After nearly two decades of planning, construction is expected to begin this summer on the first residential component of the planned 2M SF St. Elizabeths East campus redevelopment.

The first step calls for the renovation of seven historic buildings, totaling 354K SF, into 252 mixed-income apartments, the Washington Business Journal reports.

The Anacostia Economic Development Corp. and Flaherty & Collins are building the $100M apartment project, expected to deliver in 2020. It is the first piece of Phase 1 of the long-term overhaul of the 180-acre campus led by Redbrick LMD and Gregg Cardona Partners. Redbrick plans to break ground in 2019 on the next step, between 60 and 100 for-sale townhouses.

The residential development follows the construction of the $65M Washington Wizards and Mystics practice facility on the site, which sits near the Congress Heights Metro station. The city has also spent about $58M in infrastructure upgrades, expected to be completed in September along with the athletic facility.

The long-term plan for the campus calls for 1.8M SF of office, 1,300 residential units, 206K SF of retail and at least two hotels. A study commissioned by Mayor Muriel Bowser in September recommended the site as the ideal location for a new acute care hospital.