Actually it's the buildings accross the street that are going. Self-storage is staying. This is just a simple streetscape, with the major difference between the photo and today being that one of the buildings recently suffered a fire.
I would love to see the North side of this block redeveloped--the Self Storage, and to a somewhat lesser extent, Murray's just don't add anything to the neighborhood. Also, both go "dark" at night, leaving that stretch a no-man's-land.
It would be neat if the historic car dealership building (now the Self Storage) could be retained and integrated as true loft-style condos. Just a thought.
man, that self storage building is tore up from the floor up. historic or not, any developer interested in that site needs to bring it down and start from scratch!
i used to store stuff there, and it really could make for great lofts. they have one of those giant warehouse type elevator thingees that can fit a car. i'd want a penthouse and one of those all to myself.
Honestly, I kind of think it's a cool building & I've heard it really does have excellent loft potential (unlike those fake lofts all over Dupont). Imagine it fixed up. The other side of the street will already be very tall.
it's not that hard to put in some windows, spruce it up... you know the drill.
a good architect could do wonders with that place.
it's already got a lot going for it. location, size, and ... it even has electricity and running water! can't ask for much more than that in some of the places on h street. :op
To clarify, my interest in seeing the dealership building preserved isn't saving something old and rather run-down just for the sake of saving it.
Rather, my interest is based on the following factors (that I can think of right now):
--DC has very few, if any, "real" lofts where they are in a reclaimed warehouse-type building. --Retaining the building would automatically limit that part of a redevelopment project to the height recommended for that section of H Street in the H Street Overlay. --The building could look really cool once restored (detailing painted to its original accent purpose--see the R Street Storage building for an idea of what I mean). --It would keep some character along that section of H Street--the South side is already totally out of character for H Street.
Obviously, the developer who eventually purchases the building will have their own plans, but I do think it would be a good thing to keep the building.
I agree with Alan. The fake lofts springing up all over town feel, well, fake. This would be the real deal, which would be nice. I'm not familiar enough with that building to know if it would be feasible, but it's a great idea if workable.
you go up in this giant-arsed elevator that makes a lot of noise, and once you get to your floor (if no one's been to there storage on that particular hour), it's dark. all the lights are off. you have to walk down aisles of storage bunker thingees and flip the light switches so you can see where you're going.
they also have a lot of crates in there from some other storage that went bankrupt. they took 'em over and get paid to hole 'em.
one of the guys that runs the joint was one of the first black male models in vogue magazine.
anyway, just some stuff i know from having stored stuff there.
by the way, the reason i don't store stuff there is because of modern technology.
why is that? (you might ask)
and i'd answer, "cuz i had them automatically take out their monthly charge from my credit card, i lost my credit card and cancelled it, and they kept trying to bill the old credit card number, and i wasn't paying attention, and they got frustrated after six months, and as such, auctioned off my stuff."
or some such thing.
anyway, that's common practice with such establishments for people that either have to much crap, or need to stow their crap somewhere while they take care of something that needs to be taken care of while their crap is stowed.
This building would also make a great gym. I'd love to see a YMCA or YWCA in there. They're nonprofit organizations, which would mean they'd do some good neighborhood events for youth and seniors, which we really need. Some Y's have progressive membership rates, which means that you pay according to your income. That would also make it more of a community asset rather than just a yuppie haven.
And then you could have a couple of levels of lofts at the top for Alan, poo poo and Borat too!
no. i want whole loft for me. no defecation people, or alan people can have my loft! the gypsies can make play with gym on bottom, but borat get top of building in name of greak kazkh warrior, KAKAKIZTANIANO!
and i want water slide to pool where gypsies swim.
Buying a multi-million dollar piece of property, spending millions more to make it a gym, and charging next to nothing to use it. now there is a great idea that could not fail.
lol. Well, they will have a crap load of money after selling the YWCA building down in Chinatown. What better way to lose it than right here on H Street.
21 comments:
bye bye ugly building.
nice last wave to a totally obstructive structure.
when do they actually break ground?
cuz... i can't wait!
What is going on here?
What's coming or going?
Actually it's the buildings accross the street that are going. Self-storage is staying. This is just a simple streetscape, with the major difference between the photo and today being that one of the buildings recently suffered a fire.
oops. my bad. i meant "bye bye ugly building on the other side of the street".
although... that reminds me that the storage place is listed on a bunch of maps a site for redevelopment....
