By Chante Goodger
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
The Main Avenue Fish Market long attracted crowds of Washingtonians waiting for fishermen from the Eastern Shore to present their finest oysters, shrimp, fish and an array of other seafood. What was once an area of Southwest Washington known for boats, seafood and greenery along the Potomac River is now swarming with new restaurants, shops, luxury apartments, hotels and a new music hall, The Anthem. The neighborhood even has a new name: District Wharf.
There are Saturday nights designated to dancing on Transit Pier. There is complimentary yoga on the waterfront with refreshments from Toastique.
The redevelopment of The Wharf is similar to projects happening across the country, including in Baltimore. Called neighborhood revitization by supporters who point to increased nightlife and business, these efforts have been criticized as part of a growing trend of gentrification that prices out low-income residents and paves over civic institutions and culture.
The new housing developments at The Wharf are luxurious and sophisticated. Many are located on the newly constructed businesses like The Channel, which is one of the district’s largest apartment buildings. Units in the new apartment buildings are not affordable to many D.C. residents who have longed live in Southwest.
Gentrification in Washington goes well beyond the Wharf. Over the past month, #DontMuteDC has jump-started a movement across the metro region in response to the silencing of go-go music at the MetroPCS in Shaw on April 8. There have been rallies, concerts, and petitions in the district. One of the most recent protests happened May 8, in which people gathered on 14th and U street, near the store. Organizers called it Moechella (“Moe” is D.C. slang meaning friend).
Joe Bryan, a U.S. Coast Guard from North Carolina, moved from San Francisco to reside at The Wharf in August 2018. He rents a one-bedroom above The Brighton, a pub created by The Hilton Brothers. According to Bryan, rent on average is between $2,600 and $3,000 per month.
“This area is a good beginning to opening up opportunities for people to enjoy the water,” he continues. “Living here is more expensive but you get what you pay for.”
Julius Hill, also know as “P,” has worked at the historic fish market for 30 years selling crabs and other seafood. Hill is the only fisherman at the District Wharf that lives in Washington, D.C., he said. He believes that the city is stronger, and that the violence is decreasing, especially in Southwest.
According to Hill, the revitalization of the Wharf helped clean the nearby river and decreased the amount of Wharf rats. Hill explains that he loves the new development and that the Wharf is “bringing more tourists and more people to the city.”
“I accept it some ways and then some ways I don’t,” he said. “In my opinion it’s a waste because there’s a lot of houses that is being put up, some for the right reasons and some for the wrong reasons. For the right reasons, it brings a lot of people to the city but can the people in the city afford the housing? And then there’s a lot of homeless people sitting on the street.”
Hill suggested that there should be affordable housing for Washingtonians who have been here for many years, especially veterans.
Brichette Reid, 29, who owns The Task Takeover, a virtual assistant business, said the revitalization of the Wharf did more harm than good.
“I think [the inability for Washingtonians to afford the new market value] is what hurts the most,” Reid said. “Seeing all of these developments being built without you or your well-being in mind.”
Reid is familiar with the Wharf prior to the new development. She would only venture out there to purchase a bushel of crabs, to party at a now torn-down club and eat dinner at Phillip’s Seafood Restaurant with family.
“Native Washingtonians are losing generational homes, getting pushed out of the city and losing our culture,” Reid said.
Norbert Klusman, 23, a native Washingtonian, said the development has displaced natives and local businesses, which does damage to the culture of the city.
“Many Native Washingtonians cannot afford to take a stand,” Klusman said. “The financial pressures are far too much, if they are in fact homeowners… I have made an internal commitment to stay. I’d like to buy my block. There is no better place for me than Chocolate City, Washington D.C.”
Gentrification in Washington has led to angst among residents. Still, some point to the clear benefits: the convenience of water taxis, motor scooters, zip cars, restaurants, shops and plenty of waterfront scenery.
But at what cost?