JBG Smith, PN Hoffman, MRP Among Finalists For 2-Acre Howard University Project
Howard University is looking for a partner to redevelop a 2.2-acre site on its Shaw campus, and a who's who of D.C. development is competing for the opportunity.
The project would redevelop the Bond Bread Factory and Washington Railway & Electric Co. buildings, two long-vacant historic properties on Georgia Avenue NW across from Howard University Hospital. The university received 20 responses to its initial request and has selected the eight development teams to move onto its list of finalists:
- Eastbanc and Fisher Brothers
- Fivesquares, Menkiti Group and Edens
- Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners
- JBG Smith, The Gideon Cos., MRP Realty
- PN Hoffman
- Quadrangle Development
- StonebridgeCarras, The Jarvis Co.
- Trammell Crow Co./High Street Residential
The finalists, first reported by the Washington Business Journal, will now move onto the request for proposals phase. The details of the proposed developments have not been revealed, but Howard has indicated it would like the project to include working, living, shopping and dining offerings.
The property sits directly across the street from Atlantic Plumbing, the multi-building development from JBG Smith, which has spearheaded the development wave in the Shaw, U Street and 14th Street area. The site was also included as the first phase of D.C.'s Shaw-Howard University bid for Amazon HQ2, one of four sites the District put forward.
Howard has been planning to develop the property for over a decade, but was embroiled in a legal dispute with a previously selected development partner that was resolved last month, with a court giving the university control of the property.
The redevelopment effort continues Howard's strategy of partnering with private developers to revitalize its aging properties. The university has also partnered with Jair Lynch and Urban Investment Partners in separate deals to turn old dormitories into apartment buildings.
