9/8/03: [73] Burrito Brothers has closed 1718 Conn Ave location. Current says Hollis & Knight deal for former Newsroom at S & Conn Ave building fell through. WBJ covers Conn Ave retail scene between Q and S, calling that stretch "among the most desirable retail and restaurant locations in the city." Says "Retailers with Dupont stores say their sales are top-notch." Says restaurant Sette will open in late November in former Janus Theater, and that Kemp Mill Music space might become home to an upscale jewelry store. See "Coming full Circle: Dupont development heats up as rare space for new tenants comes available," http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2003/08/25/story2.html WP covers plans for 225-unit condo project at 25th & Penn, with typical 2BR units going for about $700,000. See "Neighbors Back Condos At Columbia Hospital," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A39420-2003Sep7.html See also http://www.columbiacondominium.com/ WP covers efforts to make 26th St a 2-way. See "On 26th St., They Want It Their Way: D.C. Law Firm, Residents Argue Direction," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A22851-2003Aug20.html See also "Two-Way Traffic on 23rd Street Proposed by Transportation Dept.," http://www.westendguide.us/26th09.htm Office Depot at 19th & L is becoming a Staples. BP Amaco is now open at 18th & S. Caldwell Banker will open an office in former Reincarnations space on 17th St. Blink has closed their 17th St store; new store now open in The Hudson on P St. Ben Moll liquor store at 17th & U has removed the bars from the windows. JoJo Restaurant and Bar expected soon at 1518 U St. Love Cafe is now open at 15th & U. WP profiles The Hudson, at 1425 P St. See "Touch of the Outdoors Softens Lofts' Urban Chic Style," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A979-2003Aug29.html See also summary "The Hudson," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A980-2003Aug29.html Cary Silverman reports the parking lot at SW corner of 14th & R will be developed by Paul Robertson into a 75'-tall building with 12 residential units above 2 stories of retail, and 20 underground parking spaces. Pop is now open at 1803s 14th St. See http://www.shoppop.com Pulp now has a beautiful yellow neon sign. T+L looks at neighborhoods where "art meets commerce," starting off with 14th St, saying it "has evolved from a dreary no-man's-land into a destination for indepen- dent spirits." Says most common look is "downtown den- im paired with a vintage item, and a dash of tongue- in-cheek raciness." See "New Kids on the Block," http://www.travelandleisure.com/invoke.cfm?objectid=5BE8A9F9-DF27-49A4-BB2D85A91D8B5FAE WP profiles Ben's Chili Bowl. See "The Bottomless Bowl of U Street: A Neighborhood Institution Prepares to Celebrate 45 Years of Chili -- and Change," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A22921-2003Aug20.html See also "D.C. History," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25796-2003Aug21.html See also ruminations on their recipe, "Ben's Chili Is Something Else; That's for Sure," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50969-2003Aug26.html W covers up-and-coming places, including Logan Circle, and offers another profile of Ben's. See "Cool Neighborhoods," http://www.washingtonian.com/schools/cool_neighborhoods.html WT covers rash of graffiti on U between 13th and 15th. See "Permanent etchings costly to businesses," http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20030820-094315-3350r.htm W says "a light sculpture unveiled last month above the foyer of the SoLo Piazza at DC’s 13th and N streets, Northwest, tells just how cool things are: It changes color according to outdoor temperature, but not the way you’d expect—it turns bluer the hotter it gets, redder on colder days." See "How Cool Is That Building," near end of http://www.washingtonian.com/people/cool_people.html See "Tivoli funds caught in crossfire between mayor, council," http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2003/09/01/story6.html See "Feds Block $2.5 Million For Tivoli Renewal: Agency Rejects Garage Financing," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19691-2003Sep3.html See "Projects Reshaping Columbia Heights," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19698-2003Sep3.html WEG writer complains about M St's narrow sidewalks in G-town. See "Real Planning Needed in Neighborhood," http://www.westendguide.us/opinion09.htm WP covers new store in old Woodies home. See "Downtown Gets a Different Brand of Hip With H&M Opening," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2216-2003Aug29.html WP lists leases for 7th & H: Benetton, Sisley, City Sports, Washington Sports Club, Clyde's, Paolo's, and maybe Urban Outfitters and Ann Taylor Loft. Most will open in March. See "More Retailers Agree to Open Stores at Gallery Pace Complex," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23181-2003Sep3.html See "The Pull of Penn Quarter: Developers Seek to Sell Area as a Place to Live, Not Just Party," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A12183-2003Sep1.html See "Development around transit good for drivers, too," http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2003/08/25/editorial3.html See "A Tunnel With a View -- and a Profit: Metro Looking Underground for New Source of Ad Revenue," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A5355-2003Aug30.html See "Washington's Museums Traverse Miles and Eras," http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/22/arts/design/22SMIT.html