Recent Past: 2004 at 1232 and 1234 Ninth

Continuing my look back at 2004 photographs from the Property Information Verification System, take a look at 1230, 1232 and 1234 Ninth Street just seven years ago, at which time all visible buildings were apparently vacant:

Now, Wagtime occupies the center building, 1232 Ninth.  Wagtime completed a significant and gorgeous renovation in 2009.  Long View Gallery occupies most of the the building seen on the right, 1234 Ninth.  Long View relocated to this former auto showroom after completing a significant build out and renovation in 2009.  An Italian restaurant will occupy the building seen on the left, 1230 Ninth.  The restaurant is in the middle of renovations and has ABRA placards posted.

Pretty great contrasts, right?

Recent Past: 2004 at 1555 Ninth

The District has a really neat online tool for finding out basic information on properties called the Property Information Verification System. One of its features with which I have recently become obsessed – and that I fear will likely be updated soon – is the ability to view a photograph  taken in 2004 of any given property. I’ve downloaded a handful of pictures of Shaw area properties from 2004 and, in the coming days/weeks, will upload them, along with photos of the current conditions of the properties.  Some provide pretty stark contrasts in just seven years' time.

Across the board, one interesting thing to note is that the public spaces photographed are exponentially better cared for today.  In 2004, many treeboxes are ovegrown with weeds (jungles, really).  Also, it's clear that there has been a lot of investment in the area in the past seven years -- I see a lot of vacant buildings in the 2004 photographs that are now rehabilitated and occupied. 

Here’s a before and after photo of 1555 Ninth Street. Notice in particular the unkempt treebox in 2004.  The two buildings pictured were both demolished not too long after this photograph was taken because of a development-gone-wrong that lead to their collapse.  I believe the one on the right was occupied at the time of the construction incident (thankfully no one was hurt) and the one on the left had been vacant for a while.

And here is 1555 Ninth today: a Christian Zapatka designed, four unit new construction building that delivered in 2009:

I should have waited for the cars to pass in taking the shot, but take my word for it the treebox looks great now… dozens of tulips are about to bloom, it’s been recently mulched, and it has an iron treebox guard.

Seasonal Pantry Coming to Ninth



Tweeted photo of new store location
from Seasonal Pantry

According to its Twitter feed and to DC Mud, Seasonal Pantry will open a store at 1314 1/2 Ninth Street (next to Cre8 Space Studio)!   Seasonal Pantry describes itself as offering a product line that is "a tribute to roadside farm stands and old-fashioned markets. It's a neighborhood store offering all sorts of house-made small-batch products, specialty foods, and local and imported goods. Think of us as a cross between an old-world butcher, an Italian pasta shop, and a family grocery."  Founded by Ali Bagheri and Daniel O'Brien, Seasonal Pantry already has a loyal following through a variety of food of the month clubs, such as soup of the month, sausage of the month, and ice cream of the month clubs.    



As previously reported, Seasonal Pantry also has another venture in the works for the same address.  SUNdeVICH will front Naylor Court and offer a menu of delicious, globally inspired, locally sourced sandwiches. 

What an exciting epicenter of unique commerce 1314 Ninth has become!