Salvation Army building finally opens

This morning was the grand opening of the Solomon G. Brown Corps Community Center at MLK Avenue. Although its exterior design has proved controversial in the neighborhood, it really does look great inside and seems like it should be a good addition to Anacostia.


the monstrous ... or beautiful building, depending on your perspective on those sorts of things


the front lobby - accessible from both the parking garage and MLK

The ceremony was held on the 3rd and 4th Floors in the main sanctuary / meeting room, which makes up the slanted portion of the Morris Rd / MLK facade.


looking down from the 4th floor balcony


yes, there was actually an audience. Here a member of the design team is showing off the complicated ceiling

Ahh, the penthouse. The best part. Killer views and even a "walking track". Kind of funny to imagine people just walking along this red figure eight ... but hey, go for it.


the red eight, and the cinder blocks that don't look all that great


Yep. We have good views. Come on over.

The 5th floor is dedicated to Spirit Health and Wellness, which is actually a really nice gym. Spirit will be opening on December 2, and will be open from 5AM - 10PM weekdays, with slightly adjusted weekend hours. Includes aerobics room, nice locker rooms, and an impressive array of bright clean new equipment.




tons of treadmills, elipticals, and bikes, with TVs AND inspiring views


the free weight section

So yeah. Check it out. Sometimes it's easy to complain that most of the new development here has been in the form of public-use type buildings: community centers, schools (not complaining), libraries, etc. But these are the foundational things that are starting to really bring Anacostia into the Now / Future we all want. I'll give a woot to that.

great-looking display windows on MLK!

well, the Savoy School is pretty much totally done now and it looks really fantastic. The new building along MLK is sharp and has some great display windows for art and history exhibits.


looking directly North across MLK

One of the windows is already programmed with images of the Savoy School renovation and expansion project, and the other will get something from the Smithsonian Anacostia Museum:



Looking forward to seeing what they put in...

Streetcar Tracks Coming Towards the Costia

after many years, the streetcar tracks are finally being installed along Firth Sterling Avenue in Barry Farm ... soon to wind towards the Metro station then into Anacostia.


how exciting are new tracks?! my generation has barely ever seen this happen.

On the left, observe a young professional walking on a dirt sidewalk from the Metro to the Anacostia Naval Station / Bolling Air Force Base. She will pretty definitely be a rider on the new line.

Saturday Morning

this freshly painted house looks fantastic:



love the green and red combo, and the changes really show the life-giving value of sprucing up the facade. porch tiles going on now...

Industrial Bank opening soon!

I haven't covered this story much, but a branch of Industrial Bank is about to open in the Anacostia Gateway building at the corner of MLK and Good Hope. It is the first retailer to open in the building, which is still waiting for one more ground floor tenant.


the sign is now above the ATMs in the front room


the interior is very yellow, but pretty sleek


a few historical images of other Industrial Banks are printed on glass as room dividers


another view of the lobby, facing Good Hope Road


ever wanted to see the guts of an ATM?

Although there are many things besides a bank that we hope to see open in downtown Anacostia, this is a great first step. Having good-looking and established retailers set up shop here shows others that it's an okay place to be.