Forest City Files for Extension for Construction of a Movie Theater at The Yards

• Jan 18th 2018

by Nena Perry-Brown

While the Wharf made a splash as it began delivering on the northern banks of the Anacostia River last year, The Yards has been a quieter companion on the other side of South Capitol Street. Now, developer Forest City is seeking a one-year extension on the portion of a planned-unit development (PUD) that would bring a movie theatre to the neighborhood.

The PUD would create four city blocks' worth of development at First Street and N Place SE (map), delivering a Showplace Icon movie theatre, 600 residential units across two buildings, an expansion of Diamond Teague Park, 35,000-50,000 square feet of retail, and 331 parking spaces across a four-level garage.

The 235,130 square-foot site is currently occupied by DC Water, which is relocating to an under-construction headquarters across the street at the O Street Pumping Station. The PUD was originally approved in February 2014 and extended in November 2016; an additional one-year extension would give the developers until February 2019 to file building plans. 

Forest City representatives reported at an ANC 6D earlier this month that while the lease for the movie theatre had already reached its expiration point for build-out, the tenant had not exercised its right to be released, leaving them cautiously optimistic that plans for the theatre remain on track. The ANC voted unanimously to support the one-year extension.

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/forest-city-files-for-extension-of-the-yards-development/13462.