Washington Harbour, Waterfront mixed-use development in Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
Washington Harbour is a mixed-use complex in Georgetown, Washington, D.C., set along the Potomac River and combining offices, apartments, restaurants, and shops. The buildings curve around a central plaza that opens directly onto the waterfront, with a fountain at its center.
The land along the Georgetown waterfront had long been occupied by industrial uses before plans for a mixed development emerged after years of zoning disputes in the 1970s. Construction ran through the early 1980s and the complex opened in 1986, changing the character of this stretch of the Potomac.
The central plaza at Washington Harbour is used as an outdoor ice rink in winter, drawing people who might not otherwise visit the waterfront in colder months. In warmer seasons, the same space fills with people sitting by the fountain or eating at the riverside restaurants.
The complex is easy to reach on foot from the main streets of Georgetown, and there are several entry points along the waterfront path. Wear sturdy shoes if the weather has been wet, as the riverside walkway can get slippery.
Washington Harbour has a set of large steel floodgates built into its perimeter that can be closed when the Potomac rises. The gates were put to the test during Tropical Storm Isabel in 2003, when floodwaters reached the complex and the barriers helped limit damage.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
