Woodson Site Progressing

I attended last week’s forum regarding the Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site (“Woodson Site”) development and was pleased to learn of the behind-the-scenes progress that’s been made to bring us closer to seeing new life breathed into the Parks Service’s buildings in the 1500 block of Ninth Street.

Gayle Hazelwood, Superintendent of the National Capital Parks-East division of the National Parks Service (“Parks Service”), provided a briefing on the status of the development of the Woodson Site. She reported that in recent months, the Parks Service developed three alternative action concepts for the Woodson properties. The Parks Service will next develop a Draft General Management Plan, which will flesh out the three alternatives and include concept drawings for the same. After public comment on the Draft General Management Plan, the preferred alternative will be identified. Funding will be requested in spring/summer 2010. Superintendent Hazelwood expects that the Woodson Site will be operational by 2015. The Parks Service remains in negotiations to acquire the vacant corner property at Ninth and Q Streets, NW (1544 Ninth Street, NW). According to the online real property database, there is an outstanding tax balance of $58,252.19 for 1544 Ninth Street.

Pending development of the Woodson Site, the Parks Service will work with the community to better secure and beautify the properties. Namely, responsive to neighbor requests, the Parks Service will seal the areas under the front stoops are used by vagrants for storage of personal belongings, trash, alcohol, and other items. The Parks Service will also work with neighbors to install planters and to remove graffiti from the buildings. The Parks Service repeatedly encouraged citizens to call the Park Police at 202.619.7300 to report any suspicious or illegal activities at the properties.

From SMS: NPS To Provide Update on Carter Woodson Site Tomorrow Night

From Shaw Main Streets:

Join the National Park Service, Shaw Main Streets, Inc. and the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 931 R Street, NW at 6:30pm to discuss the planning and progress of the Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site. Currently, the site is undergoing a General Management Plan as well as a Historic Resource Study. This meeting will provide more insightful details about those planning documents and the “Next Steps” towards the development of the Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site.

There will be briefing statements from Superintendent, Gayle Hazelwood and Park Manager, Robert Parker as well as remarks from ANC 2C01 Commissioner Alexander Padro and ASALH, the National Park Service official partner to the Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site.

The event will be held in a historic former firehouse which once housed Washington, DC’s first all African American fire company. It is now the home and studio of noted neon artist Craig Kraft. The building, located in the Greater U Street Historic District, retains many of its original firehouse fixtures.

This program is part of the ongoing public programs offered by the Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site c/o the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site. For additional information concerning this program and other events, please call (202) 673-2402.

Buy Me: 1304 9th Street, NW

The last vacant building in the 1300 block of Ninth Street, 1304 Ninth, is now for sale according to this Long and Foster listing. The asking price is $699,000, and the listing describes the property as follows:

C2A zoned commercial row house located just a feet away from the Convention Center and new Douglas Development across the street. This property offers a gorgeous Victorian facade with great bones. Property needs complete rehab. Proper restoration of exterior may qualify for historical preservation tax credits.

This long-vacant property has so much potential and is in a prime location. Here's to hoping it's purchased and renovated and that a new business occupies it soon.

Neighborly Actions

The Neighbors Project has compiled a set of action items that one can do to be more neighborly – from easy tasks like saying "hello" to people you pass on the street, to more involved projects, like organizing a community garden. The site offers some interesting ideas on how to be more involved in our community.

Buy Something Nellie Online

Nellie's now has an online store where you can purchase various t-shirts and hoodies bearing the name of our landmark neighborhood (gay) sports bar.



Nellie's Sports Bar
900 U Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
202.332.NELL (6355)

Coming Soon: A New Long View Gallery

Let the renovation watch begin, as Long View Gallery prepares 1234 Ninth Street to be its fabulous, dramatic, expanded new home later this year! Permits were posted yesterday, and the above banner announcing the move went up today.

New Convention Center Hotel Deal Reportedly Close

The Washington Business Journal reports that a promising new financing deal for the new convention center hotel is in the works. This comes after a report earlier this week that the Council was considering yanking funding committed to other projects (like CityMarket at O) to finance the new hotel. If this new financing works out, groundbreaking could occur this fall.

