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There goes the neighbourhood - Programmes - Al Jazeera English

There goes the neighborhood - Programmes - Al Jazeera English

ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY: EAST OF THE RIVER Living.
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2412 Minnesota Ave. SE Suite 204
Washington, DC 20020
202-678-REAL (7325)

Cover story: Overdecking halls may turn off buyers

By Lisa Rauschart
The Washington Times

In many neighborhoods throughout the Washington area, nothing says community more than streetwide decorating, when just about everyone on the block gets together and starts stringing up holiday lights. But decorating for the holidays can take on a life of its own, whether you are coordinating your displays of twinkling white lights with your neighbor or taking a more individual approach with pulsating colors and inflatable snow globes on the lawn.

If, however, you are trying to sell your home, holiday decorating can be a horse - or a reindeer - of a different color. In that case, Realtors say, homeowners seeking to showcase the holiday spirit need to exhibit something else - restraint.

"Keep it simple," says Susan Mekenney of Re/Max in Alexandria, Va. "We tell people to declutter anyway, and holiday decorations are no exception."

In other words, show off your home, not your decorations.

"You want the decorations to embellish the house, not overwhelm it," says Kristie Zimmerman, a Realtor with Avery-Hess Realtors of Northern Virginia. "Overdecorating and clutter may make the house look smaller and be reflected in the purchase price."

Some Realtors, such as Darrin D. Davis, principal broker and owner of Anacostia River Realty in Southeast Washington, caution that any decorating could make the wrong impression.

"I tell people that everyone who comes by to see the house might not celebrate Christmas," Mr. Davis says. "We try to have the houses as neutral as possible."

Story continued at: http://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/dec/9/cover-story-overdecking-halls-may-turn-off-buyers/?page=1

ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY: EAST OF THE RIVER Living.
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2412 Minnesota Ave. SE Suite 204
Washington, DC 20020
202-678-REAL (7325)

December 2010 Newsletter

6 NATURAL COLD-PREVENTION STRATEGIES
The cold is the most commonly occurring illness in the entire world, with more than 1 billion colds per year reported in the United States alone. Statistics say you'll catch two to four colds this winter. Here is some help to stave them off. Continued at http://www.anacostiariverrealty.com/web/pgcnfID_110102/NEWSLETTER

ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY: Fine EAST OF THE RIVER Living.
http://www.AnacostiaRiverRealty.com
2412 Minnesota Ave. SE Suite 204
Washington, DC 20020
202-678-REAL (7325)

Anacostia bridge building in new phase

So far, most of the visible work on the District's biggest transportation project has been done in the middle of the Anacostia River and on its east bank. Now, drivers on the Southeast-Southwest Freeway are going to get close to the construction of the new 11th Street Bridge.

Over the next two weeks, contractors are scheduled to drive piles in the freeway median east of 11th Street SE. This is an early phase in the construction of a ramp to the freeway from the new inbound span, one of three that will be part of rebuilt bridge. Two of the spans will carry freeway traffic across the river. The third is meant for neighborhood to neighborhood traffic, including bikes, pedestrians and streetcars. The entire project, now more than 25 percent done, is scheduled for completion in 2013.

This next phase involving the pile driving is scheduled for 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays over the next two weeks.
By Robert Thomson, http://voices.washingtonpost.com

ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY: EAST OF THE RIVER Living.http://www.AnacostiaRiverRealty.com2412 Minnesota Ave. SE Suite 204Washington, DC 20020202-678-REAL (7325)

Anacostia River Trips For Students

The National Park Service is taking 400 District of Columbia students on canoe trips along the Anacostia River this week to learn about the area watershed.

Between Saturday and Thursday, about 80 students each day will paddle the river in five handmade canoes. It's part of first lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" campaign to promote active, healthy lifestyles.

Park Rangers will guide the river excursions with staff from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Anacostia Watershed Society. The students will work on service projects to remove trash and other objects from the river.

The Park Service also is planning ways to continue the program in Washington and expand to other cities.
Submitted by WUSA9 Web Staff

ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY: EAST OF THE RIVER Living.http://www.AnacostiaRiverRealty.com
2412 Minnesota Ave. SE Suite 204
Washington, DC 20020
202-678-REAL (7325)

Wal-Mart’s Expansion to Include D.C. in 2012

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world’s largest retailer, will open its first stores in Washington, D.C. in 2012, looking to larger U.S. cities to revive stagnant sales nationally.

The four locations will offer a full grocery selection, spokesman Steven Restivo said in an interview today. The company also may open more sites across the city, including the areas east of the Anacostia River.
By Matthew Boyle and Matt Townsend

Go to: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-18/wal-mart-stores-to-open-sites-in-washington-d-c-.html for more info.

ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY: Fine EAST OF THE RIVER Living.
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2412 Minnesota Ave. SE Suite 204
Washington, DC 20020
202-678-REAL (7325)

Councilwoman fighting EPA over contaminated Anacostia Riverfront property

D.C. Councilwoman Mary Cheh wants to block federal regulators from seizing contaminated properties along the Anacostia River so the land can potentially be more quickly cleaned and developed.

The federal Environmental Protection Agency has threatened to take over the cleanup process of three toxic properties along the river if the city doesn't act by mid-December to force the property owners to remove contaminants. But the EPA is notoriously slow, often taking more than a decade to get projects done, and neither the D.C. attorney general nor the District Department of the Environment have the power to force landowners to act.

To fix that, the Ward 3 councilwoman has introduced a bill to give District authorities the tools they need to force property owners to clean up. Cheh told The Washington Examiner that she'll soon introduce emergency legislation to make sure a version of the bill is passed in time to meet the EPA's deadline.

"Even if these sites are not developed, they could be used for a recreational purpose," Cheh said. "Not having these sites cleaned up impedes the opportunity to functionally use them."

By: Freeman Klopott
Examiner Staff Writer


Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/Councilwoman-fighting-EPA-over-contaminated-riverfront-property-1587193-108757804.html#ixzz15aX05JIS

ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY: Introducing Fine EAST OF THE RIVER Living.http://www.AnacostiaFineLiving.com

2412 Minnesota Ave. SE Suite 204
Washington, DC 20020
202-678-REAL (7325)

New District measure requires six-month mediation before foreclosure

This week the District Council approved a measure requiring lenders to go through six months of mediation with a homeowner before proceeding with a foreclosure.

Mediation allows the borrower and the lender's representative to negotiate, with the guidance of an impartial go-between, over possible alternatives to a foreclosure, such as a loan modification. But neither side can be compelled to agree to a mediated solution.

Peter Tatian, research associate with the Urban Institute, a social policy think tank, said mediation can be useful in a place like the District, which does not require courts to review foreclosure cases.

"Having a mediator that can be that extra set of eyes and ears helps bridge the gap between the homeowner and lender and, I think, can be very beneficial."

There are more than 3,000 homes (including condos) in the foreclosure process now in the District. "We seem to be stuck there for the moment," he said.

Maryland implemented a new foreclosure mediation law July 1, which requires that a lender send the homeowner a "Request for Mediation" form when it starts foreclosure proceedings in a Maryland court. Homeowners have 15 days in which to file the request with the Circuit Court and must pay a non-refundable fee of $50.

The new D.C. program was proposed by Ward 4 Council Member Muriel Bowser and will be managed by the District's Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking. The Department offers a printed "Foreclosure Mitigation Kit," which can be downloaded from disb.dc.gov. The department can be reached at 202-727-8000.

In Maryland, information on foreclosure mediation is available at mdhope.org or 1-877-462-7555.

-Elizabeth Razzi, Washington Post.com

ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY: Fine EAST OF THE RIVER Living.http://www.AnacostiaFineLiving.com

Support the ARCH Development Corporation's commitment to Historic Anacostia

ARCH is seeking refunding from the District of Columbia to continue their work in Historic Ancostia and it is very important that they have your support. Without this vital funding ARCH will no longer be able to continue to maintain many of their programs and galleries in Historic Anacostia.

They need our support NOW!

I support the ARCH Development Corporation (ADC) and their nearly twenty years of community service in Historic Anacostia. I would like ADC to continue to host free cultural and artistic events for the community, highlight local artists in their art galleries, provide local entrepreneurs with free technical assistance, provide free housing and work space for local artists, provide jobs to local residents, and continue to advocate for all the things that make the Historic Anacostia a wonderful place for residents, businesses, and the arts.
ARCH Development Corporation (ADC) is a nineteen year old not for profit organization based in Historic Anacostia dedicated to the creative revitalization of the community. ADC feels that organized facilities and development programs designed to attract creative community-based organizations can serve as the engine for neighborhood economic development. The ARCH Development Corporation’s projects include Honfleur Gallery, The Gallery at Vivid Solutions, Vivid Solutions DC Print Lab, The Blank Space SE, Eat Shop Live Anacostia and The Hive.

PLEASE GO TO http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/adcanacostia TO SIGN PETITION


ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY: Introducing Fine EAST OF THE RIVER Living.http://www.AnacostiaFineLiving.com

Where Is Anacostia's Fairlaw Neighborhood?

BOUNDARIES: The Anacostia River, Pennsylvania Avenue SE, 25th Street SE, and Naylor and Good Hope roads.
SCHOOLS: Ketcham Elementary, Kramer Middle and Anacostia High.

