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November 23, 2009
The Yards Attains LEED ND Gold Plan Status
Forest City Washington, Inc. announced today that it has attained an elite sustainability status for its entire 42-acre, mixed-use, waterfront project within the District of Columbia known as The Yards. The designation, from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), gives The Yards the distinction of now having a LEED Gold Certified Neighborhood Development Plan as a result of the project plan’s Stage Two design approval.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across the spectrum of significant environmental metrics including energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts. The LEED for Neighborhood Development (ND) program establishes high standards of integrating smart growth concepts, new urbanism and green building principles for entire communities.

Located in the heart of the burgeoning Capitol Riverfront district, bounded by the waterfront, M St. SE, First St. SE and the Washington Navy Yard, The Yards will feature over 2,800 new residential units, 1.8 million square feet of office space, 400,000 square feet of retail space and a world-class riverfront park. The public park, currently under construction, will open in summer 2010 as the project’s initial element.

“We’re very pleased and excited that The Yards’ plan achieved Gold certification at the Stage Two level ,” said Deborah Ratner Salzberg, president of Forest City Washington, Inc.. Our company is always striving to create communities with strong sustainability programs and this latest designation provides us with a great milestone to continue our efforts.”

Sustainability is one of the stated corporate Core Values of Forest City Enterprises, Inc. The company had developed internal sustainability standards, based upon LEED guidelines, for all new development projects and is constantly exploring ways to green its portfolio of existing properties across the country.

Presently, Forest City Enterprises has 16 residential, commercial and mixed-use projects that have already been certified as LEED Gold, Silver or targeting these levels through design and construction. The company also has several Energy Star certified properties, as well as properties targeting Energy Star certification including office buildings and homes within military/mixed-use developments. In addition, the company’s property portfolio includes an NAHB Green Certified residential loft development as well as several properties that have received various state/local green building and sustainability certifications.

The Company’s other major project within the District of Columbia, Waterfront Station in Southwest DC, features two all-new office buildings (over 628,000 SF total) that will be the home to several agencies of the DC government when they open in March 2010. Both buildings are targeting a LEED Gold designation.


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May 28, 2009
Groundbreaking for Riverfront Park

Washington D.C.---(May 28, 2009)---------Forest City Washington, Inc., developer of the major riverfront mixed-use project known as The Yards in the city’s Capitol Riverfront district, along with the District of Columbia, officially broke ground today on the development of the public park to be located on the riverfront at The Yards.

 

The Yards Park is expected to open in mid-2010.

 

The event took place within the new park grounds on the banks of the Anacostia River. On hand to participate were DC Mayor Adrian Fenty, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and various project officials.

 

“We’ve invested a significant amount of resources in creating what will certainly be a world-class riverfront park at The Yards for all to enjoy for generations to come,” said Deborah Ratner Salzberg, president of Forest City Washington. “Through the use of PILOT funds and a wonderful public/private partnership, we expect this park to become a real asset for not only the Capitol Riverfront, but for all of the District of Columbia as well.”

 

The Yards Park is being constructed through the use of public sector funds involving the “Payment In Lieu Of Taxes” (PILOT) program for financing such projects. Upon completion, the project will be dedicated as a public park for the District of Columbia. It will be managed and programmed by the Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District.

 

“The Yards Park will be a beacon of the District’s revitalization efforts along the Anacostia River,” said Mayor Fenty. “From day one, my Administration has made it a top priority to make sure this site becomes a great urban waterfront neighborhood that embraces its historic past and includes world-class public spaces for all residents and visitors alike. Forest City has been an excellent partner and they have what it takes to get the job done.”

  

The Yards Park is designed to be the centerpiece of Forest City’s 42-acre mixed-use project that will ultimately include 5.5 million SF of new development/redevelopment including approximately 2,800 residential units (both rental and for sale), 1.8 million SF of office space, 400,000 SF of retail/dining space.

 

In addition to new construction, several existing buildings at The Yards will be adaptive reuse projects utilizing historic former Navy Yard industrial buildings. The former Pattern & Joiner Shop, is being converted into 170 apartment loft apartment units to be known as Foundry Lofts and the nearby Boilermaker Shop will offer restaurants and retail. A third historic building known as the Lumber Shed will be transformed into dining and more as a retail pavilion located within the park.