Long View Gallery's Victor Ekpuk Show Opens Tonight

The Long View Gallery's latest show -- a body of works by Victor Ekpuk -- opens tonight (June 18) with a reception from 6 to 8 pm. The show runs through July 18 and will be the gallery's last show in the current space (they're moving to a fantastic new space a few doors away in August!). From the gallery's press release:

The Long View Gallery is pleased to announce an exhibition of new works by Nigerian born, D.C. artist Victor Ekpuk. Ekpuk is inspired by the ancient tradition of ideographic writing systems in Africa. He combines arcane symbols with his own invented pseudo-script to tell a story in his compositions. Of course the languages in which he “writes” are not comprehensible, therefore the stories become not about words themselves but about the forms the words take. Their beauty lies not in their meaning but in their shape, forcing the viewer to see the work rather than read the work. The cultural consciousness Ekpuk creates is inspiring – transforming abandoned languages into a record of permanence in art.

Ekpuk describes himself as a painter, although it is clear that drawing influences his work. He regularly paints on his drawings and draws on his paintings – in this collection, he draws on his drawings. Ekpuk has also been exploring drawing as an independent genre rather than in support of his painting. Part of that exploration has resulted in this body of work where drawing is realized through use of traditional and digital tools. The computer is used to draw, paint, make collages or manipulate forms, and the printed images provide a surface on which further embellishments with traditional drawing tools are possible. The mix of digital and traditional drawing methods makes sense for an artist who has been modernizing an ancient system of writing for years. His modern, digital expression never supersedes his respect for the traditional methods.

Ekpuk has shown across the world. Of note, his work has been featured at the Newark Museum in New Jersey, The National Museum for African Art in Washington, D.C., and The Fowler Museum in Los Angeles.

The show itself looks fantastic, and adding to its cool-ness is the painting by Ekpuk himself on the gallery's front window -- definitely a nice touch and a feature that should draw many-a-patron in.


The Long View Gallery
1302 9th Street, NW
202.232.4788

From SMS: Shaw Open House Thursday Night

The Shaw Main Streets bi-annual open house is tomorrow night (Thursday, June 18) on lower Ninth Street. From the announcement:

Shaw Main Streets, the commercial revitalization and historic preservation organization serving central Shaw's historic 7th and 9th Street corridors, invites you to enjoy the free tastings of food and drink offered by businesses along lower 9th Street and enter to win prizes during the bi-annual Shaw Open House, Thursday, June 18, 2009, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

Pick up a free event passport from participating businesses located on the 1100 through 1500 blocks of 9th Street, NW, then visit at least six businesses to be entered in a drawing for prizes provided by each business. A drawing will be held at the end of the event. Winners must be present to win.

Participating businesses are:

Lumsden Insurance Agency, 1525 9th Street, NW

Queen of Sheba Restaurant, 1503 9th Street, NW

Azi’s Cafe, 1336 9th Street, NW

Long View Gallery, 1302 9th Street, NW

Maruka School for Yoga, Healing Arts, and Retail Boutique, 1300 9th Street, NW

Old City Green, 902 N Street, NW

Abou Master Goldsmith, 1249 9th Street, NW

Chatman’s D’vine Bakery & Cafe, 1239 9th Street, NW

Wagtime Pet Spa and Boutique, 1232 9th Street, NW

Old Dominion Brewhouse, 1219 9th Street, NW

Modern Liquors, 1200 9th Street, NW

First Cup Cafe, 900 M 9th Street, NW

During the Open House, Emmaus Services for the Aging, which serves senior citizens throughout Ward 2, will be conducting a food drive to help stock the Feast for All Market, where seniors can receive free food to supplement their fixed incomes. Bring canned or packaged food items and drop them off at Emmaus' Arthur S. Flemming Center, 1426 9th Street, NW.

For more information on Shaw Main Streets, call 202-265-SHAW or visit http://www.shawmainstreets.com/. For more information on Emmaus Services for the Aging, call 202-745-1200 or visit http://www.emmausservices.org/.

Design: Maruka's Snazzy New Signage

Maruka recently installed new, permanent banner signage (including metal mounting brackets and a projecting vertical banner) on their building at the corner of Ninth and N Streets, NW. I think it looks great! Kudos to Maruka for all that they do to make their store look so inviting (from the gorgeous and lush planters to the enticing window displays to the open doors).

Speaking of signs, Barrack's Row has a great storefront sign guideline booklet (PDF) showcasing the do's and don'ts of good retail signage in a historic commercial district like ours (Maruka's new signage gets their seal of approval). I despise the back lit box signs that proliferate the District's commercial corridors (unfortunately there are a ton in our very own Little Ethiopia). Hopefully our main streets will someday be characterized by unique, attractive, inviting signs, and our businesses will benefit from the enhanced aesthetics as a result of the same.


Maruka School for Yoga and the Healing Arts and Retail Boutique
1300 Ninth Street NW (corner of 9th and N streets NW)
202.745.1881
info@marukadc.com

Fundraiser Wine Tasting for CNSA at Vinoteca on Wednesday

City Living Magazine Wine Club will host a wine tasting and fund raising event on Wednesday, June 17, from 7 to 9 pm at Vinoteca, 1940 11th Street, NW, to benefit the Cardoza Shaw Neighborhood Association ("CSNA"). Tickets are $25 in advance or $35 at the door; $5 of each ticket sold will be donated to CSNA. Advance tickets can be purchased at Vinoteca or by calling them at 202-332-WINE (9463). Ticket includes wine, cheese, and a raffle entry to win one of many door prizes from local greater U Street neighborhood businesses.

CSNA has been an active resident-based community organization in the greater U-Street neighborhood for years. Open to everyone who calls U Street home, CSNA works closely with its neighbors, D.C. Government and local businesses to make the already great neighborhood even better.

Summer Tastings at Modern Liquors

This week's tastings at Modern Liquors sound particularly refreshing. On Wednesday night from 6 to 8 pm, they will feature a tasting of an Italian rose pinot grigio, pinot noir and Prosecco. With the vino will be served cheese and bread (indeed, Wednesday is "Bread Night," which apparently has a loyal following unto itself...). On Friday from 6 to 8 pm, Modern Liquors will feature a tasting of summer cocktails made with Macchu Pisco.

Worth noting is that Modern Liquors is a great stop en route to those pool parties and summer venues forbidding glass. The store carries an assortment of alternatively packaged libations, such as Sofia Coppola canned sparkling wine, Sauza Margarita in a box and Oberon & Heineken mini-kegs.


Modern Liquors
1200 9th St., NW
202.289.1414

Eyes on the Street

I thought I would share an experience I had this weekend as a reminder not to leave valuables in your car, to lock your doors, and to watch for and report suspicious behavior; all stuff that should be obvious to any urban dweller (but sometimes forgotten...). Hopefully I scared the bejezus out of one criminal so he'll leave my slice of heaven alone.

I drove to Pentagon City on Saturday morning to take care a bunch of errands. After paying to leave the parking garage with a twenty dollar bill, I guess my cash change fell out of my pocket onto the seat without me noticing (stupid mistake number one). On arriving home, I parked on the street in front of the house and unloaded my groceries. Inadvertently, I failed to lock my car doors (stupid mistake number two).

A few hours later, I noticed a guy pass by the front window of the house twice -- back and forth. Noting the slightly unusual behavior, I watched him as he did it two more times. He seemed to notice me looking at him. I still wasn't too alarmed, but kept looking out casually to observe the increasingly suspicious behavior.

I guess I looked away for a second, because the next thing I saw was the guy getting out of my car and beginning to walk away briskly. Adrenaline pumping, I ran out the front door and began angrily yelling expletives at him ("What the ___ were you doing in my car?" etc.). Probably surprised to have been busted or by my excited demands, he handed over the wad of cash he'd just taken. He started yelling back at me that I shouldn't have left my car unlocked (seriously...). I kept up my screaming rants about his theft and told him I was calling the cops and would call the police if I ever saw him again. He ran off, as I continued yelling.

I called 911 and gave a description of the criminal. The police were very responsive -- they drove around the block looking for the man wearing the clothing I described. They then stopped by my house to discuss what I witnessed and assured me they would keep driving around the area with their eyes out for that afternoon. I was very impressed with the response time and with the officer's concern that this man be responsible for repeat car thefts in the area.

Broadcast Center One in the News

The Washington Business Journal reports that the developers behind Broadcast Center One "took a step forward June 11 when they a signed $1.2 million lease with Metro for easements above and around the Metro station’s north entrance." The article goes on to say that the timeline for the development at Seventh and S Streets, Northwest, has been "dramatically scaled back." Originally planned for an early 2009 groundbreaking and a 2011 completion date, the project's new timeline isn't mentioned. But surely it's a positive sign that the developers are still working on leases with Metro, right?

DPR To Host Beautification

This Saturday (June 13), the DC Department of Parks and Recreation will host its first "DPR Beautification Day" from 8 am to 12 noon. This citywide effort will “spruce up” DPR facilities and parks in preparation for summer through the combined effort of DPR, community organizations, and residents. DPR Beautification Day activities will consist of trash pick up, interior cleaning, and light landscaping. Kennedy Recreation Center, on Seventh Street between O and P Streets, is one of DPR's chosen sites for the effort.

Advance registration is not required; volunteer registration will take place on-site during DPR Beautification Day. For more information about DPR Beautification Day, please contact DPR's Office of Partnerships and Development at (202) 258-6021 or by email at DPRpartnerships@dc.gov.

