The Real Estate section of the Thursday, September 24, 2009 Washington Examiner paper profiles Truxton Circle! Several residents are quoted in this article. Bloomingdale’s Big Bear Cafe is mentioned!
Note from Caryn: Dean Smith, the writer of this article contacted me – as the BACA blog moderator – and I urged neighbors to communicate with Mr. Smith. There are a couple of inaccuracies that I notice here. One – I am pushing for a wine bar in the Old Bates Market, but that is not mutually exclusive from the idea of the Georgian Social Club. Talking with the owner, I glean that the idea is to have a mixed use of the property. Secondly, the ATF isn’t coming in the future. We neighbors know it’s already here – on NY Ave – intersection with Florida Ave! But more NOMA construction is coming. Third, I have been contacted by an area resident that feels the history of the area was misrepresented and the use of the name Truxton Circle is offensive. Finally, my feeling is that this article did a good job representing the strong sense of community I feel in my two years living in this neighborhood. I really feel so lucky to have such great neighbors. I am grateful that despite some inaccuracies, this article conveys that.
Truxton Circle: An identity all its own
By: Dean Bartoli Smith
Special to The Examiner
September 24, 2009
Named for a traffic roundabout removed by the city in 1947, Truxton Circle is an emerging D.C. community with a unique blend of cultural influences and a future rife with possibilities.
Call it anything you like — Truxton Circle, East Shaw, Dunbar-Shaw, NoMA (North of Massachusetts Avenue) or its 19th-century moniker, Swampoodle — the neighborhood ensconced between the borders of New Jersey, Florida and New York avenues offers architectural beauty, cultural diversity and an incredibly rich history.
Click on the title above to read the whole story.
Bates Area Civic Association 
i’m honestly curious to know why a resident finds the name truxton circle offensive. can you share some of the thought behind this with us w/o betraying their confidence?
Check out this previous post and the numerous comments that follow it for further discussion of this contentious issue.
https://dcbaca.wordpress.com/2009/06/17/whats-in-a-name/#comments
And let me state here publicly that I have been accused of advocating for the name Truxton Circle “for my own reasons,” which makes me angry because i have tried hard to always be sensitive to the fact that this name is offensive to some of our neighbors, and that is why this blog’s name doesn’t reference it and I never in my writings here call it that. I always refer to “our area” “our neighborhood,” etc Makes it difficult to promote our area – We need an identity that people know and can agree on.
Does anyone have suggestions on how to go about changing the name of one’s neighborhood?
But what neighborhood name would you select?
East Shaw or Shaw East?
Dunbar-Shaw?
Swampoodle?
Bates Area?
Who gets to decide?
Those who scream the loudest?
My personal preference would be East Shaw or Dunbar Shaw. But i think my question lends itself to process. How does one decide? In democracy it’s usually who screams – or votes – the loudest. Is it possible to have an SMD5c01/5c02 referendum on an issue like this in the next voting cycle?
In any event, even with some inaccuracies, it is great to see, ummm, Truxton Circle/Bates Area/East Shaw/Swampoodle profiled.
And thanks to everyone who agreed to be quoted in the article.
i agree!
Well, personally, I prefer Truxton Circle. Having lived in Blomingdale, I thought that East Shaw or anything with Shaw in it kind of smacked of when the Realtors would call Logan Circle “Dupont East” before Logan Circle became fashionable.
I’m hopeful that, someday, the actual circle will be restored, North Capitol will be returned to being an important city street instead of a traffic sewer for suburban drivers, and people would be proud to have their neighborhood associated with the circle.
Truxton Circle over laps with Bloomingdale, NoMA, and Eckington. I have already seen citations in real estate that bring Bloomingdale south of FL Ave. Those that incorporate might win. I believe (really guess) that Bloomingdale, Bates, NoMA BID, and Eckington are incorporated. I have heard two reasons why residents are offended by the term TC. #1. They follow the definition that Shaw ends at North Cap and their home is in Shaw. #2 A subdivision of the District being named after a circle that does not exist is confusing and embarrassing. In fairness, their are other residents that feel their home is in Truxton Circle. This is (part) of the disagreement. I say follow the money. There is money in NoMA, Main Streets, and there might be some left in Shaw. I would call the neighborhood Obama’s ARRA if it would bring more police officers and additional funds. (I might be wrong, did Congress write the Relieve Act?) REGARDLESS, I think my home is a great place to live. I know my neighbors make a great neighborhood.
Truxton was a segregationist. That’s my understanding of why some people feel the name is inconsistent with the current makeup of the neighborhood.
derek: thanks! that’s the first concrete reason i’ve heard why anyone would be opposed to the name.