The Menkiti Group Breaks Ground on Historic Project in Anacostia

MLK Gateway to serve as a new epicenter of commerce, culture and technology with a vibrant mix of neighborhood-serving retail

by. Maya Nadeem | Maya@menkitigroup.com

Bo Menkiti, founder and CEO of The Menkiti Group (right), is joined by Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser and Antwanye Ford, president and CEO of Enlightened Inc., at the MLK Gateway Groundbreaking Celebration on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020.

(WASHINGTON,D.C.) – The Menkiti Group wasjoined by Mayor Muriel Bowser and city officials Wednesday to celebrate thegroundbreaking of the first phase of the MLK Gateway, a project being developedby The Menkiti Group and Enlightened Inc. in partnership as MLK GatewayPartners LLC (MGP). Located at the corner of GoodHope Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, MLK Gateway will become acatalytic center of commerce, driving economic opportunity in the heart ofhistoric Anacostia.

“Weare excited about returning Good Hope Road and MLK to the center of commerce inhistoric Anacostia. We believe this project is an innovative example ofcommunity-led participative development and serves as a model for how the publicand private sectors can collaborate to drive neighborhood impact,” saidBo Menkiti, founder and chief executive officer, The Menkiti Group.

Phase One of the project includes a mix of uses and features the restoration of 14,000 square feet of ground-floor retail as well as 20,000 square feet of newly built office space. The project is anchored by Enlightened Inc., award-winning minority-owned information technology and cybersecurity firm that will relocate its nearly 150 district-based employees to a new headquarters at MLK Gateway. The building’s design embraces and incorporates the site’s existing historic facades and is a rich backdrop for new vibrant street-fronting retail.

Mayor Muriel Bowser, city officials and project partners join Bo Menkiti, founder and CEO of The Menkiti Group to break ground on the MLK Gateway project, a new catalytic center of commerce driving economic opportunity in the heart of Historic Anacostia.

Bo Menkiti, founder and CEO of The Menkiti Group, and Antwanye Ford, president and CEO of Enlightened Inc., celebrated the groundbreaking of the MLK Gateway project on Wednesday with the support of Mayor Muriel Bowser, Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White and Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie.

“We are proud to be a part of the MLK Gateway Partners and to be a change agent for tech innovation, job creation and economic development for small businesses in Anacostia and beyond,” said Antwanye Ford, president, and chief executive officer, Enlightened Inc.

Phase Two of the project will include the construction of a new building at 1909-1913 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE with street-level retail and multistory office space above.

“Today, we are continuing the transformation of this historic neighborhood by revitalizing the gateway of the Anacostia business area,” said Mayor Bowser. “My Administration never gave up on this project because we know it will help us bring jobs, housing, and new amenities to Ward 8. We thank all of our community and private sector partners for making this project a reality.”

TheMenkiti Group’s engagement around the community’s vision for equitable and sustainableeconomic development began over four years ago. Through meetings with dozens ofcommunity groups, The Menkiti Group was able to gain a greater understanding ofthe assets and needs of neighborhood residents and business owners. Thelong-standing vacant site houses two lots and four storefronts that willtransform into retail, restaurant and incubator space to support local smallbusinesses. Neighborhood-serving retail will provide a vibrant tenant mix and activatethe site for the greater part of the day as well as provide jobs and pathwaysto opportunity for Ward 8 residents and businesses.

Members from The Menkiti Group and Enlightened Inc., in partnership as MLK Gateway Partners LLC (MGP), celebrated MLK Gateway, a project they are developing located at the corner of Good Hope Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE in the heart of Historic Anacostia in Washington, D.C.

“MLK Gateway demonstrates what we can deliver when the public and private sectors work together to make big, strategic investments and use new tools like Opportunity Zones to support existing communities,” said John Falcicchio, interim deputy mayor for Planning and Economic Development.

“We look forward to bringing this historic corner of the Anacostia business center back to life again.”

The MLKGateway is a model for public and private collaboration with partners includingThe Menkiti Group, Enlightened Inc., the Office of the Deputy Mayor forPlanning and Economic Development (DMPED), the Department of Housing andCommunity Development (DHCD), the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC),PNC Bank, RMS Investment Group and City First Bank of DC.

The project was financed using a combination of $4.25 million inNew Market Tax Credits and $3.3 million in Opportunity Zone funding, grantfunding and senior debt. The Project is the first in the country to deploy acombination of both Opportunity Zone funding and New Market Tax Credit. Theproject also received a $700,000 grant from DMPED’s Neighborhood ProsperityFund. Hickok Cole is the project architect and Consigli Construction Co., Inc. willserve as the general contractor.

The MLK Gateway project will stimulate sustainable economicimpact in Ward 8. Enlightened Inc. will become the largest private technologyemployer to move east of the Anacostia River in four decades, further acceleratingjob growth in Historic Anacostia. Enlightened Inc. also plans to launch atechnology incubator to groom growing tech firms to do business with thefederal government and will run a cybersecurity training program to enablelocal residents to gain marketable information technology skills. MLK Gatewaywill be developed and owned by a 100% DC-based local minority-owned CertifiedBusiness Enterprise (CBE) team comprised of The Menkiti Group and EnlightenedInc.

“TheMLK Gateway project is an example of what is possible when residents, the D.C.government and the private sector come together,” saidWard 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie. “This project will not just revitalizethis prominent intersection and gateway to Historic Anacostia, it will bringjobs with a new technology company, Enlightened Inc., and a small businessincubator to provide training and expand residents’ access to greater economicopportunity.”

Bo Menkiti and The Menkiti Group were joined at Wednesday’s groundbreaking by Enlightened Inc. President and CEO Antwanye Ford, Mayor Muriel Bowser, Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White, Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development John Falcicchio and community members as well as representatives and partners of the project.

BoMenkiti and The Menkiti Group were joined at Wednesday’s groundbreaking byEnlightened Inc. President and CEO Antwanye Ford, Mayor Muriel Bowser, Ward 8Councilmember Trayon White, Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, Deputy Mayorfor Planning and Economic Development John Falcicchio and community members aswell as representatives and partners of the project.

Bo Menkiti, founder and CEO of The Menkiti Group, Kymber Lovett‐Menkiti and their 8‐week‐old son, Kameron Menkiti, share the spotlight at Wednesday’s MLK Gateway Groundbreaking event in Historic Anacostia.

“Itis in our company’s DNA to pursue our commitment to enhancing the fabric oflife in America’s urban communities. We are honored to be standing today withothers that share a similar commitment as we break ground on this project that bringsto life the community’s vision for the future of the Anacostia neighborhood,” saidMenkiti.

Reported on January 8th, 2020 | by Maya Nadeem | Contact 202.733.5456