Southwest Waterfront in Southwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Rooms With a View: An Idealistic Vision
River Farms to Urban Towers
— Southwest Heritage Trail —
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 4, 2019
More than 50 years after it opened in 1964, Tiber Island stands as a tribute to the idealism that marked the new Southwest. Planners hoped the neighborhood's mid-20th-century modern architecture, mix of high- and low-rise structures, balance of intimacy and communal areas, lush landscaping, and magnificent views would draw middle-class families back to the city.
For Tiber Island, the DC Redevelopment Land Agency (RLA) tried something different: a design competition. The local firm Keyes, Lethbridge & Condon's winning entry featured structurally expressive modern architecture: a pre-stressed-concrete "frame" with brick infill. Each apartment building appears to float over the all-glass lobby separating the exterior public space from the private central courtyard. Rowhouses stand at each corner of the property.
RLA's policy for the new Southwest was racial inclusivity. Thus protest arose at the news that one of the members of the original Tiber Island development team had a long history of discrimination against minorities. The firm consequently withdrew from the project. Given the Southwest urban renewal project's national visibility, the incident received significant attention. In November 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed an executive order prohibiting discrimination in federally supported housing—such as here in the Southwest Urban Renewal Area.
Tiber Island's four highrise co-ops started as rental building, but the rowhouses were marketed as condominiums, an ownership concept until then unknown in DC.
Considered one of the finest examples of mid-century modern architecture in the city, Tiber Island was added to the National Register of Historic Landmarks in 2012.
Erected 2018 by Cultural Tourism DC. (Marker Number 18.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Civil Rights • Government & Politics. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #35 John F. Kennedy, and the Southwest Heritage Trail series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1962.
Location. 38° 52.535′ N, 77° 1.209′ W. Marker is in Southwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in Southwest Waterfront. Marker is on 6th Street Southwest east of Water Street Southwest, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 525 Water Street Southwest, Washington DC 20024, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Thomas Law (within shouting distance of this marker); Thomas Law House (within shouting distance of this marker); Cherry Blossoms (within shouting distance of this marker);
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 4, 2019
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), December 4, 2021
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 4, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 227 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 4, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on February 21, 2020, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. 4. submitted on December 4, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.