It’s not saying much when the part of the city named after the very person who designed the city just plain sucks. DCist has yet to find anyone who has any love for L’Enfant Plaza, that wasteland of urban design in Southwest where bad architecture and concrete have historically gone to die.

But now the city may want to spruce the place up a little, make it a little less, well, crappy. According to an article in today’s Examiner (unfortunately not available online), Council-member Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) has proposed putting a $130 million National Children’s Museum on the site, part of a larger $300 million redevelopment which will take place over the next 10 years. The museum — which would be built with a $10 million contribution from the city — would open in 2008, attract 500,000 visitors annually, and generate $100 million in economic activity over the next 25 years. More importantly, it would serve as a centerpiece for a newer, livelier L’Enfant Plaza, one more fitting of a tribute to Pierre and his vision for the city. We know the French are stodgy and all, but the current L’Enfant Plaza is a tad on the insulting side. There isn’t even a Starbucks!

What would you like to see done with the area? Shops? More offices? Homes? Green space? Another stadium, just in case?