12/11/03: [78]
WP says old Benetton space south of circle will become a
doughnut shop, with "probably one of the highest rents
in the city." See "Krispy Kreme Plans To Open D.C.
Store: Shop Will Be in Dupont Circle,"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A14499-2003Nov25.html
WBJ says Quizno's Subs will open in former Burrito
Brothers space at 1718 Conn Ave in March, and that it's
the highest rent they're paying in this market. See
"Brazil: Smoke, eat ... and drive safe,"
http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2003/12/08/tidbits1.html
WBJ has scoop on Komi, at 1509 17th St. See page 2 of
"Retail & Restaurants,"
http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2003/12/01/newscolumn5.html
WP profiles citizen who monitors "Grease Alley," east
of 17th St between Church and P. See "Retiree Fires
Missives to Rid Area of Rodents: Weekly E-Mails to
Officials Note Rat Sightings, Holes And Health Code
Violations,"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A42526-2003Dec7.html
WP story mentions obscure plaque north of P St Bridge
marking crossing of French soldiers to help the
Continental Army in Yorktown. See "Historic Byways,
Hidden in Our Midst: Local Ties to World-Shaping
Events Leave Few Traces,"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53090-2003Dec10.html
WEG discusses future of block between L & M and 23rd &
24th. See "Last Superproject in the West End:
Rezoning, Developing Square 37?,"
http://www.westendguide.us/37SQ1203.htm
See "26th Street Now Goes Two Ways; M Street May Be
Two Ways, Too,"
http://www.westendguide.us/Twoway1203.htm
WBJ covers ADA lawsuit over narrow width of G-town's
sidewalks. See "Complaint: Nightmare on M Street,"
http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2003/12/08/story6.html
WBJ says an upscale eatery will open by the Madison
Hotel. See "Palette to color corner of 15th and M
streets in January,"
http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2003/12/08/newscolumn5.html
Adams Morgan indie record shop DCCD is closing.
Josh Gibson has more info on Harris Teeter and other
ANC1C news; see [1] below.
WP covers debate over scale of Tenleytown development.
See "Upper NW Growth Provokes Hot Debate: Wisconsin
Ave. Study Backs Taller Buildings,"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53059-2003Dec10.html
See also
http://planning.dc.gov/news_room/2003/november/11_19_03.shtm
WP says 800-seat theater at 6th & F will open in 2007.
See "Arts Center Planned for Downtown: Shakespeare
Theatre Raises the Curtain on $77 Million Expansion,"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33197-2003Dec3.html
See "City to Unveil Ambitious Plan To Renew Anacostia
Waterfront,"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29672-2003Dec2.html
See "Turning Back to the Humble Bus: Potential for
Improving Transit at a Low Cost Is Better Than
Rail's,"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11555-2003Nov24.html
See "Dulles Metrorail Financing Plan Fails: Herndon
Council Vetoes Tax District,"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29790-2003Dec2.html
See also "Trying to Stay on Track: Officials in Va.
Struggle to Fund Dulles Rail Plan,"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50997-2003Dec9.html
WP covers new "Second Wind" program at Visions. See
"Second-Run Films, First-Rate Prices,"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17572-2003Nov27.html
Don't forget our local shops for Christmas shopping!
See "Winter WanderLand on 14th & U,"
http://www.14thandu.org/
Tonight, Dec 11: The president of Harris Teeter is
flying into DC just to discuss plans for 17th &
Kalorama site. See [2] below.
Friday, December 12: Christmas Candlelight Tour at
the Brewmaster's Castle (Heurich House). $5, 5:30.
See [3] below.
Sunday, December 14: "Christmas in South Park" and
"South Park: Winter Wonderland" at Visions. 8:00. See
http://www.visionsdc.com/dyno/filmdetail.asp?filmID=253
December 14: Rock-N-Shop at the Black Cat; rock-n-roll
garage sale, 8:30.
Sunday, December 21: Lobster Boy Review - Christmas
Special, Madam's Organ. See http://www.lobsterboy.net/
Best regards,
Michæl
------------------------------------------------------
[1] [from joshgibson@alumni.ksg.harvard.edu]
[abridged]
[To subscribe to the ANC1C listserv, send a blank
e-mail to adamsmorgan-subscribe@yahoogroups.com]
4.) DORCHESTER EXPANSION
The Dorchester, as you likely know, is the giant
apartment building located on 16th Street between
Kalorama Road and Euclid Street. It has long been
rumored that the owners of the building planned to
build a new wing to the building on the site of their
current parking lot. Well, now it's official--the
Gewirz family, which I believe actually built the
original Dorchester building, has filed the initial
paperwork for a new Dorchester wing. The current
Dorchester building contains 395 units, mainly one
bedrooms and efficiencies. Due to rent control,
approximately fifteen percent of the units in the
current building qualify as affordable housing. The
current parking lot includes 120 parking spaces. The
new building as proposed will contain 141 units,
mainly 2-3 bedroom apartments with dens, and a 306-car
garage. The pedestrian entrance for the new building
will be on 17th Street, the garage entrance for the
new units will also be on 17th Street, and the garage
entrance for the old units will be on Kalorama Road.
