The Wharf (Washington, D.C.)

District Wharf
LocationWashington, D.C.
Coordinates38°52′46″N 77°01′29″W / 38.879393°N 77.024698°W / 38.879393; -77.024698
StatusCompleted
Groundbreaking2014
Opening2017 (first phase); 2022 (final phase)
UseMixed Use
WebsiteWharfDC.com
Companies
DeveloperHoffman & Associates, Madison Marquette
ManagerHoffman Madison Waterfront
Technical details
Cost$3.6 Billion
Size24 acres (9.7 ha)

The District Wharf, commonly known simply as The Wharf, is a multi-billion dollar mixed-use development on the Southwest Waterfront in Washington, D.C. It contains the city's historic Maine Avenue Fish Market, hotels, residential buildings, restaurants, shops, parks, piers, docks and marinas, and live music venues.[1][2] The first phase of The Wharf opened in October 2017 and the second and final phase was completed in October 2022.[3][4] The neighborhood encompasses 24 acres (9.7 hectares) of land, 50 acres (20 hectares) of water, and contain 3.2 million square feet (300,000 m2) of retail, residential, and entertainment space along 1 mile (1.6 km) of the Potomac River shoreline from the Francis Case Memorial Bridge to Fort McNair.[5]

The idea of redeveloping the waterfront gained momentum with District officials in the early 2000s when the Anacostia Waterfront Corporation was created to oversee the redevelopment of the Southwest Waterfront neighborhood. The redevelopment was intended to reconnect the neglected and isolated portions of the southwest quadrant with downtown Washington, D.C., and make the area accessible and attractive to pedestrians while enhancing the existing community.[6][7] Developers settled on The Wharf as the project name at the suggestion of D.C. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, who recalled that this section of the Southwest Waterfront was known as The Wharf during the 19th and early 20th centuries.[8]

  1. ^ Ramanathan, Lavanya; Simmons, Holley (October 5, 2017). "What to expect at the Wharf, D.C.'s newest dining and entertainment hub". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 19, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ Clabaugh, Jeff (September 11, 2017). "The Wharf: DC's most ambitious development project set to open". WTOP. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  3. ^ Sweeney, Sam (October 12, 2017). "Public gets first look at renovated District Wharf as grand opening kicks off". WJLA. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  4. ^ "Construction Starts on Second Phase of Wharf in Southwest DC". DC Post. April 3, 2019. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  5. ^ Goff, Karen (August 1, 2017). "Step inside The Wharf as it races toward its October opening". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  6. ^ Glover, Mary Clare (September 6, 2011). "Reinventing the Southwest Waterfront". Washingtonian. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  7. ^ Neibauer, Michael (March 7, 2014). "After nearly a decade, D.C.'s prime waterfront project set to begin". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  8. ^ Clabaugh, Jeff (December 3, 2014). "The Wharf will include 'Eleanor Holmes Norton Plaza'". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved July 19, 2020.