What Happened To East Capitol Dwellings? Take a look into a DC neighborhood

Come with me to East Capitol street and find out the past and present of East Capitol dwellings public housing in SE DC.

[@TecumsehButler]

I grew up there in the 70s and 80s and I remember it as a very tight knit community. I went to all the neighborhood schools Drew, Evans and Woodson and seemed to turn out okay. In fact I still live nearby. And long time residents still meet annually at Ft DuPont I point to the downfall in the mid eighties when they displaced all the residents to renovate the housing projects. It was never the same after that

[@dikidindc]

Can you tell me the next time there's a reunion? I'd love to come out to ask people what was it like to live there.

[@TecumsehButler]

@@dikidindc the last one was July 16 so it will probably be the third Saturday in July next year

[@janicedearing1190]

I grew up in SE, moved there when they opened in 1955. This was and still is my favorite place I call home!!!

[@RogerFisher-bj1wv]

Hey how are you?my mom went to Evans her name was Diane fisher

[@Sporty641]

That’s true. My grandmother lived there in the 70’s and it was a nice neighborhood. Ms Addy was her neighbor.

[@factsdc3719]

This was my area. The U58. 58th & Blaine NE. I miss the hood. Not the violence. RIP to my Brovas and Sistas

[@pp3k3jamail]

Why would you miss that neighborhood?

[@factsdc3719]

@@pp3k3jamail Even though the neighborhood comprised of peoples of the lower end of the socioeconomic scale. There were families there who left their doors open and watched the children play and always spoke to one another or waved when you passed by. That doesn’t even happen in certain affluent areas.

[@thoronehaynie58th]

Born and raised there my address 111 59th and Blaine st ne r.I.p to my big brother chason

[@gcoley84]

8ball all day.

[@factsdc3719]

@@gcoley84 Darryl Coley ??

[@Panholzer]

I have a lot of memories from 56 & East Capital

[@OrAKAle]

My mother grew up on 59th Place in the 50s; my grandmother moved from there in the 80s. Awesome to find this series and see this neighborhood once again!

[@AGBAK]

Great docu video Diki D. Shout out to one of the G.O.A. T. who lived at 100 and 106 57th Street, S.E. My man Alvin & Darryl 😎💪✌

[@resilient3481]

Very nice and informative. I am from Seat pleasant and I use to walk to capital heights metro to go to work as a teen. It was very dangerous I might have been 17 at the time and had family on 57th and clay st N.E. It's a shame been abandoned for 20 years SMH 😔. Could you do a piece on the new blue line corridor project, coming adjacent to the Capitol gateway community i know its not D.C but I feel the MD side has been done the same way and I feel since the land is so close there's a connection thanks.

[@Discipleofyeshuahamaschiach]

I remember going through there as a youngin and was about to get jumped going to visit a girl with my former friend. We made it out unscathed. Marvin Gaye made it out of those projects. 58th was next level!

[@washingtondc9290]

Thanks for the upload this place’s has a lot of my family history that went down with these projects, My mother left with me and my baby sister around 93, and moved to Anacostia, although my grandmother & uncle stayed there until she passed away in 95 and my uncle was killed a year or 2 later 96/97 #EastCapitalDwelling #SE #DCgeneral 👊🏾

[@shauny8936]

That area has changed. Many folks have sold their homes and cannot afford to return. Homes cost anywhere from $300k -$1k. Low income housing is gone from 58th st NE. It's crime is high, but throughout the world crime is every where.

[@dennisclark1767]

A tough neighborhood indeed. I knew some great ball players from there. John Thompson Jr recruited a couple players when he started his dynasty at Georgetown.

[@haywooddonerson2243]

Both sides of my family are from 58th, including Mom and Dad.....

[@lutherjones5553]

I grew up in the homes behind Coral Hills Shopping Center and we used to cut through 58th to hit Eastern ave and at night it was not uncommon to see 40-50 people outside at 10, 11 o'clock on a tuesday night. It got so bad that they had to install the National Guard to patrol the area. I knew a few folks around there, if you didn't know anyone, you better not get out your car.

[@quettekemet5713]

Ayeee southside baby here!!!!!

[@ChefSiraajJackson]

3 years later, we still have no store there. I was at that press conference…🙄

[@kyodaikona]

This was my pops and all of my uncles stomping grounds when my dad was a less likable person in his mid twenties. I’m from Benning Road but my moms used to always tell how bad 58th was especially those projects in the 90’s. I graduated from Maya Angelou 2 years ago so ofc it brings back a of nostalgic memories from childhood. I always thought those townhomes in those 4 or 5 blocks looked so out of place compared to all the other houses surrounding them. That was until I was told they used to be terrible projects by my ma. Some projects really just gotta go.

