12/28/00: See article from Wash Blade on JR's compromise. Last Thursday the ANC voted 7-0 to support the voluntary agreement with DCCA. The agreement says that JR's will place a flower shop in the front part of the old Angie's space. ABC board approval is expected in two months. http://washblade.com/local/001222b.htm Il Radicchio on 17th St is now Vivo a Trattoria, apparently part of a makeover given by the owner. Local resident (and InTowner author) Paul Williams has a book out on the history of Dupont Circle, filled with fascinating photographs. Available at the Dupont Olsson's. This spring (May 11) look forward to a novel named Dupont Circle, set in the near-future and revolving around a gay marriage case. A local resident took some nifty shots of 17th Street during our first snowfall. View them at http://www.announce.com/khein/dupont/17thst.htm 1709 Conn Ave is now a shop selling far-eastern rugs and such (formerly "Dupont Gallery," which sold souveniers and t-shirts). Lucky Brand will open a jeans store at 1739 Connecticut Avenue between efx and Anna Maria's. (Both Rock Creek and Universal Gear carry the brand already). This is north of the future Ann Taylor Loft and south of Ralph Lauren's soon-to-open Club Monaco. See http://www.luckybrandjeans.com/ If interested in home-grown women's clothing stores, visit some new stores in Adams-Morgan: Kaur at 2102 18th St, All About Jane at 2438½ 18th, Niagara at 2423 18th (via DCCD), and Daisy at 1814 Adams Mill Rd. I discovered Web site for Adams-Morgan dog daycare center - see http://www.city-dogs.com/ (who knew?) A judge has dismissed the tenants' suit against the control board's $10.1 million sale of the Roosevelt Hotel on 16th St, clearing way for its conversion into market-rate apartments. See http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29268-2000Dec19.html U St Metro stop has been officially renamed "U St/African-Amer Civil War Memorial/Cardozo." Change was made at behest of Jim Graham. See notes below re my protest and a few responses. WBJ reported on Manhatten Laundry Building on Florida Ave (site of first Art-O-Matic) - see http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2000/12/11/focus16.html WBJ reported on Jim Abdo's construction co's new HQ at 14th & RI (back in Oct, oops): http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2000/10/16/focus3.html Areas east of Logan are developing too: the Washington Post reported on a house tour on the unit block of R St - see http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53518-2000Dec11.html Macy's may come to the old Woodies building downtown. Hope you saw the charming Christmas displays. (See my comment at http://www.downtowndc.org/visitor/events/events.html)(I'm the "absolutely loved it" guy) And see NYTimes article on Christmas window displays: http://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/22/living/22SMIT.html The Department of Employment Services site on Penn Ave has been offically sold to the Freedom Forum and will be developed into the Newseum, plus office, retail and 100 condos. See http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A46064-2000Dec23.html Major renovation on M St between 33rd St and Key Bridge. Ligne Roset (now open) and Baker furniture are just the first steps. See http://www.ligne-roset-usa.com A major high-rise luxury condo building will replace the Best Western in Rosslyn - see http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2000/12/11/story3.html See NY Times article "A Repaved Path Underpins a Revitalization Plan" about the role of surface materials on a unique narrow street: http://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/06/nyregion/06REAL.html (And see too my own little treatise on the subject at http://www.announce.com/khein/dupont/sidewalks.htm) DC Zoning Commission has a new Web site at http://www.dcoz.dcgov.org Was greeted at Fresh Fields' grand opening by a dozen Elvises, in addition to free-flowing sparkling juices (in a free commemorative wine glass), live music, and lots of free munchies. See http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9164-2000Dec14.html WBJ reported on state of groceries in DC - see http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2000/12/11/focus1.html Next DCCA meeting is Monday, Jan 8. Mayor Williams is expected to speak. See http://www.dupont-circle.com/dcca/calendar.htm For an amusing (but regrettably undated) essay on NYC vs. DC, see http://www.lileks.com/writings/post/nycd.html Correction: The correct Web site for Logan's ANC2F is http://www.anc2f.org (includes news of 116 apartment units to be built on parking lot site at 12th & Mass) Finally, my Chevy Chase dentist wants me to put the word out about how great he is. He is indeed: Bruce Milzman, 202-244-6000. (Tell him I sent ya.) Best wishes for a happy new year Michael ****************************************************** (in reverse-chronological order:) --- GrahamWOne@aol.com wrote: On the issue of Metro station name changes, the policy provides for consultation with