In the heart of Southwest Waterfront, a once dormant land parcel has transitioned into a bustling hub of housing and retail with the unveiling of The Westerly. Mayor Muriel Bowser was on the scene, marking the grand opening of this mixed-use development which includes 449 housing units—wherein 136 cater to affordable living, as reported by Washington, DC. The introduction of The Westerly aligns with the Mayor's ambitious framework to erect 36,000 new homes by 2025, inclusively carving a fair segment for 12,000 affordable homes.
The project, also known as Waterfront Station II, spans a notable 59,044 square foot area once hosting the Waterside Mall and the offices of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, this site's rebirth materialized through a proposal request issued with deep community consultation back in 2015, and finally kicking off with the selection of a leading team by DMPED in 2016, implementing an inventive financing blend of market-rate investor capital along with 4% and 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits from housing authorities. Mayor Bowser highlighted the city's efforts, stating, as per Washington, DC, "we have to be relentlessly creative in how we invest in, execute, and deliver projects in neighborhoods across our city," as she took the stage during the inauguration ceremony.
Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Nina Albert emphasized the city's model role in orchestrating public-private partnerships for affordable housing, expressing gratitude towards government entities, the community, and developers for their collaboration in bringing the development to life as per the neighborhood's aspirations and requirements. In promising continuity under Mayor Bowser's leadership, the project is lauded as a beacon of the city's commitment to affordable housing.
The Westerly isn't solely about providing roofs, but it's also fostering a community with its 29,000 square feet of retail scope that includes diverse entities like Good Company Doughnuts & Cafe, GoodVets for modern pet healthcare, as well as the AppleTree Public Charter School—an establishment integrating education and play for pre-kindergarten kids with their envisaged classrooms and learning spaces not to mention a dedicated space poised to embolden the arts in the area.
