What Is Coming to DC MD and Northern Virginia
Washington, D.C. is on the brink of a major transformation in 2025, and it’s not just about politics this time — it’s all about the booming real estate and development scene! Whether you’re thinking of moving here or just curious about the city’s future, this isn’t our Founding Father’s stodgy city and it’s not the wild trainwreck of a few years ago. DC is resilient. Diversity, walkability and the robust job market are the major drivers of people moving to the area.
With new residential neighborhoods to cutting-edge tech spaces, there’s so much happening. Today, I’m breaking down what’s coming to the D.C. metro area in 2025 that puts the DC resilience on blast.
There’s no one doing videos like this in the DC Area. I am out on the streets, showing you exactly what it’s like here. I know DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia inside out and go deeper than anybody. Before we jump in, make sure to hit that like button and subscribe to stay updated on everything happening in DC!
The Entire DC Metro Area has experienced major growth over the past few years. In 2025 we will see that trend continue. Things did get dicey for a bit but, five years now post-Covid, DC reigns as one of the most desirable places to live in the US. What the population data shows is that locally, people do leave DC to go to the suburbs (domestic migration.) But the city and the metro area benefit from a lot of actual migration of people from other areas of the country or the world coming here.
Let’s get into what’s coming for DC in 2025!
Economic Trends for DC in 2025
I use the word resilient a lot to describe DC. This city always bounces back. A changing administration will always provide a source of anxiety and chatter for people here, but after every election cycle, things seem to continue – business as usual. While there have been cutbacks and we may continue to see more cutbacks in government agencies, plenty of people are still getting jobs and moving here. In fact, some of my clients are getting jobs so quickly that they are being asked “When are you coming here” and the clients have said, “I don’t even have my offer letter yet.”
Government aside, there’s also always job growth here, especially in tech as Northern Virginia has become a huge tech hub. It’s the largest electricity-using data center location in the world. Investments in tech continue unabated.
This is why all areas in DC Metro see real estate prices increase anywhere from 2-10% a year – even in the bad years! This leads us to real estate so let’s get into that next.
New Residential Developments Coming to Metro DC
With the growth of DC, and all those news items about housing shortages, residential development is booming, and new neighborhoods are emerging all across the DC metro area. In DC proper, Mayor Bowser announced a plan in 2021 for DC to have 36,000 additional housing units by 2025. The District met that goal by mid 2024.
Large-scale developers do a lot of research. If they are building it, they have good reason to believe people will come. And I hope they do. I am ready for DC to come back to the cool place it was pre-pandemic.
DC’s High-Profile Developments for 2025:
Buzzard Point Revitalization: At the southernmost point of DC on the west side of the Anacostia River, you will find a neighborhood called Buzzard Point. I wish I had video of my one drive through here over 10 years ago because it’s unrecognizable now. Originally known as being the locale for Fort McNair and some rough parts of DC, several companies are involved in the transformation of this neighborhood near Nationals Park. Buzzard Point is turning into a vibrant residential and entertainment district.
McMillan Reservoir: Mired in battles for approval for years, the McMillan District Development has finally commenced. Located between North Capitol and First, Michigan and Channing, there will be 146 townhomes, 500 apartments with 85 senior units at affordable pricing, a community center with a pool and fitness center, a public park, retail and restaurants and an anchor grocery store.
Other: Developments are popping up all over DC. With the mandate that all Federal Workers need to be in-office 5 days a week, these homes will likely be needed. Developers are pitching a building and retail in Chinatown, and 600 units by Nationals Park is in front of the Zoning Commission now.
Mazza Gallerie is finally reaching the end stages of the long-standing development project. There will be 20,000 sf of retail and over 300 apartments.
Montgomery County, MD’s High-Profile Developments for 2025:
Amalyn: I wouldn’t mention this community as it’s down to about 20 homes left for sale, but what has been built here is super cool. In one of my weirder experiences living here, 20 years ago when I worked for a builder – DR Horton in their Rockville office. We were interested in buying this property, so one afternoon I brought my dogs to check it out. This was once the site of 4 radio towers for WMAL. I somehow got in with a pack of elderly ladies and their dogs who smoked me on their hike of the perimeter of the 75 acre site.
DR Horton never bought it, but Toll Brothers did. And Toll Brothers has built some of the most beautiful new homes I’ve seen in the area. This is an actual community in Bethesda, which is rare. Typically we see “infill” which is a small piece of land where someone can put just a few homes. It’s rare to see such a large tract of land so close in to the city. There are over 100 homes here, with a community center, pool, indoor and outdoor gyms and as I said, gorgeous homes which make this worth mentioning.
Westbard: This used to be the weirdest shopping center mall kind of thing where I took my younger daughter for tumble classes when she was a baby. They knocked it down and are building a retail and residential community. Phase 1 of the homes are sold out and the builder is moving into Phase 2 this spring.
