Fenty Administration Breaks Ground on Ward 1 Senior Wellness Center

Washington, DC—Mayor Adrian M. Fenty on Wednesday joined community leaders for a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction for the $4 million Ward 1 Senior Wellness Center on Georgia Avenue in the Park View/Pleasant Plains neighborhoods.

“We’re committed to building strong, healthy neighbourhoods throughout the District of Columbia,” Mayor Fenty said. “And this wellness center will be a first-rate facility aimed at improving the quality of life of all our seniors in Ward 1.”  

Under the direction of the Department of Real Estate Services, the District is building a 15,000 square foot, three-story at 3531 Georgia Avenue, NW. The building will be designed to LEED-Gold green building standards.

The District’s Office on Aging will operate the wellness center. The center will offer a comprehensive slate of programs that promote healthy lifestyles and independence for residents who are at least 60 years old. The Ward 1 center will be the District’s fifth wellness center. A sixth center is being planned in Ward 6.

The center is just one of a number of recent investments on this stretch of Georgia Avenue. Last week, Mayor Fenty announced the District selected a developer to rebuild the Park Morton public housing complex into a 500-unit, mixed-income $130 million New Community.  

This summer, Donatelli Development opened Park Place, a 170-unit apartment building above the Georgia Avenue-Petworth Metrorail Station. The company is also building a pair of mixed use projects across the street from Park Place as well. Safeway and CVS are planning major investments along the corridor and Yes Organic Market opened its largest store in the District several months ago on the 4100 block.

The Ward 1 Senior Wellness Center is expected to be complete by fall 2010.