A reader reports the following:
I got all of this information from a storeowner in the H Street Connection.
The property owners are making changes to prevent continued use of the parking lot as a park-n-ride for Prince George s County denizens. It appears concrete islands have been poured to either host access control devices or change traffic patterns (or both). Customers would still be able to park for free. Perhaps your readers can take some snapshots of the new construction.
7-Eleven is coming. She did not know when.
Those interested in learning more about changes to the parking policies at the H Street Connection should attend tonight's PSA 102 meeting (info posted below).
34 comments:
That is great news! Now if only we can get Hechinger's Mall to adopt similar parking policies for those PGC denizens who do the same thing.
Does this mean that the redevelopment isn't going to be happening?
Glad to see 7-11 coming. I hope they will remain after the redevelopment is complete.
I will be at the meeting to speak in opposition to the proposed 7-11 and hope others who don't want to see that going in there will be as well. Just because they signed a contract doesn't mean they will open.
"Just because they signed a contract doesn't mean they will open." Sad but true.
Just because they signed a contract doesn't mean they will open.
And just because you voice opposition doesn't mean they will not open. The system is rigged so that the community has very, very little influence over what happens in the community.
A 7-Eleven will not have an adverse impact on traffic and aesthetics.
Once H Street Connection is complete, 7-Eleven will be replaced as there will be no store-front parking available.
There is a 7-11 on Barracks Row. There is a 7-11 on 17th in Dupont. There is a 7-11 in Logan and on U Street. There is a 7-11 further up on 8th in Cap Hill (which I find odd since the new one will only be a few blocks away.)
What's wrong with 7-11's? A convienence store is a respectable store front. And, when the redevelopment takes place, there will be a huge market right above the store that will greatly need items of conveinence.
Andrew, I believe that the 7-11 is going in now and will be retained after the redevelopment.
D
Does this mean that the redevelopment isn't going to be happening?
The redevelopment is going to be happening but isn't slated to begin until atleast 2012. I would bet 7-Eleven can (with permits in place) build-out a store in a week...and be up and running in under a month. And instantly profitable if terms of the lease are negotiated in their favor.
Why hasn't Auto Zone thought of parking gates similiar to ones going in at H St. Connection? Seems installing a gate at each of two entrances to stay closed after the store closes which be much cheaper than paying off duty officers to patrol the lot?
What's wrong with a 7-11?
There's a 7-11 in the center of Great Falls Village--hardly a low-rent district (btw, there's a SAFEWAY! there too).
Community input is great, as long as everyone supports input from the WHOLE community. I think a convenient store tends to be convenient to have around, especially in an urban center, and it makes a lot of sense to put one at 8th&H, the center of H-street. I'm likely to use it more than I would a Benetton store.
We definitely don't need too many, but if 7-11 as a future tenant helps make the H-street Connection strip mall go away, then 7-11 ahoy (btw, I've read that Rite Aid as a company is teetering and might not be around all that long).
Seems installing a gate at each of two entrances to stay closed after the store closes which be much cheaper than paying off duty officers to patrol the lot?
I would venture to guess AutoZone is getting a piece of the action. Arlington County allows towing companies to contract with business owners to "patrol" their lots. $200 cash to retrieve a vehicle from the impound lot.
I would not object to the 7-Eleven (mainly because, in the absence of some enforceable legislation, there is no way to stop a business from moving in) but would object to it having a liquor license. But then again, there's not really much to stop that from happening either...
I can only think of one 7-11 in the District that has a liquor license (the one on South Capitol and M Street SW). But I haven't been there in years so I don't know if that's still the case.
Anonymous 10:13 why do you oppose a 7-11 in the H street connection strip mall?
My concerns with the proposed 7-11:
Liquor (if they seek a license)
Litter
Loitering
Police Resources
There is already too much loitering and litter there from the McDonalds and Subway. The last thing we need on H is more places selling booze, many of which fail to comply with the singles sales ban, thus encouraging public intoxication, litter, urination etc. If they seek a liquor license, my neighbors and I will oppose it.
The 7-11 on 8th St almost always has police presence. I for one, don't think we need to distract our officers from the other demands already in PSA102. I get the sense that MPD feels the same way if this is going to be a discussion topic for the PSA meeting.
