RSS FeedIllegal Billboards Imminent In Gallery Place (7th & H St NW)
Many may know that DC has banned new advertising billboards from being installed anywhere in the city. But, every once in a while, the Council will grant special signage allowances for new developments; which they did in the case of the Gallery Place project. But, the Council approves a detailed plan for the signage so that we don’t end up with a building wrapped entirely in advertising.
Here is one page from the 2004 Gallery Place signage legislation:
In the red circled area, developers have applied for and were granted a permit to install three electronic billboards (at least 8-by-6 feet) on the building at the SE corner of 7th & H St NW – pointing into 7th St car traffic. Oh, they’ll also have Verizon Center-style speakers pointed directly at all of us who wait for the bus at that corner.
Here is a concept pic based on where we’ve been told the billboards will go:
How were the electronic billboard permits approved in a “storefront signage area” of the legislation? After emailing several DCRA representatives, our questions were initially met with a polite, “we’ll get back to you.” Then.. silence. We smell something fishy, and the scent isn’t coming from any of the neighborhood restaurants!
Permits approved are:
- 06/25/07 DCRA Permit # 108135
- 09/14/07 DCRA Permit # 109208 (environmental impact study)
- 09/27/07 DCRA Permit # 111479 (revision to electrical)
New Gallery Square Development Drawings (7th & H St NW)
Thanks to Thomas for sending us this link to Gallery Square’s leasing advertisement for 27K sq ft of retail. The drawings are very revealing as to what has been going on behind the scenes for the past few months.
The development includes the following buildings: Vapiano (623-625 H St NW), China Doll + Lei Garden (627-631 H St NW), CVS (801 7th St NW), and Kam Fong Seafood Restaurant (807 7th St NW).
What’s interesting is that 623-625 H St NW is owned by Doug Jemal, while the rest of the buildings are owned by Yeni Wong (Riverdale International). Unless the Vapiano building was recently purchased by Wong, this could be an indication of a partnership between the two developers.
The development will be completed in two phases. The first phase will include the CVS redevelopment as well as a ~25 unit condominium. We’ve reported extensively on the phase one aspect (including copies of public building plans). The second phase will consist of the 627-631 H St NW site redevelopment. It will feature a 3 level underground parking garage and will have 2 levels of retail and the rest will be office space.
Here’s a rundown of the clues gathered from the pics and 2009 timeline:
- Vapiano won’t be opening in the 623-625 H St NW location
Lei Garden and China Doll facades will be preservedYeni Wong & Doug Jemal are possibly in a development partnership- CVS will occupy the first floor and basement of the same building (after it’s rehabbed), leaving 3 more floors of retail available for lease
Pic courtesy of Transwesten Retail.
Bistro D’OC Now A Wine Bar?
Perhaps it’s all because of Proof? Last night we noticed that Bistro d’OC has added “and Wine Bar” to sign on their main window. Not sure if the menu or wines (or wine specials) have changed, but we’re big fans of this place so we’ll go on another fact finding mission to check out the changes. Theirs wines were always very good (if expensive) so maybe the sign out front is more of a reminder/advertisement to the neighborhood? At any rate, it’s another place to raise a good glass of wine in PQ.
Follow this link to a photo on about.com from 2006 which shows the window as we remembered it, sans the “wine bar” portion.
DCist Discusses Chinese Food In The Neighborhood
A couple of days ago, DCist reviewed Full Kee (509 H St NW) in Chinatown. While the review is a good read, the comments are also informative as to the current state of Chinese food in the neighborhood.