A look at what's going on in Trinidad, on H Street, and in the larger area north of Capitol Hill.
Monday, January 31, 2011
WCP: A Few More H Street Stats
The Washington City Paper offers up a few more noteworthy statistics on H Street Commercial properties.
35 comments:
Anonymous
said...
When I see pictures like this I am reminded what a mess H street still is. I know the projected end of the streetscape project is October, but does anybody know when we might see some trees on the street? Or when the new streetlights will be lit?
DC is supposed to assesses 100% of market value. Can anyone name a single property on H ST NE that owner would sell for the assessed value? The examples I see are for places like 714 H Street which sold in 2009 for $725,000 and the proposed assessment for 2011 $403,920. Any one else tired of subsidizing these properties and think they should pay their fair share or do you think we should continue to subsidize people that let their properties sit vacant?
what kind of businesses would you like to see on H street? have you considered how difficult it is already to survive in this neighborhood as a small business? were being flooded by restaurants and even they dont open before 5.
It's past time for a moratorium on bars on H St. I don't know why our ANC members won't address this issue - at least let the residents be heard on this issue.
whats wrong with more bars? we'll turn into to adams morgan with fratboys cracking their skulls on the curb every weekend. there are a lot of establishments with liquor licenses, but they also offer really good, unique (albeit expensive) food options.
and yes h street is still a mess. the h street/benning road stretch has been under constant construction since my mother was a kid. seriously...
I think setting a moratorium in the future makes sense. We may not be there yet, but why not put a limit on the number of bar licenses and just allow more restaurants. I'm not troubled by Liberty Tree or Souk or others, but I don't want to see another dozen places that don't serve food or barely do so. If you let restaurants keep coming, you wont have the problem of vacants anyway. Plus there's the vacant property tax. Hopefully the city will finally apply that to some of these long empty spots.
I'm with you - I think they should tax the heck out of them or make them clean up the storefronts at least, but take a look at the recent City Paper article link below. Here is a quote from it:
"The city has tried to nudge absentee owners into renting out their spaces by instituting a vacant property tax, which penalizes darkened storefronts by charging owners more than five times the regular rate. But it’s easy to duck that rate, either by razing the building and putting in a parking lot, or by posting a “for lease” sign out front."
And where is the ANC on this issue of vacant property owners? Instead of hounding business who have come to H street about chicken wings, why not go after the owners who are really dragging us down by not selling at a reasonable current market rate or cleaning up the storefront?
I am having trouble coming up with more than 5 bars that dont serve food/have seating in our neighborhood .. and I believe even Red Palace has plans to put in a kitchen?
Poopsy 12:39, you have a something is better than nothing mentality. I'd rather have patience with an empty store front than allowing a bunch of bars and all the problems associated with them come in. Try getting rid of them after the fact. I say bring on the moratorium you can always lift it later much easier than closing a "hipster gentleman's club" after it's here.
I agree. The ANC could better use their time by going after the vacant store fronts who have been dragging down their block for some 20+ years. My guess is that once the street cars are running, the property owners will start to get more involved.
you're right. I do have a "something is better than nothing" mentality. I guess we can agree to disagree. It will be interesting though to see what identity H street creates for itself as more and more businesses come.
So you'd be o.k. with a "hipster gentleman's club" or two or three or more coming to H St. Remember, a moritorium isn't going to help you after they're here. It concerns me not having one.
Funny thing about how this issue of a moratorium comes up after Joe E. owns so many licenses... some not even in use. Moratoriums are very difficult to lift, and we have 14 blocks with empty store fronts. Sorry it doesn't make sense.
There's been a misunderstanding i think. What i heard someone say is the pug is a hipsters gentleman's club. I do the stripping after last call. I'm all for a moratorium on the evil tavern licenses. It will open the floodgates for all the boutiquey little shops just dying to open in this robust economy, and it will certainly add to the building assesment which i'm sure will be affordable once the "trolley" is running. Yeah, definitely cap off any incoming businesses instead of going after vacant/speculator building owners it's easier and more righteous. tonyt thepug ps, i'm doing whatever i can to encourage that bridge and tunnel crowd. Lots of fun shooters and car bombs, and a juke box full of top 40 hits, and service with a smile.
re: the several "where is the ANC?" questions . . .
