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Chinatown Steering Committee Relocates To.. Chevy Chase!?
Old Headquarters
We recently performed a search on the elusive Chinatown Steering Committee only to find that its head quarters at 451 M St NW was sold (pdf) last November. Mr. Duane Wang sold the home near Chinatown for nearly $1 million. The old address is still listed on the Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs City Service page.
New Headquarters
Next, we sought out the new headquarters for the steering committee and found it on this page. The new address? It’s 3721 Jocelyn St NW, just a few blocks within the District near Chevy Chase, Maryland.
No Local Control Over Our Neighborhood
This DC.gov page describes the steering committee as: Individuals and organizations, with community interests in the Chinatown area, who advise the city government on projects to enhance life in Chinatown.
It is bad enough that our current ANC, made up of commissioners that live well north of our neighborhood, have so much control over what happens here. Now, we have a second organization located in Chevy Chase that is controlling what happens in our neighborhood.
Exciting Neighborhood News From "Downtown Tim" (Grocery Store, Tousaud’s, Clothing, Butcher, etc) *Updated*
Our friend, Downtown Tim, just left a comment that we feel deserves its own post. Here is the scoop:
- Downtown Tim said…
I have some exciting retail news for the ‘hood…
(a) a very reliable source has informed me that Magruders has completed a deal to take the Balducci’s space — a reporter I know is working on a story right now!!!
(b) Zara is taking the remaining storefront space on F Street next to H&M –apparently it will be the largest Zara outside NYC (over 20k ft)
(c) Madame Tousaud’s is likely taking the basement space at the Woodies Building
(c) Douglas Development is finishing deals w/ clothing stores (no banks, no restaurants) for the Atlantic Building (930 F Street NW) announcements will be made soon
(d) Akridge has leased (or will soon lease) most of the retail at Carroll Square (across the street from the Atlantic Building). Tenants will include an organic butcher, a gourmet chocolate restaurant/bar, a yarn salon, a baby/maternity store, etc.
(e) A lounge/restaurant is looking at the HNTB space on 7th — no deal yet, though
More news to come…
- Thanks Tim!!
Here is an update:
- The Good, the Bad and the Ugly…
My reporter friend called me back this afternoon AND the Magruders deal isn’t done (all of the other info is accurate, though). Apparently there are four competing proposals for the Balducci’s space (including Magruders as well as, unfortunately, at least two non grocers). JPI (the developer) is in the process of finishing their due diligence and plans to make a decision on a tenant sometime in the next two to three weeks. FWIW, JPI does not feel obligated to put a grocer there — apparently, whatever agreement they had w/ the city expired sometime during the Balducci’s fiasco. One name I heard which sent shivers done my spine was Walgreens — ugh!! Maybe NOW is the time to raise our voice just a little before a BAD decision is made…
On the flip side, the butcher at Carroll Square has two stores in VA — can’t remember the name, though — who knows, F Street (along w/ the freshfarm market on 8th) may evolve into Penn Quarter’s “supermarket”…
The “yarn salon” is a local yarn shop that will build a flagship store downtown — perhaps not your (or my) cup of tea BUT a cool (and unique) addition to the neighborhood, nonetheless.
Vapiano Italian Restaurant Coming Soon To Gallery Place! (Pic)
Vapiano Italian Restaurant coming soon to 625 H St NW. Check out Otavio’s review of the Germany-based restaurant.