This photo is from 2007, but the Oasis looks about the same as it did back then.
The Post looks at the debacle that is the Capitol Hill Oasis. The good news is that the bank that now owns the project plans to finish it.
Here's some past coverage of the Oasis:
Whoops! More Buffoonery at Capitol Hill Oasis (10/21/2010)
Capitol Hill Oasis on the Auction Block (9/20/2010)
Inexplicably, Capitol Hill Oasis Starts Phase II (9/19/2010)
Urban Turn Checks Out the Oasis (12/23/2009)
Autoparts on Florida, and a Look at an Intersection (12/2/2009)
Collapse at Jimmy's Tire (12/30/2007)
Construction to Watch (6/21/2007)
Condos in 900 Block of 12th Street (1/26/2006)
22 comments:
Wow, there is a lot of racism in the WaPo commentariat.
Racism from Post comments? Shocking!
yeah, when you look at comments on most of the big papers, you get a huge amount of racist comments. I really think there are a few dozen racist commentors who just go around trolling all the papers around the country.
While I'm not a fan of racism trolling, I'd very much prefer that over what racists used to do back in the day to vent their frustrations.
it may be racist but it's mostly true..at least as it pertains to this particular situation. Course, it's always easier to scream racism.
Between the incompetent developer's claim to want to "give back to the community" and her assertion that "she believes that 'racism and sexism' drove the bank to foreclose", I'm not surprised the Post's resident racists are driven like flies to poop.
(Nice of her to "give back to the community" by trying to make a quick killing selling million dollar townhouses, though. Guess it's a bit like her "giving back to the community" by moving to Maryland and taking her tax dollars with her.)
I think many of the Post comments had merit. Ms. Herndon is a fool who was probably overpaid throughout her federal career given her inability to be honest and objective about the housing bust. She cites racism for her own poor judgement on a project. People like her make me sick, and there are far too many of them. This is why non-black people can't take real racism seriously at times -- too many boys have cried wolf too many times.
Those are the worst looking houses I've ever seen, even by prefab standards. Originally, there was talk about building a museum on that site for the Negro Baseball League. Now *that* would have been "giving to the community". Sigh.
ps: Noticed a moving notice on the store that sells oils on the southwest corner of 13th & H. The building is for sale and they are moving to 1425 H St NE if I recall the sign properly. Change keeps coming...
What about non black Asians? Speaking of which.... Any new info on SKY Nails? I noticed it was fenced off and the inside completely demoed today. Condo rumors true? I heard this non black white guy say Capital City Diner was going there.
Capital City Diner is gone. Last seen going west.
Yeah, Sky Nails was emptied out in just a couple of days -- they're moving quickly on that project, although I don't know what the project is going to be. Somehow, I don't think Bladensburg Road is ready for more condos, since the Flats can house so many people (and are likely to have a hard time doing so), also there are still lots of foreclosed properties or properties for sale in the area, and the existing condos further up the road also have not been filled, despite being on sale for more than a year.
I saw the Diner loaded onto a truck last night....
I think the The Flats wont have any trouble finding renters. I was walking by there last night and it looks like about 2 to 3 units are occupied already and its not even finished. Im very optimistic about that place. The design is so chic.
@John,
All of the Renee units have been sold, the only remaining units are the two basement units which they just built this year.
I think once they finish these (relatively ugly) homes, they will sell quickly. Personal elevators? People love that ish.
I also agree that Flats will lease up quick. Great complex. Glad to hear Renee is sold out. Great times in the n'hood, as long as the NIMBYS don't continue to oppose decent ideas in the 600 to 800 block of H.
I must be very naive about what people are willing to pay to live on Bladensburg Road. Those Flats look okay, but there is no metro nearby, and the Safeway and Aldis aren't the best grocery options. It will be very interesting to see what kind of retail they attract on the ground floor. An organic market (like Yes! organic) or a Trader Joe's might do well. If successful, the Flats really could be enough to spur development up Bladensburg Road and Benning Road. Here's to keeping fingers crossed.
John, please refrain from mentioning Trader Joe's or any organic supermarket on this blog. That's a sensitive subject around here for some reason.
I feel sorry for Gloria. Does that make me a racist? (For not holding her to the same standard as everyone else)
There isn't really a "lack of metro" nearby. I used to live even further up on L street and walked to Union Station every day. A 35 minute walk or a 10 minute bike ride. The Flats being a bit closer, you're looking at a 25-30 min walk and less than 10 min bike ride. That, in addition to the Trolly and capitol bikeshare bikes being right across the street, all of the H street bars a few blocks away, I'm confident those units will fill up.
You'd be surprised what people are willing to pay in that area now. I was looking at previously sold prices in the area and noticed one or two units from the Elenor selling for over $200k, one being around $240k I think.
Anon: Glad that you don't think 35 minute walk from a metro is "far." Personally I'd probably say a mile, since that's 5-10 minutes by bike. But this article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/costar-renters-willing-to-pay-more-to-avoid-regions-traffic-congestion/2011/12/27/gIQAlBAeUP_story.html cites a study that uses a half mile as the cutoff distance, and I'd guess that's a bit more typical.
Everyone has their own preferences. Bottom line, the area is sizzling hot and it's only going to improve.
Personally, I would not pay those rates unless the Trolly was running. Not with properties in the area renting for $1400 - $2000 for a 2 to 4 bedroom rowhouse.
Personally, I would not pay those rates unless the Trolly was running.
If you were planning on buying, why would you wait until the streetcar was running? Might as well buy now and get that equity.
Not everybody can qualify to own a home, that's why.
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