Commercial real estate professionals around Washington, D.C., are taking an unusual amount of precautions as hundreds of thousands of visitors, officials, supporters and protestors converge on the nation's capital for Monday's presidential inauguration.
Local property managers and owners said they are doing more than in the past after violence at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, weeks before the most recent inauguration. They are keeping buildings locked, providing rooftop access for security personnel, limiting visitors and stepping up other safety protocols as President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in as the nation's 47th president.
The inauguration occurs on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday that keeps many Washington-area workers home. Even so, the crowds are expected to inhibit reaching some office, hotel and retail locations as traffic access is blocked, according to D.C. officials and property professionals.
“It’s going to be very difficult to drive and navigate and have appointments in downtown,” Brian Ball, a principal at commercial real estate services firm KLNB and chair of the firm’s advisory services practice, told CoStar News. “It’s going to be a continuous traffic snarl ... all over the city.”
As early as Thursday, black fences and concrete barriers lined Washington streets even 10 blocks from the Capitol site of the swearing-in ceremony.
The inauguration comes on the heels of other high-security events that took place around the city, including a major snowstorm this month that interrupted routes, the swearing-in of local D.C. officials that also caused street closings, the first joint session of Congress to certify presidential election results after the 2021 violence, and former President Jimmy Carter’s state funeral.
Nearly a quarter of a million ticketed guests are set to attend the inauguration, J. Thomas Manger, chief of the U.S. Capitol Police, said in a public safety briefing. Thousands are also expected at the People’s March on Saturday and for the We Fight Back rally on Inauguration Day. And Trump is scheduled to hold a rally the day before his inauguration. The Trump inaugural committee didn't respond to CoStar News' email request to comment.
"We’ve got different types of impacts,” said Brad Braun, senior vice president of Transwestern's asset services for metropolitan Washington, D.C., in an interview. He said some buildings won’t be accessible by car, and the company is working with security and project management teams on how to handle various potential situations.
Building manager protocols
While the security is set to exceed most major events, property managers said they are ready to deal with it. Colin Diefenbach, director of real estate management services for commercial real estate group Avison Young’s D.C. office, told CoStar News the company’s property managers are accustomed to road closings and cooperating with Secret Service to ensure public and occupant safety.
“The upcoming events represent just another day in the life of a Washingtonian property manager,” Diefenbach said.
Even so, public safety officials are preparing for any contingency. The event comes with the added challenge of transportation options in the city getting reduced in recent weeks, as one of the city’s bus services, the DC Circulator, ended operations last month.
It doesn't help that Washington already ranks as one of the most congested cities in the country. That’s according to a report released in January from traffic analysis company INRIX.
There are some upsides for businesses and property owners. Hotels get more business from visitors and events, while restaurants and retailers could be busier than normal, even with the security disruptions. The DC Chamber of Commerce told CoStar News local businesses are anticipating positive ripple effects the events could generate.
Federal law enforcement officials have prepared for months to reduce the risk of threats.
Matt McCool, the special agent in charge of the Secret Service’s Washington field office, painted a picture of what the security setup is expected to entail, including more than 30 miles of fencing made to be difficult to climb, more than any prior national special security event.
Visitors “will see tactical teams," he said in the briefing. "They’ll see officers and agents on rooftops. They’ll see checkpoints. They’ll see road closures and barriers and concrete.”
McCool noted that about 25,000 law enforcement personnel, including around 7,800 National Guard troops, will be on-site to support the event.
A partial closing in Lafayette Park and along the White House sidewalks will remain in place through February, according to the National Park Service.
Those employed in the District should expect widespread road closings and transit disruptions before and during Inauguration Day. A detailed list is available via the city’s website.