Overview First Phase Renderings/Photos More Photos/Later Phases Yards News Items
The first phase of the redevelopment of the 44 acres of the Southeast Federal Center site will see the construction of the Yards Park, the renovation of three existing buildings and the construction of one new one. Note that specifics such as start dates are estimates, and all designs may still undergo modifications. All renderings are courtesy Forest City Washington.
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The Yards Park
A May 2009 rendering showing an aerial view of the Yards Park at dusk. The "Great Lawn" is the green patch at left, the expanded Canal Basin with its pedestrian bridge is just to the right, the Lumber Storage Shed (to be rehabbed with glass walls) and its plaza is at top center, and the boardwalk runs across the bottom past marinas and piers and west to Diamond Teague Park. The first phase of the park was completed in September 2010. Piers, marinas, and the retail buildings would come in later phases. Image courtesy Forest City Washington. The park's official web site is at yardspark.org.
The Pedestrian Bridge and Light Tower, seen at the park's Sept. 7 grand opening. For many more photos from the ribbon cutting, see this Gallery. (9/7/10)
Near the water's edge. (9/7/10)
A nighttime shot at the park, showing the canal basin, the Lumber Shed, and the ghostly presence of the Foundry Lofts building. For more nighttime shots of the park, see this gallery. (9/24/10)
Looking at the Yards Park and the Foundry Lofts from downriver, on the Douglass Bridge, in January 2012. (1/8/12)
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A "before" view of the park's footprint along 3rd Street south of Water, in August 2005. (8/6/05)
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The same location, now to be known as the Third Street Plaza. For many more before-and-afters in the park, see the Expanded Archive. (9/7/10)
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Turning around and looking north up Third Street from south of what would become Water Street, in 2005. (8/6/05)
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The same location, showing off the canal basin, the waterfall, and the fountains at the Third Street Plaza, on the day of the park's ribbon cutting. (9/7/10)
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The riverfront near the bulkhead, before. (7/17/08)
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A similar view of the same location, with the park completed. (9/7/10)
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The historic Lumber Storage Shed, built in the 1930s and showcasing its decidely non-historic salmon-colored tin exterior. (7/17/08)
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A similar view, with the shed long since de-skinned and now under construction and surrounded by trees. It is scheduled to open as a retail pavilion in 2013. (More details here.) (1/29/13) 
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Walking on the bridge at night. For more nighttime shots of the park, see this gallery. (9/24/10)
A view from the overlook toward the open grass and boardwalk. (8/27/10)
The boardwalk and the light tower, looking toward Diamond Teague Park and the Florida Rock site and the Douglass Bridge (and Buzzard's Point in Southwest) in the distance. (9/7/10)
Looking at the park footprint from the southeast viewing platform at Nationals Park, first on 9/1/07 while the stadium was in under construction, and then at the end of the ballpark's third season, a few weeks after the Yards Park opened. (9/25/10)
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Standing on the Great Lawn, looking back toward the Canal Basin and the Foundry Lofts. (9/7/10)
A water's edge view of the stepped landscaping that rises up from the boardwalk. The three (well-concealed) retail pavilions, with the shed at left, won't be completed until the park's second phase.
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Standing south of the axis of Fourth Street, looking east toward the Navy Yard and the Display Ship Barry, in 2005. (8/6/05)
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The same location, with the location known as the "Virginia Avenue Gardens" getting some down-to-the-wire work done just before the park's opening. (9/7/10)
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Looking toward the Douglass Bridge from near the Fourth Street line, in 2008. (10/29/08)
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The same location, on the day of the park's ribbon cutting. (9/7/10)
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Another nighttime look at the park, showing the canal basin, the pedestrian bridge, and the light tower. For more shots of the park after dark, see this gallery. (9/24/10)
Yards Park Second Phase
The second phase will see the rehabilitation of the Lumber Storage Shed as well as the construction of two new buildings, all of which will offer a combined 55,000-sq-ft of retail. Here are basic drawings of the three structures, as seen from along the water (top) and from Water Street (bottom).
A similar view to the above rendering, with construction underway and the glass exterior nearly completed. (1/29/13)
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A 1983 photo of the Lumber Storage Shed, from the NCPC Yards Phase 2 design review. After years with a corregated exterior, the shed returned to this "naked" look in 2010.
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A rendering showing what the same view of the Shed will look like after renovation. (see a larger version) (4/11/11)
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A similar view to the above photos, with construction underway. (3/14/13) 
The shed's river-facing side, now encased in glass. Osteria Morini will be at right, and Agua 301 at left. (3/14/13)
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The Lumber Storage Shed with its faaaaahbulous salmon corregated tin wrapper, in 2005. (08/05)
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A rendering of the same angle, at night, showing the "jewel box lighting" effect designers and ANC commissioners want to see. (see a larger version) (4/11/11)
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Standing at the recently built intersection of Fourth and Water streets, looking southwest into what will be the park. The Douglass Bridge is seen in the distance. (12/7/08)
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A 2009 rendering of the same spot, with the two new-construction retail pavilions at left, and the Lumber Storage Shed not quite visible behind the trees.
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A 2009 nighttime rendering from the second floor of the eastern retail pavilion, looking across past the middle building (far right) and the Lumber Storage Shed (right center), with the light tower and the pedestrian bridge visible as well.
The less-than-inviting interior of the old Lumber Storage Shed back when it was still the terra-cotta-colored building sitting in the middle of the park's footprint. (7/17/08)
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The second floor of the storage shed, before. (7/17/08)
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Looking down onto the shed's ground floor. (7/17/08)
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Later Phases
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Looking west into what will be the eastern footprint of the park, from the riverwalk in front of the Navy Yard, in April 2004. (04/04)
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The educational organization Living Classrooms of the National Capital Area will be eventually building their new main campus building on this location. There's no timeline yet for construction, and it will probably be a while, since Living Classrooms will be undertaking a fundraising drive to pay for the project. (Rendering from STUDIOS Architecture)
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Choose a Phase One Project to View, or View All:
The Foundry Lofts
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The Boilermaker Shops
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Twelve12 Apartments
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Factory 202
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The Yards Park
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Overview First Phase Renderings/Photos More Photos/Later Phases Yards News Items
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