a new sense of vitality to the Georgia Avenue corridor.”

The largest mixed-used development project along the Georgia Avenue corridor, the $71 million Park Place includes 161 apartment units and 17,000 square feet of ground floor retail space located directly above the Georgia Avenue/Petworth Metro Station. Twenty percent of the residential units will be reserved at affordable rates, and residents will also benefit from 187 underground parking spaces. The landscaped rooftop has a sundeck and a bocce green lawn, with panoramic views of city attractions like the National Cathedral, the Washington Monument and the US Capitol.

The project also has many environmentally sustainable design, such as energy-efficient appliances and light fixtures, a built-in storm water management system, rooftop plant fixtures for rainwater containment, and white roof tiles that resist heat so the building uses less energy to cool its interior. The first floor of Park Place will offer a mix of national and local neighborhood-serving retail. More than half of the new jobs to be created by the development of Park Place will be filled by District residents. Park Place has already received awards in the real estate industry, such as the 2009 Economic Development Award from the Association of African American Real Estate Professionals (AAREP).

The project, which was awarded to Donatelli Development and Gragg & Assoc by the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development through a competitive process in 2004, is a joint-venture with Canyon Capital Realty Advisors and Earvin “Magic” Johnson. Donatelli is also making its development mark across the street from Park Place at 3801 Georgia Avenue, NW, which will offer 49 market-rate apartments. In addition, at 3813 and 3815 Georgia Avenue, NW and 3825-3829 Georgia Avenue, NW, Donatelli will be performing renovations and constructing restaurants and housing units. Donatelli intends to break ground with the District on these projects in the fall.

Media Contacts

• Sean Madigan, (202) 615-2029

• Feras Sleiman, (202) 251-8829