Urban Blue Castle in SE
27 12 2007
Once there was a time when public transportation in Washington DC meant trolley cars and not Metro!
The trolley system of the 50s and 60s had an extensive infrastructure, much of which remains today. You may have even driven over some of the old exposed rails throughout the city. However the most significant infrastructure still standing from the trolley system is the “Car Barns” which were used to store these urban chariots when they were not in service. The one in Georgetown is being used as a business school, and the Dupont one was an underground mall for a while.
This interesting “Car Barn” (pictured) is located across the street from the Navy Yard on 8th and M Streets SE. Looking like a building straight out of Medieval Times, the building stands sentinel to another era.
The building is currently serving as a charter school, but with all the new development and rising value of property in the Area, there are plans to turn the building into retail. We think it would make a great restaurant, they could paint it White and call it White Castle even, though it looks like it would be difficult to get as drive through window installed.
There was loose talk and wishful rumor about a fancy supermarket moving into the castle, but that was before Harris-Teeter got the nearby Boys Town space.
i heard there was a lot of interest in the building, but i’m not sure what’s been going on during the last year.
i know it was sold in 2005 (?) for a little over 20 million.
[…] the group that is trying to preserve the Car Barn does has some precedence, considering three other similar buildings in the District have already received landmark status. We like the compromise considering it […]