News Archive
NoMa Parks Foundation Welcomes New Parks Director
April 03, 2015
Washington, D.C., April 3, 2015 – Stacie West has joined the team at the NoMa BID to oversee NoMa Parks Foundation initiatives. As Director of Parks Projects, Stacie will engage the neighborhood and lead the Foundation’s efforts to acquire sites, design parks, and build a network of public spaces for this rapidly growing neighborhood.
“Stacie’s passion is creating great parks and beautiful spaces,” said Robin-Eve Jasper, President of the NoMa BID. “Her experience with public agencies, community engagement, and shepherding large projects to completion makes her a great fit for the NoMa Parks Foundation efforts.”
Stacie was formerly a community planner and a Capital City Fellow with the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation, where she led development of the comprehensive Play DC Parks and Recreation Master Plan and orchestrated an improvement initiative to renovate all city-owned playgrounds. She managed over a dozen capital projects and was involved in all aspects of the projects, including design charrettes and construction management. She also previously worked for the District Department of the Environment creating a public outreach strategy for the 20-year Sustainable DC plan. At the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, she focused on community impacts related to cycling, pedestrian and transportation projects. Stacie has a Masters of Community Planning from the University of Maryland, College Park.
With the recent investment of $50 million from the District government, NoMa is moving ahead with the development of parks and community open spaces. To learn more about NoMa’s proposed parks, click here to view the NoMa Public Realm Design Plan, the framework for parks and public space improvements in NoMa. The plan was created after months of thoughtful analysis and with input from a cross-section of community stakeholders. Private developers have partnered with the District and the NoMa Parks Foundation by providing space and foregoing construction in certain areas to make sure that NoMa parks projects are successful. More information about this public-private partnership and descriptions of specific parks projects can be found at nomaparks.org. You can stay up to date on NoMa Parks projects by visiting nomaparks.org, signing up for the NoMa Parks Foundation newsletter, or contacting Stacie West at swest@nomaparks.org or 202-810-0091.
About The NoMa Parks Foundation
The NoMa Parks Foundation was formed in 2012 to establish welcoming, sustainable, beautiful spaces where people can play, refresh and connect in NoMa, now and in the future.
The rapid transformation of NoMa into a true mixed-use, urban neighborhood has highlighted the importance of creating great parks and public spaces. More than 36,000 people live within 4/5 of a mile of First and M Streets, NE, and the population is projected to double in the next 10 years. However, the publicly accessible parks, playgrounds, and plazas in the area are few and far between. Parks are urgently needed to serve the residents, office workers, and visitors to NoMa. Undeveloped land is becoming scarcer each year as development occurs on the remaining empty lots. The creation of refreshing, inviting parks and public spaces – before it is too late – will improve the lives of people in NoMa today and for generations to come. More about the NoMa Parks Foundation and current parks efforts can be found at nomaparks.org. You can sign up for the NoMa Parks Foundation newsletter as well. Follow us on Twitter @NoMaParksDC and like us on Facebook.
About NoMa
NoMa is a vibrant, growing neighborhood nestled among Union Station, the U.S. Capitol, Shaw, and the H Street, NE corridor in Washington, D.C. Already, NoMa contains more than 17.6 million SF of office, hotel, retail and residential space. Each day, more than 92,000 people are out and about in the commercial core of NoMa. More than 38 percent of NoMa’s office space is home to private sector tenants, including a concentration of media, think tanks, and associations such as NPR, Google, Mathematica, and the American Medical Association. Through a public-private partnership with the District government and a capital investment of $50 million, NoMa will soon have great new parks and public spaces as well. NoMa is home to 3,386 terrific new apartments, and 44,000 people work here each day. NoMa is the most connected neighborhood in Washington, D.C. With unparalleled transportation access on Amtrak, VRE, MARC, two Red Line Metro stops, and vehicular access to Interstate 395, visitors, workers and residents can easily travel throughout the region as well as get to New York or anywhere on the East Coast. NoMa has a WalkScore of 92 and offers stellar biking facilities, including the 8-mile Metropolitan Branch Trail. The NoMa BID organizes more than 50 free award-winning community events each year, connecting more than 20,000 friends and neighbors. For more information about NoMa, visit www.nomabid.org and sign up for our bimonthly newsletter. Follow us on Twitter @NoMaBID and like us on Facebook.
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For immediate release
News media contact:
Rachel Davis
202-997-3846
rdavis@nomabid.org
NoMa Parks Foundation Unveils Website
February 11, 2015
WASHINGTON, DC, February 11, 2015 – Yesterday, the NoMa Parks Foundation officially unveiled The NoMa Parks Foundation website. The website includes a vast amount of information about the innovative public–private partnership between the District of Columbia and the NoMa Parks Foundation, including grant terms and other governing documents, the Foundation’s continuing commitment to public engagement, the overall planning framework that guides the Foundation’s activities, and specific project updates.
