It seems that the Shops at Dakota Crossing shopping center at Fort Lincoln is finally moving forward. As we have reported in the past, this project has lagged because of financing and permits. But according to this article from the WBJ says that the groundbreaking for the center could be this summer.
This shopping center, located off of Route 50 and South Dakota Ave will have a Costco, Target, and a Shoppers as it’s anchors.
It appears that the Shops at Dakota Crossing is becoming a reality after a long wait. The 43 acres that will mak
e up the Shops, to be located less than a 1/2 mile from Bladensburg Road NE in the Fort Lincoln neighborhood, will have access from New York Avenue/Route 50 and South Dakota Avenue NE. According to the Fort Lincoln New Town Corporation, the general contractor, Harvey Cleary Builders, plans to start clearing and grading the property in the spring of 2011 and the stores are to open in the summer of 2012.
The stores are the ones we long thought would go there. There will be a 154,000 SF Costco; 136,000 SF Target; 55,000 SF Shoppers; 28,000 SF Marshalls; and the remaining 57,000 SF will be small shops, banks, and restaurants. In addition to providing to stating that they will provide 1,200 full time, permanent jobs, they also claim that the big box anchors will have LEED certifications.
Although this is not the redevelopment of Rhode Island Ave NE, I think it plays a significant part in this area’s revitalization which will have a positive effect on all of us along RIA. With the development of the RIA Metro station area on one end and this development on the other end, all we have to do now is fill in the middle.
***NOTE: Thank you to one of our favorite readers and commentators of Rhode Island Insider, Roy, for providing the details for this post.
On August 3rd, Harry Thomas Jr. held a “Blogger’s Breakfast” for Ward 5 bloggers and the Rhode Island Insider was there to hear Councilmember Thomas’ vision for Ward 5 and on current issues. Along with this 
blog, we were joined by a member of the Brookland Listserv, Totten Life, and InBloomingdale.
The meeting was very laid back and gave us the opportunity to ask the Councilmember several questions about the concerns of residents we hear from. Here are some of the topics (T) that were discussed and some of the Councilmember’s (C) responses (for the focus of my blog, I will mainly talk about issues regarding redevelopment and RIA):
T: Brookland Metro crime and nuisance issues lately.
C: Partnering and engaging the Metro Police to take a more active approach to the issues, not just at the actual station area, but at the bus stop areas (which is their jurisdiction as well).
T: Rhode Island Ave NE
C: Improve the streetscape programs along the Corridor, which he recognizes as the oldest street in America (Route 1). Placed a moratorium on social service developments in the Ward to address the increase the number of halfway houses, etc. Wants to bring a Farmer’s Market to the Safeway Shopping Center to increase the ability for residents to shop locally, nearby.
T: Overlay district for RIA
C: Is interested in an overlay district as a means to attract small businesses (restaurants, etc) to the corridor. He would not commit on proposing an overlay district (such as Neighborhood Commercial), like on H Street, but he did say he was interested in it.
T: Costco/Target/Wal-Mart
C: Is happy that Costco is coming and that it will keep dollars local to DC (notice he did not mention Target, who has not confirmed their store). He has ensured that the wages will be “livable” wages and their will be more restaurants in the shopping center. Regarding Wal-Mart, he said that their is no deal yet with the retailer but he understands the traffic concerns of the area. He said that traffic improvements come mainly with private investment to improve it (such as adding an auxiliary road to NY Ave to access the store).
T: RIA Trolley
C: He mentioned the possibility of bringing a trolley type of system for the RIA corridor so that residents can easily access the new developments at the RIA Metro. Exciting news about this, to say the least.
In regards to what the Councilmember thought Ward 5 was missing were (1) more coalition/partnerships with other Wards and civic groups, (2) more resources – which he said will come with increased partnerships, and (3) more greenspace with development.
The “Blogger Breakfast” was held at the Capital City Diner on Bladensburg Road, which I would recommend to anyone. Good food and a relaxed diner which operates 24 hours on the weekends….plus, its owned by a local Ward 5 resident.
Don’t forget that early voting is to take place at Turkey Thicket starting this Saturday, Sept 4 for any resident who wants to participate.
It seems with all of the attention on the Rhode Island Metro redevelopment, the redevelopment project near Ft. Lincoln off of South Dakota and New York Avenue has been pushed out of most peoples’ attention. Not on this blog, though.
It seems that there is movement on this project. According to a Washington Biz Journal article from August 9th,
The Shops at Dakota Crossing, the as-yet unbuilt 42-acre shopping center in Northeast D.C.’s Fort Lincoln neighborhood, is one of the few D.C. parcels that can fit larger retailers. The development — which is bounded by New York Avenue, South Dakota Avenue and 33rd Place — has been searching for major retailers like Kohl’s for more than a decade.
Costco, Target and Shoppers Food Warehouse are expected to anchor the project, according to developer Fort Lincoln Newtown Corp. And Kohl’s and Ross were among a plethora of other retailers that have expressed interest in the site since the International Council of Shopping Centers conference took place in May.
It seems that Target is still on-board for the site. According to the WBJ, “Fort Lincoln is currently waiting for wetlands approval from the Army Corps of Engineers and is nailing down construction financing details to move the project forward.”
According to a recent article from the WBJ, Shoppers Food Warehouse has recently signed a Letter of Intent to go into the Dakota Crossings development.
With redevelopment projects on both ends of the Rhode Island Avenue NE area, it seems things are happening.
I am happy to see this development move forward but I have to ask, are developers paying for anything nowadays to make their profits?
“Redirection of $3 Million to Shops at Dakota Crossing Bolsters
Project’s Momentum to Attract Anchor TenantsWashington, DC – Ward 5 Councilmember Harry “Tommy” Thomas, Jr. announced today that he has redirected $3 million from the DC Public Library’s capital budget to fund the storm water management ponds needed to move the Shops at Dakota Crossing project forward. The $3 million, from a Ward 7 project not slated to begin construction until next year, is to be repaid to DCPL in 2011. Library services in Ward 5 are not adversely impacted by the redirection of funds.
The Shops at Dakota Crossing, to be located on a 42-acre site at South Dakota and New York Avenues, NE, will include 375,000 square feet of retail. Costco has signed a letter of intent with Fort Lincoln New Town Corp. and Trammell Crow Co., the development team for the project. Other retailers that have expressed interest in the site include Target, Shoppers Food Warehouse and Staples.
In addition to the $3 million Councilmember Thomas re-directed to fund the storm water management ponds, the District is also likely to increase the project’s tax increment financing note from $10 million to $15 million. With tax revenue from Shops at Dakota Crossing expected to total $7 million annually, the financing note should be repaid within three years.
“The Shops at Dakota Crossing has been on the books for nearly a decade,” said Councilmember Thomas. “I am pleased to do my part to move this project forward and bring quality retail to Ward 5.”
Harry “Tommy” Thomas, Jr. represents Ward 5 on the Council of the District of Columbia. Thomas chairs the Council’s Committee on Libraries, Parks, and Recreation. He sits on four additional committees: Workforce Development and the Environment, Aging and Community Affairs, Housing and Workforce Development, and Public Services and Consumer Affairs.”
That’s right! According to the Washington Business Journal article Costco is moving forward with plans to build a store at the corner of New York Ave and South Dakota Ave NE.
It isn’t on Rhode Island Ave NE, but the commercial development is ideal to promote better and bigger development near all of us!
I think this is good news, but let’s see if Target will follow them up here!
