The City Paper has a piece looking at a now decrepit strip mall that was supposed to spur development in the neighborhood. There are lots of things I could say at this point [about selling oneself short, becoming disillusioned, about interim uses, changing demographics, maybe just about poor strategy, ect.] and plenty of buildings on H to which I could point. Instead, I'm only going to say six words- H Street Connection and Auto Zone.
36 comments:
I hate doing this, but in defense of Auto Zone and its adjacent lot- this was the site of buildings that were burned down by the neighborhood itself in 1968. Don't anyone envision nice locally owned businesses that were forced out by big business to be torn down for an auto parts store. The neighborhood took care of the teardown all on its own. I'm not sure of the history of the H street Connection site, but it may be the same situation.
I just googled "H Street connection" and found this funny accounting of H Street life from a former local. It's good for a laugh or three! http://conesblogjam.blogspot.com/2005/10/h-street-connection.html
Both need to go sooner than later. Auto Zone is great for the "do it yourselfer" but on more than one occasion we have found oil placed in containers either on the street or in our alley. Supposidly the police are suppose to stop those "mechanics" from repairing cars in the parking lot. NOPE..it continues with litte regard to where they dispose of items they are through with.
I could say so many things as to why the "connection" needs to be replaced with the ideas that were depicted in the artists" rendition we saw.
Tom A., that's basically my point. Auto Zone is hated by many now, but at least some people thought it was a good idea at the time it was built. And yeah, I don't think much of anything was there before.
my biggest concern with auto zone is their aggressiveness in ticketing and towing non customers, and their nonexistent enforcement of the car repair rules. i wish they would enforce both the parking and the do it yourself work equally.
It's too bad that the Auto Zone can't be a better neighbor and make its parking lot available in the evening to people who are patronizing other businesses in the neighborhood. No doubt they make more money on kickbacks from towing than if they charged a few bucks for parking, but that's a bad way to build goodwill.
Is there a sign at the Auto Zone that says "Customer Parking only"?
Charles, I'm fairly sure they don't tow after 9pm, when the 'Zone closes.
Tom A.,
I saw that post back when the guy first wrote it, and in case anyone thinks those numbers/stats he cites are remotely accurate...they aren't now, and they weren't then. The pawn shop and laundromat numbers are completely out there.
tom, that's good to know, thanks.
In my small hometown in PA the local Autozone workers are very kind and part of their job is to offer services for parts just purchased (ex/ install new headlight bulb, install new wiper blades). And no tips are allowed to be accepted by the employees (my brother worked at one shortly, so I know this was company policy). Yeah yeah I know I don't live there anymore and this is the city, but still, chains are supposed to give equal service no matter the location.
At the H St location I couldn't imagine an offer of such kindness from the staff.
I fully accept that Autozone was a nice replacement of burned-out buildings, but its time has passed. There is already an Autozone on RI Ave. More importantly, it's DC property. I know some have scoffed before, but with a new paint-job and its parking lot, the Autozone spot could easily transform into a Trader Joes.
If AutoZone is going to be an ass about allowing people to park on their lot after hours, area businesses and residents should be more vigilant about calling the cops when customers come out and make illegal car repairs on the lot. It may or may not change anything with wether H St customers can use the lot or not after hours, but at least it will cut down on this environmentally hazerdous criminal activity.
Let's get our facts straight. Alot of the rioting was not from individuals living in the neighborhood, but people who came into the city and choose to target an area where they felt disenfranchised.
The Auto Zone occupies the space where Chuck Levin's Music Center used to be (among other things). Someone who grew up in the neighborhood told me that as a kid, he and other kids used to paste their faces to the window and imagine themselves as musicians playing the instruments insde. Thanks to the riots, Chuck Levin's moved to Rockville, and we get a bulldozed lot with a cinderblock Auto Zone in its place. I've never seen anyone but the street mechanics plaster their faces to the window at the Auto Zone (in fact, one actually works behind the counter inside...). Imagine how well Chuck Levin's would have fit into the arts & entertainment district that is the vision for this part of H Street.
