A New Development Solicitation at St. Elizabeths

January 20, 2020

by Nena Perry-Brown

Map of St. Elizabeths East campus parcels. Click to enlarge.

The phased redevelopment of the St. Elizabeths East campus in Congress Heights continues to take shape.

Last week, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development released a request for proposals (RFP) for three parcels at the St. Elizabeths campus. The selected proposal will determine the fate of two historic buildings and a surface parking lot totaling 5.5 acres near the Entertainment and Sports Arena (ESA) (map).

The 2.6-acre Parcel 8 includes Building 100, which was constructed in 1920. This site is envisioned as delivering workforce development, office, and creative incubator uses "for DC entrepreneurs and innovators". The two-acre Parcel 9 includes Building 102 and a vacant lot at Cypress Street and the future 13th Street, and is envisioned for commercial or educational use.

With just under four acres of land, including an ESA surface parking lot, Parcel 13 is meant to be a transit-oriented development connecting the campus to Congress Heights Metro station via 13th Street SE. An 8-story building is recommended for the site, featuring ground-floor retail beneath residential and office space. There could also be three or more below-grade parking levels, or a screened-in above-ground parking garage.

Development teams must submit their proposals by March 9th. The St. Elizabeths campus is also one of the city's 25 Opportunity Zones.

Upon completion, the St. Elizabeth's campus is expected to house over 1,000 residential units, up to 700,000 square feet of commercial space, two hotels, and a new hospital. Redbrick LMD and Gragg Cardona Partners are the master-planners of the development.