HOME SALES: In the past year, 14 homes in Fairlawn have sold or gone under contract. Recently, 18 were on the market, with an average price of $240,000; however, according to Darrin Davis, owner of Anacostia River Realty, prices range from $59,000 for a two-bedroom home in need of a major renovation to $499,950 for a three-bedroom home.

WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE: Anacostia Park, Anacostia Historic District, Fort Stanton Park, the Frederick Douglass Home, Fort Dupont Park.

WITHIN 10-20 MINUTES BY CAR: Downtown Washington, National Arboretum, H Street NE, Capitol Hill, Nationals Park, RFK Stadium, the Ray's the Steaks at East River.


ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY: Introducing Fine EAST OF THE RIVER Living.http://www.AnacostiaFineLiving.com

ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY HOMBUYER'S CLUB MEETS TODAY

This month's topic: Home Buying 101- BUDGETING & CREDIT

Saturday, November 13, 2010 *Last Meeting of the year*
11:00 A.M.– 1:00 P.M.
Guest Speaker: John Corrigan of America Trust Funding



One of the most important investments you will ever make is the purchase of a home. The process of getting into a home can be long, frustrating, and confusing for many homebuyers. Education is key.

NO CHARGE
PLEASE RSVP SPACE VERY LIMITED!

Refreshments Served

New Location***
2412 MINNESOTA AVE. SE
SUITE 204
202-678-REAL (7325)
http://www.AnacostiaRiverRealty.com/

D.C. Rolls Out New Anacostia River-Themed License Plate

Washington, DC adds one more license plate to its short list of vehicle tags promoting certain organizations or causes. The District's Department of Transportation tweeted that a new Anacostia River-themed license plate is now available to residents. The plate, which they revealed on their Facebook page, was part of the 2009 legislation that added a five-cent fee on the use of plastic bags and seeks additional funds and attention for the cause of cleaning up the more often overlooked of the city's two rivers.

The new plate features the silhouettes of two kayakers and what looks like a heron or an egret holding a fish in its beak. It bears the letters "ENV" above the standard "Taxation Without Representation" tag line. An early version of the plate, pictured here, featured Canada Geese instead of the herons; those were likely removed due to the city's longstanding feud with the messy birds. Oddly, the word "Anacostia" doesn't appear anywhere on the plate.

The plates will cost $25 to purchase and $20 to renew, on top of the usual vehicle registration fees. After the costs of making the plates are covered, additional funds will go towards efforts to clean up the Anacostia River. And no we're still nowhere close, even with this new plate, to the 200-plus vanity options that Virginia offers.
By Martin Austermuhle http://dcist.com

ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY. Fine EAST OF THE RIVER Living.
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Why Home Ownership Matters

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Work on the DC's Biggest Transportation Project Continues in Anacostia

So far, most of the visible work on the District's biggest transportation project has been done in the middle of the Anacostia River and on its east bank. Now, drivers on the Southeast-Southwest Freeway are going to get close to the construction of the new 11th Street Bridge.

Over the next two weeks, contractors are scheduled to drive piles in the freeway median east of 11th Street SE. This is an early phase in the construction of a ramp to the freeway from the new inbound span, one of three that will be part of rebuilt bridge. Two of the spans will carry freeway traffic across the river. The third is meant for neighborhood to neighborhood traffic, including bikes, pedestrians and streetcars. The entire project, now more than 25 percent done, is scheduled for completion in 2013.

This next phase involving the pile driving is scheduled for 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays over the next two weeks.

By Robert Thomson/Washington Post.com
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ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY's YOUTUBE Channel

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2412 Minnesota Ave. SE
Suite 204
Washington, DC 20020

Anacostia DC Fotoweek 11/6 to 11/13

Anacostia Fotoweek- Take Three.For the third year in a row, Anacostia will become a mini photography enclave in recognition of DC Fotoweek. Five separate exhibitions and ancillary programs will give the historic district something contemporary to enjoy.

The Gallery at Vivid Solutions presents a solo exhibition of works by Vietnamese born artist Khanh H. Le. Neither… Nor includes 14 large scale images using the multiple plate polymer photogravure etching technique. Le examines identity, through the bits and pieces of personal memory, the collective history from two cultures; Vietnamese and American.

For more info go to; http://www.congressheightsontherise.com/2010/10/press-release-anacostia-dc-fotoweek-116.html


Contact: Briony Evans Hynson
Phone: 202-536-8994
1227 Good Hope Road SE
Washington DC 20020
arts@archdc.org

ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY: Introducing Fine EAST OF THE RIVER Living.http://www.AnacostiaFineLiving.com

Optimism is alive in Southeast D.C. neighborhood of Fairlawn

The first thing that becomes apparent upon meeting residents is that Fairlawn isn't necessarily Fairlawn. Sure, the Fairlawn Citizens' Association has clearly outlined the neighborhood's boundaries on its Web site, but talk to people who live there and you'll hear a number of other names for the area. To some, it has always been called Fairlawn; to others, there's no doubt that the area is Anacostia. A few call it Twining.

In part, that might be the result of the disparate smaller communities that make up the neighborhood, which straddles wards 7 and 8 in Southeast Washington. Bordered by the Anacostia River (which many insist is rightfully named the Eastern Branch), Pennsylvania Avenue, 25th Street, Naylor Road and Good Hope Road, Fairlawn is a mix of traditional D.C. rowhouses, detached single-family homes and apartment buildings. Near the river, the rowhouses line up in long, tight chains, but uphill and eastward - in an area that some (but not all) call Randle Heights - homes in groups of twos and threes graciously rise above groomed lawns and gardens.

The second observation that comes with spending time in the neighborhood is that no matter where they live or what they call it, residents seem to share a sense that their community has been profoundly affected over the decades by forces beyond their control - and that the future is as likely to bring more upheaval as it is to bring positive changes.

Today, Fairlawn is an almost wholly black neighborhood, but it wasn't always. In the early part of the last century, the majority of residents were white, but nearly all of them moved out of the neighborhood in the 1950s and '60s.

Walter and Katherine Graham and their four boys were one of the few white families that stuck around. They moved into an apartment in Fairlawn in 1950 and, 10 years later bought a home around the corner. They're still there, the longest-standing residents on a block populated largely by senior citizens.

"We were convenient to everything and were buying our house, so why pick up and move?" said Katherine Graham, 81. "We're all children of God, and we should be able to live together regardless of race."

Graham slips easily into reminiscing about the neighborhood: the fun her boys had playing in Anacostia Park (which she and neighbors still call Fairlawn Park), the shops - hardware, a five and dime, furniture - that lined Good Hope Road and the neighborhood's other commercial streets. Working- and middle-class black people had bought the homes vacated by the departing white population, and the area was bustling.

By Amanda Abrams
Special to The Washington Post
Friday, October 22, 2010

For complete story go to; http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/22/AR2010102202334.html?wprss=rss_realestate


ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY: Fine EAST OF THE RIVER Living.http://www.AnacostiaFineLiving.com

DDOT unveils streetcar funding plan

The D.C. Department of Transportation has identified nearly $200 million to build and operate its first two streetcar lines, one serving H Street NE and the other, Anacostia — the start of a network that may one day run 37 miles across all eight D.C. wards.

DDOT on Tuesday released a plan detailing the logistics and funding, such as an $8 million annual operating subsidy, of the earliest streetcar service. Council Chairman Vincent Gray had stipulated in the 2011 budget that DDOT must develop concrete plans if it wants $34.5 million set aside for construction of the H Street line.

The two lines nearing launch will run from Union Station to Oklahoma Avenue NE, via the H Street/Benning Road corridor, and from the 2750 S. Capitol St. SE to the Anacostia Metro Station. Both, DDOT said, will be extended — along Benning Road NE to the Benning Road Metro station, and from the Anacostia Metro to the 11th Street Bridge.

The two, fully extended lines will cost about $194 million to build and equip. The “anticipated operating subsidy,” according to DDOT, will be $7.9 million per year, with an estimated 3 percent increase annually — roughly $80 per hour of operation. The project is expected to create 200 jobs.

The streetcar “would cost roughly the same as Metrobus but provide higher capacity and a higher-quality ride,” the report states. The service will operate Monday through Thursday from 6 a.m. to midnight, Friday from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m., and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The Anacostia line will use only one car, running in 15-minute loops “due to the relatively limited demand for service in the existing corridor,” DDOT said. The H Street line will run a 10-minute circuit with at least three cars, if not more. DDOT considers that line’s success as critical to the burgeoning H Street corridor.

“The corridor needs new transportation services for residents and workers within the District that will connect activity centers, facilitate intermodal transfer opportunities, and relieve crowded Metrorail and Metrobus lines,” the report reads. “The corridor also serves an area that the District has targeted for commercial and residential redevelopment.”


DDOT is proposing to build a maintenance facility at the western abutment to the H Street Underpass. It will turn its 66-foot-long, eight-foot-wide, 11-foot-tall cars around at First Street NE and the H Street Underpass on the western end, and in the Benning Road median on the eastern end.

The initial segments of both lines are fully funded, assuming the council releases the last $34.5 million.

