Housing for Homeless Veterans Planned in Walter Reed Site

There are plans to transform the 66.5 acres of Walter Reed Army Medical Center into a bustling residential and commercial hub with new green spaces and now housing for homeless veterans. The New York Times reported that Help USA, a non-profit whose mission is to help those who are homeless become self-reliant, plans on renovating a series of single-occupant apartments and common areas to create 75 efficiency apartments for homeless veterans. These apartments would be designated as "permanent supportive housing," which means that the tenants would be able to stay as long as they like as long as long as they pay a pay a percentage of their income for monthly rent, which would be supplemented by public and private funding. This veteran-focused housing would feature a case management worker, on-site nurses, access to transportation to medical appointments, and Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. To connect with veterans who may be in need of help, Help USA will rely on outreach teams and Washington, D.C.'s Department of Human Services. According to The New York Times, the city and the U.S. Army are still in talks. Before any renovations can begin, the negotiations will not only need to be completed, but they will need to be approved by the D.C. Council.

The Walter Reed Army Medical Center has been closed since 2011. When redeveloped, the site will house 1,900 residential units, 212,000-square-feet of retail, and 420,000-570,000-square-feet of corporate, institutional, or medical space. According to the Washington Business Journal, Wegmans is in talks to put a store in the site as well. The project is expected to bring in about $37 million in annual tax revenue.

↑ Other plans for the Walter Reed site include building single-family homes and townhouses between Fern and Elder streets NW. At the intersection of Georgia Avenue NW and Fern Street NW, there will also be a mixed-use building with ground-floor retail

↑ Between Elder and Dahlia streets NW, the developer will construct a "Town Center," which will serve as the "heart" of the project. It will feature a pedestrian plaza, private rooftop courtyard, and approximately 165,000-square-feet of retail. There will also be water features and "decorative signage."

↑ Above, you'll see renderings of the planned Town Center.

↑ This area is dubbed the "Institutional Core" of the project and is located between Dahlia Street NW and Main Drive NW. There are already three existing buildings in this area, two of which are eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The developer plans on restoring one of these buildings and building an ample amount of green spaces around the area. Five buildings are proposed for construction with heights that could extend up to seven stories. These buildings would house retail, residential lobbies, and also a medical office that may be complementary to Howard University uses.

↑ The largest open space in the development has been named "Cameron Glen" in honor of the Cameron Creek, which was buried about a century ago. This green area will cover approximately six acres of land.

↑ Adjacent to Aspen Street NW, there is already a mix of single-family and multi-family homes. There are plans to build additional residential and mixed-use buildings. Between Luzon Avenue NW and 13th Place NW, there are also plans to build a green space that could be used for a farmers market or other outdoor activities.

If interested in taking a closer look at the plans for the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, check out the Small Area Plan document below:

Council Approved Walter Reed Small Area Plan by Office of Planning

· Housing for Homeless Veterans Is Planned for Ex-Walter Reed Site [The New York Times]
· ​Wegmans hasn't given up on Walter Reed and Tysons as it readies Alexandria store [Washington Business Journal]
· These Five Developers All Want a Shot at 67-Acre Redevelopment [Curbed DC]
· Council Approved Walter Reed Small Area Plan [Scribd]

Georgia Avenue NW and Fern Street NW washington dc

Georgia Avenue NW and Fern Street NW washington dc