Suntrust on Good Hope

Before(ish) and After: I forget what it looked like before before...





photos by DG-rad

New Poll!

Vote now for your Top Choice for a development team for Poplar Point! Poll is on the top right side of this page.

...please leave your reasons why in the comments...

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PS - Don't forget to VOTE for Anacostia on HGTV.com every day until next friday!

Poplar Point Finalists Unveiled

Tonight's meeting at Birney Elementary was interesting. I was not wowed - but also not disheartened. Here is a very basic breakdown of the final four:

1. Archstone Smith / Madison Marquette
-includes possibility of soccer stadium.
-Has the general look and feel of a suburban lifestyle center. Not much effort to weave any sort of urban cohesive sense into the site.

Archstone Proposal (notice all the big parking decks, and how it turns its back on Historic Anacostia)


2. Clark Realty
-includes the possibility of soccer stadium.
-They do something no other team attempts - actually building a platform over 295 to physically bridge the gap between Anacostia and Poplar Point. I support the platform 200%.
-Create a central park to rival New York's, to which one woman in the audience yelled out "Oh No you can't make it as good as New York Central Park!"

Some pics:
Site plan looks awesome:


I really like this rendering because it shows how truly big Poplar Point is. The strange looking building on the water is the National Hall of the Environment, where "government, business", etc will meet on environmental sustainability issues...

...and also looks oddly like Calatrava's Tenerife Opera House

3. Forest City Washington
-The most realistic and forward-looking plan: they do not pretend that they own all of Poplar Point, nor any outlying areas.
-Their call to the city: "Pick a partner, not a plan. Plans change." They could not be more right. These plans will change dramatically. We are not supposed to choose the team based on the exact plan they showed tonight.
-Unique community benefits package: in addition to creating tons of jobs, they pledged to open up an office in Anacostia, as well as put $1 million towards a real estate development apprentice and summer internship program for local youth.
-also made the point that their plan can include a soccer stadium, but that, paraphrased, get real it ain't gonna happen before 2010.

FCW's preliminary plan:


4. Mid-City Urban / General Growth Properties
-kept boasting about GGP developing 200 malls across America. Thank you for effectively ruining 200 places across America, but I'd rather you not ruin Poplar Point.
-most boring presentation - nothing popped. I remember yawning.

no, Mid-City, you don't own the land at the Metro station..


- - -

At this point, I am in support of Clark Realty and Forest City Washington's plans. Based on Forest City's history, I know they would do an amazing job and the project would be world-class. I just really want that platform over 295...

Better pics and renderings when I can get them.

For more, read the Washington Post's article

NBC 4 has a slideshow of some of the plans Here

Good article from Washington Biz Journal

Here is the flyer announcing Wednesday's meeting where the four finalists will unveil their plans for Poplar Point.

Click to enlarge

I know it isn't technically in our neighborhood, but has anyone been to the new Giant?

We still need a full-service grocery store in Anacostia!

*note*
I don't care for a suburban-style grocery in Anacostia. I'm much more thinking urban-style, ala Logan Circle Whole Foods, O Street Market Giant (future), and CityVista Safeway! We definitely have the developable land.

not sure what happened... but definitely photo-worthy.



PS - Did you VOTE today?

W Street Project

current view

Local development company Four Points, LLC has finally won approval from the DC Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) to move forward with their major project at W and 13th Streets, SE. It is incredibly exciting to see residential infill development finally come to Anacostia, a neighborhood that we all know has limitless potential for regeneration and growth.


future greatness


what it looks like now

I attended one of the HPRB meetings a couple months ago when Four Points was presenting, and at the time was glad to see that the board was being very strict about the design of this project. Because it is in the Anacostia Historic District, there are many guidelines that have to be followed to uphold and strengthen the current aesthetic.

The project will have a total of 24 buildings with 40 housing units. There will be 16 buildings with 32 condo units, a rebuilt single-family home that is a replica of the structure that currently sits on-site (see photo below), and 7 townhouses.


abandoned house to be rebuilt as single-family

Four Points will not be applying for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certification, and none of the buildings will have roof-decks, despite the potential for really awesome views.


view of interior alley dwellings


site plan

New 14th Street Park

Check out the sign at the current "park" for a better look. More news as I hear it.

