Overview Capitol Quarter/JD's Photos Add'l Capper Buildings/Photos Capper News Items
"Capitol Quarter" is the townhome portion of the Capper/Carrollsburg redevelopment, being developed by EYA. It covers the blocks between 5th and 3rd Streets, and Virginia Avenue and M Street. All told, it will offer approximately 120 market-rate townhomes, 91 workforce-rate townhomes, 23 Section 8 units, and 88 subsidized rental units. For more information, including floor plans and prices, visit the EYA Capitol Quarter official web site.
This stitched-together overhead view, taken in March 2006, shows the entire Capper/Carrollsburg site, from the Southeast Freeway at left to the block south of L Street on the right. All of the public housing buildings had been vacant for at least a year at the time of this photo, but all were finally demolished during 2006. The Capper buildings between 4th and 5th Street were demolished in late 2004. The Canal Park will replace the school bus lots in the foreground. (03/06) 
The same view, 10 months later. All Capper buildings west of 5th Street are now demolished; the Capitol Quarter footprint will cover the two "ribbons" of blocks beyond the demolished blocks at front. The private homes seen in the middle of the photo will remain and have new townhouses built around them. The three cleared blocks closest to the camera will eventually be home to three apartment buildings. (01/11/07) |
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In November 2006 the last section of Capper buildings within the Capitol Quarter footprint were finally demolished; this is a May 2006 photo of the southwest corner of 4th and L streets (just across from the sales center). (05/06)
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The same location, with demolition completed. Note the additional disappearance of the old brick townhome next to 300 M; this house had been bought by the DC Housing Authority in 2005. (11/06) 
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The last of the blue-roofed Capper apartment buildings to remain standing, south of L Street between 3rd and 4th, shown here in April 2006. (04/06)
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The same location, demolished, but with the mailboxes still in place. 300 M Street now looms larger over L Street. Eventually the last block of Capitol Quarter townhomes will be built here, through probably not before 2009. (11/06)
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Demolition in November 2006 included the southwest corner of 3rd and L, which did include three private buildings that were bought by the DC Housing Authority over the past few years. (05/06)
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The same location, demolished. (11/06)
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The northwest corner of 4th and L, in November 2004. (11/04)
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The same location, two years later, with the Capitol Quarter sales center now open. (02/07)
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The interior of the Sales Center, with the mondo cool model of the project dominating. Go see it! (And, no, my photo isn't crooked, the model properly depicts the rise in elevation from south to north.)
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Looking at the model of the Capitol Quarter development from the north--this is as if you're standing on the SE Freeway, between 3rd and 4th streets.
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The reverse view, looking north; imagine you're looking out the windows of the northeast corner of the 300 M Street office building.
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Looking south on 4th Street, just past the freeway overpass, in April 2004. Relocation of Capper/Carrollsburg residents had begun in 2003, but many of these units were still occupied at this time. (04/04)
The same location, in September 2006. The buildings along the left/east side of 4th, including the ones that surrounded St. Paul's Church, were demolished in late 2004. The buildings on the right/west side were demolished in summer 2006. You can also see the under-construction Capper Building #2 at the end of the block. (09/06) 
The Capitol Quarter sales model depicting what a wider view of the same location will look like when the development is complete. (The church isn't getting demolished, it just isn't part of the model.)
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Looking north at the intersection of 4th and L, in June 2003, as relocation of Capper residents was just getting underway. (06/03)
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The same spot, not quite 3 years later, with both sides of the street now demolished. (05/06)
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The 4th and L intersection shown in the previous two photos, in model form. This is the northwest side of the street, where the Sales Center is currently residing.
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The west side of the 4th and L intersection; the homes you see in the block at center and the homes with their backs facing the camera are the ones that are going to be built first, starting in spring 2007. (The near ones will be backing up to Capper Building #2.)
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Three views of the southwest corner of 4th and I streets; (top left) in April 2006, having been vacant more than a year; (top right) after demolition in September 2006; and (bottom left) the EYA model of what 4th Street will look like after Capitol Quarter is finished. |
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Three more views of 4th and I, this time the northwest corner; (top left) in December 2004; (top right) after demolition in September 2006; and (bottom right) the EYA model of what it will look like after Capitol Quarter is finished. |
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Many people get their only view of the Capitol Quarter area when they drive under the SE Freeway and onto Virginia Avenue at 3rd Street, on their way to the I-295 on-ramp at 8th Street. (top left) the southeast corner of 3rd and Virginia in July 2005; (top right) after demolition, in June 2007; (bottom left) the model's depiction of the same location; the park area along Virginia Avenue is a nice touch, not only for the greenspace but also to move those houses as far away from the freeway as possible. |
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The southeast corner of 3rd and I, in July 2005. (07/05)
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The same spot, a few months after demolition. (06/07)
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Looking east K Street, at its intersection with 3rd Street, in January, 2003. (01/03)
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The same location, 3 1/2 years later, with only private homes still standing. (09/06)
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Looking west on K Street between 5th and 4th, in November 2004. (11/04)
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The same location, close to two years later. The buildings in the forefront (east of the 4th Street intersection) were demolished in December 2004. Demolition west of 4th began in March 2006, and by that September, all Capper buildings along this stretch of K were gone. Note Capitol Hill Tower now dominating. The two-story buildings still standing are private homes, and will not be demolished. (09/06)
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The southeast corner of 4th and K. (11/04)
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The same spot 2 1/2 years later, long after demolition. (05/07)
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The southeast corner of 4th and L Streets, in October 2003. (10/03)
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The same spot, 2 1/2 years after demolition, with the Capper Building #2 wraparound addition to the old Carroll Apartments building now rising. Capitol Quarter townhomes will be built along L Street and the northern part of 4th Street. (06/07)
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Looking west along L Street at 5th Street into the Cappers, as relocation was just beginning to get underway. (05/03)
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The same location, four years later. All Capper buildings along L Street are now demolished, Capitol Hill Tower has risen to the west, and Capper Building #2 is visible at left (but only until the new townhomes start construction). (05/07)
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The northeast corner of 4th and M. (04/04)
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The same spot, three years later, as construction of Capper Building #2 nears completion. (06/07)
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There are actually some already existing private homes within the Capitol Quarter footprint; these will not be torn down. Here are some of the ones along 3rd and K streets; the 3rd and K Market closed some months after this photo was taken, but maybe it will reopen when there are people once again in the neighborhood. The Capper buildings at far left have since been demolished. (11/04)
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The northeast corner of 3rd and L, where there are also private residences. (04/06)
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The west side of 5th Street, looking south from Virginia Avenue, showing the other block of private houses within the Capper footprint. These also will not be demolished; new townhomes will be built around them (where the boarded-up buildings are). Many of the rowhouses have been renovated since this photo was taken in early 2004. (03/04)
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The same spot, as demolition began in early December, 2004. This building is completely demolished now, but for a few weeks, this is how a lot of 4th and 5th street looked. (12/04)
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While looking forward to the changes that are coming to the Cappers, it should not be forgotten that this neighborhood has been home to many people for many years, and, at least temporarily, those people have had to uproot themselves. Views of the southwest corner of 4th and K in May, 2003.... (05/03)
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... and again in August, 2004 highlight the loss of an resident who took great care with their yard. (08/04)
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Overview Capitol Quarter/JD's Photos Add'l Capper Buildings/Photos Capper News Items
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