2/26/01:

Basics Cafe (by Results) will undergo a transformation
into a full-service restaurant (possibly with a
smoothie bar in front), in about three months.

New movie "Voices from Dupont Circle" will debut in
NYC April 6th.  No date yet for D.C. screening.  (More
info below.)  See
http://home.earthlink.net/~dliban/dupont_home.htm

Dupont has a new Starbucks: 19th St north of M, next
to Le Jardin. 

WP covered Dupont fountain's lighting dilemma.  See
"The Jury's Out on Hotel's Lights,"
http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A44113-2001Feb22.html

DCCA will decide whether to support underwater lights
for fountain second week of March.  (Present
leadership disputes that support was given in 12/99.)

P St bridge to undergo major renovation next
September.

Ultra-chic mens boutique Haute (next to Fresh Fields)
has shut its doors.

Ghulam Mangal was convicted on 2/21 of extortion,
fraud and more for having illegally "rented" sidewalk
vending spots, including three in Dupont (20th & Q,
19th by the circle, and 25th & M).  See "Jury convicts
Virginia man of ‘renting’ public sidewalks in D.C. to
vendors,"
http://www.thecommondenominator.com/022601_news6.html 

Ward 1 neighborhood coordinator Jose Sueiro was
profiled by the WP.  See
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3524-2001Feb14.html
 
Piano bar Stacatto is now open in Adams Morgan, 18th
St n of Franklin's.

Proposed halfway house on 19th St is focus of
attention.  See "Neighborhoods Fight Halfway House
Plans,"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A35636-2001Feb21.html
 See also "Ashcroft Tours School That Would Be Next to
Halfway House,"
http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A49175-2001Feb23.html

Josh Gibson wrote a great letter to the WP imploring
them to write "Adams Morgan" without a hyphen.  See
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A49205-2001Feb23.html

The Current reports the Alcoholic Beverage Control
office is beefing up its inspection staff, focusing on
trouble spots like U St and Admas Morgan, esp. during
late-night hours.

"Special signs" which have sprung up in Adams Morgan
are under attack.  See "Billboards or ‘signs’?,"
http://www.thecommondenominator.com/022601_news1.html

At bottom is another announcement from Horning Bros.
re Tivoli development.

Woodies heading towards having 3 floors of department
store space, and higher floors for offices.  See
"Jemal Plan On Woodies Building Gets Boost,"
http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17671-2001Feb16.html

More on city's efforts to lure Macy's to Woodies: 
"Going shopping with incentives,"
http://washington.bcentral.com/washington/stories/2001/02/19/tidbits.html

And the mayor is seriously aiming for more downtown
housing.  See "Housing plan targets 'onerous' D.C.
regs,"
http://washington.bcentral.com/washington/stories/2001/02/19/story5.html

See also "'This old house' in D.C." editorial,
http://washington.bcentral.com/washington/stories/2001/02/19/editorial2.html

NoMa also gets the spotlight.  See "NoMa area caught
in tug-of-war over housing, hotels,"
http://washington.bcentral.com/washington/stories/2001/02/19/newscolumn4.html

The best street-level office space in the city belongs
to HNTB, a massive
architecture/engineering/planning/construction firm on
7th St which looks like it could be a museum or art
gallery, or the set of our own Ally McBeal.  That
block, between D and E, will someday be downtown's
best, with Woolly Mammoth joining the Shakespeare
Theatre.  It's also home to Clara Barton's home and
office (see
http://ncr.gsa.gov/historicpreservation/clarabarton/).
Zenith Neon (http://www.zenithgallery.com/) has an
impressive storefront - especially now with the neon
jellyfish - and Apartment Zero is always fabulous. 
(They recently made the cover of Washington Flyer -
see
http://www.fly2dc.com/articles/2001/2001_01_ft1.asp
and http://www.apartmentzero.com/).

