Grab Bag of Good Press

Were my mind not on roughly 800 tulips that will soon call Ninth Street home, I would surely be devoting more time to the following juicy news items:

1. DDOT announces funding for the Carter G. Woodson Memorial Park - My second blog post ever pertained to the stalled triangle park redevelopment at 9th and Q Streets and Rhode Island Avenue. Finally, after several years of anxiously waiting the new green space, the park project has received funding to proceed. The Department of Parks and Recreation is working on a design now (this is not their park design and is not likely what the park will ultimately look like). Rumor is that we should have a new park at this notable intersection next year!

2. Bonstra Haresign ARCHITECTS is Designing Warrenton Group's New Headquarters at 1547 Seventh Street - In response to some discussion on the neighborhood Yahoo! Group, I did some internet searching and found that in August of this year, the Warrenton Group awarded to Bonstra Haresign ARCHITECTS a project to provide design services to assist the Warrenton Group with the renovation and modern addition to historic 1547 7th Street, NW. The architects state that "One of the few remaining Arts and Crafts style buildings in DC, 1547 7th Street formerly housed the developer's father's business and rental apartments. The renovated building will house Warrrenton's corporate offices and a corporate apartment."

3. United Negro College Fund May Be a Co-Tenant in Media Center One - The Business Journal reports on the probable identity of Radio One's co-tenant in its new headquarters on Seventh Street. This should help the awesome mixed use project break ground soon!

Reminder: Tulip Planting Saturday!

This Saturday morning (October 31, 2009), please join neighbors and friends to plant tulips in tree boxes on Ninth Street between N Street and Rhode Island Avenue. Meet at Old City Green at 9:00 a.m. for planting instructions, tree box assignments, bulbs, cider, coffee, and more. If you haven't already, please send me an email at slumhistorique at yahoo dot com so we can get a rough headcount of our volunteers.

We'd like to thank our sponsors for contributing to this event and making it happen. In particular, Shiloh Baptist Church, Inle Development, The Nine, EFN Lounge, Independence Bank, Douglas Development, Azi's Cafe, and Old City Green have all given generously, and for that we are most appreciative.

This project falls under the umbrella of the Shaw Main Streets Design Committee. The Design Committee has been enhancing our neighborhood for years and has many exciting projects in the pipeline currently. On Saturday, we'll also have information on how you can get involved in the exciting projects underway!


Shaw Treebox Tulip Planting
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Meet at Old City Green at 9:00 a.m.
If you plan to attend, email me at slumhistorique@yahoo.com

From SMS: Little Ethiopia Open House Tomorrow Night

From Shaw Main Streets comes a reminder of tomorrow night's (Thursday, October 29) open house on upper Ninth Street. Here are the details:

The annual Shaw Main Streets Open House on Upper Ninth Street will take place on Thursday, October 29, 2009, from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. There is no cost to participate, and no reservations are necessary.

Stroll the 1900 block of 9th Street, NW, commonly known as Little Ethiopia, and enjoy samples of the food and beverages offered by the businesses there.

Get your passport stamped by at least four of the participating businesses in order to be eligible for a drawing for a prize from each business.

Participating businesses are:

Ambassador Restaurant, 1907 9th Street, NW
Asefu's Yegna Restaurant, 1920 9th Street, NW
Boston Wine & Sprits, 1905 9th Street, NW
Convention Floral, 1920 9th Street, NW
Etete Ethiopian Cuisine, 1942 9th Street, NW
La Carbonara Italian Restaurant, 1926 9th Street, NW
Little Ethiopia Restaurant, 1924 9th Street, NW
Nellie's Sports Bar, 900 U Street, NW
Salina Ethiopian Restaurant, 1936 9th Street, NW
Serv-U Liquors, 1935 9th Street, NW
Yetenbi Restaurant (formerly Chez Hareg), 1915 9th Street, NW

The drawing will be held at Little Ethiopia Restaurant, 1924 9th Street, NW, at 8:30 PM. Winners must be present. Contest rules can be found on the back of the Shaw Main Streets Open House Passport, available free of charge at all participating businesses on the day of the event.

