Mayor Sends RFP For Existing Convention Center Site To Council

(WASHINGTON, DC) Mayor Anthony A. Williams today announced that he has submitted to the DC Council the city’s request for proposed redevelopment plans for the existing convention center site, which could be the largest mixed-use development project in downtown in a generation.  

The announcement, held at the existing convention center, emphasized Mayor Williams’ vision for downtown as the centerpiece for the city’s revitalization efforts. This vision is built around three key elements for usage including civic, social, and business applications.  

“With this submission to the council of requests for proposals, my administration has taken a critical step in moving forward with this comprehensive redevelopment opportunity,” said Mayor Williams. “I am asking the council to allow us to issue an RFP this summer and to join with me to begin the process of seeking a master developer to help us translate our vision for this site into a reality.”

The potential of this site as a major redevelopment opportunity was first signaled by the District’s Downtown Action Agenda, which was announced in November 2000. An existing convention center site task force was created to bring forth a conceptual plan for the site, in which a report was produced with recommendations. Over the last three years, the east end of downtown DC has been undergoing a renaissance with over 2,000 new residential housing units under construction and new retail and entertainment facilities like the Wax Museum site and the Mather Building.

“A few blocks from here, the new convention center is rising towards completion, along with the City Museum,” said Eric Price, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development. “With the completion of these two projects in the spring of next year, our attention must now turn to the redevelopment of the 10.5 acres on which the existing convention center now sits.”

The RF