Blog Changes

Posted on January 19, 2010 by dcsculler

I was thinking the other day that this blog is not dedicated to the Anacostia Boathouse, nor to the 11th Street Bridge project; I mistakenly implied this by the blog’s title.  For the record, I am a rower and see the river daily from a unique vantage point.  I row out of the Anacostia Community Boathouse as do hundreds of others, but do not represent it.  My intention is to catalog, largely for historical purposes, the changes happening along the Anacostia Riverfront east of the 11th Street Bridge complex. 

There are so many things envisioned for and in the works on both sides of the river in this area.  I would hope that once many of these changes have been realized we will see the improvement to our community…and the river itself.  I also want to capture the unique character of this area and long history.  The best part about this personal undertaking is that it is not meant to dig into the mechanics of the change – the whys or whynots; moreover, it is to provide snapshots over time as change unfolds and we say hello to a renewed riverfront. 

To better reflect the intent of my blog, I am changing not only the title of the blog, but also the address by which you find me out on the Web.  I hope you enjoy the pictures my partner and I post.  It’s been fun for the first couple of weeks.  We intend to take more pictures and of other projects and changes in the area.  I really enjoy seeing the transformation of this somewhat forgotten riverfront and I hope you enjoy it too.  Thanks to all for reading and watching.

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Bridge Project Video from DDOT

Posted on January 17, 2010 by dcsculler

For those who are curious about what the project entails, but do not have time to read through everything, hear interview with DDOT Program Manager Bart Clark about the bridge project.

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Progress Update

Posted on January 16, 2010 by dcsculler

We visited both the bridge construction site and the new boathouse site (fomerly Anacostia Marina) today.  It was a great day for snapping pictures and even had a chance to chat with some folks about progress on the bridge.

At the bridge site, the contractor putting pilings in.  The contractor has had difficulty getting the pilings in given the uncertainty of what lies at the bottom of the river.  Per my last post, the City did find numerous sunken boats at the bottom of the river.  The workers are softening the river bottom and then will begin drilling within the next fews days so they can set in al 9 pilings.  The pilings will have to support the entire bridge structure and all the traffic on it, so you can imagine the size of the pilings.  There are no estimates, at least publicly as to when they will finish with the pilings.  They will begin 24/7 ops very soon, rain or shine.   I hope these guys have lots of warm coffee for the bitterly cold days likely ahead.  As reported on JD’s blog today via Twitter post, a raze permit was submitted to demolish the existing boathouse and 2nd building (sniffle sniffle).  It’s hard to believe the time is coming so quickly.  The boathouse community is prepping to move out by April contigent upon the new facility up river being ready.

The new facility is gradually transforming from the Anacostia Marina to the new Anacosita Community Boathouse.  It is exciting to see it take shape.  Work in the river is nearly complete from what we could see today – no one on site to verify with.  Site prep work on land is progressing.  One of the smaller buildings that looked like a bunker of sorts, is gone.  The big blue buiding is still standing, but it appears they have been cleaning out (see my tweet).

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Anacostia Marina Site Updates

Posted on January 14, 2010 by dcsculler

The Anacostia Marina site is being transformed.  According to other boathouse mates, it would seem that this week the unmistakable blue building, a landmark on the Anacostia, is finally coming down.  Along with the pilings being pulled up, this will mark the end of a somewhat storied history for the the blue building and the Anacostia Marina.  Originally opened in 1972 and known as Tommy’s for owner Thomas C. Long the marina was a destination for some of the biggest yachts on the Potomac, especially when in need of repair.  The facility served as a boatyard having the facilities to haul out vessels up to 65 feet in length.  In 2000, the facility was shuttered after Long plead guilt to violating the Clean Water Act.  Apparently, Long had been dumping oil and other solvents in the already unhealthy river for some time.  Long has also turned the site into a junk yard of sorts for old boats, refrigerators, boat parts, and other trash.  Some boats were allowed to sink causing oil spills.  When the City had the river bottom mapped in 2007-08 timeframe, several sunken boats were found in the area.  The National Park Service attempted to reopen the  facility in 2006 under concessionaire Guest Services Inc.  For a time the facility looked alive with a good bit of activity going on, but the facility never reached capacity, nor was it improved.  Eventually the land conveyed to the District of Columbia under a larger Federal land transfer deal that concluded in 2008.  Soon after conveyance, the City terminated the lease with the concessionaire.  

 

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Change Begins

Posted on January 9, 2010 by dcsculler

The DC Government announced the kick-off the 11th Street Bridge Project on December 29th.  At the boathouse, the changes began months ago with drilling on and off the water.  We (my partner and me) took a ride this afternoon to snap some shots of the progress.  It was icy cold and the river had a good bit of ice on it.

Work progresses on two fronts – the bridges and the new, or rather temporary, boathouse facilities.  At the boathouse (between the 11th Street and Welsh bridges), crews are hard at work preparing the river bottom for the new bridge piers.  The contractors will build the new spans, three in all, off-line of the current roadway.  It was somewhat sad to see the river dominated by the huge barges and cranes.  The front of the boathouse looked a bit like a war zone with vehicles all over the place and construction equipment everywhere.  It is progress, but for those of us who know the river and the boathouse so well it will be difficult to take. 

Up river,  crews are pulling up the pilings that once made up the structure of the former Anacostia Marina slips.  There is a lot of work to be done to prepare this site for the temporary boathouse facility…again it is progress.

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