The hotel closed on December 3, 2013, for what was originally intended to be a year-long overhaul and upgrade of the entire property.

[7] After a decade of discussion, public comment, legal battles, and negotiations with landowners and developers, the Southwest Urban Renewal Plan was approved in November 1956.

[8] New York City developer William Zeckendorf proposed a grand mall along 10th Street SW, extending from Independence Avenue SW to end at a traffic circle at G Street SW.[9] Zeckendorf named this mall L'Enfant Plaza after Pierre Charles L'Enfant,[10] an architect responsible for planning the city of Washington.

[13] The Redevelopment Land Agency also approved the condemnation and razing of 14 city blocks for construction of the plaza, hotel, and office buildings.

[18] But Zeckendorf's vast real estate empire began to suffer severe financial difficulties in 1964, eventually going bankrupt the following year.

[19] With Zeckendorf unable to make good on his construction pledges, the Redevelopment Land Agency forced him to withdraw and sell his interest in L'Enfant Plaza in November 1964.

[21] L'Enfant Plaza Corp. was a syndicate led by former United States Air Force Lieutenant General Elwood R. Quesada, and included Chase Manhattan Bank president David Rockefeller, D.C., businessman David A. Garrett, investment banker André Meyer, and the real estate investment firm Gerry Brothers & Co.[21] Quesada said that if the Redevelopment Land Agency approved the sale, it would begin immediate construction of the promenade, the 1,400-car parking garage beneath it, and the plaza.

[27] The $23 million complex neared completion in January 1968,[28] and the office buildings, plaza, and promenade opened to the public and businesses in June 1968.

[30] Construction on the 640,000 square feet (59,000 m2) West Building and 730-car parking garage (designed by D.C. architect Vlastimil Koubek) began on February 18, 1969.

[33] The Loews Hotels chain agreed to co-finance construction of the property with L'Enfant Plaza Corp., although details of the agreement were not provided.

[33] The 378-room hotel, designed by Koubek,[34] had a rooftop swimming pool, two restaurants, a cocktail lounge, and meeting rooms.

The Robert C. Weaver Federal Building, headquarters of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), had been constructed on a Redevelopment Land Agency site in November 1965.

[35][36] L'Enfant Plaza Corp. sued John McShain, Inc. and the Redevelopment Land Agency for removal of the footings, stabilization of the HUD structure, and associated costs.

[37] The festivities began on May 29 with a birthday party for author Anita Loos attended by 260 Loews' executives, celebrities, and press—including actress Carol Channing singing "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend" while seated on top of a 5 feet (1.5 m) tall cake.

[37] More than 1,500 people including Senator J. William Fulbright, Senator Jacob Javits, former Secretary of Defense Clark Clifford, and numerous business people, bankers, merchants, and construction company executives attended a reception at the hotel on May 30, and were permitted to roam freely throughout the facility throughout the evening.

[41] In the late 1980s a supposed secret meeting was held at the hotel by three Republicans—Richard V. Allen, Laurence H. Silberman and Robert McFarlane—with an Iranian emissary.

[44] In September 1996, the Dutch Company Sarakreek Holdings NV (a real estate investment firm), Sarakreek Holding N.V. (itself a subsidiary of the Tiger/Westbrook Real Estate Fund of New York City), purchased the hotel and all but the West Building at L'Enfant Plaza for $185 million.

In Stanford Hotels Corporation v. Potomac Creek Associates (CAB-1413-99, 1999), Superior Court Judge Leonard Braman ruled that Sarakreek was not in breach of contract.

[48][49] Subsequently, after a second trial, Judge Braman ruled on July 31, 2013, that Sarakreek was in violation of its preliminary 1998 agreement to sell.

[4] L’Enfant DC Hotel LLC also agreed to the honor the collective bargaining agreement which The JBG Cos. had with UNITE HERE Local 25.