It appears the Skyland Town Center project in Southeast DC is moving forward.
If completed, the project, which is located at the intersections of Good Hope and Naylor roads, would be the biggest retail development in Southeast DC. Its first phase includes more than 260 housing units and 80,000 square feet of retail.
Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that all of the financing related to the project is complete. That news follows more than a decade of twists and turns for Skyland.
The project has been talked about for 15 years. In 2014, former DC Mayor Vince Gray broke ground on the project, but less than 2 years later it would be derailed by Walmart's decision not to build a store at the site.
Over the last month, construction crews have been busy digging the footprint for the town center. According city officials, the first phase of Skyland Town Center could be completed in the next two years.
Southeast DC resident Earl Williams also operates as the chair of the Skyland Town Center Task Force. He said the project's developers promised neighbors market rate housing.
He said he is excited more retail could come to Ward 7.
"This is going to be a jewel in Ward 7," he said. "Ward 8 is much further ahead of us in construction and new venues. This promises to be a jewel."
City officials say CVS Pharmacy has agreed to lease 10,000 square-feet of the property. They say some restaurants have shown interest in the Skyland development too. However, no specific restaurants have been named.
