WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — Just one day after District leaders released a draft master plan outlining the future of the RFK campus, the D.C. National Guard has confirmed it is planning to relocate from its longtime headquarters at the D.C. Armory, saying the redevelopment of the RFK campus requires the move.
The confirmation marks the clearest indication yet that one of the RFK campus’s longest-standing institutions is expected to relocate as plans advance for a new mixed-use district anchored by the proposed return of the Washington Commanders.
“The U.S. Army is evaluating multiple sites to relocate the DC National Guard Readiness Center from its current location near the RFK stadium campus,” Command Public Affairs Director Master Sgt. Arthur M. Wright told DC News Now. “The relocation is necessary due to the upcoming redevelopment of the RFK campus, which will impact the DCNG’s mission capabilities.”
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Wright said the leading site under consideration is an approximately 80-acre parcel at the Armed Forces Retirement Home campus in Northwest Washington, near the intersection of North Capitol Street and Irving Street NW. No final decision has been made.
“This effort is designed to be a strategic investment in our national security, ensuring our Soldiers have the state-of-the-art facilities they need to respond to any crisis,” Wright said. “We are committed to working closely with our partners in the D.C. government and the local community throughout this process.”
The announcement comes as the District begins collecting public feedback on its draft RFK Campus Master Plan, which envisions housing, parks, recreation, retail and a new NFL stadium across the 180-acre site. While the plan proposes a long-term vision for the campus, it does not identify a future use for the D.C. Armory property.
A landmark with military and civic history
For more than 80 years, the D.C. Armory has served as the headquarters of the D.C. National Guard while also functioning as one of Washington’s best-known event venues…