Thursday, August 31, 2006

A Message From Marc Borbely's Campaign

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August 30, 2006

Dear Supporters,

Thank you for helping to put me on the November 7 ballot. We were able to submit 654 nominating signatures to the Board of Elections and Ethics today. That's more than three times the 200 we needed to get on the ballot. That's also at least 654 conversations we've already had with voters.

A very special thanks to Jacqueline Aamot, Philip Blair, Raymond Blanks, Wanda Butler, Ann Caton, Wendy Cromartie, Jenefer Ellingston, Neil Glick, Michelle Grifka, Mfon Ibangha, Sally Murray James, Libo Liu, Gladys Mack, Lea Mesner, Mindy Mitchell, Carolyn Petti, Pamella Shaw, Mary Spencer, Celeste Valente, Eugenia White, Mary Williams, Patricia Wrightson and Dana Wyckoff for collecting signatures. Thank you.

Thank you to everyone else for making donations (228 of us have made donations so far!) and for getting out as many of our yard signs as possible, and for talking to your friends about our campaign.

Please come to our first Campaign Pancake Breakfast (yummm), this Saturday morning, from 9-11 a.m. Jenefer Ellingston has graciously offered her home for this Breakfast. She is at 641 Maryland Ave. NE, near 7th & D. Please RSVP to Tammi Cioffi (my wife), at cioffit@verizon.net. If you're a pancake chef, please let her know how many pancakes you can bring, too.

I hope you'll come on Saturday. We're now entering Phase II of our campaign: Building a Movement. We'll be laying out our strategy and making plans for the next several weeks. Everyone will help in a unique way. We truly need your help.

all the best!


- Marc
202-557-1083 (c)

Development in the 600 Block of H Street

The following info was compiled and typed up by local resident David Klavitter (Quest for Quiet blog). These are also his photos (all rights reserved), don't violate his copyright. Thanks David, for sending me this!
***************************************

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* Informational meeting held Aug. 30 re: the proposed development at 601-645 H Street NE, held at the Calvary Baptist Church, 820 6th Street NE.

* Project Presenters were:
Norman M. Glasgow, Jr. with Holland + Knight (www.hklaw.com)
Robert Atkinson with Davis Carter Scott (www.dcsdesign.com)

Klav1
*Overview site plan for the 600 block of H Street NE. H Street is to the north (bottom), 7th Street is to the east (left), G Street is to the south (top) and 6th Street is to the west (right).
The existing five-story buildings are in the lower-left and lower right corner of the block.
The dark-gray shading--which fronts H Street--indicates the nine-story condo/retail/office section. The medium gray shading represents five-story condo section. Row houses on 7th,
G, and 6th Streets abut the project on the east, south, and west.

Klav 2
* Several other views. You can see the five story condo section that would face the alley
behind the rowhouses on G Street.

* It’s a two-year project; best-case scenario, construction could start in about a year.

* Market project, which means no public finance incentives, hence no low-income housing requirements.

Klav 3
* They look forward to contributing toward the funding of a BID (business improvement district—friendly people in uniform who provide directions and keep the streets and
sidewalks clean): Photo of front of H Street.

* The 234 residential units could be sold as condos or rented as apartments. The developers won’t decide to sell or rent until they can gauge the market closer to the project’s completion.

* The project will be addressed during the ANC6C Zoning meeting on Sept. 6, and then again
at the full ANC6C meeting on Sept. 13. Both meetings start at 7 p.m. at the Mt. Carmel
Church, 901 3rd St NW in Washington (www.anc6c.org).
*************************************
Also see Richard's related post.

New Fall Schedule for Bikram Yoga Capital Hill

NEW FALL SCHEDULE:
The new, expanded schedule begins Tuesday, September 5th. The schedule will be as follows -
Mondays and Wednesdays - 6:15 am, 6 pm, 8 pm
Tuesdays and Thursdays - 12:00 pm, 6 pm, 8 pm
Fridays - 6:15 am, 6 pm
Saturdays and Sundays - 10 am, 4 pm

If you plan on practicing regularly, you may be interested in purchasing one of the GRAND OPENING SPECIALS:

6 months for $550 (reduced from $650)
12 months for $1,000 (reduced from $1,200)

These specials will be offered through SEPTEMBER 30th. Packages can be purchased at the studio or online at www.BikramYogaCapitolHill.com.

