DCBIA and AOBA continue to partner with the Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) to hold trainings on Building Energy Performance Standards. In January 2023, we hosted a webinar series to share tools, resources and information for building owners and property managers to make business decisions.

Access the January 12 recording here.

Access the January 12 slides here.

Access a list of resource links here.

Access the January 23 recording here.

DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS (DOB)

• The 2024 DOB no construction days calendar can be found here: https://dob.dc.gov/no-construction-holidays
• Plan ahead! After-hours permits are required to work on holidays. Apply HERE.

DISTRICT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (DDOT)

• 2024 DDOT Public Space Suspension of Work Calendar District of Columbia Legal Public Holidays: DDOT Suspension of Work Calendar 2024
• Per the District Department of Transportation (DDOT)’s standard practice, exemptions will be allowed for cause in limited cases during this suspension of work.  Exemptions must be requested in advance.  Exemption requests must be made in writing to Stacey Collins, Chief Inspections and Enforcement Officer, via email Stacey.Collins@dc.gov  with a specific subject line.
• The exemption request must include the following information:
• Public space permit number(s) for the work zone, including construction and occupancy permits
• Location of work zone
• Day(s) and hour(s) for the exemption
• Nature/phase of work taking place during exemption
• Basis/rationale for the exemption
• 24-hour emergency contact name, phone number, and email address
• Questions can also be directed to the Public Space Regulation Division’s Customer Relations Branch at (202) 442-4670.

Dates are subject to change without notice.

The DC Development Report is a summary of the major development and construction projects in the District of Columbia. Published on March 11, 2021 by Washington, DC Economic Partnership.

HIGHLIGHTS

Groundbreakings – Despite the health pandemic more than 4.6 million SF of projects broke ground between March and December 2020. During this time the month of August experienced the most project starts with five, totaling just over one million SF. The vast majority of projects were multifamily residential showing the continued investor interest in this sector.

Office – While the long-term nature of leases in the office sector have provided better protection from the COVID-19 shock compared to other sectors such as hospitality and multifamily, it has not escaped unscathed

Retail – 2020 has been a tumultuous year for the District of Columbia’s retail and restaurant market as the COVID-19 pandemic has heavily curtailed demand, with the notable exception of grocery stores. Prior to the pandemic, the retail landscape in the District was robust and recorded strong growth in 2019 into the first quarter of 2020.

Residential – The Washington metro area is the seventh largest apartment market in the U.S., with the Census Bureau approximating its multifamily supply at 561,000 units.

Hospitality – After years of consistent occupancy and RevPAR rates, despite thousands of new hotel rooms being added to the market, the COVID-19 pandemic has made a major impact on the hospitality sector.

Quality of Life – Given the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, “quality of life” spaces, defined as serving education, medical, and community purposes, have never proved more essential.

 

Download HERE2020-DCDR-web.

DCRA and DDOT 

Suspension of Work Calendar 2022

Plan ahead!

The biggest change in 2022 is that a new holiday Juneteenth will be recognized.

If you anticipate requiring an exemption for construction work on public space from DDOT, contact Lareon Brent at Lareon.brent@dc.gov2 or 202.671.4631. For DCRA regarding private space, refer to the DCRA after work hours permit process. 

Dates are subject to change without notice. 

 

DCRA UPDATE: Thursday, June 16, 2022:

The District of Columbia Government lists Monday, June 20 as an observed federal holiday. DCBIA confirmed with DCRA today that “in observance of the Juneteenth National Independence Day holiday, no construction will be allowed on Sunday, June 19, 2022 without an after-hours permit. Construction is allowed on Monday, June 20, 2022, however, the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) will be closed. DCRA offers many online services, tools, and resources, enabling customers to conduct business 24 hours per day, seven days per week.” 

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More on DCRA here: https://dcra.dc.gov/page/no-construction-allowed-holidays

Good jobs are plentiful in the Washington area, but DC residents are not securing nearly enough of them.

Many employers and organizations are working hard to fix this problem, but their efforts are not coordinated and they face barriers and challenges along the way.

Hire Local DC believes that by tackling these challenges as a Coalition, we can support more DC residents in securing good jobs and achieve a more equitable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Modeled after MetroNow, Hire Local DC provides a single place for employers to coordinate their efforts to strengthen the local talent pipeline.

We offer a single point of access for the government to reach the employer community and for the employer community to coordinate with government and non-profit providers.

