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Marion Barry’s Nightmare Unfolds

Old Bathos
@OldBathos
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One of Marion Barry's first acts as mayor was to kill the zoning plan his predecessor had put in motion. The first mayor of Washington, DC under home rule, Walter Washington, oversaw the plans for the city's subway system (The Metro). He fiercely insisted that the zoning around most stops be adjusted to bring about a mix of residential, retail and office space so the Metro project could help establish distinct neighborhoods. Barry correctly inferred that this kind of renewal would bring more middle-class and upper-middle-class residents back to DC, and those people were not his base.

Large developers also hated the plan because it restricted construction of (then lucrative) office space along K Street. Barry got campaign cash from that sector and a promise that low-income housing would be built in the city's poorest ward as soon as "suitable sites became available." Barry then announced that he had shaken down The Man on behalf of the disadvantaged black underclass in his first days in office.

Oddly enough, those "suitable sites" never became available. DC remained heavily poor and over 2/3 black for the remainder of Barry's first 12-year stretch as mayor. But now those "suitable sites" have indeed become available, but not for pubic housing.

A giant spa (Therme) is planned on the banks of the Anacostia. The Redskins (yeah, I said it) are getting a new stadium and a sprawling neighborhood transformation around the stadium that's also on that side of town. New parks, new condos are all approved and ready to replace the indigenous population.

Across the street from my office downtown, an entire office building is being torn down to build high-end condos (though not as high-end as the 60 or 70 $5 million and up condos being built in the Four Seasons project in Georgetown). And the project by me is not even one of the bigger conversions of COVID/Zoom-depleted office space into residences downtown. And further down the timeline, the feds are continuing to sell off the massively unnecessary office buildings in SW DC near the Smithsonian, which could be the biggest transformation yet. The city will lose that little bit of East Germany found in those sterile blocks.

The area near the Nats' ballpark is still gentrifying. It seems like the entire southern end of town is being rebuilt. The upper half, especially the west side, has long been mostly upscale residential areas.

DC is now about 40-45% black (and dropping), 10-12% Hispanic, and the rest white. The entire lower half of the District is undergoing major investment and significant change. Barring some major economic event, DC is going to be increasingly upscale and white for the next 30 years despite Barry's best efforts to stave off that outcome.

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Discussion (13)

  • Hoyacon@Hoyacon

    After attempting to move his franchises to Northern Virginia, local guy and fellow Hoya Ted Leonsis' Monumental Sports (NHL Capitals and NBA Wizards) was "convinced" by DC Mayor Bowser to stay in the District. Bowser took a series of bows over this, heralding a planned state-of-the-art "urban area" for the arena. Thus far this has resulted in expensive arena renovations for luxury boxes, clubs, and bars that few residents are likely to be able to afford. No sign of the "urban area" yet, but I did eat at a Raisin' Cane's near there recently. Good Lemonade.

    The romance between developers, politicians, and sports franchises rarely benefits anyone but those three.

  • Old Bathos@OldBathos
    ReplyingtoHoyacon

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    After attempting to move his franchises to Northern Virginia, local guy and fellow Hoya Ted Leonsis’ Monument Sports (NHL Capitals and NBA Wizards) was “convinced” by DC Mayor Bowser to stay in the District. Bowser took a series of bows over this, heralding a planned state-of-the-art “urban area” for the arena. Thus far this has resulted in expensive arena renovations for luxury boxes, clubs, and bars that few residents are likely to be able to afford. No sign of the “urban area” yet, but I did eat at a Raisin’ Cane’s near there recently. Good Lemonade.

    The romance between developers, politicians, and sports franchises rarely benefits anyone but those three.

    The city is buying land to assist the expansion of the Arena. My well-connected son-in-law has already enjoyed time in "The Vault", the exclusive area owned by Monumental. The Gallery at that metro stop is getting a facelift. And a big rec space is planned. Part of the motive is that COVID almost killed Chinatown restaurants and stores and they want to maximize foot traffic.

    To make an omelet, a lot of low income people need to move or something like that.

  • EODmom@EODmom
    ReplyingtoOld Bathos

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    After attempting to move his franchises to Northern Virginia, local guy and fellow Hoya Ted Leonsis’ Monument Sports (NHL Capitals and NBA Wizards) was “convinced” by DC Mayor Bowser to stay in the District. Bowser took a series of bows over this, heralding a planned state-of-the-art “urban area” for the arena. Thus far this has resulted in expensive arena renovations for luxury boxes, clubs, and bars that few residents are likely to be able to afford. No sign of the “urban area” yet, but I did eat at a Raisin’ Cane’s near there recently. Good Lemonade.

    The romance between developers, politicians, and sports franchises rarely benefits anyone but those three.

    Old Bathos (View Comment):

    The city is buying land to assist the expansion of the Arena. My well-connected son-in-law has already enjoyed time in “The Vault”, the exclusive area owned by Monumental. The Gallery at that metro stop is getting a facelift. And a big rec space is planned. Part of the motive is that COVID almost killed Chinatown restaurants and stores and they want to maximize foot traffic.

    To make an omelet, a lot of low income people need to move or something like that.

    But the rich white folks will still vote Dem, so all OK. Right? And they need affordable housing for aides and staff, right? And property taxes on residential units will be a bonus. We all know how profitable arenas are to taxpayers.

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