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

A New Place For Olives?

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Caribbean Crescent (1280 5th Street), in the Capital City Market, recently began stocking a nice selection of olives at very attractive prices. 8 different varieties are pictured here. The store also stocks many other interesting items (including a nice selection of lentils & chick peas), and the focus, despite the name, seems to be decidely more Middle Eastern.

Meeting Re: Development in 600 Blk of H

I just received notice of this meeting regarding the big government building on the south side of the 600 block of H Street (the one housing the Dept. of Employment Services):

When: 6-8pm Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2006
Where: Calvary Episcopal Church, 820 6th St NE, Parrish Hall Meeting Room

“You are invited to a community meeting sponsored by Commissioner Anthony Rivera of ANC6C to receive information and discuss Board of Zoning Adjustment Case 17521, an application filed by 601-645 H Street Ventures LLC for variance and special exception to allow construction of a new mixed-use (residential and commercial) building at 601-645 H Street NE.”

“Representatives of the applicant will be present at Wednesday’s meeting to provide information and answer questions about the proposed development.”

“The property that is the subject of this application consists of Lot 177 in Square 859 and is currently occupied by D.C. government offices.”

The applicant proposes to construct a mixed-use residential and commercial development on the property. The project is designed as a nine-story mixed-use section of the building fronting H Street in the C-2-C zone and steps down to a five-story residential section at the south side of the property in the C-2-A zoned portion of the site.

“The residential condominium will include over 312,000 square feet of gross area and 234 residential units. Three levels of parking below grade will provide approximately 500 parking spaces for office, retail and condominium units. Nearly 8,700 square feet of first floor retail space provides opportunities for retail businesses to have direct access to the pedestrian activity on H Street.”

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Cropp Meet & Greet @R&B Coffee

Another political event on H Street:

DESIGN BY E.STUDIOS
Powered by The Usual Suspectz

DESIGN BY E.STUDIOS

Meet and Greet with the Honorable
Linda Cropp

THE PLACE:
R & B Coffee (www.rnbcoffee.com) ~ 1359 H St., NE , D.C.

THE DATE:
Wednesday, August 30, 2006

THE TIME:
6:30pm til 8:30pm

A bit about R & B Coffee: R & B is an oasis, a lunchtime retreat, and a meeting place. Serving its customers great coffee, espresso drinks, juices, fresh baked pastries, and sandwiches makes R & B the place to be on the H corridor.

DESIGN BY E.STUDIOS
DESIGN BY E.STUDIOS
DESIGN DESIGN

Fallout Shelter

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Near the Florida Market.

Ward 5 Council Candidates Affordable Housing Forum

Here's the announcement for another candidate forum:

PREMIER COMMUNITY

DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

PRESENTS A

WARD 5 COUNCIL CANDIDATES FORUM

ON THE ISSUE OF:


AFFORDABLE HOUSING

What is it? -- How to Retain It? -- How do We Build It? “ What About Property Taxes? “What about Gentrification? -- Where Will Teachers and Police Officers Live? -- Where Will My Son, an Entry Level Professional Live? “Will Middle Income People Be Eliminated? -- What Will Happen With Excess School Property? Do We Have Enough Condos? “ Who benefits most from skyrocketing housing costs?

AT GREATER MT. CALVARY FAMILY LIFE CENTER
605 RHODE ISLAND AVENUE, NE
THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2006
6:30 P.M.

FOR INFORMATION, CALL:
Hazel Thomas at 202/491-9245
Or Stephanie Rones at 202) 832-3448

Ward 5 Council Candidates

Check out the profiles from The Common Denominator.

Monday, August 28, 2006

Mike's Thrift Store

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A recent addition to H Street's 1400 block, Mike's most interesting feature is virtually every item in the store is $1 (and I do mean EACH item, so a pair of shoes would be $2). He's got some interesting items. This store replaces Treausre Collections (the yellow building shown above).

