Friday, April 22, 2005
No Bars for H Street?
So, I'm curious, if you oppose bars on H Street (or even if you just think that 6 is too many for two blocks) what do you want to see there? The rule for responding is that you can't just make a wishlist (mine would be something like: garden center, cooking store, Asian grocery, sushi place, authentic Mexican place, & Kosher Deli). You have to have something sustainable. Do have plans you think are sustainable? If so, what are they? What would you put on H Street, and who would go there (neighborhood residents, DC residents from other neighborhoods)? Also, how do people feel about bars versus liquor stores versus restaurants with liquor licenses? Why? And what about this proposed singles ban?
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See my blog entry from today. Plus, remember the 1200 and 1300 blocks are equivalent in total to 5 average sized city blocks. WRT what can work in the various spaces, it's based on the market, and I've written about that so much I wouldn't even know where to begin on recapping it. As far as getting people together on how to rebuild retail districts, I recommend a road trip to Carytown in Richmond.
http://urbanplacesandspaces.blogspot.com
I'm not into drinking booze as entertainment, nor do I need it to meet or talk to friends. I would prefer to see small ethnic eating places that may or not serve alcohol, develop on H street. In other words, food as the focus, rather than booze.
By the way, Richard, 12th and 13th appear to be the normal east west DC block, where are your getting your average blocks?
I would have no problem with that, except that I don't exactly see any of those guys lining up to open businesses on H Street. I would be thrilled if we could get a nice Ethiopian place around here, or a Salvadorian place. We do have Daavi's West African. Do you go there? One obstacle H Street faces is that the immediate area just doesn't have the immigrant concentration that you have in an area like Mount Pleasant. In fact, many of the Ethiopian/Eritrean guys I know are quite wary of the area. Restaurant kitchens are expensive, and sinking that kind of money into a business on a street many still view as dirty and sketchy is a big risk. Particularly if you don't any much foot traffic at night. I think many potential investors are still waiting for the other shoe to drop. We'll get more restaurants, but I think these will help us to do that. Joe Englert wants to open so many places, because by doing so he actually reduces his risk. It is difficult to open a business that is practically an island because then you are completely dependant on nearby residents for business (nobody travels across town to go to one bar or restaurant -destination restaurants excluded)if it is the only thing around. But if you set up several bars you suddenly have a scene. And that, will bring people to H Street. In addition, I think we need to remember that the clustering of businesses in entertainment districts is even more important in DC because so many people don't travel by car (they want to go someplace where they can walk to other attractions).
The 1300 Block of H Street has, for better or worse, been my backyard for the past 6 years. I personally welcome the thought of eating and drinking establishments on H Street. If the 12/1300 blocks are truly to become an Arts and Entertainment District, bars and restaurants are an absolutely necessary ingredient.
You may want to check out this link to see that, historically, this stretch of H Street has been home to bars and taverns.
H Street Taverns
I saw this link the other day (I think Richard sent it out on the listserves). But thanks for including it. It is a good link.
Measure the blocks on the Historic Preservation Office map. The average city block is about 300 feet wide. 1200 is slightly under 600 feet and 1300 slightly under 900 feet wide. Plus, Elise, a garden shop is coming. As far as a Kosher Deli, well, there was one up until the late 1950s on the 1300 block... Doesn't help you today. R
So since they are lining up to open bars on H, we should appauld and cheer them on? ANC 6A has spent thousands of dollars fighting single sales. Are they really saying, the liquor stores should give their customers a seat and glass and everything is ok?
Alcoholism is a costly health issue in this city, and not just for the black guys drinking on the corner.
I hope that the residents surrounding H street are ready for closing time each night, if you think you have a problem with vomit, piss and noise now, just wait for the 2am closing hour each and every night.
I recognize that alcoholism is a serious problem, and that it can transend race and class boundaries. I don't think opening a few bars on H Street is going to turn people into raging alcoholics. I also don't think t's particularly fair for you to paint a doomsday scenario that jut isn't supported by the facts. Go stand outside one of Joe Englert's other bars at 2am. I don't think the reality will exactly match the picture you've painted. As for the sale of singles, we may well see a complete ban on them in the near future. I think that a well run tavern is a far cry from a problematic store like Family Liquor(which might as well provide its patrons with with seats considering how many of them just hang out and drink on the sidewalk out front). Places like Lucky Bar are just fun spots to hang out with friends and be social while having a beer and a burger. I don't see anything wrong with that.
I'd be thrilled to have such problems in my neighborhood (Shaw) as 4 new bar/restaurants opening. Perhaps your ANC or community activists will be blind enough to protest this opportunity and I'll be lucky enough for the developer to come my way.
I would love to see a REAL diner on H Street -- a place where you can get two eggs over easy at any time, day or night, which serves a vast array of foods at reasonable prices. Where are all those Greek guys when you need them? DC has no decent diners anywhere -- the closest is The Diner in Adams Morgan but it has a limited menu. I know millions of families that would love to have a diner to go to on rainy Saturday mornings, hurried weekday evenings, and lazy Sunday nights. You must know what I mean. Please someone have mercy on me. I am sick of just getting coffee and a scone!! I want bacon and eggs with whole wheat toast.
I think tons of people would love to see a diner open up on H Street. I have even heard someone talk about opening one here, but talking and doing are very different things. I think a diner would do well because you could certainly get the morning crowd on weekends, and it could go well at night with the bar clientele (just like in Adams Morgan). For now, I suggest you check out Jimmy T's at 5th & East Capitol. Just go early because there is a line by 11am on weekends.
It's not H Street, but Jacob's House is opening on 8th Street and D, NE -- just about three blocks off H Street. Of course, the Grand Opening sign has been up for a few weeks. I don't know exactly when it will open. But I agree, give me the grease and give me the carbs.
Does anyone know what "Birdland" is going to be? Of course a restaurant, but the title makes me think it will be another fast food chicken wing place...anyone know?
I think the full name of this place is something like "Birdland Three Sisters' Cuisine." To me, that sounds like either Chinese, or Thai. This building was formerly the site of Dragon City (a Chinese takeout that had a run in, or two with the Health Department). I'm hoping this restaurant will not be under the same management.
To response to some of the negative comments... These bars/restaurants/taverns that are opening are for the residents in the surrounding neighborhood to enjoy. Instead of staying in your house too scared to venture the streets you now have a reason to be out in your own neighborhood. Bringing communities together and pushing out the drugs, litter and general badness not to mention complete disregard for others is something these businesses are trying to accomplish. If I could also point out that no small boutique, diner, specialty store, in its right mind would want to open here with the state H st. is currently in, who can afford that risk? These bars are going to bring those other businesses, but they have to know they'll be profitable first.
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