Daily Photo & Links:

Organized 1887, originally uploaded by Eye Captain.

SW: School is Out, Condos are In [DCMUD]
The New Future @ DCAC [DCist]
A Peaceful Mount Pleasant

[DC Metrocentric]

Daily Photo & Links:

Into the Great Wide Open, originally uploaded by Hoffmann.

Ben's Chili Bowl in Talks With Nationals Stadium [DCist]
Metro Pushes to Curb Eating, Drinking in System [Express]
Bush OKs Bill for Capitol's Emancipation Hall [Express]

Rendering of the Day:

I'm kicking off this feature with The Lacey, a new condominium building under construction at 11th & Florida Ave. NW, about 3 blocks from the U St. The building has an ultra-modern design by Division1 Architects. The four story, 26-unit building is being constructed on a former parking lot for the Florida Avenue Grill, which will remain right next to The Lacey. 

Daily Photo & Links:

Aerial View of Thomas Circle, originally uploaded by dctourism.

District to Get Its Own Quarter [DCist]
J Street takes shot at Florida Ave. Market project [WBJ]
Eastern Market Rehab to Begin Soon [DCMUD]
MLK Library to Become [DCist]

Links:

Wrapped in Light, originally uploaded by Eye Captain.

City, developers agree on financing plan for old convention site [WBJ]
A Common Building for Petworth [DCMUD]
Arlington board approves massive Rosslyn building [Examiner]
Holy Cow: Marvin Expanding [POP]

The Project That Will Change... Anacostia:

The Project That Will Change... is a series that I'm starting to highlight big projects. Really big projects. Projects that will change the way people think about and view the neighborhood it's in, as well as contribute to changing the way the world views DC. To do this, of course, it will actually have to positively change that neighborhood, and the city.

The first project in this series is the Poplar Point redevelopment project. The four development teams presented their proposals yesterday. And Now, Anacostia has the scoop from the meeting.

Let's start with the good:

With Clark Realty's plan, Poplar Point truly looks like an extension of Center City DC. The crazy modern looking building extending slightly into the Anacostia is the National Hall of the Environment, where "a cluster of companies focused on the environment creates an international business hub". This proposal also connects Poplar Point to the rest of the community. It proposes a "deck" over three city blocks of 295, along with air-rights development, as seen in the sight plan below:


I just love this proposal. Great density, great park design, great urban design. I love the circle at the the South Capital Bridge, along with the development surrounding it (although I don't believe Poplar Point includes west of the circle), and the canal that slices through the park. The proposal offers the option of the DC United Stadium.

And the bad:



WTF?! Archstone Smith & Madison Marquette, what the hell were you thinking?? It seriously IS a suburban town center! Parking structures? Seriously... I'm at a loss for words. This rendering says enough.

There are two more development teams, Forest City Washington (which is developing The Yards across the river) and Mid-City Urban/ General Growth Properties. Check out Poplar Point Finalists Unveiled at And Now, Anacostia for the rundown of all four teams.

Also of note, according to Washington Business Journal Victor MacFarlane, president of the company that owns DC United, was in attendance at the meeting and that he said that he liked Clark Realty's proposal. When all of this settles, this project will change Anacostia and DC as a whole.

Linkage:
Poplar Point Finalists Unveiled [And Now, Anacostia]
Stadium Still in Mix Under 2 Poplar Point Plans [Express]
Visions of Vibrancy [WaPo]
Developers sketch out competing plans for Poplar Point [WBJ]

Shot of the Day:

Washington, DC Metropolitan Police in front of a fire hydrant, originally uploaded by Triborough.

Well... what else is there to say...