The Yards is a 42-acre redevelopment of a former industrial and military waterfront site along the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C. Located within walking distance of Capitol Hill in the burgeoning Capitol Riverfront district, The Yards combines successful public-private partnerships, a blending of adaptive reuse of historic structures with new construction, and neighborhood placemaking to create a truly unique new urban community.

Formerly known as the Southeast Federal Center, the 5.5 million square feet of waterfront land was once a historic Navy Yard. Prior to the project’s approval, the Forest City team spent a significant amount of time working with the community to gain their support for the endeavor. Once the project was approved and ground was broken, the team discovered a number of unexpected bumps in the road—including the necessity to work with a company specializing in unexploded military munitions, upon excavating shells in building foundations. Forest City worked with Robert A.M. Stern Architects on the master planning of The Yards and the design of Arris, the luxury apartment complex within The Yards, which remains a special achievement in its own right. The Yards features 5.5 million square feet of retail, office, and residential uses spread across 25 buildings.

The Yards remains a prime example of Forest City’s vision for innovative urban, multi-use development and community-building. Accolades and recognition were quick to follow completion, including LEED Gold certification. The 6-acre park created within The Yards won Public Park of the Year from the Urban Land Institute, and is considered the park for residents living within the Southeast quadrant of D.C. The Yards has been a success both financially and architecturally, and a special point of pride for Forest City. Thanks to its innovative placemaking, The Yards has become a vibrant hub, and was named by multiple local and regional media outlets as Washington, D.C.’s hottest new neighborhood.