A look at what's going on in Trinidad, on H Street, and in the larger area north of Capitol Hill.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
DCmud: Boundary Road Rises as Construction Wanes
DCmud looks at Boundary Road (414 H Street), and discusses development on the west end of the H Street Corridor. Decent piece overall, but is anyone really calling the west end "Atlas District West"?
22 comments:
H Street West
said...
About the comment about "Atlas District West", I live near 4th and K NE, and I have no idea what to call where I live.
NOMA? H Street? Near Northeast? Swampoodle? H Street West?
I live on 5th and H, and I usually refer to my end as "Hst", and I usually refer to the whole corridor from 3 thru the starburst as "H st."
Not too long ago when people outside the neighborhood didn't know which neighborhood Hst (as in the entire corridor) was in, I used the "Atlas District." Now people know H st. However, I would like to use "Atlas District" instead of "H St" cause it sounds more exciting. It's still a good block, but the nearest artsy place is HR-57 in the middle of the Hst corridor. We used to have a small gallery on 4th, but I think it closed, and I only knew of the opening/closing receptions.
i live near 4th and i. depending on who i'm speaking with, i either tell them i live in the "atlas district", "h street", or if the person is from VA or MD i tell them i live "east of union station" - and they always give a frightened/disgusted reaction when i tell them this.
We live at 7th & K and we always say Near North East, and when people look confused Union Station. When they are still confused we say North Capitol Hill. I have never heard of Atlas District West.
Near Northeast will never stick, any more than Near Southeast will. They have no meaning except to the statistically few people who live within those census tracts. As silly as Real Estate agent jargon like "north Capitol Hill". Do you really want to be knows as only "near" something? Near to what? As soon as you gotta 'splain, you've lost it.
How about we go back to Swampoodle? It's more unique, representative of the area's past and its current vibe. I'd rather see something that honors those who have been here a long time rather than what the business consultants think would be hot for people such as myself, who have moved in the past few years.
I'm for Swampoodle. I usually tell people I'm near Union Station and H St. NE. I'm surprised how many people have no clue where New York Avenue metro is. It doesn't really ring a bell.
There's a good case to be made for Swampoodle. The most successful neighborhood names are those that have an historical basis, relate to a landmark, or denote a geographic feature. Cleveland Park, U Street, Georgia Avenue, Georgetown, Dupont Circle, Trinidad, Rosedale, Barney Circle, H Street, Anacostia, Fort Dupont, Barracks Row, etc. The SW Waterfront has spent over $500K according to the Washington Business Journal trying to "brand" their neighborhood and haven't gotten anything to stick. Not many people know what West End is, but they know where Foggy Bottom is. Perhaps it's because slick marketing won't work as well as people themselves generally coming to agree on a name that actually means something, not only to the residents, but to outsiders, as a way to identify a specific neighborhood. Who really wants to describe their community as "near" anything?
I say capitol hill or H street and people actually always tell me how nice the area is and how fun H street has become. Specially among the 20 to 30 something age, they know pretty well about the fun restaurants and bars on H street and don't. We'd any further explanation.
I get a positive reaction when I say I live in the H St. area. When I say I live off of Benning Rd I either get an eyebrow raise and a head shake or a blank stare.
I live near 12th & Maryland. I used to tell people that I live in Capitol hill. Now I tell them the atlas district. But from now on I'll tell them East Swampoodle. I like the sound.
Swampoodle isn't really a historically accurate name for the neighborhood. The old neighborhood sat on the land now occupied by Union Station, the GOP, and the railroad.
22 comments:
About the comment about "Atlas District West", I live near 4th and K NE, and I have no idea what to call where I live.
NOMA? H Street? Near Northeast? Swampoodle? H Street West?
Suggestions?
I live on 5th and H, and I usually refer to my end as "Hst", and I usually refer to the whole corridor from 3 thru the starburst as "H st."
Not too long ago when people outside the neighborhood didn't know which neighborhood Hst (as in the entire corridor) was in, I used the "Atlas District." Now people know H st. However, I would like to use "Atlas District" instead of "H St" cause it sounds more exciting. It's still a good block, but the nearest artsy place is HR-57 in the middle of the Hst corridor. We used to have a small gallery on 4th, but I think it closed, and I only knew of the opening/closing receptions.
i live near 4th and i. depending on who i'm speaking with, i either tell them i live in the "atlas district", "h street", or if the person is from VA or MD i tell them i live "east of union station" - and they always give a frightened/disgusted reaction when i tell them this.
H Street West,
I would fenitely call that Near Northeast.
I say "by H Street" and cringe, waiting for the person to slap me with shock.
We live at 7th & K and we always say Near North East, and when people look confused Union Station. When they are still confused we say North Capitol Hill. I have never heard of Atlas District West.
I always say "H Street." I won't ever say "Atlas District" until people start calling U Street the "Lincoln Theater District."
Near Northeast will never stick, any more than Near Southeast will. They have no meaning except to the statistically few people who live within those census tracts.
As silly as Real Estate agent jargon like "north Capitol Hill".
Do you really want to be knows as only "near" something? Near to what?
As soon as you gotta 'splain, you've lost it.
3:54,
I' don't kno0w about that. Near Northeast isn't exactly a new name. We'll see.
I always just say H street for the entire strip from Senate Square to the Argonaut.
I live on Abbey Place and tell folks I'm in NoMa. Screw the BID Nazis who carved my street out of their boundary.
Capitol Hill North or CHINO.
How about we go back to Swampoodle? It's more unique, representative of the area's past and its current vibe. I'd rather see something that honors those who have been here a long time rather than what the business consultants think would be hot for people such as myself, who have moved in the past few years.
I tell people Moscow then run away crying.
I'm for Swampoodle. I usually tell people I'm near Union Station and H St. NE. I'm surprised how many people have no clue where New York Avenue metro is. It doesn't really ring a bell.
There's a good case to be made for Swampoodle. The most successful neighborhood names are those that have an historical basis, relate to a landmark, or denote a geographic feature. Cleveland Park, U Street, Georgia Avenue, Georgetown, Dupont Circle, Trinidad, Rosedale, Barney Circle, H Street, Anacostia, Fort Dupont, Barracks Row, etc.
The SW Waterfront has spent over $500K according to the Washington Business Journal trying to "brand" their neighborhood and haven't gotten anything to stick. Not many people know what West End is, but they know where Foggy Bottom is.
Perhaps it's because slick marketing won't work as well as people themselves generally coming to agree on a name that actually means something, not only to the residents, but to outsiders, as a way to identify a specific neighborhood.
Who really wants to describe their community as "near" anything?
Don't care for swampsnooty. Burn out alley has a certain street vibe to it.
I say capitol hill or H street and people actually always tell me how nice the area is and how fun H street has become. Specially among the 20 to 30 something age, they know pretty well about the fun restaurants and bars on H street and don't. We'd any further explanation.
Anon 3:44 FTW.
I get a positive reaction when I say I live in the H St. area. When I say I live off of Benning Rd I either get an eyebrow raise and a head shake or a blank stare.
If you live North of H street the proper name is Old City 1...However when asked I usually say H street corridor.
I live near 12th & Maryland. I used to tell people that I live in Capitol hill. Now I tell them the atlas district. But from now on I'll tell them East Swampoodle. I like the sound.
Swampoodle isn't really a historically accurate name for the neighborhood. The old neighborhood sat on the land now occupied by Union Station, the GOP, and the railroad.
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