[@daronclingman1119]

Your Page Is Amazing!!!!! I Appreciate All The Hard Work Your Doing Just To Educate Us About The Area Some of This is didnt know

[@orangeremediation5335]

Oh I just remembered myself and an old friend from NE was just talking about Kennedy Playground and Turkey Thicket? Lol

[@thoronehaynie58th]

I came from the north east side of east capital dwellings

[@orangeremediation5335]

Diki, Turkey Town was an outlet for the poultry farm in SE where you could buy fresh poultry. We were poor so we would get the Bbq turkey butts for a nickel with nasty Open pit bbq sauce. But it was so good eating that turkey butt fat then going to Randall pool in the 60’s. I love what you’re doing. My family and friends have been asking y about you all day sis. Ga, NC, Fla and Ca are on your team now! They love it!

[@orangeremediation5335]

I just found you and like what you’re doing for my city! Me and my siblings are now in our 60’s everyone moved back to Ga. Except me. (PG) Arthur Casper was knocked for the Marine Corps which I retired from. But it was on the SE side M St up to Virginia Ave. I think you’re referring to James Creek which was in SW. while I’m at it- I bet you never heard of Turkey Town? Bbq turkeys butts for a nickel or Yop Cats pool hall? I support you and have passed your site onto other family members and friends from Cappers! Much Love sis!

[@dikidindc]

I'm not aware of Turkey town. What was that, a store?

[@orangeremediation5335]

Where’s the Arthur Capper projects sis!

[@dikidindc]

It's been knocked down but it was in SW. I'm going to do a video because someone requested it already

[@jkkennedy8919]

@@dikidindc cappers was in SE not SW

[@dikidindc]

@@jkkennedy8919 Oops you're right

[@whoyawit]

Need that Condon Terr video 🎭 that side of Soufeast is wild. I use to go to that daycare in that Highrise building on East Capitol by 58th. I had to be around 5 or 6 years old😂 I remember tho

[@off5314]

Thank you for all the DC post. I hope you keep them coming ! I left DC in 1980 and your videos keep me connected to the places I grew up in the 60’s and 80’s.

[@anisa_08]

A lot of development has token place but NOTHING I MEAN NOTHING HAS CHANGED ‼️ I Still Live in this area

[@Charles-gj9hn]

Another great job, Diki. Thanks for your hard work on these stories.

[@CASS-RandomVlogs]

I miss the old neighborhood of 58th st s.e I was raised there so many good memories there...I can't speak for everyone, I was there from 1984-1992 left when i was 12.

[@nnjvhvhhgc5213]

Did you know Taron from around there? He was killed back in 1998.

[@CASS-RandomVlogs]

@@nnjvhvhhgc5213 that name doesn’t ring a bell did he have a nick name?

[@nnjvhvhhgc5213]

@@CASS-RandomVlogs Chico

[@nnjvhvhhgc5213]

@@CASS-RandomVlogs Now that I think of it, his first name was actually Theodore and his middle name was Taron.

[@CASS-RandomVlogs]

@@nnjvhvhhgc5213 I don’t recall that name but I was roughly four or five when I moved around there and I was about 12 when I moved.

[@oscardagrouch5095]

Amazing video. Moved to the area 2 years ago. Good to hear the history.

[@robertsmith1865]

Very interesting and that is saying something for me. It's hard to hold my attention for long

[@bigwormgotti3941]

Love for you to do one the Penn Branch area!!! Keep up the good work

[@dikidindc]

OK I'll put that on the list

[@pisces363]

It’s really sad to see people evict themselves and innocent people that just want to live in a decent neighborhood.

[@vincentpickett121]

I enjoy your DC neighborhood docs, I lived I Congress Park where our small apartment dwelling Lincoln house was located in the 1300 blk of Congress st Se off Alabama ave I also lived on the 3300 blk of MLK ave not far from m high school Ballou sr high. I wonder if you have touched on these neighborhoods.

[@dikidindc]

No not yet. I got to go take pictures over there.

[@trevordon819]

Those townhouses may have switched names in 1990 but they definitely were built waaay before that and maybe I misunderstood. I hoped they would have left Marvin Gaye's house up as a museum or tourist destination. Great documentary though and nice to see the neighborhood on KZbin. The day my father was supposed to move into the high rise there was a suicide, an overdose, a heart attack and a fire. He was like "nah, I'm good" and backed out lol

[@garycanada7246]

Man I remember the lights got turned off on Halloween. They were going around with the glow-in-the-dark Scream masks playing knick knock on people's door.. scariest shit ever

[@johnhood5274]

Truth be told Marvin Gaye grew up those public houses off of Alabama and Stanton road. My mother and grandmother knew his whole family. I was surprised that she knew him and his family.

