New Development In NE DC
BURNHAM PLACE
Mixed-use development planned to transform Union Station. Burnham Place is a large-scale, long term project aimed at creating three million square feet of mixed-use residential, retail, hospitality and office space above the station’s railyard. The complex will provide public parks and plazas as well as arts/events space.
Project coverage by Susan Isaacs
BURNHAM PLACE OVERVIEW
The development aims to create a new neighborhood around the city’s historic primary transportation hub.
Burnham Place is a 14 acre mixed-use air rights development that would rise above Union Station’s active railway tracks. The project would include redesign and updates to Union Station itself, and adds 3M sqft. of mixed-use space.
Project Name: Burnham Place
Project Address: 100 Columbus Circle NE DC 20002
Project Address: 50 Massachusetts Ave, NE
Washington, DC 20002
Status: Pre-Construction | Start follows H St bridge completion
Expected Delivery: 2034
Developer: Akridge
VISUAL TRANSFORMATION
The existing rail yard and overpass becomes a commercial neighborhood in which a combination of public and private projects, feature:
- Plazas, parks, and cultural space, new station entrances accessible from H Street, and an elevated public way for walking, running, and biking
- Views and connections to the U.S. Capitol, the NoMa and Near Northeast neighborhoods from station and air-rights public spaces and buildings
- Multiple new pedestrian connections to the station
- Metrorail, intercity bus
- Shopping, open space amenities
PROJECT TEAM
ARCHITECTS
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
DESIGN INTEGRATION
Akridge
Laboratory for Architecture & Building
WHO OWNS WHAT?
Burnham Place
Akridge paid the GSA (General Services Administration) ten million dollars to transfer ownership, a first for the agency.
Reportedly, the deal was negotiated over a four year period. Burnham Place, as a result, is related to, but separate from the Union Station Redevelopment Project upon which it relies.
Union Station
Amtrak is a national rail operator, providing passenger service on over 21,000 miles of routes in 46 states, the District of Columbia, and three Canadian provinces.
Union Station Redevelopment Corp.
FRA
PROJECT STATUS
CURRENT: CONCEPTUAL | PURSUING APPROVALS
PROJECT UPDATES
2024
Environmental | Rialroad
Approval March 2024
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) released its final environmental impact statement in March 2024 for the station renovation. A separte study sponsored by the development team and associated parties details steps for funding and management of the project.
2023
Station Revision Plan
The Federal Railroad Administration released a rail station renovation plan in 2023.
The Union Station Redevelopment Corporation (USRC), in coordination with Amtrak, plans to implement a Union Station renovation and expansion that is expected to cost apprx. $8.8B.
Submitted 2023
2023 Plan Revision Notes
- Cultural and civic spaces were increased in the 2023 plan revision
- Two additional pedestrian and biking ramps were added
- 1100 of the 1600 parking spaces housed in a six-story garage were eliminated in the 2023 project revision. The remaining 500 will be parked in an underground parking area potentially designated solely for Burnham Place use
- Below-ground departing and arrival area and parking facility with a reduction of approx. 65% in space capacity from the 2020 DEIS Preferred Alternative 77% reduction compared to the existing garage
- Ramp access for pick-up/drop-off and parking facility on G Street NE and First Street NE.
- Bus facility integrated with the H Street deck above the rail terminal and E/W train hall with 39 slips + available overflow space on the H Street deck capable of accommodating approximately 15 buses in times of very high demand, for a total capacity of 54 buses.
- Enhanced opportunities for a symmetrical public space at the H Street deck level commensurate with Union Station’s historic and architectural significance, to be established by the developer of the adjacent privately-owned air rights.
PROJECT PHASE TIMELINE
13 Year Projection c. 2023
PHASE I
2 Years 4 Mo. | Oct. 2025
PHASE II
2 Years 8.5 Mo. | July 2028
PHASE III
2 Years 8.5 Mo.
PHASE IV
4 years 3 months
PRESENT PHASE
12 months | June 2024
FEDERAL REVIEW
Ongoing
PROJECT OFFERING
HOSPITALITY
RETAIL
RESIDENTIAL
OFFICE
Projected 500+ hotel rooms
100,000 sqft of retail projected
1000 – 1300 Residences
1.5M sqft of Class A office space projected
COMMUNITY
PROJECT DETAILS
PROJECT NOTES
CONTINGENCIES
Cultural & Community Building
Amphitheatre
Natural landscaping
Tiered lawn
Cascading water feature
Rooftop park
Outdoor casual seating
10-25 Year Build-Out
Substantial Completion Q4 2040
15 Acres Including 12-buildings
3M total SFt of mixed-us space
Est. 1,000-1300+ residential units
1.5M SqFt office space
100,00 SqFt of retail space
500+ hospitality rooms
LEED Silver Certification goal
Project est. cost is $3B
Named for Daniel H Burnham, architect of Union Staion
Designed to rise above the active rail yard
Vertically integrated with a proposed multi-level station expansion
Master plan incorporates a street grid, public plazas, train hall and linear greenway
Contingent on completion of H Street Bridge Project
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The content on this page is published for informational purposes only and is believed to be accurate but not guaranteed. Proejct details are subject to change. Projects may be sold or canceled without notice. We do not represent, nor are we affiliated with, developers of the projects featured.