Upcoming Library "Finishing Touch" Events

As you know, construction has started on our beautiful new Watha T. Daniel Shaw Neighborhood Library. Next Monday at noon and Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., the library will host "Finishing Touch" events at the interim library, at which you can check out the interior finishes for the library and vote on the furniture choices for the same.

For More Information, Contact Martha Saccocio at 202.727.1188 or Martha.Saccocio@dc.gov.


New Neighborhood Library "Finishing Touch Events"
Monday and Wednesday, June 15th and 17th Noon - 1:00 PM
Tuesday and Thursday, June 16th and 18th 5:30 - 6:30 PM
Watha T. Daniel-Shaw Interim Library
945 Rhode Island Avenue, NW

Shaw Middle School To Be Demolished, Rebuilt

On the Shaw Yahoo Group, ANC Commissioner Alex Padro, with the help of Councilmember Jack Evans, confirmed that the city still plans to demolish and rebuild Shaw Middle School. The Master Facilities Plan (PDF of relevant section) that Office of Public Education Facilities Modernization submitted to the Council proposes the demolition and new construction of Shaw Middle School. The Shaw community will have ample opportunity for input on the scope of work for the project: on all projects that involve new construction or major renovations and/or additions, School Improvement Teams ("SIT") are established to work with the Architectural Engineering firm and DCPS to develop the educational programs and space requirements for the school. Construction should begin in 2012.

Independence Bank Banner

As mentioned earlier this week, Independence Bank will occupy the ground floor of The Exchange at Ninth and N. The bank installed a banner today announcing their arrival this month. It will be great to see the ground floor of this notable building finally occupied!



Thanks, Drew!

Weekend Shoutout: Old City Green Yard Sale Tomorrow

The weekend looks to be gorgeous. After several days of rain and with several more in store next week, be sure to get outside tomorrow and Sunday. And while you're outside, why not spruce up your yard and tree box with help from Old City Green?!

Tomorrow, Old City Green hosts its first monthly "Super Saturday Yard Sale." On the first Saturday of each month from 9 am to 1 pm, Old City Green offers 20% off all annuals in stock. Here are some of the brilliant annuals they have right now:

Hot Pink and Fire Red Geraniums
Purple, Pink and Double Wave Red Petunias
Lipstick Pink and Lavender Impatiens
Bright Orange and Deep Red New Guinea Impatiens
Purple and Silver Persian Shields (great for your shady areas)
Purple Angelonias
Double Colored Zinnias
White and Hot Pink Flowering Vinca
Purple Mexican Shower Bush (their favorite tropical this month)
Various Annual Vegetables and Herbs

So take a stroll to Old City Green tomorrow morning to pick out something to give a little extra pizazz to your yard or tree box this summer. Grab a big coffee from Azi's Cafe or First Cup Cafe en route if you need a jumpstart for a big day in the yard....

Old City Green
Corner of 9th and N Streets, NW
202-412-CITY

Rolling Stone Likes Shaw

Thanks to a reader tip for pointing out that Rolling Stone's just-released annual "hot list" names Logan/Shaw as a "hot hood." Says the tipster: "There's a little map with places like Cork, Bohemian Caverns, Ben's Chili Bowl, HR-57... highlighted as where Obama White House staffers like to hang out."

Cool!

Convention Center Hotels in the News

The Washington Business Journal reports that the people behind the planned $550 million, 1,100-room hotel convention center headquarters hotel slated for Ninth Street and Massachusetts Avenue have been unable to secure private financing. As a result, the Washington Convention Center Authority is seeking authority from the city council to sell as much as $750 million in bonds to cover the price of the hotel, interest during construction, insurance and other costs.

Although not the focus of the article, the article also mentions that Quadrangle Development Corp. and Capstone Development are still separately planning to build a Courtyard by Marriott at the northwest corner of Ninth and L Streets, NW (unlike in February 2008, the article does not mention planning for a Residence Inn also). I have been unable to find anything further on the planned development by Capstone and Quadrangle.

I am more eager to see the Courtyard by Marriott built than the mega-hotel, as the Courtyard by Marriott will occupy several highly visible, currently-vacant buildings on Ninth Street. I think these buildings are a major deterrent to attracting convention center pedestrian traffic north on Ninth. Here's to hoping it moves forward soon!

Vegan Soul Happy Hour at Vegetate Tonight

Stop by Vegetate tonight (June 2), from 6-8pm, for a special happy hour with Chef Bryant Terry. Bryant will talk about and sign copies of his new book Vegan Soul Kitchen, and you'll be able to sample food and drink recipes from the book. Admission is $15.

