george townsend, are you referring to "the H St Playhouse" as an "Atlas moniker," because I believe they are two completely seperate operations/owners.
Did anyone read the article about H street in this month's Hill Rag? There seems to be a lot of concern that the contruction that will begin on H will really hurt the businesses. Joe Englert is quoted as saying the city will be burning down the village before they try to build it up...that's scary. I hope the progress on H is not drastically hurt.
This is a great article on DC in general....BUT to have H Street mentioned and Eastern Market(you can't see this from the link)is "amazing". Nothing east of 16th Street was ever considered to have anything worth talking about. Congrats to H Street!
I think so 8th & El. The positive publicity has just been amazing lately. Are we even beginning to border on "trendy"?
I agree with you too Ro, I like the name "Atlas District". I would consider The Atlas the most architecturally significant (or pleasing) structure on the corridor, so why not make it the focal point.
Although much of the revitalization began at the eastern end of the street and centered around the Atlas Theatre, it's no longer the case. Hence why the Atlas District moniker is no longer valid.
"H Street" is the predominant term used among residents (occasionally Swampoodle for those of us that live there, not to distinguish ourselves but because it's a fuckin dope neighourhood name).
Since Elle Decor is a shelter/home design mag, I'm hoping for retail now. Maybe some interesting home shops, design retail. Probably abit away, but love the international recognition.
I think the Atlas District branding effort was intended only to apply to the stretch of H Street that runs from 12th Street to the Hub [aka the Starburst Plaza]. That is the portion of H Street that the master plan designates as the arts and entertainment district.
Sorry to put a damper on a positive streak but the following article is not all beds of roses: http://americanobserver.net/2007/12/06/dc-begins-restoration-of-h-street/ One would rather read articles that speak positively however, sometimes an alternative view may be beneficial to keep us grounded
old news, anon 3:19. that article was posted on this blog on Dec. 7, 2007.
but your point is well taken.
still, by and large, the good news momentum is overtaking the "bad news". so i don't think we're exiting the restroom whilst spraying rose perfume into the air...
The American Observer article doesn't say anything that isn't already known. I don't think anyone thinks H Street is fully realized. We don't even have any retail yet. But the fact that it is being mentioned so often in press outside the city and that it would be mentioned in a magazine like Elle Decor is significant to me.
In the article, Joe Englert states that it doesn't attract enough attention from the rest of the city. It always takes people from out side this city to recognize what it interesting in this city. People from NW act like they need a bodyguard to come to this side of town. What I hear and see is that there is a whole new group of people who are deaf and blind to those stodgy old attitudes. I applaud them.
In my opinion, H Street is acting like every other city where this sort of thing happens. The pattern I see is positive. As a long time resident, this is gratifying.
Just to let everyone know the newest nomiker for the neighborhood is "SOFLO" South of florida north of H, That's where all of us "Cool" People live. LOL
and inked is right, "atlas district" refers to the east end of the street. no one is stealing "h street" from you folks on the west end.
This isn't a matter of theft, it's the media's juxtaposition of the Atlas moniker on H Street as a whole. It is my understanding most residents can't stand the Atlas District title...not just me pushing my opinion as usual.
SOFLO is yesterday's news, as is North Capitol Hill, and NOMA. All terms pushed by realtors/developers. I saw someone walk into Sidamo wearing a NOMA hat and wanted to do them a favour and throw it into the traffic of H Street.
I think we're going to have NOMA around for a bit. They have that BID. My only gripe is that it doesn't pertain to the neighborhood as well as that very small commercial district, and Senate Square.
I saw a dude wearing a full NOMA worker outfit clearing trash from the Hopscotch Bridge. Wouldn't it be cool if he had to do the same on the rest of H st?
AMEN, Please bring a BID to H St. to pick up after these lazy, trashy people that can't walk a half a block to a garbage can. These people really are pathetic and I bet 90% of them don't even live in our 'hood.
I also say fine these business owners that can't pick up the trash in front of their buildings within say - two hours. Parking enforcement gives a ticket if your out of your zone for more than two hours - why not have some body clock the trash in front of any particular business, tell the owner/manager they have two hours (or maybe 4) to get it picked up and if its not picked up when the officer comes back by, he gets a nice fine. I bet it only needs to happen two or three times and businesses would take much more responsibility for the neighborhood. Don't even get me started on trash.
And getting back on topic, thank goodness Elle Decor turned a blind eye to our little trash problem.
i'm right about 2nd and Parker. NoMA folks are cleaning up our area (east of the tracks), and i couldn't be happier.
it's a shame that the rest of the corridor has to suffer.
maybe someone should mention the idea to this anwar guy who is supposed to actually be accomplishing stuff (like a attracting a store on 3rd and H).
good luck.
and please, don't respond with all this crap about him being around forever and so concerned about H street. he only gives a shit if it's in his own interest.
prove me wrong.
anwar is a self serving twit. i don't give a shit if he's been around forever. maybe that's a good reason for him to find a day job, as he hasn't done much (if anything at all).
englert blows him away, in terms of accomplishments.
i wouldn't hire anwar to serve burgers at mcdonald's. you noobs should look into it....
he's a marion barry, old school crook. and a hinderance to h street development.
spend three minutes talking to him, and you'll see....
Fining businesses for trash that the general public throws in front of their establishment isn't really a workable solution.
A great example is all the trash the Popeyes on 8th St SE generates. Patrons throw their Popeyes trash all up and down 8th Street. Why should a business owner a block away get fined?
And to be fair we'd need to implement the same sort of fine system for any trash that people deposit in front of residences as well.
Trying to fine people as suggested would mean that business owners could literally never leave their shops, as they'd be subject to a trash fine within hours.
Yes, Hillman, I couldn't agree more with your statement: "And to be fair we'd need to implement the same sort of fine system for any trash that people deposit in front of residences as well." I wish we could....
In all seriousness folks, whether its trash fines, investigating Anwar's interest (or lack thereof) in H St., a BID, if H St. is really going to reach its full potential, we've GOT to start by picking up the trash. Its a total disgrace - and should be an embarrassment. Is there something else that can be done? As homeowners can we pay for a BID? I'm really frustrated here.
For information on NOMA, check out www.nomabid.org
Whoever got the NOMA BID going did a good thing for that area of town in that they launched a street and sidewalk cleaning program that operates seven days a week.
There are some many business improvement districts around the city -- Golden Triangle, Downtown DC, Capitol Hill, Georgetown just to name a few off the top of my head. I think H Street could benefit greatly from a BID.