For more information, call Shaw Main Streets at 202-265-SHAW or email shawmainstreets@aol.com.

Exciting!

Details on Gastropub Planned for Ninth and U

Prince of Petworth posts about the plans for the new gastropub to occupy the long vacant building at Ninth and U Streets as presented to ANC1b. It's VERY exciting to hear about what the folks behind Marvin desire to bring to this corner. Fingers crossed all goes well!

DCMud Reports on Infill Proposed for 1900 Block of Ninth

Above is a rendering of a proposed mixed use (housing, office and studio spaces, with an emphasis on arts) development in the 1900 block of Ninth Street. A parking lot currently occupies the lot where the project would be built (and man oh man wouldn't it be great to see that plot of land put to better, more attractive use!). DCMud has the full story.

What do you think about the proposed project? I think all would concede the development would stand out (for better or worse) from the surrounding buildings.

Long View Grandly Reopens

Long View Gallery officially reopened in its new space at 1234 Ninth Street, Northwest, last night. The party -- attended by neighbors, government officials, artists, patrons of the arts, media outlets, and just about everyone in a twenty mile radius (it seemed) -- was incredible. I don't think words, or even photographs, could capture the magic of the event, which showcased the beauty and versatility of the new space, stunning art from the gallery's stable of talent, music by DJ Dredd and others, delicious food and drink, and so on and so forth.

The gallery is now open for business and has, no doubt, added tremedously to the arts and events scenes in Washington. If you didn't make it by last night, stop by to check out the amazingness of our very own Long View Gallery soon!


The Long View Gallery
1234 Ninth Street, Northwest
202.232.4788

Rumors Somewhat Sourced

Here's a little bit of scuttlebutt from the neighborhood:

1. A yoga studio is going to occupy the former Long View Gallery Space at 1302 Ninth Street. It appears that bamboo wood floors are being laid currently. With Maruka next door, we're fast becoming a yogi haven!

2. Speaking of Long View Gallery, the gallery reopens in its new location at 1234 Ninth Street this week. The new interior is stunning.

3. 1600 Eighth Street (a Shiloh property) is reportedly under contract. Fingers crossed that an Abdo-ish residential development will soon come to that corner.

4. For $5, you can guess the circumference of the HUGE pumpkin at Old City Green. Proceeds go toward the community tulip planting project on October 31. If you have the winning guess, that huge pumpkin is delivered to your door for Halloween!

Row Home Reno: Introduction to the Fixer Upper

A friend has purchased a fixer upper row home in Shaw and has agreed to let me document the renovation on this blog. As my friend plans a complete gut job and modern renovation (see his prior work here), it should be an interesting project to follow. I hope to capture a little bit of everything that goes into reconstructing a home in our great neighborhood in this blog series.

Architectural plans are still in the works (once they're finalized, I will post), so construction is still a few months off. For now, therefore, I will just introduce you to the house.

The house is conveniently located between the O Street Market and the Shaw/Howard Metro and sits in the heart of the Shaw Historic District. It is zoned R-4. The former owner lost it through foreclosure, and my friend purchased it from a bank for about $400,000.

The house is three stories, including an English basement unit and a two story main living quarters. At three thousand square feet (and change), it has four bedrooms, two bathrooms and two kitchens and in all. The layout on every floor is a bit choppy, with meandering hallways and small, closed off rooms.

The current condition of the home is, well, not pristine. The facade is covered in a bleak gray-blue aluminum siding. The dingy carpet-covered floors don't seem very sturdy. The kitchens are dated. The bathrooms are insufficient in number and a hot mess in appearance.My friend plans to completely overhaul the structure, layout and look -- interior and exterior -- of this manse. The new place will likely feature a brick and stone facade with a re-done porch, all new windows and doors, a roof deck, and open, ultra-modern interior. Preliminary renderings look great; I can't wait to share them. It's an exciting, ambitious project that will undoubtedly add to the stock of amazing homes in Shaw.

More posts to come in this new series soon!

902-904 T Street Renovation Progress

Redevelopment of the once long-boarded building at Ninth and T Streets seems to nearing completion. Among other things, the property has received a new roof, new interior framing, new windows and doors, and new paint. I can't wait to check out the final product!

For some background on the historic home, check out my post from 2007 here.

*Update*

Below is a photo of the property prior to renovation, courtesy of reader David.

Buy Me: New Condos in the Nine

This weekend, I had the pleasure of going to the open house for The Nine, the fabulous renovation/development in the 1300 block of Ninth Street (I last wrote about The Nine here). In all, there are four residential, one office and one retail condominiums in this historic mixed use project, and all evidence great attention to detail and style.

The residences each possess great finishes, airy and open rooms, and outdoor spaces. Two units are accessed from a cute entrance on Naylor Court and two are accessed from Ninth Street.



The one and two bedroom condominiums range from $359,000 to $449,9000.

For more information on The Nine, contact Jeremy Aldridge of Urban Pace (202.306.3437).

DCist Reports Renovation, Gallery Coming to Seventh Street

According to DCist:

This week in Gallery Musical Chairs, Civilian Art Projects is moving to the Warehouse Arts Complex. . . . [C]elebrate Civilian's haul up 7th Street to Warehouse starting November 1. They'll be located on the first floor, until the second floor is finished being renovated in 2010, while the third floor will be artist studios managed by Civilian. In the meantime, join them Friday at Modern in Georgetown for a happy hour fundraiser for Civilian's Production Fund, a non-profit venture to provide micro-grants to artists, 6 to 9 p.m., or Saturday at the gallery for an artist's talk with Cara Ober, 6 to 8 p.m.

Civilian Arts will be a great addition to the arts scene around the convention center!

Food Tour of Little Ethiopia

DC Metro Food Tours will soon begin offering a food tour of our very own Little Ethiopia. On their tours, DC Metro Foods takes participants on guided food tours of a particular area of town. Participants get to learn about and feast on specially selected dishes at each restaurant on the tours. The tour of Little Ethiopia will take participants along U and Ninth Streets, with stops at a handful of our highly regarded Ethiopian restaurants. The tour costs $50, which includes the cost of the food and the guided walk. Tours will be held on weekends commencing on October 24.

Help Shaw Bloom For Years to Come: Tulip Planting on 10-31-09

Taking a cue from our neighbors in Bloomingdale, for a while I have dreamt of Shaw’s tree boxes bursting with tulips each spring. I think such spring blossoms would make our neighborhood look even more beautiful and inviting to residents, merchants and visitors alike.

To that end, Frank Asher of Old City Green and I are organizing a tree box tulip planting event for the morning of October 31, 2009. While the ultimate goal is to plant tulip bulbs in every tree box in Shaw along Seventh and Ninth Streets north of the convention center, this first planting will focus on the tree boxes between N Street and Rhode Island Avenue (the 1300, 1400 and 1500 blocks of Ninth Street). Each tree box in those blocks will receive two dozen tulip bulbs -- a mix of purple, red and dark purple tulips (see images to right for the tulips we've chosen). In conjunction with the tulip planting, the tree boxes will also receive additional mulch and soil.

The planting will kick off at Old City Green at 9:00 a.m. on October 31. We’ll have coffee, instructions, supplies, and maybe a few tools (bring your own gloves and trowels if you have them). We’ll assign volunteers tree boxes and send everyone their way. Other exciting surprises will be in store – as well as a festive and fun Halloween feel to the morning – but that’s all I’ll share for now.

Please send me an email at slumhistorique@yahoo.com if you can lend a hand in planting bulbs on October 31, as we need a rough headcount.


Shaw Treebox Tulip Planting
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Meet at Old City Green at 9:00 a.m.
If you plan to attend, email me at slumhistorique@yahoo.com



NOTE -- This project is being made possible by the generous support of several organizations (such as Shaw Main Streets and Shiloh Baptist Church), all of whom we’ll honor in the weeks to come and at the event.

