A look at what's going on in Trinidad, on H Street, and in the larger area north of Capitol Hill.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
City Paper: Thumbs Up H Street Connection PUD
The City Paper reports that the Zoning Commission has (mostly) given a thumbs up to the H Street Connection PUD. You can download relevant pdfs from the CP link.
The developer's plans to build in two phases. Phase I will include 60% of the building and be located on the 8th St side of the lot. Construction could start 2 years after ZC approval. Phase II will finish the building on the 10th St side of the lot. Before Phase II is constructed, the eastern portion of current H Street Connection building and the bank structure would still stand. Phase II wouldn't likely start construction for 7 years from ZC approval.
The hearing went well except for the discussion of the addition of some public parking at the development to compensate for the older buildings on H Street having none and there being no public parking on the corridor. The DDOT representative stated that they considered the development "over-parked." Translation: there was more than enough parking to serve this building. H Street doesn't need any more parking because 8th and H is the busiest bus transfer point in the city, and once we get the streetcar, well, nobody will drive to H Street. They can also use bikes or walk.
How many residents along the H Street Corridor think there's enough parking? Raise your hands. How many people who go to H Street think there's enough parking? Raise your hands. What's going to happen in 10 or 20 years when all the now-vacant buildings are popular restaurants and good retail? None of them have parking. We'll have several additional large buildings, more offices, more retail. Where will your friends park when they come from NW, VA, or MD to have dinner at your home? Where will you park when you come home in the evening?
Works the same as in the CBD. Entertainment seeking visitors will park in commercial lots after employees leave work. Similar to what has been proposed to Autozone, however commercial property owners understand the value of additional parking revenue.
There is no reason to provide twice the needed amount of parking.
Don't worry you'll understand when oil hits $150 / barrel and you can no longer afford to leisurely drive around the city.
Go(b)p - When oil hit $145/bbl in 2008, gas was $4/gal. People still drove. Gas is more than twice that in Europe. People still drive. There will always be people who have to drive, for whom transit is not an option. Others will choose to and be willing to pay the price.
The primary choice is that some consumers will go to shopping and entertainment districts where they can park. If H Street does not have an appropriate amount of public parking, people will go elsewhere and economic development will not be sustainable.
15 comments:
300 L is also in the works.
If I read it right, the article says they have 7 years to begin phase 1. Gah. I hope they break ground way before that.
There is a new 7-11 about to open any day in that shopping center. Guess we won't be seeing any changes soon...
Steuart's project at 4th and H will likely finish before H Street Connection breaks ground.
Lindsa,
The developer's plans to build in two phases. Phase I will include 60% of the building and be located on the 8th St side of the lot. Construction could start 2 years after ZC approval. Phase II will finish the building on the 10th St side of the lot. Before Phase II is constructed, the eastern portion of current H Street Connection building and the bank structure would still stand. Phase II wouldn't likely start construction for 7 years from ZC approval.
Drew Ronneberg
Commissioner, 6A02
The 7-11 is going to be part of the new project as well.
Is Steuart going to break ground this fall or has that timeline slipped?
Typically you don't start excavation in the fall.
are there any drawings for this development online anywhere?
from dcmud:
http://dcmud.blogspot.com/2010/07/rappaport-hits-minor-setback-on-h.html
3:29,
that's what's on the pdfs you can download from the City Paper link.
The hearing went well except for the discussion of the addition of some public parking at the development to compensate for the older buildings on H Street having none and there being no public parking on the corridor.
The DDOT representative stated that they considered the development "over-parked." Translation: there was more than enough parking to serve this building. H Street doesn't need any more parking because 8th and H is the busiest bus transfer point in the city, and once we get the streetcar, well, nobody will drive to H Street. They can also use bikes or walk.
How many residents along the H Street Corridor think there's enough parking? Raise your hands.
How many people who go to H Street think there's enough parking? Raise your hands.
What's going to happen in 10 or 20 years when all the now-vacant buildings are popular restaurants and good retail? None of them have parking. We'll have several additional large buildings, more offices, more retail. Where will your friends park when they come from NW, VA, or MD to have dinner at your home?
Where will you park when you come home in the evening?
to @hstreet,
Works the same as in the CBD. Entertainment seeking visitors will park in commercial lots after employees leave work. Similar to what has been proposed to Autozone, however commercial property owners understand the value of additional parking revenue.
There is no reason to provide twice the needed amount of parking.
Don't worry you'll understand when oil hits $150 / barrel and you can no longer afford to leisurely drive around the city.
I really like these drawings. I can't wait for this to break ground
Go(b)p - When oil hit $145/bbl in 2008, gas was $4/gal. People still drove.
Gas is more than twice that in Europe. People still drive.
There will always be people who have to drive, for whom transit is not an option.
Others will choose to and be willing to pay the price.
The primary choice is that some consumers will go to shopping and entertainment districts where they can park.
If H Street does not have an appropriate amount of public parking, people will go elsewhere and economic development will not be sustainable.
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