The 66-acre former Walter Reed campus will eventually be comprised of more than 3 million square feet of retail, office and residential space, about a fifth of which will be affordable housing.

WASHINGTON — Years in the making, development is taking shape at the former Walter Reed campus on Georgia Avenue.

Now known as the Parks at Historic Walter Reed, the 66-acre campus will eventually be comprised of more than 3 million square feet of retail, office and residential space, about a fifth of which will be affordable housing.

Mayor Muriel Bowser broke ground Monday on the redevelopment of Abrams Hall, which was built in 1976 as barrack housing for soldiers in need of long-term medical care. The adapted barracks will offer seniors 80 affordable units, with 64 apartments targeting seniors at or below 50 percent of median family income.

In all, 432 affordable units will be available to seniors and veterans. The units that will be designated for veterans are already under construction.

Turning dirt 🚜! LIVE from the ground breaking of the Abrams Hall Senior Apartments, an 80-unit housing community dedicated for seniors ➡ https://t.co/39inNk51F6#affordablehousing #DCSeniors #Ward4 pic.twitter.com/H4qcPOzjIa — Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) July 16, 2018

Throughout the summer, the Parks is hosting public jazz and fitness events to draw people to the campus.