Progression Place Groundbreaking Monday

Although construction is already underway on the mixed use development called Progression Place at Seventh and S Streets, Northwest, the start of its construction was never properly celebrated like other area projects last year.  That will all change this Monday (February 7, 2011) at 11:00 AM when a "Groundbreaking Ceremony" will take place a few blocks away at The Lincoln Theater (1215 U Street, NW).  Featured speakers for the event include Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton Mayor Vincent C. Gray, Chairman Kwame R. Brown, Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham, and Michael L. Lomax, Ph.D., UNCF President and CEO.

On a related subject, while I thought it was a done deal last summer, it's apparently now official  that the United Negro College Fund ("UNCF") purchased a 50,000-square-foot office condominium at Progression Place and will move its headquarters into the District from Fairfax.  

We indeed have much to celebrate!

UNCF College Knowledge Center Pitched for Media Center One

In making their pitch to the D.C. Council for incentives (as reported by the Washington Business Journal here), the UNCF sheds light on its plans for the space it would occupy in Media Center One at the Shaw Howard Metro. Check out a PDF of their presentation here.

Of particular note, UNCF proposes a street level "College Knowledge Center." According to UNCF's president, "UNCF envisions that the College Knowledge Center will serve as an economic catalyst in the Shaw neighborhood and community. Individuals and student groups from across the nation will be drawn to the District to access unique college informational tools that are not otherwise available. The Center is also designed to function as a mixed-use facility, including restaurants and commercial establishments. The increased tourism as well as UNCF and its staff’s move from its current headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia will increase the need for food and services from already-established businesses in the area."

In the PDF linked above, the UNCF breaks down the benefits of the College Knowledge Center to beneficiaries as follows:

Students and Parents
Upon entering the UNCF College Knowledge Center students and parents will have access to . . .
• Kiosks featuring information on member colleges and universities
• College fairs
• College planning seminars
• Help completing financial aid forms (FAFSA and others)
• College application assistance
• Scholarship information
• History of UNCF

Member College Presidents and Staff
• Convenient and accessible space
• Office space
• Conference & meeting space
• Interview space for recruitment and financial aid officers
• Ability to feature their institutions in the College Knowledge Center
• Space for college fairs

Corporate & Public Officials
• A glimpse into the world of HBCUs
• Kiosks featuring UNCF schools
• Donor recognition walls
• Insights into the unique qualities of UNCF and its member institutions
• Access to data and research from the Patterson Research Institute
• Public presentations on P-16 education
• Meeting space to discuss issues related to education
• Alumni Hall of Honor
• History of UNCF display
• Naming Opportunities!!!!

I think the Center could be a really interesting draw and addition to the streetscape. What do you think?

Incentives Teed Up To Lure UNCF to Shaw

The Washington Business Journal reports that the the city is working on an incentive package to lure the United Negro College Fund into the District to be a co-tenant at Media Center One with Radio One. Having this significant organization headquartered in Shaw alongside Radio One would be amazing for our neighborhood.

As previously reported, construction on the the eagerly awaited mixed use project Media Center One at the Shaw-Howard Metro will likely take 2 years. I posit that as soon as the UNCF signs on as a tenant, we will see a groundbreaking on the exciting development.

Broadcast Center One in the News

The Washington Business Journal reports that the developers behind Broadcast Center One "took a step forward June 11 when they a signed $1.2 million lease with Metro for easements above and around the Metro station’s north entrance." The article goes on to say that the timeline for the development at Seventh and S Streets, Northwest, has been "dramatically scaled back." Originally planned for an early 2009 groundbreaking and a 2011 completion date, the project's new timeline isn't mentioned. But surely it's a positive sign that the developers are still working on leases with Metro, right?

Broadcast Center One Still to Break Ground in 2008?

According to this article from the Washington Business Journal, Broadcast Center One -- a major, catalytic mixed use development above the Shaw-Howard metro station on 7th street -- could still break ground this year. In relevant part, the article states:

Chip Ellis, chief executive officer of D.C.-based Ellis Development Group and one of the project’s partners, said he still hopes to break ground by the end of the year.

The last thing I heard was that the project had cleared every hurdle and groundbreaking would occur this past spring.

Broadcast Center One Clears Hurdle

Square 394 reports that the City Council "gave the final reading and voted to approved the financing/land package providing for the Broadcast Center One" yesterday. It seems there are no further hurdles remaining, and construction should commence soon (in October, the developer projected a February groundbreaking). Check out renderings and a description of this exciting project here.

Broadcast Center One Groundbreaking Nears

As reported with recent renderings here and as also reported here, Broadcast Center One has just a few more hoops to jump through before moving forward. Groundbreaking on this mixed use project at 7th Street between S and T Streets NW should occur by February 2008, with a targeted completion date for the second quarter of 2010.

Broadcast Center One: With City's Help, Project Could Break Ground by February

Read the story from yesterday's WaPo here. Delivery of the mixed use development above the Shaw Howard Metro Station on 7th Street, which would bring Radio One back to the District, could be as early as 2010.