March 24, 2008
We're Going to the ... Capitol Riverfront?
The area around the new baseball stadium isn't much more than a construction site so far, but the promise of a bustling entertainment district in what was formerly a bleak industrial sector is enough to leave developers and city officials frantic for a new branding. According to a Post article published today:
Despite appearances, this is just the way District leaders hoped it would be: a ballpark set amid a vast Southeast Washington neighborhood in the middle of one of the biggest overhauls in city history. Some 500 acres are to be transformed, spreading south from Capitol Hill to the Anacostia River, sweeping away an accumulation of old auto body shops, sex clubs and debris-filled lots -- so dramatically that officials want to give the area a new name: Capitol Riverfront.Capitol Riverfront? That's right. No longer will the area be referred to as the Navy Yard, much less Near Southeast. Like many other up-and-coming neighborhoods -- think NoMA, spanning the area north of Massachusetts Avenue between First Street NW and Second Street NE -- the moniker Capitol Riverfront was thought up by the developers responsible for the area around the stadium, most of whom are looking forward to brushing away any memories of what used to exist there. Late last year the Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District (BID) elected its first board of directors, and their snazzy-yet-generic website gives a glimpse of what the area may eventually grow to be. (If you watch the images scroll across the header on the main page, you'll notice a graphic showing what looks like a big bookstore called "Berdors." Simple spelling mistake or creative way to avoid paying a bookseller money to use their name? We report, you decide.)
We're all excited for what the area may soon offer, though it may not include many local businesses or any inspired architecture. But do they have to reinvent everything down to the name of the neighborhood? Experience shows that the new names rarely stick with the locals. After all, do you tell your friends to meet you in the East End? And if they really want to re-brand the neighborhood, does the name have to be as generic as Capitol Riverfront?
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I know they want something grander, but how about keeping the orthogonal symmetry and just call it what it is, the Southeast Waterfront.
Yeah the longer the name - the more unlikely we're gonna use the name. Actually - why bother calling it the CAPITOL waterfront? People in DC will obviously know they're in DC - no need to elaborate. I, like Krisa, have been and will be calling it the Waterfront.
maybe 'berdors' will be their new name after they close down a bunch of their other stores.
capitol riverfront is boring, sure, but at least it isn't (it pains me to type these letters) noma.
"And if they really want to re-brand the neighborhood, does the name have to be as generic as Capitol Riverfront?"
Is "Near Southeast" really that much 'less generic'? I understand the arguments against rebranding, but I don't think I understand the idea that this proposed name is "generic".
I like Berdors. It's where I get all my boks.
I was always a little confused by the terms they used for that redevelopment. Sometimes it seemed to be called the Southwest waterfront redevelopment, and then sometimes it was the Anacostia waterfront redevelopment. It seems like this is more about the waterfront along the Anacostia, not the Washington Channel; so the term Southwest doesn't seem applicable.
I don't really care that much frankly, I just think it's a little silly to call it the Capitol Waterfront (does the Capitol building have a dock?) and not the Capital Waterfront.
I imagine this rebranding has something to do with the Council scotching one of those development corps last year (I forget what it was called).
Considering have several waterfront areas - Georgetown and Maine Ave - maybe a more specific name should've been used.
Still, it could've been much worse
I can haz Cosi?
They're just making the name as tourist enticing as possible.
"What? There is more Capitol? How fun! And its by the water, oh I bet its pretty! Look, there are all the major chain retailers that I'm familiar with too. I feel so safe here, its just like America should be."
I don't really care that much frankly, I just think it's a little silly to call it the Capitol Waterfront (does the Capitol building have a dock?) and not the Capital Waterfront
Seriously! I kept reading the Post and DCist expecting SOMEONE to point out the Capitol/Capital issue. Hopefully, the "officials" want to put this title in scare quotes...
Heh. No Ma! No!
I have a feeling they're gonna change the name of that area again sooner or later. This also applies to Capitol Waterfront
What's wrong with Navy Yard? Chicago has the Navy Pier - why change the historic name? I am NOT going to call it... what is it again?
Navy Yard was a terrific name. And the Navy Yard still remains the dominant feature of the area.
And the Metro was already called Navy Yard.
Rebranding it Capitol Waterfront is fairly stupid. It's confusing, and could just as easily apply to the Georgetown area.
Near SE was confusing as well.
They should really consider going back to calling it Navy Yard.
Can't wait until Jim Graham gets Metro to blow a quarter mil to change all the signs to say "Capitol Riverfront/Navy Yard/Nationals Stadium/Historic Gay Bathhouse District."
Of course, by the time you've finished reading that, you've already missed your train.
At least it's not the Capitol Wetarfront.
I really don't see anything wrong with Navy Yard though.
@Hillman
Correct-a-mundo!
Navy Yard is fresh, it sounds (and is) historic and will give the TV color announcers a little something to talk about when calling Nats games. Check this out:
It seems stupid to waste an opportunity to educate folks about the glorious history of our town and the hard working sailors that have been a part of it since the very beginning. Can someone explain to me why wouldn't want to give the Navy a little shine with this?
I'll be happy if the GOP hacks don't try and rename it "Capitol Reaganfront."
The Ronald W. Reagan Washington National Capitol Waterfront.
Ronald Wilson Capitol Reaganfront/Historic Gay Reagan Bath House/Navy Reagan Yard/Reagan Nationals Stadireagan FTW!
Did somebody say snazzy yet generic?
They were thinking about all the negative connotations of SW; Minorities, Homosexuals, Drugs, prostitution just to name a few. I'm surprised they didn't name it "The South of Northwest Waterfront". When the gentrification is complete, NE will be renamed NW catty-corner. I just want to know, where is the guy in the illustration with little whale print on his pants?
Change is all around us. Capitol Riverfront works for me. While I most likely will always refer to it as the OLD NAVY YARD, it is good to know people in office are trying to clean things up to allow people to live in a more flourishing environment.