Sliding from Before to After
So.... After nearly a decade of documenting the changes in Near Southeast DC, the time has come for some change of my own, as I've decided to dial back the intensity of my blogging at JDLand. Astute readers have probably already noticed the beginnings of a shift over the past few months, but it's time to make an official declaration of intent.  Since I've always been a historian at heart, I'll still write about the neighborhood's major moments, its new developments and other big arrivals. (Call it Milestone Blogging.) But while sometimes my output won't really seem that different from what it's been, it won't always be with the speed I prided myself on in the past, and I probably won't post about all the tiny steps in a project's road to fruition. But the day-to-day life-in-a-neighborhood stuff and aggregation-type "tidbit" and event items will mostly fall by the wayside on the blog, though should continue on Twitter/ Facebook, where a mouse click or two can get the word out easily. And really, it's not so much me giving it up as it is finally admitting that I mostly gave it up already and have no intention of getting back to it. When I started back in 2003, there were few places to get information about Near Southeast. (Remember, there wasn't even a ballpark back then--South Capitol Street was just one of four potential locations for a team that no one ever really thought would come to town.) The major news outlets might publish something once in a while, and there was the monthly Hill Rag and the late Voice of the Hill, but if I really wanted to know what was going on with development plans, I had to dig pretty deeply for it myself. Now, as the neighborhood becomes a destination, not only for Nats fans but also for people heading to the Yards Park or other spots, coverage of goings-on in the area has expanded considerably. Plus, the number of outlets has expanded considerably--not only are there the newspapers and TV stations, but all manner of web sites covering development, entertainment, nightlife, food, urbanism, and whatnot. And then you have Twitter/Facebook feeds coming directly from developers, and the BID, and the restaurants, and the parks, and the politicians, and the city, and the residents.... With all that easily accessible information, my original goal of posting the things I dug up so that other people wouldn't have to do the digging seems pretty outmoded, and it makes it hard for me to keep doing what my brain tells me isn't really "needed." (I'm just not wired to be mostly an aggregator.) There's probably all sorts of ways that the site could evolve to keep up with this high-volume new world, but there's also the reality that, after years of pretty intense commitment, I am starting to want to do other things, and to perhaps find some other kewl new concept to channel my energies to. But it can be hard to let your mind wander enough to figure out The Next Thing when you're still buried in The Current Thing. Plus, there are now some new realities in my life that aren't leaving quite so much room for JDLand. I hope that, by stepping back a bit from the content firehose, I can find a comfortable niche to continue writing about and photographing Near Southeast's continuing redevelopment, especially since I think I still have a lot to contribute in terms of "institutional knowledge" of how the area has evolved. This probably would have happened awhile ago if it hadn't been for all of the great interest and feedback I've had during this amazing ride, and all of you have my heartfelt thanks and appreciation for all the interest and support. I've often described blogging as "whistling into the wind," but the incredible amount of positive response this little endeavor has received over the years has truly been what's kept me going. (It certainly ain't the money!) I do hope some folks will continue to stick around as I transition into this new Blogger Emeritus role. After all, the comments threads are always open! So, this isn't a goodbye. It's more like a necessary nod to the fact that things change, and it's time to allow JDLand--and JD--to change too.
JDLand.com Home
laratani says: (8/30/12 9:42 AM)
Thanks for all your great work. Am glad to hear you're not hanging your blogging cap up all together. Good luck in all your new ventures and will still keep checking out the site!
SWag says: (8/30/12 10:37 AM)
I made an account to say thanks all the way from Southwest! SWag!! But in all honesty, you really shouldn't stop ;)
JD says: (8/30/12 10:58 AM)
Not stopping! Mainly just finally giving myself permission to do only the parts that interest me. And to not have to write when I don't want to. :)
V Dizzle says: (8/30/12 11:01 AM)
Same here, made an account to say thanks. You made working in the neighborhood, and its development, more exciting. I don't like the idea of not knowing things ahead of my coworkers! Thanks for the dedication ! :)
Maelstrom says: (8/30/12 1:51 PM)
Thanks for all you've done. I really enjoy watching change and progress, and this site has always been the best comprehensive source for such info about the neighborhood.
conngs0 says: (8/30/12 1:56 PM)
JD, thanks for all of your dedication in documenting the neighborhood's development over the years. Your contribution via this blog rises far above that of an "aggregator" of information. I sincerely look forward to continuing to read your insights and opinions about the neighborhood's continued developments (even if they come a little less frequently).
