the Anacostia sign is back

After being off the facade of 1115/1117 Good Hope Road for over a year, the cursive "Anacostia" sign is back!



The sign is a landmark in the neighborhood, and helps define the area to all those coming down Good Hope and across the 11th Street Bridge.

And while the sign isn't the first one to grace the building...

Victory Grill, 1952. Ah, the days before 295.

nor was this the first location for the sign...

Anacostia Thrifty Liquor Store, 1205 Good Hope, 1947

...it is a welcome addition and adds a certain character to the intersection. A lighting ceremony is planned for Friday, November 7 at 6:30 pm.

Victory Grill photo courtesy of DCHS
Anacostia Liquors photo courtesy of the Library of Congress

MLK & Good Hope

So it turns out that the Drake's building and the beige building are owned by the same person. I wonder why the owner fixed up (or at least is in the process of fixing) the one and not the other. My speculation is that they are in negotiations with the Anacostia Square people (AEDC and Douglas Development) to be included in their redevelopment of the block.




photo courtesy of the Washington DC Historical Society

As this photo from 1949 shows, the beige building used to be the Anacostia Uniform House. It served the Navy Yard across the river, which really reinforces the history that this was a neighborhood largely founded and built for the workers over there. It's too bad that that legacy is basically lost, as nothing in Anacostia today serves that community.

PS - how awesome was that taller building with the balcony ...sadly now lost.

saturday

It was a beautiful, albeit ridiculously hot day for a stroll through the neighborhood. This post is all over the place, so get ready.

Honestly, this building at the corner of Good Hope and 15th would not have been one of Keller Williams "Preferred Properties" even last year. Love that it is now. (I think that there is already a contract on it)


This is what the building was planned to become.


Good ol' Drake's, looking from Good Hope Road. Word from Drake himself is that the restaurant is still coming, and that a new cursive "Anacostia" sign should adorn the front of the building soon.


This is what the old sign looked like. I think the new one will be an exact replica. Should be pretty cool lookin'.

photo courtesy of flickr user ellievanhoutte

This is one of my favorite houses in the neighborhood. It reminds me of New Orleans.


Remember how this playground wasn't finished during the whole HGTV weekend? Well, it's up now.




Yep, this is a sign from 4 years ago. You can add littering to the list of laws Marion Barry has broken.


Remember the Carver Theater building? Turns out they built a sweet giant glass skylight on top.


photos by DG-rad

one mystery solved

just outside Drake's, the indoor shrubbery recently became the potted outdoor shrubbery:

Some shrubbery inside Drake's. Any new plants (non-invasive) are good plants, in my opinion, though I'd be interested to learn where these are going!

Meet Anacostia Gateway

Today I had the chance to tour Anacostia Gateway, the future home of the DC Department of Housing and Community Development, with Mike Wallach, Vice President and COO of the Anacostia Economic Development Corporation. In a perfect world, it would have been blue skies and sunny, but with this building's views, it is hard to not be impressed, however gray the day.



The Green Roof:
for some reason I didn't take any pictures of the patio part, but this roof is accessible to all building users.


you can see Grandview Estates up on the hill




a little sedum

From the 3rd Floor:







tear me down and build something in my place


good ol' mysterious Drake's


the old Green Derby. AEDC did the exterior renovation, and is currently seeking approval to build stairs out the front door

Anacostia Square:

Mike telling me about the Anacostia Square project, to be developed by AEDC and Douglas Development.

According to him, they own the entire block all the way down to the railroad tracks (except Drake's). They are currently waiting on HPRB on design issues, but it is still very much in process. Once Historic Preservation signs off on the project, then it goes into the PUD stage. (I didn't know it was a PUD until now. This is a good thing, because it means that there has to be a good amenity base in the project)


at least it can really only get better than this



Before the DDOT Building arrives:



future roundabout / traffic circle





Good Hope:

new Elks lodge signage


...and new gate: secret entrance to the Daily Planet?





From the 2nd Floor:



Honfleur Gallery! (the blue one)

FYI, they are having a show opening this Saturday called Into the Light at 7pm. Free.






I seriously hope this won't be someone's corner office

The Retail:

they are still looking for a restaurant in this corner


Industrial Bank is [purportedly] headed for this spot (dang, I was really hoping for a Wachovia..)

Lobby and Exterior:



they are still deciding which work of art to display in that back frame





Conclusion: the Gateway building is very impressive, with fantastic views of Anacostia and beyond. I am confident that once those employees move in, it will definitely inspire future neighborhood investment and growth, as well as more retail in the surrounding area.