Right now the Entertainment and Sports Complex in Southeast D.C. is the biggest and most noticeable redevelopment along the old, but massive, St. Elizabeths Hospital campus.
And with more change to come over the next few years, D.C. is working to pick up the pace in Ward 8.
On Monday, ground was broken on a 22,000-square-foot community-led 鈥渋nterim鈥� retail space near the new arena: Sycamore & Oak. Eight Ward 8-based businesses 鈥� including restaurants, retail outlets and artistic spaces 鈥� will be housed there as part of the District鈥檚 efforts to continue their growth.
“We need more places for people to visit, to dine, to buy the goods that they want for their families,” said D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. “We know that we can do it here. We鈥檝e seen it in other places, and we know that we will see it in the great Ward 8.”
The eight businesses are:
- Black Bella
- Congress Heights Arts and Cultural Center
- Chris Pyrate & Friends
- LoveMore Brand
- Our Armoire
- Paradyce Clothing Company Inc.
- Salon On The Ave.
- The Museum
鈥淲hen we do projects like this, not only are we transforming places, we鈥檙e transforming people,鈥� said Bowser. 鈥淭his transformation is underway but it hasn鈥檛 happened by accident.鈥�
Keyonna Jones, who runs the Congress Heights Art and Cultural Center, less than a mile away from the arena, said she is a proud Ward 8 resident excited about what the new space will do for area artists.
鈥淎 lot of us are still growing in terms of being small businesses and going to the next level,鈥� said Jones. 鈥淭his gives us a brick and mortar, actual retail space, to expand our business and move forward.鈥�
The retail spot she鈥檚 opening here will be an extension of the nearby art gallery, while also offering framing services.
鈥淲e鈥檒l also be an incubator for other creators. We鈥檙e going to bring other creators that have their small businesses and have an incubator inside of an incubator,鈥� said Jones.
鈥淎nything that the makers or craft makers that are in [Southeast], whatever they have we鈥檒l be selling it in our stores.”
Jones said she’s “really excited” about what’s on the way.
“There鈥檚 been so many negative connotations that come from Southeast,” she said, “so I鈥檓 really happy to be in a moment where this is all beauty and everybody can see it.鈥�
