This lovely vista shows the footprint of the new Department of Transportation Headquarters a few months before construction began, and gives a good feel for what M Street looked like for many years. (
see enlargement, and also the
Southeast Federal Center page) (10/03)
The June 2008 dusk version of the M Street vista, taken from a slightly different angle, at the New Jersey and M intersection, 14 months after the building opened. And with the Starbucks displayed front and center, to the joy of coffee drinkers throughout the neighborhood. (6/5/08)
Looking at the Southeast Federal Center and DOT land from Poplar Point, across the Anacostia River, in January 2003. (01/03)
The same location, nine years later, with DOT long since having remade the vista, but now with the work at
the Yards changing the view even more. (01/12)
Looking south across M Street on New Jersey Avenue, a few months before construction began. New Jersey Avenue will be extended into the Federal Center land (perhaps all the way to the river, if they can figure out how to get it around the WASA plant [far right]), and is the eastern boundary of the DOT land. (10/03)
November 3, 2019 - The same location on a not-at-all gray day 15 years later, with the extended New Jersey Avenue now open for business, and with new traffic lights in place at the intersectio. Midway down the block is the main entrance to DOT.
May 19, 2019 - The same location, 14 years later. Third Street, which splits the two DOT buildings, will not be opened to traffic and will instead be a pedestrian plaza; but it has been constructed in such a way that it could eventually be reopened to traffic if the feds ever stop being so ridiculously paranoid.
The equally terribly inviting 4th and M entrance to the
Southeast Federal Center, in October 2003. 4th Street will be opened to vehicular traffic when the DOT HQ opens in Spring 2007. (10/03)
June 16, 2018 - The same location, 13 years later, with the building now open for business, 4th Street south of M open to traffic, and the
Twelve12 apartment building now at left.
M Street, from just west of 5th Street, as digging at DOT was just getting underway in March, 2004. (03/04)
July 17, 2016 - The same location, 12 years later, showing the eastern front of the eastern DOT building, as well as
Twelve12 and its ground-floor Harris Teeter peeking up above the wall.
A wide-angle lens view of the back of the DOT HQ, as seen from 4th and Tingey. The old industrial building at front and center, Building 167 (the old Boilermaker's Shop), is actually not part of the DOT project but instead
has been renovated as part of the
Southeast Federal Center redevelopment. The red brick building at far left, Building 170, may someday be renovated to provide 8,000 sq ft of retail, with an additional 10,500 sq ft possible if a second floor is created. (12/06)
Looking back up 3rd Street through the DOT construction, from 3rd and Tingey, in August 2005. Building 170 is at left. (08/05)
The same location, 16 months later, with exterior construction and the streetscaping of the the 3rd Street pedestrian plaza close to finished. (12/06)
The landscaping of a walkway behind the eastern DOT building, seen from the 3rd Street pedestrian plaza (Building 167, not part of the DOT project, is at right). The entrances to these walkways are each framed with a iron sculpture of a different style of bridge. (12/06)
Building 170, on the northwest corner of 3rd and Tingey. A photo more memorable because soon after taking it I was chased off the lot by an overzealous Federal Protective Services officer. (12/06)
The southwest corner of the 11-acre DOT site, with the southwest plaza at center and Building 170 at right. (3/18/07)
Looking north in May 2004 through the DOT construction from Tingey Street, at what will be the new south end of New Jersey Avenue, looking along the sightline of where the re-opened
New Jersey Avenue will run. 1100 New Jersey Ave. (aka 140 M Street, aka the Federal Gateway) is the tower at center. (05/04)
The same location, just under three years later, with DOT (front) and
Capitol Hill Tower (rear) now part of the skyline. And the Capitol Dome, too, as you look up New Jersey Ave. (3/18/07)
The main entrance to the DOT HQ, on the "new" New Jersey Avenue between M and N. Check out the fun sign! (3/18/07)
A festively stylized shot of the 4th street entrance to the DOT HQ, between M and Tingey. (12/06)
Sneaking a peek into the DOT land in October 2003, at 4th Street just south of M. You want pavement, you got pavement. (10/03)
The same location, 14 months later and nearly a year into construction. (12/04)
The view from above M Street as digging ended and concrete pouring got underway. These are two photos collaged into one, hence the fish-eye like feel, and poor perspective that makes the area to the right of the photo look so much larger than the area to the left, which isn't the case. (09/04)