For over one hundred years, the 110-acre military base served as home to the historic Walter Reed Medical Center. With its grand scale and desirable location, the site was perfectly positioned to serve again with distinction – this time as a vibrant, mixed-use community.

PARTNERING FOR MEANINGFUL PLACEMAKING

Ultimately, 66 acres of the former base would be transferred to Washington, DC, stewarded by the newly formed Local Redevelopment Authority and managed by District’s Deputy Mayor for Planning and Development.  A wide range of government agencies and community groups were involved in setting parameters for the District’s master plan, including infrastructure, desired densities, green area ratios and more. The team engaged in years of interagency collaboration and community engagement prior to and after 2013 when the District solicited a developer through RFQ and then RFP processes.  

OPTIMIZING LONG-PHASE OPPORTUNITIES

TPWR closed on the land in late 2016 after due diligence and negotiating land acquisition with the U.S. Army and redevelopment obligations with the District. TPWR’s multi-phase master plan fit largely within the District’s established bounds and enabled it to maximize the pace of development and land value. This establishes a platform for an economic win-win for the project and stakeholders.  To support the substantial investment in land and infrastructure, TPWR structured the deal with the District so that each development parcel or existing building redevelopment could be separately capitalized – creating valuable, bitesized opportunities for investors, including the non-profit redevelopment partners pre-selected by the District. Land value created by the sale of each parcel will effectively be used as a funding source for the land development.

CONNECTING WITH THE GREATER COMMUNITY

The fences that once surrounded and divided the military medical base from neighboring communities are coming down. TPWR configured the new street network, sidewalks and bike paths to connect to major transit routes outside the site – and a vibrant mix of historic buildings, multifamily residences and other walkable destinations within it.  The site aims to achieve the highest required Green Area Ratio score in the District. The historic Great Lawn is just part of the nearly 20 acres of parks, plazas and art spaces open to all.  TPWR upped the fun factor by adding a new playground and dog park.  A recent draw, The Marketplace, anchored by Whole Foods Market, is designed to provide a destination for socializing amidst a wide variety of shops and restaurants set along its stunning Grand Plaza.

ADVANCING SUSTAINABILITY AND LIVABILITY

For each development, TPWR is employing energy- and water-conservation tools such as green roofs, photovoltaics and rain gardens and is committed to exceed the District’s stringent energy code requirements – some of the toughest in the country. The project development is meeting local hiring and local business expenditure thresholds as agreed to with and monitored by the District. Through strategic partnerships and creative financing, TPWR is able to designate 20% of the property’s total units as affordable housing – double the District’s typical zoning requirement.  When complete, The Parks at Walter Reed will contain 3.1 million square feet of new construction and adaptive reuse of historic structures, including retail, multifamily apartments and condos, offices, a school and townhomes.