“We want the NoMa Parks Foundation and its initiatives to be as transparent as possible,” said NPF President Robin-Eve Jasper. “We are committed to assuring that we deliver great value to the District government and its citizens while, at the same time, taking advantage of the knowledge and unique relationships of the NoMa BID and its ability to encourage private property owners to commit value to the cause of NoMa parks. NoMa parks are going to be fantastic, and will embody the aspirations of the NoMa community for great spaces to gather, play, and enjoy the great, urban outdoors.”
Charles (Sandy) Wilkes, Chairman of the NoMa Parks Foundation, said “We have recruited a remarkable board of directors that includes outstanding professionals in the areas of landscape architecture, urban planning, and finance to support this effort. The amount of information included on the website and the extraordinary commitment to multiple avenues for ongoing outreach are unique among public-private initiatives.”
The NoMa Parks Foundation website will be continuously updated to highlight park project statuses, ongoing community engagement, park events and more. The NoMa Parks Foundation will also be providing a monthly newsletter and an annual report. Read more about the NoMa Parks Foundation public engagement process.
About The NoMa Parks Foundation
The NoMa Parks Foundation was formed in 2012 to establish welcoming, sustainable, beautiful spaces where people can play, refresh and connect in NoMa, now and in the future.
The rapid transformation of NoMa into a true mixed-use, urban neighborhood has highlighted the importance of creating great parks and public spaces. More than 20,000 people live in greater NoMa, and the population is projected to double in the next 10 years; but currently NoMa contains no publicly accessible parks, playgrounds, or plazas. While the District of Columbia averages 12.9 acres of open space per 1,000 residents, none of these spaces exist in the NoMa neighborhood. They are urgently needed to serve the residents and more than 44,000 daytime employees and visitors to the neighborhood. Undeveloped land is becoming scarcer each year as development occurs on the remaining empty lots. The creation of refreshing, inviting parks and public spaces – before it is too late – will improve the lives of people in NoMa today and for generations to come. More about the NoMa Parks Foundation can be found at nomaparks.org. You can sign up for the NoMa Parks Foundation newsletter as well.
About NoMa
NoMa is a vibrant, growing neighborhood nestled among Union Station, the U.S. Capitol, Shaw, and the H Street, NE corridor in Washington, D.C. The 35-block area within the NoMa BID boundaries is home to more than 16 million square feet of Class A office, residential, hotel, and retail space. NoMa has more than 3,800 new apartments, and more than 44,000 people work in NoMa each day. With unparalleled transportation access via Amtrak, VRE, MARC, and two Red Line Metro stops, and with vehicular access to Interstate 395, and Route 50, visitors, workers and residents can easily travel throughout the region as well as to New York or anywhere on the East Coast. For more information about NoMa, visit www.nomabid.org and sign up for our bimonthly newsletter.
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For immediate release
News media contact:
Ali Newman
202-810-0088
anewman@nomabid.org
NoMa Parks Foundation Celebrates Community Feedback for Underpass Design Competition Project
November 21, 2014
WASHINGTON, DC, November 21, 2014 — The NoMa Underpass Design Competition continues apace, now with thoughtful feedback from more than 350 people who took a survey launched in October.
“The NoMa Parks Foundation is thrilled at the amount of interest from the neighbors and other stakeholders,” said Robin-Eve Jasper, President of the NoMa Parks Foundation. “We are embarking on a number of transformational projects in NoMa using the same public/private partnership approach that has been the bedrock for the success of NoMa. As we work to create wonderful public spaces to delight residents and visitors, we will continue to look to the community for creative input and practical advice,” said Jasper. “We are excited at how engaged the neighborhood has already been in this process.”
The idea for the underpass improvements grew out of two community planning efforts sponsored by the NoMa BID, in 2011 and 2012. The objective of the underpass improvements is to fill the four connectors at Florida Avenue, L, M and K Streets, NE, with light and art, making them into beautiful and enjoyable spaces for passing through or lingering. The competition for designs for the underpasses launched in April 2014, garnered significant press and drew international attention. 248 designers from 14 countries submitted entries. The 248 original responses were narrowed to 13 qualified applicants and their concept designs.
The NoMa Parks Foundation sought feedback from the community and encouraged engagement through several outlets:
- The Foundation created a web site (NoMaUnderpasses.org), where images of all 13 finalist concepts are still available for viewing. The site has received more than 11,800 unique page views since the competition launched in April.
- The Foundation launched a 27-question survey in mid-October asking for input on the 13 underpass finalists; the survey received 337 responses.
- A public community meeting held on October 16 was well attended.
- A public exhibit of the submissions was displayed in the lobby of 1200 First Street, NE.
