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 DC USA is a 546,000 square feet shopping and entertainment complex that is under construction in the heart of Columbia Heights. With major retailers like Target, Best Buy, Washington Sports Club, and Bed Bath and Beyond, DC USA will become the one-stop shopping destination for all of Washington, DC. |
Information
Retailers
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 Many residents have expressed interest in bringing Whole Foods Market to the DC USA retail complex. Whole Foods Market and DC USA developers are still under negotiation. There are a few major hurdles. We have set up a special Whole Foods Market section to provide you the latest information on this situation and let you know what we can do as a community to make it happen.
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Updates
| February 2006 |
| "...Modell's and Staples have struck agreements with New York-based Grid Properties and the Gotham Organization, according to sources close to the deals...Citibank is giving the project an $89 million construction loan, according to NCRC...NCRC will finance $47 million for three levels of underground parking by issuing tax-exempt bonds to Citibank Community Development Bank. NCRC started issuing the bonds last month. The bonds will be repaid with $4.9 million in parking revenue and $42 million in tax increment financing, which uses some of the taxes generated by new development to pay off bonds...DC USA has 15,000 square feet of first-floor space reserved for minority businesses, and 14 businesses have applied for it, including franchise owners for Maggie Moo's Ice Cream and Treatery and Quizno's." |
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| More Reading: Columbia Heights News "DC USA Update", GlobalSt.com "$89M Financing Package Paves Way for Retail Project" |
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| December 20, 2005 |
| "The closing date for the construction loan. Eighty percent of the DC USA retail space must be claimed in order to break ground. 'Closing has started, with tenants under lease at an amount sufficient for the lender to proceed,' says Robert Moore, president of the Development Corporation of Columbia Heights. City sources say ground will be broken sometime in the coming months." |
| Source: Washington City Paper - "Target Practice" by Brian Beutler |
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| November 2005 |
| Site preparation has been completed by National Capital Revitalization Corporation (NCRC). The site will be transferred to DC USA Operation Company, LLC. Construction is expected to begin in spring 2006 and completed sometime in 2008. |
| Source: NCRC |
Renderings
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| DC USA Interior Rendering - A glimpse to what it may look like inside. |
| Source: BLT Architects |
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| DC USA Exterior Rendering |
| Source: BLT Architects |
Floor Plans
Photos
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| This is a photo of the sign posted on the DC USA site - January 2006. |
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Written by e on 2008-02-06 10:58:36
Why can't this place have a Gap, a bath and body works, a bookstore? but lane bryant, matress discounters and a storage facility? geez... | Written by EB on 2008-02-13 14:54:24
I'm with the previous comment. I am new to CH but a DC resident all my life. A bookstore, a store like bath and body works and a good clothing store like Gap or even old navy would have been good to see. I love target and Marshalls so I'm happy about that. Hopefully more restaurants will come with time. I am pleased with revitalization. But I don't agree with making everything so upscale and expensive that old CH residents won't be able to stay. I think the goal should be a diverse environment in terms of age, race, and socioeconomic status. Do the developers read these comments? | Written by Christian on 2008-02-15 21:16:06
A Self-Storage place????? What's wrong with the negociators here?? Anything could be better than that. That'll block the access of the public to every space in that project and will limit the number of retail available. Please don't let them do it. | Bring some INTELLIGENCE to CH!
Written by A better CH for DC! on 2008-02-17 13:06:17
I agree with the above comments regarding a self-storage space. Who's brainfart idea was that? Someone's pet rock? Geez...
What we need is a Bookstore or something that attracts INTELLIGENCE & educated, law-abiding citizens. I've been living in CH for 6 years now (yes, among the drugs, the gangs, the gun shots... Someone was shot in the head and DIED in front of my house while I was hanging drapes in my window, only to hit my HOUSE... missing my head by 10 feet!) and have ONLY recently began shopping in the community... because there were NO PLACES to go that I felt safe and not discriminated against. I tried the local latino joints BUT.. has anyone gone into those places? There are dozens of them... pool halls, bars, clubs, restaurants, etc. Unfortunately, they are for LATINOS ONLY! No one speaks English and I felt totally embarassed being there... in my own neighborhood! Where else to go... hang out at the 7-11 or a liquor store? No thanks. Shop at the old Giant? That place was disgusting! And the new Giant... the service is horrible and I am also discrimated against. Case in point... Ever try to buy deli meat or seafood there? Good luck trying to get someone to look you in the eye if you're not black. Yes, I'm white and I feel discriminated. I've written letters twice to Giant with regard to this and never got a response. So, I refuse to shop there and tell all my friends who tell their friends, etc. Sad, but true.
So, why did I move here? I moved here because the price was right to buy and in anticipation of good things to come... and, thankfully, they did... Starbuck's, The Heights, Rumberos, Radiance MedSpa, Red Rocks, Sticky Fingers... all places I can go and feel comfortable with a DIVERSE crowd. I am not trying to be elitist here at all but I do feel comfortable in places that give you great service and respect and treat you as a valued customer. These are the places that are needed. I don't care if they are small or large retailers... well-known or not, minority-owned, GAY-owned (although, that would be FABULOUS and another issue... where are the gay-owned and operated businesses in CH??? Hello! It's the gay people who are the pioneers who make DC's neighborhoods livable once again. They buy the run-down homes in the run-down neighborhoods, fix them up and rally for change, big development comes next, then the gays sell to the straights and go to the next neighborhood, rinse, repeat). DC is in dire need of places for intelligent people. DC was recently ranked as the 4th city in the nation with those with college degrees or higher (45.3%!) (see the article here: http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/departments/elearning/?article=educatedcities).
