As the Region Re-Opens, District of Columbia and EYA Finalize Public Private Partnership in Fort Totten Neighborhood

As the Region Re-Opens, District of Columbia and EYA Finalize Public Private Partnership in Fort Totten Neighborhood

With Land Acquisition Complete and Strong Homes Sales Numbers in the First Two Weeks, EYA Readies for Construction at Riggs Park Place

Washington, DC (June 19, 2020) – The District of Columbia and EYA (through an affiliated entity – Fort Totten South, LLC) have closed on a public private partnership for four-acres at the corner of Riggs Road and South Dakota Avenue in the Fort Totten neighborhood in Ward 4. With its partners, JBG Smith and Paramount Development, and its lender, Eagle Bank, EYA will break ground in early July on the first phase of development at Riggs Park Place.  Phase 1 will feature 90 new townhomes, five of which are designated as affordable dwelling units (ADU). Phase two of the project, which should commence in the next 24 months, will be a mixed-use senior apartment community with at least 30 ADUs.

"This project is a long time coming - in fact, Mayor Bowser was working towards this goal when she was an ANC commissioner herself,” said Acting Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development John Falcicchio. “Who would have thought that in these uncertain times, our team would push this over the finish line bringing new housing to families of all income levels in Ward 4. It’s a proud day for DC.”

Riggs Park Place in NE Washington, DC is an 8-minute walk to the Fort Totten Metro with access to the Red, Green and Yellow Lines. The overall site is designed to fit seamlessly into the surrounding community and provide residents and visitors with neighborhood scale buildings and welcoming streets designed with walkways and greenspace. A unique feature of this neighborhood is the woonerf, a compact streetscape design inspired by the Dutch. In this neighborhood, the woonerf will create an engaging streetscape that provides shared space for pedestrians and cyclists as well as neighborhood traffic. Riggs Park Place will also feature a number of lushly landscaped pocket parks and courtyards to encourage social interaction and community among neighbors and passersby. 

“Riggs Park Place, and our partnership with the city, exemplify EYA’s ability to effectively work with residents, local jurisdictions, and our financial partners to both create value and bring meaningful projects to life,” said Aakash Thakkar, EVP at EYA. “We are moving forward even in these uncertain times because there is tremendous demand for high-quality, attainably priced new housing in the region.  The public-private nature of the project, its revitalization impact on the neighborhood, and its delivery of missing middle townhomes that address a broad demographic are all core tenets of our mission.  We appreciate the partnership with JBG Smith, the District, and the community that enabled us to move the project forward.”

EYA opened for “virtual sales” on Wednesday May, 27th, and the project is off to an incredibly strong start.  EYA has sold 15 of the 90 homes over the past two weeks.  While the region is just now beginning to re-open, buyer demand has been robust for the attractively price homes delivered by a best-in-class builder. The 90 townhomes will offer modern, 2, 3, and 4-bedroom floor plans, sophisticated features and finishes, optional loft levels and roof top terraces and one or two car garages, in an urban setting close to Metro, shopping, and DC hotspots. Neighborhood highlights include a coffee shop and shopping across Riggs Road, the newly renovated Lamond-Riggs Library, as well as cultural installations and artistic experiences at Art Place, an adjacent mixed-use development that offers apartments, retail, a new fitness center, a children's museum, and more.

“Ward 4 is known as one of the most desirable places to raise a family, live, work, and shop with a vibrant and diverse community,” said Brandon T. Todd Councilmember, Ward 4. “The city’s public private partnership with EYA brings for sale housing for a broad range of incomes and supports neighborhood revitalization.”

References to “EYA” refer to EYA, LLC. EYA, LLC through its various development affiliates, is a leader in Washington, D.C.’s urban and transit-oriented living that promotes Life Within Walking Distance®. Individual projects are developed and sold by EYA-affiliated entities, and all representations regarding the development, construction, or sale of any project refers to those affiliates. Founded in 1992, EYA LLC and its development affiliates have built more than 5,000 residences and 42 walkable urban neighborhoods across the D.C. metro area. For additional information, visit www.eya.com.