Jaybird says: (8/30/12 5:02 PM)
No one has covered the rise of a neighborhood like you have JD. Look forward to your new approach.
Andrew in DC says: (8/31/12 12:08 AM)
JD - thanks for everything you've done for the neighborhood and its residents over the last decade. --Andrew
Shogungts says: (8/31/12 12:42 AM)
I moved into the hood (just north of the freeway) about 5 1/2 years ago and have frequented your site several times a week since(I even have the a RSS feed for jdland.com high on my homepage). I actually had the pleasure of meeting you once at a performance parking meeting in a SW church when they were first putting it in place and you were great in person too. Even though you are a Gator, I want to thank you for all of your hard work; it really has and is appreciated. Thanks again, Marc Go Canes! :)
Bob says: (8/31/12 9:34 AM)
Thank you very much for your time and effort. I hope your new priorities are resolved in a positive and satisfactory manner.
G ST SE says: (8/31/12 9:49 AM)
Thank you so much. As a resident here since 1996, I've enjoyed every morsel and could not have understood what was happening for the past nine years without your work. Your blog is the biggest community booster cite ever. I share it with family, friends, coworkers and folks considering a move to DC. It is also a cite that gives folks considering a move away from DC great reason for pause. There is no replacement and it is now cemented in so many people's lives, it has to be maintained even if only as you describe, with capstone or milestone event updates and not every single nugget of activity. If you turn further away, consider the talent within your audience to make sure the baton is at least passed to others so invested in the area. You are trend-setter and tireless worker. Looking forward to your next big thing. SW Waterfront, Buzzard Point St. Elizabeth's? Great content there and both communities need the resource. DC Government should follow your lead! Best wishes.
Packinblackandred says: (8/31/12 9:49 AM)
Thanks for everything, JD! Onward and upward.
JD says: (8/31/12 10:57 AM)
@SWag @Shogungts You guys are starting to edge toward an orange and blue-tinged JDLand death sentence. :-)
JD says: (8/31/12 11:31 AM)
But seriously, thanks everybody for all the incredibly kind words. I'm looking forward to being able to keep updating JDLand at a more forgiving pace, with less stress and a lot less guilt. But still (I hope) with really good content.
Wkk says: (8/31/12 10:39 PM)
I wish you the best of luck in rearranging and changing! I also registered so I could comment. You have provided the neighborhood with an invaluable resource with your reporting and photos. I have been following your blog for a few years and am impressed with your work; the blog is so well written, with humor and authenticity, and the information timely and helpful. I know this is hard to achieve. You are a natural community/ urban planner. Thank you for the service you provided to SW, Capitol Hill and D.C. I am sure that your next venture will be a success.
Blue says: (9/1/12 5:43 PM)
JD, I committed to buy in Southeast 1 year ago, and can honestly say I would not have done it had it not been for this site and your information. There just wasn't enough info about the area available, I didn't know anyone, and moving in from the suburbs, I was a little wary about the neighborhood. Your site, and all the commentors made me realize that this would be a great community for me. I've now lived here for 5 months and couldn't be happier. Thanks JD. I'm sorry you don't get paid for your blog --- you should. Your info made me willing to plunk down a nice chunk of change on a new house!
IMGoph says: (9/2/12 9:29 AM)
Thank you so much for being the most dedicated and thorough neighborhood blogger DC has (or ever will) have. I hope that the next neighborhood blog update article from the WaPo won't call you a "failure" because you weren't able to turn this into a multi-million dollar business (yeah, I think their last article on the subject SUCKED). :)
JD says: (9/2/12 11:43 PM)
IMGoph, at least articles like those do a great job of proving that my working in the Post newsroom doesn't mean that they automatically show me any favoritism!
And thanks for the plaudits, though it was trying to keep the "dedicated" and "thorough" titles over the past couple of years that almost did me in. :)
JJG says: (9/4/12 11:20 AM)
I have been reading the blog for awhile and its definitely one of the best out there! Thanks for keeping us all well informed. Keep up the great work and look forward to continuing to follow the blog through its changes!
bkt says: (9/5/12 8:52 AM)
JD, I read your blog daily. I feel like I know you even though i've never met you. I hope that you continue, the near SE story is getting good.
FullSailDan says: (9/5/12 1:22 PM)
JD, maybe it is time to transition to a new format or something. Have you considered getting additional writers for the blog to cover topics that may have less interest to you?