To fund the future extensions, DDOT is pursuing federal dollars and proposing to tap into the revenue stream that it currently uses to pay down the debt service on bonds that funded the original Metrorail system. That debt, according to DDOT, will expire in the next four years.
Washington Business Journal - by Michael Neibauer
Read more: DDOT unveils streetcar funding plan | Washington Business Journal


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Anacostia Gets $3 Million Shot in the Arm

Posted by Lydia DePillis on Oct. 20, 2010 at 7:42 pm

While we’re all mourning the loss of the TIGER II grants, which would have funded transit improvements from Bikeshare to Union Station, today brought something to celebrate in the world of federal largesse as well: A $3 million chunk of the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Sustainable Communities funding, awarded to the District’s Department of Housing and Community Development. That’s more than any other awardee.

What’s DHCD going to do with the money? A lot of things. The main goal: “Anchor the existing residents of Historic Anacostia, which will not be affordable in another decade unless direct, explicit and significant actions and investments are made to ensure a continued supply of affordable housing.” Specific actions include home purchase and renovation assistance, acquisition of vacant and abandoned properties for resale, small business startup help, and rehabilitation of commercial buildings. Also in there: A branding and community engagement campaign, which seems to have already started, as well as the rebirth of either the Historic Anacostia Main Street program or a new Business Improvement District.

So, all of a sudden the quiet purchase of buildings along Martin Luther King Avenue starts to make sense, and Duane Gautier’s vision for brightened storefronts up and down the commercial avenues even closer to reality. And the streetcar will make it eventually, TIGER or no TIGER.

Photo by Darrow Montgomery.


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Latest Fine EAST OF THE RIVER Living Listings

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City Officials and Community Leaders to Break Ground for New Affordable Housing

Matthews Memorial Baptist Church, city officials, community leaders, development and finance partners and residents are broke ground on October 8, 2010, for Matthews Memorial Terrace, an innovative new affordable housing rental development for seniors, working families and individuals in Anacostia.

“Matthews Memorial Baptist Church has taken a leadership role in Ward 8, in both the faith community and, now, in providing affordable housing. This project will provide additional replacement public housing to move us closer to revitalizing Barry Farm as part of the District’s New Communities Initiative.

For more info go to http://www.washingtoninformer.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4738:city-officials-and-community-leaders-to-break-ground-for-new-affordable-housing&catid=50:local&Itemid=113.


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Anacostia River Realty

Anacostia River Realty Agents are the experts in Washington DC real estate!

Check out http://www.AnacostiaRiverRealty.com for a complete list of our real estate services. They include; agents listings and real estate foreclosures. One of our services include working homes for sale by owner. Check out our mls real estate listing service on our website. We are the experts east of the Anacostia River real estate washington and real estate for rent.

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Mental Patients, Secret Rendevous and Scandal on ANACOSTIA-THE SERIES tv show.

The second episode of Anthony Edwards' addictive, 20-minute soap opera Anacostia premiered online this weekend. In this heart-stopping-yet hilarious installment, Mia (Tamieka Chavis), the most long-suffering heroine to hit a soap neighborhood since Valene Ewing (Joan Van Ark) on Knots Landing, stops by the funny farm to pay her BFF Sean (Edwards) a visit. Sean was institutionalized following his attempt to kill himself, after finding out his homo thug boyfriend from Season One had been paid by the villainous Michael—Mia's ex—to seduce him. Little did Sean know, his one true love, the presumed dead Julien Grey (Darnell Lamont Walker) is very much alive. You see Julian, who was once Michael's business partner, faked his own death when Michael's treachery began to threaten the lives of Sean and Mia. Um, yeah, why isn't Edwards writing for The Young and the Restless?!

Click for more http://www.tv.com/mental-patients-secret-rendevous-and-scandalous-neighbors-on-outrageous-black-soap-opera-anacostia!/webnews/159092.html

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ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY'S HOMEBUYERS CLUB October Meeting

One of the most important investments you will ever make is the purchase of a home. The process of getting into a home can be long, frustrating, and confusing for many homebuyers. Get educated!

Anacostia River Realty Homebuyer's Club Meeting

Saturday, October 9, 2010
12:00 P.M.– 2:00 P.M.

This month's topic:
CREDIT & BUDGETING
Guest Speaker: John Corrigan of America Trust Funding

Anacostia River Realty
2412 Minnesota Ave. SE, Suite 204 WDC 20020
202-678-REAL (7325)

For more info go to: http://www.anacostiariverrealty.com/web/pgcnfID_94843/HOMEBUYERS-CLUB.

Anacostia River Goes on Pollution Diet

Watersheds in the mid-Atlantic region are getting "pollution diets" that focus mostly on nutrients, like phosphorus and nitrogen.

Scientists figure out how much of a particular substance a stream can handle, based on its flow and other factors, and then divvy up how much each entity that discharges the substance - a sewage treatment plant, for instance - can discharge in a given period of time.

But the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the District of Columbia and the state of Maryland are taking things a step further by recently announcing a "trash diet" for the Anacostia River. Officials said it was the first interstate river in the nation with such a Clean Water Act trash limit.

The new limit requires capturing or removing more than 600 tons (1.2 million pounds) of trash from the watershed annually. If you figure that most of it is plastic bottles, that's one heck of a lot of bottles.

The plan of attack is mostly to address the storm sewer systems, which allow stormwater to wash litter through the system and into the river.

The action contributes to the larger goals of the Trash Free Potomac Watershed Initiative: www.fergusonfoundation.org/trash-initiative/trash-index.shtml.

By SANDY BAUERS
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Visit Sandy Bauers' blog at http://go.philly.com/greenspace.

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/10/04/1856402/dcs-anacostia-river-goes-on-a.html#ixzz11SVaYBuL


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5 Cent Bag Tax Appears To Help Anacostia River Cleanup

On the surface of the Anacostia River, it appears that some of the goals of D.C.'s controversial bag tax are working.

"The bags are a lot less, it's noticeable," said kayaker Will Nuckols. "But there's a lot of material that's still out there. Plastics are still a huge problem."

Anacostia Riverkeeper , an organization dedicated to restoring the watershed, agrees that looks can be deceiving.

"There have not been the same efforts to get rid of the pollution that is invisible," said riverkeeper Dottie Yunger.

Yunger is concerned about toxic industrial sites along the water's edge, like the former Washington Gas and Light property. She says the soil is contaminated with PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls) and heavy metals.

"So what's happening is ¿ this is just rolling right into the river and dumping the sediments and the contaminants with them, right directly into the river," explained Yunger.

The result is six known toxic hotspots in the Anacostia. Anacostia Riverkeeper and the Anacostia Watershed Society list them as the Washington Navy Yard, the Southeast Federal Center, Poplar Point, Kenilworth Landfill, Washington Gas and Light, and PEPCO Benning Road.

In the last five months, the District of Columbia has collected $928,150 from the bag tax. So far, keepers of the river say, they haven't seen any of it. Yunger says the Army Corps of Engineers worked with local environmental groups to identify and plan restoration projects.

"So there's a million dollars right there that could go to projects we already know about, we could start tomorrow," Yunger said.

Ward 6 Councilman Tommy Wells championed the bag tax. He says money first goes to public outreach, providing reusable bags to seniors and low income residents, and storm screens.

"We're still early. We're only nine months into implementation. It's already having an impact, so now we need to work on granting for folks,¿ Wells responded.

$246,000 has been spent on advertising, education, and reusable bags reports Christophe Tulou, director of the city's Department of the Environment (DDOE). Tulou says it just got authority to start spending the rest of the money last month. Some, he says, will go to investments in programs like RiverSmart, which helps homeowners and schools make changes to become more river-friendly.

After that, DDOE may come up with its own list of projects and solicit community groups for the jobs.

"We would call on DDOE to figure that out and to release the money as soon as possible," said Yunger.

In the meantime, Anacostia Riverkeeper and Anacostia Watershed Society asked elected officials to sign a pledge that they'd work to hold polluters legally liable for site cleanup.

Still, the whole picture won't come together until the restoration funds make it downstream too.

by Melanie Alnwick, Fox 5 News

ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY: The east of the Anacostia River experts.http://www.AnacostiaRiverRealty.com

Express Bus Between Anacostia and Dupont Circle Proposed

by Mark Wellborn, Urban Turf


A study team that will soon make recommendations to WMATA’s Board of Directors has proposed a limited-stop bus, which would run from the Anacostia Metro to Dupont Circle through the U Street Corridor, according to Greater Greater Washington.

The proposed 99 bus line would follow the same route as the 90 bus (until the western section when it would turn down Connecticut Avenue), but make only about a third of the stops and run just during peak hours.

The interesting thing about the 99 bus is that, without changes to certain street designs, the proposed line would not be that much faster than the current 90 service:

[The proposal] recommends adding transit signal priority, which can delay reds and extend greens for buses. Additionally, many stops would be relocated so that they are at the far side of intersections. With the repositioning of stops and the removal of some parking spaces, the 99 will have more opportunities to pass local-stopping 90 and 92 buses.

FOR MORE INFO: http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/the_99_limited_between_anacostia_and_dupont_circle/2517

ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY: The east of the Anacostia River experts.http://www.AnacostiaRiverRealty.com

ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY: Introducing Fine EAST OF THE RIVER Living.

Anacostia Development Boom Tied to River Cleanup

WASHINGTON - Masada Maeda looks out over the Anacostia River from the back of his 15-foot-long skiff. Along the banks and floating through the water are plastic cups, beer cans, Styrofoam and dozens of other types of trash.

"It's not as bad as it used to be," said Maeda, who in his work for the nonprofit Anacostia Watershed Society has been sampling the river water since 2002.

