The Bowser administration announced Wednesday the selection of the Parcel 6 Community Partners proposal for the development of Parcel 6 on the St. Elizabeths East Campus in southeast D.C.
The project in Ward 8 is slated to create a vibrant mixed-income, mixed-use community with a pedestrian-oriented design, and offer new housing, retail, amenities and job opportunities for D.C. residents.
“With nearly a billion dollars invested into the St. Elizabeths East campus, we are proud to be delivering on the community’s vision for this campus,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser. “Nearly a decade ago, we envisioned a campus with housing, entertainment, retail, health care and more — and, together, that is what we are delivering.”
The Parcel 6 Community Partners team, led by Banneker Communities, engaged in a competitive process for the project. It will have exclusive rights to negotiate with the city to redevelop the 202,758-square-foot site at the St. Elizabeths East Campus.
“Through Mayor Bowser’s investments and steadfast commitment to St. Elizabeths, together we have been able to grow this campus into a community that is delivering housing, jobs, amenities, and opportunities to Congress Heights and Ward 8 residents,” said Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Nina Albert. “We are excited to partner with Parcel 6 Community Partners to bring this incredible project to fruition.”
The proposal from Parcel 6 Community Partners envisions a combined total of 507 rental units within the multifamily buildings, with a range of unit sizes from efficiencies to one-, two- and three-bedroom homes. Approximately 152 (30%) of these units will be affordable dwelling units, including 25% targeted towards residents earning at or below 30% of the area median income (AMI).
The remaining affordable units will be targeted towards residents earning up to 60% AMI. The development will also feature nine for-sale work/live townhomes in front of the existing Parcel 6 garage.
The multifamily buildings, named “The Malcolm” and “The Martin” in honor of Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., are central to the project, alongside The Towns at St. Elizabeths East. The design will be led by Torti Gallas Urban, a minority-owned firm with over 50 years of design experience.
The project will also provide over 23,000 square feet of neighborhood retail space and 36,000 square feet of community park and amenity space.
“Our team is proud to maximize the potential of this historic site by delivering high-quality homes, creating job opportunities, and fostering community engagement, all while ensuring significant participation from Ward 8-based and CBE-certified firms,” said Omar Karim, president of Banneker Communities. “This project is a testament to Mayor Bowser’s visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to creating vibrant, inclusive communities throughout the District. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity in realizing this bold vision.”