On the Scene at the Wharf

Yesterday, despite the steady rainfall, The Wharf was finally kicked off in perhaps the biggest groundbreaking ever to hit DC. (Unless you count the rebuilding needed after the movie Independence Day. Which we do.) We headed over to the site that'll transform the Southwest Waterfront.

Here's The Wharf's dream team looking on as PN Hoffman CEO Monty Hoffman welcomes the standing room only crowd: Perkins Eastman design whiz Stan Eckstut, 9:30 Club owner Seth Hurwitz, ER Bacon CEO Elinor Bacon, Clark Construction CEO Brian Abt, Paramount Title's Ben Soto, Oliver Carr Jr., Triden Development's Michael Jones, Madison Marquette's David Brainerd and Dan McCahon, and Mayor Gray. Monty says Elinor was the first one to encourage him to go after the city's RFP for the site in 2005; his response? "Absolutely not."

It wouldn't be a big DC event without Victor Hoskins and Mark Ein. Victor says The Wharf represents the 68th and largest project his office has cut the ribbon on since coming on board three years ago—those projects represent $6.8B in total investment, he says. The groundbreaking actually took place on Kastles Stadium's multi-colored court, and Monty says he and the development partners hope to place a plaque on site honoring the team's record-breaking winning streak. (Maybe it'll distract the line judges, and a few more calls will go our way.)

With the Democratic primary less than two weeks away, this trio couldn't miss out on an opportunity to stump in front of a big crowd. Councilmembers Tommy Wells, Jack Evans, and Muriel Bowser—as well as fellow candidate Mayor Gray—all hit the podium. The Wharf sits in Tommy's Ward 6 district.

After the almost two-hour ceremony, we found Seth Hurwitz—gearing up to operate The Wharf's 6,000 seat music venue—with none other than Monty Hoffman's dad, Don.

Monty and co pulled out all the stops, from confetti to the fountain over his shoulder.