H Street @Night

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1200 block

Friday, August 25, 2006

Daily Candy Does Rock & Roll Hotel

Check out the nice things Daily Candy had to say about H Street's newest addition in the post "It's a Hard Rock Life." Rock & Roll Hotel is located at 1353 H Street.

Caribbean Night @ H Street Martini Lounge

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From the listservs:

Hello Neighbors,
Before summer ends, we would like to invite you to "Caribbean Night " at H Street Martini Lounge (1236 H St) on Thursday, August 31st . On this night, we will thank our customers and the community for the continued support we've received on H Street. To show our appreciation, we will have complimentary Island-style appetizers from 6-7pm, door prizes, and a Caribbean Steel Drums performance. There's also drink specials on Tropical and Pineapple Martinis, Ginger Beer, Jamaican Rum Punch, Bermuda's Dark & Stormy cocktails, and more. Join us as we show our gratitude to our Customers and Neighbors by bringing the Caribbean Islands to H Street. Cheers!

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Wash Times on Rock & Roll Hotel

Thanks to Ken for leaving this link to a Washington Times piece on Rock & Roll Hotel in the comments.

DCist: Theater Alliance's Teen Triumph

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Check out this praiseful piece from DCist on Theater Alliance's latest feature 3/4 of a Mass for Saint Vivian. Here's an earlier (also very positive) review in the Post & here's one from the City Paper. See it at H Street Playhouse (1365 H Street) through September 10th. Get your tickets here, or at the ticket office.

Rock & Roll Hotel Grand Opening Tonight!

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Rock & Roll Hotel is located at1353 H Street.
Here are some photos to give you a taste of the space.

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The ticket window from an old post office guards the lobby.

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This fantastic vintage fixture greets you upon entry.

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This is the concert space & downstairs bar. This space will be 18+, but the upstairs will be off limits to anyone under 21 years of age.

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The kitchen is still under construction, but once it is completed it will be the source of food for most of the other DC9/Englert associated places along H Street.

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Even the bathrooms received special attention.
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The upstairs contains a number of theme rooms that will sometimes be open for wandering & will other time be rented out for private parties.
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The main area (immediately above & below) by the upstairs bar is an open area with ample seating & a pool table.
IMG_3501

Not pictured are practice spaces for musicians & a classroom area. Minor construction continues in certain rooms, but you wouldn't know it from the look of the whole place.

Post: Development & the Tipping Point

Here's a Post article that focuses on Ward 6 & the various development going on within the Ward.

Family Day @ The Market

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A boy shows off his game card for a market scavenger hunt.

What: Kaiser Permanente will be back at the FRESHFARM MARKET on H Street NE on Saturday, August 26, with a LIVE stage performance for children about Healthy Eating/Active Living, from Kaiser's Educational Theatre Programs.

Bring the kids for some back-to-school fun and learning. Life-size puppets, prizes, craft-making with fruits and veggies, and more!!

Also, for kids and adults, free health screenings, tips on healthy back-to-school snacks and lunches, and a chance to visit with local farmers and buy fresh locally produced fruits, vegetables, breads, cheeses, meats, and flowers.

When: Market hours are 9am-12pm

10:00am: Puppet Performance

10:30-11:00am: Healthy Back-to-School Snacks with Natasha Soussanin

11:00am: Craft-making & Kids’ Activities

Where: south side of the 600 block of H Street

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Rock & Roll Hotel Opens Tonight!

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Image used with permission. All rights reserved.

The Rock & Roll Hotel, located at 1353 H Street, will open its doors to the public for the first time tonight. Tonight will be the soft opening. The Grand Opening is set for tomorrow night. The Hotel is primarily meant to be a performance space for live music (somewhat like a smaller version of today's 9:30 Club), but will feature some dj nights. Two other notable features of the Hotel are rehearsal space & theme rooms that you can rent out for parties.

