Brookfield Properties briefed Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6D on its plans for Yards West at the May 9 meeting. The project is slated for 100 Potomac Ave. SE, just across the street from the southeast corner of Nationals Park, next to the new DC Water headquarters building.
Yards West expands Diamond Teague Park, increasing by area’s public green space by about 30 percent. Brookfield envisions the park as a community epicenter that can be programmed with concerts, exercise classes and events. A stage for free outdoor community events is under consideration.
The project also incorporates a variety of retail uses designed to encourage neighborhood services within the new buildings. They foresee the creation of a “retail incubator” designed to grow small enterprises such as art galleries and children’s bookstores who typically are unable initially to afford neighborhood rents, into thriving businesses equipped to lease larger permanent spaces.
The developer is requesting modifications to the existing Planned Unit Development (PUD) approved by the DC Zoning Commission over a decade ago. Under consideration are the four parcels currently occupied by DC Water. Brookfield plans mixed-use development that sets aside approximately 30 percent of residential units as affordable. Half will be rented at 30 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) and with the remainder offered at will be at 60 percent.
Brookfield plans to file its application for a PUD modification this coming summer in time for Zoning Commission approval in the fall.
The affordable units “enormously helpful” to the community, stated Commissioner Andy Litsky (6D04). Chair Edward Daniels (6D07) echoed his sentiments, adding, that Navy Yard could use more cultural spaces.
“We have tons of restaurants, we’ve got the stadiums nearby,” said Daniels, “but we don’t really have a lot of neighborhood staples that residents can feel are unique to our neighborhood.”