I believe that at the ANC meeting that was on H Street, Anwar reported on the BID situation on H Street. He said there was not enough interest and that most of the businesses were not interested in the extra payment. I seem to remember that the newer businesses at the east end of the street were paying for their own trash pick-up or something like that. Maybe someone else who was at that meeting with a better recollection of the facts can weigh in.
I do think that with all the BIDS in the city now and the statistics on their success that it is incredible that many of the H Street merchants are unwillingly to move on this. I would think that Anwar would have some clout with the old group or at the very least pull together a coalition to do some arm twisting(but that is probably wishful thinking).
For nearly three years we have had a BID on H St, we clean up trash twice or more 6 times a week, advertise and have a shuttle. We don't want a director or lots of overhead----5-7 business pay for everything. We call opur area 12-15th street, the Atlas District because most people in the District and the area have no idea where H street northeast is! I suggested Atlas District because of how hard it was to convey where we were. H N.W? H N.E.? 8th? 8th S.E. Also, it gave us a way to market and brand ourselves. There was no way I was going to open all these places and not advertise the hell out of it. No one is forcing anybody to use the term. If you don't like the Atlas District, simply don't call it that. Thanks for all your interest
Joe, I appreciate your efforts for creating a BID for the Atlas Distict (12th-15th Streets), but that doesn't do us any good from 11th to 3rd Street.
For those of us not benefiting from an Atlas BID, what can we do as H St area homeowners to keep the shit coming from Murry's grocery store, Good Danny's Take Out, Cluck-U Fried Chicken, and the bus stop from landing in our front yards?
Many of us are getting fed up with the amount of trash on H and would like to do something about it! Again, I appreciate your efforts for the Atlas District, but PLEASE tell us how you went about creating it and what we might could do to expand these efforts up the entire corridor? Thanks.
That is bullshit and insulting. People know where HstNE is. And don't tell the story of your deaf relative. You are trying to rename this area for your own selfish purposes. The only way that you could be more transparent is if you tried to rename it "Joetown"
Our BID works because Atlas, Argo, Gallery O, Palace, Granville Moore's, Red and the Black and Rock and Roll Hotel and Sova constantly pay the freight to make it happen. (And recently NAPA has also made inroads to join, so we would stretch down to their store front.) We have a like minded agenda and actually put money up on a weekly basis. I have the impression that business owners from 3-11 don't have that much commonality or like-mindedness to pitch in and help one another. All those national chains don't help things along either. There is no local emotional investment at all for their part. As far as BIDS and funding go, I would prefer the government never get involved in anything we do...for the most part the people in economic development and other quasi-governmental groups have no clue how neighborhoods work or how commercial districts are built. It is a depressing thing to see how they have gone about the beginnings of the streetscape. They acted as we didn't exist and are comically trying to recreate the wheel we already have going. Amazing but you NEVER see a government person with access to the purse strings on H at night. Pretty silly for people promising to invest $50 million into the street that they don't know the area. Downright scary, isn't it?
MOST people have know idea where H street northeast. I live in Cleveland Park on a street full of middle-aged or older people. 99% have NEVER been to H street--the one woman who did was an actress who performed at H street. Trust me, most of Upper Northwest thinks Dupont Circle is dangerous.
Mikey, come to any BID meeting...come up with a new name, buy a building, open something up--coffee house, bar, clothes store, we'd love to have you aboard. And any time you needed a hand, we would be there for you. We welcome everybody and anybody to participate in the street
PooPoo If Anwar is a twit, you can get rid of him. All you have to do is join the H street Main Street board, bring a couple of friends to join with you and vote him out. Then you can have your shot to do nothing but be a critic.
I do own a building and I do participate in H street NE all the time. You do not. You only promote the "Atlas District". Where is that? I invite you to participate in the business improvement of HstNE.
Mikey, you never have to use the term Atlas, it is just what we do to market our businesses. I did not say I cure cancer or do unbelievable charity work. I am just trying to survive as a small businessman until H street really thrives. I think its great you own a building on H. And I am more than willing to give advice to you or any new business people. I have screwed up royally many times in the past and would caution any new business owner to avoid the mistakes I have made. Text me any time (202) 258-0356 and I'll meet you for a coffee or beer and see if we can't help improve things together. Thanks
You don't need a BID to pick up trash on H Street. Workgloves, trash bags, and an hour of one's time are not expensive. I am constantly picking up crap on 3rd Street between H Street and K Street...if I have to head down to H next, that's what I will do.
Yes, Neo, a BID is Business Improvement District. It's unfortunate that the businesses on H from 11th-3rd (excluding Napa), could care less about the improvement of H. It's sad. And if I'm not mistaken I believe Anwar owns two building in the 1000 block - does he support a BID?
George, I've put on my gloves at least once a week for two years now and pick up all the trash in my block and quite frankly, I'm tired of picking up after other people. I'm ready for others to take responsibility for their own houses and their own store front.
I challenge anyone out there to name one person that's done more for the revitalization of this corridor and bringing recognition to it than Joe Englert through his investments!
I have to agree with Joe. Outside of Capitol Hill and the relatively small number of folks that patronize the music clubs on H St very few people know where H St NE is. It's complicated by the fact that H St NW is becoming a destination area of it's own, and of course the fact that "H" sounds like "8th", as in Barracks Row.
And those that do know the address remember the dangerous old H Street.
Any time I try to explain H Street to people they invariably have no idea what I'm talking about.
If I were a businessman and I was sinking millions into an area with zero name recognition I'd damn sure come up with a recognizeable name as well.
As Joe said, if you don't like it, don't use it.
As for Swampoodle, that is a terrific name. I may be wrong, but wasn't Swampoodle basically West of North Capitol Street?
poo poo, I am on 3rd. Sorry about leaving behind the Magnum wrappers ;)
Wikipedia's current Swampoodle entry is ambiguous, as the geographic boundaries cited contradict many of the historic characteristics of the area. I should probably fix that.
swampoodle was the area between North Capitol and 3rd St. NE (on both sides of the Tiber Creek), and I guess it extended west some but I am not sure how far. There's a person who wrote her masters thesis on it, but I am forgetting her last name right now, she works for AIA and did a presentation at the thing we did earlier in the summer.
Swampoodle was eradicated for the construction of the Union Station railward. Many of the people moved east into the H St. neighborhood. Kathleen's family did, moving to 517 H St., and having a business on the ground floor.
I'm no historian, but I've heard repeatedly that the heart of Swampoodle was basically the area where Cardoza is now, with perhaps a bit of overlap into NE.
Apparently there was also a Swampoodle baseball stadium, where Union Station now sits?
In any event it looks like Swampoodle wouldn't cover the greater H Street area, at least not from a historical stance. Which is a shame, as it's a great name.
I have to echo Joe and Hillman. You are naive if you think that H Street(NE) is well known to all in the city. I have lived on Capitol Hill for many years and the attitude of people in NW to this side of town is nothing short of ASTOUNDING. Once your child starts going to high school over there, they come home and say that so and so's mother is afraid to let her come to the Hill(remember that is not even H Street). I had another parent tell us "we were brave to stay on the Hill". You hear this from all the parents all the time, once your children start going to school in NW.
Many of you have not been in the city long enough to know the attitudes that people have about this area of town. Again, the fact that H Street was mentioned in this Elle Decor article is significant. By the way it was written by a Washington Post reporter.
I don't know about you, but "Swampoodle East" sound pretty damned classy. Beats the crap out of fake-ass realtor pseudo-names like NoMa, BeDuCi, and Penn Quarter.
I'm still pissed that Dupont/Adams Morgan/U Street isn't called "DAM-U."
I could take the Atlas District name or leave it, but I completely agree about the H Street/8th Street thing. Many many people are very ignorant about stuff outside of certain areas in NW. If you haven't ever shopped DC real estate and you don't have another reason to know the chances are that you won't know much outside of NW. And hey, if calling a little subsection of H the Atlas District helps it stick in people's minds I'm not going to object. I don't see it as renaming the area, but just giving a nickname to an arts district. That kind of thing is hardly uncommon.
It's pretty silly to complain about the use of the term Atlas district to describe the city-designated Arts and Entertainment District. I think it's safe to say that the over 21 million dollar investment into H by the Atlas project (some of that $ came in 25 dollar checks from over 200 neighbors) was a significant force behind the revitalization efforts. It's also a visual and historical landmark.... It's easy to remember. And it's really meant as an advertising, branding tool for the rest of the city. It's for those who think anything beyond Union Station is a war zone. When we first started having performances here you have no idea how many calls we'd get to the box office, 5 minutes to showtime, from a clueless person standing at 13th and H NW. This is a reeducation effort and it takes time but it's working. We have some performing groups who have lost audience members due to the fact they moved across town. People too terrified to park their cars so they just went home. Yes it's silly but it's also reality and we need to address it head on. So anything that we can collectively do to positively brand this neighborhood is a good thing, the fact that the national media has picked it up is fantastic. Joe decided to take a HUGE chance by basically reinventing a neighborhood based upon two theatres were going to be there (because we really all owe it to Bruce and Adlele Robey-the owners of the H Street Playhouse, they were the real instigators, Jane Lang and the Atlas Performing Arts Center project came about shortly after them.) And the story I heard about the term Atlas District was that it was maybe Joe's idea (is that right?) not totally embraced by everyone working down here then but a gentleman who was a third generation H Street resident said that "after the riots, there were 90 buildings destroyed but the Atlas stayed. like a beacon. it should be the Atlas District" honestly don''t we have better things to be angry about?
It's pretty silly to complain about the use of the term Atlas district to describe the city-designated Arts and Entertainment District. I think it's safe to say that the over 21 million dollar investment...
I don't think anyone's complaining about the art/entertainment area being called the Atlas District, it's simply the media/outsiders using it to describe H Street as a whole. I'm not overly worried about this, as the moniker will fizzle on its own (assuming the sentiments of residents in this forum are reflective of the remaining neighbours).
Beautiful and thoughtful post, Jen. (and about the plumber from NW who was coming to my house and went to every 11th street and swore he was outside my door, until last but not least, he got to NE).
In regards to Swampoodle, here's what was written by Nancy Schwartz in the March 2003 "Voice of the Hill" (they ran a whole set of articles on the history of H Street, email me at ge0rgetown@yahoo!.com if you would like a ZIP file of the series):
...originally centered near the intersection of H and North Capitol Street, extending from about G Street to K Street and from 1st Street, NW to 2nd Street, Through the center of it, just east of North Capitol Street, ran the principal branch of Tiber Creek, creating the low swampy ground from which the area took its name. The area was first settled in the 1850s by immigrants fleeing the Irish potato famine...
Like it or not, Capitol Hill almost always still comes with a caveat. I can't count the number of times I've heard people talk about how charming the Hill is, but they almost always follow it up with a little crack about crime.
The Hill has not traditionally been a 'destination neighborhood'. For decades we've been our own little self-contained neighborhood, for better or worse.
It's particularly galling to hear NW residents harp about Hill crime, then ignore U Street and Columbia Heights crime.
But galling or not, it's a fact of life.
And it's doubly bad if you are trying to talk up the Hill to out-of-towners. A good many Embassies, travel agencies, etc., will flat out tell their folks that, again, the Hill is historic and charming but unsafe.
So given all that a little rebranding may not be a bad idea.
George, I think you're in the minority here in that a vast number of people posting on this strand are either for or indifferent to the name "Atlas District". The Atlas is the anchor down there - not Joe's establishments though he's done wonders toward its revitalization as well.
And I agree with Jen from the Atlas, who obviouly has a self-promotional view (but don't we all?) that "don't we have better things to be angry about?" Yes, the fact the people are coming down here and don't feel safe and that trash is littering the streets. We have perception problem down here and it is still absoulutely amazing to me that we were mentioned in something like Elle Decor! Have we ever had that kind of positive publicity before?
Hillman, I disagree with your comment "Trying to fine people as suggested would mean that business owners could literally never leave their shops, as they'd be subject to a trash fine within hours."
I'm not talking 24 hr. clean-up here, but why couldn't a buiness owner/manager be responsible during operating hours to get out and pick up litter in front of his store? Hell, why not asking them to pick up what's in front of their store within 2 hours of opening daily - what would be wrong with that? Say Bank of America opens at 9, is it too much to ask the business to have someone out there by 11:00 to have the sidewalks around their business picked up? Of course you'd think they'd want to for attracting business, but when customers have become accustomed to litter why pick it up?
We regulate business bathroom clean up, why not regulate their outside cleanliness? If my yard had trash thrown about it, I would (eventually) be required to pick it up or face fines by the city. Why not ask the same of H St business. I'm just asking for similar standards (or just some standards)be applied to the businesses along H.
I'm not trying to be flippant here, I'm just extremely frustrated with the amount of litter along the corridor - which often ends up in my yard, of course I pick it up immediatly (even though its not "mine") when it lands in my yard. Once it makes its way into MY yard however, I do see it as MY responsibility to pick it up.
Believe me, I'm all for personal responsibility first, but when that has clealy failed - including with the business owner who doesn't even make the effort - I think its time for something else to be done. I'm very open to other ideas.