Home Depot is planning to open two Expo stores in Manhattan, at 731 Lexington and 28-40 W 23rd St. See Dupont Public Safety Report, [1] below. September 14 and 20: "Hidden Treasures: Dupont Alleys West and East" tour. See http://www.residentassociates.org/rap/tour-sep/dupont.asp Wednesday, September 17: Dupont Main St "Community Celebration," Washington Hilton Hotel. Reception 6pm, Presentation 7-8:30. RSVP/info: dcmap@aol.com September 18 - 21: Georgetown Film Festival http://www.georgetownfilmfest.com/ Saturday, September 20: Bike DC. See http://www.waba.org/bikedc2003/bikedc_home.html September 20: Arts on Foot Festival, Penn Quarter. See http://www.artsonfoot.org/ Saturday, October 4: Barracks Row Fest, 8th St between F and G (SE). See http://www.barracksrow.org/open.html Saturday, October 18: Centennial Arts Festival, Church of the Pilgrims 22nd St Sunday October 19: Dupont Circle House Tour, 12-5. See http://www.dupont-circle.com/housetour.htm october 24 - 26: "city living, dc style" expo. See http://www.citylivingdc.com/ Best regards, Michæl ------------------------------------------------------ [1] [from Rob.Halligan@DupontCircleANC.net, 9/4/03] DCCA/ANC2B Joint Public Safety Committee Report By Gil Hill (DCCA) and Rob Halligan (ANC 2B), Co- Chairs During the Summer there have been a number of developments in the Public Safety arena that we would like to bring to the attention of Dupont Circle residents. The report contains issues and actions that have emerged over the Summer, but first, we need to plead with Dupont residents to work with us to address and solve Dupont Circle Public Safety problems. The first opportunity to do this will be September 16 at the 3rd District Metropolitan Police Department Headquarters (MPD), 1620 “V” Street, NW, where the DCCA/ANC2B Joint Public Safety Committee will meet at 7:00pm. There are many opportunities for action to prevent Public Safety problems and a number of them, including the following, will be explored at the meeting. · Formation of a “Neighborhood Watch” to identify and report Public Safety problems to the Metropolitan Police. Volunteer to be a Block Captain who conveys info to and from neighbors to MPD. · Complying with an MPD request to place house numbers on the back of houses so that they are visible from the alleys that run behind houses in Dupont. This aids MPD officers who respond to reports of crime (911 calls). We have conducted our own informal tour of alleys and find that compliance with this request is erratic. MPD officers tell us that it is vital for their success. Please put your house number on the back of your house. · Using the engraving machine at the available at the 3rd District to put your name on objects for identification in case they are stolen. Licenses and engraving for bicycles can be purchased from the 3rd District station for similar reasons. In addition, residents should record and store the serial numbers of important household items to aid in identification should they be stolen. · Prevention of Graffiti. The most effective way to prevent the spread of Graffiti is to remove it as soon as it appears. Residents must accept responsibility for this as soon as they notice it. There are 2 commercially available products that are quite effective, “Graffiti Eater” and “Graffiti Off”, if they are used quickly. The longer Graffiti stays on a surface, the harder it is to remove. · A new effort called “Secure The Call” to program out of date, but still useful, cell phones to call 911/311 needs to be initiated in Dupont. This would make it possible for residents who encounter Public Safety problems to call 911/311 to report crime when they are away from a landline phone. People could also use these phones like those “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” services. · In order to insure that repeat offenders are not let out on the street to repeat their crimes, the enforcement of “Stay Away” orders issued by the U.S. Attorney and local judges needs to be employed more effectively. To reduce the “revolving door of criminals” cycling onto Dupont streets we need to encourage our judges to hold in DC jail frequent and repeat offenders when they are awaiting trial. The Joint Dupont Public Safety Committee has been contacting US Attorneys and judges to implore them to consider the impact on our community when releasing particular suspects on their own recognizance. Please write the Chief Judge of the Superior Court for the District of Columbia, Rufus King, at arking3@dcsc.gov to ask him to implement this policy in all such cases. · An effort to strengthen the DC laws regulating pawnshops was begun in the Joint Dupont Public Safety Committee because MPD believes the laws allow some pawnshops to function as fencing operations for stolen goods. · There have been a couple of reports of a Peeping Tom – pull those curtains! The 3rd District Citizen’s Advisory Council, that reports to the Commander of the 3rd District (Commander McCoy) and to MPD Chief Ramsey needs members. Their next meeting is September 25 at the 3rd District headquarter at 7:00pm. Included in the agenda will be the development of plans to hold an election of officers. We are pleased to report that due to lots of neighborhood participation and lots of good work by the MPD, a major crime problem on Riggs Place, burglars who broke down doors on Riggs and 25 other locations have been arrested. This success is motivating us to try to grow the Neighborhood Watch system that helped stop this crime spree to all of Dupont. |