Two recent developments involving the long-ignored Anacostia waterfront in Southeast, pictured at left, may mark the beginning of a long-standing process to revitalize the largely industrial riverfront property.

WTOP reported this morning that federally-owned land along the Anacostia River between the Washington Navy Yard and the proposed site for the new Washington Nationals stadium has been turned over to a private developer, the first move of its kind in the nation. The area, known as the Southeast Federal Center and the location of the soon-to-be-completed Department of Transportation headquarters, will feature townhouses, apartments, offices, shops and parks. D.C. Del. Elenor Holmes Norton sponsored legislation in 2000 that moved the public-private partnership forward.

Just slightly to the northeast along the river, residents of the neighborhoods surrounding RFK Stadium will have the chance to offer opinions as to what should be done with the 67 acres of riverfront land known technically as Reservation 13. City Administrator Robert Bobb will meet with residents on June 15 to discuss what plans the city has for the land, currently occupied by the old D.C. General Hospital and other buildings. Much like the Southeast Federal Center, the land is owned by the federal government, though city officials and local residents have been pushing to have the control of the land given to the District. Local residents have expressed concern over possible plans to build a federal bio-terrorism center on the site, stating that they would rather see the waterfront land developed into parks and recreational areas.

Plans for both sites will be coordinated under the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative (AWI), a partnership of 20 federal and District agencies established in 2000 to guide the area’s revitalization efforts.