1. the ANC-6A ABL committee has had several meetings on license moratoria. I've seen some of the regulars here at some of those meetings.
2. the ANC-6A ED&Z committee has for a few years now sponsored an effort to catalog vacant properties (on H and elsewhere in the ANC) and to hound the District about taxing those properties at the vacant tax rate. There's a website with photos and info on each apparently vacant property. I haven't followed this in a while, but my recollection is that they need help. If this is something you're interested in, I suggest going to the ED&Z committee meetings and volunteering to help.
Unless a bar owner lives around H St. I could care less what they think about a moratorium. They don't have to pick up the trash, listen to the noise, or deal with any other behaviors associated with having more bars in the neighborhood. Besides, why would an existing bar owner be opposed to a moratorium, that's only more customers for those already here. I say bring on the boutiques.
I do have to say it would be pretty great to have a hipster gentlemans club. Skinny dudes with ironic glasses riding on stage on thriftstore bikes, stripping out of their trucker hats a faux working class clothes. Doing flashdance style routines to emo core as patrons gaze at them longingly whilst drinking organic beer and planning a move to williamsburg. tonyt thepug i wonder if there would be a section to rate hipster strippers on yelp?
Pretty sure the hipster gentlemen's club only exists in PoP commenter's mind. But I would totally check out that place Tony T. described. Maybe the strippers could model the clothes from the boutique next door?
Anonymous, you shoul look into the ownership of the h street bars. You might be surprised where some of those folks live and the things they have done as the neighborhood has changed. Financially, a moritorium would be mixed blessing. It would stifle growth, but i could always sell the license for a tidy sum to some outsider with no affiliation with the neighborhood. I think you might have misunderstood my sarcasm about the boutiquey shops. I would love to have shops. an artisinal cheese shop next to a new book shop, and a record store and a hippy owned hardware store to replace the one that's been here for years would be awesome. However, like the trolley, i'm just not sure it's gonna happen. I have so little confidence in the upcoming h street retail revolution, that i will give you a $20 tab for every retail spot that opens on h street between now and next february 13th. tonyt thepug
I'm of mixed opinions on this (not that anyone asked).
Yes, vacant storefronts suck the life out of a community.
But I can see how the huge street tear-out would sortof kill any hope for a retail shop setting up until the street is passable again.
So I'm not sure it's fair to aggressively pursue building owners for not putting in a retail shop while the street is all messed up, parking is a mess, etc.
And as anyone that's opened a business in DC knows, it can take YEARS to get all the approvals in place.
I'm not quite sure how we can justify punishing a business because DCRA takes ten times longer than necessary to approve business plans.
But, then, on the flip side, there are property owners that really don't give a damn about the property or area, and haven't for decades. And they'd be that way regardless of the street and parking situation.
Hopefully once all the trolley and streetscape improvements are completed it will ease the stress on everyone. Living through the constructions has to be a real pain.
With our less then stellar economy and the very high rents that landlords are charging along H st (some as high as $55 per square foot)it's going to be a long long time before we start seeing shops, boutiques, etc opening up along H st.
to the commenter who said "Unless a bar owner lives around H St. I could care less what they think about a moratorium" they should talk to the owners and managers of most of the H st bars and restaurants. The handful that I know either live immediately adjacent to H St or near by.
35 comments:
When I see pictures like this I am reminded what a mess H street still is. I know the projected end of the streetscape project is October, but does anybody know when we might see some trees on the street? Or when the new streetlights will be lit?
DC is supposed to assesses 100% of market value. Can anyone name a single property on H ST NE that owner would sell for the assessed value? The examples I see are for places like 714 H Street which sold in 2009 for $725,000 and the proposed assessment for 2011 $403,920. Any one else tired of subsidizing these properties and think they should pay their fair share or do you think we should continue to subsidize people that let their properties sit vacant?
what kind of businesses would you like to see on H street? have you considered how difficult it is already to survive in this neighborhood as a small business? were being flooded by restaurants and even they dont open before 5.
saw a comment on another blog about a hipster gentleman's club coming to H. What the heck does that mean?