Valet Parking Lot Proposed for 1300 Block of Ninth

For many years, the former car lot in the 1300 block of Ninth Street has cried out for new life. It sits in an area that has seen so much renewal: Immediately adjacent to it is a long-vacant building that's about to receive a huge renovation to house offices and the show room of noted designer Darryl Carter; a few doors away are notable neighborhood businesses EFN Lounge, Azi's Cafe, Maruka Yoga and Boutique; across the street is the new headquarters to Independence Bank and a handful of fully occupied, market rate apartments; and so on and so forth. I've secretly dreamt that the lot would be utilized as a weekly flea or farmers' market.

The wide lot has frontage on both Naylor Court and on Ninth Street. There is a very old brick structure on the back of the lot fronting Naylor Court (the building is known as "old Abate building "). The old Abate building is in poor shape and is not likely a highly contributing building from an architectural historic perspective. That said, the old Abate building sits in the Naylor Court Historic District and is one of a collection of buildings that are protected by federal law.

I recently heard that the lot has been leased to someone planning to use it as a twenty four hour a day, seven day a week valet lot -- a place where valeted cars will be parked while their owners dine or drink nearby. I certainly see the value in such a lot, given the parking constraints around the convention center. There are two controversial aspects of the plan, however:

First, the lessee has supposedly expressed a desire to get a curb on Ninth Street for easier access. I believe that ANC2F must be given the chance to weigh in on any new curb cut applications, and I am not aware of the ANC having yet had a chance to consider the issue. Without the curb cut, Naylor Court will be negatively impacted by increased traffic in the alley. On the other hand, the curb cut eliminates valuable, publicly available street parking.

Second, the lessee has supposedly expressed an interest in demolishing the old Abate building to maximize the number of spaces available for surface parking. I have heard that the current plan is to keep the structure for now, and possibly to stabilize it for the short-term. Neighbors and those who value alley dwellings and their unique contributions to the character and authenticity of our city and of unique places like Naylor Court are understandably concerned. For now, however, it sounds like the structure is safe.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out. What do you think of the plan for a valet lot? A curb cut? Razing the old Abate building?

Pumpkins and Fall in Bloom at Old City Green

In addition to being stocked full of fall plantings and accouterments -- from pansies to shrubs, mums to bales of hay and corn stalks -- our neighborhood garden center Old City Green has pumpkins galore! A must-see pumpkin is a massive one that could be yours if you guess its circumference ($5 entry fee, proceeds go to Shaw Main Streets). If you win the great pumpkin, Old City Green will deliver it to your home for free (your back will appreciate it...).

Old City Green's fall hours are Tuesday through Thursday, 9 to 3 by appointment, Thursday and Friday 3 to 7, Saturday 9 to 6, and Sunday 11 to 5.


Old City Green
Corner of Ninth and N Streets, Northwest
Washington, DC 20001
202.412.2489

Shiloh Sprucing Up Ninth Street

Over the past week, contractors for Shiloh Baptist Church have been taking boards off of the windows of the church's vacant buildings along Ninth Street and restoring the windows underneath. The retail bays of 1526 and 1528 Ninth Street have even been re-framed and -- it appears -- will receive new glass today. The historic buildings look a lot more handsome with their windows now letting in the light. Hopefully the church will continue its efforts by restoring any rotten mill work, giving the places new paint jobs and maybe even installing sconces and lighting to give the properties more of an appearance of upkeep and occupation.

I am only aware of one major redevelopment pending for a Shiloh property: that of 1531/1533 Ninth Street, Northwest (read about the plans for 1531/1533 Ninth Street here -- last time I checked, building permits are still awaiting approval). Accordingly, I posit that the work on the church's other properties along Ninth Street is just for the purpose of making things look better and for purposes of preventing further deterioration. Both are admiral purposes and are greatly appreciated by neighbors!

Thanks, Shiloh, for making so many strides lately toward improving the appearance and safety of our neighborhood!

SMS Development Forum Proves Informative and Exciting

I attended last night's development forum and was excited to hear that a lot of projects seem to be truly, finally nearing starting. Below are some of my notes from the meeting.

