ment the District’s overall retail attraction strategy in Las Vegas where as many as 90 meetings can occur over the three day conference. Part of developing the relationships and building trust starts with elected officials who make the journey to the ICSC convention with us to meet with retailers, brokers and investors. Mayor Williams was the first DC Mayor to attend the ICSC RECON convention in Las Vegas, and it has continued through the Fenty and Gray administrations. Their presence sends the message to retailers loud and clear that DC is open for business and the city will strive to work with businesses to facilitate their expansion in the District. The participants Outdoor seating at Potbelly on Tingey Street we meet with have come to realize that the District is serious about retail attraction as by attending the ICSC retail attraction and an economic development and jobs creation deal making conferences in New York, DC strategy, as well as a way to improve the qual- and Las Vegas. We also host briefings for reity of life for all DC residents. One can only tailers, restaurant operators and retail brokers visit a number of stores that have opened in in our office which serves as marketing center DC to see the success of this effort including for the neighborhood and where we can help Home Depot, Harris Teeter, Best Buy, Whole these prospects understand the vision for the Foods, Target, the Container Store, Trader Capitol Riverfront. Joe’s, H&M, Zara, Costco, CVS, Walgreen’s, The Capitol Riverfront is developing as a as well as a variety of restaurants. high density, mixed-use and transit oriented It often takes three years or more from neighborhood on the Anacostia River. One of the time when initial contact with a retailer is the fundamental building blocks of any neighmade to a lease being signed and a store open- borhood and city is the provision of quality ing for business. Many times this process can retail and entertainment uses to support our take even longer resulting from a perpetually residential, employee and visitor populations. changing marketplace and fluctuating tenant These population groups should be able to growth plans. As one can see, there is a long shop for the goods and services that support lead time in attracting and leasing a retailer or their daily lives, and it is our hope that the Caprestaurant to a specific location. itol Riverfront will become a regional shopping The District has become an exciting redestination for the District and beyond. tail market and has captured the attention of We envision grocery stores, restaurants, many stores and retail brokers as a growing apparel stores, home goods and furnishings, market that has significant unmet demand. sporting goods geared to outdoor activities, When compared to the suburbs, the District movie theaters, arts galleries, music venues, garis vastly under retailed and according to the den supplies, pet supplies, pharmacies, gyms, DC Office of Planning we lose approximately health clubs, salons, day care centers, etc. – all one billion dollars a year in retail sales to subthe retail and entertainment uses that make for urban shopping locations. a vibrant neighborhood. And while we all want One of the core work programs of the these uses as soon as possible – I am as guilty of Capitol Riverfront BID is economic development which includes our retail attraction ef- immediate gratification as the next person – I forts. Our neighborhood is zoned to accom- have to realize that retail is usually the last use modate approximately 1 million square feet of to arrive in any neighborhood and that it is an neighborhood support retail, restaurants, gro- evolutionary process, not a race. We constantly cery stores, and entertainment uses. Much of strive for the right balance of local, regional, this will occur in projects like the Yards devel- and national retailers. So stay tuned, the next wave of retail opment, Half Street, the Car Barn project and has started to arrive and will continue over Lower 8th Street, and the Riverfront on the the next two years, and we will continue to Anacostia project (former Florida Rock concrete plant). Part of our effort is to work with facilitate retail growth and development our developers and their brokers in taking in the Capitol Riverfront to support our these retail opportunities to the marketplace growing neighborhood. H
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