Welcome to the new and improved Swampoodle! The area behind and east of Union Station was originally settled by Irish immigrants whose legacy remains in the form of Gonzaga High school and an over 140-year-old convent built for the Little Sisters of the Poor between Second and Third on H Street NE. Stately and somewhat Gothic in nature, the convent buildings were most recently used by the Capital Children’s Museum, a tad shabby, but beloved many Hill parents who considered its proximity an additional benefit to raising kids in the neighborhood.

Well, the nuns and toddlers would not recognize the building today. Abdo Development, known for taking on projects in developing areas in the District, has transformed the humble abode for women who had taken a vow of poverty into upscale urban dwellings for those who more than likely have not.

Wow! I was fortunate enough to attend the grand opening of the new buildings on April 14. As a person who drools over million dollar floor plans in the New York Times Sunday magazine, perhaps I should have politely declined the invitation, because as the saying goes, I wouldn’t know what I was missing if I never went inside.

Well, now I know. I brought along a colleague who also essentially took a vow of poverty by choosing a career in the theater. As we toured the apartments, condominiums and the grounds, we were dazzled to say the least.

The entire project consists of the Landmark Lofts, which are in the renovated Children’s Museum location. These are being sold as condominiums. Adjacent to these lofts are the two new towers, Lexington and Concord, which make up Senate Square apartment complex. These residences, which range from studios to two-bedroom units, are available to rent or purchase.

We first were able to tour some of the rental apartments in Senate Square. With a fleet of leasing and real estate agents on hand to point us in the right direction or answer questions about square footage and amenities, we were never lost. Every unit is outfitted with the same finishes. The counters are granite, and the appliances are all stainless GE numbers which seems to be de rigueur for your average, modern, luxury condo.

The grand opening was attended by Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells, H Street Main Street Executive Director Anwar Saleem, and of course our newest neighbors, Washington Mystics owner and co-founder of Black Entertainment Television Sheila Crump Johnson and former Mayor Anthony Williams, who both have purchased units.

Johnson’s home was not entirely complete when we had the opportunity to tour it. The floors still needed finishing and the walls had yet to be painted. That fact did not diminish the glory of the apartment in the least. Her unit is the former chapel of the convent and retains some of the touches, most spectacularly a 30-foot dome ceiling. The home is large, but not too big. The second floor has an open floor plan making the entire home feel like a loft.

We also were able to head up to the roof deck on Senate Square, complete with a 70-foot long lap pool and view of the Capitol dome. The deck is as gorgeous as the drawings on the Senate Square website had promised it would be. The lounge chairs had not yet arrived, but we did not mind as it was a perfect spring day in Washington. There are touches in the totally modern structure that unite it thematically with the renovated convent. Running the length of the roof deck is something similar to a pergola with wooden beams supported by iron flat pieces.

These iron pieces have sayings carved out in them. I jotted down one, “Getting and spending we lay waste our powers.” One Google search later discovered that the line is from a William Wordsworth sonnet, “The World is Too Much With Us,” where the poet examines the contrast between nature and materialism. So I imagine that the new residents are meant to contemplate this dichotomy as they lay by the pool? Neat.

We made our way back to the inner courtyard between the buildings where a crowd was gathering waiting for the ribbon cutting festivities to begin. The event began with a clearly thrilled Jim Abdo thanking everyone involved with the acquisition and construction of the $220 million project. Abdo expressed pride in the way that the architecture firm Esokoff and Associates, led by the principal Phil Esokoff, retained many historic touches in the former convent while also making the spaces utterly contemporary. In a conscious effort to keep the project as local as possible, over 50 percent of the jobs and apprenticeships during construction went to people from the surrounding neighborhoods.

Abdo then made the terriblebut I assume irresistible joke, “Without further abdo …” as he introduced Mayor Fenty. The mayor praised Abdo for his vision and his commitment to its realization. He also commented on the flurry of ribbon cuttings he has been attending in this rapidly changing city and gave much of that credit to his predecessor and the District’s newest homeowner, former Mayor Anthony Williams.

The present mayor then handed a set of keys to the former mayor who claimed it “was like winning a house on a game show!” He then invited us all over for a visit anytime. His new neighbor Sheila Johnson spoke of her connection to the building having been a violin teacher at the Children’s Museum many years ago. She referred to the building as not only development but artwork and referred to the condo with the big round window facing H Street as the “sexiest unit in DC.”

Councilmember Wells joked that with so many retired officials moving into his ward, it was becoming the “Leisure World of the city.”

These penthouses, as the agents were calling them, again have the granite and the appliances are Sub-Zeros. Sigh. The historic building has 44 units all with these same amenities. The sales office should be open as of this printing. For anyone who is curious and would like to check out the buildings for themselves, they are a part of this year’s Capitol Hill House and Garden Tour on Mother’s Day weekend. This year’s theme is “Beyond the Fringes,” which means all the properties are outside the historic district. These buildings may not be in the historic district, but they are definitely not on the fringes.

Coming up in May on H Street:

Farmer’s Market Returns!
The H Street branch of the citywide organization FreshFarm market is set to return May 3 to 624 H St. NE, which is the parking lot directly across from the H Street Self Storage. The market goes from 9 a.m.-noon each Saturday until Oct. 22. Already a beloved neighborhood tradition, the farmer’s market has become the place to pick up beautiful produce, fresh meat, eggs and cheese, crusty bread and the most delicious scones in the city. Get there early if you want a scone, they always sell out.

May is Dance Month at the Atlas Performing Arts Center

May 15 at 7:30 p.m. is “Identity Crisis” by Fusion Dance
This piece explores the different energies and limitless boundaries this young company is constantly exploring. Each piece creates a new identity which is torn down and reconstructed by the next piece with an entirely fresh perspective on our company's artistic process.

May 17 at 8 p.m. Asian Dance Festival presented by Dance Place
In celebration of Asian Pacific Islander Month, Dance Place presents an Asian Dance Festival at Atlas Performing Arts Center. Tehreema Mitha Dance Company, Dakshina/Daniel Phoenix Singh & Co., Ling Tang, Golden Universe Dance, Ko-Ryo and Nilimma Devi Dance Theater perform a spectacular evening of dance.

May 31, 8 p.m.; June 1, 4 p.m. Tappers With Attitude Youth Ensemble
Known for fearless innovation with classic style, this award-winning company explodes with energy in this family-friendly 17th anniversary concert. Tappers With Attitude preserves the heritage of tap, while also nurturing expressive new voices of cutting-edge choreographers.

See you on H Street!