Office of Planning: Memorandum of Understanding

THIS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING is entered into this 22nd day of March 2000, by and among the following entities:

General Services Administration
The Government of the District of Columbia
Office of Management and Budget
Naval District Washington
Military District Washington
Commanding Officer Marine Barracks Washington
US Department of Labor
US Department of Transportation
National Park Service
US Army Corps of Engineers
Environmental Protection Agency
District of Columbia Housing Authority
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
National Capital Planning Commission
District of Columbia Sports and Entertainment Commission
District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority
National Arboretum of the United States Department of Agriculture
US Small Business Administration

(Each a "Party" and collectively, the "Parties").

The Parties, each of whom owns land on, or otherwise has an interest in the waterfront of the District of Columbia, have joined together to create a new partnership that will help to attain a vision for the waterfront areas. This partnership will build on the great historic plans for the District of Columbia as an investment undertaken in partnership with the people of the District of Columbia (the "Waterfront Revitalization Endeavor" or "Endeavor"). The Waterfront Revitalization Endeavor envisions a new, energized waterfront for the next millennium that will unify diverse waterfront areas of the District of Columbia into a cohesive and attractive mixture of recreational, residential, and commercial uses by capitalizing on one of the City's greatest natural assets, its shoreline. The Waterfront Revitalization Endeavor will contribute to the revitalization of surrounding neighborhoods, provide enhanced park areas, develop Government-owned land for the benefit of the people of the District of Columbia and the federal and District of Columbia Governments, where appropriate, increase access to the water, where appropriate, and enhance visitor participation in the activities and opportunities provided along the new waterfront. The Waterfront Revitalization Endeavor will contribute to urban revitalization through better coordination of waterfront development, as well as provide greater access to adjacent neighborhoods, where appropriate, and connect the waterfront and its adjacent neighborhoods with Downtown, the Mall, Georgetown, Capitol Hill, Southwest and the Anacostia neighborhoods. The Waterfront Revitalization Endeavor will provide for investment in building the capacity of surrounding communities to create wealth and jobs, as well as mechanisms for enhancing local labor force development through training and apprenticeships. Upon completion of the Waterfront Revitalization Endeavor and concurrent private and community efforts, the Parties believe that the waterfront of the District of Columbia will rival that of any of the great cities of the world and serve to maintain the City as one of the most beautiful capital cities in the world.

The Waterfront Revitalization Endeavor is made possible by the commitment of the United States Government and the federal parties listed above to devote time and resources, as agreed upon by the parties to the Waterfront Revitalization Endeavor, and by the willingness of the District of Columbia Government to engage in the Waterfront Revitalization Endeavor. In furtherance of the Waterfront Revitalization Endeavor, the District of Columbia Office of Planning will develop a plan for the Anacostia Waterfront in partnership with the National Park Service and the General Services Administration. Over seventy percent of the subject land area and over ninety percent of the subject shoreline is currently publicly owned, with the Department of Defense and the National Park Service among the major landowners.

The Parties have joined together to sign and implement this Memorandum of Understanding to set forth their goals and requirements for the Waterfront Revitalization Endeavor in a spirit of cooperation and shared vision. By working together, the Parties believe that they can cause the dream of a new waterfront for the Federal City and the District of Columbia to become a reality. This is a great and good endeavor which will leave an inspired legacy for the future citizens of the District of Columbia and the people of this great nation. It will be one of the most important partnerships ever made between the District of Columbia and federal governments.