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Tuesday, August 22, 2006

WP: Future of DC Public Schools

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The Post has a good article focusing on the charter versus traditional public school debate. You'll notice a familiar name or two (it mentions the current Two Rivers suit). Did you also know that a leader of one of the DC's KIPP Schools lives right here in Trinidad?
While you're thinking about schools, you might want to register for DCPS Beautification Day (this Saturday from 8am-1pm). It's a great chance to spiff up the schools and help the kids feel a little more welcome when they walk through those doors. You can also register by calling Kris Tyler Benjamin at (202)727-0488
or emailing volunteer4schools@k12.dc.us
Trinidad's DSPS elementary is Webb (located on Mt. Olivet Road).


Holy Name (a Catholic school located at 1125 Neal Street) will also have a beautification event on the same day (8am-4pm). If you are interested in volunteering there please call the Christ Child Society at 202-966-9250.

Monday, August 21, 2006

Trinidad & Northeast DC

Here's a report on Trinidad & portions of Northeast DC.

H Street Festival News

From the Festival Committee:

H Street Merchants Association & H Street Main Street present:

The H Street Festival. September 23rd 2006.


Festival Mission:
The focus of the Festival of H Street is the strategic revitalization of the business district of H Street, and the promotion of Arts in DC.


Our Volunteer Needs:

The focus of the Festival on H Street morphs with its growth, and so does the need to efficiently manage the event by using quality volunteers.


This year, the volunteer tasks will be project-based. They will work on event and merchant management, grassroots and traditional marketing, artist research, volunteer recruitment, and festival themes. The process of assigning volunteers to project areas will be managed by querying the volunteer's interest or skill set, and assigning the volunteer to the category that best matches. It is our interest to encourage volunteers through increasing camaraderie among the volunteers, providing
opportunities to network with each other, and insuring that they see positive results from their efforts.


We recognize that the most important quality for working with volunteers is a combination of patience, accountability, clear direction as well as awards and acknowledgement. Our previous volunteering experiences give us a unique position in that we can facilitate our ability to supply direct training, resources, and education on the history of the area and the people in the area.

Our Specific Current Volunteer Needs:

Marketing and Promotions:

We need help with marketing and promotions. This is principally grassroots promotion. We need people that can disseminate flyers in the neighborhood, surrounding areas, and at other festivals occurring between now and our date of September 23rd.

Community Organization Partnership Developer:

We would like to work with as many community organizations and nonprofits that support the area and/or the arts as possible. We realize, however, that there may be organization and or projects that we have not yet learned about. We have a PDF of a media kit that we will send to these community organizations, as well as stock email that can be used for the initial inquiry (the volunteer can feel free to add
creatively to the stock email or compose their own email), but we need individuals to engage these organizations, develop relationships and insure that we are serving them properly. We would like volunteers that can handle developing relationship with these organizations.

Festival Management:

We are a creative bunch, but are always open for ideas. We want this event to be an event that assists all aspects of the professional arts within D.C. We will have an area that focuses on DC's Literary Artists, and a section that will focus on DC's Visual Artists. As last year, we also have a focus on music and dance and there will be event management opportunities within those arenas. In addition, we will focus on DC's fashion scene as an extension of its arts.

Finally, we need people to provide information for festival attendees, manage vendors and assisting with stage management. We are interested in hearing from people that would like to help as soon as possible.

If you would like to volunteer to assist with this event, please send an email to Kwasi@festivalonh.org Please inform of us of any special skills, or interest that you may have.

Got The Blues?

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Joe Cole Fitness Center. 1200 block of Morse.

Story on Great Streets & H Street

See it here.

