RSS FeedPenn Quarter/Downtown DC Link Roundup: Heard In The ‘Hood
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Here’s what we were reading recently about neighborhood news in DC. Have something to add? Leave it in the comments!
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Events/News
Downtown – The Downtown Holiday Market opens on Friday, November 29, the day after Thanksgiving and runs through December 23 open daily until 8 pm. There’s music, food & drink, and lots of great items up for sale. [Downtown Holiday Market website]
Downtown – Macy’s will be unveiling their holiday window displays on G St between 12th and 13th on November 23 beginning at 2 pm and they’re going to turn the event into something of a block party. The Mayor is scheduled to be there! [Downtown BID]
Judiciary Square – A dead body is found in the Judiciary Square Metro. [WaPo]
Gallery Place – Clyde’s of Gallery Place learned that over 100 of its employees were not authorized to work in the U.S. as a result of an audit. Oopsie. [WaPo]
Development
Mount Vernon Triangle – The Carnegie Library in Mount Vernon Square is proposed to be renovated and an addition put on either side of the edifice to make way for what could be the Spy Museum’s new home. [Washington Business Journal]
Chinatown – Monument Development proposes an office building with a ground floor hutong market (retail) for its assemblage of properties on H St NW. Not historic preservation in the classic sense but perhaps a repurposing of existing structures to make way for a new age. We like the proposal. [WaPo]
Penn Quarter – It’s pretty official that the FBI wants to consolidate its employees into one campus which means moving out of the Pennsylvania Avenue headquarters in Penn Quarter. A solicitation reveals the campus requirements. [WaPo]
Downtown – Webster School, built in 1882, stands at the corner of 9th and H St NW next to the Secret Service’s headquarters. It was stabilized in 2002 and has been sealed up tight since that time. It’s no secret when you walk by that it needs maintenance and is now in a high profile location right across the street from a brand spanking new CityCenter. The GSA pulled its solicitation to determine if the building could be sold or leased. This is a shame and disservice to the neighborhood. [Washington Business Journal]
Restaurants/Food
Downtown/Penn Quarter – Poste Brasserie’s Winter Lounge is up and running. Hot toddies anyone? [Eater DC]
Penn Quarter – The Shaw Giant at 8th and O St NW (now called Giant at O Street Market) reopens on November 22. We first reviewed it in April of 2007 which seems like ages ago. [CityPaper] & [CityMarket at O blog]
Downtown – Bolt Burgers is about to open at 1010 Massachusetts Ave and it will be one high tech assembly line system. [WaPo]
Penn Quarter – Rosa Mexicano offers up a Mexican spin on Thanksgiving Day. Delish! [Rosa Mexicano Thanksgiving Day menu [PDF]] & [Rosa Mexicano website]
Crib of the Week
Our Crib of the Week is most unusual because it is both a rowhouse and a business. It’s also in the heart of Chinatown at 507 H St NW and is the home of the Royal Thai restaurant. The listing price is $2.5 million and the triple net lease yields more than $100K per year according to the listing. That’s a capitalization rate of 4% which is on the low side considering that a 1 BR condo will yield north of 6%. On the other hand, this is a rare opportunity right in the heart of the main strip. [Homes Database listing – 507 H St NW – MLS DC8217341]
Fly South Already!
Tippi Hedren was standing here moments before the photo was taken
Sometimes no words are needed, the image speaks for itself. For weeks now it hasn’t been safe to walk under many of our favorite tree-lined streets. Walking around the FBI? The National Portrait Gallery? Bring an umbrella. Now that we’ve had our first really cold weather, we’re hopeful this seasonal nightmare is almost over.
Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are controlling transmission.
The Amazing Reptile
Growing up in the area, one of my favorite childhood memories is a special assembly at school with Reptile World. Iggy the Iguana always brought laughs and Buttercup the albino turtle taught us about beauty in the reptile kingdom. Mr. Mike and his fantastic friends will be at the National Theater (1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW) on Saturday, November 16 at 9:30am and 11am. If you have little ones or just a little curiosity, it’s worth the visit.
Remaining Redevelopment Bids For Franklin School Examined
The Washington Business Journal examined the four redevelopment bids remaining for the Franklin School located at the southeast corner of 13th and K Streets; the Washingtonian also reported on the matter focusing on the renderings. It’s a majestic building that has been shut down since 2008 when then Mayor Fenty closed the building which had been operating as a low barrier homeless shelter. The final winning choice will be made in early 2014. For added background, this blogger chronicled the informational meeting and Q & A hosted by the city while this site provides history about the Franklin School.
The articles hit the high points of each of four distinct proposed uses:
- A technology research and development center for the company Costar which has its corporate headquarters at 1331 L St NW
- A Kimpton/Gemstone hotels 40 room boutique hotel called The Benjamin which includes a penthouse restaurant
- A contemporary arts, performance, and educational destination including culinary arts called the Institute for Contemporary Expression
- A tech accelerator with live/work space
None of the proposed uses are like the other and we think it’s great to see such diverse proposals make it to the final round. Frankly, of all these choices we like the contemporary arts destination the best because it’s the most unique. DC has plenty of hotels, office space, and one major tech accelerator already. The city also has lots of arts venues but we think having a venue dedicated to contemporary arts downtown and east of 16th Street might be the most accretive use of the space from a public goods perspective. Such a venue might even be able to integrate its programming with the revitalization of Franklin Park. That would be a double bonus.