Welcome To The Southwest: D.C.'s Newest Hot Spot Serving As The City's Economic Engine

Characterized by the National Mall, historical landmarks and sports and entertainment scene, Washington, D.C., is one of the nation’s most popular cities. With nearly 21 million visitors annually and almost 700,000 residents, it is home to hot spots that are beloved by tourists and locals alike. 

But while traditionally the focus in D.C. has been on what’s happening downtown, trends are changing. More attention is shifting toward a section of town that is quickly rising in popularity — the southwest quadrant.

Southwest D.C., a former industrial shipyard nestled on the banks of the Washington Channel, has been evolving into a community of residential developments, entertainment venues, federal office buildings, upscale restaurants and museums. 

The Southwest has also moved to the forefront of D.C. living and tourism thanks to the vast development that has taken place over the last 10 years, including The Wharf, a massive 24-acre, 3.2M SF mixed-use development. Given this burst of development, the city’s Southwest Business Improvement District, or SWBID, has made it its mission to address the needs of this complex and rapidly changing community.

“There is a critical mass of attractions here now,” said Steve Moore, executive director of SWBID. “There are very few destinations with as many choices so close together. The museums, performance venues, restaurants and hotels are all within walking distance of each other, making this corner of the nation’s capital a very appealing place to visit.”

The 8-year-old SWBID serves a 500-acre area south of the National Mall. Bordered by the Smithsonian museums and the southwest waterfront, Southwest D.C. has emerged as a convenient destination with a lot to offer, he said.

“This is a complicated area of the District,” Moore said. “There is a large federal workforce, a long-established and growing residential neighborhood and the new waterfront, which is exceeding everyone’s expectations. These very different communities have individualistic needs and expectations. We have had to rethink what a BID is and what it does.”

Moore added that this concentration of attractions, new places to live and easy access to the District’s cultural offerings drives the rediscovery of Southwest.

The Southwest is perfectly positioned to be a “destination within a destination,” he said. This is especially true as market demands from both residents and visitors have shifted in favor of experiences, with people preferring to spend more time listening to music, dining with friends, being outdoors and being immersed in the work of a museum curator or playwright.

“There has been a shift in expectations about how people use their personal time,” he said. “People want to do things that create memories for them.”

As an organization that delivers services to the community, the SWBID’s work encourages those seeking experiences to discover the neighborhood, whether they live in Southwest or are visiting for the weekend. Moore said that as a community filled with many things to explore, people are deciding that living near this new activity is desirable.

The Wharf, one of D.C.’s most recognizable developments, has delivered its second phase. Among its new additions are celebrity restaurants including Hell’s Kitchen by Gordon Ramsay and Phillipe by Phillipe Chow, the Pendry Washington DC, a boutique hotel, and The Tides luxury apartments. 

“The architecture of these new buildings is striking,” Moore said. “This corner of The Wharf is an architecture tour in itself.”

The first phase of The Wharf included 1.9M SF of hospitality, restaurant, office and living space. This included the InterContinental, a 278-unit luxury hotel, The Anthem, a live music venue, and the renowned Fabio Trabocchi restaurant Del Mar.

The Wharf now includes four hotels, more than 85 restaurants and retail spaces, 1,490 residential units, public parks, piers, marina slips and more than 1M SF of office space. As of last fall, retail space is about 95% leased. The entire development is expected to cost $3.6B. 

Within the established Southwest neighborhood, the SWBID has spearheaded initiatives to bring the community together during a time of formidable transition, Moore said. From reimagining the layout and functionality of public parks and community peace gardens to meal distribution and providing electric modes of public transportation, the SWBID is working to ensure that the neighborhood takes advantage of all of the resources available to it.

“The transformation in the Southwest has come at the perfect time for the city because it creates a reason to come to the District,” he said. “It delivers on the promise that you’ll have an incredible experience when you're here.”

The mix of residents, office workers and things to do separates the Southwest from the challenges of a central business district, as the Southwest is working to implement the right blend of what visitors enjoy and residents expect, Moore said.  

“We’re very fortunate to have leadership in the galleries, hotels, museums and more that are excellent at what they do,” he said. “The quality of our workers and leadership here has greatly contributed to the area’s success. Everyone here is at the top of their game. The architects, the chefs and hoteliers all play an important role and make the Southwest an experience worth having.”

Looking forward, Moore expects market demand to remain strong because the desire for experiences isn’t showing signs of slowing down anytime soon. This means that the SWBID is upping its game to make Southwest both a destination with a national reputation and a neighborhood that is family-friendly and safe.  

“The Southwest has arrived as a significant and stable economic engine for the city at just the right time,” he said.

This article was produced in collaboration between the Southwest Business Improvement District and Studio B. Bisnow news staff was not involved in the production of this content.

Studio B is Bisnow’s in-house content and design studio. To learn more about how Studio B can help your team, reach out to studio@bisnow.com.