Introduction of the Bill to Develop the Southwest Waterfront in the District of Columbia

Floor Speech

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* Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to introduce an essential bill for the redevelopment of the Southwest Waterfront in the District of Columbia. The bill transfers unencumbered ownership of the Southwest Waterfront from the federal government to the District. Although the District has owned the Waterfront since the 1960s, the land has been encumbered by restrictions put in place by Congress before the District got home rule; a time when development by the city was not contemplated. My bill updates outdated legislation and allows for the highest and best use of the land.

* The bill would amend the D.C. Code to allow the District to transfer the property by quitclaim deed, to update the site description of the land to conform with its current configuration, to allow for the sale of condominiums on the land, to remove references to an urban renewal plan that has expired, to remove references to the District of Columbia Redevelopment Land Agency, which no longer exists, and to expand the permissible uses for the Fish Market in order to allow the sale of other foods, beverages, produce, and flowers.

* The District of Columbia has created a 21st-century vision for the Southwest Waterfront and is actively engaged in a revitalization and redevelopment that will draw visitors down 10th street from the National Mall. However, as was typical for District land before home rule, the original law restricts the use of the land along the waterfront to lease-only arrangements, driving down the useful value of the land and making it impossible to replace antiquated structures with new buildings for new uses. The restrictions on the land serve no federal purpose and seriously limit needed revenue for the city. Federal officials have been consulted on the transfer and have no objection to it.

* The federal government has no interest in the waterfront land other than the Maine Lobsterman Memorial and the Titanic Memorial, which have been carved out of the transfer. Because of the current restrictions on the land, part of the waterfront is an underused eyesore. However, the redevelopment will bring 2.5 million square feet of mixed-use development to the waterfront, including public and private docks, restaurants, office buildings and residences, providing jobs and local revenue at a time when they are most needed.

* This is a noncontroversial bill that removes out-of-date laws and involves no cost to the federal government. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

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