The Georgetown Company, a leading developer and owner of commercial, retail and mixed-use properties, announces it has entered into contract to acquire the historic Hotel Harrington building in downtown Washington D.C.
Remarkably well-located just blocks away from the National Mall, the 12-story and 141,000 square foot building is changing hands for the first time in more than a century. Situated between the White House and U.S. Capitol Building at 436 11th Street NW, the property is one of the closest privately owned sites to the National Mall and the multitude of museums, memorials, and culturally significant buildings in the area.
The 308-room Hotel Harrington hosted more than ten million guests between 1914 and 2023. Following closing of the transaction this year, Georgetown plans to reposition the entire property and is exploring options to redevelop the site into a marquee asset in downtown D.C. Redevelopment options currently being considered include housing, higher education, hotel and social club assets, and more.
“We are excited to continue to expand our presence in Washington and believe downtown D.C. is well positioned for increased investment,” said Peter Armstrong of the Georgetown Company. “It is exceedingly rare that a building offering so many flexible redevelopment options becomes available in this phenomenal location. This is a blank canvas with multiple options we are considering to help build the future of downtown.”
Spanning a whole block on E Street between 11th and 12th streets, the property’s flexible floorplate, windowline and street presence enable a variety of distinct development opportunities. The building is also immediately adjacent to the robust East End office market, which is anchored by a diverse mix of Fortune 500 companies, lobbying and law firms, and a variety of cultural, retail, entertainment and restaurant offerings. The property is also easily accessible by all six Metro lines and only minutes from Reagan National Airport and Union Station.
Georgetown’s development philosophy respects the heritage of historic buildings and their significance as a source of pride, vitality and economic opportunity for neighborhoods. Among other recent and ongoing projects, the company is re-developing the decommissioned West Heating Plant in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington D.C. into a 70-unit luxury condominium complex managed by Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. Georgetown also recently led the re-development of the original Packard Motors Building at 787 Eleventh Avenue in Manhattan into a 500,000+ square foot mixed-use project designed by Rafael Viñoly Architects. The firm also converted the iconic Herald Examiner Building in Los Angeles into a state-of-the art facility for Arizona State University, while maintaining the building’s historic facade and design.