Rock Spring: Amidst the office buildings at Rockledge Drive where Fernwood Rd and Westlake Terrace meet, there will be a multi-family development of almost 400 homes. As of now they appear to be apartments. Onsite will also include a huge park with bocce ball, tennis courts and park space.
Tastee Diner: Over in Silver Spring, there will be a 30-story building with 525 units. They are going to preserve the Tastee Diner car on the ground floor.
Northern Virginia’s High-Profile Developments in 2025:
In Virginia there’s some big things happening too. As the silver line has made its way out into to Ashburn, there are planned live/work/play communities popping up near the transit stations.
Rivana at Innovation: Straddling the Fairfax and Loudoun County border, this is a multi-phase mixed use urban center development. There will be retail, Class-A office space, 3700 residential homes, parks, performing arts venue and 500 hotel rooms.
One Loudoun: This is a huge urban development with restaurants, shops, office and residential. Loudoun County has a lot of wealth and is projected to continue growth for years to come. The next phase of One Loudoun is beginning now, with almost 100,000 square feet of retail being added, more office space and more residential units.
Reston Station: Another live/work/play development around the metro station, Reston Station will have a ton of retail and restaurants as well as hotel, condos and office space.
RiverHouse: Another developer just added 1200 units to the original plan for this Pentagon City Development, bringing the total number of homes to over 4400.
The overall theme here throughout the metro area is apparent. Housing shortages result in community planners allowing more dense development like condos and townhomes. When this development is centered around metro stops, these urban centers become like a small town within a big city – a place where live/work/play draws in tons of people.
New Attractions & Entertainment Coming to Metro DC
My favorite museum, the National Museum of American History’s “Entertainment Nation” will have some new items in the exhibit this year like Bert, Ernie and Fozzy Bear, Bob Ross’ easel and Dorothy’s slippers from the Wizard of Oz. Though they used to be here years ago, so I don’t know where those slippers have been.
At the zoo, there’s Panda-mania again. Our last pandas departed in 2024 when they were returned to China. But two giant Pandas arrived in January, in time to enjoy our first snow! Go enjoy them because they cost us $1M a year in payment to China.
The Air and Space Museum, one of the favorites of many kids and adults has revamped 12 exhibits. The first of those will open in spring this year. They are also reopening the IMAX theatre.
Virginia’s only “Open Air Market” is coming to the Dulles Town Center parking lot this spring.
Also at Dulles Town Center, Always in Motion – a parkour gym will open. Later in the year 810 Billiards and Bowling will also open here as well as SkyZone Trampoline Park.
The Kennedy Center will have Legally Blonde the Musical, Les Miserables and the Sound of Music and the world premiere of Schmigadoon! Capital One Hall will have Chicago.
The first ever FIFA Club World Cup is coming to Audi Field in DC.
At the new Reston Station Development, I will be waiting for Puttshack to open. It is the first one in the area. The kids, Jim and I will be going there. Mini Golf with a twist, I love it.
Level 99 is another place I’m going to go. It’s an adult playground which sounds super sexy but it’s really more nerdy than anything. There are only two right now – in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. They are opening this year at Tyson’s Corner and will have unique challenge rooms and games to solve.
Finally – DC’s World Pride Day celebrates its 50th anniversary in DC this year. There are going to be three weeks of activities, parades, concerts and fun. Alexandria will also have a Pride Fair as well.
New Restaurants and Food Scene
There are always new restaurants coming to the DC Area. If you have people, you have to feed them, right? It’s impossible to run through them all, and the list I would provide would differ based on if you want kid-friendly vs a place that’s really for guests 21 and older. There are so many restaurants opening in the DC Metro area and what we see now is a strong theme of building out various areas. There are more restaurants in Mount Vernon Triangle and into downtown than there have been in the past. Union Market and the SW Waterfront continue to be built out, and H Street also has a bunch of restaurants and a mini food hall in the works.
New Transit and Infrastructure Projects in the DC Metro Area 2025
The continued construction of the Purple Line Metro takes center stage as the top infrastructure project. This line is 16 miles and will connect Bethesda to New Carrollton. This is such a critical part of metro’s expansion. When the metro was developed, all the lines went through downtown. Think of DC like a clock. If you had to go from 10:00 to 2:00, you had to go through downtown to get there. This connects the people in Bethesda to New Carrollton where you can get the train to New York, and the people in and around New Carrollton (and the stops along the way) to Bethesda which is a major employment center.
In DC, there are continuous additions of bike lanes. While this sounds great in theory, I can’t say that our roads are any safer for bikers as a result.
If you’re thinking about moving to D.C. or just keeping an eye on the area’s growth, 2025 might be the perfect time to get in on the action! I’d love to help you plan your move and find your place to call home!
