Skyland, Washington, D.C. facts for kids
Skyland is a neighborhood located in the Southeast part of Washington, D.C.. It sits near Good Hope Road, Alabama Avenue, and Fort Stanton Park. Skyland is also part of a larger area known as Anacostia.
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A New Look for Skyland
For many years, the Skyland Shopping Center needed a big change. Its buildings were old, and many shops were empty. Because of this, people living in Skyland asked the local government for help. They wanted to make their neighborhood a better place to live and shop.
Plans for a Modern Center
The government of Washington, D.C., is working with two companies, Rappaport Cos. and William S. Smith Cos., to rebuild the shopping center. They plan to create a new "town center" that will have both shops and homes. This new center will cover about 18 acres (7.3 hectares).
What Will Be Built?
The new Skyland center will have many new things:
- Over 320,000 square feet (about 30,000 square meters) of space for stores.
- New shops, including well-known national stores and local businesses.
- Restaurants where families can eat.
- Between 420 and 470 new homes. Most of these homes will be for people to buy, and some will be for rent.
Architects from Torti Gallas & Partners are designing the new buildings. The whole project is expected to cost around $260 million.
A Big Store for Skyland?
In 2011, the Mayor of D.C., Vincent Gray, wanted big stores like Wal-Mart to open in Skyland. He said that Wal-Mart should open a store in Skyland if they wanted to build other stores in D.C. However, another grocery store, Safeway, has a special agreement that might stop Wal-Mart from opening there.
Getting the Project Started
The companies planning the project, Rappaport and Smith, submitted their building plans in 2008. The D.C. Council also approved a special way to help pay for the new buildings with a loan. In 2010, the city's zoning commission approved the plans. Building work was planned to start in 2012, and the new center was expected to open in 2014.
Land for the Project
Sometimes, when a city wants to build something important for the community, it needs to buy land from private owners. This is called "eminent domain." In Skyland, some landowners did not want to sell their land. The city government wanted to use eminent domain to buy the land needed for the new center.
Skyland's Neighbors
Skyland is part of the larger Good Hope neighborhood. Other nearby neighborhoods include Hillcrest to the east and Naylor Gardens to the southeast.
Images for kids
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The Skyland neighborhood at the intersection of 24th St. and Wagner St SE, in September 2018