As for parking at the Auto Zone at any time: don't. I live within eyesight of the parking lot and they DO tow after hours, weekends, late evening... I honestly think they're making an effort to be total jerks about it. During store hours, they just tow the cars that aren't beat up. Once, a customer came running out of the Auto Zone to stop his car from getting towed. He had the only nice car in the lot. You can rotate your tires, do an oil change, recharge your air conditioning, change your battery, do a brake job, pee in the weeds... But if you park there and your car does not look like you bought it at a dealer auction, YOU ARE GOING TO GET TOWED! I have seen many Martini Lounge and Red & Black patrons disappointed after parking in the Auto Zone lot.
Mr. Bubba, will you, the other area residents, and H St business owners PLEASE start calling the police when you see these ILLEGAL activities you just mentioned taking place on their lot? Or take pictures of what's going on. It may not correct the probems with H St parking, but may curb this illegal and environmentally hazzardous activity so blatantly taking place in broad daylight. Has anyone reached out to Tommy Wells about the illegal activity taking place there to see if he can put pressure on law enforcement to ticket people? If AutoZone isn't interested in being neighborly with us, I say its time to start fighting back.
The land belongs to DC? If that's the case then perhaps our local politicians could force Auto Zone to stop towing patrons of other businesses after Auto Zone hours. That's doing a huge disservice to the community at large.
And who knows. It may be against the rules of their original agreement with the city.
I should point out that it's pretty likely that the developers involved in that parcel undoubtedly got some nice perks from the city in return for building there.
Perks don't come for free. They should require that the business be a decent neighbor.
On the flip side of that, if the vehicle is still in the lot the next morning when Auto Zone opens then by all means they should have the right to tow, if they in fact have that legal right.
Hillman, how can we find out? My sense is that the community (which includes business owners) is getting tired of the intolerance when it comes to the use of "their" lot and are ready to start fighting back. It makes no sense for customers to be driving to H St to eat at Granville Moores or go to a play at the Atlas only to come out and see that their cars have been towed. Do you think these will be returning customers? And if they are, the next time they'll avoid the AutoZone parking and park on the street in front of our houses.
This is an issue that affects us all and we should come together to reach some type of cooperative agreement between H St. business owners and AutoZone. If they continue to be unwilling to cooperate, its time to turn up the pressure and point out their illegal activities. I would love to know if this is city property or if there is some type of use agreement? Anyone know how to find out? Thanks.
Anon:
I don't really know the full history there. It's my understanding that it was brought in under some sort of sweetheart deal with various quasi-city agencies and other hangers-on.
I'd say that's a mighty fine question for the local ANC rep.
And once we know for sure, a mighty good question to pose to AutoZone Inc., which, according to their website, prides itself on 'community outreach'.
I'm not sure the unnecessary towing of cars in the only decent offstreet parking lot in a recovering urban strip whilst letting illegal auto repair work is the 'community outreach' they had in mind.
1207 H Street NE
Owner: H Street Investment Corporation (501 H St NE)
The land is valued at over $6 million, and brings in over $100K in property tax revenue each year.
(via a simple search of the online tax records)
Local property records show that property is owned by H STREET INVESTMENT CORPORATION, mailing address: 501 H ST NE; WASHINGTON DC20002-4337. This comes from a DC government website so take the accuracy how you want. From that information, I am not sure how to figure out what degree, if any, of ownership the government has. Maybe someone else knows how to.
Which ANC Commissioner covers this address? That's also who we need to target for discussion.
it's owned by a partnership with the managing partner being the H Street CDC. It's not really govt. owned land as a result.
"it's owned by a partnership with the managing partner being the H Street CDC. It's not really govt. owned land as a result."
And there you have it.
That's the problem I have with the CDC concept. It sure as heck is DC and federal taxpayer money supporting them, but there's no accountability.
What part of 'community development' involves denying other businesses the only available parking lot during off hours?
