Monday, October 26, 2009

WP/Urban Turf: H Street

This article on H Street (with neighborhood boundaries) is part of a new venture between the Washington Post and Urban Turf that will cover local real estate. I think the article is good overall, but there are a couple of errors in the section where I was interviewed. I already talked to the author and he has promised to get them fixed. To be fair, the interview was over the phone, and there was background noise. Here they are the mistakes and corrections so they don't bug me:

1. I moved here in 2001, not 2003. The article makes it sound like I moved to a neighborhood and pretty much started blogging about it immediately...NOT TRUE. 

And yes, I am from Oklahoma. This means that every reporter from now until dooms day will introduce me by calling me an Oklahoma native. True, but I haven't lived there in 13 years guys. Not that there's anything wrong with Oklahoma. I just think this is an odd tick that reporters seem to have. It's kind of like the way the Post is constantly using the very "snarl" constantly to talk about traffic. 

2. That Craiglist thing? Happened back in 2004, so, not really so "recent" actually. This actually makes more sense if you realize it's a story from 5 years ago.

22 comments:

Rebecca said...

any idea what this new venture between the post and urban turf is? related to real estate on H or DC real estate in general?

El Jefe said...

Pretty good on the whole but I take issue with the claim that the neighborhood does not have a metro station.

While it might be a mile from the Argonaut to either station, Sidamo (which is absolutely a part of the H Street Corridor) is about 5 or 6 blocks from either station. One could even argue that it's technically 3 blocks from the Union Station platform if you go in via the bridge.

Kenny G said...

>> In an earlier post, Liz said...

>> does anyone know a real estate
>> agent experienced in selling in
>> the H St/Atlas area?

Jason Townsend
RE/MAX
202-415-7400
jason[at]realestateindc.com

Unknown said...

And the Atlas was nowhere close to opening in 2001. We opened the first part of the building (dance studios and Lab Theatres) in 2005 and had our Gran Opening in 2006...Three years ago next week!

Anonymous said...

Very comprehensive piece. According to the Atlas Performing Arts Center website, the Center was created in 2001, which is essentially what the article is saying.

--Bill T.

Anonymous said...

El Jefe -
I think that arguing that any part of H Street where people want to go is 3 blocks from Union Station is a REAL STRETCH! From the rear exit of Union Station (at the bridge) but it's 3.5 blocks-- but those are 3 long blocks that are really pretty seedy. I would bet that most people would never know how to get to the bridge from the metro in the first place. (and if you do know how to do it, the bridge exit is not exactly "close" to the metro platform. Plus, once you're at Sidamo, the next closest desirable place to go (besides yoga and fitness together) is 7 LONG blocks away. I just don't think that there's much of an argument for saying that H Street is "close" to a metro by any real sense of the word "close". Nobody who wants to go out on H Street is going to consider walking from US a real option. This is why they have the Chinatown shuttle and why we're getting streetcars. Just my 2 cents.

npm said...

I thought the article gave the incorrect impression that this was a total wasteland until 5 or 10 years ago. It gives no indication that anyone lived, worked, or shopped in the area between the '68 riots and 2000.

"Only in the past few years have many of the storefronts that stood vacant for decades come back to life." Yes, it's true that there were and still are many vacant storefronts, but readers who aren't familiar with the area might think that there was nothing BUT vacant storefronts.

"...a number of establishments considered local landmarks are still alive and well." I figured that would be followed be a mention of stores like Horace and Dickie's or Smokey's barbershop. But no, the "landmarks" are the Argonaut and Atlas. Wonderful places, but they are not landmarks, but part of the beginning of the current renaissance.

Finally, "the commercial corridor extends for only about five blocks along H Street." Yes, the density drops off as you go west, but the corridor is commercial right up to the liquor store on the corner of 3rd and H.

neo said...

Did anyone notice that Souk has opened?

el jefe said...

anonymous 4:35-

if the author had said "anywhere on H street that people want to be" doesn't have metro access, I would be ok with that. But in a story on the whole neighborhood (after making mention of the building where Tony Williams lives) to say "the neighborhood does not have a metro station" strikes me as inaccurate.

Anonymous said...

neo -- has it opened? Really? Anyone know the hours?

Anonymous said...

No reasonable person could claim that the H Street area is close to Metro. Sorry.

What strikes me as disingenuous is to use trash laying in the street as an example of being "rough around the edges."

I would probably go with the guy laying in the street who was shot a few weeks ago as an example of being rough around the edges.

Dave B said...

Can someone please tell me how to get to this rear exit from Union Station?

Walking on H, I see the part where taxis go, is it there?

I wandered around in Union Station once and got out to the garage, but gave up.

I'm thinking it might save some steps compared to going down around F near Ebeneezer's

Anonymous said...

I have lived in the area for 10 years and witness the transformation,right before my eyes.Most people attribute the wave of gentrification is the H street corridor.I agree, H street has played a big part with this change.However, we can't forget to include the Noma section of the neighborhood with all the new high rises, Harris Teeters Grocery, new residential units coming on board, and The New York Ave. Metro.Its a unique collaboration of new energy,people,new home owners,bars,resturants,and sense of community pride (old and new home owners) that makes this a great place to live and grow.I cant wait to see what the neighborhood will look like in 5 years....Does anybody have any information on the Stuart Investment Group project on H street that,due to commence 2010 also whats the deal on SOUK,projected opening date ?

5th street

Derek said...

dave b:
My best guess is that you exit into the garage and get to the level that exits onto the bridge. I really do not see that as quicker or this hidden exit that a few people know, but a slightly round-about-means of getting out. It is to me quicker and easier to exit out front of Union Station and than get to H Street.

Anonymous said...

According to this Yelp post, Souk must have opened yesterday.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/souk-washington

lou said...

You go up the small escalator by the Amtrak gates, through glass doors and then up a longer escalator, walk through the garage by the Circulator buses and out to the bridge.

Or if you're going to Union station, walk up the bridge and turn in the first entrance to the garage. follow the sidewalk to the escalator.

When I go to Fitness Together in the a.m., I use this entrance to go to the metro after my workout. It is faster than looping around to the front entrance. It depends on how much you mind the steep incline of the bridge.

m said...

Anyone know how we can get the city to remove the light pole from our back yard. The DC Dept. of Trans cannot not help us. Should I contact Tommy Wells?

-Mischa

Anonymous said...

Trust me. The light pole is there for your protection.

Anonymous said...

Wow, what a bunch of nit-picking whining about an article that was overwhelmingly positive.

Keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole.

Anonymous said...

I comopletely agree with anon 11:50am! Come on folks-- this article is really pretty good!

el jefe said...

I didn't mean to pee in the punch bowl but if the Post says (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/22/AR2009102204906.html?sid=ST2009102301816) the neighborhood is bounded by 2nd street on the west, they shouldn't also say the neighborhood doesn't have a metro.

If you want to say the H street corridor doesn't start until 12th or 13th that's fine. I was just pointing out what I read as a contradiction and opening up a semantic dialogue about where the neighborhood begins.

Cas said...

anyone else find the north/south boundary identified to be a bit narrow?