Progress at Environmental Design & Construction

Although there's still work to be done, progress is definitely being made at the Environmental Design & Construction headquarters project at MLK and Good Hope. I love how the red brick building is being brought back to its storefront look after being boarded up for so long!

Supercool HQ Under Construction at GH/MLK

I'm excited to finally give a proper construction update for Environmental Design & Construction's expanded headquarters project just below the intersection of Good Hope and MLK. A long time coming, this project (like my last post) very much represents the quality of design and construction that is (or rather, should) represent the future of this neighborhood.


the new build is taking place in the red and yellow buildings

Inside, EDC has combined two buildings into one, and have completely embraced the exposed and industrial feel while still adding modern space and flavor into the mix as well. (AKA my favorite style)


inside the lobby: the brick wall was once the exterior wall of the yellow building, which was built before the red brick one

As you can see, an original painted sign from the exterior of the old building, which was a hardware and feed store, was partially restored inside:


love the random "M" on the exposed brick


inside the president's new office ... historic Anacostia chic!

The views to the outside should give you some better context for where these buildings are. Because they are on a triangular lot, they have frontage on both MLK Avenue and Good Hope Road.


looking out onto MLK...


...and onto Good Hope

Another cool part about the interior is just how lofty and airy it is. This space was created out of two stodgy old falling apart buildings, yet EDC has created a space that feels refreshing and allows for modern use ... All while preserving the exterior and parts of the inside! (Me <--adaptive use of old buildings dork)





Want another cool feature? Voila, the green roof. The green roof covers the roof of the red brick building, while there is a reflective white roof and (soon to arrive) photovoltaic solar panels on the roof of the yellow half.


looks patchy now, but it will fill in as the rain falls and time goes by

These buildings are on the last block of Good Hope Road before you hit Anacostia Park/Poplar Point. They are adjacent the old CSX railroad line, as well as all the 11th Street Bridges construction. A lot of dirt flying now, but this will be a little jewel box of a block as it develops further.



That concludes the tour! EDC is expecting construction to be complete sometime in May or early June. The building is LEED Gold designed, and they hope to officially certify it at that or another LEED green building level after construction. Three cheers for EDC for staying in Anacostia and adding to its vibrancy and revitalization!

Beautiful Restoration on Chester Street!

Here's your Monday afternoon pick-me-up (not that you needed it in this weather!). I happened to make my way down Chester Street SE a few hours ago and was pleasantly SHOCKED to see this house has undergone a major restoration in a matter of weeks.


my love for working shutters cannot be denied

The house was a very typical house flip: builder's grade finishes, no embellishments, non-conforming Craftsman-style door, boring windows, etc. The flipper had made no efforts on the exterior other than the very least that was required:


Before: nothing heinously horrible, just generally pretty blah

Enter the homeowner, who loves the neighborhood and even reached out to me a few months ago saying he wanted to do some improvements to bring back some of the historic feel to his home. Since it had just been redone hardly two years ago, I was expecting some new windows and a new door - maybe a transom window. But wow was I under-expecting!





I mean, check out the paint colors! And the porch details! Cheers to awesome neighbors, revived homes, and people bringing back boring houseflips!! This is the future of Anacostia.

where the shotgun once stood

Shotgun houses are an endangered species. In Anacostia, there exists only one true shotgun that I can think of, and it's just outside the historic district (and if we're being technical, in the Fairlawn neighborhood) on 17th Street SE near Good Hope Road. Shotgun houses are deep one-story homes that are typically very humble structures and are scattered across much of the American South.


the shotgun on 17th Street SE

On the blog Victorian Secrets, the author gives one explanation for the origin of the style:

It is often said that these houses acquired their name because, if all the doors were open, a shotgun could be fired from front porch to backyard without hitting anything. But even this near-cliche is disputed for reasons beyond the tendency of shotgun pellets to scatter widely.

Since the early 1990s, a widely-accepted theory is that the shotgun house design originated among plantation slaves in the Carribean, and was carried to New Orleans and disseminated throughout the south by slaves and free African-Americans. It has been claimed that the "shotgun" name is a corruption of several Yoruba words related to the concept of "house".