5.) HARRIS TEETER SUPERMARKET COMING?
As if we didn't already have enough excitement going
on, it turns out that the Harris Teeter supermarket
chain (www.harristeeter.com) is planning to open a
grocery store in the "Citadel" building/former roller
rink located at the corner of 17th and Kalorama Roads.
(Coincidentally, this building is entirely surrounded
on two sides by...the Dorchester parking lot/expansion
site.) As designed, the pedestrian entrance for the
supermarket will be on Kalorama Road, and the loading
zone for the building will be on 17th Street. They
plan no work on the outside of the building other than
painting and landscaping, so virtually all planned
construction will take place inside the buiilding
(meaning, hopefully, that other than the delivery of
equipment and supplies, there should be little
disruption on the neighboring streets during
construction). If everything goes their way, they
plan to open in the summer of 2005.
I think that this project, though not without
complications, can be a big win for our neighborhood.
Having a brand new, state of the art, high-end
supermarket within easy walking distance of all of us
is a plus. Is this where I'd optimally put it in the
neighborhood? No. But, unless Safeway packs up and
moves out, I can't imagine where else in the
neighborhood it logistically could go. The biggest
problems I see with this supermarket are parking and
deliveries. Parking-wise, the existing parking
located in the building will remain, and will be
available to their customers. And I hope/assume that
most folks from the neighborhood will walk to the
market. However, clearly at least some people will
drive to the site, and not all of them will be able to
park in the garage. We need to keep that in mind.
Deliveries will be a thornier issue. As we know from
the Safeway, grocery stores require freqent and
extensive deliveries.
The good news is that it appears that the Harris
Teeter company has reached out to the community early,
and seems very willing to adjust to our requests and
needs. A few days ago, I took part in a conference
call with HT's local attorney and what I had earlier
heard would be "a Harris Teeter representative," but
who turned out to be Fred Morganthall, the CEO of the
entire multistate Harris Teeter company. He stated
that the company is willing to "do whatever it takes"
to fit into the community. For instance, he suggested
that the company could invest in smaller delivery
trucks to avoid the spectacle and inconvenience of 18-
wheelers on 17th Street. He also said that deliveries
could be scheduled at whatever time works best for the
community (overnight, which minimizes traffic issues
but creates noise problems), at mid-day (between rush
hours, when most folks are at work), etc.
By and large, the community is in the driver's seat
for this project. In order to build this project, HT
requires a zoning exception, since the roller rink
building lies in the "Reed Cooke Overlay," a special
zoning district. Additionally, HT supermarkets sell
wine, so they are seeking to have the liquor license
formerly associated with "Family Liquors" (the corner
store formerly located at Champlain and Kalorama)
transferred to the roller rink. The ANC will be able
to lend its "great weight" on both of these issues
sometime in 2004, so your opinion really does count.
It is a good sign that HT is reaching out to the
community this early for input, so we should be sure
to tell them what we think. As indicated above, an HT
representative will be at our December 11 PZT meeting,
so please come out, hear from them, and voice your
support/concerns/whatever.
7.) OTHER DEVELOPMENT UPDATES
Adams Investment, the developer of the Colortone
Building (in the alley between Euclid, 17th, Kalorama,
and Ontario) let me know that after a six-month delay
due to complications involving the DC government and
the utility companies, he has finally begun demolition
and underpinning of the current structure. This
building was approved months ago for development as a
residential building. It's an odd site for residential
development, but the building should go a long way
towards revitalizing the extensive alley space where
it is located.
------------------------------------------------------
[2] [from joshgibson@alumni.ksg.harvard.edu]
Just a reminder that TONIGHT (Thursday, December 11)
at 8PM at the Third District Police Headquarters at
1620 V Street, the ANC Planning, Zoning, and
Transportation Committee will be holding an important
meeting to give us a first look at two big projects
planned for the neighborhood:
1.) A Harris Teeter supermarket at the corner of 17th
and Kalorama, in the old roller rink building. JUST
ANNOUNCED: The President of Harris Teeter is flying
into DC just to attend this meeting. So please come
out and hear all about this project. I think it's
very exciting, but we definitely need to work out some
logistical details first.
2.) The Dorchester Apartments are seeking to build an
expansion on the site of their current parking lot at
17th and Kalorama. Most folks are happy to see the old
parking lot go, but also are concerned by the proposed
80 foot height of the new building. Come out and hear
from the building's owner tonight at our meeting.
I hope to see you tonight!
Josh
------------------------------------------------------
[3]
You are invited to come to The Brewmaster's Castle
(Christian Heurich House Museum's)
Christmas Candlelight Tours:
Friday, December 12, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
The charge is $5.00 per person. Refreshments will be
served.
For more information, call 202- 429-1894 or e-mail
info@HeurichHouse.org. RSVP not necessary.
The Heurich Mansion is the country's most intact late-
Victorian house, and Washington's first fireproof
home. It was built of poured concrete and reinforced
steel in 1892-1894 by Christian Heurich, and is
located just off Dupont Circle.
1307 New Hampshire Ave. NW - Metro: Dupont Circle
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