We help employers share resources, create alignment across their individual initiatives, and work together toward common goals.

Through events, a regular newsletter, our website and engagement with individual employers, we pursue three primary activities:

• Run an Ongoing Campaign to Encourage Businesses to Hire Local DC Residents
• Help Employers hire local DC residents
• Enable collaboration among employers, providers, and government to strengthen the local talent pipeline for DC employers

Sign up to receive the Hire Local DC newsletter.

 

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Earlier this year, DCBIA launched a new committee. Read about DCBIA Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee efforts HERE. The DEI Committee is co-chaired by Anitra Androh, Nelson Mullins and Lamont Bessicks, Lewis Real Estate Services. Email us if you would like to join the committee.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Don Montuori December 17, 2020 202-465-7047 dmontuori@wcsmith.com

Rhonda Mitchell, Lisa F. Smith Named Washingtonians of the Year

Washingtonian Magazine recognizes them for their work with WC Smith’s Building Bridges to a Better Life program and efforts to combat food insecurity during the COVID-19 crisis

WASHINGTON, DC – December 17, 2020 – Rhonda Mitchell, community services director for WC Smith’s Villages of Parklands property, and Lisa F. Smith, wife of WC Smith Chairman and CEO Chris Smith, have been named 2020 Washingtonians of the Year for their volunteer work by Washingtonian magazine.

Mitchell and Smith were honored for their efforts behind Building Bridges to a Better Life (BBBL), a joint project of WC Smith and Building Bridges Across the River (Building Bridges) that provides housing and wrap-around services to more than 70 previously homeless families who were displaced when the District closed the DC General Hospital and several motel shelters in 2018. Families received assistance with household furnishings and supplies, and have access to the programming and services offered by Building Bridges and its partners at THEARC.

Additionally, Mitchell and Smith have organized multiple educational and entertainment events, including financial management and educational resources workshops for BBBL parents and outings to locations across the city for their children.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Mitchell and Smith have spearheaded an extensive weekly food distribution program at THEARC for people living east of the Anacostia River. Building Bridges coordinates the effort, which has included participation from World Central Kitchen, DC Central Kitchen, Martha’s Table, THRIVE and the Capital Area Food Bank

Each week since March, Mitchell and Smith have managed a multi-faceted operation that provides critical food supplies to area residents who have been among the hardest hit by the COVID virus. Working with Building Bridges staff and other volunteers, they ensure that items are readily available and distributed in an orderly fashion, rain or shine. The week before Thanksgiving more than 500 cars showed up at THEARC for supplies. The program will continue throughout the winter.

Rahsaan Bernard, president of Building Bridges, nominated them for the award.

As Washingtonian notes: “Much has become uncertain during the pandemic. But for the 72 previously homeless families who now have places to live thanks to Building Bridges to a Better Life, there’s one thing they can count on: Rhonda Mitchell and Lisa Smith.”

“I could not have nominated two more deserving people,” Bernard said. “Their tireless efforts, dedication, and courage to serve the community, being on the front lines since the beginning of this pandemic from our doorsteps here at THEARC, is awe-inspiring!”

More about Mitchell and Smith, and the other honorees, can be found here.

ABOUT WC Smith

WC Smith (www.wcsmith.com) is a Washington, DC-based multidisciplinary real estate firm, providing integrated property development and property management services to the Washington metropolitan area for more than 50 years. Since our founding in 1968, we have built communities across all 8 wards of Washington that uniquely combine the city’s long-term vision for growth with our residents’ vision for how a neighborhood best serves their needs and desires.

ABOUT Building Bridges Across the River

Building Bridges Across the River (Building Bridges) provides residents East of the Anacostia River access to the best-in-class facilities, programs and partnerships in arts and culture, economic opportunity, education, recreation, health and well-being. Building Bridges Across the River was incorporated as a (501-c-3) nonprofit organization in 1997 to be the managing partner of THEARC, the state-of-the-art community center founded by WC Smith CEO Chris Smith. Building Bridges is the engine behind all of the facility’s services, programs and collaborations. Today, Building Bridges is expanding its footprint, leading programming and partnerships at THEARC, THEARC Theater, THEARC Farms, Skyland Workforce Center and the 11th Street Bridge Park.

