It's very very very hard, but sometimes you get quality urban infill

14th and U Streets NW, circa 1950s, Scurlock Studios photo, National Museum of American History.


Older intact commercial buildings at 14th and P Streets NW

When I first started being involved in revitalization issues I had plenty to learn. At the outset--remember that it was not until 2003 that "revitalization" within DC really hit its stride--when I would see footings and foundations for new development, I would be positively excited, expecting good things from the investment.

Mostly, I would end up disappointed, because the finished work was usually crap.

Even so most people would argue along the lines of "something is better than nothing" even if that something was very very mediocre.

I would respond that after waiting this long, it makes sense to make things much better, rather than just accept mediocrity. This line:

"Better than concrete block shouldn't be the standard that we are satisfied with" comes from that era.

Given the amount of bad infill in the vicinity of 14th and U Street NW, from the Reeves building to one story commercial junk (in the place of better buildings that were destroyed during the 1968 riots), finally seeing some decent buildings being constructed in the place of empty lots-used car dealerships at the "100% intersection" in the neighborhood is good to see.

The two buildings to the left of the corner building have been constructed over the past 18 months.

It's too bad that I don't have photos of the the west side of the block between T and U on 14th Street, and between 13th and 14th Streets on the south side of U Street, to show the lousy one story buildings next to the Rite Aid.

Partly this is about maximizing the value of the land, and recognizing that building appearance contributes to property value and supports higher rents. The urban renewal era didn't care much about design, according value only to the location.