Travel Down Valley Avenue in SE DC - A Look into history and updates

[@TyroneFitness]

Only true DC natives know the side streets like Valley Avenue. Much respect.

[@reallifewitanthonymcneill]

Facts

[@jakeztar1942]

I grew up on that side ,9th ,Whaler and Valley ,then my folks moved out PG.

[@robinbutler9285]

I grew up on Valley Ave! Great job of keeping its history alive!

[@RandyFresh006]

Miss Vastina Blakeney & family should be credited with creating a village of the Valley Green Projects. She had a direct connection with the Mayor's office, City Council, and many other DC government officials. she was integral in ensuring that every child, every family, and every person in need were feed, clothed, and had plenty of positive after school activities. She maintained and managed the Valley Green Recreation Center where children could go for free healthy lunches, after school tutelage programs, and gaming activities. She was also credited with organizing entertainment for the youth, such as, police side by side bands, and the local fire department bearing gifts for the children on Christmas. Miss Blakeney once summoned Mayor Marion Barry (DC's Mayor for life) to the Valley Green Projects to speak with the youth about violence, drugs, and the importance of staying in school. Miss Blakeney was the backbone to our entire community.

[@tashicag9914]

Yaaaas. And when they tore it down they put her name on the street.

[@thesheepdog]

Also,her daughters were money hungry…Hustlers Only!😉

[@GoGoNative]

Souf East Highlands. Would like a little history on Condon Terrace where the circle was. Thanks for the history. You keeping me sharp

[@PesoNeto-n3u]

Forreal

[@rickymozee3100]

I just stumbled across this video i moved in VG apartments 1965 i believe or 66 and growing up there we had the young life club the courtesy patrol mrs tina Blakely god bless her she did all of that for us they the district government couldn't wait to see her gone before they launched a massive assault on SE period she was the glue they feared her i miss her every time i have to ride past there so thats was the woman you're asking about she was out angel it wasn't all bad but with neglect come reaction nice video keep up the good work very informative because SE is the last piece of the puzzle of the taking over of Chocolate city

[@Melanatedsteppa]

Man DC DMV period! Amazing gotta keep the history alive

[@radio3976]

Nope. Only Chocolate City gets this credit. No DMV

[@ericharison8733]

I used to live in Valley Green. And it was fun at one time. But yes it turned into a living hell.

[@Discipleofyeshuahamaschiach]

Valley Green was all you heard in the 90’s !

[@radio3976]

​@@Discipleofyeshuahamaschiachit basically got torn down in 96, ,97. They were planning on knocking it down since the 80s. Before that, they didn't even plan to build it. I was there as a kid late 80s top early 90s. When we were there, half of the windows were already boarded up.

[@Discipleofyeshuahamaschiach]

@@radio3976 yup !

[@terri7308]

Thank you for making these videos.❤ You are documenting our history.

[@dennisclark1767]

Diki wow you did a good job on this video. Congrats

[@iKartell]

I really appreciate what you do && I wanna thank you. You give me understanding of all the old head stories that I didn’t believe and make me feel closer to the whole family. Never stop learning and expounding on the history of the greatest city ever. DC FOR LIFE! 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽

[@maryfearn3844]

Love your videos Do one on Condon Terrace 8 and 9th street SE

[@ebnutall]

Excellent overview as a former resident of Valley Ave (65/69) it was nice to go down memory lane Much Appreciated !

[@michaelthornton4943]

This is a very good video. I used to live at the Meadowbrookrun apartments. So I lived there for 17 years and seen a lot. I moved last December to Falls Church Va which is ten minutes from my job. The gang violence has gotten worse. Just before I left, there was twenty shots in broad daylight. It was crazy. The supposed tear them down in two years. The building across from me was vacant because a couple got in to a argument and husband or set the building on fire. So they going to tear it down. Last my aunt used to live on that stretch of road in early 80s. We used to have cook out on that hill.

[@tashicag9914]

The good old Trenton Park.

[@bttbryant868]

Blackney Lane was named after Ms Vastine Blackney. She provided a safe workplace for us during the 80's

[@stephaniediggs9489]

Great video Mrs. Diki👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽. Could you gather the history on the McGuire house on Southern Ave please!

[@dikidindc]

The McGuire house? I haven't heard of it

[@stephaniediggs9489]

@@dikidindc It was an senior citizens building on Southern Ave

[@GeeEm1313]

Bad Brains and Teen Idles played an outdoor show in Valley Green back in 1980.

[@radio3976]

Used to live on Varney as a toddler my great Grandma, on 4th & Atlantic st from 1970-1995, My Grandma, From 2003-2013

[@dennisclark1767]

I have family living 4th and Chesapeake since 1971

[@radio3976]

@@dennisclark1767 Damn that's a long time. My folks left years ago, but I drive through from time to time.

[@Discipleofyeshuahamaschiach]

@@dennisclark1767 4th is a wild place to live for all those years.