“We’d like to underscore that all 13 designs presented to the community were conceptual schemes, not construction plans. As we have been working continuously with city agencies, Amtrak and Metro on safety and other operating matters, we were particularly interested in the community’s input on aesthetics. There is much more work to be done, and the selected artists will incorporate agency and community feedback into their final designs,” Jasper said.
The Foundation hopes to select a finalist for at least one underpass by the end of the year, and start construction in 2015.
About The NoMa Parks Foundation
The NoMa Underpass Design Competition is led by the NoMa Parks Foundation, and is one of several projects that are proceeding concurrently to acquire land, improve existing sites, and execute the long-term vision set forth in the NoMa Public Realm Design Plan. The NoMa Parks Foundation was formed in 2012 and the following year received a $50 million commitment from the District government to acquire land, build parks and enhance public space in NoMa.
In the rapidly redeveloping NoMa neighborhood, one critical ingredient is missing: parks. More than 18,000 people live in greater NoMa, and the population is projected to double in the next 10 years; but currently NoMa contains no publicly accessible parks, playgrounds, or plazas. While the District of Columbia averages 12.9 acres of open space per 1,000 residents, none of these spaces exist in the NoMa neighborhood. They are urgently needed to serve the residents and more than 40,000 daytime employees and visitors to the neighborhood. Undeveloped land is becoming more scarce each year as development occurs on the remaining empty lots. The creation of refreshing, inviting parks and public spaces – before it is too late – will improve the lives of people in NoMa today and for generations to come. More about the NoMa Parks Foundation can be found at www.nomabid.org/parks.
About NoMa
NoMa is a vibrant, growing neighborhood nestled among Union Station, the U.S. Capitol, Shaw, and the H Street, NE corridor in Washington, D.C. Over the last several years, private developers have invested more than $5 billion in the 35-block area within the NoMa BID boundaries, and have plans to develop more than 16 million square feet of additional office, residential, hotel, and retail space. NoMa is home to more than 3,800 new apartments, and more than 40,000 people work in NoMa each day. With unparalleled transportation access via Amtrak, VRE, MARC, two Red Line Metro stops, and vehicular access to Interstate 395, visitors, workers and residents can easily travel throughout the region as well as to New York or anywhere on the East Coast. For more information about NoMa, visit www.nomabid.org and sign up for our bimonthly newsletter.
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For immediate release
News media contact:
Rachel Davis
202-997-3846
rdavis@nomabid.org
Community Members Invited to View NoMa Underpass Finalist Designs
October 14, 2014
Washington, D.C., October 14, 2014 – The NoMa Parks Foundation invites the community to view the final 13 designs for the NoMa Underpass Design Competition at a community meeting on Thursday, October 16, 2014. Those who are unable to attend the meeting are invited to take an online survey, or view large image-rich boards of the projects and take a paper survey in the Lobby at 1200 First Street, NE, from October 14 to 17.
The NoMa Underpass Design Competition is an initiative of the NoMa Parks Foundation to beautify and improve the neighborhood’s four railroad underpasses (at Florida Avenue, K, L and M Streets, NE) with engaging artistic light installations. The project is a partnership between the District of Columbia government, WMATA, Amtrak and the NoMa Parks Foundation.
The Community Meeting
Date: Thursday, October 16, 2014
Time: 6-8 PM
Location: Lobby Project, 1200 First Street, NE
Light refreshments will be served.
Can’t attend the meeting? Take the survey, or stop by the Lobby to view the presentation boards of the finalist designs from Tuesday, October 14 at noon to Friday, October 17 at 6 PM.
A prestigious jury selected 10 distinguished artists, architects, lighting designers, and landscape architects representing three countries and seven cities across the United States as finalists in the competition. View a full list here.
With community feedback in hand, the jury will select the winners by year-end. Installation of the winning designs will begin in 2015.
“We encourage the neighborhood to come give their input on these incredible installations,” said Curtis Clay, Director of the NoMa Parks Foundation. “While much of the difficult technical work lies ahead, as we delve into the installation details of these pieces, we are excited to create a significant impact in these four underpasses as we transform them into exciting and beautiful passageways.”
The underpass competition has generated overwhelming interest and excitement since its announcement in April. During the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) phase, the Foundation received 248 submissions from 14 countries, including the District of Columbia. After a rigorous review, 49 semi-finalists were selected, which was then narrowed down to 10 finalists who submitted 13 project proposals for the four underpasses.
The competition’s jury is comprised of Elizabeth Broun, Director of the Smithsonian American Art Museum; Roger Lewis, FAIA, Architect, University of Maryland Professor Emeritus of Architecture, Washington Post Columnist; Robin Rose, Washington artist; George Hemphill, local art curator/gallery owner; and Charles “Sandy” Wilkes, Chair of the NoMa Parks Foundation.