PS - Did you VOTE today?

photo by DG-rad

if only...

...the new 11th Street Bridges could be as simple as it used to be.


(click to enlarge)

Skyland Meeting Tonight

When:

Tonight, Tuesday, November 20, 2007 from 6:15-8:00pm

Where:

Hillcrest Recreation Center (click for map)

What:

Tonight's meeting should be pretty exciting, as I assume they will be revealing the latest design plans made after our last meeting full of suggestions. If you can make it, I strongly recommend going. Skyland is going to significantly change the perception of communities east of the river, and now is the time to say what needs to be said to make it awesome.

Click to Enlarge:



PS - Did you VOTE today?

Vote for Anacostia on HGTV.com!

VOTE HERE

From the HGTV website:

"Change the World: Start at Home is a new community revitalization and environmental cause effort launched by HGTV in partnership with Rebuilding Together, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Natural Resources Defense Council. The campaign focuses on revitalizing communities across the country and helping consumers make smart choices for the environment within their homes and daily lives.

...One project in each community will focus on environmentally-friendly improvements while another will focus on a historic place that helps preserve the fabric of the community."

VOTE HERE

Description of proposed work in Anacostia:

...this community revitalization effort would help clean up and maintain Anacostia Park and River, repair elderly housing in the neighborhood and improve a community education center that serves at risk children.

Click Here for more pictures and details

You can vote once each day until December 21, 2007. The winner will be announced on January 1 during the Rose Parade.

Just think, if everyone who reads this post votes every single day, we will make a huge difference and hopefully win!

VOTE HERE

image courtesy of HTGV

Notes on the Bridge Oversight Hearing

I spent a couple of hours at the oversight meeting yesterday regarding bridge projects in Washington, DC. Most of the discussion was on controversy surrounding the 11th Street Bridges replacement project. As of now, the plan is to totally replace both spans, making one of them a local bridge between Anacostia and Capitol Hill, and the other between the freeways on either side of the river.

Various people testified, including DDOT Director Emeka Moneme, and DDOT Chief Engineer (as of yesterday) Kathleen Penney.

(Interesting sidenote: I sat next to Director Moneme at last week's ANC 8A meeting--knowing he worked for DC, but not knowing that he was the Director of DDOT! Fortunately I like to make my opinions known at public meetings, and was talking with him about what I thought needed done with the project.)

Their testimony focused on the elements of the preferred alternative, and it took a while for the councilmembers to understand what all was involved.

For the record, Ward 8 Councilman Marion Barry was NOT in attendence at this Very Important meeting that will significantly affect his ward. Pretty disapointing, actually.

After their testimony, members of the Capitol Hill Restoration Society testified along with someone they hired from Smart Mibility, a land use and traffic modeling firm based out of New Hampshire. Their argument was that the replacement project will be a detriment to neighborhoods west and north of the Anacostia River, siphoning more traffic onto local roads. My own personal suspicion is that they are worried the new local bridge will make it easier for Anacostia residents to venture into their neighborhood. I hope it does.

Further testimony came from the Sierra Club and Smart Growth America, who jointly raised the concern that the bridges are not taking into account the need for alternative transportation such as street cars, light rail, bicycles, and pedestrians. They make a very good point, and it is my understanding that it is also DDOT's goal to incorporate the structure for that.

Testimony from neighborood organizations and condo communities focused mainly on the plan to remove the 13th street direct access to 395. The new plan forces drivers to cross the local bridge before accessing 395 from an onramp in Capitol Hill. While it is true that one of the reasons I chose Anacostia as a neighborhood to personally invest in and live in, I have not decided for myself if that is an issue I feel strong about defending. My main concern is that Everything about this project takes the beauty of the waterfront into consideration. We do Not want a mixing bowl on our waterfront. We want it to be more accessible and attractive, not less.

This issue is far from decided, but yesterday's meeting made clear that there are residents and organizations that will not let this move forward without a fight to make it a good project. Let's hope DC is listening.

Check out:
November 13, 2007 presentation on Project (very helpful)

Market No More

Sad, sad news.

The Anacostia Farmers' Market is closed. For good. Apparently it was not turning a profit, despite its nine-year effort.

