O/T: Union Station [[D.C.) 10B Plan?

**emu steve** · September-12-14, 12:50 PM

For those into this kind of stuff [[think there are many) here is a discussion of a possible 10B plan to completely re-do Union Station and a number of adjacent blocks.

"After decades of decline, development is booming on all sides of Union Station, and now the station itself could become the anchor for Washington’s next go-to spot. A D.C. developer is making a big bet on the railyard behind it, proposing to build a deck over the tracks to support a commercial and residential hub that would unite the neighborhood behind the station for the first time in 100 years." [[Washington Post)

The articles shows graphically the changes to the areas surrounding Union Station over the years and how areas near the station are developing rapidly and discusses the experience in NYC with their Grand Central.

There is a nice map showing the area and the time periods in which the buildings were built as well as a 'new' neighborhood, "NoMa" - an area north of Mass Ave., and I believe S. of N.Y. Ave. and west of the train tracks [[HOPE I got that right).

Interesting stuff for those into this subject matter.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/bus...ion-2/?hpid=z1

**DetroitPlanner** · September-12-14, 12:56 PM

$6.5 billion? Good luck with that.

**emu steve** · September-12-14, 02:17 PM

BTW, parts of the article are very good discourses on 'urban theory' including how the trains led to development of the NYC suburbs such as White Plains, etc. [[of course, this was a long time ago).

another WaPo article on the same topic:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/busine...y.html?hpid=z2

**Bham1982** · September-12-14, 02:52 PM

DC has a very healthy, vibrant, successful core, but is honestly a complete bore. It's a govt. center, a supersized Ottawa or Canberra. Union Station is beautiful but the surrounding area has the charm of Warsaw.

Comparably sized U.S. cities like SF, Boston and Philly are much more interesting, IMO, even if they aren't covered in 10 floor office boxes like in DC.

**DetroitPlanner** · September-12-14, 03:42 PM

Originally Posted by Bham1982

DC has a very healthy, vibrant, successful core, but is honestly a complete bore. It's a govt. center, a supersized Ottawa or Canberra. Union Station is beautiful but the surrounding area has the charm of Warsaw.

Never looked at Warsaw before, you're right this is the best I could find. Architecture is good, but it is boring! https://www.google.com/maps/place/Wa...f0be2a88ead3fc