An irony is that exterminating shotgun houses was once a progressive goal. Well into the 1970s, shotgun houses were viewed as inherently-substandard, a symbol of poverty like the unpaved streets and outdoor plumbing that characterized the neighborhoods where they stood. Urban renewal relentlessly demolished them by the block.

Regardless, they are a form that should not be forgotten. Sadly, Anacostia lost a shotgun house at 1314 V Street SE in 2002, when the owner demolished it without permission.


bad condition ≠ reason to demolish


the area is now used as a parking lot for the church across the street

Here's some more history of DC's shotguns:

Washington has been a southern-style city for most of its existence, so it might be expected to have a great many shotgun houses. However, this does not appear to be the case. Perhaps the most likely place to find shotguns would have been among the notorious alley dwellings that were demolished in the 1930s and '40s. However, in photos most of these appear to have been very plain two story brick and wooden structures which allowed more density than single story houses. Perhaps the best DC neighborhood for finding shotgun houses is Deanwood, where there is a sprinkling on the sidestreets between Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue and Sherriff Road NE.

Although shotgun houses are most often associated with poor African-American neighborhoods, each of the pictured houses appear to have had early inhabitants who were white. 1314 V Street SE is another tradesman's home in a formerly segregated white neighborhood. It has many signature shotgun house touches, including a tin gabled roof and full-width front porch, which in this case has a flat, steeply-sloping roof. Some catalogers claim that because shotgun houses are meant to be packed cheek-by-jowl on narrow urban lots, pure examples should lack side windows, as 314 V does.

Every time I learn of a demolition I am more encouraged to continue acting to protect what's still here. This isn't rich people history - but it's a history that's incredibly important and needs protection.

Restoration on 1600 Bl. U Street

There's a new restoration taking place on the 1600 block of U Street SE - and it looks like it's gonna be great. (How do I know? Because it looks nasty now, and because the same folks just did one a few houses down)


a very typical "Anacostia look" house - awesome potential


the fake brick asphalt shingle siding has been mostly removed


looks like the porch floor needs a complete rebuild, but glad to see original columns and decorative elements in place

This is the house on the same block that the same builder just completed and sold. Looks great from the outside, and original wood siding was restored!



It makes such a big difference in the neighborhood when people actually care what the end product looks like ... the city and its future are very thankful.

Renovation Central on 1600 Block of V

In the last two years, 4 of the first 5 houses going up the hill on the 1600 block of V Street have been renovated. And they don't look half bad!



1610 V Street, the tan one below, sure looks great with its faux-brick shingle siding gone, its porch restored, and a fresh coat of paint (among other improvements). Before:



And After. Glad to see the old fence was preserved, and some new landscaping put in. Too often these houses are renovated or built, then never graced with any new plants.



The house is currently for sale for a very reasonable (I think way too reasonable) $199,000. Say what? Check the listing Here.

[Update 6/25/10: House is under contract.]

New Columns on High Street

So refreshingly awesome. This porch used to be supported with dinky-looking iron columns. Don't the wood ones look great?



I think this house is one of the last Historic Homeowner Grant recipients. Unfortunately the program was chopped off at the knees in last year's budget. I'm hopeful that one day the amazing program will be fully funded.

the governess of Valley Place

Anacostia is filled with two types of houses: gorgeous houses that have been lovingly restored, and gorgeous houses that haven't. Valley Place is no exception, and this houses is a complete standout.


I love the Americana vibe from the flag


flowers are everywhere ... landscaping has such a huge impact!



Kudos to the owners for really investing on the block. I know this corner has had an unfair share of break-ins recently, but I truly believe that the more we fix the broken windows (literal and otherwise) in this neighborhood, the less that will happen.

Flip't: It's Finally Finished

the brand-spankin-new-yet-still-old-looking exterior as viewed from U Street SE

[Editor's Note: been wondering why I've been off the blogging recently? Well, here's my excuse. Sometimes you gotta get off the screen and make neighborhood changes the old fashioned way. Enjoy - and if you know someone looking to buy, send 'em this way!]

