I've never had a problem either. But I've been parking to go to the bars, so I use one of the two lots (the CarZone lot or the 9th street minimall lot). Maybe it's an issue during the day.
The article said "The rails will be completed in just over a year’s time." Is this true? I thought they were looking at 2.5 years for the rails. If it's true, that's great!
H street will grow and there will be parking needs. Instead of finding a workable solution to combine public transportation and provided parking lots and garages, the city must not turn its back on the problem. In the past, the city has blamed the very businesses they have recruited and encouraged to once-run down neighborhoods as the reason there is no parking. Look at Adams-Morgan, Mt. Pleasant, Dupont, 17th St, 14th St. Residents come to hate businesses because of the lack of parking. Parking that could have been provided with proper planning
I think we're looking at 2.5 years (and maybe a little delay depending on the weather) for the entire streetscape project. So plan for stuff to be torn up for a while. Not sure about now, but last I heard there was no official permission to use the Autozone parking lot at night and Autozone was not wanting to negotiate (this was a while back). So the Autozone parking lot could pose an issue. The major parking problem I see on H Street is really lazy people who double park and park right in front of the bus stops (I see the second offense constantly) then causing the bus to block traffic when it stops to drop off/pick-up passengers. But we also have lots of empty buildings, and they will fill up with businesses. The focus should definitely be on better public transportation coverage. A dedicated night bus with a short route, and frequent turn around times would be a good idea. I also must say that I know some people who live five, or fewer blocks away from the bars on H Street, but drive to them (even in nice weather) out of habit, convenience (these two aren't good excuses), or concern about walking home. That concern is a crime concern. What will ease it? police partrols, stepped up enforcement, the safer feeling that comes from having more people on the street as the retail develops.
Good to know about the towing at AutoZone (although I don't see why they won't open it up after hours to parking).
I also agree with the point about too many people close by driving to the bar strip. (I don't own a car and only have parked there when a friend's driving me - coming from somewhere else.) I've walked home several times and I really haven't felt a safety issue. That said, I'm an early person, so I haven't walked home at 1 or 2 am. Have bar goers been having problems?
What's the deal with the current construction? I assumed they were laying streetcar tracks, but are we sure that's what's going on? If so, why the 2.5 year estimate? It seems like they're working on it every day...
The current construction is Pepco laying infrastructure to support the cars. But no one is laying tracks yet. The actual streetscape work has not yet begun. Don't forget that the work will run all the way from 3rd, to Minn Ave.
I'm one of the ones who drives from five blocks away. It's embarrassing but I do feel, based on the armed robberies that occasionally happen, that walking back home at night has a small risk involved with it. I feel safe on H St. As for parking most of the time we can find it though it can be tough. I think one possibility could be for the same establishments that band together to do the free shuttle to have a single coordinated valet service. I'm all for making it safe for us to walk home and improving public transportation options but if too many cars continued to come that could be one option.
Since 2003 or so, I've proposed creating a "transportation management district," and multi-modal planning on this and other issues. Valet parking and dumping the cars on various lots (negotiated, so they don't get towed) would likely satisfy most needs.
E.g., parking needs tend to be after 8 pm, and lots (Hechinger, 6th and I, 6th and H, 6th and H rear, 11th and K, Autozine--if approval could be received, and others) are not used for the most part during those hours.
Plus, the ANCs should have forced the developer of the new building at 600 H to provide parking at night.
The whole point of Jane Jacobs' point about mixed primary uses is to use different resources at different times.
The parking spaces used by DOES employees during the day will sit empty at night.
They are wasted and not available to addressing H St. business needs at other times, because of the intransigence of the owner-developer and their lawyers, and the wimpiness of the Board of Zoning Adjustment, and the failure of the negotiating group (which did include me, but I was trying to ease out...) to get this on the table.
I only live about 7 blocks away, but I often do drive because of crime. I'm not really worried about it on H Street, I'm worried taking the residential streets back to my house on Penn. Maybe a neighborhood shuttle route? I'd certainly throw down a couple of bucks for a ride home. If we can find a way to get the Georgetown kids home, we should be able to do the same for ourselves.
I believe businesses are reluctant to have clubs use their parking lots in the evening because of liability issues. Anyone who gets in to an accident/mugged/shot can (and probably will) sue the lot owner for damages (i.e., the lot wasn't well lit, supervised, guarded, etc.).
It could be a liability concern, but there are certain agreements that could probably satisfy that concern. Keep in mid that this is the same Autozone that pretty much is in perpetual conflict with the community because they don't even try to keep illegal mechanics (who I believe are said to illegally dump used oil on the ground<--not legal)off their lot.
Is anyone else feeling the effects of Pepco's construction? I live on Hst. I can feel the vibration from their daily work. I have noticed small cracks forming. They are in non-strctural places now but who knows where the cracks will be if work continues for 2 more years. These rowhouses were built pre 1900's. Is any care being done not to topple them?
Small cracks (particularly if you have plaster walls) are going to open up from this kind of thing. I live on Florida, so I see constant traffic reopening stuff I've sealed up in the past. I wouldn't imagine that the work being done here (it isn't 2.5 years in any one spot) will do any major damage.
The only real concern should be with how your brick/mortar is holding up. Afterall, your plaster is cracking because your bricks/mortar is being stressed by the vibrations from the road work. How does your brick look from the outside?
17 comments:
I don't get it. Everytime I've driven to any of the bars on H I've been able to park right in front of the place or within one block.
Why does everyone think there is a parking issue.
Now, not having enough bike racks on H...that's a serious problem.
