National Harbor

National Harbor is a mixed-use property located on over 500 acres overlooking the Potomac River in Prince George's County. The firm designed the site to take advantage of the natural beauty of the Potomac River and the view into Washington DC. In order to fully embrace the waterfront features of the site, Soltesz provided engineering and surveying support for tidal permits to allow amenities such as the use of water taxis and docks for boats. The firm also had to identify and define the 100-year floodplain and reduce its impact on the develop-able ground. When initially developing this site, many challenges surfaced because of the property’s waterfront location. Additional challenges arose from being located next to a residential neighborhood. When adding a large complex such as National Harbor, a delicate balance of sensitivity and expediency was needed to ensure disruptions to surrounding communities are minimal.

Soltesz addressed public concerns by providing generous landscape buffers between the adjacent neighborhood and the project. Soltesz provided the client with expert navigation coordinating with the State Highway Administration (SHA) to upgrade roads including a substantial highway project for the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. The firm also took an active role in public presentations and preparing exhibits for the client to utilize in demonstrating the value of this property to the community.