May 19, 2019 - After about a decade of wanting a grocery store on Square 737, WC Smith was able to
announce in October 2013 that it had a signed deal with Whole Foods to occupy 36,000 square feet in the ground floor of Agora, a 336-unit apartment building between 2nd and New Jersey along H Street, SE. Construction began in June 2014, with the building beginning leasing and first move-ins in January 2018. At right is the
Park Chelsea, also part of WC Smith's "Collective" development.
May 19, 2019 - Looking north on New Jersey to see Agora's frontage.
Agora, Sliding from to September 2003 to May 2019
There was no connection to H Street from New Jersey until construction began on Agora. When complete, Whole Foods will front this stretch of road.
Browse More Sliders
May 19, 2019 - Two signs.
Oct. 15, 2018 - A first look inside the grocery store, a few days before its Oct. 18 grand opening. See
more interior photos here.
April 14, 2018 - Agora as seen from its next-door neighbor, the Southeast Freeway.
June 16, 2018 - Part of Agora's construction includes a new block of H Street SE, which runs along the building's northern edge. And on the north side of the street, a dog park opened in Sept. 2018.
Jan. 5, 2019 - The aforementioned dog park, very much in the shadow of the Southeast Freeway. But the dogs don't mind. Probably.
Jan. 22, 2018 - A hint at the views from the building's still under construction roof deck. For more photos from the roof and elsewhere,
see this photo gallery.
June 4, 2017 - The eastern end of Agora, as seen from a block to the south, at 2nd and I. This view of Agora has now gone away as construction continues on the
Garrett.
Jan. 22, 2018 - Agora as seen from Garfield Park on the opposite side of the Southeast Freeway, with the Whole Foods space peeking out from underneath.
Another rendering of 800 New Jersey and the Park Chelsea, released before the agreement with Whole Foods was finalized (hence the familiar-but-not signage). This is seen from above New Jersey Avenue at H Street.
June 9, 2014 - WC Smith announced the start of construction on 800 New Jersey on June 9, 2014, and some associated excavation work was underway that day. (Image taken
from the roof of the Park Chelsea.)
June 21, 2008 - Looking westward along H Street at its intersection with 2nd. After the demolition of the warehouse in 2000, Square 737 spent a number of years as a parking lot.
May 19, 2019 - The same location, now a complete street through to New Jersey Avenue, and finally once again available for photos after the completion of the Virginia Avenue Tunnel construction. Now under construction at left is the
Garrett.
July 18, 2006 - Before work began to redevelop Square 737, Canal Street ran on a strange northwest-then-north path through the block. Here is its intersection with H Street, with New Jersey Avenue laying just beyond the overgrowth.
July 18, 2006 - Looking north at the H/Canal intersection, at the gate into what was for many years a horse stable beneath the SE Freeway. (The stable closed in early 2013.)