Washington residents can expect a new community hub at Chevy Chase Civic Site in Ward 3, as Mayor Muriel Bowser announces the selection of Rift Valley Chevy Chase, LLC to lead the redevelopment project. The initiative is set to deliver a fresh public library, community center, and a mix of 177 affordable and market-rate housing units. According to the Executive Office of the Mayor, Mayor Bowser emphasized the project’s transformative potential for the community and highlighted the inclusion of residents and stakeholders in shaping the project’s vision.
Rift Valley Chevrolet was chosen to quickly turn the civic site into an inviting center of activity after a competitive RFP process steered by the District’s goals. “We are deeply honored to be selected by Mayor Bowser and DMPED to bring a new library, community center, greatly expanded programmable open space, and much needed mixed-income housing to Chevy Chase,” Rift Valley’s Managing Partners Bereket Selassie and Stephan Rodiger told the Office of the Mayor. Their vision sees the space as a civic core that unites the neighborhood across generations.
The new facilities will include a 23,500-square-foot library and a 21,600-square-foot community center, replacing structures from the 1960s and ’70s. They’re designed to integrate with the neighborhood, offering inviting entrances and flexible spaces for both casual meetups and organized events. “This redevelopment represents an innovative approach to how we use public land to meet multiple community needs,” Deputy Mayor Nina Albert stated, highlighting the commitment to sustainable and inclusive development through integrated civic spaces and housing, per the Office of the Mayor…