The Preservation of Barry Farm: More Than Just the Buildings

February 25, 2026

The historic Barry Farm neighborhood in Washington D.C. is undergoing redevelopment with over 1,000 new housing units planned for completion by 2030, sparking discussions about preserving its rich African American heritage. A recent documentary screening brought together community members and historians who reflected on Barry Farm's transformation from its 1867 origins as a prosperous Black community spanning 375 acres to a public housing site that later faced relocation in 2019. Through collaborative efforts between Empower DC, scholars, and the Barry Farm Tenants and Allies Association, five historic buildings have been preserved that honor notable residents, including civil rights figures and cultural pioneers who shaped D.C.'s Black community.

Who is affected

Current and former Barry Farm neighborhood residents
Long-term residents of Wards 5, 7, and 8 in Washington D.C.
The Barry Farm Tenants and Allies Association members
Black communities in Washington D.C.
Patricia Thomas (79-year-old Northeast D.C. native and event attendee)
Corey Shaw Jr. (Empower DC housing organizer and staff historian)
Descendants and family members of historic Barry Farm figures (Etta Horn, the Jennings sisters, and others)

What action is being taken

The Barry Farm neighborhood redevelopment is progressing with a multiphase expansion of more than 1,000 new units (projected 2030 completion)
Empower DC is leading preservation efforts in partnership with humanity scholars, historians, and the Barry Farm Tenants and Allies Association
Five buildings with historic significance are being preserved as part of the neighborhood's official historic nomination

Why it matters

Barry Farm represents one of the last remaining historically Black communities in Washington D.C., serving as a symbol of African American achievement and resilience since 1867. The neighborhood produced influential civil rights leaders, scholars, and cultural figures who shaped the city's history, from the Jennings sisters whose legal case desegregated D.C. schools to musicians who took go-go music international. The redevelopment raises critical questions about gentrification, cultural preservation, and whether long-term residents will be displaced or meaningfully included in decisions affecting their community. Without centering community voices in the development process, advocates warn that decades of residents and the neighborhood's cultural legacy could be permanently lost, contributing to the broader erasure of Black communities in D.C.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer