Waterfront residents are excited about potential redevelopment of Southwest

Waterfront residents say they are excited to hear about new development plans that could offer more to expand the Southwest community.

When Waterfront resident Akhim Samuels heard more about the new plan for three distinct districts in the Southwest community, he said it would be a great opportunity to create housing for low-income families.

“More housing opportunities are needed but at the same time there should be programs intertwined in them that offer relief for low-income families,” said Samuels.

With real estate being very tight in the district, it is important to offer residents new housing opportunities for them to consider when choosing where to live, added Samuels.

On Oct. 29, the National Capital Planning Commission alongside Mayor Muriel Bowser and other organizations announced a master plan to consolidate many federal agencies and redevelop large parts of Southwest.

The project includes creating a gateway from the National Mall to the Waterfront to unlock new development opportunities and create three distinct districts.

According to NCPC, the plan involves converted underused federal buildings into something more beneficial for the community and to save money.

Among the buildings targeted under the plan is the James V. Forrestal complex, home of the Energy Department, because its location severs the connection between the National Mall, the Wharf and the Waterfront.

According to NCPC, the building is undersused, too expensive to maintain and severs the connection between two of the main economic drivers in Southwest, the National Mall and the Wharf.

According to the commission, more than half of the redevelopment area would incorporate multifamily building with the remainder used for cultural, hotel or office spaces.

One section of the plan would be next to the Tidal Basin and would feature a residential area where federal buildings would be converted into apartments and condominiums. The second district would be across 10th Street, SW, featuring art and cultural institutions including the new National Museum of American Latino.

The third section would be in the Capitol Triangle and include federal agencies and other offices that would be close to Capitol Hill.

Garrett Garcia, a write-in candidate for commissioner of Advisory neighborhood Commission 6D, said the redevelopment plans sound beneficial to the Southwest community.

Garcia said one of the biggest problems in the community is being “cut off from the southwest area by highways” and having no areas for residents north of the highway near the National Mall.

Garcia said he is excited to see how it turns out. And he is not alone.

Southwest resident Jessica Lye said she has been worried that new development projects are affordable for most residents. Having more housing opportunities would be great, she added.

Lye said she wants to see more affordable and diverse housing options for families, including two-to-three-bedroom apartments. She added that these mixed districts could be accessible by any age group and make the area more walkable.

Carla Reddick, a Waterfront resident, said this is a great opportunity for housing and to offer more jobs for residents in the area due to layoffs.

Redeveloping federal buildings that aren’t being used to their potential would be better used for jobs and housing, Reddick said.