DC: Downtown Chic?

It’s nice that they called DC “the Brussels of America.” I think. I’m not sure what that means. LOL But they say it’s a compliment!

It means that we’re phlegmish.

Cough.

nice bit of affirmation to have the Euros appreciating our city.

the article mentions The Park at 14th as the hippest, most grown up bar. anyone been in there? pretty swishy for Franklin Park.

So this is the upside to the dollar not being able to buy diddly squat overseas. Them coming here is about the closest I’m going to get to a Londoner between now and whenever the dollar-pound exchange rate stops sucking.

Franklin Square?

Yes, D.C. is like Brussels in the context that they use in this article – like a hidden gem.

I hope they don’t see all the latest reports about the booming crime in Chinatown. They’ve been talking about it for the last week on all the local “scare the public” news channels.

http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/1107/473058.html

And wait until they meet the young thugs who have taken over 7th Street between F and H Streets. Truly scary and no police presence — repeat, none — to keep them under control, out of the street, from threatening people, deliberately pushing people and creating mayhem. Oh, yes, and robbing people.

It’s a shock if you haven’t walked down 7th Street lately, particularly on the east side near the Metro and the alley between Clyde’s and the Verizon Center. This is the Wild West, at least on the weekend, where there is no law.

Of course there’s a crime spree in Chinatown. The news media isn’t making this up. It’s happening and growing.

These thugs know they can come here and get away with most anything. Where’s the police when all of these things are taking place in plain sight?

Great going with your reorganization Chief Lanier.

I have to agree with number 8. We walked down 7th Saturday evening between F & H and wished we hadn’t.

There was something illegal going on at the elevator in verizon center leading down to metro with a small gang of thugs. They weren’t allowing anyone into the elevator either.

In addition, we could hardly walk down 7th toward CLydes without feeling threatened. We looked around and did not see one police officer or car. This was around 9 p.m.

There were 2 police cars parked at 6th and G, but no police.

We went into our alley to park our flex car behind Avalon at Gallery Place, only to be welcomed by several “thugs” smoking marijuana and urinating against the building. (This was around 7:30 p.m.)

I have registered my complaints, but to no avail.

With regard to the 7th Street thugs. Once a week I tutor high school kids from a school in Anacostia. These are kids who come from extremely underprivileged backgrounds who are trying to get into college and make something of themselves. These are not the thugs we encounter on 7th Street, however, they know of them.

The other week we discussed Chinatown after I told him it was the area where I live. He said he knew the area well and that iwas where all the “gang kids” from his and other high schools go to hangout and cause trouble on the weekend He said they come to Chinatown to start “cut sessions” outside McD’s. He was referring to the verbal harrassment and insults these thugs hurl at innocent people walking by. My student was also aware of all the recent crime in the area wasn’t surprised at all. He said that these kids have “nothing to loose.”

What an unfortunate situation we have on our hands, with very little Police support.

The bigger question is…Where are the police?

Are they afraid of the “gangs”? This is a serious problem and could get much worse.

Furthermore, I imagine it will begin to hurt the reputable businesses.

McDondalds had a “security” force for about a week after many complaints, but I no longer see their presence.

We no longer patronize the businesses at Gallery Place over the weekend, and we live on 5th street. How many others feel as we do?

The police have not supplied walking beats to the downtown area. And we only have one bike cop. I am getting very demoralized about my decision to move into Penn Quarter. This city does not want to be accountable for anything!!!

I recently saw two bike cops out on 7th and more cruisers. last night, I was behind a cruiser taking away a few of the loiterers mentioned above. there has been too much investment in the area for it not to get city attention. my impression is that the police are around.

the Ballpark vicinity will be the “hot” area next year once the Nats start playing there and all the condos and stores start opening up. nefarious loiterers will find it just as attractive there as in other areas (Adams Morgan, G’town).

#11: Like you, I avoid Gallery Place at night on the weekends, especially with my wife. She’s been accosted by these low-lifes before and I am afraid of how I would react if they verbally abused her in my presence. Knowing DC, I would then probably be labeled as the “criminal.”

I’ve live in PQ for 2 years and based on my experience, the situation has gotten much worse on 7th Street. Many neighbors I’ve spoke with about this also agree with your/my concerns.

I agree with #11 and 14- I am a young female living alone on 5th Street, but I HATE the fact that I feel unsafe or preyed upon when I go for a run. Like I’m a target in my own neighborhood. Do the low-lifes that hang out here actually live in GP? I don’t understand it. I don’t like getting solicited outside my secure building. I’m going to become a hermit.

#15 – I highly doubt they live in PQ and they are ruining the neighborhood for the residents and visitors alike. Hearing accounts like yours, of law-abiding and tax-paying residents who don’t feel safe drives me up the wall.

The DCPD should receive the grade of an F for their job in making our streets safe.

These thugs have been congregating on 7th St. more and more. I no longer feel safe walking on what I considered a very safe street just 1-2 years ago. Nobody wants to deal with these rude and threatening teens, and I cannot believe that they won’t eventually have an economic impact on the area. I mean, if we city dwellers can’t even deal with it anymore, does DC think that the MD and VA residents who come to the area on the weekends (and spend lots of $$$) are going to continue tolerating it? It seems as if the movie theater and McD’s are the major draws for this crew, and I wish that both businesses were gone. Of course, DC being like it is, has no anti-loitering laws, so what can the police do? Their hands are tied from protecting the general population from a few bad apples. The kids know that they can get away with anything and that just goads them to behave even more aggressively. I fear that if this isn’t addressed, the area will deteriorate.

The lack of representation in the area doesn’t help either. It’s like screaming for help in a Montana field.

If DC laws won’t protect the area, then it appears that the burden lies on the businesses.

I agree that the major problem is the movie theatre and McD’s.

Apparently these businesses don’t care because they don’t live here.

I was walking down 7th Street last night and one of these teens came up to me and blew cigar smoke right in my face, all the other animals he was with then starting laughing hysterically. They are ruining 7th Street.

#16- My point exactly- they DO NOT live in PQ, but they are allowed to loiter here and make life miserable for those of us who actually live in the area. We don’t have representation, yet isn’t that what we pay taxes for?

If our hard earned $$$ goes to fund the police force’s salary, I want them to do more than park empty cars on F Street. How about taking a stroll down H and 4th, 5th and 6th streets too. I know there’s no law against loitering in the District, but since when is verbal assault legal?

You can always call 311.

The city can’t be that short sited. They are going to Retail conferences and talking up DC as a great place for retailers but then not providing the retailers who just took a big risk and located here with basic security. Here is a excerpt from an Aug 20th 2007 press release on the Mayor’s web site announcing the opening of West Elm. It talks about DCs initiative “to provide incentives attract unique retailers, particularly apparel and home goods providers. While the District’s traditional downtown has undergone an incredible transformation from a 9-to-5 office zone to a vibrant, bustling 18-hour city where people not only work, but live, shop, eat and play. Retail is a critical ingredient for that mix but our downtown, and the city at large is still considerably underserved.

Each year, the District leaks more than $1 billion in retail spending by residents to the suburbs. This spring, the District’s Office of Planning kicked-off a Retail Action Strategy that will prescribe a series of actions necessary for reversing retail leakage and identify steps for attracting new national-brand and independent retailers to our neighborhoods while helping our existing retail base expand and prosper.”

Seems like one of the critical actions in any DC “Retail Action Strategy” would include a pleasant and safe shopping experience for tourists, residents, and suburbanites. Prevention is key. When they happen, word of the first few more serious incidents will hit the press and put a serious dent in the retail in Gallery/Penn Qtr/China Town and the cities other retail enhancement target neighborhoods. BTW, Mt Vernon Triangle is paying for a nightly or weekend patrol by DC cop. The BID’s interests are spread over too many neighborhoods. Maybe Gallery retailers will have to organize (if they have not already) and pay to play for foot patrol (by DC MPD staff on overtime basis) on nights and weekends like Mt Vernon Triangle did.

