Transit-Oriented Capitol Gateway Marketplace to Revitalize East Capitol Community

WASHINGTON—Clark Builders Group (CBG), in partnership with A&R Development, the D.C. Housing Authority, and Walmart, broke ceremonial ground on Tuesday for a transformative $120 million project designed to revitalize the urban landscape and bring transit-oriented living to Northeast Washington, D.C. near the Capitol Heights Metro Station.

Capitol Gateway Marketplace will bring 312 LEED certified affordable housing units, 20,000 square feet of neighborhood-serving retail, and the District's first Walmart Supercenter to the East Capitol community. More than 200 people were in attendance at the community groundbreaking ceremony at 5800 East Capitol Street NE, including D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and D.C. Councilwomen Yvette Alexander, who both spoke of the positive impact Capitol Gateway Marketplace will bring to the neighborhood.

"One of my top priorities as mayor is to build a pathway to the middle class," said D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. "Part of that effort is providing residents with affordable, high-quality housing. But that is only half of the equation; residents also need jobs and retail options in their own neighborhoods. Capitol Gateway Marketplace will help make that goal a reality. I look forward to working with the development community and Ward 7 neighborhoods to ensure this project benefits DC residents and working-class families for generations to come."

"This is a great day not only from Ward 7, but for the entire City of Washington," said D.C. Councilwoman Yvette Alexander. "We are turning this area into one of our city's premier neighborhoods, one where residents and visitors alike can work, shop, play, make convenient use of mass transit, and enjoy safe streets and high-quality homes. I've participated in countless community meetings regarding this effort, and I can tell you that everyone is excited about the future here."

East Capitol community members currently have few options for food and retail shopping. Capitol Gateway Marketplace will transform the so-called food and retail "desert" as a new 40-acre community that includes affordable for-purchase and for-rent housing, a fully-appointed grocery market, retail and open green space, and convenient access to the Capital Heights Metro Station located less than a third of a mile away.

"This project required tremendous dedication, unrelenting perseverance and strategic innovation from everyone involved. Through collaboration and commitment, we will soon deliver a community that's worthy of our citizens and serves their needs in terms of housing, retail, food shopping, and jobs. I want to express my profound gratitude to my staff and to all of our partners, including the residents who played an integral role," said Adrianne Todman, executive director of the D.C. Housing Authority.

"To have a hand in bringing this transformative and anticipated space to fruition is a proud moment for us," said Keith Anderson, president of CBG. "Our team is looking forward to delivering Capitol Gateway Marketplace, which will be a cornerstone for this community."

Capitol Gateway Marketplace is located at the corner of East Capitol Street NE and 58th Street, where nearly 30,000 vehicles drive by each day. The Walmart Supercenter is scheduled to open in the fall of 2016, with the apartment building slated to follow in winter of 2017.

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