One block west, The Lexington, the new apartment
building above Teaism at 8th & D, has a sister
apartment building under construction at 8th & E, due
to open in 16-to-18 months.   See
http://www.bozzuto.com/lexington/index.html

At 10th & E, Lincoln Square restoration is nearly
complete and looks stunning.  Pity that downtown
legend Whitlow's left that corner and is now working
its magic in Clarendon. 

WP reported on Klingle Road.  See "Both Sides
Enlisting Allies in Klingle Road Dispute,"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A35681-2001Feb21.html

I agree with Jack Evans' position, to replace the road
with a hiking and biking trail.  See advocacy groups'
dueling Web sites at http://repairklingleroad.org and
http://www.klinglevalley.org/

Big anniversaries coming up.  March 4 marks the
bicentennial of Arlington County (né Alexandria) being
carved out of Fairfax and given to the feds.  See
http://www.arlingtonhistory.org/

Georgetown will be turning 250 this May.  See
http://www.georgetowner.com/the_village_12-21-00.html
and http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/001207/dc_georget.html

DC kicked off its own series of bicentenial
celebrations last March with the "Light Comes From the
North" artwork in the Dupont Metro entrance on 19th
St.  (Remember that?  Courtesy of Finland.  It was
fabulous - I wish it could have been made permanent.) 
See http://www.narpac.org/ITXDCHIS.HTM for timeline.

Though I hate to leave DC, Arlington offers many
lessons for improving urban living.  Arlington
Department of Economic Development has a great Web
site.  Try starting with
http://www.smartplace.org/bus_climate/smartscape.html
and see how much also could apply to Dupont.

Clarendon is Arlington's crown jewel, with much more
on the way (incl. Crate & Barrel).  Tomorrow they will
have a Mardi Gras in front of their Fresh Fields.  The
Clarendon Alliance has a great Web site at
http://www.clarendon.org/  Note they have forums on
urban design.  Why can't Dupont do the same?  (And I
should like to point out Dupont Circle expat Andrew
Newman will have an art show opening at Claren Court
Studio April 29.) 

Over in Olde Towne Alexandria, I noticed a few 
pedestrian signals on King St. now countdown the
number of seconds remaining for right-of-way.

Maryland will study building light rail service
connecting the Green Line to Southern Maryland.  See
"State Weighs Rail Line Linking S.Md. and D.C.,"
http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A44044-2001Feb22.html

Roger Lewis wrote essay on urban density.  See "Is
Density a Four-Letter Word?,"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A46474-2001Feb23.html

Phyllis Klein and Peter Brehm have volunteered to be
community liaisons for PSA 306.  Next mtg with Lt.
Dykes is Tuesday, March 20, 7pm at The Whitelaw, 13th
& T.  (For 3rd District's PSA boundaries, see
http://www.mpdc.org/English/districts/3rd/3dbound.htm)

Wednesday, Feb 28:  Reel Affirmations "Call for
Volunteers" mtg, 7pm, Charles Sumner School (see 
below).

Thursday, March 1:  Mayor gives State of the Distict
speech, 7pm at Lincoln Theatre (previously scheduled 
for 2/27).

Tuesday, Apr 17:  Mayor's town meeting with the gay, 
lesbian, and bisexual community
 
Best regards,
Michael

------------------------------------------------------
--- David Liban  wrote:

Latest update on my film "Voices from Dupont Circle."
It has been accepted into the New York International
Independent Film Festival. It will be showing at three
venues in New York including Madison Square Garden. If
you are interested in attending the screening, please
do.  It's free. It will be screened April 6th in the
ITN screening room at Madison Square Garden. Room 303.
 873 Broadway, NY NY.  Look for it on the marquis if
you are in town all that week.

Please be present if possible, and let people know
about the screening as well.
 