Friday, August 18, 2006

Weekend Events

H Street Farmers Market
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The H Street Farmfresh Market offers a terrific opportunity to purchase fresh, fruits, vegetables, breads, meats, cheeses, flowers & more directly from the producers. See photos of the farms & learn more about the available varieties of locally grown produce. Don't miss Kaiser Family Day with a live puppet show at the market next Saturday!
*Gleaning Partner this week is the House of Ruth*

When: Saturdays from 9am-12pm
Where: middle of the southside of the 600 block of H Street

PSA 504 Meeting
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PSA (police service area) 504 Meeting
When: 10am Saturday
Where: 1000 Mt. Olivet Road (Youth Services Center)

The Argonaut's 1st Anniversary Bash
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Come out & celebrate one year of the neighborhood tavern. See the new lounge space. Try the new menu items. Bring your friends who live outside the neighborhood (they can use the courtesy shuttle to get back to Union Station).
When: Saturday night
Where: 1433 H Street

Sword Swallowing @Palace of Wonders
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Charon Henning
1/12 of all female sword swallowers in the world!
When: Saturday. show starts at 8pm (doors o[pen 7pm) $8 cover
Where: 1210 H Street

2 Shows @The Red & The Black
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08/18 Lazlo Hollyfeld Cavalier King $8

08/19 American Sinner Ambitious Orchestra $8

The Music of Stephen Schwartz @H Street Playhouse
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The Washington Blade picked it as a best bet for the week. Here's what the Theater Alliance homepage says:
In addition to all your favorites including Pippin, Wicked and Godspell, this brand new revue will feature new songs written by Stephen Schwartz specifically for this project.

Buy tickets ($15) here.
When: Saturday 8pm

Thursday, August 17, 2006

Argonaut Brunch Menu

For any interested parties...

THE ARGONAUT TAVERN
Brunch Menu

Argonaut Drinks

Red Eye----------Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum & Argonaut's Bloody Mary Mix
Bloody Mary----Your choice of vodka & Argonaut's Bloody Mary Mix
Mimosa--------- The best mimosa a pirate can drink!
Juices------------Orange, Cranberry, Pineapple or Grapefruit Juice
Coffee------------Regular or Decaf
Tea---------------Hot or Iced

Arrr Eggs & Things

Served with fried potatoes and your choice of toasted honey wheat, sourdough, multigrain, English muffin

*Substitute egg whites for $1.00*

Eggs Any Style $8.00--------------------------------2 eggs served your way

French Toast $8.00----------------------------------Served with fruit compote & maple syrup

Mount Gay Rum Baked Omlette $9.00------------Sweet red peppers, chopped onions, cheddar & jack cheese

Argo M.Y.O. Omlette $8.00------------------------Choose two ingredients: bacon, sausage, ham, red or green peppers, red onions, spinach, tomato, zucchini, cheddar, jack, swiss, fontina, bleu, or American cheese, Additional ingredients adde $0.50 each

Arrr Sides


Cheese Grits $3.50-------------------------------------North Carolina style yellow grits made with sweet cream mascarpone cheese

Fried Potatoes $3.50----------------------------------As good as your grandma's fried potatoes


Seasonal Fruit Salad $3.50

Sausage Links $3.00

Canadian Bacon $3.00

Toast $1.50---------------------------------------------Honey wheat, sourdough, multigrain,
English muffin

*An 18% gratuity will be added to parties of 6 or more*

PSA 504 Meeting Saturday

Montello Deli
What: a Police Service Area meeting for PSA 504 (includes all of Trinidad)
Where: 1000 Mt. Olivet Road (Youth Services Center)
When: 10am Saturday August 19th

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Argonaut's B-Day in the Post

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The Argonaut (1433 H Street) made the Post's Nightlife Agenda for its 1st birthday celebration this upcoming Saturday. If you still haven't been to the Argonaut, now is a great chance to check out the pirate themed tavern (which offers a full menu). If you've been, but not recently, this is your big chance to check out the newly opened upstairs lounge. The lounge features a bar covered with old trunks (for the complete buccaneer vibe), a foosball table & two dartboards. The feel of the upstairs also differs greatly from the downstairs because in place of the big screen tv sit windows (sans bars) that look out on the site of the starburst intersection at 15th & Maryland (a more interesting view at night than one expects).

Rebuilding Place: Looking Back

Rebuilding Place has a great post looking back on the controversey over the past year and a half regarding new restaurant/taverns/bars with liquor licenses on H Street.

