(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Mayor Vincent C. Gray joined Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Assistant Secretary of the Army Katherine Hammack, Ward 4 Councilmember and Mayor-Elect Muriel Bowser, and Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services (FEMS) Chief Eugene A. Jones today in a ceremonial signing of the deed transferring Building 18 at the former Walter Reed Army Medical Center to the District for adaptive reuse as a new fire station.

“This is a momentous occasion, as today’s ceremony marks the first transfer of land at Walter Reed to the District and clears the way for building a vital community benefit for the Ward 4 neighborhood,” said Mayor Gray. “My administration has worked closely with the Army to acquire Walter Reed so that we can begin transforming this historic campus into a vibrant destination that meets the needs and desires of the neighboring community.”

As a result of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, which facilitated the downsizing and restructuring of United States military operations, the federal government declared 66.57 acres on the main post of Walter Reed as surplus property. This made the parcel available to the District’s local redevelopment authority for re-use.

Once demolished, Building 18 will accommodate a new, state-of-the-art fire station built by the Department of General Services (DGS) and FEMS. The $12 million station will house the District’s Engine 22, Truck 11, and Ambulance 22 companies.

Mayor Gray also announced that language in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (NDAA) that affects negotiations between the Army and the District for the site is beneficial to the project as a whole and will move the development forward. The redevelopment plan for the District’s parcel at Walter Reed includes 115 units of housing for veterans, two charter schools, new retail amenities and the new fire station.

The site will also create 2,300 construction jobs and 2,460 permanent jobs, once stabilized. The team of Hines, Urban Atlantic, and Triden were selected to develop the site by DMPED through a competitive process. Hines/Urban Atlantic/Triden has been working cooperatively with DMPED to expeditiously implement the re-use plan for the site.

For more information on the Walter Reed Local Redevelopment Authority, please go here.

Media Contacts:

• Chanda Washington DMPED, (202) 727-6365
• Doxie McCoy EOM, (202) 727-9691
• Tim Wilson FEMS, (202) 673-3298