The 8.6-mile river -- one of the most polluted tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay -- is undergoing a gradual transformation, aided by a major trash-removal program ramping up this year. District officials on Jan. 1 placed a 5-cent fee on plastic bags given out at stores selling groceries and alcohol to discourage their use. And jurisdictions surrounding the Anacostia drafted a plan calling for removal of more than a thousand pounds of trash from the river and its tributaries every day.

Though the goal is to eventually make the river fishable and swimmable, the efforts are also helping to lure development to the waterfront -- including Nationals Park, which opened in 2008 -- and The Yards, a 42-acre mixed-use development that will bring shopping, homes and offices to the riverfront. The Yards' 5.5-acre park opened this week.

"People choose this area because they know the river is going to be cleaned up and see it as a tremendous asset," said Michael Stevens, executive director of the Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District, created by city government to oversee development and marketing for more than 60 projects within the Near Southeast neighborhood along the river.


A Decade of Change in Near Southeast. View in a larger map.

The improvements come after decades of degradation of the Anacostia by development in its watershed -- the 176-square-mile area of land and tributaries that extend into Montgomery and Prince George's counties. The river has been plagued by raw sewage overflows during heavy rains, and oil and grease and other toxic runoff from city streets and parking lots.

"Most of the areas were developed without management, and now we have to go back and retrofit to bring it up to codes," says Ken Yetman, the stream corridor assessor for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

The region's two major sewer utilities, D.C. Water and the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, are pumping almost $3 billion into projects mandated by the District to curtail sewage overflows, including an eight-mile-long tunnel under the Anacostia to capture runoff that would normally go straight into the river. Renovations to the Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Plant are expected to be completed by 2014, but raw sewage overflows into the river during heavy rains could continue for a few years after that, officials say.

Federal and local governments are contributing to the river's cleanup, with grants, taxes and fees going directly to the decades-long restoration effort. Environmental groups have long been active here, successfully suing city agencies to improve the water quality.

"Aesthetically ... this river is clearly getting better," Maeda said.

In a conference room on the 11th floor of a New Jersey Avenue high-rise two blocks north of the Anacostia, sitting near a large-scale model of Near Southeast, Stevens exudes optimism.

"We think this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a brand new city on the river," he said, of the Near Southeast community roughly bounded by South Capitol Street, Interstate-395 and I Street.

Much of the redevelopment of Near Southeast centers around the area's primary tenant -- the Washington Nationals -- which moved into its new home across the street from the Anacostia in 2008.

The population of the area -- which dropped by nearly 5,000 residents between 1950 and 2008, to 1,830 people, according to Census data -- has suddenly begun to climb. It jumped nearly 73 percent, to 3,164, between 2008 and the second quarter of 2010, according to the D.C. Office of Planning.

In that short time, new grocery and drug stores, restaurants, condominium and apartment buildings and millions of feet of office space have all opened in the neighborhood. About 35,000 people now work there, Stevens said.

Claire Schaefer, deputy executive director of Capitol Riverfront, said the ballpark brings 2 million people a year to a neighborhood they may never otherwise have visited.

"Part of wanting to bring people down here is to reintroduce them to the river," Schaefer said. "D.C. has a lot of river frontage but, for so long, you weren't able to access it.

"What the ballpark did was allow people to come down and see the Anacostia; maybe dip their toe in it. Once they start to care more, then you have a larger base of people that want to clean up the river."

According to the Capitol Riverfront's second-quarter projections released in July, the neighborhood has already seen $2.3 billion worth of development since 2000, with another $6 billion either under construction or planned for the future.

Akridge, a Washington-based real estate firm, has heavily invested in the area, specifically along the Half Street corridor that leads from the Navy Yard Metro station to Nationals Park. A new 196-room hotel, 50,000 square feet of retail space, 340 residential units, restaurants and bars are all part of the firm's plan for Half Street.

"I think what you're seeing is a belief that the river is and will become more and more of an asset to the neighborhood," said David Tuchmann, a development manager for Akridge.

Having the river become an asset -- but not necessarily a developed one -- is something environmentalists have long fought for. Jim Dougherty, conservation chairman for the D.C. chapter of the Sierra Club, has been active in other efforts to prevent construction projects along the river, including a proposed theme park on Kingman Island and a proposed extension of I-395 over the river.

"The Anacostia is a poster child for environmental injustice," Dougherty said. "Whenever the District wants to build a project, they put it there.

"You look at the Potomac and what do you see: the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial and wild, green open space. But on the Anacostia, you have an eyesore like the Benning Road power plant."

Anacostia Watershed Society leaders say new, planned development is better than what came before.

"The fact is this is an urban river, and much of the area is already developed," said Brent Bolin, director of advocacy for the Anacostia Watershed Society. "Unless we are talking about tearing up Southeast and Southwest D.C. and reestablishing hundreds of acres of wetlands, we're not going back to the original ecosystem."

The Maryland Department of the Environment and the D.C. Department of the Environment, with help from the Environmental Protection Agency, took a major step this April to ignite the trash cleanup effort by proposing a plan that would require the removal of solid waste from the river.

Called a total maximum daily load of trash, it is just the second of its kind to be proposed for a river. In 2007, California's Water Quality Control Board cooperated on a similar mandate from the EPA for the Los Angeles River.

Total maximum daily loads for other types of pollutants, such as bacteria, heavy metals and oil and grease, have been created for waterways throughout the United States. Those mandates establish how much of a pollutant can exist in a body of water, putting it into compliance with Clean Water Act water quality standards.

Maximum daily loads for sediment, fecal coliform, oil and grease and heavy metals have all been set for the Anacostia in the past decade. The Anacostia's daily trash load is different, though. Instead of declaring how much trash can safely enter the river, this one gives the District and Maryland an amount of trash that must be removed from the Anacostia each day.

The proposed language says the District and Montgomery and Prince George's counties must collectively remove 1,189 pounds of trash a day from the Anacostia and its tributaries. That adds up to more than 1.2 million pounds of garbage a year.

The District and Maryland submitted a draft of their plan to the EPA in April. A final report was submitted Sept. 7, said Gregory Voigt, an EPA coordinator who oversaw the day-to-day development of the Anacostia's trash limit. The EPA should sign off on it in late September, he said.

Also working toward the cleanup goal is the Anacostia Watershed Restoration Partnership, a coalition of government officials, advocacy groups, environmental agencies and business leaders, which announced a $1.7 billion plan in April that includes more than 3,000 proposed projects dealing with storm water management, stream restoration and trash cleanup.

All three municipalities within the Anacostia watershed have either passed, drafted or are working on stringent, new storm water permits that will curtail the amount of solid and bacterial pollution from entering the watershed.

In addition, to help meet trash-reduction goals, city officials on Jan. 1 enacted the 5-cent fee on plastic bags distributed at stores within the District of Columbia -- an attempt to push shoppers to use reusable bags.

According to the Office of Tax and Revenue, stores in the District distributed 3 million plastic bags in the first quarter of 2010, down from an expectation of 22 million bags that would have been distributed without the fee.

D.C. Council member Tommy Wells, the Ward 6 representative who sponsored the Anacostia initiative, estimates the fee will raise upward of $3 million in 2010, which will be directed toward cleanup efforts.

Before the bag fee was implemented, plastic bags made up nearly 21 percent of the trash in the main stem of the Anacostia, Wells says.

"The bags were something that were free; they had no value, so people felt free to toss them on the ground," Bolin said. "Now, people can realize that maybe they don't need these things."

Stevens' main selling point to developers who want to build in Near Southeast is the chance to be part of not only a new neighborhood, but one where residents don't need to own a car and where they can contribute to the Anacostia's restoration effort.

"We tout that environmental sustainability is part of our community DNA," Stevens said. "All of our stakeholders are building LEED certified buildings." LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a certification system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council to recognize development and construction done in the most environmentally sound ways possible.

Capitol Riverfront officials say more than 30 of the existing or planned buildings in the neighborhood are LEED certified.

Examples of environmentally sound and low-impact development exist throughout the riverfront area. Nationals Park was the first professional sports venue in North America to be designated as LEED Silver, making it the greenest ballpark in America.

The stadium boasts such features as a green roof, which can capture storm water before it reaches the Anacostia, and onsite storm water filters. Recycled construction material made up 20 percent of the total structure.

The Yards, which will front directly onto the Anacostia, will upon completion boast a riverfront park, 2,800 residential units, nearly 1.8 million square feet of office space and 400,000 square feet of shopping and dining, said Gary McManus, the marketing director for Forest City Washington, The Yards' developer.

The first stage of the 42-acre mixed-use development -- the waterfront park -- opened Sept. 7. "This is going to be one of Washington's avant garde neighborhoods," said D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, at the opening ceremony for the 5.5-acre park.

With all of new development, though, comes the danger of setting back the restoration efforts of the nearby river.

"This is a massive test," said Dana Minerva, executive director of the Anacostia Watershed Restoration Partnership. "There are some developers who would say that if it costs a dime more, we're going to oppose it.

"And there are some developers saying, as some recently have, 'Show us that it's practicable and we can do it, because we like our rivers to be clean just as everyone else does.'"

This story was produced by the News21 team at the University of Maryland's Philip Merrill College of Journalism and distributed by Capital News Service.

ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY: Fine East of the River Living.
http://www.AnacostiaRiverRealty.com

Join HGTV & ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY In Historic Anacostia

Come to a taping of HGTV's "My First Sale" and view a beautiful Historic Anacostia home!

SATURDAY, August 14, 2010
1pm-4pm

1214 U St. SE
Washington, DC 20020
This home with the "WOW" factor is currently being filmed by the HGTV tv show, "My First Sale"! It's a gorgeous historic end-unit in great location with Capitol views. Brand new interior and restored exterior with private parking. New roof, hardwood floors, huge gourmet kitchen w/ stainless steel appliances. Downstairs open floor plan w/ half-bath & lots of light. 3BR, 2-full baths upstairs w/ Master Suite. Steps to new streetcar, Big Chair Coffee, the new Uniontown Bar & Grill, art galleries, river. Only 7 minute walk to Metro! One mile to the new Dept. of Homeland Security and Coast Guard Headquarters. 10 minutes to Downtown DC, Monuments, and National Airport. Priced to sell!

All participants must sign a release to be featured on the show.

RSVP to Info@AnacostiaRiverRealty.com by 7pm, Friday, August 13, 2010.

Introducing Fine EAST OF THE RIVER Living by ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY.
www.AnacostiaRiverRealty.com

HGTV Comes To Anacostia For The First Time

The first home to be featured on the DC season of HGTV’s My First Sale will not be a Federal row house in Georgetown or a two-bedroom condo in Logan Circle, but rather a renovated home in Historic Anacostia at 1214 U Street SE.

The home may look familiar to some as it was featured on UT a couple months ago. Owner David Garber (the brains behind blog And Now, Anacostia) spent eight months rehabbing and renovating the property, and now gets the chance to show off his work to a national audience.

The production company for the show approached Garber about featuring his home after reading hi blog and learning about the renovations that he had completed. After two auditions, Garber and his agent Darrin D. Davis, Broker/Owner of east of the river's Anacostia River Realty, got word that they were in.

“The filming is ongoing, and won’t end until the house is actually sold,” Garber told UrbanTurf. “So far there have been about three full days of filming, and on one of those days we were required to bring a change of clothes to make it seem like it was a new day.”

The first day of filming involved covering the pricing of the home, as Davis pointed out the positives and negatives and the two settled on a price of $289,800. The following segment filmed the staging appointment as Susan Campbell of Lemon Tree Staging explained what should be done, and the furniture was delivered. The most recent taping was of the broker’s open house.
image

The change of clothes mentioned above was just one part of the illusion that is reality television, as Garber also told us that he did multiple takes of each scene and had to reenact key events that weren’t filmed when they actually took place.

“It’s easy to fall into the habit of acting like the show is scripted because we are fed possible lines like ‘so, I think I need to drop the price,’ ” Garber said. “But I won’t lie, it can be fun.”

Despite the formulaic aspects of the show, Garber is happy to have the opportunity to show off the Historic Anacostia neighborhood, and some of the things that have been done to the house to make it more attractive. For example, he got a grant from the city to do sustainable/native landscaping at the house, a process he thinks will be a great teaching opportunity for a national audience.

Garber’s agent Davis has been equally satisfied with the experience.

“When David approached me with the idea I was interested, but not sure about the show because I’d never seen it,” Davis told UrbanTurf. “I realize now that it will be a great opportunity to let viewers know that despite what you’ve heard or seen on the news, this neighborhood is a great place to live.”


Welcome to Fine EAST OF THE RIVER Living by ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY.
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8 Tips for Adding Curb Appeal and Value to Your Home

Curb appeal has always been important for homesellers. With the vast majority of today’s homebuyers starting their search on the Internet, the appearance of your property is more critical than ever. You only have a few seconds to catch their attention as they scroll through listings online to get them to stop and take a closer look.

But the role of curb appeal goes beyond just making a good first impression. The way your house looks from the street can impact its value. It can also shorten the time it takes to sell your house.

We asked real estate agents, appraisers, home stagers, landscape designers, and home inspectors which curb appeal projects offer the most value when your house is on the market, both in terms of its marketability and dollars. Here is what they told us:
1. Paint the house.

Hands down, the most commonly offered curb appeal advice from our real estate pros and appraisers is to give the exterior of your home a good paint job. Buyers will instantly notice it and appraisers will note it on the valuation.

“Paint is probably the number one thing inside and out,” says Frank Lucco, managing partner of Houston-based IRR-Residential Appraisers and Consultants. “I’d give additional value for that. If you’re under two years remaining life (on the paint job), paint the exterior because it tends to show wear badly.”

Just make sure you stay within the range of accepted colors for your market. A house that’s painted a wildly different color from its competition will be marked down in value by appraisers.
2. Have the house washed.

Before you make the investment in a paint job, though, take a good look at the house. If it’s got mildew or general grunge, just washing the house could make a world of difference, says Valerie Torelli, a California real estate agent with a background in accounting.

Before she puts a house on the market, Torelli often does exterior makeovers on her clients’ homes, a service she pays for herself to get higher selling prices. Overall, she says her goal is to spend less than $5,000, with a goal of generating an extra $10,000 to $15,000 on the sale price.

Torelli specifies pressure-washing—a job that should be left to professionals. Pressure washing makes the house look “bright and clean in addition to getting rid of unsightly things like cobwebs, which may not be seen from the yard but will detract from the home’s cleanliness when seen up close,” she says.

The cost to have a professional cleaning should be a few hundred dollars—a fraction of the cost of having the house painted.
3. Trim the shrubs and green up the yard.

California real estate agent Valerie Torelli says she puts a lot of emphasis on landscaping, such as cutting down overgrown bushes and replacing them with leafy plants and annuals mulched with beautiful reddish-brown bark. “It runs me $30 to $50,” says Torelli. “Do you get a return on your money? Absolutely. It sucks people in.”

You also don’t want bare spots. Take the time to fertilize the yard, throw out some grass seed, and if need be, add some sod.
4. Add a splash of color.

It could be a flower bed of annuals by the mailbox, a paint job for the front door, or a brightly colored bench or an Adirondack chair. “You can get a cute little bench at Home Depot for $99,“ Torelli notes. “Spray paint it bright red or blue and set it in the yard or on the front porch.”

It’s not a bad idea, but don’t plan on getting extra points from an appraiser for a red bench, says John Bredemeyer, president of Realcorp in Omaha. “It’s difficult to quantify, but it does make a home sell more quickly,” Bredemeyer says. “Maybe yours sold a couple weeks faster than the house down the street. That’s the best way to look at these things.”
5. Add a fancy mailbox and house numbers.

An upscale mail box and architectural house numbers or an address plaque can give your house a distinctive look that stands out from everyone else on the block. Torelli makes them a part of her exterior makeovers “I’ve gotten those hand-painted mailboxes,” she says. “A nice one runs you $40 to $50.” Architectural house numbers may run as high as a few hundred dollars.
6. Repair or clean the roof.

Springfield, Va.-based home inspector and former builder Reggie Marston says the roof is one of the first things he looks at in assessing the condition of a home. He’ll look at other houses in the neighborhood to see if there are a lot of replaced roofs and see if the subject house has one as well. If not, he’ll look for curls in the shingles or missing shingles. “I’m looking at the roof for end-of-life expectancy,” he says.

You can pay for roof repairs now, or pay for them later in a lower appraisal; appraisers will mark down the value by the cost of the repair. That could knock thousands of dollars off your appraisal. According to Remodeling Magazine’s 2009-2010 Cost vs. Value Report, the average cost of a new asphalt shingle roof is more than $19,000.

“Roofs are issues,” Lucco says. “You won’t throw money away on that job. You gotta have a decent roof.”

Stains and plant matter, such as moss, can be handled with cleaning. It’s a job that can often be done in a day for a few hundred dollars, and makes the roof look like new. It’s not a DIY project; call a professional with the right tools to clean it without damaging it.
7. Put up a fence.

A picket fence with a garden gate to frame the yard is an asset. A fence has more impact in a family-oriented neighborhood than an upscale retirement community, Bredemeyer says, but in most instances, appraisers will give extra value for one, as long as it’s in good condition. “Day in a day out, a fence is a plus,“ Bredemeyer says. Expect to pay $2,000 to $3,500 for a professionally installed gated picket fence 3 feet high and 100 feet long.
8. Perform routine maintenance and cleaning.

Nothing sets off subconscious alarms like hanging gutters, missing bricks from the front steps, or lawn tools rusting in the bushes. It makes even the professionals question what else hasn’t been taken care of.

“A house is worth less if the maintenance isn’t done,” Lucco says. “Those little things can add up and be a very big detractor. When people say, ‘I’d buy it if it weren’t for all the deferred maintenance,’ what they’re really saying is, ‘I’d still buy it if you reduce the price.’”

Georgia-based freelance writer Pat Curry has covered housing and real estate for consumer and trade publications for more than a decade, including covering new home sales and marketing for BUILDER, the magazine of the National Association of Home Builders.

By Pat Curry.

Fine EAST OF THE RIVER Living by ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY.
http://www.AnacostiaRiverRealty.com

Anacostia River Realty Open Houses

ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY: Weekend Open Houses!




Saturday, July 31, 2010
1214 U St. SE
Washington, DC 20020
1pm-4pm




Sunday, August 1, 2010
Savoy Court Condominiums
210 Oakwood St. SE
Washington, DC 20032
1pm-4pm

Fine EAST OF THE RIVER Living by ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY.
http://www.AnacostiaRiverRealty.com

Grand Opening Of East of the River's Fairlawn Estates

It is with great pride that the Office of the Mayor announces the opening of Fairlawn Estates in Anacostia on July 8, 2010 at 10:45 a.m. Mayor Adrian Fenty will preside over the ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open Fairlawn, a subdivision of 20 single family homes in Anacostia, featuring monumental views of downtown Washington, within a gated community.

Starting at $350,000, the project features brick and stone front, three-bedroom, two and one-half bath residences situated within a central court designed to encourage Fairlawn community interaction. Located just off Good Hope Road, this project is yet another link in the continued chain of renaissance being experienced east of the river.
Conceived by the late Retta Gilliam (for whom the subdivision’s street is named), the stalled project has been rejuvenated and completed by Potomac Construction Group and Valor Development who, with the cooperation and teamwork of the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, have returned this once vacant subdivision to community use for immediate delivery.

Potomac Construction Group (www.potomacconstructiongroup.com), one of the premier developers of high end luxury real estate in the DC area and Valor Development (www.valordev.com), a firm committed to raising the bar and redefining the concept of urban elegance, have refurbished all 19 houses on the site. Now featuring granite countertops and new stainless steel appliances, the replaced, unused appliances are being donated to Bread for the City and to first responders.

Continuing the Anacostia synergy, Natasha Dasher ( msdasher@sbcglobal.netThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ), developer and proprietor of soon to open Uniontown Bar & Grill on Martin Luther King Avenue, will provide all the services for both the ribbon cutting ceremony and the grand opening event on July 10th & 11th from 12 – 5 p.m., including the catering.
Contact Darrin Davis at 202-285-7665 for more info.
by The Washington Informer

Welcome to Fine EAST OF THE RIVER Living by ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY.
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Gorgeous HISTORIC ANACOSTIA End-Unit

JUST REDUCED!!! The "WOW" Factor! Gorgeous historic end-unit in great location. Capitol views! Brand new interior, restored exterior. Private parking, New Roof, hardwood floors, huge kitchen w/ Stainless. Open floor plan w/ half-bath & lots of light. 3BR, 2 Bath upstairs w/ Master Suite. Steps to new streetcar, Big Chair Coffee, art galleries, river. Only 7 minute walk to Metro. One mile to Dept. of Homeland Security. Call David at 202-642-5811 or go to http://AnacostiaNow.blogspot.com/for more details! 1214 U. St. SE, Washington, DC 20020.
SEE VIRTUAL TOUR: http://darrinddavis1.point2agent.com/Listing/VirtualTour.aspx?ListingID=14311179&sq=false


Fine EAST OF THE RIVER Living by ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY.
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Welcome to Fine EAST OF THE RIVER Living by ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY

2 Bedrooms Now Available! Art Deco Lobby, Contemporary floor plans, Hardwood floors, Carpeted bedrooms w/2 closets, Bath w/ceramic tile, W/D, Open gourmet kitchen w/granite counter tops & breakfast bar, Stainless steel appliances, built-in microwaves, Rooftop deck, Exercise room, Garages available. 10 mins to Downtown DC*National Stadium*National Harbor. 2 near Metro*Bus Stop in front of building *Satellite-ready w/master dish*Plus more!

Renovated 1940's brick exterior with stylized art deco entryways*Lavishly landscaped courtyard with expansive trellis structure*Satellite-ready w/master dish*Gated and secured grounds w/Electronic access control*Plus more! LEASE TO OWN OPTIONS AVAILABLE!

SAVOY COURT CONDOMINIUMS
210 Oakwood St. SE
Washington,DC 20020

Open House Sat. and Sun. 7/17/10 and 7/18/10. 1pm-4pm

See Virtual Tour: http://www.homevisit.com/tour/mrisTour.asp?id=41274&ver=

Welcome to Fine EAST OF THE RIVER Living by ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY.
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Officials unveil $1.7 billion plan to clean Anacostia River

Recently, local and federal officials unveiled a new plan for cleaning up the Anacostia River, listing more than 3,000 projects that could combat the river's infamous pollution.

The only problem: The projects could cost a combined $1.7 billion.

And so far, none of that money has been budgeted.

The unveiling of the plan, drawn up over two years by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, drew a governor, a county executive and three U.S. representatives to the banks of the river in Bladensburg. Geese honked from the water behind them -- standing on sandbars built by hundreds of years of dirty runoff.

During more than an hour of speeches, officials hailed the new plan as a comprehensive prescription for the river's ills, including raw sewage, trash and toxic chemicals.

"Today, we're taking, I think, a giant step forward for a new life for the Anacostia River," said Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D). But he said that much of the actual effort was still ahead: "The plan is complete, but the work is not."

The corps' plan calls for more than 1,800 projects, across the Anacostia's watershed in the District and suburban Maryland, that would "retrofit" parking lots, streets and other sites. In these places, man-made surfaces funnel rainwater directly into storm drains, and from there into the river.
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The projects would add "rain gardens," or paving stones with holes in them, or other means to help water seep into the ground.

The plan also calls for the restoration of woods and grasses along 72.5 miles of stream banks and for the creation or preservation of 137 acres of marsh. It also recommends new efforts to pluck trash from along streams or sweep it out of gutters before rain carries it into storm sewers.

The river's central dilemma is this: "When it rains, and sort of the city takes a bath, what do you do with the wash water?" said Robert Perciasepe, deputy administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Dana Minerva, who oversees Anacostia restoration work at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, said that Maryland has asked the federal government for $50 million to start its work. And Montgomery and Prince George's counties have passed laws that require them to pay for storm water cleanup projects.

But they have not budgeted those funds yet, she said.

"It's not going to be easy," she said, "but there is a lot of dedication" to the task.
by Washington Post.com

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D.C. Council votes to take over east of the river hospital

The D.C. Council voted Monday afternoon to approve emergency legislation that would create a city-run non-profit to manage the beleaguered United Medical Center in Southeast Washington.

The District will auction off the hospital next week unless an agreement can be reached with the current owner, Special Hospitals of America, over how best to salvage the troubled facility. If no bidders come forward, the city's non-profit would in effect take over the hospital.

Attorney General Peter Nickles filed a foreclosure notice last month stating that the auction would be held July 9 on the steps of the John A. Wilson Building. Nickles has accused Specialty of defaulting on its lease by failing to pay its bills on time. The company has said that the hospital's financial meltdown is due in part to the city's refusal to fully reimburse the facility for patient care. The city has estimated the hospital is loses about $1 million a month.

In 2007, a deal put together by D.C. Council member David A. Catania (I-At Large) prevented the closure of the former Greater Southeast Community Hospital, the only hospital east of the Anacostia River. The arrangement called for Specialty, a for-profit company, and the city to own the hospital jointly, and for the hospital to be managed by its own board of directors.

By Christopher Dean Hopkins



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Q and A with Anacostia River Realty

Very often I get email with questions regarding real estate. I figure if one person needs the answer to a particular question, there are many more people who would also be interested in hearing the answer. Some of the questions do not necessarily pertain to the east of the Anacostia River, but I'll do my best to answer and post on my blog. P.S. Names will be withheld on request! Darrin

Q. What is the standard down payment required when purchasing a home?

A. Typically, in this market, on a FHA Loan you will pay 3.5% down payment. This means 3.5% of the sales price. The home must be a primary residence and pass an inspection. If you are looking at conventional financing, typically, the down payment is a...round 5% of the sales price. For investors, from my understanding, if purchasing a Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac property (foreclosure), they can be purchased for 10% down. Otherwise, for investors the down payment is usually a 20% down payment. I hope this helps, but please contact a mortgage lender for specifics. Good Luck, Darrin



ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY: The east of the Anacostia River experts.
http://www.AnacostiaRiverRealty.com

Maryland to limit trash dumping in the Anacostia River

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the District of Columbia, and the state of Maryland announced a new Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) or “pollution diet” for trash in the Anacostia River. This makes the Anacostia only the second river in the country with a daily trash limit, and the first in the mid-Atlantic region.

Each year, hundreds of tons of trash and debris are washed into the Anacostia from stormwater runoff, not only creating a nuisance and an eyesore, but endangering birds, fish and other wildlife that ingest or become entangled in the debris.

The federal Clean Water Act directs states to develop “pollution diets” for impaired water bodies, such as the Anacostia River. A TMDL establishes the amount of a pollutant, in this case trash, that a water body can assimilate without exceeding water quality standards. TMDLs provide the basis for establishing water quality-based controls, reducing pollution from both point and nonpoint sources and restoring the quality of water resources.

The District and Maryland both included the Anacostia River on their respective list of impaired waters due to excessive quantities of trash and debris in 2006. To complement this TMDL, the District and Maryland are developing innovative storm water permits for municipalities.

The District Department of Environment, and Maryland Department of Environment along with members of several non-governmental organizations have worked collaboratively with EPA to develop this draft trash TMDL for the Anacostia River.

ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY: The east of the Anacostia River experts.http://www.AnacostiaRiverRealty.com

Fuel spill at a marina on the Anacostia River

Washington had a miniature fuel spill of its own the evening of May 29, 2010 when a cabin cruiser burned at a marina on the Anacostia River.

About 80 to 100 gallons of fuel apparently spilled after a 35 foot cabin cruiser caught fire about 7:30 p.m. at the James Creek Marina, the D.C. fire and emergency services department said.

