(Washington, D.C.) – Mayor Vincent C. Gray, government officials and representatives of the development team today celebrated the groundbreaking of The Heights on Georgia Avenue – a mixed-use project that provides affordable housing and retail space along the historic Georgia Avenue corridor in Ward 1.
“Breaking ground on The Heights on Georgia Avenue is a milestone that signals the ongoing renaissance of the Georgia Avenue corridor,” said Mayor Vincent C. Gray. “We thank Neighborhood Development Corporation, Mi Casa and everyone who came together to bring this project to fruition. This kind of development signals my administration’s commitment to increasing the availability of affordable housing across the District, and it is critical to the vitality of this historic neighborhood."
Principals from the development partnership, Neighborhood Development Corporation, were joined by Mayor Gray, Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham, DC Housing Finance Agency Director Harry Sewell and Department of Housing and Community Development Director John Hall to ceremonially kick off construction at the site that will house the 100,000-square-foot building.
When completed, the striking new building, which mixes traditional architecture and contemporary design elements, will contain a total of 69 one-, two- and three-bedroom units. It will also contain a second-floor tenant community space, a second-floor garden area, a “green” roof deck and other sustainable development features. In addition to bringing new rental housing to the community, the first floor of the building will contain over 10,700 square feet of retail space that will serve the Pleasant Plains/Petworth community.
The project is part of the over $2.3 billion worth of District-affiliated projects currently under construction across the city, creating thousands of construction jobs and permanent jobs. Under Mayor Gray’s administration, more than 330 units of affordable housing have been brought online, and more than 460 units of affordable housing – including the units at The Heights – are currently in the District’s pipeline.
“Projects like The Heights on Georgia Avenue serve as a symbol of what is to come along Georgia Avenue in the District,” said Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Victor L. Hoskins. “We look forward to continuing our plans to build quality, affordable housing and bringing much-needed, community-serving amenities to neighborhood corridors across the District.”
The project is expected to be complete by the early second quarter of 2013.