JD says: (9/5/12 1:33 PM)
Hi Dan, as I said in the post, I know there's lots of ways I could adapt, and adding other writers would be one of them. But that wouldn't necessarily result in my getting more free time, since I'd still have to edit, assign, etc. etc. etc. I don't think that would lower my stress level, either. :-)
SBS says: (9/8/12 5:55 PM)
JD -- So very thankful to you for all that you've done to give this emerging neighborhood a sense of identity as well as history. You were responsible for the new neighborhood's first new residential tenants finding each other and organizing to get a reluctant developer to communicate with us. As I said when introducing you one night, you "single-handidly redefined local journalism" with this blog -- and the many people who have followed your lead are a testament. I'm thrilled to know you'll keep chronicling major events and look forward to hearing about your next project. Cheers!
JD says: (9/11/12 2:16 PM)
SBS, you are and have always been such a great supporter of my little Time-Sucking Vortex, and I thank you from the bottom of my burned-out heart. :)
MalS says: (9/11/12 2:54 PM)
What a fantastic project this has been - it is an absolutely amazing record of what can happen under certain conditions in a 21st century U.S. city. Please keep in mind that the value of something like this is not necessarily measurable in immediate profit. I hope you have considered the possibility of eventually storing JDLand someplace like the Library of Congress. Also I want to mention how much I have enjoyed all my time browsing JDLand over the last (yikes almost 10) years! I look forward to whatever you do with JDLand. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
JD says: (9/11/12 5:29 PM)
Thanks so much, MalS. My approach always was to create something that people researching the area years from now would find useful--didn't really occur to me at the beginning that people would be interested "during". :-)
And if anyone is reading from LoC or any other interested repositories, drop me a line, let's chat. link
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Full Neighborhood Development Map
There's a lot more than just the projects listed here. See the complete map of completed, underway, and proposed projects all across the neighborhood.What's New This Year A quick look at what's arrived or been announced since the end of the 2015 baseball season.Food Options, Now and Coming Soon
There's finally starting to be some new food options in the neighborhood. Click to see what's here, and what's coming.Canal Park
Three-block park on the site of the old Washington Canal. Construction begun in spring 2011, opened Nov. 16, 2012. Park Tavern restaurant opened April 8, 2013.Nationals Park
21-acre site, 41,000-seat ballpark, construction begun May 2006, Opening Day March 30, 2008.Arthur Capper/Carrollsburg Mixed-Income Redevelopment
Hope VI-funded redevelopment of old public housing complex. 1,700 rental & ownership units, including 700 public housing units.Washington Navy Yard
Headquarters of the Naval District Washington, established in 1799.Capitol Quarter
121 market-rate and 91 workforce-rate townhomes sold in phases; construction started June 2008, completed fall 2012. Project also includes 111 subsidized rental units and Section 8 ownership units.The Yards
44-acre mixed-use redevelopment of the old Southeast Federal Center. Expected to be completed in phases over 20 years.The Yards
44-acre mixed-use redevelopment of the old Southeast Federal Center. Expected to be completed in phases over 20 years.Yards Park
5.5-acre park on the banks of the Anacostia. First phase completed September 2010.The Arris/Yards
325ish-unit residential building on SW corner of 4th and Tingey. Construction begun late 2013, completed March 2016.The Bixby
New mixed-income apartment building once known as the Lofts at Capitol Quarter on the northern portion of the old Capper Seniors lot along L Street. Construction begun spring 2014, delivery 2016.Community Center
A new building replacing the old center, with day care, a rec center, gym, computer lab, and more. Starting spring 2014, completed summer 2016.Van Ness Elementary School
DC Public School, closed in 2006, but reopening in stages beginning in 2015.Park Chelsea
880 New Jersey
430-unit apartment building called Park Chelsea, 1st phase of 1 million-sq-ft residential project by William C. Smith. Started fall 2012, first move-ins began April 2016.Agora
336-unit apartment building at 800 New Jersey Ave., SE, second phase of 1 million-sq-ft residential project by WC Smith. Whole Foods signed for 35,000 sq ft ground-floor retail. Construction begun June 2014, delivery 2017.One Hill South
380-unit residential building by Ruben Cos & Related Companies. Underway Feb. 2015, delivery early 2017.Insignia on M
324-unit residential building at 1111 New Jersey Ave., SE, by Donohoe. Construction underway Sept. 2014, delivery 2017.99 M Street
A 224,000-square-foot office building by Skanska for the corner of 1st and M. Underway fall 2015, delivery 2017. Circa and Open Road expected tenantsF1rst/Residence Inn
325 residential units, 170-unit hotel, and 40,000 square feet of retail along 1st Street, by Grosvenor and McCaffery. Construction underway March 2015, delivery 2017. Hampton Inn & Suites
