Capitol Hill Revival Embraced

Revitalization abounds in Eastern Market and Capitol Hill, two historic neighborhoods in Washington, D.C., where many old buildings have recently been gutted and transformed into condos.  

I think it's great," said Janet Crowder, owner of Two Lions Antiques & Interiors, a 25-year-old antique store and appraiser on 11th Street SE.  "It has expanded the boundaries of the Capitol Hill area."

The changes began 30 years ago, when an influx of people moving into the Capitol Hill area wanted to clean it up by restoring old homes, Crowder said. 

Attorney Rick Halberstein, who lives and works in Capitol Hill, said he has seen older buildings being transformed from their original purposes. One example is the Bryan School, once an all-white elementary school before integration that was renovated into loft-style condos in 2005. Even vacant churches have been gutted and made into condos, he said. 

 Historic buildings in Eastern Market and Capitol Hill are being transformed into new condo complexes. The Iridium is a new 10-unit condo located on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Halberstein said he sees this as positive change.

“The city sells the building, makes some money, and it is made into something useful,” he said. 

Restoration of historic architecture is better than demolishing old buildings and constructing modern condos in their place, he added.

An example of the latter is the Iridium, a complex of condos on Pennsylvania Avenue SE that once was a carpet and floor-tile store. Located on the outskirts of the neighborhood, Iridium has 10 units and is one block from the Potomac Avenue Metro Station. 

It stands just past a community mural depicting Eastern Market and next door to a Chinese fast food restaurant. Condo prices hover around $500,000, and Tyler Garrison, the sales representative for the development, said three have sold.

The development is not without its critics, however.

“I think it is just too modern for the neighborhood,” Halberstein said. “But it must have passed our preservation society.”

Halberstein said he hopes the neighborhood will be able to maintain some sort of age and socioeconomic diversity despite the move toward condo development.

“It is fine," Halberstein said. "So long as you are not pushing people out."