With a light but steady drizzle settling over a slew of local dignitaries, The Wharf officially opened many of its doors this afternoon after more than a decade in the making.

“We should all be reminded of this is our waterfront, our destination, and we couldn’t be more proud,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser, before helping set off a celebratory round of sparklers and fireworks.

The ceremony’s pomp (as well as its on-time schedule) mirrored the The Wharf’s enormous scale and cost.

Construction technically only began three and a half years ago, but work on the $2.5 billion project has been underway for more than a 10 years. It isn’t over yet—this is just the first of two phases—but the feat is already enormous: four residential buildings, three hotels, and two office buildings packed full of nearly two dozen restaurants, three music venues, and a handful of shops.

In addition to Bowser, Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, about half the D.C. Council, former Mayor Adrian Fenty, and a raft of other city officials came out to christen the site. Developer Monty Hoffman jokingly asked, “Who is running the city right now?”

Celebrations at The Wharf will continue for another four full days, with seemingly little expense spared. Through Sunday, there will be two more rounds of fireworks, street performers, free activities, and a raft of free outdoor concerts.

“This is an exciting time to be in Southwest, D.C. The secret is out,” said Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen. “It is an incredibly special place, the little quadrant that could.”

But Allen, along with every other speaker, repeatedly emphasized the role of The Wharf in “re-knitting” the city and the water. It was repeatedly described as “transformative” and a new “destination.”

“Washington is embracing The Wharf,” said Amer Hammour, the chairman of co-developer Madison Marquett. “It is embracing the design and infrastructure and the open spaces and the great built environment and the reimagining of the river as an area for recreation and renewal.”

What CityCenterDC, the District’s last massive mixed-use development, lacks in warmth and financial accessibility, The Wharf generally makes up for (the first phase of the The Wharf is also a bit more than double the size of CityCenter). There’s high-end restaurants, certainly, but there’s also the unpretentious Cantina Marina, Shake Shack, and a Ben and Jerry’s (even Chef Kwame Onwuachi, whose post-Top Chef claim-to-fame was putting out D.C.’s most expensive tasting menu has dialed it back to “upscale casual”). With a mile-long stretch of waterfront views and the cornucopia of dining and entertainment options, in addition to the aforementioned hotels, expect it to be a huge draw for tourists.

While The Wharf’s entertainment options are plentiful, there’s no doubt that the anchor mooring the development is the new 6,000-seat music venue The Anthem. The owners of the acclaimed 9:30 Club said they spent 15 years searching for the perfect spot to open a larger venue. It makes its official entrance tonight with a sold-out Foo Fighters performance.

A crowd was already gathered outside the venue this morning, with people lining up to get front stage spots as early as 3:45 in the morning.

“It’s a band new venue and we’re really excited to see it, with one of our favorite bands opening it up,” said Zack Schlouch, who came in from Philadelphia for the show. “There’s some pretty great venues there, but this is supposed to be the cream of the crop.”

With a number of high-profile chefs opening up shop, the development is also expected to be a destination for foodies but only a handful will be open at full strength during the opening weekend (some were delayed, others have long been scheduled for a later opening date).

Local retailers include the first shop for chocolatier Harper Macaw, the second outposts of Politics & Prose, home design store Hudson and Crane, and District Hardware and Bike Shop

Expecting thousands of visitors a day throughout the opening festivities, the Metropolitan Police Department warns attendees of “increased vehicular and pedestrian traffic in the area.” There’s 1,500 parking spots, but officials are urging visitors to avoid driving when possible (the Waterfront station is the closest Metro stop). Earlier this week the mayor highlighted a bevy of alternative transportation options, including a shuttle from L’Enfant Plaza and a new water taxi.

Bowser has taken pains to note that all the fun (also residential units and office space) adds up to $94 million in annual tax revenue and 6,000 jobs. The massive project included nearly $200 million in subsidies from the District government—overseen by four different mayors.

Still, a group of several dozen union members from various industries came out wearing red shirts that read “The Wharf deserves better jobs.”

“I’d I know it’s a celebration but when you get this kind of government subsidies, when the this rampant development takes place, and no conditions are placed for workers’ earnings, it ultimately is ultimately going to keep pricing working people out of the District,” said Steve Lannin, a director of organizing for the Laborers’ International Union of North America. “We’re not against development. There’s a way to do development where everyone can share and prospect, and on phase two we want it done correctly.”

Nonetheless, leaders lavished praise on the public-private partnership, the new jobs, and affordable housing.

“It was the city’s investment, with the city’s land, with fantastic partners that brings us here today,” Bowser said. “The Wharf is an exemplary project and an example of how government and the private sector can work together to enhance a neighborhood.”

“This is the completion of what is unceremoniously called phase one,” Norton said. “Imagine what it is going to look like when it is finished.”

Previously:
Many Of The Wharf’s Buzziest Restaurants Aren’t Ready For The Grand Opening
Photos: Take A First Look At The Anthem, D.C.’s Huge New Music Venue
By Land Or By River: City Officials Promote New Options To Get To The Wharf
The Wharf’s Grand Opening Involves Four Days Of Events, And Kevin Bacon Is Involved