Anacostia: Not the part of DC you're used to seeing

[Eightball]

Originally Posted by mhays

It looks reasonably dense to me, from the other side of the country. (Correction: looking from bing maps, it looks pretty sparse near MLK, and it's also a bit separated from other neighborhoods. Walking across the river doesn't look easy, though 295 appears to have a walkway?)

Interesting observations. The new 11th st bridge (next to 295) is beautiful, with huge bike/ped areas and large lookouts over the Anacostia. Ped/biking use is increasing, but still far below potential.

Re: certain blocks being sparse, it does have more empty lots than most other DC neighborhoods (even ones in worse financial condition). I attribute this to the fact there are more woodframe houses present than other neighborhoods. The wood frame just doesn't last that well in DC compared to brick. Also, there seem to have been a lot of razing of multiple adjacent/rowhouse parts for prep for condos before the bottom fell out in 08/09. This is starting to pick up again now, but mainly single family renovations. Note folks are already complaining about being priced out.

Since this has become a de-facto Anacostia thread I think it is appropriate to put this here. It could be incredible, but will face some challenges, as neither location for entering the proposed park is ideal.
http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blo...finalists/8534

[bobdreamz]

Originally Posted by Eightball

Interesting observations. The new 11th st bridge (next to 295) is beautiful, with huge bike/ped areas and large lookouts over the Anacostia. Ped/biking use is increasing, but still far below potential.

Re: certain blocks being sparse, it does have more empty lots than most other DC neighborhoods (even ones in worse financial condition). I attribute this to the fact there are more woodframe houses present than other neighborhoods. The wood frame just doesn't last that well in DC compared to brick. Also, there seem to have been a lot of razing of multiple adjacent/rowhouse parts for prep for condos before the bottom fell out in 08/09. This is starting to pick up again now, but mainly single family renovations. Note folks are already complaining about being priced out.

Since this has become a de-facto Anacostia thread I think it is appropriate to put this here. It could be incredible, but will face some challenges, as neither location for entering the proposed park is ideal.
http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blo...finalists/8534

Looking at the views towards the Capitol & the Washington Monument and the hilly landscape I'm surprised there aren't highrise condos popping up all over the place.

[The ATX]

I love what they did with the cinder blocks!

[goat314]

This part of DC gives me an old Southern vibe that the rest of the city doesn't. DC has definitely grown to resemble its more Northern East Coast counterparts, but some the city definitely has a genteel undertone that the other East Coast cities don't.

[bunt_q]

Neat pics. Just a few trillion more in federal spending and we should have this area yuppified in no time.

[Eightball]

Originally Posted by bobdreamz

Looking at the views towards the Capitol & the Washington Monument and the hilly landscape I'm surprised there aren't highrise condos popping up all over the place.

Current prices wouldn't support the cost of construction tho. And it's a historic district. And the nimbys would have a fit. They're already throwing tantrums about a proposed six story building 2 blocks from the subway. It's "a high rise out of character for the neighborhood"

But I agree the views are great. Maybe in the future somewhere eotr...

@ HillCountry

[KB0679]

This is my first time seeing the commercial heart of Anacostia; it's not quite as bad as I was expecting. Good thread!