The fire was quickly extinguished, but a fire department hazardous materials unit joined the Coast Guard in working to deal with the fuel spill.

No injuries were reported.


ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY: The east of the Anacostia River experts.http://www.AnacostiaRiverRealty.com

Savoy Court Happy Hour/Open House, June 10, 6pm-8pm

*Get a free 42'' Plasma TV!!!

Come see what luxury truly is...East of the Anacostia River

Join ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY and SAVOY COURT LUXURY CONDOMINIUMS...for hot dogs, burgers, and cool drinks on the roof top deck!

Thursday, June 11, 2010, 6p-8pm
...
SAVOY
COURT CONDOMINIUMS
210 Oakwood St. SE
Washington, DC 20032
202-678-REAL
(7325)

ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY:The east of the Anacostia River
experts.
http://www.SavoyCourt.com

*For attendees that purchase within 30 days of the event.

ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY: The east of the Anacostia River Experts.http://www.AnacostiaRiverRealty.com

East of the Anacostia River Open Houses: Sunday, June 6, 2010. 1pm-5pm

Come See The New

East of the Anacostia River!

Saturday, June 12, 11am-2pm & Sunday, June 13 12pm-3pm, 1214 U. St. SE, WDC 20020. Must See This Gorgeous Historic Anacostia End-Unit: The "WOW" Factor! Gorgeous historic end-unit in great location. Capitol views! Brand new interior, restored exterior. Private parking, New Roof, hardwood floors, huge kitchen w/ Stainless. Open floor plan w/ half-bath & lots of light. 3BR, 2 Bath upstairs w/ Master Suite. Steps to new streetcar, Big Chair Coffee, art galleries, river. Only 7 minute walk to Metro. One mile to Dept. of Homeland Security. Call David at 202-642-5811 for more details!

Sunday, June 20, 1pm-3pm, 210 Oakwood St. SE, WDC, 20032. Sophisticated Living at Savoy Court Condominiums: Contemporary floor plans*Hardwood floors*Carpeted bedrooms w/2 closets*Bath w/ceramic tile floors & walls*washer/dryer*Gourmet kitchen w/granite counter tops*Stainless steel kitchen appliances*built-in microwaves*deep sink*Rooftop deck*Exercise room*Limited garages available for purchase*10 mins to Downtown DC*2 near Metro*Bus Stop in front of building *Plus more!

Renovated 1940's brick exterior with stylized art deco entryways*Lavishly landscaped courtyard with expansive trellis structure*Satellite-ready w/master dish*Gated and secured grounds w/Electronic access control*Plus more! Call Anacostia River Realty at 202-678-REAL ext. 1 for more info.

ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY: The east of the Anacostia River experts. http://www.AnacostiaRiverRealty.com

Anacostia's First Green Condos

Ward 8's first "green" condos in what was once an abandoned eyesore in the community. The new Fendall Heights condos, at the corner of Fendall and V Streets, SE, adds 29 newly renovated units just blocks from the also newly renovated Frederick Douglas House. The affordable housing project, restricted to first time home buyers, was developed through a joint venture with ARCH Development, a non-profit community development organization, Fendall Partners, and $170,000 in pre-development support from the District Department of Housing and Community Development.

Through a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) the development team funded the installation of a living green roof to control surface run-off and reduce heat absorption for structure. Other green features include energy saving double-pane windows, pipes made of recycled plastic instead of copper and 100% energy efficient furnaces. Inscapestudio designed the reconfiguration of the building and the green elements.

The gutting and interior renovation began just about two years ago and the units should be complete by the end of June, according to Anthony R. Bolling, a spokesman for the developer. In addition to the 22 2-bedroom units an 9 1-bedroom units, Fendall Heights provides 3,000 s.f. of community space for artists studios. Condos will start at $125,000. When originally envisioned, some of the condos were intended to be reserved for artists, though none have been set aside. Bolling is confident that the units will nonetheless appeal to artists, not to mention a welcome relief for neighbors who have watched the building "sitting vacant and deteriorating for decades."

Source DCmud.com

ARCH, as a non-profit developer, supported the community and the project through its Training Center. District residents, as part of ARCH's Training program, were trained in construction techniques and gained on-site experience throughout the conversion of Fendall Heights.


ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY: The east of the Anacostia River experts.http://www.AnacostiaRiverRealty.com

Sheridan Station Breaks Ground

Public housing in Parkside will crumble and fall this summer, not from age or neglect, but by a demolition team, clearing the way for the new Linda Joy and Kenneth Jay Pollin Memorial Community Development. The Pollin project will replace one-for-one the 42 affordable rental units on site, known as Parkside Additions, while adding 83 for-sale units. The project was initially spearheaded by the late Abe Pollin and his Pollin Foundation. The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) is seeking permission to raze the row of apartment buildings from 705-721 Anacostia Avenue, NE and, according to DCHA Spokesperson Dena Michaelson, hopes to demolish the buildings over the course of the summer.

Pollin Memorial Community Development, LLC's planned $35 million development would bring 125 new affordable for-sale and rental homes to the northeast site, an assemblage belonging at one time to three different government entities – the District of Columbia, the District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA), and the National Parks Service (NPS). The developers courted the approval of all landowners back in 2006 and received approval for the project from the National Capitol Planning Commission (NCPC) in 2008. The NPS transferred its property to the District in 2007.

According to Michaelson, the developer is putting up $2 million to guarantee construction loans for the project. Michaelson said the entire project will eventually be paid for by the condo sales, and that Pollin, acting as a fee developer, will not gain financially from the sales. DCHA will be the property owner for the public housing and will maintain the units. Financing for development is being provided by the District of Columbia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), the District of Columbia Housing Authority, United Bank, Enterprise and the Abe Pollin Grantor Trust. DHCD is providing a construction loan, explained Michaelson, "a portion of the DHCD loan that applies to building public housing units is forgivable."

The project will provide 125 off-street parking spaces, one per unit, and the new residential structures will not exceed 40 feet or 3 stories. The 83 condominiums will be available to individuals earning between 40 percent and 100 percent area media income (AMI) and the 25 rental units will be offered to residents earning at or below 30 percent AMI.

A ceremonial groundbreaking in December was marred by a community boycott - an effort to convince developers and city officials to be more forthcoming about the project's community benefits which, though not final, had been viewed as skimpy. At the time, Michaelson indicated that a community benefits package would be available to the public upon its completion. When asked if an agreement has now been reached, ANC7C04 Commissioner Sylvia Brown said, "Short answer: no, no community benefits. Medium answer: there was a change in the ANC7D chairmanship and the momentum went out like air from a balloon. There hasn't been any other broad community update or discussion." Michaelson said the Pollin family has committed to giving $350,000 to the community, but was not sure what form the donation would take.

Meanwhile, DCHA will begin relocating residents to alternate public housing until Pollin's project delivers, a process that will determine the demolition date. "It's not a quick thing...it's a process to be able to relocate folks...to find the right size bedroom units, etcetera." explained Michaelson.

Current Parkside residents will have the first right to return to the new units. A press release from the ground breaking indicated the first units would be available in 2011. The phased project will complete in February 2013, according to Michaelson, who added that for-sale units will not be marketed until 2013.

Enterprise Community Investment is one of the development partners on the project. John Stranix, of Stranix Associates, is spearheading the construction effort with designs by Torti Gallas & Partners.

Courtesy of DCMud.com

ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY: The east of the Anacostia River experts.http://www.AnacostiaRiverRealty.com

Historic Anacostia: Future Promise Breeds Cautious Optimism

On almost every block in Anacostia there are both beautiful homes and vacant houses. The neighborhood’s main streets are a similar mix: fresh new businesses next to forlorn facades. Blight? Maybe. But to many, this contrast signals something much more hopeful: opportunity.

“I can see the Capitol dome from my front porch!” Jeff Herrell says as he tends the huge yard surrounding the house he renovated with a historic homeowners grant. Those funds have recently rehabbed more than 60 other houses here, where relatively low prices have launched a home-buying surge.

“Historic Anacostia is an amazing place in terms history and architecture. Plus, we’re only a five minute drive from downtown DC,” Herrell, an International Monetary Fund staffer, told UrbanTurf.

Herrell says he’s made lots of friends with other newcomers, mostly gay couples in their mid-30s like him and his partner. That influx represents yet another seismic demographic shift in Historic Anacostia. Established in 1854 as Uniontown, a home for the white workers at the Navy Yard across the river, Anacostia got its current name from the Nacochtank Native American settlement along the river.

In 1877, abolitionist Frederick Douglass became the first African-American allowed to own land in the neighborhood. His stately home perches on one of the hills that give the area its great views, as well as the strategic advantage that sprouted civil war fortresses. The rich history and geography bequeathed to Anacostia some great landmarks, such as Douglass’s home, Fort Stanton, the Carver Theater and the Birney school, as well as its biggest economic advantage — historic district classification.

But like what comes with most exciting pasts, the neighborhood has suffered — and earned a bad reputation. White flight in the 1950s left a vacuum soon filled with public housing projects and their inherent drug and crime problems. The schools have been among the nation’s lowest performers and many businesses, like Safeway and McDonalds, have decamped.

Promises to realize the area’s potential have constantly been broken, with fingers often pointed at Council Member Marion Barry, the former city mayor currently dogged by corruption charges.

Where It (Actually) Is

Something of an identity crisis is also to blame for the neighborhood’s bad rap. “Anacostia” is often a misnomer used to refer to the entire area of Washington east of the Anacostia River, which is correctly called East of the River or River East.

In fact, Anacostia applies only to Historic Anacostia, a relatively small section with its own distinct identity. Because of this confusion, many people associate Anacostia with all poverty and crime that occurs East of the River. The neighborhood’s reputation has suffered unduly as a result.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue and Good Hope Road make up the north and east boundaries of Anacostia, and serve as the neighborhood’s commercial arteries. The residential Howard Road is the boundary to the west and Fort Stanton Park the boundary to the south.

Change Brings Hopes for A New Identity

Many Historic Anacostia residents resent being associated with the entirety of River East -- where many cab drivers refuse to venture -- and the new life pulsing through the neighborhood may help their cause. Most visible are the cutting-edge contemporary new public library, the sleek Spirit Health and Wellness center and the Grandview condo building designed by Division One architects. New headquarters for the U.S. Coast Guard and D.C.’s housing department, and the proximity of the new Department of Homeland Security site at St. Elizabeth’s are expected to provide a boost to the area.

Newly-built Grandview Estates at 1300 Talbert Court SE
Newly-built Grandview Estates at 1300 Talbert Court S.E. (map)

But even more significant are the huge economic benefits that will likely result from some major coming attractions. The $4 billion Anacostia Riverfront initiative will transform that barren stretch with a gym, swimming pool, bike and pedestrian trails, tennis and basketball courts, an amphitheater and boating facilities.

Funds from D.C.’s new bag tax are also going toward cleaning up the toxic river. The 11th Street Bridge renovation, a new streetcar system and the Four Points developers’ plans for a 1.5 million-foot mixed-use complex in the neighborhood’s center round out the initiatives that hold considerable potential for Anacostia’s prosperity.

The decision by the D.C. Office of Cable Television and Verizon to make Anacostia the first D.C. area to receive FiOS (fiber optic cable, internet and phone service) is another sign that this quarter is starting to get some real attention.

Longtime Residents Make Way for Newcomers

The transformation of Historic Anacostia will almost certainly change the face of the neighborhood, now home to a predominately single, African-American, working and middle class population. The median age of the some 8,000 residents is 30, the median income $30,000 and just 40 percent of the households have children, according to The Washington Post. Most rent and the median overall residency is 3.4 years.

Newcomers include single young professionals and families, attracted to the area thanks to the low home prices and the park and school improvements. Stan Voudrie, a Four Points principal, says he understands the concerns about gentrification he frequently hears from long-time residents. But he says they shouldn’t worry they’ll suffer the way others have in places like Shaw, where dense populations have people competing for high-priced properties.

“Folks that live here now aren’t going to be displaced. There’s so much space here that we’re going to be filling up apartments and empty houses,” says Voudrie, who has renovated several row homes on W Street. “I truly believe that the change over the next decade will benefit all the residents; it will continue to be an economically improving neighborhood.”

Low Priced, Fast Moving Housing Stock

Italianate, Victorian, Cottage and Queen Anne frame houses are the dominant property types in the area. Interspersed among these homes are brick public housing projects, row houses, a few contemporary homes and one- to four-story new condo buildings.

The average cost of a single-family home is around $260,000, one-bedroom condos average about $170,000 and two-bedroom condos $190,000. The latest condo developments include the Grandview Estates and Fendall Heights Condominiums (both priced from the low- to mid-$200,000’s).

Renovated Victorian in Anacostia
Renovated Victorian in Anacostia

Currently, 15 single-family homes and 31 condos are on the market. Home sales are brisk, according to neighborhood Realtor Darrin Davis, who said investors are snapping up a lot of the available inventory.

“Investment potential is at its best since 2002,” Davis said. “The prices are still low compared to other areas of the city. Six of my seven sales last month were all-cash deals with investors who bought homes that needed renovations.”

Renting

Just 28 percent of residents own their homes, and the rental stock (mostly investor-owned single-family homes or apartments) is tight. Renters are generally on government-assisted vouchers that pay $1,200/month for one-bedroom apartments, $1,400 for two-bedrooms and $2,000 for three-bedrooms.

The Schools Are Getting Better

As noted earlier, the schools in Anacostia have historically been some of the lowest performing in not only the city, but the entire country. However, efforts are being made to remedy that. Friendship Public Charter took over Anacostia Senior High Scool last year in an effort to turn the monumentally troubled school around.

The Thurgood Marshall Academy charter is D.C.’s highest performing non-selective public high school, and the shiny new public Savoy Elementary School boasts a state-of-the-art computer lab. Private schools include the secular Naylor Road School, the St. Francis Xavier Catholic School and the Islamic Clara Muhammad elementary school.

Big Chair Leads the Restaurant Influx

The Big Chair Coffee ‘N Grill, named after the World’s Largest Chair, a major Anacostia landmark erected in 1959, created a lot of of buzz when it opened on Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue in January. The advent of a coffee shop was hailed as a harbinger in Anacostia, where sit-down restaurants are scarce.

The Uniontown Bar & Grill will open later this summer. In the meantime, the Fireside (Caribbean) and Morgan’s Fish ‘N Fry offer decent, affordable eats. Another restaurant, still un-named, is moving into the 1300 block of Good Hope Road with a projected October opening.

Big Chair Coffee at 2122 MLK Jr. Avenue
Big Chair Coffee at 2122 MLK Jr. Avenue (map)

The Douglass home and the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum are the neighborhood’s cultural heavyweights. The Honfleur and Vivid Solutions galleries, the American Poetry Museum and the African Heritage Dancers and Drummers studio are adding to Anacostia’s arts community.

Several parks, including the Fort Stanton woodlands and Anacostia Park on the waterfront, provide outdoor recreation. An unpaved hiker-biker trail runs east from Good Hope Road and the Suitland Parkway bike path is easily accessible.

A Shopping Desert

The Anacostia Art Gallery and Boutique carries African artifacts and home accessories, and American Shotta’s offers music and apparel, but otherwise it’s a shopping desert with just a few corner shops, a florist, and a small clothing store.

The Anacostia Warehouse Supermarket carries standard quality groceries in a quirky retro setting and the opening of a Yes! Organic Market near the Souza Bridge is close enough to give Anacostians something to cheer about.

Getting Around

The Anacostia Metro station on the Green Line sits on Howard Road in the western corner of the neighborhood. Metrobus lines A2, A4, A6, A8, B2 and U2 serve the area and bike paths run across both the Souza and 11th Street bridges. The Anacostia Freeway easily connects with the Frederick Douglass bridge to the west and other major D.C.-area freeways.

The 11th Street bridge replacement project will create two bridges to improve Anacostia’s accessibility. But, as it is in many neighborhoods, the new streetcar system is the best coming transportation news for the area. Its first phase, half of which is already complete, will begin operations in Anacostia in 2012 and will connect the neighborhood with H Street N.E. and Union Station.

Historically High Crime Rate Still Plagues Area

Crime is what many D.C. residents associate with Historic Anacostia, particularly homicides and other violent crimes. In March, The Washington Post reported that 11 of the 20 killings in the city since January were in communities like Historic Anacostia and Congress Heights.

Muggings are also a problem, but not necessarily worse than in trendier quarters like Adams Morgan and Georgetown, where late-night partiers and the well-heeled are targeted.

Though many hope Anacostia’s upward mobility will reduce the often drug-related crimes, resident Jeff Herrell says the opposite has been the case recently.

“We’ve had a lot of break-ins since the beginning of the year,” Herrell told UrbanTurf. “It’s kids and they’re after electronics, TVs, stereos and stuff like that.” He adds, however, that he doesn’t worry about violent crime. “It’s Southeast, so you get the homicides, but it’s mostly retaliation stuff, you know, like ‘You insulted my sister.’”

If You Build It Out, Will They Come?

For all the optimism, the pain of broken promises lingers along the blighted stretches of Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue. Many a business has canceled plans to open, such as an upscale dining and dancing club, either because of onerous red tape or some financial complication. Others are adopting a wait-and-see attitude. Affinity Lab, which offers collective office space for independent entrepreneurs, raised hopes with talks about opening one of its “business incubators” in the neighborhood.

The lab’s CEO Charles Planck says the lab is focusing now on its new U Street Corridor location, though, and has no immediate plans for Anacostia.

David Garber, author of the neighborhood blog And Now, Anacostia, told UrbanTurf that a team consisting of Four Points and ARCH Development Corporation has picked up where Affinity Lab left off, and hopes to open a similarly-focused venture on Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue in the next year.

Still, Planck echoes many who recognize Anacostia’s huge potential -- for both good and bad.

“Anacostia does have some unique opportunities -- and challenges -- that aren’t available in other communities.”

By Gretchen Cook. Gretchen is a Washington, DC-based journalist whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post and Washingtonian Magazine.

* Photos taken by Glenn Hennessey.

More stuff about Anacostia

* ZIP code: 20020
* Historic Anacostia real estate data and profile from Redfin
* Anacostia rental listings on Craigslist
* And Now, Anacostia (neighborhood blog)
* Barry Farm (Re)Mixed (blog for nearby Barry Farm neighborhood)
* River East Emerging Leaders
* Anacostia River Realty: East of the river-based realty company

ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY: The east of the Anacostia River experts.
http://www.AnacostiaRiverRealty.com