Transit Oriented Development Institute

Washington, DC

The TOD Institute management team sat down yesterday for an exclusive interview with Monty Hoffman, Founder and CEO of PN Hoffman and the developer of the massive Wharf project currently underway along Washington, DC's Southwest Waterfront. We also had the opportunity to tour the construction site, and see this incredible project start to come to life!

The Wharf is the largest mixed-use TOD project in the nation, and as Hoffman says, they're working to create a "big bang theory" effect. By completing this mile-long project in only two phases, rather than bringing individual buildings online incrementally, the goal is to create an instant great place, and world-class destination the day it opens.

The first phase - under construction now - is worth a whopping $1.5 Billion and is on schedule to open late 2017. The project will include condos, apartments, offices, hotels, shops, cafes, restaurants, bars, theaters, a concert hall, great public spaces, a boardwalk, and more!

TOD Institute officials got a special behind-the-scenes construction tour and progress update on this massive new TOD rapidly taking shape along the Southwest DC waterfront. The project will be featured at our upcoming TOD Conference next month! Conference Information


	Monty Hoffman

Pioneering Leader in Great Placemaking

Monty Hoffman formed PN Hoffman in 1993 with a single townhouse conversion, and has since transformed the company into a market leader of real estate development in the Washington, DC, metro area.

With more than 30 years of experience, Hoffman actively leads the company's business development and market strategy, as well as the design initiatives for every PN Hoffman project.

When speaking with Hoffman, one can't help but be humbled by his commitment to the community. The Wharf has organized 750 community meetings (and counting) related to the project to ensure that it meets the needs of locals, as well as future residents. Hoffman also possesses an impressive level of dedication to seeing the project through, since his firm, "faced a lot of inertia," in the early stages of project planning.

It took 4 acts of Congress to get the necessary rezoning and approvals needed to complete The Wharf, with the Federal Government decommissioning 50 acres of waterfront property to the District of Columbia so that PN Hoffman could get approvals to build the three piers that will become the new marina.

When asked why he put so much effort into this flagship project, he responded that it was worth it because of the great central location along the waterfront.

The 3-million sq. ft. mixed-use Wharf project is one of the largest brownfield urban infill projects in the country, with 15 buildings, 10 acres of parks, and a mile-long waterfront boardwalk and marina, lined by more than 100 shops and restaurants. This project is unique, not only because it has ample public spaces and easy access to two metro stations, but it will also activate one of DC's most underutilized natural resources - the riverfront.

The Wharf project is located just off of Francis Case Memorial Bridge, serving 170,000 drivers per day as the largest artery into the city. These commuters will have easy access directly onto The Wharf, and the new Southwest Waterfront skyline is clearly visible as you cross the bridge.

This strategic location is also just south of Federal Triangle, where 60,000 government employees work every day. Hoffman anticipates these federal employees will be some of the first lunch and happy hour patrons, once the bars and restaurants open. The Wharf is a short walk to 2 metro stations, will have shuttle bus services, water taxis, and bike shares serving the new community. Hear all about the project at the upcoming TOD Conference...

At the upcoming Transit Oriented Development Conference, Hoffman will be presenting in the session Placemaking & Design: Getting the Details Right. There could be no session more fitting for him, because Monty Hoffman is definitely a details guy. You can ask him anything about the project, and he has a detailed answer for you - it's clear that he is intimately involved in every aspect of the planning and design process.

Hoffman is very committed to making sure The Wharf has a unique character, and as he calls it, "a little grit." Each building has its own architect, and thus its own expression, which will give the massive project a more diverse and human scale. Hoffman even talks about the importance of little imperfections: the sidewalk pavers will have a lived-in, organic feel, and the main street running through the project intentionally doesn't line up perfectly, thus slowing down car traffic, and creating unique.

For Monty Hoffman, this project is clearly all about PEOPLE.

Stay tuned for the second part of this interview, and be sure to register for the TOD Conference to hear the development story of The Wharf from Monty Hoffman himself!

The Wharf | PN Hoffman | TOD Conference | Conference Agenda

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