What about trash cans? Are there an adequate amount? Because if not, that might be a good place to start. Maybe we just have to make it ridiculously easy for folks...
I know there are literally trash cans on every corner of every block downtown, if not more. (Granted they have a BID)...
I just want to pile on and say the H st. NE moniker just doesn't work. When I first moved to the area and would tell friends and coworkers where I bought I was flabbergasted as to how no one seemed to know what neighborhood I was talking about. Many people thought I lived downtown.
13th and H st NE seems pretty self explanatory but you have a lot of people in this city, including long time residents, who have never ventured down here, and of course you have the type of people who view DC as being nothing more than northwest and then those scary neighborhoods where all the black people live (sarcasm). They have no frame of reference for SW, SE or NE.
Sometimes a catchy name can lure people who would not have otherwise taken notice, which is going to be critical to having viable higher end businesses. Extremely few retailers can survive solely off the patronage of residents in the immediate area. you have to get the outsiders to come here and I think the Atlas District name is a respectable and catchy way of doing that.
im not saying it's a brilliant name, but its punchy and unique and better than H ST Ne. if you don't like it don't use it, but what's the harm if realtors or englert and others want to promote their businesses in that way?
I'm all for store owners taking some trash responsibility. But fines won't work.
Say you are the business two doors down from Popeyes. You'll be cleaning up Popeyes trash continuously. Why should you be responsible for this?
You ask why we regulate bathroom cleanliness but not street cleanliness. The obvious difference is that the bathroom is part of the business. The street is not. And the street is open to anyone. Quite often those littering on the street have absolutely no connection to the business.
And at some point business owners just aren't legally responsible for the trash that other people leave on the street.
And how do you determine how much trash is finable? Is it two Popeye's wrappers? Five? Ten? A malt liquor bottle left over from the night before? A malt liquor bottle deposited there at noon, after your mandated morning cleanup?
Can you ask them to clean it up? Sure. Can you make sure they know you won't shop there if they don't? Sure. But fining them just won't work.
The real fix would be to fine people for littering (and to provide adequate street trash cans). Littering is against the law. But as we know DC doesn't enforce laws. We only pass them.
Or, to put it more succinctly, we need to go all Singapore on litterers. Give a few litterbugs 40 lashes with a cane and I'm betting we'd see a lot less litter.
I'd be fine with that Hillman. I see your point and maybe your best point is not to support the businesses with trash out front, but I support very few businesses on H as it is and most of those that support the trashed buildings are trashy people from other areas. But there's got to be a better solution and I don't think "more trash cans" is the answer.
I guess apathy set in for many a while back and I'm just trying to keep it from sinking in to me. There was time I was optomistic about the corridor, but thats dwindling.
Ok, like many of you, I'm sick of trash from H St. making its way down my block. Please log on to dc.gov and join me in requesting a can at the corner of 5th and H. You can request a litter can at dc.gov.
If one shows up, I'll repost and we can collectively ask for a can at the next location.
The city says "Installation is based on the location of other cans and the amount of pedestrian traffic. The Solid Waste Management Division investigates all written litter can installation requests."
Perhaps if the street didn't look like a landfill those folks from NW would get of their cars.
We can clean up the street but staring at the trash and thinking "how awful" isn't going to do it.
I don't think the problem starts with trash cans. Trash cans are plentiful up and down Hst. People do not use them. Maybe they feel like they can litter because they feel disenfranchised or maybe this is how they were raised or maybe they have been littering for so long that they don't think anyone cares if they do it.
We need to reeducate the public that frequents Hst about not littering.
DPW spends the more money on our strip than any other neighborhood. I don't think a BID should be the sole responsiblity of the business owners on H ST, but of everyone in the ANC. I know I wouldn't mind paying $30 a year to see cleaner streets, not just on H ST, but Florida, Maryland, 8th, and 12th as well.
As for the Atlas district, I see the point in it now, I just wished the realtors could come up with one name. Me and the Mrs. went to GM's last night. It was packed. I've never seen it like that on a weekday. The best part was that it seemed like a lot of "bridge and tunnel" were patronizing the place (We need a better name for folks braving the crime and grittiness when they cross N Captiol. Too New York. I think that would be a more fun discussion to have than this H ST debalce:)) Could it be because it's the new Atlas District, instead of dirty NE? Or that the neighborhood has been getting a lot of press latley?
I agree with Hillman that fining the actual litterers will probably serve as more of a deterrent than fining the businesses. for one thing, the litterers are the source of the problem, so if we can stop it at the source by decreasing/discouraging the activity through fining, then the problem is a large way towards being solved.
conversely, if we do not fine the litterers, the businesses will have an endless cycle of trash to pick up because the true source of the littering is not being curtailing. Fining the businesses is attacking the symptom and not the disease.
As for the Atlas District moniker, I am dismayed beyond belief that people are acting as if that name only serves Joe Englert when the main beneficiary of that branding is the ATLAS THEATER. Not that it matters, because in the long run the beneficiary is all the homeowners in the area whose property values will go up as a successful Atlas District attracts more retailers, shoppers and prestigious press coverage for the whole area.
I am proud to see yet one more positive story on H Street development. Thank you, Elle Decor!
76 comments:
Great little blurb! Elle Decor, huh? Watch out G'town, here we come!
Speaking of arts and culture, there's a great review in today's Style section about a new production at the H St Playhouse.
Fuck I hate that Atlas moniker. I would love to organize a means to eliminate it...
george townsend, are you referring to "the H St Playhouse" as an "Atlas moniker," because I believe they are two completely seperate operations/owners.
I think he means the term "Atlas District."
Did anyone read the article about H street in this month's Hill Rag? There seems to be a lot of concern that the contruction that will begin on H will really hurt the businesses. Joe Englert is quoted as saying the city will be burning down the village before they try to build it up...that's scary. I hope the progress on H is not drastically hurt.
I like the moniker. Would you rather it be called the AutoZone District? Or the check cashing corridor?
nothing wrong with the atlas district name. the atlas theater is a great community resource so i appreciate the effort to promote it in this way.
This is a great article on DC in general....BUT to have H Street mentioned and Eastern Market(you can't see this from the link)is "amazing". Nothing east of
16th Street was ever considered to have anything worth talking about. Congrats to H Street!
Kinda like Chinatown's the Penn Quarter now? I agree, why can't it be the H st street district?
It's a great article though. We're really on the map now, aren't we?
I think so 8th & El. The positive publicity has just been amazing lately. Are we even beginning to border on "trendy"?