For more details or to RSVP send an email to vegansoul[at]theroot.com.

Vegetate
1414 9th Street, NW
202.232.4585

Independence Bank Headquarters Coming to 9th and N

Douglas Development's celebrated and historic mixed use project at Ninth and N Streets, Northwest, will soon be home to the headquarters of Independence Bank and a retail bank branch of the same. As I walked up the 1200 block of Connecticut Avenue last night, I saw the attached sign in their window announcing that their move to Shaw should occur at the end of this month. It appears that the build-out of their space will commence this week (permits were approved yesterday), so it could be a tight deadline to make.

I think lower Ninth Street should benefit from being home to the headquarters of a bank. The bank will likely be a strong corporate partner in its continued renewal and will bring patrons to the area during the daytime.

Long View Gallery’s Exciting New Space on Ninth Street

A few months ago, a “For Lease” sign appeared in the front window of the Long View Gallery that caused many neighbors great concern (the sign has been the subject of a few blog posts). Rumors circulated that the destination gallery would be moving away from Shaw or closing altogether. There was nothing official to report, however, other than the fact that the gallery’s lease was up for renewal this year and that the gallery's owners had not made an official decision. That all changed late last week: their exciting plans were finalized with the execution of a lease for a new location nearby.

As background, Long View Gallery was founded in 2000 by Andrew Haley and Suzanne Zylonis in the uber quaint town of Sperryville, Virginia (about 75 miles west of Washington). The gallery quickly attracted a loyal following amongst tourists and locals alike. In 2006, William Waybourn and Craig Spaulding joined with Haley and Zylonis to open an urban iteration of the Long View Gallery in the District, where many of the Sperryville gallery's patrons reside. Fortunately for us, they chose to open the gallery in the Shaw neighborhood.

The Long View Gallery has been extremely successful in its current home in the 1300 block of Ninth Street. The gallery has garnered critical acclaim for its fabulous shows, which generally feature figurative and contemporary works by notable regional artists. On-site custom framing began in 2007. Additionally, the gallery has hosted numerous private events – from independent film screenings to birthday parties to community meetings. It truly has been a premier business for the neighborhood.

When the lease came up for renewal this year, gallery director Drew Porterfield concluded that he had outgrown the current space and needed a change: he wanted room to offer a better framing experience for customers, additional wall space to display works by all artists the gallery represents (in addition to having space for featured monthly shows, which is all he has room for in the current space), and a more functional, larger and more dramatic space. He hoped to remain in Shaw, where the gallery had experienced much success and had developed a cherished following.

It is with GREAT excitement that I report that, after exploring many options, Long View Gallery signed a lease and is moving forward with plans to relocate to 1234 Ninth Street, NW, just a few doors down from its current location. 1234 Ninth is a currently unoccupied and rough-looking building owned by Douglas Development. Its potential is evident, however, as I discussed a few years ago.


In conjunction with Long View's move, 1234 Ninth will be renovated and divided into two retail spaces. The gallery will renovate and occupy the southern space (immediately adjacent to Wagtime) and Douglas Development will renovate the northern space to market for lease (as a restaurant, apparently!).

Construction on the new gallery space should begin shortly. Plans are still in draft form by the amazing young architect Will Couch, but include, among other things, a cool new signature treatment to 1234 Ninth’s façade (preliminary image pictured below), custom gallery lighting throughout, new HVAC, cool unique wall treatments that preserve the texture and look of the historic walls but allow for the display of art, renovated bathrooms, offices, and a dedicated custom framing area. The gallery's new space is about 5,000 square feet, or quadruple the size of its current location.


Having walked around 1234 Ninth, I must say that it is stunning: it features soaring ceilings with huge concrete beams, cool textured walls evidencing years of use, a large ramp separating the gallery's two large halls, and concrete floors. It's no surprise that the gallery recently employed a special events coordinator, Suzi Molak, to oversee the special events function of the gallery. Suzi is an experienced event planner, so brings a lot of expertise to the table and will be a great resource.


The gallery will remain in its existing place until the end of July and plans to occupy its new space in August with a grand opening celebration in September.

Long View's relocation is a major coup for the neighborhood -- we are retaining an awesome business that needs to expand and a notable vacant building is getting new life (with the gallery and, likely, a restaurant). Thanks to all who helped make this happen, including all associated with the gallery, Shaw Main Streets and Douglas Development. In particular, Shaw Main Streets Executive Director Alex Padro was instrumental in keeping the gallery on Ninth Street.



Congrats, Long View Gallery!