Project expected to generate substantial sales tax revenues and benefits to the community.
(Washington, DC) Today, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development selected NC Firehouse, LLC to develop and restore Old Engine Company 12, located at the corner of North Capitol Street and Quincy Place NW. Built in 1897, the historic firehouse is one of the District’s 29 pre-World War II firehouses.
Vacant for nearly a decade, Old Engine Company 12 will transform into a full-service, sit-down restaurant named “EC-12" with a second-floor cultural and performing arts space programmed by XM Satellite Radio, a marketing partner on the team, who will broadcast live music events from the location. The lounge will also provide community meeting and exhibition space. EC-12 will include a sidewalk café and a renovated rooftop deck to accommodate an outdoor seating area.
“We are thrilled that NC Firehouse, LLC will transform this historic landmark into a destination for all of the community to enjoy,” said Stanley Jackson, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development. “We expect that the restoration of Old Engine Company 12 will serve as a catalyst for economic growth and stimulate retail development along North Capitol Street.”
NC Firehouse LLC is a local limited liability company whose principal owner is NextGen Construction and Renovation, LLC, a District-based development firm. The Tenant and Co-Developer for this project is Novel Foods Hospitality Management, LLC, which manages and operates the popular restaurants Café Saint Ex and Bar Pilar on 14th Street NW.
A superior development plan, skilled development team, strong Local, Small, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise and First-Source hiring commitments, and a solid financial plan made NC Firehouse, LLC the preferred developer. Plans for a sit-down restaurant will make the property accessible to the larger public as well as provide for a much-needed community gathering spot on the North Capitol Street corridor. A sit-down restaurant was identified by community members as a preferred use for the site.
The EC-12 restaurant proposal will also create significant job opportunities for local residents. The new development program is expected to produce 60-80 full or part-time jobs and 6-10 additional temporary jobs during the restaurant startup phase for the final build-out. The development team will collaborate with the DC Central Kitchen to form a job training alliance and create a new culinary internship training program. In addition, the project is expected to generate substantial sales tax revenues and benefits to the community.
As a result of this selection, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development will enter into exclusive negotiations with NextGen Development on the terms of the disposition. Once an agreement is reached, the Mayor will submit the sales contract to the City Council for its approval and grant of authority to dispose of the property to NC Firehouse, LLC on specified terms.
