Waterfront Renewal Plan Chosen For D.C.

A developer has been chosen to transform Washington D.C.'s Southwest Waterfront. The chosen firm has high hopes for making the waterfront into a world-class attraction, but also protecting the interests of the local community.

1 minute read

October 5, 2006, 8:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg


Washington D.C. hopes to bring life back to its waterfront by redeveloping the area from its current state of drab concrete pavement into an outdoor park with greenspace, walking areas and diverse mixed uses. The plans also involve luring more boat traffic, possible cruise ships, to the waterfront. But the developers are being cautious about creating an area that is too "touristy" and not relevant to the community.

"Building is expected to begin in 2009 and take eight years. Monty Hoffman, founder and chief executive of PN Hoffman, said the project's aim is to bring a human scale to a neighborhood defined more by highway pavement than waterfront pleasure."

"The 2 million-square-foot development will include about 900 condominiums and apartments, 360 hotel rooms, 230,000 square feet of retail, 150,000 square feet of cultural spaces -- perhaps a maritime museum or aquarium -- along with office space, parks, piers and a waterfront promenade. Some of the residential units will be for moderate- and low-income families."

Friday, September 29, 2006 in

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Google street view image of strip mall in suburban Duncanville, Texas.

Adaptive Reuse Will Create Housing in a Suburban Texas Strip Mall

A developer is reimagining a strip mall property as a mixed-use complex with housing and retail.

7 hours ago - Parking Reform Network

Blue tarps covering tents set up by unhoused people along chain link fence on concrete sidewalk.

Study: Anti-Homelessness Laws Don’t Work

Research shows that punitive measures that criminalized unhoused people don’t help reduce homelessness.

July 6 - Next City

Aerial tram moving along cable in hilly area in Medellin, Colombia.

In U.S., Urban Gondolas Face Uphill Battle

Cities in Latin America and Europe have embraced aerial transitways — AKA gondolas — as sustainable, convenient urban transport, especially in tricky geographies. American cities have yet to catch up.

July 6 - InTransition Magazine