Spearheading Public-Private Partnership

District Wharf is a model public-private partnership that began more than a decade ago. Once Phase 2 is completed, it will stretch across almost one mile of waterfront on 24 acres of land, encompassing more than 3 million square feet of residential, retail, commercial, hotel, cultural, and public space and more than 50 acres of water—making it the largest planned unit development (PUD) in the history of Washington, DC.

The project’s principal public partner is the District’s Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED). The list of public and private stakeholders that have reviewed the project is extensive—more than a dozen entities at the District and regional levels alone. Gaining approval of The Wharf plan required building consensus in the halls of Congress, in the Council of the District of Columbia, and in the local Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANC) and Southwest neighborhood, including more than 750 community meetings.

This public review and approval process was critical to achieving the best possible program and design, and maintaining a powerful core vision during the creation of a project that balanced public and private stakeholder objectives.

The Wharf’s partnership continues to evolve as we work with city officials and community groups to create more opportunities to benefit the residents and visitors of Washington, DC.

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