I'm really torn on the whole NoMa development. Some mornings, when I'm picking my way around tons of broken glass and overgrown weeds to get to the metro station, I think that *anything* has to be better than what's there now...but at the same time, I lived in Foggy Bottom when I first moved to DC, and I moved out of there as soon as I could because I was tired of living surrounded by soul-less towers (by DC standards), and NoMa really looks like more of the same. So I really don't know...and part of me is skeptical that all of this will ever really happen...
ditto. i live right off NoMa (to the east, near uline), and i'm torn too. but seriously, it's not like they can build anything other than new buildings. heck there's nothing there now.
IF they really do bring retail, it'll definitely be appreciated by most.
ideally, it'd turn out to be sorta like K street, with a bit more residential units.
at least there seems to be some sort of effort to coordinate development, which was lacking when they did foggy bottom...
It's wrong on so many levels. I don't believe it'll ever happen- at least in the next 20 years. And why the name "Noma?" Only developers use cutsie NYC-evoking names like NOMA and SOMA. Imagine if they start calling capital Hill "Caphi" or Foggy Bottom "Fogbo" or U Street "NOPe" (North of P street!) It's disrespectful to the history of the neighborhood.
Certainly, the name "NoMa" is silly and manufactured, but out of curiosity, what is the traditional name for the neighborhood(s)? And has it always been as sparse and industrial as it is now, or was it more residential once? Anyone know?
yeah, the area used to be residential, ages ago. it was an irish neighborhood at one point, and the name was swampoodle. shame we can't get rid of noma and bring swampoodle back!
I'm really torn on the whole NoMa development. Some mornings, when I'm picking my way around tons of broken glass and overgrown weeds to get to the metro station, I think that *anything* has to be better than what's there now...but at the same time, I lived in Foggy Bottom when I first moved to DC, and I moved out of there as soon as I could because I was tired of living surrounded by soul-less towers (by DC standards), and NoMa really looks like more of the same.
ReplyDeleteSo I really don't know...and part of me is skeptical that all of this will ever really happen...
ditto.
ReplyDeletei live right off NoMa (to the east, near uline), and i'm torn too. but seriously, it's not like they can build anything other than new buildings. heck there's nothing there now.
IF they really do bring retail, it'll definitely be appreciated by most.
ideally, it'd turn out to be sorta like K street, with a bit more residential units.
at least there seems to be some sort of effort to coordinate development, which was lacking when they did foggy bottom...
It's wrong on so many levels. I don't believe it'll ever happen- at least in the next 20 years. And why the name "Noma?" Only developers use cutsie NYC-evoking names like NOMA and SOMA. Imagine if they start calling capital Hill "Caphi" or Foggy Bottom "Fogbo" or U Street "NOPe" (North of P street!) It's disrespectful to the history of the neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteCertainly, the name "NoMa" is silly and manufactured, but out of curiosity, what is the traditional name for the neighborhood(s)? And has it always been as sparse and industrial as it is now, or was it more residential once? Anyone know?
ReplyDeletet@snapshotsofalife:
ReplyDeleteyeah, the area used to be residential, ages ago. it was an irish neighborhood at one point, and the name was swampoodle. shame we can't get rid of noma and bring swampoodle back!
my understanding is that swampoddle was down by gonzaga and south. was all the area of noma considered that?
ReplyDeleteLoving it. Just wish they would build a circle or something at ny ave and fl ave. maybe have fl ave go under ny ave
ReplyDeletemikeptinker,
ReplyDeletei believe a traffic circle is in the plan.
aka, goodbye wendys.
yes, the NOMA area was at one point called Swampoodle.
ReplyDeletethey tore everything down for the contstruction of Union Station.
Gonzaga is the only remnant of the old swampoodle.
check it out on wiki, or on proquest.com