NoMa Held Metro Station Renaming Ceremony
Event Was Held In Conjunction with Gallaudet University and WMATA
Washington, D.C., June 13, 2012 – The NoMa Business Improvement District, Gallaudet University, and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority held a celebration of the renaming of the NoMa – Gallaudet University Station. The station was formerly called New York Avenue – Florida Avenue – Gallaudet University Metro Station.
The ceremony was held on Wednesday, June 13, 2012, from 10:30am to 11:30am at the north entrance of the NoMa – Gallaudet Univ. Metro Station (Second and N Sts., NE).
In attendance were:
- Robin-Eve Jasper – President, NoMa BID
- Bruce Baschuk – NoMa BID Board Chairman
- The Honorable Eleanor Holmes Norton – Congresswoman, DC
- Richard Sarles – WMATA General Manager
- The Honorable Catherine Hudgins – WMATA Board Chair
- Tom Bulger – WMATA Board Member
- Dr. Stephen Weiner – Provost, Gallaudet University
- Zach Ennis – Gallaudet University Student
- Cathy Kronopolus – GSA
- Tony Goodman – ANC Commissioner
- The Honorable Vincent Gray – Mayor of Washington, DC
“NoMa’s extravagant growth in terms of businesses locating here, new residents, and overall vibrancy of the neighborhood would not have been possible without the NoMa – Gallaudet Metro Station,” said NoMa BID President Robin-Eve Jasper. “We are grateful that District and WMATA officials have recognized the renewed vitality of this fabulous community.”
NoMa, often referred to as the neighborhood that transit built, has become a nationally-recognized example of transit-oriented development. The NoMa-Gallaudet U Metro station opened in 2004 after a unique public-private partnership among the federal government, DC government and private property owners. Still the only in-line station in the system, the NoMa –Gallaudet U station outpaced its 10-year use projections by the four-year mark. Today, more than 7,500 people use this station each day.
“As someone who used to commute into Union Station each day on Amtrak — and later used to take the train to DC for meetings – I have had a front row seat for the birth of the NoMa community, starting with the construction of the station, followed by remarkable development” said Metro General Manager and CEO Richard Sarles. “This event today is yet another confirmation of the vision city leaders, the development community and citizens had when they moved to create a new community and neighborhood in this portion of Northeast Washington, DC.”
A strong foundation for the growth in NoMa was established by federal agencies under the leadership of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and the General Services Administration. Congresswoman Norton spoke modestly of her role in the public private partnership during the renaming ceremony.
Cathy Kronopolus, Regional Commissioner of the Public Building Service attended the event and spoke on behalf of GSA. Addressing the growth of NoMa, Acting GSA Administrator Dan Tangherlini said “It’s clear that with today’s re-naming celebration, the NoMa Business Improvement District has come into its own. I am delighted that NoMa has cemented its place as a dynamic and vibrant neighborhood in the heart of our nation’s capital. Every day, workers, residents, and visitors enjoy local restaurants, participate in the community, and call NoMa their home. GSA’s staff is equally delighted to have been one of the cornerstone tenants of the new development here, and we look forward to continuing to help other federal agencies find quality office space in the neighborhood.”
In recognition of the NoMa neighborhood’s transformation, with more than 14 million SF of development and thousands of new residents and office workers, the Metro Board voted last fall to shorten the station name and include the NoMa neighborhood name in the station moniker. With outstanding support from Gallaudet students, Gallaudet University’s importance was acknowledged by elevating it to part of the primary station name.
“Gallaudet University is an integral part of the neighborhood and has been for nearly 150 years,” said Gallaudet University President T. Alan Hurwitz. “Many Gallaudet students, staff, and faculty felt passionately that the university be included in the primary name of the Metro station and they worked hard to make it a reality. Gallaudet is proud to be a member of this vibrant community and to be recognized on the Metro signage.”
Along with this community gathering, The NoMa BID organizes more than 100 free community events each year, such as the NoMa Summer Screen, NoMa Farmers Market, and Rhythm in NoMa.
About NoMa
NoMa is a vibrant, growing neighborhood north of Union Station and the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. In the last seven years, private developers have invested more than $5 billion in the 35-block area covered by the NoMa BID, and have plans to develop more than 20 million square feet of office, residential, hotel, and retail space. NoMa is now home to 45,000 daytime workers, with 4.5 million SF leased in the last 4.5 years. More than 3,500 apartments have been recently completed or are under construction. NoMa has 15 modes of transportation, including two Red Line Metro stops, and the best biking facilities in DC, with the only East Coast Bikestation, the 8-mile Met Branch Trail, and access to eight Capital Bikeshare stations. NoMa is the most connected neighborhood in Washington, D.C. The NoMa BID organizes more than 100 free community events each year to connect friends and neighbors. For more information about NoMa, visit nomabid.wpengine.com and sign up for our bimonthly newsletter. Follow us on Twitter @NoMaBID; or Facebook at www.facebook.com/nomabid.
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For immediate release
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