Big tech campus, pedestrian-only street among projects eyed by longtime Navy Yard developer

A longtime Navy Yard developer is planning to further renovate the neighborhood, potentially bringing a big tech campus as well as a pedestrian-only street.

Brookfield Properties, the company behind The Yards in Navy Yard as well as the extensive Brookfield Place in Lower Manhattan, plans to build a big tech campus in the Capital subarea, further adding to its decades-long renovations project.

Speaking with Axios about the intent to pitch the site to tech companies out West, Greg Meyer, the head of Brookfield Properties’ Washington region properties, said the proposed site would be the large grassy plot of land located at M and First Streets SW.

Meyer told Axios the proposed campus would ideally be three buildings that would come close to 1 million square feet in size.

The proposal would rival the tech campus currently being developed across the Anacostia River in Arlington, Va.

But Laura Montross,  director of communications for Brookfield’s District office, said the possibility of the project coming to fruition any time soon is slim given the District’s height limitations and other building restrictions.

Montross said while the big tech campus might not happen, the company has its sights set on moving forward with another project that is part of the Phase II renovation of the Yards.

While the full project is expected to be completed by 2030, construction on Yards Place is expected to begin in the next few months.

The project is the most recent chapter of a decade-plus improvement of the Capitol Hill subarea. Redevelopment began in 2008 with the construction of the $600 million Nationals Park stadium. Further development came in 2010 with the opening of The Yards, a 42-acre residential and business hub.

Phase I included 2,800 new residential units and 2,200,000 square feet of office and retail space. The centerpiece of the development is Yards Park, a waterfront recreation area, boardwalk, and outdoor performance space.

Yards Park was developed as a public-private partnership and is operated by the Capitol Riverfront BID.

Brookfield Properties’ intentions to further develop the area have been met with positive responses. Advisory Neighborhood Committee representative Jared Weiss (SMD 6D02) said he is excited for the potential of Phase II.

“I think just about anything that draws more people to this area is a good thing. It is a beautiful part of D.C. that’s probably still underutilized, even given all the recent construction,” Weiss said.

He said one real challenge the project might face are transportation issues as street parking in the area is “already at a premium” and on certain game days it is an “absolute nightmare.”

“The more public transit can be thoughtfully planned, the more likely it is that the area can be used the best it can,” Weiss said.

Brookfield’s Phase II renovation will make it the second waterfront development and the largest in the D.C. region.

Announced in February of this year, Phase II will see the construction of 10 buildings spanning  3.4 million square feet that will provide office space, mixed-income residential offerings, restaurants, retail and public amenities.

“We’re excited for these new additions to the neighborhood and to continue the tradition of our community-wide events and activations in our many open-air public spaces,” Toby Millman, senior vice president of development for Brookfield Properties, said in a statement.

The major attraction of Phase II will be Yards Place, a pedestrian-only street that runs from the Navy Yard metro station to Diamond Teague park on the Southwest Waterfront.

The street will be curbless and cobblestone and will span an estimated six blocks of the Phase II project.

While the full project is expected to be completed by 2030, construction on Yards Place is expected to begin in the next few months.

The project is the most recent chapter of a decade-plus improvement of the Capitol Hill subarea. Redevelopment began in 2008 with the construction of the $600 million Nationals Park stadium. Further development came in 2010 with the opening of The Yards, a 42-acre residential and business hub.

Phase I included 2,800 new residential units and 2,200,000 square feet of office and retail space. The centerpiece of the development is Yards Park, a waterfront recreation area, boardwalk, and outdoor performance space.

Yards Park was developed as a public-private partnership and is operated by the Capitol Riverfront BID.

Brookfield Properties’ intentions to further develop the area have been met with positive responses.

Advisory Neighborhood Committee representative Jared Weiss (SMD 6D02) said he is excited for the potential of Phase II.

“I think just about anything that draws more people to this area is a good thing. It is a beautiful part of D.C. that’s probably still underutilized, even given all the recent construction,” Weiss said.

He said one real challenge the project might face are transportation issues as street parking in the area is “already at a premium” and on certain game days it is an “absolute nightmare.”

“The more public transit can be thoughtfully planned, the more likely it is that the area can be used the best it can,” Weiss said.

Brookfield’s Phase II renovation will make it the second waterfront development and the largest in the D.C. region.