I don't see this as a permanent closing, however. As more people move to the neighborhood, market organizers will surely discover that it is Ripe for a farmers' market.

News sources:
WJLA
Clagett Farm

Take Your Lunch Break at 10am on Friday

So that you can testify or at least attend the oversight meeting for the 11th Street Bridges Project. This will significantly affect our community and our commuting. Please see previous posts for details.

Today is the last day to sign up to testify. Sign up for public statements with LaDorsa Willis, (202) 724-8195, before 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 14, 2007.

If you can't testify, send an email to Councilmember Jim Graham who is holding the hearing: Jim@grahamwone.com

giant cinder-block thing salvation army update

I guess that big open space on the corner section will be windows--but does this look overly cinder-block-ish to anyone else? Still definitely looking forward to the final product. It will have some pretty amazing views of the city from the tops floors.

Bridges Update!

I recommend any and all who can make it to go to the DC Bridges Public Oversight Meeting.

When:

Friday, November 16, 2007 at 10:00 A.M.

Where:

Council Chamber, John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20004

What:

From Neha Bhatt, Councilman Tommy Wells' Policy Advisor on Smart Growth and Transportation:

"This is an opportunity for anyone who is interested in connectivity and other issues to be heard. You can sign up to testify or submit written comments. If you do testify, remember to bring copies of your testimony for the council members. If you can't testify, send an email to Councilmember Jim Graham who is holding the hearing: Jim@grahamwone.com"

Key Issues:

- Further physical separation of Anacostia from rest of city and region.

- Major infrastructure on waterfront is unnatractive and does not spur economic development.

- We should use this bridge replacement as an opportunity to do something GREAT, not something normal.

- We need to suggest alternatives such as tunneling the highway at this intersection so that the waterfront is more accessible to Anacostia.

- With all the talk of tearing the Whitehurt Freeway down in Georgetown, why are we even considering building more highways in the sky?

Sign up for public statements with LaDorsa Willis (202) 724-8195 before 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 14, 2007.

The 11th Street Bridges Project

(for maps, photos and renderings, scroll down)

For a project with such major impact on Anacostia and at extreme cost to the city, the 11th Street Bridges project has been very much under the radar and hidden from the public. I attended the ANC 8A meeting last night (1st Tuesday of each month), where some concerned citizens from Capitol Hill presented on the impacts of the "Preferred Alternative" selected by DDOT for the reconstruction of the 11th street bridges.

Anacostia residents and workers currently enjoy Extremely easy access to 395, downtown DC, and Virginia from our local onramp on 13th Street and Good Hope. And while highway access isn't something I would always promote, it is one of the features of our neighborhood that attracted me. I can drive to the capitol in less than 5 minutes. I can get to Arlington and Alexandria in about 10. It's that easy.

However, the 11th Street Bridges reconstruction will probably change all that. I don't have a clearly defined position on this yet, but my first instinct is to want to protect that accessibility. Anacostia already has enough setbacks and separations from the rest of the city and region --why eliminate even more? On the other hand, the preferred alternative will turn one of the bridges into a "local bridge", essentially forcing us to cross over into Capitol Hill and then get on the highway from there. The other bridge will be strictly for highway users. (see pictures) Another benefit to this plan will be that there will be an exit to the local bridge from 295, making it much easier to access our neighborhood from points south.

Click to Enlarge

Preferred Alternative




They really should have used a real picture of Anacostia Gateway. Their fake rendering is hideous!


This is what it actually looks like

Here is the thing that annoys me the most: this is 2007. This is not 1960. In 1960 American planners slapped highways in the middle of cities, segmented neighborhoods, and did away with pedestrian connectivity and public transportation all in the name of progress. The problem? Turned out that that was a huge mistake and that everything that they eliminated was actually what made cities vibrant and attractive.

What are we doing building more highways in the sky in 2007? Why can't OUR side of the river get the same kind of redo as the Frederick Douglas Bridge got near the new baseball stadium? They wanted to make it more attractive: they reconstructed the boulevard and made everything look less highway-like. I'm not against making the highways more efficient, but let's Please do it in an attractive way that does not further segregate Anacostia.