A lot has changed because of the pandemic, but the District continues to keep its carbon reduction goals. See what changes are in place to address challenges while continuing to strive toward carbon neutrality and climate resiliency by 2050.

Watch the webinar.

Download the slides.

DCBIA Members: To receive access to the webinars please email us at  info@dcbia.org to get the password for FREE access.  If you are a Non-Member and would like FREE access to these webinars, you are invited to JOIN DCBIA by becoming a MEMBER

Missed a previous webinar? Email us at info@dcbia.org for access!

Webinar #1: Navigating the Unprecedented

Webinar #2: COVID-19 Construction Playbook, led by Asmar Schor & McKenna and Seyfarth Shaw

Webinar #3: COVID-19: Creating DC’s Construction Best Practices, featuring Jordan McLean of HITT Contracting, and Terrence Caulfield of Coakley & Williams Construction. 

Webinar #4: DCBIA Housing Committee Presents: Housing Activity Amidst COVID-19, led by Urban Pace.

Webinar #5: DCBIA Young Leaders Committee Presents: Navigating the Real Estate Job Market in Times of Stability and Uncertainty, featuring Lisa Mallory, PhD, CEO, DCBIA, Certified Master Coach and Intergenerational workplace expert and Mike Bush, Founder/Executive Director/Career Advisor, Real Estate Associates Program (REAP) and Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University in Urban Development and Real Estate

Webinar #6: ReOpen DC: A Conversation About Real Estate and Construction. Moderated by our CEO, Lisa Mallory, DCBIA President and leaders of the ReOpen DC Advisory Group Real Estate & Construction subcommittees, discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the public and private sectors to ensure a safe and successful reopening of our city.

Webinar #7: DCBIA Housing Committee Presents: The State of Residential Green Building Amidst COVID-19. Overview of residential green building industry, its history, current landscape and trends for the future by James Ball, Vice President of Business Development, MaGrann Associates.

Webinar #8: Virtual Walk through: City Ridge. Richard Lake, Principal of Roadside Development, discusses the safety efforts taking place during the construction process of the vibrant 1.15 million sq. ft. mixed use urban development, City Ridge, arriving in 2022.  The project showcases 690 residential units, 159,000 sq. ft of office space, and 154,000 sq. ft. of retail space, anchored by the first Wegmans grocery store in the District.

Webinar #9: Recruiting and Retaining Talent in the Building Industry. Moderated by Jazmen Johnson, Director of Diversity and Inclusion at ICSC, Industry experts, Stephanie Duncan, COO, Stonebridge, Steve Hawryluk, Director, Davis Construction, and Robert Holzbach, AIA, LEED AP, Principal and Director of Staff Operations, Hickok Cole, revealed their approach for recruiting and retaining talent, and how COVID-19 has impacted staffing and workload in their respective disciplines.

Webinar #10: DCBIA Commercial Office Retail Committee Presents: The National and Local Retail Market Amidst COVID-19. Presentations by CBRE leaders, Melina Cordero, Managing Director, CBRE Capital Markets, Michael Zacharia, Executive Vice President, and Ian Anderson, Director of Research and Analysis.

Webinar 11: Comprehensive Plan and IZ Plus Update

DCBIA Housing Committee Co-Chairs Clint Mann, President of Urban Pace and Charles Warren, Principal of Teass | Warren Architects invite you to hear from Jeff C. Utz, Director, Goulston & Storrs and DCBIA Board member and Co-Chair of the DCBIA Public Policy & Regulation Committee.

Webinar #12: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: How Can We Now Make It Happen? Moderated by DCBIA CEO, Lisa Mallory.  Industry experts, Ernie Jarvis, Managing Principal, Jarvis Commercial Real Estate, Freddie Lewis Archer, Principal, Lewis Real Estate Services, Derrick Mashore,  Senior Vice President, CBRE, Merrick Malone, President, DC Housing Enterprise, LLC, and Deryl McKissack, PE, President & CEO, McKissack & McKissack, share concrete ideas and a call-to-action for increasing diversity in the real estate industry.

 

Webinar #13 DCBIA Small Business Advocacy Briefing

Many people think DCBIA only represents large businesses when in fact we advocate for businesses of all sizes and have a diverse membership – from small developers and architectural firms to art organizations, law firms, and more. A little known fact that I want to shout from rooftops is that 1/3 of DCBIA’s membership is small businesses.

