Introduction
one of Washington, DC’s oldest—and newest—neigh- borhoods. For years Southwest Washington was a working waterf ront community. Then urban ren ewal changed the landscape forever. Today Southwest is a virtual library of Modernist architectu re of the s with a few historic structures, some of which go all the way back to the section’s beginnings. In nearly all of today’s Southwest was own ed by NotleyYoung, a Maryland planter whose slaves cultiva ted his numerous farms. That year the federal government included this area in its plan for the new seat of government. The area was ripe for development: a level, low-lying triangle of land defined by the Po tomac River, Anacostia River,and Tiber Creek.The waterways were key to its growth in the days before railroads and modern transportation.
Oystermen tie up at the Southwest fish wharf,1915.
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