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Monday, November 27, 2006

A guy can dream, right?


Off Seventh's Slum of the Week is the property at the corner of 9th Street, Q Street and Rhode Island Avenue NW, a.k.a. 819 Q Street, NW.

I think this building has so much potential given its architecture and location. Although it would be great for us to continue to develop uniquely-Shaw destinations, wouldn't this building be a neat place for another Lauriol Plaza? Here's my humble rendition of what could be:


I know logistically Lauriol might not work there (parking constraints, building size), but I would love to see a neighborhood-destination, casual restaurant like Lauriol along the 9th Street corridor. The Logan/Shaw neighborhoods are starved for such a spot. I can't imagine a zoning variance would be that difficult to achieve; the "r-4" designation seems ridiculous anyway given the busy intersection on which the building sits.

Any other thoughts on a good use for that building?

ORIGINAL PHOTO CREDIT: Urban Pioneer, available here.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Shaw Bagels". Model it on Bodo's in Charlottesville. If you've never been, I highly recommend it if you're ever there.

Given the lack of good bagel joints in DC, this could easily become a real destination. The same way Colorado Kitchen is for Petworth.

Shaw Rez said...

Good call! I've been complaining for a while about D.C.'s lack of bagel places--nothing like a toasted everything bagel from Bodo's on a lazy Saturday morning...

Anonymous said...

Bagel place is a great idea!! And you'd have a lot fewer issues with the local churches selling bagels and coffee than a restaurant that wants to be able to serve ALCOHOL!! Of all things! There must be someone out there with some money to invest that sees the potential here...

Anonymous said...

As the guy living next door and painter of the Smelly Whore Cafe, I support a bagelry. The suite of buildings is currently zoned R-4, residential with the option to go commerical with (neighborhood approved) variance. I would just want to make sure they do not have a dumpster next to my house or in the back yard, which now reeks because of the trash in Sendar's filthy building. Ray Milefsky