[@eddieabbott370]

FACTs 💯

[@DowntownAJ]

I love these neighborhood profiles. Can you do some for these neighborhoods? 1. Shaw 2. Adams Morgan 3. Shepherd Park/Colonial Village 4. Congress Heights/Bellevue 5. Hillcrest/ Good Hope

[@dikidindc]

Okay I'll add them to my list

[@ISayWhatIWant]

Add Robinson pl se. I left there at age 4 and always held a special interest about that place

[@j_ocrates23]

from 76-80, i lived in the east capitol dwellings at 5910 Blaine St. the building was at the intersection of 60th & Blaine. i attended Drew Elementary. i moved out of state and every time i come home i take a drive by there and it’s one huge vacant lot on all sides

[@GoGoNative]

I have NEVER had a good experience in Clay Terrace.

[@GPAKTV]

My neighbor hood . 🎱 it opened in 52 those were sacred grounds.

[@kennethsullivan9217]

My great-great-aunt lived,,,,,(in the senior citizen high-rise building 🏢 from 81 to 1996,,,, she lived on the (11th floor,,,, apartment 1115) I remember visiting every weekend,,,, as a kid,,,, growing up there was fun being entertained by all the oldest seniors citizen on the (weekends),,, back then I went to Kelly Miller Jr Middle School 🏫,,,,,(good memories I have) 🤔💯🫶

[@tawanasummers]

I just subscribed to ur channel. I use to live 163 57th pl S.E. I went to Shadd and Evans. Thanks for the info

[@Yz_scoobie]

My family moved right back, a lot of people came back or just hang around…. I moved to Atlanta and come back to visit was just there on Father’s Day

[@lisaknight4640]

I loved my hoodddddddddddddddddd we was the best went hard I went to all the schools in the hood Evans hd shadd

[@horatiorodriguez6804]

You from 57th?

[@garycanada7246]

I went to HD with you.. this Gary 🤣

[@purebliss2682]

I went to shadd too. Pipe line to prison type curriculum there 😏

[@pp3k3jamail]

💥💥For a place as Infamous as this east capital housing project was it sure is hard to find pictures of it.

[@theresajackson2058]

They closed east capitol dwellings and ppl still hang on central Ave at that store,still selling drinking and hanging 😂

[@garycanada7246]

To this day 😂😂😂😂

[@stevewarner1962]

Park Morton in NW or in neighboring Prince George's or Montgomery County there are areas and sections like Lincoln Park in Rockville or along wide areas,of 29

[@pisces363]

I hope they don’t rob the new stores to the point that they have to shut down like many other stores in the area.

[@Steve_Minaj]

Hello Diki.I think your channel is extremely informative.I truly appreciate all you do I'm a native Washingtonian.I grew up,17th& W Street Se. #kramerjuniorhighschool #Anacostiahighschool

[@jkkennedy8919]

My aunt lived on 17th and T Street Se I miss them block parties back in the 80s

[@makenzieemanuel5842]

My Grandmother still lives there I grew up here my mom uncles cousins🔥

[@jkkennedy8919]

They still hang on central Ave and southern Ave

[@user-si7in8id8r]

From long ago a shoutout to the old NE Jets & SE Jets residents

[@Staynurlane575]

They still be outside those stores everyday

[@strothermartin5368]

I live up the street from Southern ave& Central ave. I recall 6 murders on that corner. The lastest a baby 3 years ago.

[@wanttruth3876]

I don't use Walmart. Per her statement they didn't want to pay a higher minimum wage to the employees that would be majority black. Thus they backed out of the agreement. Walmart has terrible practices. I hope they don't come back. I walked through the store on H st. It's packed like a thrift store. Also speak on the good that came from East Capital Dwellings. There are many. However, There was quite a bit of great information here.

[@dikidindc]

I spoke about the celebrities that came from East Capitol dwellings. Can you name something good that came from there that I missed?

[@factsdc3719]

If the Mayor truly wanted to end violence in the city they would create programs to provide job training and resources, change laws that are a stricter on punishing violent offenders, and stop allowing ppl to still be living in low income or section 8

[@pisces363]

Programs won’t save people that don’t want to or know how to be saved. Some people literally don’t know any other way to live other than public assistance supplemented by criminal activity. Unfortunately, we can be our own worst enemies, robbing and killing each other.

[@factsdc3719]

@@pisces363 u are partly correct but the solution is to remove the crutch. Eliminate public assistance. Create an environment where as long as you work you get a chance to learn a trade and or education two evenings per week. Or OJT with pay as being an apprentice To electrician, plumber, elevator/escalator repair, CDL driver , EMT, etc

[@pisces363]

@@factsdc3719 I partly agree with you in that it is a crutch for some. I wouldn’t eliminate the programs altogether because people do benefit from them and go on to successful careers. The opportunities that you brought up are great for those who actually want to do better for themselves. My reply was aimed at those who are aware of programs and opportunities, but; choose not to take advantage.

