A Map of Deals for Developers

Developers have received $1.7 billion in subsidies and tax breaks  in the District in the last decade. Some of these projects are cash machines for the developers, with corporate tenants like Target at the DC USA shopping center in Columbia Heights, or homes for professional sports teams like the Verizon Center. That's a stunning pot of money for this little city, and to an industry that may not need that sort of public assistance.

I made a map of the projects that received the largest packages of subsidies:



You can't help but notice that only one of the top 20 subsidized projects is across the river, and that the majority are along the heart of a Northwest corridor that you wouldn't think would need any assistance to turn a profit.

Here are 20 projects that received the most public assistance, according to WAMU and the Office of Chief Financial Officer. "Deals for Developers" also looked at the campaign contributions the developers gave to city officials, but with strict regulations on campaign finance, I don't think that data set is particularly persuasive.

"Deals for Developers" Top 20 Projects Project Subsidy Recipient Subsidy Value Total Donations The Wharf PN Hoffman, Paramount, E. R. Bacon, CityPartners, Madison Marquette, Gotham $293,000,000 $126,733 Convention Center Hotel Marriott, Quadrangle, Capstone, RLJ, Gould $209,200,000 $137,150 US DOT (Anacostia Waterfront Projects) JBG , Clark Enterprises $111,000,000 $67,400 The Yards Forest City $90,000,000 $146,350 Gallery Place Western Development, Akridge $73,650,000 $71,178 Capper Carrollsburg Forest City , WC Smith, Urban Atlantic, EYA $55,000,000 $334,200 Verizon Center Renovation DC Arena, Monumental Sports, Lerner Enterprises $50,000,000 $142,500 NoMa residential development Archstone, Cohen Companies, Stonebridge, Palmetto $50,000,000 $93,850 Newseum Carr $47,234,770 $10,400 Adams Morgan Hotel Friedman Capital, Marriott, Beztak $46,000,000 $37,350 Mandarin Oriental Hotel Republic Properties, CityInterests $46,000,000 $29,350 DC USA Grid Properties $43,000,000 $17,500 National Public Radio, Inc. Boston Properties, NPR $41,000,000 $4,220 Skyland Shopping Center WC Smith, Rappaport $40,000,000 $122,150 City Market at O Street Roadside Development $38,650,000 $34,181 Living Social Living Social $32,500,000 $100 Capital Fire Station CityPartners, Potomac Investment Properties, Paramount, DC Strategy Group, Adams Investment, $25,300,000 $123,646 Hine Jr. H.S. EastBanc, Stanton Development, L. S. Caldwell & Associates, Dantes Partners, Wilmot, The Jarvis Company $22,900,000 $194,045 Kelsey Gardens Redevelopment Project Metropolitan Development, CEMI, Akridge $20,264,000 $73,951 Center Leg Freeway Property Group Partners, $19,363,000 $31,600

This was a very impressive piece of reporting from WAMU. They also provided a lot of data for other journalists to analyze and visualize. You should donate to them:

http://wamu.org/campaign