The empty streetcar tunnels in Washington, D.C.’s Dupont Circle are 75,000-square-feet of urban real estate little used since the old streetcar system closed in 1963. After winning a city RFP in 2010, the Arts Coalition for the Dupont Underground has officially leased the space from the city for a 66-month (5.5 year) term, and launched a $50,000 Fundable crowdfunding campaign to pay for cleaning and prepping the first 23,000 square feet. At press time, the campaign had raised $2,530.
The Coalition plans on hosting events and performances in the space, as well as working on a feasibility study for a permanent development of the full space. “The next five years will be a dynamic time of showcasing new artists and designers, new technologies, and the exciting possibilities this space presents,” said Julian Hunt, AIA, the Coalition’s founder and co-principal of Hunt Laudi Studio, in a press release.
