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    DC Archives Building Construction Timeline and Students Getting Back Their Parking Spaces

    Marina Moura da Silva Posted on

    DC Archives Building Construction Timeline and Students Getting Back Their Parking Spaces

    Construction Timeline & Status

    • The DC Department of General Services (DGS) project page lists the completion date as Summer 2026, with the project currently under construction dgs.dc.gov.

    • A separate source (the Office of the Secretary’s site) indicates an expected completion in Winter 2026 opr.dc.gov.

    • Additionally, an April 2024 announcement from the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) notes that final design plans were approved—but doesn’t specify a completion date ncpc.gov.

    Summary: It’s generally expected that the archives building will wrap up sometime between Summer and Winter 2026.

    Budget Changes & Impact on Construction

    However, significant developments have affected these plans recently:

    • Mayor Bowser’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal removed funding for the archives project located at UDC’s campus. Instead, the archives would be split between the Charles Sumner School and a separate warehouse. Meanwhile, the demolished UDC site would be repurposed for student housing, with an estimated cost of $21 million for that conversion WashingtonianThe Washington InformerThe Washington Post.

    • The DC Council approved full capital funding for the archives building on August 1, 2025, overriding the Mayor’s proposed cuts DC Archives Foundation.

    Despite the Council restoring funding, new media reports suggest the project may still be stalled:

    • A Washington Post piece (July 2025) indicates that the project has stalled due to rising costs (now estimated between $100M–$155M), and the archives are likely moving to alternate locations. The demolition of Building 41 is proceeding—viewed as beneficial for the university independent of the archives outcome—but new construction may not proceed on the original UDC site The Washington Post.

    • Similarly, the Washingtonian article from May 2025 outlines the same shift: student housing will replace the archives project, and alternate archive sites will be developed instead Washingtonian.

    What This Means for UD C Students & Parking

    • If the archives building had proceeded as planned, construction would likely conclude by late 2026, potentially freeing up the parking spaces impacted by demolition and construction.

    • But with the project most likely canceled or indefinitely delayed, student parking areas formerly restricted for archives construction may be reallocated more quickly, although there’s no official timeline publicly available.

    Next Steps & Suggestions

    • Reach out to UDC Facilities or Parking Operations (likely via the Office of the VP for Facilities Management or Parking Operations) for the most current updates on when restricted parking areas will reopen.

    • Monitor official communications from UDC, as this situation may evolve depending on budget decisions or new redevelopment plans for the vacated site.

    Summary Table

    Status Details
    Original Plan UDC Building 41 to be demolished and replaced with DC Archives—expected completion Summer to Winter 2026.
    Budget Changes Mayor’s FY 2026 budget eliminated archives plan; DC Council restored funding.
    Current Outlook Despite restored funding, rising costs likely halted the archives project; site may instead be used for student housing.
    Impact on Parking If building proceeds, parking restricted until ~2026; but if canceled, spaces may return sooner—exact timing unclear.

    Bottom line: The DC Archives building at UDC was anticipated to finish by late 2026, but that plan now seems in jeopardy. For clarity on when students can expect their parking spaces back, the best course is to check directly with UDC’s Facilities or Parking Operations.

    Bowser, Muriel. Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Proposal. Office of the Mayor, 2025. https://www.washingtonian.com/2025/05/30/dc-state-archive-muriel-bowser-budget-proposal-udc. Accessed 26 Aug. 2025.

    DC Archives Foundation. Statement on the Mayor’s Budget. DC Archives Foundation, Aug. 2025. https://www.dcarchivesfoundation.org/statement-about-the-mayors-budget. Accessed 26 Aug. 2025.

    District of Columbia Department of General Services. DC Archives – UDC Building 41 Project (Ward 3). DGS, 2025. https://dgs.dc.gov/page/dc-archives-%E2%80%93-udc-building-41-project-ward-3. Accessed 26 Aug. 2025.

    National Capital Planning Commission. NCPC Approves Final Design Plans for New DC Archives Building. NCPC, Apr. 2024. https://www.ncpc.gov/news/item/226/3. Accessed 26 Aug. 2025.

    Office of Public Records. New DC Archives Initiative. Office of the Secretary, 2025. https://opr.dc.gov/newarchives. Accessed 26 Aug. 2025.

    Washington Informer. Mayor Defunds UDC Archives Move, Proposes New Student Housing. The Washington Informer, 2025. https://www.washingtoninformer.com/dc-mayor-defunds-archives-move. Accessed 26 Aug. 2025.

    Weil, Martin. “DC Archives Upgrade Stalls amid Budget Uncertainty.” The Washington Post, 13 July 2025. https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/07/13/dc-archives-upgrade-budget. Accessed 26 Aug. 2025.

    Marina Moura da Silva
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