Thanks,
 
David

http://home.earthlink.net/~dliban/dupont_home.htm

------------------------------------------------------
Dear Potential Reel Affirmations Volunteer, 

We would like to invite you to our "Call for
Volunteer" meeting this Wed., Feb. 28th, 7:00pm, at
the Charles Sumner School, 1201 17th St. NW.  We will
tell you all about our exciting opportunities to get
involved with the preproduction stage of Reel
Affirmations:  Washington, DC's International Gay &
Lesbian Film Festival. 

The Charles Sumner School is located at the corner of
17th and M Sts., across from the National Geographic
Society.  The meeting will be held in Lecture Hall 102
on the first floor.  The closest Metro Station is
Farragut North on the Red Line.  Take the L St. exit. 
At the corner of 17th St., take a left and walk up to
M St.  The Sumner School is on the right side of the
street. 

As we need more great volunteers like you, please tell
your family, friends, and colleagues about
volunteering and the meeting.  If they cannot attend
the meeting, please ask them to get in touch with me. 

If you have any questions, please contact me. 

Thanks very much and see you at the movies! 

Stephen Kharfen 
Your Volunteer Coordinator 
skha@loc.gov 
(h) 202-483-5597 
(w) 202-707-5938 
1601 Argonne Pl. NW, #310 
Washington, DC 20009 

------------------------------------------------------
--- Joseph Horning  

TIVOLI SQUARE
A Public/Private Partnership with the District of
Columbia
Anthony Williams, Mayor

Tivoli Partners, Developer
Horning Brothers, General Partner 
MR&A Architects
Oehrlein and Associates, Historic Architects
Monarc, Inc., Historic Contracting Consultants
Olin Conservation, Monumental Construction and
Moulding, EverGreene Studios, Restoration Specialists
Madison Retail Group, Leasing

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS COMMUNITY UPDATE
February, 2001

RECENT PROGRESS

Mayor Williams's and Councilmember Graham's plan to
restore cultural life to the historic Tivoli Theater
and provide the Columbia Heights 
neighborhood with a modern supermarket is nearly in
place. Tivoli Partners has attempted to be as flexible
as possible in our public/private partnership with the
District government while researching the additional
costs of the Williams/Graham plan to save the
building.

* Renovated Tivoli and modern Giant supermarket to
open in the fall of 2003.
* Tivoli Partners receives a number of artistic
proposals from performing arts groups.
* Arts groups engage their own architects to evaluate
the Tivoli as suitable space.
* Private sector financing is in place. Banks set to
loan $14 million. 
* Madison Retail Group joins as leasing experts. Goal
is to bring restaurant, coffee shop and neighborhood
services- dry cleaning, video,
copying, etc.
* EverGreene Studios, theater restoration experts,
evaluate dome and murals.
* Planned February 2002 construction start.
* Alley Closing waiting on Councilmember Graham's
legislation.
* Tivoli Partners will present two community updates
in the coming weeks.
  * ANC 1-B on Thursday March 1st at 7:00pm, Reeves
Center
  * ANC 1-A on Wednesday March 14th at 7:00pm
* Visit our web-site www.horningbrothers.com
 for information.

THE PERFORMING ARTS AND FILM RETURN TO THE TIVOLI

Tivoli Partners has received a number of artistic
proposals for the performing arts portion of the
project. The arts groups that are 
interested in joining the project- African Continuum
Theater Company (ACT Co.), ARKA Ballet, Classika
Theater, Dance Institute of Washington, GALA Hispanic
Theater, Momentum Dance Theater, Washington Performing
Arts Society, Washington Stage Guild- would produce
and present theater, film, dance and music, as well as
arts education programs, in a renovated Tivoli
Theater.  Some of these dynamic award-winning arts
groups have engaged their own architects in evaluating
how the building's adaptive re-use might best suit
their cultural programs.  The above organizations are
interested in approximately 5,000 to 7,000 square feet
of performance space.  This list needs to be narrowed
to one or two groups.

