We heard the rumors a couple months back, and now we are able to confirm: the large building at the southeast corner of 9th Street and Rhode Island Ave. NW, long a neighborhood rallying cry that symbolized frustration over so many vacant and dilapidated structures in this part of Shaw, has been sold.

The sale of the property at 818 Rhode Island Ave. NW (or more accurately, collection of properties, as it also includes 819-821 Q Street NW) was finalized on Nov. 16, former owner Michael Sendar confirmed Monday. The transaction is still not listed on the city's database of real property sales, so a final sale price was not immediately available, but should be soon.

Neighborhood blog RenewShaw first reported word of the sale on Friday, along with information that a possible redevelopment plan might include both residential units and a retail space on the ground floor. TBD has reached out to the new owners for comment, and will update when we learn more.

Nearby residents will remember the building as having formerly featured a mural reading "Bienvenue a Shaw, Slum Historique," though the message has since been painted over. The property was notorious in the 1980s and early 1990s for attracting drug users and prostitutes.

Also of note for watchers of this corner (from which, full disclosure, I live just a few doors down) interior construction work has recently begun at 1544 9th Street NW, just across the intersection from the former Sendar properties. That space has been vacant for a little over five years, having most recently housed a Philly cheese steak carryout business. No word yet on a possible new tenant for that building.