Satellite Dishes: Not Out Front, Please

It truly is exciting seeing all the renovations going on in Anacostia -- each one makes such an important difference on the neighborhood's blocks. But...

It ain't cool, or allowed, to install satellite dishes on the front of a house.



When you get DirecTV or another dish service, the installers will try to install it on a surface that is easiest for them. However, they will install in the back or on the main roof if you ask for it.

These houses on W Street are a prime example:



For the sake of the historic district - and your own pocketbook (remember, the city city can fine for violations against the historic district) - please make sure to have dishes installed on the back of the house or on the roof, far enough back so that it isn't visible from the street. Thanks!

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.

Home with a Douglass View

I've always loved this tan stucco house on 14th Street SE, right across from Cedar Hill, the estate home of Frederick Douglass.



It's an awesome thing when people care for their homes, and these owners clearly do.

Question: does anyone know why the foundation is so high? To make room for a cellar?

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!

14th Street Twin-ovation

Twin houses are one of Anacostia's specialities, and this pair on 14th Street SE is finally seeing some new dignity. This is the first property in the neighborhood built with plans edited and commented on by yours truly and the rest of the Historic Anacostia Design Review Committee.

This is what it used to look like:



And this is what it looks like now:


I love the passageway between the houses ... although not sure I'd actually want it if it were my home


the awning has been replaced with a real porch with a standing seam metal roof


glad to see the quality windows and wood siding on all sides of the house

Coming soon: a new house on the lot to the left of this one. Sure, the big projects in the neighborhood have seen a slowdown in this economy, but there is still a lot of work being done on a smaller scale.

snow twins (in March)

you can barely see it, but the house on the right has one of my favorite features, a false-front crown above the cornice. Probably not the technical name, but it's one of those fanciful details that adds really cool character to our little neighborhood.

do-on't stop, belie-ieving

just a little clapboard restoration to get the morning started:



...It goes on and on and on and on...

photo by DG-rad

the facade treatment

still waiting on some progress here:



and yep, we need to get this overhead wires mess cleaned up. the issue has certainly been raised to the local ANC, and if Brookland can get their power lines buried (albeit on their main street), then we've got some footing.

before & after

new walkway, restored columns and porch, and new subtle-but-true blue on the 1300 block of V Street SE.

pre-grant:


post-grant:


photos by DG-rad

sweet twin houses, take 7

I love the raw planks, especially up against the red house -- although not sure if the unpainted-ness is a permanent thing.



photo by DG-rad

totally awesome house

This twin house, on the 1400 block of V Street SE, is pretty stellar. I decided to stop in this afternoon during the open house to check it out, and I was blown away by the creative way that the owner renovated it into a completely classy and cool place.


check out the sweet bust on the bookcase


while kind of narrow, the kitchen is still pretty spacious and opens up to the backyard


that great vintage-looking shelf is made from salvaged beadboard from an old closet in the house



So, if anyone out there is looking for a place in Anacostia, this is definitely worth a look. While not the only house for sale on the block...


(and there is yet another one just out of view)

...I can pretty confidently say that if you are looking for charm but don't want a fixer-upper, this is the house for you.

more twin houses

I wish I had a before picture of these, because a year ago they didn't look this great, at all.

definition of anacostia

old, new
rejected, restored
forgotten, reminded
worn, refreshed

now that the weather is getting nice, a quick stroll through the neighborhood can give you a great feel for the area. I noticed this garden for the first time today - and the woman who lives there told me she has been working on it for over 20 years!

- Perfect example of what I love about Anacostia -





all photos by DG-rad

twin houses, part 1

One of the many unique characteristics of Historic Anacostia is the profusion of twin houses. Because the neighborhood was built by lots of different developers and landowners over a long period of time, there are many instances of townhouses (not duplexes) connected to only one other home, rather than the more common long strings of nearly-identical houses you might find in other parts of the city- although we have a few of those as well.





I really like both of these sets: the first from the 1300 block of V St SE, and the second from the 1400 block.