WASHINGTON, DC—It has been eight years since the CapitalRiverfront BID launched and in that time the area has madean astounding level of progress. In the last year it realized animmense development boom, according to the annual report that theBID is releasing during its annual meeting luncheon today, at whichDistrict of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser willspeak.

The tally for 2015: ten apartment developments, three hotels,one office building, and more than 190,000 square feet of newretail space under construction.

Ten new retailers moved in last year, there is a Whole Foods isunder construction as well as 10 apartment developments totaling3,142 apartments. Soon to start breaking ground will be anadditional 2,661 housing units. There are also 372 existing hotelrooms with 365 hotel rooms under construction.

It is, in short, quite a list.

"The fundamentals are sound," Michael G.Stevens, president of the Capitol Riverfront BID, tellsGlobeSt.com. By that he means the area is widely viewed asclean and safe and there is essential infrastructure -- transit andhousing and amenities -- in place.

All of the office buildings that have delivered is over 92%leased with the exception of 1015 Half St., which is 55% leased, hesaid.

And while the office market in general is slow, there has beensome spec development -- namely Skanska's 99 M St., which is underconstruction.

"The neighborhood is growing," Stevens said.

When prodded, Stevens says there are some additional benchmarkshe would like to see occur this year mainly along the lines ofdiversifying the market's office base. On his wish list:

A 100,000-square foot or even 50,000-square foot law firm. Thereis a small boutique firm now but nothing says "we have arrived" inthis city as a marquee law firm tenant.

A 100,000-square foot or, again, 50,000-square foot largetechnology company. Again, a signature tenant like, for exampleMicrosoft or IBM, will establish the Capitol Riverfront's creds asan attractive office destination.

A major lobbying group tenant. Rumor has it, however, that onesuch company just signed a lease for 11,000 square feet in one ofthe office buildings.

An architecture/ interior design/ visual design company. Thereare some engineering companies here, Stevens said, but furtherdiversification in this area would be nice.

A marketing/PR company.

Not that the BID isn't great right now, he said. "More and morepeople and companies are moving because they find therevitalization of this river corridor fascinating."