the ANC and the relevant Councilmember. I was the sponsor of both the change at U Street (to include Adams Morgan) and Woodley Park (to include African American Civil War Memorial). The first was done principally to give Adams Morgan a Metro destination, and thus help address problems of traffic, congestion and parking by encouraging people to use public transportation rather than private cars. The second was to alert tourists to the fact that there is an internationally significant monument in the U Street neighborhood, which they can visit via Metro. It was also to further honor those who are recognized by the memorial. I regret that you do not agree with these actions, but I think they serve important public purposes. Bests Jim Graham Ward One Councilmember --- mvs202@aol.com wrote: One more thought on the renaming of the U St/African-Amer Civil War Memorial/Cardozo Metro station: I wonder if there exists a standard for deciding how name-change proposals are evaluated. I think in this case, "various community groups" did not cover enough ground - I certainly had no idea it was being discussed. Furthermore, I think the WMATA ridership as a whole should have a say. Certainly the Post should have published a notification of the impending change, just as they publish scheduled delays. I do not look forward to allowing every community to rename their stop. I disagreed with adding "Adams-Morgan" to the Woodley stop north of Rock Creek; I was disappointed by the renaming of the National Airport stop (but at least it makes sense given the airport's new name); and I hate to see "7th St/Convention Center" added to the perfectly elegant Mt Vernon Square name. Above all, I think a 37-letter, 45-character, 19-syllable name far exceeds the complexity of other names in Metrorail and makes for an unwieldy system. Station names should be deliberately short and concise in order to faciliate map-making, sign-reading, and to avoid confusion which could be generated by having different people refer to the same station using different names. The outdoor and indoor pylons should not have to have lengthy descriptions crammed onto their sides, nor should our maps have letters squeezed into narrow spaces or spilling into adjacent areas. The listing of destinations' times should be spared horrendous abbreviations. The listing of each track's destinations should be clean and spare. I am glad to have the African-American Civil War Memorial in my neighborhood. I too wish it attracted the attention it deserves. But I disagree with using the name of a Metro stop as a billboard. Please reconsider this decision, and work to find alternative ways to achieve your goal. Best regards Michael Schade --- GrahamWOne@aol.com wrote: The name of the station on U Street was changed by the Metro Board of Directors earlier this year. I am pleased to have sponsored the change to include the addition of the African American Civil War Memorial, a change that was endorsed by various community groups and the ANC. We are very proud of this important monument being located on U Street and it is fitting that it have a Metro destination. Bests Jim Graham, Ward One Councilmember and Metro Board Member --- ajstribling@lycos.com wrote: Michael, The renaming of the U Street Metro (along with the Woodley Park/Adams Morgan/Zoo Metro stop) was sponsored by Councilmember Jim Graham, who is a member of the Metro Commission. The idea is to try and highlight tourist-oriented sites near Metro stops. The unfortunate result is a cumbersome title. I believe the signs on the Metro tunnel (as one immediately exits the train) indicate which direction is 13th Street and which is the memorial. I seriously doubt, having spent much political capital, that the signs will be changed back. AJS --- pxleyes@bellatlantic.net wrote: I can explain the whole process. the change came as part of the marketing of the area. The metro system in general is trying to associate stops with destinations. The change came as part of a U-Street Adams Morgan Taskforce and was a recomendation from that process. It is costly to make changes and I would doubt that it would change back. However I would encourage you to follow up on re=installing the sign with the arrow. People still call it the U Street Station. Scott Pomeroy --- dupont_circle@yahoo.com wrote: Does anyone know why the station name signs inside the U St Metro station (the ones along the track) were renamed "U St/African-Amer. Civil War Memorial/Cardozo?" I much preferred the way it was before, with a simple "U St/Cardozo" name, and "African-Amer. Civil War Memorial" written below the arrow leading to the 13th St exit. If they must change the name, I would prefer shortening it to just U St. The new name is far too cumbersome, and I doubt it will enter common usage. Plus, the few visitors who stop here to see the memorial now have no indication as to which exit to use. I'm curious if anyone knows how this change was made, and if anything can be done to restore the name (or even shorten it further to just U St). Michael |