Why are there no navigation bars on this page? It's because “the future’s not here yet” . . . this section is still being developed.

“FUTURE” will focus on changes within and around the community, and help us make Eckington a better place for us and for those who follow.

Our neighborhood of mostly single-family, unassuming rowhouses is something of an oasis in central DC. Blocks of office buildings are rising rapidly in NoMa, just south of us. Only by looking ahead will we be able to counter the threats they present to our human-scale, family-oriented community – and maximize the advantages they offer.

Many residents welcome our new corporate neighbors because they anticipate expanded shopping opportunities. But if we simply wait for whatever retail outlets appear in NoMa, that may be all we get. Our needs may not be met – in type, quality, or location.

To be viable outside of NoMa, nearby businesses will need to have broad appeal across the socioeconomic spectrum represented in our community. We need investors who are looking to establish sustainable operations that will serve our long-term needs, not highly-speculative endeavors based on short-lived trends. For our “urban village” to truly thrive, we need to court small, independent ventures operated by local entrepreneurs – especially ones offering unique goods and services not found in other parts of DC.

High-density housing slated for the vacant parcels on the edges of Eckington; potential uses for vacant and/or under-utilized commercial and light-industrial properties; the availability of housing – subsidized and non-subsidized – for working people; the historic district question; the increasing shortage of tradespeople skilled in maintaining our older buildings; the redemption of neglected and nuisance properties; the need for more parks and appealing outdoor spaces; creating harmony within our diverse classes, races, and cultures; assuring the education and safety of our young people; balancing rising taxes with rising (or, sometimes, falling) home prices: all these require careful deliberation, unrestrained imagination, and – ultimately – a workable plan if we are to not only preserve what we have, but make a better future for Eckington.

So, stay tuned, and be ready to put your thinking cap on!

KL, March 2010