[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 90 (Wednesday, June 22, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1165-E1166]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF THE BILL TO DEVELOP THE SOUTHWEST WATERFRONT IN THE 
                          DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 22, 2011

  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 My bill updates outdated legislation and allows for the 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.

[[Page E1166]]



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