Norton’s Southwest Waterfront Bill Culminates with Groundbreaking, Tomorrow

WASHINGTON, DC – Another of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton’s (D-DC) major economic development initiatives will culminate with the groundbreaking of the Southwest Waterfront development project on Wednesday, March 19, 2014, from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., at the project site (800 Water St. SW). A Norton bill, which was signed into law last Congress, made the project possible by eliminating legal restrictions to the use of property at the Southwest Waterfront in order to allow the District to move forward with a major redevelopment project that will develop one full mile of shoreline and include 3.2 million square feet of hotel, office, retail, and residential space, as well as clear the way for increased maritime activity there. The project, to be developed by Hoffman – Madison, will create thousands of permanent jobs for D.C. residents, generate $47 million in tax revenue every year, create new and improved waterfront parks and docks, and revitalize the city’s southwest quadrant.

“Our Southwest Waterfront bill, combined with our prior Southeast Waterfront bill of 2000, will create a 21st-century waterfront, the most valuable underused asset in the District,” said Norton. “Now, the city will have a world-class, vibrant Southwest Waterfront, called the Wharf, to match the Capital Riverfront and the Yards Park in Southeast. The surrounding new communities will provide D.C. residents thousands of jobs and will generate millions of dollars for the city in new tax revenue annually.”

Norton will be traveling with a congressional delegation to Europe and therefore will not be able to attend the groundbreaking. However, she has recorded a video that will be shown at the groundbreaking ceremony.

Published: March 18, 2014