1918 13th Goes Office

The Board of Zoning Appeals met on December 9th to recommend that 1918 13th Street be allowed to change from residential to office use. I couldn't make the public hearing, and I'm not against this change. However, as a low-density neighborhood it is important that we retain and add as much residential as possible. Does a live/work zoning category exist? If so, maybe that would have been most appropriate.

The applicant has requested zoning relief to convert a single-family residential building at 1918 13th Street, SE for use as an office. The property is 2,160 square feet in size and is improved with a vacant semi-detached house. The applicant completed renovations on the building in 2007. No additional construction is proposed or needed to facilitate the requested change in use.

The applicant currently operates an office for his construction business about a block away at 1111 Good Hope Road. The applicant hopes to relocate this office to the subject property, as the existing office location is intended to be redeveloped.

this paragraph caught my attention, as it is further proof that we need to return 13th Street to a two-way road, as well as add stop signs along its length so that its on-ramp appeal is lost:

In this location, 13th Street, SE is a oneway, three-lane street with no onstreet parking and serves as a primary westbound entrance for the 11th Street Bridge.

All in all, this is a fine zoning change. A restored building, an office user who is choosing to stay in the neighborhood, and a glimmer of hope for more development at the Gateway.

Does this mean that there is progress being made at Anacostia Square, or that property owners on the 1100 block of Good Hope are finally giving in to both development and eminent domain pressure? Let's hope so.


these signs give the bare details

Click Here for PDF of the Office of Planning's report

photo by DG-rad

eminent domain?

Councilmember Barry has introduced legislation to acquire the Anacostia Square block via eminent domain. Called "Downtown Anacostia and Pennsylvania Avenue Eminent Domain Authorization Act of 2008", the bill hopes to jumpstart development where it has been languishing for far too long.



true.



right on. please continue.



exactly.



you make an interesting point. do go on.



ok. getting back to the facts. i like it.



nothing to argue with here.



which is why we are uber-eager to get it started.

My first instinct was to say something along the lines of "yes, but I'm not sure that eminent domain is the right way to go on this".

...but then I was sitting here and I couldn't think of any good reasons that I felt that way, and kept going back to how great it would be for something to actually happen on this block. fortunately this bill moves the whole development idea out of the sugerplum dreams phase and into something a little closer to reality.

and even if the eminent domain "option" isn't how it all happens in the end, it certainly puts pressure on some of the property owners to shape up or sell off.

For more, check out these articles:
WJLA
The Examiner

graphic by DG-rad

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

big loss

I love these old photos of Anacostia. They show a vitality and a life that we really want to regain, but are also a sad reminder of the architectural heritage lost as a result of so many demolitions. Unfortunately, most of the clapboard-sided commercial buildings are now gone, with only the brick ones remaining.


1900 Block of MLK, c. 1910

Below is the exact same view today. What is interesting is that 1913 MLK (fourth building from the left, above), although brick underneath, was once covered in wood clapboard siding to match its neighbors.


the leftmost building is 1913 MLK

While I try to not idealize the past and solely wish the neighborhood could look exactly like it did a hundred years ago, there's something to be said for the unique look of Anacostia that is more and more forgotten with each demolition. There's a certain fancifulness that has been lost, and, at least on our commercial corridors, a threadbare architectural heritage that we must vigorously fight to preserve.

...and yes, I am kind of obsessed with this block.

old photo courtesy of the National Photo Company Collection (edited by DG-rad)

fake out

the sun was shining perfectly last night to expose what could be if this corner lot –the old Peoples Drug– were redeveloped with storefronts.





now fully braced, these three stalwarts of the old Anacostia will stay put until whatever becomes of Anacostia Square is finally developed around them.

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.

Demolition Progress

It's getting pretty ridiculous(ly exciting):


this machine has been chomping away


blue skies


the depth of the buildings


almost a strange optical illusion

Last week the workers finished re-mortaring the brick facades that will be saved:





photos by DG-rad

brickwork at 1909-1919 MLK

Although they are still working on tearing down the back portions of these structures, work has already begun on the facade brickwork. It looks like they are replacing / adding mortar to strengthen it, as the facades are going to be preserved in front of whatever gets built as part of Douglas Development / AEDC's Anacostia Square.



photos by DG-rad

brick by brick

as much as I look forward to this not being a "blight", there's a certain character and intricate story in urban decay: warped rooves, fire-damaged bricks, rusting metal.


workers knock down bricks from the side, saying (as we already knew) that only the facades will stay

...meanwhile I am wondering when the facades will be structurally supported.








stamped tin ceiling

updates at 1901-1919 MLK

Work is being done at 1901-1919 MLK Ave. DC, which owns these three buildings, is finally beginning to demolish what will not be saved - everything except the facades.




shoe store?


old grungy entrances are being dismantled

beige-ification

Last week, this:

Click to Enlarge


became this:

Click to Enlarge


I'm hoping it's just the primer for a sweet paint job. But I also know that this building is part of the Anacostia Square assemblage, which means that it, like everything else on the block, is veiled in mystery.

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.