It's past time for a moratorium on bars on H St. I don't know why our ANC members won't address this issue - at least let the residents be heard on this issue.
What is wrong with adding more bars on H street?
whats wrong with more bars? we'll turn into to adams morgan with fratboys cracking their skulls on the curb every weekend. there are a lot of establishments with liquor licenses, but they also offer really good, unique (albeit expensive) food options.
and yes h street is still a mess. the h street/benning road stretch has been under constant construction since my mother was a kid. seriously...
A hardware store would be great!!
I'd rather be an Adams Morgan (or U Street really) than have vacant storefronts.
12:31, there's a hardware store at 10th and H.
Unimpressed by their selection? Home Depot is a 5 minute drive up the street.
I think setting a moratorium in the future makes sense. We may not be there yet, but why not put a limit on the number of bar licenses and just allow more restaurants. I'm not troubled by Liberty Tree or Souk or others, but I don't want to see another dozen places that don't serve food or barely do so. If you let restaurants keep coming, you wont have the problem of vacants anyway. Plus there's the vacant property tax. Hopefully the city will finally apply that to some of these long empty spots.
Anon 12:49,
I'm with you - I think they should tax the heck out of them or make them clean up the storefronts at least, but take a look at the recent City Paper article link below. Here is a quote from it:
"The city has tried to nudge absentee owners into renting out their spaces by instituting a vacant property tax, which penalizes darkened storefronts by charging owners more than five times the regular rate. But it’s easy to duck that rate, either by razing the building and putting in a parking lot, or by posting a “for lease” sign out front."
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2011/01/26/the-h-street-waiting-game-how-a-commercial-corridors-bright-future-holds-back-its-present/
And where is the ANC on this issue of vacant property owners? Instead of hounding business who have come to H street about chicken wings, why not go after the owners who are really dragging us down by not selling at a reasonable current market rate or cleaning up the storefront?
I am having trouble coming up with more than 5 bars that dont serve food/have seating in our neighborhood .. and I believe even Red Palace has plans to put in a kitchen?
Poopsy 12:39, you have a something is better than nothing mentality. I'd rather have patience with an empty store front than allowing a bunch of bars and all the problems associated with them come in. Try getting rid of them after the fact. I say bring on the moratorium you can always lift it later much easier than closing a "hipster gentleman's club" after it's here.
I agree. The ANC could better use their time by going after the vacant store fronts who have been dragging down their block for some 20+ years.
My guess is that once the street cars are running, the property owners will start to get more involved.
Anon 1:28,
you're right. I do have a "something is better than nothing" mentality. I guess we can agree to disagree. It will be interesting though to see what identity H street creates for itself as more and more businesses come.
So you'd be o.k. with a "hipster gentleman's club" or two or three or more coming to H St. Remember, a moritorium isn't going to help you after they're here. It concerns me not having one.
When you say "gentleman's club" do you mean a strip club?
Funny thing about how this issue of a moratorium comes up after Joe E. owns so many licenses... some not even in use. Moratoriums are very difficult to lift, and we have 14 blocks with empty store fronts. Sorry it doesn't make sense.
There's been a misunderstanding i think. What i heard someone say is the pug is a hipsters gentleman's club. I do the stripping after last call. I'm all for a moratorium on the evil tavern licenses. It will open the floodgates for all the boutiquey little shops just dying to open in this robust economy, and it will certainly add to the building assesment which i'm sure will be affordable once the "trolley" is running. Yeah, definitely cap off any incoming businesses instead of going after vacant/speculator building owners it's easier and more righteous.
tonyt
thepug
ps, i'm doing whatever i can to encourage that bridge and tunnel crowd. Lots of fun shooters and car bombs, and a juke box full of top 40 hits, and service with a smile.
