Foggy Bottom/West End Community-Based Economic Development Initiative

Lack of neighborhood identity/branding

The Foggy Bottom and West End neighborhoods are home to diverse and dynamic community stakeholders and significant landmarks that make the area a highly-trafficked and sought-after destination for both visitors and Washingtonians alike. The neighborhoods are home to the White House, Kennedy Center, George Washington University, World Bank, and the Watergate Hotel. They are also home to many acclaimed small local businesses such as Founding Farmers, Tonic at Quigley, Rasika West End, and the Blue Duck Tavern. These neighborhoods not only have attractions that make them appealing to visit but also many high-end hotels that make them a prime location for visitors and tourists to stay and easily access the surrounding amenities. 

Despite all of these fantastic features, Foggy Bottom and West End have no established economic development initiative such as a Main Street or Business Improvement District. Previous attempts to establish a Business Improvement District were unsuccessful due to a lack of buy-in from several of the major property owners. However, due to the highly dynamic nature of this area, local small businesses continued to thrive and vacancy in the area remained low. But that changed when the Covid-19 pandemic hit and the city went into lockdown, the high foot traffic from visitors, students, and the local workforce suddenly disappeared. This was catastrophic for small and big businesses. With the closure of the major hotels and high commercial rents, many small businesses have found it difficult to stay afloat, many closing their doors permanently. As we hopefully near the end of this pandemic and we turn our attention to economic recovery, the establishment of new community-based economic development initiatives will be critical in reimagining recovery and reigniting our local economy.