As you can see, the site is quite large and will certainly add new activity to this corner of the neighborhood. The new center will be replacing the health "shack" at the corner of W and Chester Streets SE.
One of the remarkable things about this project is its proximity to the Frederick Douglass estate, which you can see in the background of the above photo. I hope that there will be major landscape screening between the two sites to that the juxtaposition isn't so jarring.
What do you think of the design? It's not in the historic district, so it did not have to follow any design standards. Remember that an abandoned apartment building used to grace this plot of land.
From Galen Street, the above view toward 16th Street is of a large portion of the neighborhood that is outside of the historic district.
I'm glad to see the health center move from its present location, but definitely have concerns about its location adjacent Cedar Hill. Do you think this is "the next Salvation Army", or will this be a net positive addition to the community?
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I wonder how much traffic will it bring during rush hour? It's pretty busy on 16th street in the mornings....
Yeah, the location of choice could have been better. I'd prefer to see nice, character-rich, pristine residential spaces surrounding Cedar Hill rather than a completely different type of edifice like the health center down the street.(Residential spaces that are nice(r), that is, than the ones already there, since the ironic juxtaposition of the gorgeous house of a formerly-enslaved man compared to the zestless homes of those born fully free that we see around Cedar Hill is jarring).
On the other hand, the community could use it, the edifice looks great in isolation, and the economic benefits of having a workplace in the area will be fantastic.
I like it!
Why do these developers keep choosing the ugliest sharp, hard designs for a community with architecture that dates back almost 200 years? Cleaning up Anacostia doesn't mean redesigning and dumping a lego block in the middle of historic homes.
Ah but I digress...
totally agree with eve and anacostiayogi.. hmph!
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