 

Webinar #14 DCBIA Briefing on the D.C. Comprehensive Plan

Entering into the final phase of the Comprehensive Plan Amendment process, DCBIA will continue to play a lead role to provide expertise to this important land-use and planning document. After incorporating input from DCBIA, other organizations, Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, and the general public, the Office of Planning has submitted the amended Plan to the Council for a final public review at the Council of the District of Columbia’s November virtual public hearings.

 

Webinar #15 Modo: DC’s First Modular Residential Wood Construction

DCBIA Housing Committee Co-Chairs Clint Mann, President of Urban Pace and Charles Warren, Principal of Teass | Warren Architects invite you to hear from David Yampolsky, Community Three and Megan Mitchell AIA, LEED AP of Eric Colbert & Associates on the Modo project, DC’s first multifamily project to use modular construction methods. Modo will deliver 17 three-bedroom units above 3,000 square feet of retail.

WEBINAR #16 CBIA CAPITAL MARKETS COMMITTEE PRESENTS: AFFORDABLE HOUSING FINANCING

DCBIA Capital Markets Committee Co-Chairs Alissa Curry-Briggs, Executive Director of Commercial Real Estate, FVCbank and Shawn Weingast, General Counsel and Director of Capital Markets, ACUMEN invite you to hear from Tom Nida, Executive Vice President, Market Executive, City First Bank about the opportunities and challenges of financing affordable residential projects amidst COVID-19 and beyond. Read more about the historic merger of City First Bank and Broadway. More presenters to be announced.

WEBINAR #17 VIRTUAL CONVERSATION WITH DC REAL ESTATE’S WOMEN LEADERS – 2020: A TRANSFORMATIONAL AND HISTORIC YEAR

As the world began to change in early 2020, DC also marked an important milestone in the real estate industry. DC’s top three real estate trade associations installed women executives as chairs simultaneously – a first in DC’s history.

The tumultuous year includes a devastating economic crisis spurred by a global health pandemic and a demand for racial justice, diversity, and economic inclusion. Join these industry women real estate leaders for a discussion about the impact of these changes as they entered their historic role as chairs, and the transformational impact 2020 is having on DC development and construction, residential sales, property management, commercial leasing, as well as industry employees and city residents. The event will begin with an economic consideration and forecast amidst COVID by Yesim Taylor, Executive Director of the D.C. Policy Center.

Webinar #18 – COVID-19 and Multifamily Housing: Navigating Recovery with an Eye on the Long-Term

With residents spending more time at home due to stay-at-home orders, how can multifamily housing owners and operators prioritize tenant health and safety without compromising their bottom line when it comes to utility expenses and energy use?

DCBIA and The Building Innovation Hub discuss resources that are available to the multifamily housing community, pathways and considerations for compliance with the Building Energy Performance Standards, available financing and technical assistance, and lessons learned from local owners, operators, and service providers.

Introductory remarks from DOEE Director, Tommy Wells, discussing energy and resident health in Washington DC, with presentations by Andrea Foss, Sustainability Director, Steven Winters Associate, Pete Zadoretzky, Vice President, Sustainability, Bozzuto, and Matt Praske, Director of Energy and Sustainability, WashREIT.

Webinar #19: Mitigating Risk in Retail

Retail data and economic development experts present the retail outlook and discuss the challenges and opportunities post retail’s most difficult year as we enter 2021. Hosted by DCBIA Commercial Office & Retail Committee Co-Chairs Curvin Leatham, President of Area Probe and Derek Ford, Senior Vice President of Emerging and Underserved Neighborhoods, Washington, DC Economic Partnership.

Webinar #20: The Parks at Walter Reed Virtual Site Visit

Virtual tour of a growing, vibrant commmunity that upends the ordinary, The Parks at Walter Reed. Presented by Vicki Davis, Managing Partner, Urban Atlantic, Caroline Kenney, Managing Director of Public-Private Ventures, Urban Atlantic, Thaddeaus Green, Walter Reed Development Manager, DC Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, Katie Wiacek, Managing Director, Hines.

Webinar #21: CEO Forum 2021

Moderated by Alex Orfinger, Publisher of the Washington Business Journal, this year’s forum included a State of the District overview by John Falcicchio, Deputy Mayor for Planning & Economic Development, an economic and market analysis by Genevieve Hanson, Principal, EY, and a discussion on the capital markets and submarkets from three of DC’s leading Bank CEOs and four Business Improvement District leaders. Presented by the Capital Markets Committee.