1. Developers Not in Attendance - Developers of the new convention center hotel did not attend on advice of counsel due to the pending lawsuit (discussed yesterday). Developers of the Jazz at Florida Avenue also did not attend due to pending negotiations with WMATA regarding the parcels. Developers of CityCenter DC (the old convention center site) also did not attend due to scheduling. Developers of Parcel 42 did not attend, and the SMS Executive Director informed the group that the project -- like many -- is working on financing. Marriott, which is developing two smaller hotels on L Street across from the proposed new convention center hotel, also did not attend. SMS Executive Director informed the group that the two smaller Marriott hotels will likely open before the convention center headquarters hotel opens.

2. Douglas Development -
a. Ninth Street Properties - Douglas Development has several projects pending throughout Shaw. Douglas sees the Ninth Street corridor developing most quickly. The building housing the new Long View Gallery -- 1234 Ninth Street -- has a retail space adjacent to the gallery that has garnered a lot of interest from restaurant groups. The company owns several row homes a few row homes also in the 1200 block of Ninth on which the company will begin renovations in the next few months. Restaurant groups have also expressed interest in these spaces. The Exchange boasts the headquarters of Independence Bank and a completely leased residential component.

b. The Wonder Bread Building - this office development is on hold due to the current economy. In order to finance the project, they need a tenant committed to leasing sixty to seventy percent of the building in order to get the project financed.

c. Seventh Street Properties - Douglas Development plans to bring its historic properties in the 1100 block of Seventh Street online for lease very soon. Expect to see boards to come off windows and restorations of the facades shortly. This is a viable stretch of retail opportunity.

d. Seventh and Florida Avenue - The renovation of this building -- formerly home to a Popeyes franchies -- is almost complete. Douglas is trying to lease it now and wants a high quality tenant. Nike, for example, almost signed a lease for the building and represents the type tenant they desire. Do not expect to see a cell-phone store, a liquor store, a fast food chain, or even another drug store in this highly visible spot.

2- Inle Development - Inle is the developer behind 1501 Ninth Street at the corner of Ninth and P Streets. The property is a vacant lot and was long time home of shady car lot Wings Motors. The property will be developed into a four story building. The building is already fully sold out (!!!!!). A popular Burmese restaurant from Silver Spring, Maryland known as Mandalay will occupy the basement and the first two floors of the building. It will feature outdoor seating along P Street. The restaurant owner and executive chef will occupy the condominium above the restaurant. The development should break ground this quarter or next, and the restaurant should be open by the holidays of 2010.

3. Metropolitan Development - Metropolitan is the developer of Addison Square at Kelsey Gardens (the west side of the fifteen hundred block of Seventh Street and the seven hundred block of P Street). The development has its final PUD and zoning approved and is working on getting financing. Expect to see the current apartment complex demolished in late spring 2010, with construction starting immediately thereafter.

4. Ellis Development -
a. Media Center One (formerly Broadcast Center One) - Ellis hopes to break ground by the end of the year (2009) on this office, retail and residential project on Seventh Street between S and T Streets. Construction of Media Center One will take 24 months to complete. Despite the stock values of the lead office tenant, the media company is strong, with a lot of cash, and is a solid, good tenant.

b. The Howard Theatre - Renovation and expansion of the Howard Theatre, located in the seven hundred block of T Street, will take 13-14 months to complete. The goal is to start construction later this year. The theater itself will house a completely new sound stage and restaurant, featuring flexible, cabaret style seating. Negotiations are underway with a major internation operator, interested in a twenty year lease, for the theater/restaurant. The back of the building will feature a new addition and will house the Washington Jazz Arts Institute.

5. Roadside Development - Roadside is developing City Market at O Street, which will occupy the parcels of land between Seventh and Ninth, O and P Streets. The start date for the proejct is September 3, 2010, at which time underpinning of the historic market will commence. The current Giant will close on January 15, 2011, and its demolition will occur in February 2010. The new Giant grocery store (which be located in the old O Street Market and will occupy almost the entire ground floor of the block on which the market sits), will open no more than twenty four months later. months (they are planning for 18 mos).