Among the developments intended to give the area a boost is the$14.1 million renovation of Downtown's Mather Building. PN Hoffmanand Gilford Construction Corporation will construct 40 condominiumsatop the nine-story structure, 30% of which will be reserved asaffordable housing space. In addition, the contractors have agreedto convert the first floor of the 78,400-sf structure into an artscenter, complete with gallery, dance studio, workstations and anauditorium. The Cultural Development Corporation has already signedon to lease the space in a 10-year, low-rate deal. "We're takinganother step towards turning our downtown into a living, breathingneighborhood," Williams says in a statement, "a neighborhood wherepeople work, shop and live; a neighborhood known for itsentertainment venues, cultural attractions and office buildings; aneighborhood that's connected to our neighborhoods throughout thecity.

The Mayor also revealed that groundwork for the Freedom Forum'snew Newseum structure will begin at week's end. The former DOESbuilding will be demolished and replaced by a 555,000-sf complexthat will include the museum, the Freedom Forum headquarters, aninternational conference center, as well as retail and residentialspace. The Newseum's former home in Arlington, VA closed earlierthis month and is not scheduled to reopen in its new District digsuntil 2005.