About The NoMa Parks Foundation
The NoMa Underpass Design Competition is led by the NoMa Parks Foundation, and is one of several projects that are proceeding concurrently to acquire land, improve existing sites, and execute the long-term vision of the NoMa Public Realm Design Plan. The NoMa Parks Foundation was formed in 2012 and the following year received a $50 million commitment from the District government to acquire land, build parks and enhance public space in NoMa.
In the rapidly redeveloping NoMa neighborhood, one critical ingredient is missing: parks. More than 18,000 people live in greater NoMa, and the population is projected to double in the next 10 years; but currently NoMa contains no publicly accessible parks, playgrounds, or plazas. While the District of Columbia averages 12.9 acres of open space per 1,000 residents, none of these spaces exist in the NoMa neighborhood. They are urgently needed to serve the residents and more than 40,000 daytime employees and visitors to the neighborhood. Undeveloped land is becoming more scarce each year as development occurs on the remaining empty lots. The creation of refreshing, inviting parks and public spaces before it is too late will improve the lives of people in NoMa today and for generations to come. More about the NoMa Parks Foundation can be found at www.nomabid.org/parks.
About NoMa
NoMa is a vibrant, growing neighborhood nestled among Union Station, the U.S. Capitol, Shaw, and the H Street, NE corridor in Washington, D.C. Over the last several years, private developers have invested more than $5 billion in the 35-block area within the NoMa BID boundary, and have plans to develop more than 16 million square feet of additional office, residential, hotel, and retail space. NoMa is home to more than 3,900 new apartments, and more than 40,000 people work in NoMa each day. With unparalleled transportation access via Amtrak, VRE, MARC, two Red Line Metro stops, and vehicular access to Interstate 395, visitors, workers and residents can easily travel throughout the region as well as to New York or anywhere on the East Coast. For more information about NoMa, visit www.nomabid.org and sign up for our bimonthly newsletter.
###
For immediate release
News media contact:
Rachel Davis
202-997-3846
rdavis@nomabid.org
Four Mini Parks Will Be Created in NoMa Friday
October 13, 2014
WASHINGTON, DC, September 18, 2013 — Stop by four pop-up mini parks in NoMa tomorrow, Friday, Sept. 19, to celebrate Park(ing) Day!
Park(ing) Day is a global event in which metered parking spaces are transformed into temporary public parks. Four organizations are creating mini parks in the NoMa neighborhood to bring NoMa residents, workers and neighbors outside to enjoy the weather:
- Check out the NoMa BID’s park(ing) space at the corner of First and Pierce Streets, NE for free ice cream for the first 100 people from the Orange Cow starting at 12 PM. Otherwise, bring your lunch out to one of our tables and enjoy the fall weather.
- Ayers Saint Gross will create a Community Canvas that will bring residents, office workers, and visitors together to create a piece of living art. Participants will be able to paint, draw, and more in front of 1100 First Street, NE.
- DOtankDC will create a fun park with classic games including checkers, chess, and more on the corner of First and M Streets, NE.
- Opt 2 Movewill create a fitness area where you can get your heart pumping in front of the Harris Teeter at First and M Streets, NE.
All Park(ing) Day parklets will be open from 9 AM to 3 PM on Friday in NoMa. The mission of Park(ing) Day is to call attention to the need for more open, public space in the urban environment. With a capital investment of $50 million from the DC government, NoMa will soon have great new parks and public spaces. Learn more about NoMa parks here.
NoMa’s Park(ing) Day is organized by the NoMa BID and supported by Ayers Saint Gross, DOtankDC, Opt 2 Move, and the Orange Cow. Tweet @NoMaBID and @OrangeCowDC to tell us what your favorite ice cream flavor is.
Park(ing) Day began in 2005 when Rebar, an art and design studio, converted a single metered parking space into a temporary public park in downtown San Francisco. Since 2005, PARK(ing) Day has evolved into a global movement, with artists, organizations and individuals constructing creative temporary public space in urban contexts, such as libraries, gardens, and miniature golf courses.
About NoMa
NoMa is a vibrant, growing neighborhood nestled among Union Station, the U.S. Capitol, Shaw, and the H Street, NE corridor in Washington, D.C. Over the last several years, private developers have invested more than $5 billion in the 35-block area within the NoMa BID boundary, and have plans to develop more than 16 million square feet of additional office, residential, hotel, and retail space. NoMa is home to more than 3,900 new apartments, and more than 40,000 people work in NoMa each day. With unparalleled transportation access via Amtrak, VRE, MARC, two Red Line Metro stops, and vehicular access to Interstate 395, visitors, workers and residents can easily travel throughout the region as well as to New York or anywhere on the East Coast. For more information about NoMa, visit www.nomabid.org and sign up for our bimonthly newsletter.
###
For immediate release
News media contact:
Rachel Davis
202-997-3846
rdavis@nomabid.org
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