The 25 arts organizations Tivoli Partners has
consulted include advocacy, producing, presenting, and
educational organizations. Among them are the D.C.
Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the Cultural
Alliance of Greater Washington, the Washington Opera,
the Washington Ballet, the Washington Performing Arts
Society, Arena Stage, the Levine School of Music, the
D.C. Youth Orchestra and the Gay Men's Chorus.

RESTORATION EXPERTS EVALUATE HISTORIC ELEMENTS

Tivoli Partners recently engaged EverGreene Studios to
provide another expert opinion on interior elements of
historical significance. 
EverGreene has restored over 150 historic theaters,
state capitols, hotels and churches in Europe and the
United States. Their projects include: The Library of
Congress, numerous New York City theaters- The New
Amsterdam, the Selwyn, and the Ford Center for the
Performing Arts, the Plaza Hotel, Hotel de las Artes,
Barcelona, Spain and over 25 state capitols. Visit
their web-site to see the spectacular work of this
firm of artists. www.evergreene.com

The   development plan
includes restoring the entire exterior and the
hexagonal entrance lobby of the Tivoli at an estimated
cost in excess of $3.6 million. With the Office of
Planning's recommendation, we are evaluating the
restoration of the concession area murals, the
proscenium arch, the immense auditorium ceiling dome,
and the fabled Star of Washington. The D.C. Commission
on the Arts and Humanities is participating in
evaluation of the lobby murals.

To date, Tivoli Partners has consulted with the League
of Historic American Theaters and the D.C.
Preservation League. Save The Tivoli extended an
invitation to us to attend their recent presentation
on the theater's history at the Washington, D.C.
Restoration and Renovation Conference, which we found
very informative.


PUBLIC/PRIVATE FINANCING PARTNERSHIP

The financing for this public/private partnership is
naturally complex.  Private sector financing is now in
place. Tivoli Partners has received letters of intent
to finance $14 million from three banks- Riggs, GMAC,
and Allfirst. Given the anticipated project income,
this is the maximum amount supportable by private
sector debt. Horning Brothers and its minority
partners have adequate private capital for the
project. The City will participate in 20% of the
profits of this public/private partnership.

In 1984, at the time the Tivoli received landmark
status, the City commissioned a feasibility study
concerning the development of Parcel 29.  The notable 
Washington architectural firm of Shalom Baranes 
executed the independent study. In the study, Baranes
explains: "In the case of the Tivoli, it is clear that
a requirement to preserve a portion or all of the 
Tivoli would impose an encumbrance on the property 
which would make the development of a full square 
project more expensive. That reduction in monetary 
value represents both the costs to the taxpayer for 
the preservation benefit, as well as the additional 
cost of development to the developer. One might 
therefore conclude that if the appraised value were 
accurately based on the real costs of renovating the 
Tivoli, the full cost of preservation would in fact be
borne by the public and not by the developer."


MADISON RETAIL GROUP JOINS TEAM 

Tivoli Partners is pleased to announce that Madison
Retail Group has joined the team as leasing agents.
Madison is, perhaps, best known for their leasing
expertise on projects in the Dupont Circle area. They
have also worked frequently with Starwood Urban
Investments in the popular Connecticut and Wisconsin
Avenue retail corridors. The prospect of a performing
arts space and a supermarket as dual anchors provides
a unique, distinct advantage to retailers located in
the Tivoli. Madison will seek to attract local and
national tenants which meet some of the retail needs
of the neighborhood, including a casual dining
establishment, a coffee shop, a copy center, a video
store, etc.

ALLEY CLOSING

The project still awaits Councilmember Graham's
legislation to close the alley on Parcel 29, which, at
the moment, serves no purpose and is 
fenced closed. 

NEXT STEPS

Tivoli Partners will present two community updates in
the coming weeks.
* ANC 1-B on Thursday March 1st at 7:00pm, Reeves
Center (2nd Floor)
* ANC 1-A on Wednesday March 14th at 7:00pm

For additional information, contact:
Joseph Horning III
Tivoli Partners
(202) 659-0700 x209