[@glenntyler8246]

I remember going to jail in 88 came home December 91 the valley was boarded up so the last time I really had a good time was in 88 so much fun

[@Meil202]

VG

[@SHORT-TUBE2.0]

Rxyaltyxx grandma got the 219 building to reopen and owned it and it was known as a family owned building it turned into a hood over time 200 is not known to the net but if you was there you seen what went on but they got money over there mostly

[@washingtondc9290]

Good job as always Diki D 👌🏾

[@glenntyler8246]

It's name after mrs Tina blakney who lived on 911 varney St she made sure we keep valley green clean and safe put it this way she did a lot for valley green even spanked me for cussing she was a very nice lady really miss her Rip mrs blakney

[@nathanielowens385]

I live up the street in the 70's. My Brother preached in Paramount.

[@antoinestriggles5896]

Dope documentary

[@bundy2903]

Yea I said on a previous video…they was demolishing VALLEY GREEN back in 2001….I definitely remember that PARK…frequented the area on the regular….shit is sad.

[@jamalam08]

My father and his family lived on Varney Street when VG was still up during the 60s and 70s and some of the 80s (I believe). Our family name is Moody and his name was Larry Moody before he accepted Al-Islam in the early 70s and changed his name to Larry 10x and then Muhammad Abdul-Malik. My grandmother was Ms. Mozelle Moody. Chris, Kitty, Kim, Sheila are my aunts and Willy, Mike, and Doug are my uncles.

[@antoinevsanders]

Awesome

[@sadiewagstaff890]

Had an acquaintance who lived on Willard Road. My sister was staying on Waller. Cousin love ved on 4th and Atlantic. Mayor Barry lived around the corner from us on 7th and Maryland Ave N.E. before he became mayor.

[@SHORT-TUBE2.0]

Rxyaltyxx grew up on that block they used to do some crazy shit in that side block iykyk

[@jamalam08]

Also, I remember my dad saying that the Blakney family lived on the floor under them on Varney street.

[@thefamily9006]

I grew up in the high rise the old high rise

[@bejeweled1ful1]

Ain nothing in that dang community garden at all nice description but lol we not gon lie it’s really for the looks of things

[@moniquewesley4700]

I live there in tge building with the Blakley family They was on the 2nd floor I was on the third floor and it was named after the grandmother Vastine i lived in that building with them from age 3 to 14

[@aprilparis5847]

Their mother, she was very active in the community. I live on Wahler Place Michelle P.

[@EyeHeru]

Good stuff but please consider using a deEsser on your videos there is way too much sibilance in the audio. Feel free to reach out if you need help.

[@dikidindc]

I'm not financially able to upgrade my equipment. But I'll get there one day.

[@HIGHRISE-vo9no]

PST aka The HighRise MY HOME

[@pp3k3jamail]

💥💥When I first moved down here right across from the hospital on Southern avenue and directly across from 13th Street, it used to be a abandoned tall high-rise apartment complex do you know what that was?

[@dikidindc]

There was an old government building that was knocked down years ago. I'm told it was a welfare office.

[@jkkennedy8919]

You talking about the high rise on the MD side that was park 16

[@pp3k3jamail]

​@@jkkennedy8919yeah it was tall abandoned high-rise right across from the hospital on Southern avenue next to forest hill apartments. It's a newer apartment complex on its land now called homes at oxen hill Senior apartments. I think they tore it down like I want to say 13 years ago

[@carolyndarley1045]

It was called MacGuire House. It was built for seniors in 1972. My great grandma lived there from '72 to '81. Never knew why it shut down. Only in use for 10 yrs. It's a new Sr. Bldg there now.

[@verlinhoskins9249]

I’m trying to email you but it says that the email address is invalid I’m trying to get out of an slumlord situation

[@dikidindc]

Find me on Instagram

[@toddwaynebenton5780]

Cinquan

[@SHORT-TUBE2.0]

Rxyaltyxx grandma got the 219 building to reopen and owned it and it was known as a family owned building it turned into a hood over time 200 was a small group of niggas on that block back in 2013 guys like 200 Rome 200 rell 200 Reggie 200 mir and more rxyaltyxx popped out during 2018 and was the last remaining there until they moved rest in peace to the once 2OH 😞

[@Jadlotian]

As a young adult I used to buy weed there in my mova car standing out in a major way and police blitzed the block and told me they was gonna drive my mother car in the gully I was nicked

[@marcusmerriett8392]

Boy buying weed around da Valley was a task. It would be 50 ppl out there trying to get u to buy smoke from them in the 90's... The good old dayz 😂

[@geesehoward357]

As i look at these vids and then look outside im get very disgusted at these places wit the high maintainence. Granted some hoods had to go or atleadt get renovated. They give these ppl vouchers and relocate folks lut MD or back in the hood which isnt a good thing on some beefin crap. The worst part is the illegal immigrants get pushed up over these ppl who've had vouchers goin on years......not right at all.

[@KC-hm2yq]

Rent was $66.50 to $88.50… MUST BE NICEEEE🥲🥲🥲

[@GeeEm1313]

But in the 70s, 80s, and 90s? It's still too much.

[@Alexandria.Washington]

@@GeeEm1313WTH?