Incidentally, the article also points out that the median household income in DC is $47,221. So, the 2 go hand in hand... the more educated you are, the more money you can make. Duh. However, where can I go to exercise my mind and give back ($$$) to my community in CH, where I choose to live? So far, just the places above. Can I do that at a McDonald's? How about another liquor store? What about a pool hall?
Let's stop dancing around the isses. We need places for the diversity that is CH and this INCLUDES educated people who demand change and safety that comes with development... otherwise, we leave or at least, we shop elsewhere.
Yes, gentrification is a sensitive issue and I think the developers are doing a fantatastic job with bringing in some diverse places. However, you can do better than a storage space! Don't insult my intelligence! | Written by Fairmont on 2008-02-23 19:48:31
For all those railing against Lane Bryant, it is a highly profitable subsidiary of the Limited (though it might have spun off). In other words, same price point or higher than the Gap. It is not "low class" or for non-intelligent people just because they carry sizes you don't wear. | DC USA broker fired...
Written by Park Road Guy on 2008-02-26 08:30:41
I just read that they fired the leasing broker at DC USA last month b/c they weren't able to secure higher-end retailers. | Written by EB on 2008-02-26 11:29:00
Just to be clear...I am not against Lane Bryant. Its a great store. Definitely not cheap! I am more "railing" for a bookstore. That would be great for my little one! | Written by Newton St on 2008-02-29 22:44:41
I'm Hispanic, I'm 26 years old, I have lived on the same street (Newton) all my life. My parents have lived in this area for the majority of the time they have been here, and while I don't represent the Hispanic majority, I can safely say that this new mall, shopping center or whatever you want to call it will be a boon for the Hispanic population. Go to the Radio Shack on Columbia Road, go to the Target in Wheaton Plaza, these are stores that are frequented by a vast majority of the Hispanic population in this area.
I'm not saying that these stores are specifically targeted to the Hispanic community, but it's not going to drive them away. Target alone will bring them all in, since they sell everything.
Tell you what, for those who have moved into this area recently, appreciate what you're getting. 12 years ago, none of this would have been possible. 15 years ago, people would be doing drugs on the streets and nobody would say a word. People were being murdered, stabbed in broad day light, drive by shootings that happened way too often. This area was a disaster, but I always had hope that someday, the city would able to turn this area around, and they did. I love being here, and I love the development. Wachovia, a supermarket, and a shopping center are all 2 minutes away from me. Now I don't have to drive all the way to Friendship Heights or Wheaton if I need to go to a Best Buy. It's great.
I don't mind a McDonalds being here either. Look, these stores and restaurants are here for a reason, they're gonna do huge business because there's something for everyone. | "High-Quality Retail"
Written by Concerned for CH on 2008-03-01 20:04:45
"High Quality Retail."
Remember, that was and still is the promotional claim promised by the developers. A lot of people moved here because of those words. If that is not what is going to go into the DCUSA complex, you can be sure that a lot of people will move away and take their buying power with them.
I just want what was promised... Be careful when you invite low-quality retailers... look at what happened to City Place Mall (a similar complex in Silver Spring) that FAILED miserably because the locals did not shop there because it was made too low-end. The place is still struggling after 16 years even though high-end retailers around it are a booming success. You can read the article here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/12/AR2006031201413.html
High Quality Retail is what is needed for the community. Remember, this complex is the first of its kind in modern DC and if it fails, it will set a very BAD example for the city and for inviting future retailers to the city. It's success is dependent upon bringing in retailers that the community wants. I certainly do not want to settle for any low-end retailers! | Columbia Heights 2007 Demographics
Written by Dataman on 2008-03-01 23:02:00
The 2007 Washington (zip 20010), DC, population is 30,408. There are 27,899 people per square mile (population density).
The median age is 33.7. The US median is 37.6. 24.95% of people in Washington (zip 20010), DC, are married. 8.87% are divorced.
The average household size is 2.55 people. 12.14% of people are married, with children. 11.74% have children, but are single.
26.73% of people are white, 38.66% are black, 4.62% are asian, 0.65% are native american, and 29.33% claim 'Other'.
39.87% of the people in Washington (zip 20010), DC, claim hispanic ethnicity (meaning 60.13% are non-hispanic).
The median home value in Washington (zip 20010), DC, is $858,100. Home appreciation is -5.83% over the last year. The median age of Washington (zip 20010), DC, real estate is 62 years.
Washington (zip 20010), DC Apartments and Rentals
Renters make up 63.57% of the Washington (zip 20010), DC, population. 8.57% of houses and apartments in Washington (zip 20010), DC, are unoccupied (vacancy rate).
The unemployment rate in Washington (zip 20010), DC, is 5.40%, with job growth of 2.61%. Future job growth over the next ten years is predicted to be 24.77%.
The income per capita is $24,476, which includes all adults and children. The median household income is $41,390.
Washington (zip 20010) public schools spend $8,038 per student. The average school expenditure in the U.S. is $6,058. There are about 13 students per teacher in Washington (zip 20010). |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 14 March 2007 )
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