Like others here I too am regretting my decision to move to the PQ. And this has to have an economic impact on businesses. I will no longer got to Zengo, Clydes, Legal Seafood or any establishment located in that are on 7th Street Street on the weekends, and maybe not at all.

My wife and I are going out to the close-in ‘burbs to eat out more. We’re also seriously considering buying a home in Arlington or Alexandria and selling here. Seriously.

This is not the PQ that it was a year or more ago. One day I’m afraid that PQLIving will write its last blog, entitled “The Meteorics Rise and Fall of the Penn Quarter, or How Adrian Fenty and Cathy Lanier Torpedoed DC’s Remarkable Recovery.”

It is unfair to view ALL of Penn Quarter as a problem area, because it isn’t.

Not all businesses allow the “street thugs” to loiter outside their establishments. I don’t see these “people” loitering outside “West Elm” “Hotel Monaco”, “Zantinyas” (I have seen them physcially escort the undesirables away), “Chop House”, “Rosa Mexicana”….the promblem lies with the establishments along 7th street between F and H. Sometimes it flows over to 6th and even 5th street.

Verizon center, the movie theatre, Clydes, and in particular McD;s and Chipolte seem to be the culprits. Apparently the other establishments are taking charge, and therefore, have cut down the loitering problem.

Last night I must have seen 8 police cars parked along F street, next to the Verizon…either sitting in their cars and or standing next to it. I didn’t see anyone on 7th street. This is a common occurrence.

Everyone needs to do their part…I am staying away from these establishments, as well until it is remedied.

#22 is a comedian. Call 311? LOL! Thanks for the useful advice. THAT will solve the problem!

On to more serious comments, I can relate to #14. In this circumstance I would probably do what the thugs would want. Then I’d be beaten to a pulp (or worse) and the assailants would walk (not run) away and this would become just another crime report.

Of course, this won’t happen because you won’t catch me in that area at night.

last night from 8 pm to 9 pm, I walked all over 7th, 6th, E, F, etc and I didn’t see anything unsafe. there were two groups of teenage girls (three to four per group) standing outside McDs but nothing I’d consider intimidating. there were police generally around (partly attributed to Verizon event finishing) and the usual people walking around or waiting for the bus or going in and out of restaurants. I don’t recommend walking down I (Eye) Street between 7th and 5th because it is poorly lit and that’s the only place I routinely stay away from at night that’s south of Mass. these blocks will change when the Gould development gets built in early ’08.

movie theaters and malls chronically attract teenagers because it’s a place they can go. they can’t go into bars. they get shooed away from “nice” restaurants. it’s true in Mazza Gallerie or Montgomery Mall or Bethesda. this neighborhood is not fully developed and won’t be for another four or five years. there are two large swaths of apartments, offices and businesses yet to be built or open nearby – Old Convention Center and Mt. Vernon Triangle. until we’re fully baked, we’ll face growing pains like G’town and Adams Morgan and 14th/U once did or still do.

as a community, residents & biz owners have to stay on top of issues especially while it’s still developing. but it does take help from the city to be successful.

To PQ president’s most recent response. With all due respect, of course you did not see anything intimidating on a Tuesday night, these are not the evening referred to for the most part.

Try the same walk on a Friday or Saturday night and you will see a totally different picture.

I live on 5th near G and make the walk from Gallery Place several times a day. The picture isn’t always perfect, but it is an absolute nightmare on Friday and Saturday nights.

We are not making this up or over reacting, s you seem to be implying

I will not watch a movie anymore at Gallery Place. The ‘animals’ in the theater have no respect and will continue on with their loud conversations.

I agree with #28. I can get a different result too at noon on a Monday, but this ain’t what the discussion’s about.

I would love to see this stay around the top since it’s a hot discussion. Yes #26, I was joking