ByGeorge!

June 2008

Mayor Fenty Joins GW, Boston Properties for Square 54 Groundbreaking

Pictured (from left): Travis Parker, D.C. Office of Planning; Mary Cheh, D.C. councilmember and GW law professor; Alicia O’Neil, GW Office of Real Estate; Ray Ritchey, Boston Properties; Kwame Brown, D.C. councilmember; Gina Fernandes, B.A. ’08, GW presidential administrative fellow; D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty; W. Russell Ramsey, B.B.A. ’81, GW Board of Trustees chairman; GW President Steven Knapp; and Jack Evans, D.C. councilmember.

With golden shovels in hand, University and city officials broke ground for a new town center at 2200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, on May 16. GW President Steven Knapp, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty, GW Board of Trustees Chairman W. Russell Ramsey, B.B.A. ’81, and Executive Vice President of Boston Properties Ray Ritchey joined neighbors, students, faculty, and staff for the morning ceremony.

The groundbreaking marks the beginning of development on the 2.5-acre former GW Hospital site, known as Square 54. The new town center will include residential apartments, a grocery store, and office space.

In his remarks, Knapp thanked the University’s neighbors, students, and members of Campaign GW, who helped to make the project possible. “Square 54 is a shining example of what GW, the community, and the city can accomplish when working together,” he said. “Square 54 will be a world-class town center and focal point of the neighborhood.”

Fenty told the crowd that Square 54 will benefit the city, as well as the University. “You see in this project what you always see in GW: not just a commitment to the bottom line but a commitment to Washington, D.C., and to the community,” he said. “This project represents to the entire world that our nation’s capital is excelling.”

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