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Reaching For The Freshest

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A customer at the H Street Farmers Market prepares to choose some produce on a recent Saturday.

New Free Pre-K Program in Trinidad

The announcement:

New Pre-K Class Opening:
The Catholic Community Services Model Cities Child Development Program would like to announce a new Free Pre-K Program for all 4 year olds with residency in the District of Columbia. Model Cities Child Development Program is a NAEYC accredited center, with highly qualified staff and is opened from 7:00 am-6pm Monday through Friday and is located in North East Washington. This new Pre-K program is funded by the Pre-K Initiative of the District of Columbia Public Schools. The program will be staffed by DCPS, follow DCPS Pre-K curriculum, and will fulfill the requirements of DCPS Pre-K. This class will operate from 8:40 - 3:15 PM. Meals are included. Before and after care will be available at an additional charge. Guardians are welcomed to register all children; however the following restrictions do apply:
· Children must turn 4 years old by December 31, 2006
· Children must live in the District of Columbia
· First come, first served basis

If you are interested in registering your child, please call 202-396-8100.
If further information is needed:

Sharon Hall-Fleming
CCS Model Cities
1125 Neal Street NE
Washington DC 20002
Ph 202-396-8100
Fax 202-3961307
hall-flemings@catholiccharitiesdc.org.

Larger Structural Issues & The Council Member's Role

The following recently appeared in the comments following a the posted announcement of an HSMS Design Committee meeting:

Anonymous said...

The previous commenter is correct to say that we need to demand more from the next council member. However, we also need to demand more from the Main Street, REstore DC, and the CDC.

HSMS is poorly run and it has little progress to show for itself. Recently, the organization missed some terrific opportunities. Why did it cancel the contract with Ready Willing and Able to clean the streets? Why was it unwilling to support a BID with Capitol Hill BID?

REstore DC, the government agency that's supposed to help HSMS, is just a waste. Their assistance consists mostly of hectoring and paperwork. They're untrustworthy and unprofessional. They make the work of HSMS even more difficult.

The CDC is both corrupt (the Post had a story several years ago) and responsible for most of the bad development on the corridor (Autozone, for example). Their skills are poor; their interests are parochial; they're not very trustworthy.

So here's what we need to demand from Tommy or whoever wins the election:

1. Demand a financial audit of HSMS and the CDC;

2. Pressure HSMS to follow its bylaws, including getting a new HSMS board chair and getting rid of board members in long standing who don't do anything.

3. Focus on REstore DC and make them provide useful assistance to HSMS and other Main Streets. This should include real money. It should also include some assistance on stuff like secretarial work and financial paperwork.

4. Don't give the CDC another dime. Make sure they've stopped self dealing and engaging in financial deals that enrich board members and staff.

5. Understand that the H Street Corridor has been underfunded and ignored for about 40 years. The private and public sectors have failed until recently. The nonprofit sectors -- the CDC and HSMS -- have a role to play but they can do better.

6. Support the city agencies that are doing great work. Planning and DDOT are really wonderful. They've engaged the neighbors and listened to our concerns. They deserve our deep and heartfelt gratitude.

Nobody's got the secret answer on how to get this work done. But for the first time in a very, very long time we can see very serious and exciting progress. To continue this progress, the next ward 6 councilman needs to provide constant oversight and attention to the H Street Corridor.

-H Street resident

1:48 PM

Since the above clearly represents the opinions of one commenter (opinions that I may, or may not, share), I'll not elaborate on that point further. The reason I'm posting this on the front page is that helps to give a good bare bones illustration of some of the obstacles (or at least the common perceptions of obstacles) the corridor continues to face. Additionally, the comment asks us all to consider what sort of actions we need from the new Ward 6 Council Member (which should give rise to some good pre-election questions for the candidates). So, if we can refrain from personal attacks & excessive snarkiness (this is a bit more serious than some of the issues we deal with & it also hits on some sore spots for a good many people), I'll ask people to go ahead & comment on the thoughts above. Let's keep it clean.

