tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post8896852866192416134..comments2024-03-25T18:50:15.135-04:00Comments on DCmud - The Urban Real Estate Digest of Washington DC: 14th Street YMCA: Short on the DoughKenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08295461340042242438noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-37743961990188715532010-03-06T10:32:12.558-05:002010-03-06T10:32:12.558-05:00I belonged to this Y when they shut it down. No do...I belonged to this Y when they shut it down. No doubt, the facilities needed updating - but this was an inexpensive place to workout by contrast to the nearby alternatives (Results, etc.). It also served an active, mostly minority community in an area that is increasingly out-of-reach. Kids were streaming in and out all day. [An aside: As I'm sure many of your readers are aware, Anthony Bowen founded the first YMCA for African-Americans in 1853.] <br /><br />I remember talking with the manager of this Y a week before they shut its doors. This was before the economic meltdown, but the planned-developed already seemed absurdly optimistic. Anyone paying attention to what was going on in the area could have foreseen that - despite the promise of a "brand new" YMCA facility - the result of these plans would be NOTHING for years and years. <br /><br />I'm no opponent of gentrification, but this strikes me as a good example of what happens when big ideas (and big developers) lose sight of consequences for "real" people.Matt Dullhttp://mdull.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-32588277946915443392010-03-05T20:18:04.472-05:002010-03-05T20:18:04.472-05:00I am surprised there has not been more objection t...I am surprised there has not been more objection to the dimensions of this development. It is one thing to have a large buildings facing 14th St, but this proposed seven story structure will be on a small street spanning East to West into a low density neighborhood. It will dwarf the adjacent row houses. There are small, two-story homes on Florida Avenue that will be sitting in the dark. This wall of a building to the South, almost as tall as Union Row, will block off their sunlight.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06959344819741776607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-12996694743600014312010-03-04T19:33:26.750-05:002010-03-04T19:33:26.750-05:00The building is in a historic zone and therefore h...The building is in a historic zone and therefore had to get approval from the DC Historic Preservation Review Board. The building is "Traditional" as a result - and not Postmodern as someone suggested. A modern design was rejected by the city.<br /><br />Of note, the image shown is heavily cropped - the project takes up most of the block, and is broken down to look like several independent buildings. It will, I think, make a positive contribution to the neighborhood if it is ever built.<br /><br />And no... I don't work for Perseus.millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11672453331080224836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-36917202229637124152010-03-04T11:27:53.996-05:002010-03-04T11:27:53.996-05:00As a resident of Union Row and former Anthony Bowe...As a resident of Union Row and former Anthony Bowen YMCA member, I can't wait for it to be re-opened. I don't even care if it's renovated first - I just want to be able to go work out and meet other folks who live in the neighborhood. Too bad there's no cash. <br /><br />I wonder if there's any hope of getting some people together to fund raise - just to re-open the place and provide some modest services until there's enough funding to really renovate it. That would be pretty neat.Shamienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-74408718488345636702010-03-04T10:52:10.661-05:002010-03-04T10:52:10.661-05:00Perseus Development is a travesty. True sheisters...Perseus Development is a travesty. True sheisters.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-90159762704890593992010-03-04T07:19:06.200-05:002010-03-04T07:19:06.200-05:00Yeah, like mid-century modernism is sooo current! ...Yeah, like mid-century modernism is sooo current! I wonder why all the high rent districts are older neighborhoods, hmmm? If anything, the design needs more articulation and detail, but anything's better than a wanna-be glass box.Thayer-Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04892043179839099462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-60985299261564815102010-03-04T03:17:59.792-05:002010-03-04T03:17:59.792-05:00Well I hope it gives them some time to rethink the...Well I hope it gives them some time to rethink the miserably bland facade, because that area could use some nice modern architecture. It's 2010, time to leave pomo in the past.Evanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17311099669536923863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-65055408465217750702010-03-03T22:55:02.077-05:002010-03-03T22:55:02.077-05:00as a current YMCA Nat'l Cap employee, I can te...as a current YMCA Nat'l Cap employee, I can tell you nobody in the organization knows when that building is gonna even be torn down. Nobody should be getting their hopes up for that YMCA anytime soon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com