Details of the tenant's lease with property owner DouglasDevelopment Corp. have not been disclosed; however, retail space ismarketed in the building starting at $25 per sf. The city sweetenedthe deal for West Elm by providing $4.9 million in tax incrementfinancing for the store's construction.

The Woodies Building, which is located downtown at 1025 F St. NWin the city's East End area, was originally developed as theWoodward & Lothrop department store in phases over a 25-yearperiod beginning in 1902. Douglas Development acquired the propertyin 1998 and began redeveloping the historic facility.

Office tenants include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, theNational Endowment for Democracy and the Recording IndustryAssociation of America. On the retail roster, West Elm will jointhe likes of Swedish clothier H& M, which set up shop in a27,000-sf space at Woodies in 2003. West Elm will open its doors inspring 2007.