I think the Gentlemen's club that will be opening on H Street is more along the lines of this sort of thing:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drones_Club
That's how you *know* H Street has been gentrified.
re: the several "where is the ANC?" questions . . .
1. the ANC-6A ABL committee has had several meetings on license moratoria. I've seen some of the regulars here at some of those meetings.
2. the ANC-6A ED&Z committee has for a few years now sponsored an effort to catalog vacant properties (on H and elsewhere in the ANC) and to hound the District about taxing those properties at the vacant tax rate. There's a website with photos and info on each apparently vacant property. I haven't followed this in a while, but my recollection is that they need help. If this is something you're interested in, I suggest going to the ED&Z committee meetings and volunteering to help.
Unless a bar owner lives around H St. I could care less what they think about a moratorium. They don't have to pick up the trash, listen to the noise, or deal with any other behaviors associated with having more bars in the neighborhood. Besides, why would an existing bar owner be opposed to a moratorium, that's only more customers for those already here. I say bring on the boutiques.
I do have to say it would be pretty great to have a hipster gentlemans club. Skinny dudes with ironic glasses riding on stage on thriftstore bikes, stripping out of their trucker hats a faux working class clothes. Doing flashdance style routines to emo core as patrons gaze at them longingly whilst drinking organic beer and planning a move to williamsburg.
tonyt
thepug
i wonder if there would be a section to rate hipster strippers on yelp?
Pretty sure the hipster gentlemen's club only exists in PoP commenter's mind. But I would totally check out that place Tony T. described. Maybe the strippers could model the clothes from the boutique next door?
I heard someone say there will be a new section on yelp to rate hipster strippers? I got so excited!
Anonymous, you shoul look into the ownership of the h street bars. You might be surprised where some of those folks live and the things they have done as the neighborhood has changed. Financially, a moritorium would be mixed blessing. It would stifle growth, but i could always sell the license for a tidy sum to some outsider with no affiliation with the neighborhood. I think you might have misunderstood my sarcasm about the boutiquey shops. I would love to have shops. an artisinal cheese shop next to a new book shop, and a record store and a hippy owned hardware store to replace the one that's been here for years would be awesome. However, like the trolley, i'm just not sure it's gonna happen. I have so little confidence in the upcoming h street retail revolution, that i will give you a $20 tab for every retail spot that opens on h street between now and next february 13th.
tonyt
thepug
A gym! A real one, not a boot camp personal trainer thing! Please!
Seconded. A WSC or Gold's is needed.
Unfortunately, each new multifamily building has their own fitness center, limiting existing demand to residents living in rowhouses.
Before you say anything, Sherwood Rec Center is terrible.
Shhh Damnit! If you guys blow the whistle on the late night hipster gentleman/ Tony T stripfest I'm going to be pissed.
AMEN on the request for a gym! Oh, or a real yoga studio? (Bikram kind of sucks.)
I'm of mixed opinions on this (not that anyone asked).
Yes, vacant storefronts suck the life out of a community.
But I can see how the huge street tear-out would sortof kill any hope for a retail shop setting up until the street is passable again.
So I'm not sure it's fair to aggressively pursue building owners for not putting in a retail shop while the street is all messed up, parking is a mess, etc.
And as anyone that's opened a business in DC knows, it can take YEARS to get all the approvals in place.
I'm not quite sure how we can justify punishing a business because DCRA takes ten times longer than necessary to approve business plans.
But, then, on the flip side, there are property owners that really don't give a damn about the property or area, and haven't for decades. And they'd be that way regardless of the street and parking situation.
Hopefully once all the trolley and streetscape improvements are completed it will ease the stress on everyone. Living through the constructions has to be a real pain.
With our less then stellar economy and the very high rents that landlords are charging along H st (some as high as $55 per square foot)it's going to be a long long time before we start seeing shops, boutiques, etc opening up along H st.
to the commenter who said "Unless a bar owner lives around H St. I could care less what they think about a moratorium" they should talk to the owners and managers of most of the H st bars and restaurants. The handful that I know either live immediately adjacent to H St or near by.
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