Webinar #22: COVID-19 and the Effects on WELLNESS in the Workplace

DCBIA’s Construction & Development Committee Co-Chairs, Howard Chapman,  Vice President of Coakley & Williams Construction, and Chizzy Nwobodo, Senior Structural Engineer, Arup, host an engaging discussion with Mariela Buendia-Corrochano, Principal, Gensler, Adrian Conforti, Senior Managing Director, NE & Mid-Atlantic Regional Leader, Project & Development Services, Cushman & Wakefield, and Mark Walsh-Cooke, Principal, ARUP, on workplace construction and WELLNESS strategies for during the time of COVID-19 and beyond.

Webinar #23: DCBIA and AOBA: Building Energy Performance Standards Info & Advocacy Session

The District has pledged to become carbon neutral and climate resilient by 2050. Slashing carbon pollution requires both imagination and bold action to transform our buildings. This includes improving the efficiency and health of existing buildings, repowering them with clean, renewable energy, and constructing new buildings that generate as much clean energy as they use.

Set by the Clean Energy DC Omnibus Act of 2018 and administered by the Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE), the Building Energy Performance Standards (or BEPS) program is a regulatory tool and program to help meet these ambitious green building and climate goals. BEPS sets a minimum threshold for energy performance for buildings, which impacts design, construction, and operation of every building in DC over 10,000 sq. ft., including commercial office, multifamily affordable housing, multifamily market-rate housing, schools, retail, and hospitality.

The proposed rules for BEPS are now open for public comment until March 4, 2021.

Webinar #24: Concrete & Pearls: A Virtual Celebration of Women’s History Month

Four women leaders of the DCBIA Board of Directors discuss their vision for their companies, trends of their disciplines, and to engage in industry concerns and solutions.

Webinar #25: District Wharf Phase II Virtual Tour

Construction is currently underway to complete Phase 2 of District Wharf, DC’s world-class, mile-long waterfront experience. Scheduled to open in 2022, Phase 2 will deliver an additional 1.25 million square feet of mixed-use spaces, including a marina, office, residential, retail, as well as parks and public spaces. Led by Hoffman & Associates and Madison Marquette, this virtual construction tour showcases Phase 2 pre-development, design, construction and public health safety and recovery.

Webinar #25: DCBIA Housing Committee Presents: Urban Pace 2020 Year End Market Report

An overview of 2020 market activity, the effects of COVID-19, and a forecast for 2021. Presented by Urban Pace: Clint Mann, President  |  Matt Dewey, Chief Operations Officer

Webinar #26: DCBIA Young Leaders Committee Presents: Your Pathway to Commercial Real Estate

What’s ahead for the next generation of real estate professionals? How do you balance work/life balance in such an aggressive and competitive industry? DC real estate titans share their wisdom with emeriging CRE professionals on navigating through the commercial real estate industry.

Webinar #27: DCBIA Housing Committee – Are alleys the unsung real estate of the city?

DC has 3,217 alleys totaling 246 miles when unraveled. On May 14, 2021, DCBIA hosted a discussion on the zoning, architectural, development and other opportunities and challenges of building housing in DC alleys.

Webinar #28: DOEE Update on BEPs Benchmarking + Innovation Hub

On May 18, DOEE provided DCBIA with a status of the Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPs) program, including benchmarking. The meeting also included an update on the efforts of the Building Innovation Hub, an organization designed to provide resources and connections to help building owners, operators, designers, contractors, and tenants improve their buildings.

Webinar #29: DCBIA Housing Committee Presents: The “Missing Middle” Com-plex: Residential Infill Design Strategies

On July 23, DCBIA discussed site constraints, zoning regulations, and community concerns that influence the production of housing at this scale. The presentation reviewed opportunities and strategies for medium-density infill housing specifically in DC, and touch on new ideas and future trends. Presentations by Will Teass, AIA LEED AP, Co-founder & Managing Principal, and Charles Warren, AIA, LEED AP, co-founder and Principal of Design.

 

Thanks to these companies and their leaders for continuing to support DCBIA programming during this unprecedented health and economic emergency.

 

 

We would like to congratulate D Watts Construction on being selected as this month’s DCBIA Spotlight Member.  To view our past spotlight click on the link: https://dcbia.org/member-spotlights/