11th Street Bridges website
Make your voices heard: public comment closes at the end of the month!

images courtesy of DDOT, photo by DG-rad

Vita's Eatery

To all of you who were looking for a way to reach Levita Mondie-Sapp, Anacostia's own "vegan soul chef", here is her email:

vitas_eatery@yahoo.com

If I hear of more or better contact information I will be sure to pass it along. How awesome would it be if she opened up a restaurant/school/shop in Anacostia . . .

I found the email in this Washington Post online discussion

Neighborhood in the News

- Seven Developers compete for Poplar Point - two include stadium

- Is Ward 8 getting the same Mayoral attention as the rest of the city?

- St. Elizabeth's - too many buildings, not enough preservation

- More on historic preservation at St. Eliz

Our River(s)

The Washington Business Journal has a good article on the importance of dredging for economic development along DC's rivers. It could really be a boon in the Anacostia because of all the pollutants on the bottom, as long as they aren't simply stirred up and washed down to the Potomac.

For article, Click Here

Where can I buy a tree?

I want to plant a nice shade tree in my front yard, but I don't know where to buy one. Does anyone know of the closest / best place I could look? Thanks!

I was inspired to start looking now because Casey Trees is offering a $50 rebate for anyone and everyone who plants a shade tree in their yard in DC. For information and a coupon, Click Here.

You have to hurry, though, because the rebate expires December 31, 2007!

H.A.B.A.

The Historic Anacostia Block Association (HABA) website is up! Definitely check it out, and if you live in the neighborhood or close by, we would love to see you at the meetings. The next meeting (Thursday, Nov. 15--mark your calenders!) is the celebration of HABA's one year anniversary.

good article on anacostia

Howard University's Hilltop student newspaper just published a good article both in defense of and celebration of historic Anacostia.

Atop a scenic hilltop in southeast Washington lies a historical neighborhood that tells a story of growth and strength. ...

Click Here for the article

Good Hope Updates

1104 Good Hope (near Anacostia Park)
Before: nothin' special


After: pretty spiffy


Drake's: seems to be back on--new 2nd floor windows. The cursive Anacostia sign and clock will be back in place soon, hopefully






Suntrust Building: Looks like they are re-doing the exterior on the side--hopefully on the whole building! (as long as they use good materials and do a good job...)


1429 Good Hope: (Brown one on the left) I saw someone painting in here last week, and asked what was going in. Unfortunately he didn't know. Hopefully not another Tax Service (see neighbors below)




- - -

In other news, the Washington Biz Journal reports that the DC Gov will be taking space in the Anacostia Gateway building. Now that there's a tenant, please let there be good retail! (Please, no banks. Although selfishly a Wachovia branch might be nice.)

That's one fine lookin' building!


photos by DG-rad

Must See: Lessons from the Waterfront

Because today is Blog Action Day, I am posting about this year's topic: the environment. Anacostia is no stranger to environmental issues, most of which begin and end with the river.

At last Thursday's Historic Anacostia Block Association meeting, the Multimedia Training Institute screened their latest film project, dubbed "Lessons from the Waterfront: The Anacostia". It was an impressive film, both because of its enlightening content and the fact that it was produced by a group of Ward 7 & 8 teenagers.

A few lessons I was left with were:

-Do not litter. Most of the trash that gets thrown onto the street gets washed into the storm drains and into the river.

-Build Green. If you have the opportunity, use building materials that are recycled/recyclable, and techniques such as solar panels or vegetation on your roof to save energy.

-Developers: use low-impact development. Plans that help the environment and decrease the negative effects of storm water will really help our river.

Click Here for a Post article on the film

photo for graphic by flickr user Mr. T in DC

Anacostia's Own Vegan Soul Chef

Featured in the Washington Post Food section!

I hope many of you had the chance to sample Levita Mondie-Sapp's amazing chili at the Chili Bowl Bonanza last month at the farmers' market- if you look at my pictures from the event you can see her smiling as she dishes it out. Yesterday the Post ran an article about her mission to promote a new spin on soul food:

Mondie-Sapp's dishes are meatless and healthful, yet no one seems to mind. That's how eating habits can change, she says, referring to her one-woman campaign. "This is not an area known for liking vegetarian," she says with a thoughtful, intent gaze and quiet confidence. "But I've been able to show people that this food can be good."