I agree with you too Ro, I like the name "Atlas District". I would consider The Atlas the most architecturally significant (or pleasing) structure on the corridor, so why not make it the focal point.
Although much of the revitalization began at the eastern end of the street and centered around the Atlas Theatre, it's no longer the case. Hence why the Atlas District moniker is no longer valid.
"H Street" is the predominant term used among residents (occasionally Swampoodle for those of us that live there, not to distinguish ourselves but because it's a fuckin dope neighourhood name).
Since Elle Decor is a shelter/home design mag, I'm hoping for retail now. Maybe some interesting home shops, design retail. Probably abit away, but love the international recognition.
Maybe I'm misunderstanding that post, but Swampoodle doesn't include any of H Street.
I think the Atlas District branding effort was intended only to apply to the stretch of H Street that runs from 12th Street to the Hub [aka the Starburst Plaza]. That is the portion of H Street that the master plan designates as the arts and entertainment district.
Sorry to put a damper on a positive streak but the following article is not all beds of roses:
http://americanobserver.net/2007/12/06/dc-begins-restoration-of-h-street/
One would rather read articles that speak positively however, sometimes an alternative view may be beneficial to keep us grounded
old news, anon 3:19. that article was posted on this blog on Dec. 7, 2007.
but your point is well taken.
still, by and large, the good news momentum is overtaking the "bad news". so i don't think we're exiting the restroom whilst spraying rose perfume into the air...
I didn't see anything bad about the American Observer article. It was just clearly stating that we still have a long way to go. Did I read it wrong?
Also while maybe a "negative" article, put your rose-colored glasses back on and see that the author said:
"Still in some of the first stages of gentrification, many of the locals in the area know there is a long way to go on H Street."
Even he couldn't deny that it was at least underway - although it took 40 years to begin. Now, back to our Elle Decor article....
thanks for the buzz kill, 3:19 but that article is old news.
and inked is right, "atlas district" refers to the east end of the street. no one is stealing "h street" from you folks on the west end.
The American Observer article doesn't say anything that isn't already known. I don't think anyone thinks H Street is fully realized. We don't even have any retail yet. But the fact that it is being mentioned so often in press outside the city and that it would be mentioned in a magazine like Elle Decor is significant to me.
In the article, Joe Englert states that it doesn't attract enough attention from the rest of the city. It always takes people from out side this city to recognize what it interesting in this city. People from NW act like they need a bodyguard to come to this side of town. What I hear and see is that there is a whole new group of people who are deaf and blind to those stodgy old attitudes. I applaud them.
In my opinion, H Street is acting like every other city where this sort of thing happens. The pattern I see is positive. As a long time resident, this is gratifying.
Just to let everyone know the newest nomiker for the neighborhood is "SOFLO" South of florida north of H, That's where all of us "Cool" People live. LOL
and inked is right, "atlas district" refers to the east end of the street. no one is stealing "h street" from you folks on the west end.
This isn't a matter of theft, it's the media's juxtaposition of the Atlas moniker on H Street as a whole. It is my understanding most residents can't stand the Atlas District title...not just me pushing my opinion as usual.
SOFLO is yesterday's news, as is North Capitol Hill, and NOMA. All terms pushed by realtors/developers. I saw someone walk into Sidamo wearing a NOMA hat and wanted to do them a favour and throw it into the traffic of H Street.
SoFlo has been around for at least four years.
I'll guess you just moved here, eh?
George,
I think we're going to have NOMA around for a bit. They have that BID. My only gripe is that it doesn't pertain to the neighborhood as well as that very small commercial district, and Senate Square.
I saw a dude wearing a full NOMA worker outfit clearing trash from the Hopscotch Bridge. Wouldn't it be cool if he had to do the same on the rest of H st?
AMEN, Please bring a BID to H St. to pick up after these lazy, trashy people that can't walk a half a block to a garbage can. These people really are pathetic and I bet 90% of them don't even live in our 'hood.
I also say fine these business owners that can't pick up the trash in front of their buildings within say - two hours. Parking enforcement gives a ticket if your out of your zone for more than two hours - why not have some body clock the trash in front of any particular business, tell the owner/manager they have two hours (or maybe 4) to get it picked up and if its not picked up when the officer comes back by, he gets a nice fine. I bet it only needs to happen two or three times and businesses would take much more responsibility for the neighborhood. Don't even get me started on trash.
And getting back on topic, thank goodness Elle Decor turned a blind eye to our little trash problem.
Nobody calls it the "Atlas District". We are, and always have been, "HstNE" and it is about time we showed pride in our corridor.
Stop trying to rename us to boost your business.
A dude opens up a bar and then gets to rename a neighborhood? It doesn't seem right.
i'm right about 2nd and Parker. NoMA folks are cleaning up our area (east of the tracks), and i couldn't be happier.
it's a shame that the rest of the corridor has to suffer.
maybe someone should mention the idea to this anwar guy who is supposed to actually be accomplishing stuff (like a attracting a store on 3rd and H).
good luck.
and please, don't respond with all this crap about him being around forever and so concerned about H street. he only gives a shit if it's in his own interest.
prove me wrong.
anwar is a self serving twit. i don't give a shit if he's been around forever. maybe that's a good reason for him to find a day job, as he hasn't done much (if anything at all).
englert blows him away, in terms of accomplishments.
i wouldn't hire anwar to serve burgers at mcdonald's. you noobs should look into it....
he's a marion barry, old school crook. and a hinderance to h street development.
spend three minutes talking to him, and you'll see....
the dude needs to go.
Fining businesses for trash that the general public throws in front of their establishment isn't really a workable solution.
A great example is all the trash the Popeyes on 8th St SE generates. Patrons throw their Popeyes trash all up and down 8th Street. Why should a business owner a block away get fined?
And to be fair we'd need to implement the same sort of fine system for any trash that people deposit in front of residences as well.
Trying to fine people as suggested would mean that business owners could literally never leave their shops, as they'd be subject to a trash fine within hours.
Yes, Hillman, I couldn't agree more with your statement: "And to be fair we'd need to implement the same sort of fine system for any trash that people deposit in front of residences as well." I wish we could....
In all seriousness folks, whether its trash fines, investigating Anwar's interest (or lack thereof) in H St., a BID, if H St. is really going to reach its full potential, we've GOT to start by picking up the trash. Its a total disgrace - and should be an embarrassment. Is there something else that can be done? As homeowners can we pay for a BID? I'm really frustrated here.
For information on NOMA, check out www.nomabid.org
Whoever got the NOMA BID going did a good thing for that area of town in that they launched a street and sidewalk cleaning program that operates seven days a week.
