All photos courtesy of The L'Enfant Trust unless otherwise noted. All Architectural drawings from Cunningham | Quill Architects.

After years of neglect, four historic homes in Anacostia are about to see new life as a local historic preservation nonprofit finalizes plans for their restoration. The L'Enfant Trust acquired the homes this spring, after months of back and forth between Mayor Muriel Bowser and DC Council over their fate.

Now The L'Enfant Trust has released architectural plans for three of the homes, shared with Greater Greater Washington below.

All four properties will be restored to their original design. Built in the late-19th and early-20th century, the homes represent the development of Anacostia as a working-class suburb of DC, with unique frame and brick small-scale dwellings that earned the neighborhood its historic designation in 1978.

“We aim to preserve, rather than recreate, wherever possible,” said L'Enfant President Lauren McHale on a tour of the properties with GGWash. The organization delivered on that promise in 2014 with the restoration of two other historic homes:

2010 14th Street SE

This cottage-style house was built in 1912.

1347 Maple View Place SE

This restored home was built between 1887 and 1894.

Now McHale's team is in the process of selecting a contractor to restore the first three properties, 1326 Valley Place, 1518 W Street, and 1648 U Street, which are slated to be finished between 2019 and 2020. All homes will be sold to families making less than 120% of the area median income.

Here are the architectural plans of the first two properties slated for restoration:

1. 1326 Valley Place SE, built in 1885

Current condition and architectural plans for restoration:

The home was one of several similar single family homes built by Henry A. Griswold, the developer who also brought the streetcar to Anacostia.

The restoration will match the depth and character of the similar homes on the row, as seen here in 1885 (left) and today (right).

Photos from Historical Society of Washington DC and Google Maps

According to the Office of Planning, the city had to remove the rear of the home to stabilize the remaining structure when acquired by the DC Department of Housing and Community Development in 2011.

It will be restored to its original depth, with four bedrooms and 2.5 baths, according to the below floorplan.

2. 1518 W Street, SE, built in 1890

Current condition and architectural plans for restoration:

Plans for 1518 W Street reveal the two-story home’s cottage style, quintessential to dwellings in Anacostia, according to Historic Preservation Office: “Its front gable roof and full-width porch feature Eastlake detailing, including fishscale shingles in the gable and a ridge pole.”

First acquired by the city in 1996, a developer owned the property for 20 years before turning it over again to the city in 2013.

The 1518 W Street floorplans show three bedrooms and 2.5 baths.

3. 1648 U Street SE, built in 1902

Current condition and architectural plans:

The house was acquired by DHCD in 2004. Last summer they removed the back of the home due to structural issues and began digging a new foundation, but they did not finish the stabilization project, seen here.

The home will be restored to a four bedroom, 2.5 bath dwelling.

After completing the above properties, the Trust will move onto 1220 Maple View, also known as “big Green”, which will be restored to its original design as a multi-family dwelling.

Image created with Google Maps.

If you'd like to follow the progress of these historic homes, follow The L’Enfant Trust's blog or Twitter account for construction updates!

Dave Johnson renovates homes on Capitol Hill. He gained interest in local politics and equitable real estate development after moving to Anacostia to be closer to his church community.