A 168-room hotel on the corner of 1st and N, construction started early 2014, opened December 2015.Dock 79/RiverFront on the Anacostia
(Florida Rock)
5.8-acre site, 1.1 million sq ft project, 1st phase 350-unit residential building called Dock 79 underway in late 2014, delivery expected fall 2016.New South Capitol Street Bridge
Planning is underway to replace the current Frederick Douglass Bridge.Anacostia Riverwalk
A bridge between Teague and Yards Parks is part of the planned 20-mile Anacostia Riverwalk multi-use trail along the east and west banks of the Anacostia River.Virginia Ave. Tunnel Expansion
Construction underway in 2015 to expand the 106-year-old tunnel to allow for a second track and double-height cars. Expected completion 2018. Rail and Bus Times
Get real time data for the Navy Yard subway, Circulator, Bikeshare, and bus lines, plus additional transit information.Rail and Bus Times
Get real time data for the Navy Yard subway, Circulator, Bikeshare, and bus lines, plus additional transit information.1221 Van
290-unit residential building with 26,000 sf retail. Underway late 2015, delivery late 2017.NAB HQ/10 Van
New headquarters for National Association of Broadcasters, along with 163-unit condo building. Construction underway early 2017.Yards/Parcel O Residential Projects
The Bower, a 138-unit condo building by PN Hoffman, and an unnamed 190-unit rental building by Forest City on the southeast corner of 4th and Tingey. Underway fall 2016, delivery 2018.New DC Water HQ
A wrap-around six-story addition to the existing O Street Pumping Station. Construction expected to start in 2016, with completion in late 2017.District Winery
Full-service winery, restaurant, and events space coming to the Yards. Construction underway late summer 2016, with completion in late 2017.Square 769N Apts
Mixed-income rental building with 179 units, including 36 public housing units. Could get underway early 2017.West Half Residential
420-unit rental/condo project with 65,000 sf retail. Construction underway spring 2017.2 I St.
1st-phase 380-unit apartment building, on old McDonald's site. Construction underway early 2017.1250 Half St.
445 residential units in two phases, 60,000 square feet of retail. Could get underway spring 2017.
Records added or updated recently displayed here; click the "archive" links to see additional detail and older records. All data from DC Government databases and RSS feeds. JDLand takes no responsibility for errors, omissions, etc. (read CapStat disclaimer). Data is retrieved daily.
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UNIT B/O K ST SE 
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| THEFT FROM AUTO
Theft (theft From Motor Vehicle)
| 06/20/17
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| 200 B/O I ST SE
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| ASSAULT WITH A DANGEROUS WEAPON
| 06/18/17
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| 301 L ST SE
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| MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT
Theft First Degree (Stolen Auto)
| 06/12/17
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| 100 B/O K ST SE
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| THEFT FROM AUTO
Theft (theft From Motor Vehicle)
| 06/12/17
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| 1100 B/O 3RD ST SE
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| THEFT
Theft 2nd Degree (all Other Larceny)
| 06/12/17
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| UNIT B/O L ST SE
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| ROBBERY
Assault W/i To Commit Robbery (aggravated Assault)
| 06/10/17
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| 100 B/O K ST SE
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| THEFT FROM AUTO
Theft 2nd Degree (theft From Motor Vehicle)
| 06/08/17
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| 1100 B/O NEW JERSEY AVE SE
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| THEFT
Theft 2nd Degree (all Other Larceny)
| 06/05/17
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| 1000 B/O HALF ST SE
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| ROBBERY
| 06/04/17
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| 1100 B/O NEW JERSEY AVE SE
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| THEFT
Theft 2nd Degree (theft From Building)
| 06/02/17
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| 1200 B/O HALF ST SE
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| ROBBERY
| 05/28/17
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| 1100 B/O 9TH ST SE
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| THEFT FROM AUTO
Theft (theft From Motor Vehicle)
| 05/26/17
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| 40 B/O N ST SE
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| THEFT
Theft 2nd Degree - Felony (all Other Larceny) - Parking/ Drop Lot/ Garage
| 05/22/17
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| 1100 B/O NEW JERSEY AVE SE
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| THEFT
Shoplifting
| 05/22/17
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Recent Issued Building Permits
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