[@jamesgordan8530]

I really miss this place

[@duntaslappy5319]

148 57th place SE and 111 59th NE... 🎱

[@lisaknight4640]

Don't come for my neighbor hood we was all we had

[@purebliss2682]

Ha! I hated living there! You had to fight every day or they was probably jumping you. I went to shadd very bad experience living there.

[@purebliss2682]

I grew up there. I went to shadd. I use to walk to that corners store to get candy. The worst times of my life i hated living there and i hated going to shadd elementary. That shot was like being in lorton 🤨

[@makenzieemanuel5842]

I’m still mad they changed my elementary school name man smh SHADDDD

[@Sporty641]

William DeVaughn is my uncle.

[@kennymac8391]

58 an 57 was terrible 😔😔😔😔

[@wanttruth3876]

I don't remember it that way in East Capital Dwelling. Though I was 7 or 8 years old.

[@purebliss2682]

I agree.

[@jkkennedy8919]

@@wanttruth3876your the exception because I remember that shit very well. My grandmother lived in east Capitol st dwelling

[@purebliss2682]

I remember seeing a joking get smacked in the head with a bat! That corner liquor store was where my friend from 3rd grade shot and killed that man because he wouldn't sell him a beer. I swear the devil built that place 😏😏😏

[@jefferycherrysr6568]

Capital plaza & 2 were crazy working for to phone company that was a 2 man area and you hated to have to do service in those buildings some techs got robbed in thise phone rooms. I hated working them spots and i lived in that area

[@apollostarr1175]

140 56th PL SE

[@user-lj2qx3mz5n]

Do you have a Patreon account? If so, please let us know what it is in your videos. If not, please get one so we can support your continued production of this valuable content.

[@dikidindc]

No, I don't have one. LOL I don't know what it is. Thanks, I've been getting so many tips on here. I have to look that up.

[@dikidindc]

I have now added my paypal donation button. Thanks for the valuable tip.

[@eddieabbott370]

​@@dikidindc❤FACTS 💯

[@boogiegiles7973]

SOUTHERN AVE SE DC

[@keeptellin5623]

Nice video

[@keithbarnes7698]

Let's see! The killings have increased in 2022, innocent children are being killed daily. The current Mayor hadn't done much to combat this ongoing problem plagued the District street....

[@pp3k3jamail]

It could always be worse, you could be like my hometown of Philadelphia which had 499 homicides in 2020. 562 homicides in 2021 which broke the record of 500 homicides set in 1990. 516 homicides in 2022 and so far Philadelphia has 352 homicides in 2023.

[@keithbarnes7698]

The statistics are staggering. Today's youth carjacking causing bodily harm. This happens daily its just sad. In my day, robbing somebody wasn't even in my thought process let alone picking up and discharging a firearm

[@gslimm40]

Was they more treacherous than Barry Farms and Potomac Gardens?

[@purebliss2682]

I agree. I moved there from. 15th place when I was 8 years old. I swear I had problems like I was beefing down Lorton

[@purebliss2682]

Yeah! 😂

[@dikidindc]

LOL

[@nextlevelmindset1629]

3 times bigger then those areas

[@lorrainehoward9344]

Benning Road & E Street Southeast

[@toddwaynebenton5780]

What did they call the crew around there ?

[@brenkencolbert4555]

57th Crookz

[@DCMista_TV]

A. Team

[@garycanada7246]

U58 or the 8 Ball 🎱

[@horatiorodriguez6804]

ain't that 57th ?

[@dikidindc]

57th and 58th

[@washingtondc9290]

@@dikidindc 56th, 57th & 58th

[@acatoe9558]

Look don't listen to this lady. I was born and raised in that hood and I went to shadd Evans and HD and I myself ain't doing bad. I'm a property owner and RUN a business. So there are people that came out of east capital that are doing well. So if it wasn't for my beginning this guy wouldn't be the dude I am today. Love always 5920 east capital

[@RogerFisher-bj1wv]

What's so crazy I remember going to the food stamp office in the highrise back in the day but can't remember East capital dwellings far as look

[@jkkennedy8919]

They were literally right next door how could you miss them

[@DavidJackson-nn8jo]

I'm trying to find a photo of the tall building my sister and I lived in that was across the street from capital heights metro station 🚉 can't find it anywhere

[@dikidindc]

I put more photos of that area in my "Capitol View" video. Because the that's the name of the neighborhood. Check that out.