Mayor Bowser Celebrates Two Groundbreakings Adding 1,850 Homes & Food Access Points Along the Anacostia River

(Washington, DC) Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, District leaders, and community members celebrated the groundbreakings of two developments bringing housing and amenities along the Anacostia River: The Stacks and the Bridge District. Mayor Bowser also announced the second round of awardees of the Food Access Fund, a grant program aimed at increasing grocery stores, restaurants, fast-casual restaurants, and other food access points in areas with low food access, including Wards 7 and 8. 

“With these two groundbreakings, we’re proud to be bringing more housing, amenities, and opportunity to two fantastic parts of our city – close to the beautiful new Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge and along the shores of the Anacostia,” said Mayor Bowser. “The Food Access Fund is changing the game for how we bring new food options to more DC neighborhoods, and we are excited to be supporting eight local restaurants, bars, and cafes as they open or expand Wards 7 and 8.”

The Stacks, which is jointly owned by Akridge, Bridge Investment Group, Blue Coast Capital, and National Real Estate Advisors, is located in the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood of Buzzard Point. Phase One, which is slated to be delivered by 2025, will include three rental residential mixed-use towers totaling more than 1,100 rental apartment units, with more than 10 percent of these dedicated as affordable at 60% MFI within a range of studio through two-bedroom units. 

The Douglass, located at the Bridge District, was the second groundbreaking celebrated today and is a Redbrick LMD development. This project will be built at the foot of the new Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge in Ward 8 as a reimagined 2.5 million-square-foot neighborhood that offers new opportunities for living, dining, entertainment, as well as job growth opportunities for local businesses and community members. The Douglass is a 750-unit apartment community that is the flagship building of the Bridge District. Approximately 80 of the units will be designated affordable, with 29 units currently designed to be three-bedroom based on input from the community. In addition, the Douglass will strive to be net-zero carbon from operations and one of the most sustainable buildings in the District of Columbia. 

Mayor Bowser also announced eight new Food Access Fund grantees. A total of $6.6 million will go to these local businesses. The Mayor’s funding proposal for Fiscal Year 2023 allocates $23.8 million for this program.

“As we emerge from the pandemic, we want to make sure we don’t lose any of the characteristics that make DC truly special, ” said Deputy Mayor John Falcicchio.  “That means investing in small and local businesses that offer exciting and innovative ways to address the inequitable access to quality food. The Food Access Fund allows us to better support residents and make long-term investments in the community.”

New Food Access Fund awardees include: 

1. Miss Toya’s Cajun Southern Kitchen: Miss Toya's Southern Cajun Kitchen is a Southern restaurant known for creating unique dishes and craft cocktails inspired by Southern roots and will be opening in Ward 7’s Penn Branch neighborhood.  
    
2. Duffy’s Irish Pub: Duffy’s Irish Pub plans to deliver a full-service restaurant in Ward 7’s Stadium Armory neighborhood and will offer national franchise brands through a virtual kitchen for exclusive delivery to wards 7 and 8. 
    
3. Tropical Smoothie Café: Tropical Smoothie is a locally owned national franchise brand that is set to open a new store in Ward 7 as part of the Skyland Development and will offer toasted wraps, sandwiches, flatbreads, and other healthy food options.
    
4. Atlas Brew Works: Atlas Brew Works is well known DC establishment with multiple brewpub locations that will open a new restaurant in Ward 8’s Bridge District. 
    
5. La Cabana Restaurante: La Cabana will be a full dine-in restaurant and bar also located in Ward 7’s Skyland neighborhood, offering carryout and delivery services with a selection of freshly prepared meals inhouse to order.
    
6. Sandlot Anacostia: Located at the Bridge District, Sandlot Anacostia will be a new 25,000-square-foot outdoor cultural arts & entertainment venue with a shipping container bar & shipping container kitchens at 633 Howard Road SE. It is scheduled to open soon.
    
7. Cheers from Ivy City: Cheers from Ivy City is a new concept for a small, casual restaurant that focuses on high-quality carry out while maintaining a small service bar and dining area and will be located in Ward 8’s Historic Anacostia neighborhood. It will also include a culinary incubator for training and job readiness programs. 
    
8. Smokehouse at the Strand: Smokehouse at the Strand is a second location of the flagship concept of Ivy City Smokehouse. Located in Ward 7’s Deanwood neighborhood, the restaurant is set to revive the historic Strand Theatre that has been vacant for twenty years.

For more details about the Food Access Fund Grant, please visit dmped.dc.gov/page/food-access-fund. 

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