There are some many business improvement districts around the city -- Golden Triangle, Downtown DC, Capitol Hill, Georgetown just to name a few off the top of my head. I think H Street could benefit greatly from a BID.
I believe that at the ANC meeting that was on H Street, Anwar reported on the BID situation on H Street. He said there was not enough interest and that most of the businesses were not interested in the extra payment. I seem to remember that the newer businesses at the east end of the street were paying for their own trash pick-up or something like that. Maybe someone else who was at that meeting with a better recollection of the facts can weigh in.
I do think that with all the BIDS in the city now and the statistics on their success that it is incredible that many of the H Street merchants are unwillingly to move on this. I would think that Anwar would have some clout with the old group or at the very least pull together a coalition to do some arm twisting(but that is probably wishful thinking).
Joe Englert said:
For nearly three years we have had a BID on H St, we clean up trash twice or more 6 times a week, advertise and have a shuttle. We don't want a director or lots of overhead----5-7 business pay for everything.
We call opur area 12-15th street, the Atlas District because most people in the District and the area have no idea where H street northeast is!
I suggested Atlas District because of how hard it was to convey where we were. H N.W? H N.E.? 8th? 8th S.E.
Also, it gave us a way to market and brand ourselves. There was no way I was going to open all these places and not advertise the hell out of it. No one is forcing anybody to use the term. If you don't like the Atlas District, simply don't call it that. Thanks for all your interest
poo poo, I think we are neighbours.
Why do you say that George Townsend, do you smell him?
Joe, I appreciate your efforts for creating a BID for the Atlas Distict (12th-15th Streets), but that doesn't do us any good from 11th to 3rd Street.
For those of us not benefiting from an Atlas BID, what can we do as H St area homeowners to keep the shit coming from Murry's grocery store, Good Danny's Take Out, Cluck-U Fried Chicken, and the bus stop from landing in our front yards?
Many of us are getting fed up with the amount of trash on H and would like to do something about it! Again, I appreciate your efforts for the Atlas District, but PLEASE tell us how you went about creating it and what we might could do to expand these efforts up the entire corridor? Thanks.
Joe,
That is bullshit and insulting. People know where HstNE is. And don't tell the story of your deaf relative. You are trying to rename this area for your own selfish purposes. The only way that you could be more transparent is if you tried to rename it "Joetown"
Joe Englert said:
Our BID works because Atlas, Argo, Gallery O, Palace, Granville Moore's, Red and the Black and Rock and Roll Hotel and Sova constantly pay the freight to make it happen. (And recently NAPA has also made inroads to join, so we would stretch down to their store front.)
We have a like minded agenda and actually put money up on a weekly basis.
I have the impression that business owners from 3-11 don't have that much commonality or like-mindedness to pitch in and help one another. All those national chains don't help things along either. There is no local emotional investment at all for their part.
As far as BIDS and funding go, I would prefer the government never get involved in anything we do...for the most part the people in economic development and other quasi-governmental groups have no clue how neighborhoods work or how commercial districts are built. It is a depressing thing to see how they have gone about the beginnings of the streetscape. They acted as we didn't exist and are comically trying to recreate the wheel we already have going.
Amazing but you NEVER see a government person with access to the purse strings on H at night. Pretty silly for people promising to invest $50 million into the street that they don't know the area. Downright scary, isn't it?
Joe Englert said:
MOST people have know idea where H street northeast. I live in Cleveland Park on a street full of middle-aged or older people. 99% have NEVER been to H street--the one woman who did was an actress who performed at H street. Trust me, most of Upper Northwest thinks Dupont Circle is dangerous.
Mikey, come to any BID meeting...come up with a new name, buy a building, open something up--coffee house, bar, clothes store, we'd love to have you aboard. And any time you needed a hand, we would be there for you. We welcome everybody and anybody to participate in the street
PooPoo
If Anwar is a twit, you can get rid of him. All you have to do is join the H street Main Street board, bring a couple of friends to join with you and vote him out. Then you can have your shot to do nothing but be a critic.
Joe,
I do own a building and I do participate in H street NE all the time. You do not. You only promote the "Atlas District". Where is that? I invite you to participate in the business improvement of HstNE.
Joe,
We don't need a new name. That is something you will never understand. We are not a new neighborhood. We are HstNE.
Joe Englert said:
Mikey, you never have to use the term Atlas, it is just what we do to market our businesses.
I did not say I cure cancer or do unbelievable charity work. I am just trying to survive as a small businessman until H street really thrives.
I think its great you own a building on H. And I am more than willing to give advice to you or any new business people. I have screwed up royally many times in the past and would caution any new business owner to avoid the mistakes I have made. Text me any time (202) 258-0356 and I'll meet you for a coffee or beer and see if we can't help improve things together. Thanks
You don't need a BID to pick up trash on H Street. Workgloves, trash bags, and an hour of one's time are not expensive. I am constantly picking up crap on 3rd Street between H Street and K Street...if I have to head down to H next, that's what I will do.
Pardon my ignorance but someone please elaborate what does "BID" stand for (is it business improvement district???)
Yes, Neo, a BID is Business Improvement District. It's unfortunate that the businesses on H from 11th-3rd (excluding Napa), could care less about the improvement of H. It's sad. And if I'm not mistaken I believe Anwar owns two building in the 1000 block - does he support a BID?
George, I've put on my gloves at least once a week for two years now and pick up all the trash in my block and quite frankly, I'm tired of picking up after other people. I'm ready for others to take responsibility for their own houses and their own store front.
Joe, we can call it Joestown if you want to.
I challenge anyone out there to name one person that's done more for the revitalization of this corridor and bringing recognition to it than Joe Englert through his investments!
hey, GT...
i think we are neighbs.
i'm actually on parker street.
are you the guy that i constantly have to call the cops on?
if so, please pick up your condoms when you're done.
thank you! ;o)
hey mikey!
no offense, but ....
you're an idiot.
that's all.
I have to agree with Joe. Outside of Capitol Hill and the relatively small number of folks that patronize the music clubs on H St very few people know where H St NE is. It's complicated by the fact that H St NW is becoming a destination area of it's own, and of course the fact that "H" sounds like "8th", as in Barracks Row.
And those that do know the address remember the dangerous old H Street.
Any time I try to explain H Street to people they invariably have no idea what I'm talking about.
If I were a businessman and I was sinking millions into an area with zero name recognition I'd damn sure come up with a recognizeable name as well.
As Joe said, if you don't like it, don't use it.
