RSS FeedVerizon Center Upgrade?
We want to point out the recent WaPo story about Abe Pollin’s request to the DC government to fund Verizon Center upgrades. Notable is the disparity in the ticket tax between Nationals tickets and Verizon Center tickets, 10 percent versus 5.75 percent, and perhaps Pollin saw an opportunity to equalize the tax collected between his venue’s events and Nationals’ events helping his own organization benefit from the extra margin. Pollin built the Verizon Center on his own dime in an unproven part of the city firmly cementing an economic anchor in our neigborhood that other development could rally around. This is in stark contrast to the very expensive tab the new baseball stadium is incurring against public coffers, a separate discussion in its own right. On a $50 ticket, another 4.25 percent is just over $2 which isn’t a huge amount. It was late 1994 when Pollin announced he would build the MCI [now Verizon] Center and three years later it was a reality. Pollin’s committment is not in question and we feel that Fenty and the city should give this request serious consideration.
D’Acqua And Central Now Open
The Penn Quarter restaurant count recently went up by two with the opening of D’Acqua and Central.
D’Acqua (801 Penn Ave, NW) is an Italian spot and PQ Resident popped his head in the place last night. The interior finishes are appealing and the menu (PDF) is fish oriented (we won’t say fishy). Washington restauraneurs Francesco Ricchi and Enzo Febbraro are in on this project.
Central (1001 Penn Ave, NW) is Richard Michel’s newest project – he runs a little joint called Citronelle in Georgetown. Fried chicken is on the Central menu so we’ll have to presume it’s pretty good.
Last Three Days For Washington Auto Show
PQ Resident visited the Washington Auto Show last night at the Washington Convention Center, just a one or two stop ride on the Green/Yellow line from the Penn Quarter. The show is open tonight, tomorrow and Sunday and then you have to wait a year (unless you want to fly to Chicago in February). All the major names are there plus the well known exotics (such as Ferrari, Lambo, Maserati, Rolls and Bentley). There’s also an aftermarket section for those who like to “pimp their ride.” No Lotus display this year, however.
Best promo/giveaway item of the show is the Scion mix CD.
Add’l Note – direct link to Scion mix CD Volume 14: http://www.scion.com/boombox/index.html?cd=2
Approved Building Permits Update
New Tenant For 901 7th St NW?
901 7th ST NW
Alteration
New signage; Doors and storefront.
01/19/07
Goods Carryout To Update Its Sign?
602 H ST NW
Refacing of existing box sign
Goods Carryout
01/08/07
Permit Renewal For 700 6th (Construction Hasn’t Started Yet)
700 6TH ST NW
PERMIT RENEWAL
FIRST TIME RENEWAL OF BLDG PERMIT B#87139 ( SHEETING AND SHORING ) EXPIRING 1-27-07
NO CHANGES MADE TO PLANS
700 6th st VENTURE
01/08/07
Shakespeare Theater Renovation
450 7TH ST NW
ALTERATION AND REPAIR
RENOVATION TO THE LOWER LEVEL ON THE THEATER.
KEVIN WILSEY THE LANSBURGH
01/11/07