Shakespeare Theatre Company & Erkiletian Development Close on Southeastern University Property

The Shakespeare Theatre Company and Erkiletian Development Company have announced that they have closed on the former Southeastern University building, located at 501 I Street SW. The redevelopment of the site will allow STC to consolidate rehearsal spaces, housing for artists and interns, costume and prop shops, education classrooms and administrative offices to one location.

The final closing was dependent upon lifting a historic landmark application, which had been put into place in July. An agreement was reached between Shakespeare Theatre Company, Erkiletian and the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly (SWNA), which will provide for public and community benefits to the neighborhood. Erkiletian made a contribution to support SWNA's community improvement efforts.

"This agreement is just the first step in solidifying our dedication to this new community we are joining," says Shakespeare Theatre Managing Director Chris Jennings. "We hope that it will foster an early dialogue for partnerships and educational opportunities as we establish a permanent home for all of our support facilities."

The community benefits agreement, which was reached on September 17, outlines a series of benefits that STC will provide to the larger neighborhood, including educational programming for neighboring schools and community groups; access to STC assembly spaces and/or conference rooms for community meetings; ticket donations and discounted classes; and the theatre's participation in community festivals and events.

"We realized that if Shakespeare did not develop its project on the property, the likelihood that another user would come along would be slim, given how long it took for anyone to show interest in the property," says Kael Anderson, SWNA President. "We felt it was more important to establish a dialogue with a potential non-profit developer in order to establish benefits for the community, than to save this particular building."

Shakespeare Theatre Company and Erkiletian Development Company have already initiated conversations with members and groups from the community regarding design plans for the new facility. The next phase will include meeting with the larger community and hosting a charrette in the next couple of months. As part of the design process, the goal of these ongoing discussions is to hear the priorities and concerns of the neighborhood.