 

Designed by M. Paul Friedberg and Partners of New York City, The Yards Park includes several significant components:

 

·        A scenic riverfront esplanade and overlook that will provide a vital link for the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail, which passes through the site;

·        Several well-landscaped outdoor rooms with seating areas;

·        An iconic waterfront sculpture designed by renowned international artist Jamie Carpenter;

·        A great lawn area for recreation, programming and/or relaxing;

·        As a future phase of the park area, three retail pavilions enclosing a riverfront plaza will provide numerous dining, shopping and programming opportunities, will also be developed;

·        Plans are also being developed for a marina at The Yards.

 

Forest City Washington, Inc. is a subsidiary of Forest City Enterprises, Inc. an $11.4 billion national real estate company. Forest City Enterprises is principally engaged in the ownership, development, acquisition and management of commercial and residential real estate and land throughout the United States.


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October 29, 2008
DC Government, Forest City partner on riverfront park at The Yards

Forest City Washington, developer of the major riverfront mixed-use project known as The Yards in the city’s Capitol Riverfront district, and the District of Columbia announced an agreement today on terms involving the development and operation of the public park to be located on the riverfront at The Yards.

 

The Park at The Yards is expected to open in mid-2010.

 

The announcement was made during a news conference held today in one of the historic former Navy Yard industrial buildings on the site slated to be renovated for new use as a part of The Yards.

 

“We’ve invested a significant amount of resources in creating what will certainly be a world-class riverfront park at The Yards for all to enjoy for generations to come,” said Deborah Ratner Salzberg, president of Forest City Washington. “Through the use of PILOT funds and a wonderful public/private partnership, we expect this park to become a real asset for not only the Capitol Riverfront district, but for the region as well.”

 

As a part of the announcement, The Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District (BID) will enter into an agreement with the District and Forest City Washington to provide maintenance and programming services for The Park at The Yards.

 

“This is a great opportunity for us to contribute in a big way to building a real sense of place and community in the Capitol Riverfront,” said Michael Stevens, executive director of the Capitol Riverfront BID. “We are looking forward to making The Park at The Yards a real asset and an attraction for a wide range of folks who will live, work and visit this area.”

 

The Park at The Yards is designed to be the centerpiece of Forest City’s Capitol Riverfront mixed-use project that will ultimately include 5.5 million SF of new development/redevelopment including approximately 2,800 residential units (both rental and for sale), 1.8 million SF of office space, 400,000 SF of retail/dining space.

 

In addition to new construction, several buildings at The Yards will be adaptive reuse projects utilizing existing, historic former Navy Yard industrial buildings. One currently under construction, the former Pattern & Joiner Shop, is being converted into 170 apartment loft apartment units. Another building, The Boilermaker Shop, will be a retail center with restaurants and shops.

 

Designed by M. Paul Friedberg and Partners of New York City, The Park at The Yards includes several significant components:

 

·        A scenic riverfront esplanade and overlook that will provide a vital link to the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail, which passes through the site;

·        Several well-landscaped “outdoor rooms” with seating areas;

·        A riverfront courtyard enclosed on three sides by retail pavilions that will provide numerous dining, shopping and programming opportunities;

·        A water feature that recalls the former Washington Canal’s existence on the site;

·        A great lawn area for recreation, programming and/or relaxing.

·        Plans are also being developed for a marina at The Yards.

 

Forest City Washington is a subsidiary of Forest City Enterprises, Inc. a $10.9 billion national real estate company. Forest City Enterprises is principally engaged in the ownership, development, acquisition and management of commercial and residential real estate and land throughout the United States.

 


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October 2, 2007
Construction now underway on major mixed-use project
Forest City Washington, Inc. officially broke ground today on the company’s large-scale, planned mixed-use redevelopment project known as The Yards. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on a central portion of the 42-acre site which fronts on the Anacostia River in Near Southeast D.C.

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July 10, 2007
Forest City Washington names CB Richard Ellis to lease initial office building at The Yards.
Forest City Washington, Inc. (FCW) has announced the selection of CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) as the exclusive office brokerage firm to handle the leasing of the initial office building that Forest City is developing in Southeast Washington, D.C. as a part of its urban mixed-used project known as The Yards.
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October 24, 2006
Southeast Federal Center becomes "The Yards".
Forest City Washington, Inc. today unveiled a new name and logo for the area long known as Southeast Federal Center as a part of the company’s large-scale, planned, mixed-use redevelopment in Near Southeast Washington DC. The 42-acre site, which fronts on the Anacostia River has been redubbed “The Yards.” The unveiling took place at an event the company staged to acknowledge the contributions of many including Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton, DC Mayor Anthony Williams and Ward 6 Council Member Sharon Ambrose, all of which have provided leadership in the ongoing redevelopment of Southeast Federal Center as The Yards.
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