The Southwest Waterfront of the nation’s capital has served as a hub for commerce and activity since the early days of Washington, D.C.’s, beginnings, from its start as a seaport to its transformation into an urban maritime destination.
Photos courtesy of PN Hoffman & Madison Marquette
Though it saw continual development from the time D.C. was established as a city in 1790 up through the mid-20th century, the mile-long stretch along the Potomac River remained untouched for close to the past 50 years. In the early 2000s, developers began plans for what would become The Wharf, a $2.5 billion, mixed-use project more than 10 years in the making.
The first phase of the development features more than 3 million square feet of space, complete with two condo buildings with 220 homes; two apartment buildings with 650 units, 211 of which are affordable; three hotels with 690 rooms; three office buildings totaling 970,000 square feet; a 6,000-seat concert hall; numerous restaurants, music venues, and shops; a reimagined municipal fish market; waterfront parks; promenades; a marina; and four public piers.
PROJECT DETAILS
Location: Washington, D.C.
Developer: PN Hoffman & Madison Marquette
Architect: Perkins Eastman
Builders: Clark Construction and Balfour Beatty
Opened: Oct. 12, 2017
Number of units: 650 apartments, 220 condos
Unit mix: Studios and three-bedroom penthouses
Rent/sales price: $1,880 to $5,025 (apartments); $400,000 to $3 million (condos)
Residents and visitors at The Wharf can rent kayaks and paddleboards at the pier or take a water taxi to other popular destinations along the river, such as Nationals Park, National Harbor, Old Town Alexandria, or Georgetown. In addition to all of its retail and dining options, the property offers rotating seasonal activities, including ice skating in the winter, and hosts many public events.
The apartment buildings at The Wharf feature their own host of amenities for residents of the luxury buildings. The 501-unit Channel sits atop The Anthem concert hall and has 1 acre of green space on the sixth floor, a rooftop infinity pool, a dog run, a community garden, and a library. The Incanto offers valet dry cleaning, a courtyard with fire pits, a fitness center, and access to the Wharf Club, which allows residents to use the neighboring Channel apartment’s amenities.
The developers focused on sustainability when renewing the waterfront space. The entire Wharf is LEED Gold certified and exceeds both the city’s District Green Building Act and the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative for stormwater management. The developers planted 300 new trees for the project and created 2,340 square feet of floating wetlands with native plants that provide a habitat for marine species and help clean the water of pollutants.
Groundbreaking for the second phase of the project, which will include an additional 1.15 million square feet of mixed-use development with more office, residential, marina, and retail space as well as parks and public spaces across an approximate half mile of the waterfront, is set to begin by the end of 2018. It is expected to open in 2022.