There's a lot of confusion out there with the term "Community Development Corporation". That doesn't mean that the entity must be involved in community development, it's just a name and a misnomer at that in this case. Kind of like renting from Advantage rental car. It's not really an advantage to rent from them. You are actually at a disadvantage because of the business model, but it just doesn't make good business sense to call a company Disadvantage rental car. Get it?
tom a.,
you can't say "the neighborhood itself" burned down the buildings where autozone now stands. there is no way of proving WHO burnt down those buildings or where they came from, so why assume the arsonists were from here? criminals had cars in 1968, it could have been anyone from anywhere.
as for autozone towing folks who park there after hours, is there a way the local ANC can work out some kind of deal between the CDC and the H St BID (assuming there is one?) so that Atlas District business customers can park there after hours?
If you have a problem with the Autozone, Complaining to the corporate office DOES help. Friends who own franchises tell me that when they get complaints into the corporate offices, they realy have to take care of it.
Heres the info.
Autozone, Inc.
123 S Front St
Memphis, Tennessee USA 38103-3607
Telephone: (901) 495-6500
Thanks DCJaded. Maybe if Fengler and the entire ANC would send a letter on behalf of the ANC to the corporate headquarters and cc the local store, maybe they would relax their parking rules. Does anyone know which ANC Representative covers the AutoZone area?
Has anyone talked to the H St CDC? Maybe a letter from our ANC might help here too. Seems like we need to start putting pressure on our ANC Representatives and Tommy Wells to help us address this if they aren't already. Maybe one of them will weigh in here.
Just this morning before Auto Zone was even open, there were cars parked in their lot. While waiting for the bus, I also saw 3 cars pull in, the drivers get out and walk west on H St with their hard hats on.
I could visualize that whole block being torn down and some nice places with outdoor eating going in there. In fact, the neighborhood could use a bakery, a UPS store, anything other than what is there now.
On another note, I do not really want to see the yellow building on the corner of FL and Montello become an auto store as I fear we will find more and more of these parking lot mechanics doing work on our blocks and leaving their messes behind. I saw men working there on Sunday afternoon hauling stuff in and out.
Let the free market decide.
A small contingent wants to turn H street into a boulevard lined with Yoga places and overpriced wine bars. I would prefer it to have a mix of everything, including Autozones and the like.
Autozone is a convenient place to fix your car. They are cheap and helpful, which is something a lot of the people in the neighborhood appreciate.
Anon 2:22
You said, "Autozone is a convenient place to fix your car. They are cheap and helpful, which is something a lot of the people in the neighborhood appreciate."
Granted they are helpful and cheap, but it should not be a place to fix cars. It isn't a repair shop in the true sense of the word. In fact, I believe that they were informed years ago that auto repairs in their parking lot was not allowed. Police were actually going into the parking lot at one point to stop it. Unfortunately, most of the mechanics that work on cars there do not dispose of oil, and other parts in a safe manner. I have seen them dump stuff in trash cans, or even one time witnessed one particular person pouring old oil in the street. If they want to do work, then a hazard container should be provided for the dumping of all waste.
My understanding is that illegal disposal of used oil has been a big issue with Auto Zone. If you do change your own oil, all you have to do is take it to the weekly hazardous waste disposal day. I've been with a friend and it is free and quick [they will even return your container if you like].
How come these guys aren't ticketed when changing their oil(or the store fined for allowing it to happen on their property)? Even though we may not like that they have cars towed after hours, can't we address the environmental hazards they bring on the neighborhood. Surely DCPD see the people with their hoods up and could do something. Clearly some people aren't doing their jobs here - from the ANC, to the police, to Councilman Wells, and a very complacent public.
are there no empty buildings left on h, that the redevelopment of Autozone has such importance?
It has absoultely nothing to do with "empty buildings", it has to do with illegal environmental hazzards - and the fact that people and management are turning a blind eye to it.
Wow, I checked out for a fair bit, it's nice to know people here have strong yet myopic opinions. An Auto Parts store is needed. Maybe not there but where, there is as good a place as any. End.
Environmental dumping should be grounds to shut down any business. End.
For those w/o cars or an aversion to cars. Get over it. End.
For the people that park their at their own risk, it's just that at their risk. Come back in my driveway and see what happens to your car. :) End.
-Robby
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