As for Swampoodle, that is a terrific name. I may be wrong, but wasn't Swampoodle basically West of North Capitol Street?
poo poo, I am on 3rd. Sorry about leaving behind the Magnum wrappers ;)
Wikipedia's current Swampoodle entry is ambiguous, as the geographic boundaries cited contradict many of the historic characteristics of the area. I should probably fix that.
swampoodle was the area between North Capitol and 3rd St. NE (on both sides of the Tiber Creek), and I guess it extended west some but I am not sure how far. There's a person who wrote her masters thesis on it, but I am forgetting her last name right now, she works for AIA and did a presentation at the thing we did earlier in the summer.
Swampoodle was eradicated for the construction of the Union Station railward. Many of the people moved east into the H St. neighborhood. Kathleen's family did, moving to 517 H St., and having a business on the ground floor.
I'm no historian, but I've heard repeatedly that the heart of Swampoodle was basically the area where Cardoza is now, with perhaps a bit of overlap into NE.
Apparently there was also a Swampoodle baseball stadium, where Union Station now sits?
In any event it looks like Swampoodle wouldn't cover the greater H Street area, at least not from a historical stance. Which is a shame, as it's a great name.
I have to echo Joe and Hillman. You are naive if you think that H Street(NE) is well known to all in the city. I have lived on Capitol Hill for many years and the attitude of people in NW to this side of town is nothing short of ASTOUNDING. Once your child starts going to high school over there, they come home and say that so and so's mother is afraid to let her come to the Hill(remember that is not even H Street). I had another parent tell us "we were brave to stay on the Hill". You hear this from all the parents all the time, once your children start going to school in NW.
Many of you have not been in the city long enough to know the attitudes that people have about this area of town. Again, the fact that H Street was mentioned in this Elle Decor article is significant. By the way it was written by a Washington Post reporter.
I don't know about you, but "Swampoodle East" sound pretty damned classy. Beats the crap out of fake-ass realtor pseudo-names like NoMa, BeDuCi, and Penn Quarter.
I'm still pissed that Dupont/Adams Morgan/U Street isn't called "DAM-U."
I could take the Atlas District name or leave it, but I completely agree about the H Street/8th Street thing. Many many people are very ignorant about stuff outside of certain areas in NW. If you haven't ever shopped DC real estate and you don't have another reason to know the chances are that you won't know much outside of NW. And hey, if calling a little subsection of H the Atlas District helps it stick in people's minds I'm not going to object. I don't see it as renaming the area, but just giving a nickname to an arts district. That kind of thing is hardly uncommon.
It's pretty silly to complain about the use of the term Atlas district to describe the city-designated Arts and Entertainment District. I think it's safe to say that the over 21 million dollar investment into H by the Atlas project (some of that $ came in 25 dollar checks from over 200 neighbors) was a significant force behind the revitalization efforts. It's also a visual and historical landmark....
It's easy to remember. And it's really meant as an advertising, branding tool for the rest of the city. It's for those who think anything beyond Union Station is a war zone.
When we first started having performances here you have no idea how many calls we'd get to the box office, 5 minutes to showtime, from a clueless person standing at 13th and H NW. This is a reeducation effort and it takes time but it's working.
We have some performing groups who have lost audience members due to the fact they moved across town. People too terrified to park their cars so they just went home. Yes it's silly but it's also reality and we need to address it head on.
So anything that we can collectively do to positively brand this neighborhood is a good thing, the fact that the national media has picked it up is fantastic.
Joe decided to take a HUGE chance by basically reinventing a neighborhood based upon two theatres were going to be there (because we really all owe it to Bruce and Adlele Robey-the owners of the H Street Playhouse, they were the real instigators, Jane Lang and the Atlas Performing Arts Center project came about shortly after them.)
And the story I heard about the term Atlas District was that it was maybe Joe's idea (is that right?) not totally embraced by everyone working down here then but a gentleman who was a third generation H Street resident said that "after the riots, there were 90 buildings destroyed but the Atlas stayed. like a beacon. it should be the Atlas District"
honestly don''t we have better things to be angry about?
It's pretty silly to complain about the use of the term Atlas district to describe the city-designated Arts and Entertainment District. I think it's safe to say that the over 21 million dollar investment...
I don't think anyone's complaining about the art/entertainment area being called the Atlas District, it's simply the media/outsiders using it to describe H Street as a whole. I'm not overly worried about this, as the moniker will fizzle on its own (assuming the sentiments of residents in this forum are reflective of the remaining neighbours).
Beautiful and thoughtful post, Jen.
(and about the plumber from NW who was coming to my house and went to every 11th street and swore he was outside my door, until last but not least, he got to NE).
In regards to Swampoodle, here's what was written by Nancy Schwartz in the March 2003 "Voice of the Hill" (they ran a whole set of articles on the history of H Street, email me at ge0rgetown@yahoo!.com if you would like a ZIP file of the series):
...originally centered near the intersection of H and North Capitol Street, extending from about G Street to K Street and from 1st Street, NW to 2nd Street, Through the center of it, just east of North Capitol Street, ran the principal branch of Tiber Creek, creating the low swampy ground from which the area took its name. The area was first settled in the 1850s by immigrants fleeing the Irish potato famine...
GT...you may have missed it, but the Elle Decor reporter was a Post reporter writing for the article for the magazine.
Inked is right.
Like it or not, Capitol Hill almost always still comes with a caveat. I can't count the number of times I've heard people talk about how charming the Hill is, but they almost always follow it up with a little crack about crime.
The Hill has not traditionally been a 'destination neighborhood'. For decades we've been our own little self-contained neighborhood, for better or worse.
It's particularly galling to hear NW residents harp about Hill crime, then ignore U Street and Columbia Heights crime.
But galling or not, it's a fact of life.
And it's doubly bad if you are trying to talk up the Hill to out-of-towners. A good many Embassies, travel agencies, etc., will flat out tell their folks that, again, the Hill is historic and charming but unsafe.
So given all that a little rebranding may not be a bad idea.
George, I think you're in the minority here in that a vast number of people posting on this strand are either for or indifferent to the name "Atlas District". The Atlas is the anchor down there - not Joe's establishments though he's done wonders toward its revitalization as well.
And I agree with Jen from the Atlas, who obviouly has a self-promotional view (but don't we all?) that "don't we have better things to be angry about?" Yes, the fact the people are coming down here and don't feel safe and that trash is littering the streets. We have perception problem down here and it is still absoulutely amazing to me that we were mentioned in something like Elle Decor! Have we ever had that kind of positive publicity before?
What happened to "Near Northeast" as the name for the area? Too general? I like that name?
