City officials are prepared to announce this week that they are ready to accept bids from developers for the area of the Southeast Waterfront known as Reservation 13. The area near RFK Stadium and the D.C. Armory, bounded by Independence and Massachusetts avenues, 19th Street and the Anacostia River, has been planned for development since 2002.

“This is a request for expressions of interest, saying, ‘Look, here is an incredible site, the last major site along the Anacostia River,’” said Sean Madigan, spokesman for D.C.’s Office of Planning and Economic Development. “‘What do you think is possible for this site? Give us your general vision … and tell us about yourselves.’”

The city is planning 5 million square feet of housing, retail and office space and a park along the river.

The closed D.C. General Hospital currently sits on the site. Madigan said development will not disturb the D.C. jail or the Congressional Cemetery to the south of Reservation 13.

The area eventually could connect to new development at the RFK Stadium site, which now houses only the D.C. United soccer team after the Washington Nationals moved last month to their new baseball stadium on South Capitol Street.

Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells (D) has said that if RFK is torn down he would like to see mixed-use development there, although Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans (D) is interested in a new Redskins stadium on that site.

Eastern Market Music Series Starts Back Up

As the temperature rises and the crowds swell, Eastern Market will welcome back its free Sunday summer concert series.

The weekly performance, presented by the Capitol Hill Community Foundation, will feature a variety of area musicians playing selections of jazz, bluegrass and other music.

“We want to continue reminding everyone that Eastern Market is alive and open for business,” CHCF President Nicky Cymrot said in a press release. “And all the merchants and exhibitors are looking forward to the additional excitement of having these live musicians at the market.”

Artists will perform each weekend through June 29 in front of Port City Java at the corner of Seventh Street and North Carolina Avenue Southeast. This week, the Alexandria Kleztet will play at 10:30 a.m., followed by Little Bit a Blues at 1 p.m.

The series will resume on Sundays this fall, from Sept. 7 to Oct. 12.

— Daniel Heim and Alison McSherry