After 30 Years, New Supermarket Coming to SE

WASHINGTON - Residents of one of the poorest areas in the nation's capital are welcoming a long overdue step toward better living.

"We've been waiting 30 years for a real supermarket," said Sandy Allen, a longtime community activist and former member of the City Council, during Wednesday's groundbreaking ceremony. Giant Food is building its largest store in the city at 15th Street and Alabama Avenue, Southeast.

The Local Initiatives Support Corporation, a community development organization, put together the project in an effort to improve services and raise money for other area ventures.

"This neighborhood has been so long without services. That's what we're about. Bringing services to people who don't have them but really need them," said Oramenta F. Newsome, local director of the nonprofit group.

Councilman Marion Barry, D-Ward 8, said one of his greatest frustrations during four terms as mayor was failing to get new development at Camp Simms, a former military base which also once served as home of the District of Columbia National Guard. Barry led dozens of neighborhood residents in applauding the new investment.

The Giant will serve 70,000 people in the area who have had to shop for basic necessities like food and medicine elsewhere in the city or in neighboring counties.

The Camp Simms site is now being transformed into a new neighborhood. Besides 75 new homes valued in the $400,000 price range, the area is also under consideration for new federal office projects on federal land at nearby St. Elizabeths Hospital.

"This new store is going to be the latest and most up to date design," said Barry Scher, spokesman for Landover, Md.-based Giant. The company plans to hire 120 people from the neighborhood to staff the store, which will anchor a shopping center opening in the spring of 2007.

"This neighborhood is becoming a great place to do business," said Darryl Hodges, who has run a hardware store in the neighborhood since 1991. He has already made plans to move his store to the new shopping center next year.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)