It took seven long months to finish this place, but it’s finally done. For some reason it’s always the last few things on the renovation checklist that end up being the most gruelingly difficult to finish. Even though I swore this would never happen again after it did during my own home renovation, my general contractor ran off with a couple thousand before finishing the job, so I had to squeeze out the final touches on my own.


the side of the house BEFORE (yikes)

With each project I do, I keep learning that you pay for what you get. If you’re pinching pennies, you have to be extra careful about the quality of work completed and how the contractors are managing your money. As much as I don’t enjoy micromanaging people, it’s a total must – especially on tight-budget projects – to take charge.


the side of the house AFTER ... loving how Charlston-esque it feels

Take the interior paint, for example. Absolutely grueling. Why? Because my contractor made the assumption that I wanted the entire house the exact same color. When I agreed to only do one color on the walls as a way to save money, somehow that translated to painting the ceilings and the trim the same linen color. To be honest, after countless similar episodes throughout the project, it was almost a relief when he left the job.



The interior of the house is totally new. Nothing original from its humble c. 1890-1905 birth year remains. So, I chose a dark stain for the red oak floors because I wanted to give the house a rich, oozing with history feel. Not to be fake about anything, but to restore some dignity to this home that had it all stolen away over time. Matte black doorknobs offer a crisp contrast to the white doors. Crown molding is made of three separate pieces of trim and makes the transition from wall to ceiling all the more graceful.



The 22 karat gold house numbers in a font created in the first decade of the 20th century give the house presence and legitimacy (expensive but totally worth it. Monumental Graphics of Hyattsville did the install and this was his first residential installation east of the Anacostia). It’s these details that really make the house pop. Would it sell without them? Maybe, but that’s not always the point.



I found a great mirror for the half bath on Craigslist. After searching high and low for something in my price range that looked decent, all I was coming up with was matchy pieces from Lowe’s and Home Depot. Ick. (allow me a gag, I shop at those places all the time) But, happily, I found a retiree in Takoma Village (super awesome lady who lived in the co-housing development) who had bought this windowpane mirror at Eastern Market but was downsizing and moving to San Francisco. Perfection, I thought, because it was what this house is all about: old meets new.



Enter my favorite place in the house, the kitchen. Doesn’t it look great? If I could do it all over again I’d probably make the wall cabinet doors on either side of the sink solid wood. I love the glass, as well as the in-cabinet lights, but people typically like hiding things in their cabinets more than they like displaying them.



I found the amazing farmhouse table at Miss Pixie’s on 14th Street. I wanted to have an island-like feature, so opted for a table with handsome pendant lights overhead. A casual place to sit is always welcome in the kitchen.


the hall bathroom (tub is just out of frame)

I’ve always liked it when bathrooms have unique themes. Nothing cheesy like Under the Sea or something … but some prefer the “all bathrooms in the house are one style” approach and that’s just not me. For the upstairs hall bath, I opted for a custom black and white tile design on the floor (very labor intensive, as each black hex has to be inserted into the already glued-together white sheets) and a classic white carrera marble countertop. The faucets, knobs, and lights all sport white porcelain accents on shiny chrome. It’s a clean look.


the view into the master suite ... stairwell is to the left

As much as I would have loved to totally stage this house, I’m not sprouting money (yet), so you’ll have to imagine the complementary shower curtains and freshly rolled towels.


the master bath

For the master bath I went with a travertine-look porcelain tile on the floor, with a tumbled travertine accent in the shower. Mirrors and vanity are dark cherry. I’ll be honest, I think this bathroom would look better in a different paint color. It comes across as a calm, sort of sophisticated look, but isn’t the most exciting of combinations. Fortunately painting is the easiest thing (for the next owner) to do.

So that’s it, folks. Crossing my fingers the right buyer comes along shortly. It’s been fun meeting the visitors: young couple from Adams Morgan, home-schooling mom from Woodley Park, young family from Hillcrest, and even a government contracting firm looking to locate near St. Elizabeths.


looking towards U Street BEFORE

This has been one heck of a project but a really rewarding one. Here’s the Redfin listing one more time: 1214 U Street SE


looking towards U Street AFTER

Thanks so much for reading! Ciao!

Click Here for the entire Flip't series on Prince of Petworth
Click Here for the project write-up on Urban Turf

beautiful houses on W Street

We looked at these houses just before the facelift, and man do they look great now. The hot pink roses against the bright periwinkle blue is a good look.





I like how they coordinated with each other on the same color trim. It makes this set of twins a more cohesive unit while the different body colors give each its own personality.

unacceptable home "improvements"

Fortunately, a large part of the Anacostia neighborhood is a designated historic district. This means that exterior renovations and new buildings have to follow certain guidelines (e.g. no vinyl windows and siding on visible elevations, no chain link, etc), and designs have to fit within the context of the historic district's "period of significance". For Anacostia, that period is roughly between 1850 and 1930.

Prolem is, not everyone pays attention to the rules. They claim ignorance of its existence (despite that fact being made clear whenever property is purchased), financial hardship, or just recklessly make improvements hoping nobody will notice. (I'll admit, even I used the wrong windows the first time ... still wood, but wrong historic period in the windowpane design)


2024 14th Street SE, with illegal new windows that now must be replaced

So when someone tries to pull a fast one and does all the wrong things, people notice. 2024 14th Street SE is a great example. Owner lets the house go to rot. Doesn't care that his tenants are living in terrible conditions as long as he is getting paid. House catches on fire. Tenants safe, but now house is officially unlivable. Owner starts renovation, but uses standard size vinyl windows and doors. Owner has illegally done this before, too. I call up historic preservation (on speed-dial at this point) and make a report. Stop work order issued.


new windows carelessly fit into old trim and framing

With the stop work order came a letter from the DC Office of Historic Preservation. Excerpts:

...you are required by the DC Preservation Law to replace the pre existing (illegally installed) vinyl windows on your home damaged by your recent fire with 1 over 1 wood windows that are sized to fit the original historic openings. Vinyl replacements are not acceptable or allowable. No reduction in overall size to use standard catalogue windows is acceptable. The windows need to be sized according to the original historic fabric.

...Finally please remember that ANY work done on the exterior of the building MUST be approved by our office as part of your required permits and prior to your implementing the work. Any work implemented on the exterior of the building with-out permits may result in additional fines and penalties. ...

Historic districts exist for a reason. They are like little jewel-boxes of neighborhood and architectural history. The rules are there to make sure that the neighborhood is preserved with integrity, and that the neighbors who do it right aren't brought down by the ones who do it wrong. If you suspect that someone within the district has disregarded the rules, please email me or our Historic Preservation Office representative Michael Beidler (michael.beidler@dc.gov).

I know it can seem cruel, especially in less-rich areas, to enforce these things. But most of the time it's the out-of-town landlords that don't follow the rules. For Anacostia to really become a nice place, everyone needs to value the way it looks and the way it is improved.

14th Street Twin Update

So happy to see this house get a high-quality restoration. It has gone from a vinyl-clad facade eyesore to a handsome wood-sided beaut.


but still way too many overhead wires ... wondering if they are all still active


I think they are keeping it white, which I am not opposed to


doesn't the porch look great?

This is the kind of homebuilding we need more of - and are fortunate to be getting - here in Anacostia. I'm excited to see the final product!

Next in Line for Restorations

Gray skies and wintry forecasts got you down? Never fear, the spring renovation / restoration season is near and promises to cheer you up. I've compiled a list of a few houses (I'm sure there are more, but I happened upon these this morning) that are either just starting or soon to commence their makeovers.

This house (on the left) on the 1300 block of W is part of one of my favorite twins. I bet it's going to look great when it's finished:

I mean, how classic are the sidewalk-level front porches?

High Street has, to me at least, always been a bit of a downer, but there are at least three homes on the block that will soon change for the better:


this one isn't falling apart by any means, but will see roof and trim repairs


this solid brick home is getting new windows and a restored wood-columned porch


Haunted? not sure ... but this one is getting a COMPLETE restoration (pretty much a re-build) and is going to look fantastic

the 1600 block of V has been seeing some good progress lately. New condos at the top of the block (yet to be blogged about), and a spattering of good-looking restorations in the past year. This particular house on the left is being completely remodeled and will soon (I hope) look as good as its next door neighbor:


I wonder what color they'll paint this one...

So yes, Anacostia is still very much under construction despite the downturn. Seriously cannot wait for spring.