Construction begins at Rhode Island Metro

Construction has started on a $107 million development that will bring 274 apartments, 70,000-square-feet of retail and a Metro garage to the Rhode Island Avenue-Brentwood Metrorail Station.

City officials, developers and Metro representatives participated in a groundbreaking for the project on Tuesday.

The project, which has been nine years in the making, is expected to be completed by fall 2011. Community leaders have said they hope the development, which is being built by Urban Atlantic of Bethesda and A&R Development of Baltimore, will draw more retailers to the corridor.

“We are thrilled to announce the start of construction at Rhode Island Station and are grateful to the many public and private partners who came together to accomplish a truly remarkable project in an historically challenging economic climate,” Urban Atlantic President Vicki Davis said in a statement.

-- Ovetta Wiggins