I've never had a problem either. But I've been parking to go to the bars, so I use one of the two lots (the CarZone lot or the 9th street minimall lot). Maybe it's an issue during the day.
The article said "The rails will be completed in just over a year’s time." Is this true? I thought they were looking at 2.5 years for the rails. If it's true, that's great!
H street will grow and there will be parking needs. Instead of finding a workable solution to combine public transportation and provided parking lots and garages, the city must not turn its back on the problem.
In the past, the city has blamed the very businesses they have recruited and encouraged to once-run down neighborhoods as the reason there is no parking.
Look at Adams-Morgan, Mt. Pleasant, Dupont, 17th St, 14th St. Residents come to hate businesses because of the lack of parking. Parking that could have been provided with proper planning
I think we're looking at 2.5 years (and maybe a little delay depending on the weather) for the entire streetscape project. So plan for stuff to be torn up for a while. Not sure about now, but last I heard there was no official permission to use the Autozone parking lot at night and Autozone was not wanting to negotiate (this was a while back). So the Autozone parking lot could pose an issue.
The major parking problem I see on H Street is really lazy people who double park and park right in front of the bus stops (I see the second offense constantly) then causing the bus to block traffic when it stops to drop off/pick-up passengers.
But we also have lots of empty buildings, and they will fill up with businesses.
The focus should definitely be on better public transportation coverage. A dedicated night bus with a short route, and frequent turn around times would be a good idea. I also must say that I know some people who live five, or fewer blocks away from the bars on H Street, but drive to them (even in nice weather) out of habit, convenience (these two aren't good excuses), or concern about walking home. That concern is a crime concern. What will ease it? police partrols, stepped up enforcement, the safer feeling that comes from having more people on the street as the retail develops.
A bartender friend reports that she has witnessed cars being towed from Autozone.
Good to know about the towing at AutoZone (although I don't see why they won't open it up after hours to parking).
I also agree with the point about too many people close by driving to the bar strip. (I don't own a car and only have parked there when a friend's driving me - coming from somewhere else.) I've walked home several times and I really haven't felt a safety issue. That said, I'm an early person, so I haven't walked home at 1 or 2 am. Have bar goers been having problems?
What's the deal with the current construction? I assumed they were laying streetcar tracks, but are we sure that's what's going on? If so, why the 2.5 year estimate? It seems like they're working on it every day...
The current construction is Pepco laying infrastructure to support the cars. But no one is laying tracks yet. The actual streetscape work has not yet begun. Don't forget that the work will run all the way from 3rd, to Minn Ave.
I'm one of the ones who drives from five blocks away. It's embarrassing but I do feel, based on the armed robberies that occasionally happen, that walking back home at night has a small risk involved with it. I feel safe on H St.
As for parking most of the time we can find it though it can be tough.
I think one possibility could be for the same establishments that band together to do the free shuttle to have a single coordinated valet service. I'm all for making it safe for us to walk home and improving public transportation options but if too many cars continued to come that could be one option.
Since 2003 or so, I've proposed creating a "transportation management district," and multi-modal planning on this and other issues. Valet parking and dumping the cars on various lots (negotiated, so they don't get towed) would likely satisfy most needs.
E.g., parking needs tend to be after 8 pm, and lots (Hechinger, 6th and I, 6th and H, 6th and H rear, 11th and K, Autozine--if approval could be received, and others) are not used for the most part during those hours.
Plus, the ANCs should have forced the developer of the new building at 600 H to provide parking at night.
The whole point of Jane Jacobs' point about mixed primary uses is to use different resources at different times.
The parking spaces used by DOES employees during the day will sit empty at night.
They are wasted and not available to addressing H St. business needs at other times, because of the intransigence of the owner-developer and their lawyers, and the wimpiness of the Board of Zoning Adjustment, and the failure of the negotiating group (which did include me, but I was trying to ease out...) to get this on the table.
I only live about 7 blocks away, but I often do drive because of crime. I'm not really worried about it on H Street, I'm worried taking the residential streets back to my house on Penn. Maybe a neighborhood shuttle route? I'd certainly throw down a couple of bucks for a ride home. If we can find a way to get the Georgetown kids home, we should be able to do the same for ourselves.
I believe businesses are reluctant to have clubs use their parking lots in the evening because of liability issues. Anyone who gets in to an accident/mugged/shot can (and probably will) sue the lot owner for damages (i.e., the lot wasn't well lit, supervised, guarded, etc.).
It could be a liability concern, but there are certain agreements that could probably satisfy that concern. Keep in mid that this is the same Autozone that pretty much is in perpetual conflict with the community because they don't even try to keep illegal mechanics (who I believe are said to illegally dump used oil on the ground<--not legal)off their lot.
You said, it brother.
Can't stop people from doing an oil change erupting a mini-Exxon Valdez into Linden Place.
But God forbid someone park in the lot!
Is anyone else feeling the effects of Pepco's construction? I live on Hst. I can feel the vibration from their daily work. I have noticed small cracks forming. They are in non-strctural places now but who knows where the cracks will be if work continues for 2 more years. These rowhouses were built pre 1900's. Is any care being done not to topple them?
Small cracks (particularly if you have plaster walls) are going to open up from this kind of thing. I live on Florida, so I see constant traffic reopening stuff I've sealed up in the past. I wouldn't imagine that the work being done here (it isn't 2.5 years in any one spot) will do any major damage.
The only real concern should be with how your brick/mortar is holding up. Afterall, your plaster is cracking because your bricks/mortar is being stressed by the vibrations from the road work. How does your brick look from the outside?
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