Finally, I don't think the 7-11 will help them sell the nice condos they plan to build soon or encourage other positive development. They have great plans, but the 7-11 doesn't advance anything other than their bottom line now and I think that is short-sighted.
Living about a block away from the H-Street connection I think it would be awesome to have a 7-Eleven right there, especially since after the Rite-Aid and 1101 Convenience Mart close early it's not as convenient to get sundries after 10pm. As far as litter goes, I see clean up crews out every morning and every evening thanks to our ANC, and yes there are a lot of people hanging around The Connection, it is a meeting place of sorts, but if you walk by and talk to people you'll see they're just hanging out, being neighborly, waiting for a bus that will come in about an hour, selling some essential oils, all stuff that makes N.E. what it is.
To 10:13,
The Police comment doesn't make much sense to me to be honest. Police work pretty long shifts, and they are always in their vehicles patrolling. So, unlike an office worker who will get up and walk to the coffee maker or go to the break room several times a day, a police office pretty much has to take such breaks out on the street. And I think it would be smart to draw more police to that part of H through out the day and night. Where ever police are, criminals tend not to want to be around there. So, I don't see a cop getting out and getting a cup of coffee, stretching their legs, or grabbing a snack at 8th and H as a negative. In fact, I would much rather them be there than 4 blocks up the road on 8th(which I believe is still in the same PSA by the way) to get their coffee from another place in a more quiet part of the Hill.
If it means more cops in the neighborhood for longer periods, its great in my book.
I share your concerns about the litter and loitering problem though. The other thing you mentioned is a business decision that I am willing to be they put a lot of thought into already.
D
I would agree that the following should be main concerns regarding a new 7-11:
Liquor (if they seek a license)
Litter
Loitering
Police Resources
But these should be our concerns if ANY new business goes in on H Street. Heck, if Whole Foods opened, I'd want to know how the h=ll they are going to police it. For example, would there be off duty MPD like there is at the Jenkins Row HT?
Taking just one of those issues, litter...I live two blocks north of the H Street Connection, and my neighbors and I spend a good part of every weekend picking up trash from McDonald's and Subway (oh how I hate those Subway bags that so conveniently hold the grossest of garbage). Based upon what I've seen at 8th and Maryland, it doesn't appear that the 7-11 there is any better at litter control. I avoid walking our dog by that 7-11 because invariably there's garbage on the sidewalk. And the actual interior isn't any cleaner (let's get real - it smells like puke folks). Having been actively involved in the Lyon Park community (Clarendon) before moving to the H Street neighborhood, I can tell you that litter is a concern at other suburban 7-11s as well. And the fact that what will go in to the current H Street Connection will have to be temporary, I am doubtful that 7-11 management will truly put as much time into litter control as it would were it a permanent member of our community a few years down the road when the new development opens. In fact, for that reason alone any business opening in the current HSC should receive similar community scrutiny.
Given all of this, let's as a community try to make the 7-11 debate about real issues (litter...) and not about personal bias and prejudice.
Liquor (if they seek a license)
Litter
Loitering
No more than any other business on H Street...ever see how much garbage comes from Crown Fried? Or the loitering at H Street Liquors?
"Not on parker said...No more than any other business on H Street...ever see how much garbage comes from Crown Fried? Or the loitering at H Street Liquors?"
So I guess I'm confused. Should we stop caring/not care what standards a new business is held to if old businesses behave badly? That seems kind of defeatist. Or, if we have the opportunity to say something now, do we say something, hope that it doesn't go unacknowledged, and try to make the community better?
@Not on Parker,
Yes, I have. That's why I don't want to see another business that produces lots of litter and may sell liquor for corner consumption on the corridor. The difference between the proposed 7-11 and Crown or a crummy liquor store is that the 7-11 does not have a liquor license and has been proposed after they've banned new fast food spots on H Street. You are welcome to keep knocking the plans to oppose this, but unless you control DCRA, the Zoning Board, ABRA, and Rapport Companies what your opinions aren't the ones that really matter. All that said, the place is a carry out operation, which will produce much more litter than other types of businesses, such as a pet supply store or sit-down restaurant. Do you really think Liberty Tree and Metro Mutts are going to produce the same trash 2 blocks off H that Subway, McDonalds, and Crown do? And if you don't live on H Street, you don't get the Men in Blue on your block and even if you do, funding has been threatened for them as a result of the budget shortfalls. Tell you what, Not on Parker, why don't you tell us where you are, and if and when the 7-11 bags, hot dog buns, slurpy cups start collecting on our blocks, we'll bring them over to you to enjoy. xoxo, 10:13
Who says 7-11 is asking for a liquor license?
Sure litter is a big problem through out this city and we MUST make every business accountable to clean up the the trash that is produced by its operation. I DON'T think a 7-11 would be a bad addition any more than another bar on H street would be. By the way new bars bring their own nuisance issues. In this era of redevelopment we need to be careful not to be petty and make random assumptions!
...and has been proposed after they've banned new fast food spots on H Street...the place is a carry out operation...
The 7-Eleven will very clearly be categorized as a structure used for retail sales (042/Store-Misc) rather than a structure used for prepared food sales (045/Restaurant). This is a conforming C-2-B use.
...but unless you control DCRA, the Zoning Board, ABRA, and Rapport Companies what your opinions aren't the ones that really matter...
With the exception of Parcel 7, do you really think these organizations can impact which particular stores do/do not come to a neighborhood? If so you have been attending far too many ANC meetings...
Should we stop caring/not care what standards a new business is held to if old businesses behave badly?
Can't you see this is all a big game of pretend?
Folks are camouflaging their ideaological opposition to 7-Eleven by expressing concerns about loitering and litter. The community would have a whole different reaction if a local dipster was opening a convenience store (with some batshit insane name, cool retro display cases, and dudes with fauxhawks, tattoos, and scowls working the counter) in the same location.
dammit, my plans to open a cool hipster carry out have been foiled. i'll be happy to sneak to a closer 7 11. if i get home for work 5 minutes earlier, my wife is none the wiser to my healthy after work dining habits. don't worry, there's a huge pile of taquito wrappers in my truck. i don't like to litter outside of my vehicle.
there's so much angst in a developing neighborhood. i'm involved as a business owner, but as a resident of another ne neighborhood, i'm a bit jealous. i'ld love to be involved in discussions for or against a sev coming to my stretch. oh well, there's still cheap beer and united tickets where i work.
tonyt
the pug
The community would have a whole different reaction if a local dipster was opening a convenience store (with some batshit insane name, cool retro display cases, and dudes with fauxhawks, tattoos, and scowls working the counter) in the same location.
You'd get a different reaction because the amount of littering from such an operation would be practically nil. Dipsters may be irritating, but they throw their shit in the trash can.
Sucks, but true.
If you are concerned about parking around H Street Connection you should know that on the east side of 9th St(Sherwood side) between F & G there are no parking restrictions. There are also no restrictions on much of G between 10th and 8th. Not even Zone 6 resident permit parking. I mean nothing! Free parking! Every weekday, commuters from Maryland and Virginia circle the block trying to secure a spot on this strip for the day. Then, they dump their fast food bags on the way to the bus stop. Also, other out of state cars and district cars with expired tags use this as free, non enforced long-term parking.
Seems like a no-brainer to have these areas designated as residential permit parking.
7-11 apparently plans to stay open 24 hours. Sounds like they will be a great neighbor after all.... I retract all my concerns and am cool with our polce officers having to spend all their time there instead of responding to the other law enforcement needs in our neighborhood and I welcome the littered slurpee cups and hot dog wrappers up and down H and on my block.
24 hours! Awesome! And no, I'm not being sarcastic... (I'm hoping we can get 24 hour service from our new Harris Teeter on M as well.) I know that 7-11 was also looking in NoMA.
I used to live next to the 7-11 on 8th Street and never had a problem doing so. From what I recall, the heavy police presence there was because (1) it was a "community substation" or some such deliberate gathering place for the police; and (2) Kenny's was across the road. Now they may well have located there to discourage the various unsavory characters who back in the day used to hang out near the social services offices, but even by the late 90s, this area was pretty safe.
There just isn't sufficient warrant to declaim that a convenience store per se is a nuisance in as of itself..
7-11 apparently plans to stay open 24 hours.
Are there 7-11s that aren't 24/7 anymore?
How about a WaWa?
DC doesn't have any, AFAIK, and they're a heck of a lot nicer than 7-11s.
Anything as long as they have taquitos! Maybe the cops will issue citations for littering, and those extra nickels for the bag tax will be useful.
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