And this (which I have been wondering for a while now...):

There's proof that the teacher's revolution is gaining a foothold in Southeast. Mondie-Sapp recently won the grand prize and her third consecutive "People's Choice" award in the annual chili cook-off held at the Anacostia Farmers Market.

What can we do to make this happen?

Someday, Mondie-Sapp would love to make Vita's Eatery a bricks-and-mortar enterprise right near her home -- maybe a cafe on the bottom and cooking classes upstairs, where she could teach people the benefits of a diet based on whole foods and whole grains.

Click Here for the full article

Click Here for her award-winning chili recipe!

Ballpark? (and other photo updates)

...nope, not the new Nats park, despite it looking curiously similar. It's none other than the new Salvation Army building from Morris Rd looking towards MLK.


from MLK, looking southwest


One of the too-many forlorn buildings along MLK
(look carefully for the newly shattered window on the sidewalk)


Big K Liquors (Before)


Update: Big K Fine Wines & Spirits (After)
Now if only they'd trade the metal screens and doors with some nice windows and a storefront...

photos by DG-rad

Drake's Stop Work Order

As much as I have been wanting to love the new look of this building, my gut told me that something was amiss. And clearly something was. An email to Historic Preservation informed me that there are a number of violations -- my guess is that it was the non-historic-looking windows and potentially the stucco job that set them off. I was feeling creative tonight, but scroll down a couple posts for some real photos.





This brings up an interesting discussion point--and I am not intending to pick on Drake's here, as its efforts and initiative are truly honorable. However, as a fragile historic district, Anacostia can't afford to stray from its accepted preservation guidelines or a dangerous precedent will be set for future development. Yes, that's a hard line, but it is those guidelines that will ensure we end up with a neighborhood of lasting quality and character. Everyone that I talk to is incredibly eager for restaurants, shops, and the like. But--and this isn't easy-- we need to mandate that the projects that are built both set us apart as well as celebrate our architectural heritage.

- - -

Dusk sky over Anacostia Gateway:



photos and graphic by DG-rad

Library Design Meeting Tonight!

If you are interested in what the new library will look like and how it will contribute to the urban structure of our neighborhood, this is the meeting to attend!

When:

Thursday October 4, 2007 at 6:00 P.M.

Where:

Anacostia Interim Library, 1800 Good Hope Road, S.E. at 18th Street, S.E.

What:

The DC Public Library is hosting a second round of Community Meetings to work with the community in designing and constructing the Anacostia Library. The Freelon Group is presenting their preliminary concepts to the community.

Hope to see you there!

Another very interesting piece, this one detailing some of the history of our neighborhood, from the news of yore:

"Editor Post: An article in a city paper of the 10th instant recounting the death and career of John W. Van Hook, one of the founders of Uniontown, now Anacostia, D.C., is suggestive of what, it seems to me, ought to be put on record, for the reason that the geography and material facts touching the true history of that, the largest and most flourishing suburb of the Capital, ought to be better known, especially by members of the press.

Prior to 1853 or 1854 the property was owned and cultivated as a farm and market garden by Enoch Tucker, who during one of those years sold it, about 100 acres, to John Fox, John Van Hook, and John Dobler, who subdivided it into streets and lots and called it Uniontown.

The post-office had previously been established under the name of Anacostia, but the first post-office there bore the name of Buena Vista, which, however, survived but a very short time.

Uniontown originally embraced but a comparatively small part of its present area. It was bounded by Monroe (MLK), Harrison (Good Hope), Taylor (16th), and Jefferson (W) streets*. Among other provisions set forth in its charter, the founders thought proper to prohibit negroes from ever acquiring title to a lot there. This accounts for the fact that it remained, notwithstanding the change of status of that race, almost exclusively a white man’s town.

A notable fact is that one of the founders of this place, through his misfortune, had to surrender his beautiful and spacious home to the Freedman’s Bank, and a negro, to the late Fred Douglas, became its occupant and owner. Some twenty years ago, realizing the awkward situation growing out of the difference between the name of the post-office and town in which it was located, they were, by act of Congress, through the agency of your correspondent, made synonymous. ~W. Lee White."

excerpt from letter to editor "Origin of Anacostia", The Washington Post, April 17, 1905

Click to Enlarge

1886 map portion courtesy of the library of congress

*note: present-day street names added in parentheses