St Elizabeths East is an unprecedented opportunity to transform a historic campus into a center that answers mutual demands for commerce by university, technology, and business communities.

Rich in economic promise, historic resources, and federal access, St Elizabeths East is one of the few remaining large redevelopment opportunities in the nation’s capital – an opportunity to transform a 183-acre lot into a marketplace of ideas and commercialization.  Less than three miles and just a few Metro stops from the U.S. Capitol, St Elizabeths East invites a mixed-use development that simultaneously serves nearby communities, nearby federal office tenants, and the pent-up local demand for retail, residential, and office/educational uses – all enhanced by substantial District of Columbia investment and planning to support the surrounding neighborhoods and infrastructure of this incomparable campus.

Phase I

A core St. Elizabeths East opportunity (the parcel formerly known as the Continuing Treatment or CT complex) is comprised of a portfolio of historic buildings eminently suitable for welcoming a university user, with more than 285,000 square feet suitable for educational and office use (see Master Plan Pads 5 and 11).  To that end, Phase I proposes the following market-supportable development:

• First Stage Public Infrastructure Improvements: the District will be investing capital dollars into the construction of roadways, water, gas, electric, telecommunications, streetscapes and street lighting.
• Town Center:  approximately 400,000 square feet of medium- to high-density mixed use (either multi-family residential or commercial), which includes approximately 50,000 square feet of retail, all planned as a transit-oriented development.
• Office:  the initial phase will include the development of office space that is primarily comprised of the adaptive reuse of approximately 100,000 square feet of the existing historic structures into trophy office space for the initial anchor technology tenants.  Additional office space will likely be developed as part of the initial phase.
• Civic space:  the development of an entrepreneurial center that serves local residents, as well as other civic focused programs will be created as part of the initial phase in order to ensure that there is a clear link between the surrounding Ward 8 community and the R.I.S.E. Center.

The St. Elizabeths East Timeline

1979 – St Elizabeths added to the National Register of Historic Places.

1987 – St Elizabeths East Campus transferred to the District of Columbia.

1990 – St Elizabeths designated a National Historic Landmark.

2002 – District of Columbia releases plans for new St Elizabeths Hospital, adjacent to historic St Elizabeths East campus.

2003 – St Elizabeths East Redevelopment Framework Plan initiated.

2005 – St Elizabeths receives District of Columbia Historic District Designation.

2006 – Ground is broken on new St Elizabeths Hospital.

December, 2008 – Council of the District of Columbia approves St Elizabeths East Redevelopment Framework Plan through Resolution 17-0899.

September, 2009 – Ground is broken on new headquarters for U.S. Department of Homeland Security on vacated St Elizabeths West Campus.

April, 2010 – New St Elizabeths Hospital building opens adjacent to historic St Elizabeths East Campus.

January, 2010 – St Elizabeths Master Plan process begins.

May, 2011 – Slate of public meetings begun to continue decade of public outreach for Master Planning.

June, 2011 — Mayor Vincent C. Gray appoints St Elizabeths Redevelopment Initiative Advisory Board (SERI AB)

January, 2012 – St Elizabeths Transportation Environmental Assessment released for public comment

June, 2012 – St Elizabeths East Master Plan Final

July, 2012 –   Council of the District of Columbia approves $113.5 million for infrastructure improvements to prepare historic acreage for first phase of redevelopment.

October, 2012 –  Design and construction of St Elizabeths East Gateway Pavilion awarded to internationally renowned design team members Davis Brody Bond, KADCON, and Robert Silman Associates.

February, 2013 – The District of Columbia’s Zoning Commission approved the St. Elizabeths (StE) zone district for St. Elizabeths East.   The zoning regulations for St. Elizabeths East can be located here.

July, 2013 – Responses received from 12 major institutions to RFEI for an academic anchor: http://dmped.dc.gov/release/deputy-mayor-hoskins-announces-respondents-st-elizabeths-east-request-expressions-interest

August – December, 2013 – 3,700 U.S. Coast Guard employees move into Headquarters on the St Elizabeths West Campus and the St. Elizabeths East Gateway Pavilion set to open.

October, 2013 – Ribbon Cutting for and opening of Gateway DC (G8WAY DC, formerly the Gateway Pavilion), an innovative urban park and pavilion with dynamic programming, special events, food, and marketplace opportunities available throughout the year.

September, 2014

R.I.S.E Demonstration Center opened its doors for the first opening events. RISE is a technology and innovation center that seeks to bridge the gap between the innovation field and local community.

September, 2015

Mayor Bowser, Monumental Sports and Entertainment, and Events DC announces a new Entertainment and Sports Arena for Ward 8 at St. Elizabeths. The project will produce more than 600 construction jobs and 300 permanent jobs for both the arena and Phase I infrastructure.

February, 2016

DMPED demolishes 2 non-historic buildings to make way for the new state-of-the-art sports and entertainment arena and Phase I infrastructure development at St. Elizabeths East.

July, 2017

Groundbreaking ceremony held to mark the start of construction for the Entertainment and Sports Arena. This project brought jobs and community investment to Ward 8 to create an event venue, basketball home court, and practice facility.

September, 2018

The Entertainment and Sports Arena cuts the ribbon and opens for its first events. This new venue is a 4,200-seat arena that serves as the home court for the Washington Mystics, NBA G-League Capital City Go-Go and the practice facility for the NBA Washington Wizards.

November, 2018

The Residences at St. Elizabeths breaks ground and begins the rehabilitation of historic buildings on the former continuing treatment area of the campus.

February, 2019

Redbrick LMD is chosen to develop Parcel 15 into a vibrant town square destination with retail, housing, and a stand-alone hotel on the St. Elizabeths East Campus next to the new Entertainment and Sports Arena and steps away from the Congress Heights Metro.

November, 2019

Mayor Bowser announces the new Whitman Walker Health has signed a tenant agreement to locate a state-of-the-art health care facility will help ensure that Washingtonians in every corner of DC can access the services they need in their communities.

November, 2019

The Residences at St. Elizabeths opens to welcome families into 252 mixed-income units with 202 affordable units.

April, 2020

Mayor Bowser announces an agreement to build a 136-bed hospital operated by Universal Health Services in conjunction with George Washington University and George Washington Medical Faculty Associates (GWMFA).

July, 2020

D.C. Council passes of Bill 23-777, “New Hospital at St. Elizabeths Amendment Act of 2020” and initial approval of Bill 23-778 “New Howard University Hospital and Redevelopment Tax Abatement Act of 2020.”

September, 2020

Mayor Bowser and Universal Health Services released a Request for Qualifications for Architecture and Engineering and Construction Management (General Contracting) services for the $375 million, 10-acre Hospital project.