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Seafarers Yacht Club, one of the last historic black institutions along the Anacostia River, isn鈥檛 worried that it鈥檚 wedged between two multi-billion-dollar development projects鈥攊n fact, club leadership thinks it might benefit. 听

Once threatened by development, the club鈥檚 recent historic designation now offers it protection and potential partnerships as the 11th Street Bridge Park and the reimagined Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium development transforms the Anacostia waterfront.听

In a prime, almost hidden corner of Boathouse Row, Seafarers was founded by mariner and educator Lewis Thomas Green in 1945 with the support of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune. 听At a time when boat clubs were exclusively 鈥渨hite-only,鈥� Seafarers stood as a haven for Black boaters and a symbol of resilience. 听

鈥淚t鈥檚 not about nostalgia. It鈥檚 about protecting what still serves the people,鈥� said Roger Legerwood, Seafarers Yacht Club historian and 30-year member.

Historical designation offers legal protections听

Seafarers gained its historic designation in 2022, sponsored by the D.C. Office of Planning鈥攕hepherding in new protections against emerging developments.听

鈥淲e鈥檙e not scared, we鈥檙e historic. We鈥檙e in partnership with the D.C. government,鈥� said Seafarers Yacht Club Commodore Tony Ford. 听

Seafarers falls within Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, which requires federal projects to assess and mitigate adverse effects on historic properties. 听 听

鈥淚f the review identifies potential adverse effects, the parties will coordinate to resolve them,鈥� the D.C. Office of Planning said.听

Legerwood began documenting the history of the club about 25 years ago, almost by accident. 听He said he found the history fascinating, and his chronicled account eventually became the basis for filing historic preservation.听

鈥淭hey just can鈥檛 run through here without checking,鈥� Legerwood said. 鈥淲hen we see or hear of threats, we look at it as an opportunity to engage.鈥� 听

The designation opens new doors for grant funding and restoration support. Seafarers partnered with the 11th Street Bridge Park team鈥攖he project to transform the abandoned 11th Street Bridge piers into a state-of-the-art park鈥攖o ensure the club鈥檚 legacy is cemented in the future of the waterfront. 听听

鈥淐onnecting to the river has always been one of our key goals,鈥� said Scott Kratz, director of the Bridge Park project.听 鈥淪eafarers started the Anacostia River Cleanup in 1985.听 They鈥檝e been critical to restoring and healing the river.鈥�听

Kratz鈥檚 team secured a U.S. Coast Guard permit to maintain the navigational envelope鈥攊ncreasing visibility for organizations like Seafarers. 听The new park will include an environmental education center, which could feature Seafarers鈥� history and community programming. 听听

Ford, who has led the club for seven years, said he views the Bridge Park partnership as a model for respectful collaboration. 听

鈥淲e鈥檙e already partners,鈥� Ford said. 鈥淲e offer free boat rides during cherry blossom week and talk about the history. 听It鈥檚 not adversarial; it鈥檚 community.鈥�听

Ford is less certain about the RFK Stadium development, a $3-billion project expected to generate thousands of jobs and billions in tax revenue. 听

鈥淲e haven鈥檛 had a mutually respectful conversation with those developers,鈥� Ford said. The club鈥檚 relationship is only through the mayor鈥檚 office, he said.听

Over the years, Ford said developers have used intimidation tactics. In one case, Ford said a developer sent an email alluding that Seafarer would sell its property before even having a conversation. Ford said he is used to the tactics鈥攁nd some have already begun.

鈥淔orming, storming, norming and performing, that鈥檚 how we figure out where we fit in,鈥� Ford said. He added this is a teambuilding process that goes through different stages to understand their relationship and roles in the development projects.听

Despite concerns, Ford said he remains optimistic.听听

鈥淲e are the oldest African American boat club in the country鈥攏ot DC鈥攊n the country,鈥� Ford said. 听

Seafarers started the Anacostia River clean up, and we will continue to do what serves the community, Ford said.听

It鈥檚 about the community听

For longtime D.C. resident and recreational fisherman Derick Jones, this is personal.听 Fishing on the Anacostia River for over 20 years, Jones acknowledged that the RFK development is good for the city.听听听

鈥淚 hope they don鈥檛 mess it up鈥攁 lot of young brothers come here to fish instead of getting in trouble,鈥� Jones said.听

Jones urged developers to protect community spaces.听听

鈥淭his is my fishing spot,鈥� Jones said while laughing. 鈥淭his is my peace of mind.鈥� 听

Seafarers Business Manager Captain Anthony Hood echoed the sentiment.听

鈥淲e are a working club. Members bring their skills鈥攚oodwork, law, electrical鈥攖o keep things going.鈥� 听听

Hood joined the club in 2020 after his wife passed. He said she always had encouraged him to buy a boat. 听听

鈥淚t has occupied my time and helped me heal鈥攏ow I鈥檓 part of something bigger,鈥� Hood said.听

As the business manager for Seafarers, Hood focuses on infrastructure and restoration efforts. 听Partnered with Anacostia Riverkeeper and the Council of Governments, Seafarer received a grant to remove abandoned boats as part of an initiative for cleaner waterways, Hood said.听

With work-in-progress projects all around the club, Hood said the infrastructure needs attention. 听Members are replacing old dock woods themselves, but with development funds, Hood said. 听

鈥淲e could rebuild the docks, the rail system and even the clubhouse,鈥� Hood said.听

Legerwood said the club wants to amplify Seafarers鈥� legacy and make boating more affordable and inclusive. 听

鈥淚nclusivity was our original mission,鈥� Legerwood said. 鈥淢r. Green built boats by hand but couldn鈥檛 find a place to dock because of his race鈥攖hat鈥檚 why this place exist.鈥�听

The D.C. Preservation League, which maintains the city鈥檚 historic inventory, said it added Seafarers to its public database after the designation and is now part of the public record. 听

D.C. Preservation League said, 鈥淭hat visibility matters.鈥� 听

鈥淲e鈥檙e not just a boating club.鈥� said Legerwood. 鈥淲e鈥檙e a living archive of Black maritime history.鈥�听