Friday, August 11, 2006

TIF Funding & H Street Meeting

Reposted from the listserv (emphasis added on the portion in blue):


When: Tuesday, September 12, 2006 6:00 PM-8:00 PM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).
Where: Atlas Performing Arts Center

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

PURPOSE:
TO DISCUSS PRIORITIZATION OF TAX INCREMENT FINANCING (TIF) SPENDING ON THE H STREET NE GREAT STREETS CORRIDOR WHEN A PROPOSED NEIGHBORHOOD TIF DISTRICTS IS APPROVED AND FUNDED. TIF IS A WIDELY USED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOL CREATED TO PROVIDE A FINANCIAL INCENTIVE TO PROPERTY OWNERS/DEVELOPERS COMMITTED TO CREATING MORE HOUSING AND RETAIL OPPORTUNITIES IN ELIGIBLE AREAS.

TARGETED AUDIENCE:
H STREET NE PROPERTY AND BUSINESS OWNERS, ANC GROUPS, H STREET NE MAIN STREET, RESIDENTS

LOCATION:
ATLAS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

MORE INFORMATION ON TIF AND HOW IT WORKS:
http://dcbiz.dc.gov/dmped/cwp/view,a,1365,q,603599,dmpedNav,|33028|.asp

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND:
The District Council enacted the Neighborhood Investment Act of 2004 that directed the Mayor to develop a neighborhood investment plan for Neighborhood Investment Program Target Areas. One provision of those plans involved using tax increment financing (TIF) to fund neighborhood improvements and private reinvestment in the targeted areas. The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) commissioned the team of Bay Area Economics, Retail Compass, LLC and Stanmore Associates to analyze the opportunities initially in four business districts:

  • Georgia Avenue - Petworth from Kenyon Street to Upshur Street, NW;
  • H Street, NE from 2nd to 17th Street, NE;
  • Martin Luther King (MLK), Jr. Avenue in three segments starting from Good Hope Road on the north and reaching Waclark Street, SE on the south; and
  • the Shaw neighborhood from O Street to Barry Place and from 11th to 5th Street, NW.

This analysis encompasses:

  • detailed assessment of retail market demand and supply;
  • identification and evaluation of potential retail redevelopment sites;
  • recommendation of specific retail developments that will meet neighborhood needs, reduce outflow of consumer dollars and support neighborhood business district revitalization;
  • calculation of the potential tax increment financing revenues; and
  • strategy recommendations on public investments to support retail revitalization.

Tax Increment Financing

TIF involves earmarking the new real property and sales taxes generated by business district revitalization to pay for the public and private investments that make that redevelopment possible. A key tool for public/private partnerships, tax increment financing allows the District to pledge future tax revenues - revenues not already committed to meeting citywide operational needs or debt service - to support infrastructure and public space improvements as well as provide incentives to private developers investing in key redevelopment projects.

For each targeted area, the District defines a tax increment district from which incremental revenues are collected and within which tax increment dollars can be spent to support redevelopment. The level of sales taxes and value of real property are "frozen" at the time that the TIF district is formed. This base of current sales taxes and the real property taxes generated by the current property values continues to flow to the General Fund and is not affected by the creation of the TIF district. Once the TIF district is formed, the future increases in sales taxes and the real property taxes generated by the future growth in property values are termed "incremental" taxes. These incremental taxes are directed to a designated TIF revenue fund separate from the District's General Fund. The District can then spend those dollars on revenue bonds issued to finance redevelopment projects. These revenue bonds are secured by only the tax increment revenues and do not represent an obligation on the District's General Fund. Thus, the neighborhood business district redevelopment is self-funding with the revitalization creating higher sales taxes and property values.

TIF as a Revitalization Tool

TIF can fund several alternative and/or complementary strategies to encourage revitalization of the targeted neighborhoods. Some rely on public sector investment in traditional infrastructure improvements. TIF financing could supplement capital budget funding for street reconstruction, streetscape and other public space improvements. TIF has the advantage of greater flexibility than many public investment programs; it can be used for direct investment in private redevelopment projects as well.