Hillman, I disagree with your comment "Trying to fine people as suggested would mean that business owners could literally never leave their shops, as they'd be subject to a trash fine within hours."
I'm not talking 24 hr. clean-up here, but why couldn't a buiness owner/manager be responsible during operating hours to get out and pick up litter in front of his store? Hell, why not asking them to pick up what's in front of their store within 2 hours of opening daily - what would be wrong with that? Say Bank of America opens at 9, is it too much to ask the business to have someone out there by 11:00 to have the sidewalks around their business picked up? Of course you'd think they'd want to for attracting business, but when customers have become accustomed to litter why pick it up?
We regulate business bathroom clean up, why not regulate their outside cleanliness? If my yard had trash thrown about it, I would (eventually) be required to pick it up or face fines by the city. Why not ask the same of H St business. I'm just asking for similar standards (or just some standards)be applied to the businesses along H.
I'm not trying to be flippant here, I'm just extremely frustrated with the amount of litter along the corridor - which often ends up in my yard, of course I pick it up immediatly (even though its not "mine") when it lands in my yard. Once it makes its way into MY yard however, I do see it as MY responsibility to pick it up.
Believe me, I'm all for personal responsibility first, but when that has clealy failed - including with the business owner who doesn't even make the effort - I think its time for something else to be done. I'm very open to other ideas.
What about trash cans? Are there an adequate amount? Because if not, that might be a good place to start. Maybe we just have to make it ridiculously easy for folks...
I know there are literally trash cans on every corner of every block downtown, if not more. (Granted they have a BID)...
I just want to pile on and say the H st. NE moniker just doesn't work. When I first moved to the area and would tell friends and coworkers where I bought I was flabbergasted as to how no one seemed to know what neighborhood I was talking about. Many people thought I lived downtown.
13th and H st NE seems pretty self explanatory but you have a lot of people in this city, including long time residents, who have never ventured down here, and of course you have the type of people who view DC as being nothing more than northwest and then those scary neighborhoods where all the black people live (sarcasm). They have no frame of reference for SW, SE or NE.
Sometimes a catchy name can lure people who would not have otherwise taken notice, which is going to be critical to having viable higher end businesses. Extremely few retailers can survive solely off the patronage of residents in the immediate area. you have to get the outsiders to come here and I think the Atlas District name is a respectable and catchy way of doing that.
im not saying it's a brilliant name, but its punchy and unique and better than H ST Ne. if you don't like it don't use it, but what's the harm if realtors or englert and others want to promote their businesses in that way?
Wait, theres black people in this neighborhood?
Anonymous 11:43:
I'm all for store owners taking some trash responsibility. But fines won't work.
Say you are the business two doors down from Popeyes. You'll be cleaning up Popeyes trash continuously. Why should you be responsible for this?
You ask why we regulate bathroom cleanliness but not street cleanliness. The obvious difference is that the bathroom is part of the business. The street is not. And the street is open to anyone. Quite often those littering on the street have absolutely no connection to the business.
And at some point business owners just aren't legally responsible for the trash that other people leave on the street.
And how do you determine how much trash is finable? Is it two Popeye's wrappers? Five? Ten? A malt liquor bottle left over from the night before? A malt liquor bottle deposited there at noon, after your mandated morning cleanup?
Can you ask them to clean it up? Sure. Can you make sure they know you won't shop there if they don't? Sure. But fining them just won't work.
The real fix would be to fine people for littering (and to provide adequate street trash cans). Littering is against the law. But as we know DC doesn't enforce laws. We only pass them.
Or, to put it more succinctly, we need to go all Singapore on litterers. Give a few litterbugs 40 lashes with a cane and I'm betting we'd see a lot less litter.
I'd be fine with that Hillman. I see your point and maybe your best point is not to support the businesses with trash out front, but I support very few businesses on H as it is and most of those that support the trashed buildings are trashy people from other areas. But there's got to be a better solution and I don't think "more trash cans" is the answer.
I guess apathy set in for many a while back and I'm just trying to keep it from sinking in to me. There was time I was optomistic about the corridor, but thats dwindling.
Ok, like many of you, I'm sick of trash from H St. making its way down my block. Please log on to dc.gov and join me in requesting a can at the corner of 5th and H. You can request a litter can at dc.gov.
http://dpw.dc.gov/dpw/cwp/view,a,1203,q,518171.asp
If one shows up, I'll repost and we can collectively ask for a can at the next location.
The city says "Installation is based on the location of other cans and the amount of pedestrian traffic. The Solid Waste Management Division investigates all written litter can installation requests."
Perhaps if the street didn't look like a landfill those folks from NW would get of their cars.
We can clean up the street but staring at the trash and thinking "how awful" isn't going to do it.
I don't think the problem starts with trash cans. Trash cans are plentiful up and down Hst. People do not use them. Maybe they feel like they can litter because they feel disenfranchised or maybe this is how they were raised or maybe they have been littering for so long that they don't think anyone cares if they do it.
We need to reeducate the public that frequents Hst about not littering.
DPW spends the more money on our strip than any other neighborhood. I don't think a BID should be the sole responsiblity of the business owners on H ST, but of everyone in the ANC. I know I wouldn't mind paying $30 a year to see cleaner streets, not just on H ST, but Florida, Maryland, 8th, and 12th as well.
As for the Atlas district, I see the point in it now, I just wished the realtors could come up with one name. Me and the Mrs. went to GM's last night. It was packed. I've never seen it like that on a weekday. The best part was that it seemed like a lot of "bridge and tunnel" were patronizing the place (We need a better name for folks braving the crime and grittiness when they cross N Captiol. Too New York. I think that would be a more fun discussion to have than this H ST debalce:)) Could it be because it's the new Atlas District, instead of dirty NE? Or that the neighborhood has been getting a lot of press latley?
I agree with Hillman that fining the actual litterers will probably serve as more of a deterrent than fining the businesses. for one thing, the litterers are the source of the problem, so if we can stop it at the source by decreasing/discouraging the activity through fining, then the problem is a large way towards being solved.
conversely, if we do not fine the litterers, the businesses will have an endless cycle of trash to pick up because the true source of the littering is not being curtailing. Fining the businesses is attacking the symptom and not the disease.
As for the Atlas District moniker, I am dismayed beyond belief that people are acting as if that name only serves Joe Englert when the main beneficiary of that branding is the ATLAS THEATER. Not that it matters, because in the long run the beneficiary is all the homeowners in the area whose property values will go up as a successful Atlas District attracts more retailers, shoppers and prestigious press coverage for the whole area.
I am proud to see yet one more positive story on H Street development. Thank you, Elle Decor!
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