I would love to see the North side of this block redeveloped--the Self Storage, and to a somewhat lesser extent, Murray's just don't add anything to the neighborhood. Also, both go "dark" at night, leaving that stretch a no-man's-land.
It would be neat if the historic car dealership building (now the Self Storage) could be retained and integrated as true loft-style condos. Just a thought.
Best,
Alan Kimber
ANC Commissioner, 6C05
man, that self storage building is tore up from the floor up. historic or not, any developer interested in that site needs to bring it down and start from scratch!
i dunno, extraterrestrial sibling.
i used to store stuff there, and it really could make for great lofts. they have one of those giant warehouse type elevator thingees that can fit a car. i'd want a penthouse and one of those all to myself.
Honestly, I kind of think it's a cool building & I've heard it really does have excellent loft potential (unlike those fake lofts all over Dupont). Imagine it fixed up. The other side of the street will already be very tall.
it looks beat. i'm just saying...
so did my place when i bought it.
it's not that hard to put in some windows, spruce it up... you know the drill.
a good architect could do wonders with that place.
it's already got a lot going for it. location, size, and ... it even has electricity and running water! can't ask for much more than that in some of the places on h street. :op
To clarify, my interest in seeing the dealership building preserved isn't saving something old and rather run-down just for the sake of saving it.
Rather, my interest is based on the following factors (that I can think of right now):
--DC has very few, if any, "real" lofts where they are in a reclaimed warehouse-type building.
--Retaining the building would automatically limit that part of a redevelopment project to the height recommended for that section of H Street in the H Street Overlay.
--The building could look really cool once restored (detailing painted to its original accent purpose--see the R Street Storage building for an idea of what I mean).
--It would keep some character along that section of H Street--the South side is already totally out of character for H Street.
Obviously, the developer who eventually purchases the building will have their own plans, but I do think it would be a good thing to keep the building.
Best,
Alan Kimber
ANC Commissioner, 6C05
meester kimber making good points before the hump-hour of 08-23-2007.
he thinking like, eh.. how u call it? like a progressive man. u know? like the one that make to give a woman to voting rights on election day.
chinqweh!
I agree with Alan. The fake lofts springing up all over town feel, well, fake. This would be the real deal, which would be nice. I'm not familiar enough with that building to know if it would be feasible, but it's a great idea if workable.
it's kinda freaky in there sometimes.
you go up in this giant-arsed elevator that makes a lot of noise, and once you get to your floor (if no one's been to there storage on that particular hour), it's dark. all the lights are off. you have to walk down aisles of storage bunker thingees and flip the light switches so you can see where you're going.
they also have a lot of crates in there from some other storage that went bankrupt. they took 'em over and get paid to hole 'em.
one of the guys that runs the joint was one of the first black male models in vogue magazine.
anyway, just some stuff i know from having stored stuff there.
by the way, the reason i don't store stuff there is because of modern technology.
why is that? (you might ask)
and i'd answer, "cuz i had them automatically take out their monthly charge from my credit card, i lost my credit card and cancelled it, and they kept trying to bill the old credit card number, and i wasn't paying attention, and they got frustrated after six months, and as such, auctioned off my stuff."
or some such thing.
anyway, that's common practice with such establishments for people that either have to much crap, or need to stow their crap somewhere while they take care of something that needs to be taken care of while their crap is stowed.
i'm done now. :op
just how many poo poos are out there?
poo poo needs a bit of supervision. sorry about that.
i've been remiss in my duties.
i promise i'll try to reign him in.
This building would also make a great gym. I'd love to see a YMCA or YWCA in there. They're nonprofit organizations, which would mean they'd do some good neighborhood events for youth and seniors, which we really need. Some Y's have progressive membership rates, which means that you pay according to your income. That would also make it more of a community asset rather than just a yuppie haven.
And then you could have a couple of levels of lofts at the top for Alan, poo poo and Borat too!
no. i want whole loft for me. no defecation people, or alan people can have my loft! the gypsies can make play with gym on bottom, but borat get top of building in name of greak kazkh warrior, KAKAKIZTANIANO!
and i want water slide to pool where gypsies swim.
i don't ask for much.
chinqweh!
Buying a multi-million dollar piece of property, spending millions more to make it a gym, and charging next to nothing to use it.
now there is a great idea that could not fail.
lol. Well, they will have a crap load of money after selling the YWCA building down in Chinatown. What better way to lose it than right here on H Street.
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