Potential strategies suitable for TIF funding include:

  • streets, streetscape, sidewalk and signage improvements;
  • other public space improvements (e.g., plazas, public art);
  • catalyst cultural/arts projects;
  • station area improvements for new Light Rail Transit (LRT) lines;
  • joint off-street parking facilities to support merchants in historic and other storefronts without sufficient parking;
  • off-street parking facilities to replace on-street parking that might be displaced by LRT improvements;
  • financial assistance to developers building structured parking;
  • site assembly and business relocations to create developable parcels at key locations;
  • technical assistance to area retailers;
  • business loans and grants for building rehabilitation, façade improvements and/or building fit-out;
  • utility connections from mains in the street to individual buildings (important to complete before streetscape investments improve area sidewalks);
  • pedestrian links to the Anacostia waterfront and other amenities;
  • subsidies to support development of mixed-income and affordable housing;
  • conversion of obsolete retail space to other uses; and
  • incentives to attract supermarkets, anchor stores and other key retailers.

NOTE

STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALREADY BUDGETED FOR H STREET NE THROUGH DDOT GREAT STREETS FUNDING SOURCES. THE CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE FOR THOSE STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS DOES NOT HINGE UPON THE AVAILABILITY OF TIF AND THOSE IMPROVEMENTS WILL BEGIN PER THE SCHEDULE PROVIDED BY DDOT GREAT STREETS STAFF.

CONTACT

DERRICK LANARDO WOODY
COORDINATOR - GREAT STREETS INITIATIVE
OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY MAYOR FOR PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
1350 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE NW
SUITE 317
WASHINGTON, DC 20004
Email: derrick.woody@dc.gov
Phone: 202.727.2981 (direct)
Fax: 202.727.6703

The Atlas Marquee

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I've got a newer shot where they have been replacing the old parts, the metal running along the bottom(removed in this photo), with new parts. But we're getting pretty close here & it isn't too hard to tell how the end result will look.

HSMS Design Committee Meeting

A message from HSMS (the best way to learn about any organization is to attend a few meetings):

The H Street Main Street Design Committee will be meeting Monday August 14, 2006. Please come out to learn more about the facade improvement projects and upcoming events.

The Design Committee has a new chair Ms. Delicia Karim. Hope everyone can come out to meet her. She is a great addition to the H Street Main Street Board of Directors.

Below is the meeting agenda for 7pm Monday August 14,2006. The meeting will be held at HSMS offices at 961 H Street, NE in the old Bank of America location.

Hope to see you all there!
H Street Main Street


Agenda:

1. DHCD Façade Project
2. Dreyfus Façade Project
3. On-going events/project update
4. New Business

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Argonaut 2nd Floor Lounge Friday & Anniversary Saturday

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The Argonaut will open its 2nd floor (loungier with lots of windows & a dart board in the back) to the general public on Friday. The opening comes just in time for the Argo's 1st anniversary party (Saturday Aug 19th). 1453 H Street.

Post: More on Shooting @ Market Lounge

The Post has this more detailed report on the fracas that left three injured following a go-go concert organized for teens.

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Comment Policy?

I'm seriously toying with the idea of implementing some kind of comment policy that would require people to identify themselves in some manner (a name, a handle, initials,..something). What do people think? This is common practice with some blogs that have a very strict no anonymous comment policy.

Essex Mugs It Up

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Essex, a Queen Street resident, enjoys the day while his owners shop at a recent garage sale held to raise funds for the Trinidad-Ivy City Garden Club.

Rock & Roll Hotel Opening August 24th

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Here's the Wooly Mammoth the line-up for the first show:
Owls and Crows
Kouhetek
Kiss and Ride

This is a Wooly Mammoth record release party with a $10 cover.
1353 H Street

3 Injured in Shooting Outside Florida Market Club

The shooting apparently followed a concert for teens.

There Goes The 'Hood

Check out this audio piece about a new book on gentrification in NYC. Follow the same link (don't worry, the audio won't start streaming automatically) to read an excerpt from the book named above.

Monday, August 07, 2006

The Mid-Day Break

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The Ohio Restaurant (1300 block of H Street).