CityPaper Shines Spotlight On Jemal

This is my problem:
“sat on his properties until the deals started rolling in”
This is MR. Clean’s MO, he land banks his historic dumps until a build to suit tenant comes along but in the meantime, wont bother to fix a broken window. Check out the tragic former mansion at 11th & K that has a huge billboard bolted to the facade, lost half its moldings to neglect, and over the years is turning into a homeless colony & dumping ground. The building actually has cardboard additions. This is not an isolated case. check out the block w. NY, 7th, L & 6th…he owns almost all of the vacant building that encompass most of that square – broken windows and all. And the city exempts many from the Class 3 tax rate.

In the past, it seems like it was a chicken & egg problem. No one wanted to rent in parts of DC, so why spend the money to develop the property?

I’m not saying that was the best course of action though. A true developer would “create the market” rather than waiting for the market to come to them.

In current day though, there is no excuse for run-down property to exist in downtown DC. The market is here.

yeah im not saying fix it up perfectly…just cut out the demolition by neglect! fix a broken window, its really not that expensive and would probably make the properties more attractive to potential lessees.

I do agree that broken windows and a building that is falling apart doesn’t do anyone any good.

Several months ago, I noticed the building at 11th & K St (it’s on my route to driving to Trader Joe’s). It’s 1015 K St NW and is being taxed in class 2. The strange thing is that is has a yearly tax bill of about $13K.. I doubt the billboard is bringing in *that* much revenue..

The sad thing is that the tax database lists the [hidden] building as being worth $140.

gpliving — did you go to the DNA meeting last tuesday? You may already know this…
Grocery store tidbit: There’s a chance (slim?) that Brookville Market may come into the 7th street space. Apparently, JPI is holding off signing with a restaurant to let them look at the site.

Anon: Yep – I was there.. I guess I’m not getting my hopes up until there is more concrete progress!

Haven’t had a chance to read this article yet, but we needn’t travel all the way to 11th & K to find evidence of Jemal’s neglect. How about the Union Hardware store and its decrepit neighbor on D Street between 7th & 8th? He can’t even cover that up with a billboard. And let’s not forget the YEARS he owned the Lerner building and surrounding properties at 11th & F before finally starting development last year. I’m guessing the same will happen to half-block he owns at 10th & F near Waffle Shop. Sadly, if there’s a derelict building downtown these days, it’s almost certainly Jemal’s.

Anon: The union hardware buildings are in the process of being redeveloped.

GPliving: I’ll believe it when I see it.

Jemal is buddies with Jack Evans. How many of Jemal’s vacant properties are paying class 3 tax? What are their assessments?

I recently saw a story on the local news that said the billboard on Jemal’s 11 & K building is illegal. Perhaps he has a special dispensation because it’s holding the building up.

Can someone please explain the tax class issue? I don’t understand.