Progress Reports: Madame Tussauds & Zara

To the builders: PLEASE move that construction fence back a few feet. Now that the big black wall is gone, you have more room to work with, not less. And why hasn’t the Portrait Gallery reopened the sidewalk on F Street at 9th yet?

I’ve always loved that little building. Now that would be a cute little place to live. Cept, I would want the whole thing.

It should be noted that decisions on reopening sidewalks that have been altered are not the sole discretion of the contractor. DCRA is an interesting beast that has oversight on all of these issues. New sidewalks need inspections before reopening. To the contractors, take your time, we are glad to see your investment in our community. We need more development not less. DCRA and District politics are part of the reason so many other commercial operations opt for VA & MD. Those of us with a vested interest in DC should embrace its growth and deal with the growing pains!

I agree, it is nice to see the growth and construction. However, consideration of the people working and living in the area would be a nice touch. Allowing a small space for the walking public is a considerate thing to do for all.

A very timely blog entry in the City Paper today on this very subject:

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/index.php/2007/09/13/cross-with-care-part-ii/

I’m very pro-development, but at the same time expect that developers/builders and the city will do their best to accomodate pedestrians.

That MT sign is a bit much don’t you think? The fencing, with the circus lighting and the stars? It’s a bit Las Vegas meets Barnum and Bailey.

the Channel 7 link is here. I’m kinda’ interested in going after it opens. now, that scares me.

I think the sign looks lovely — right now. If they light it up at night, though, I am going to be very annoyed.

Plan to be annoyed, the lighted sign has been on all night every night since they installed it 4-5 days ago. Like the Verizon center sign its part of our downtown charm. I hear you can sleep under the moonlight in Columbia, MD. Folks, if we have any chance of the District becoming the world class city it should have been long ago we must embrace urban living. This area has seen more development in the last ten years than it had in the twenty preceding it. As a developer I have a hard time bringing on partners due to how challenging DC can be. We have gone from one set of challenges to another. Just like people in G-town or adams morgan shouldn’t move there expecting suburban like decibels and ambient light levels at night. Short of pan handling laws not being enforced this is what we signed up for.

To P. Lopes…do you live in the downtown area or in the burbs?

Just curious.

I agree with Lopes. If you want a vibrant world class city, we needs us some light! As Sandra Bernhard said on a recent visit, what strange dark town DC is. I have to agree.

Life long Washingtonian, lived in Penn Quarter/ China Town for the past 7 years and loving every minute of it. Walk to work everyday and gladly cross the street of our closed sidewalks. As a job site safety consultant for many years I’ve seen first hand how quick unsafe situations can arise. After seeing what I’ve seen you would steer clear of all closed sidewalks. Life is too precious to chance on whats most likely the cheapest bid contractors errors. Seen it all.

Are people really complaining about a lighted sign in a downtown area? I lived in DC for three years and I can’t imagine ever moving back. Get a sense of the urban aesthetic, people!

I never said I don’t like lights. I actually love the verizon center sign. What I did say however, is that I don’t like tacky crap. I grew up in Orlando, and that sign reminds me a lot more of my hometown than it does of a big, urban city.

How on earth does a sign like that get approved so quickly, when it took tons of back and forth and fighting to get approval for Norman Foster’s beautiful glass canopy on the Portrait Gallery.

Andy, I’m not sure it’s fair compare the approval speed of a sign for Madame Tussauds to that of a permanent roof structure being installed atop one of the oldest office buildings in DC. There’s just no comparison… but I’m so glad the Norman Foster design was blessed by the powers that be!

Mr. T: There is a big crane on the 9th street sidewalk area of the Reynolds Center. When the courtyard is finished, then we should get our sidewalk back.

i think the signage is terrific. not the banners though, ewhich they apparently get a fine for every day.

I think the building itself looks great. I’m not a fan of Doug Jemal, but I have to give him credit where credit is due. His rennovations are impeccable.