DC Housing Agency Moving to Anacostia

Downtown Anacostia was to have been the location for the NAACP's new headquarters; but internal bickering and financial problems forced the civil rights's group to hunker down at it's current location in Baltimore, even though DC leaders had approved a lucrative financial package for the group in hopes it's staff relocation could help revitalize one of the District's long neglected commercial strips.

Today comes word that Mayor Fenty will move one of the DC Government's agencies to Anacostia.

Here's what the press release said in part;

As an example the District’s desire to encourage new investment in emerging neighborhoods, (Mayor) Fenty said the District will move the Department of Housing and Community Development’s headquarters from the Union Station area to Anacostia Gateway, a 63,000 square foot building at 1800 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE. The building is partially controlled by the District and DHCD’s 178 employees will make the move East of the River in September.


The Center City strategy is intended to solidify the District’s position as the heart of the region by encouraging investments in housing, arts, culture, recreation and transportation. It is the Administration’s goal to transform the District into a globally competitive and sustainable model capital city. The District’s traditional downtown is nearly built-out and development is surging to new neighborhoods like NoMa, the Southwest Waterfront, the Capitol Riverfront and Anacostia.