Shawington

You may have missed them, but there were recently two interesting articles on the retail in and around the Washington Convention Center.

In its July edition, The Intowner featured a story noting some of the challenges nearby small business owners face, such as Azeb Desta, owner of Azi’s Café, who says, “Business is getting better but is not okay,” noting that “maybe twice” have conventioneers come to her business just a block away. Chatman’s D’Vine Bakery & Café owner and baker Debra Chatman, agrees that “it is really hard getting people to come in.”

Wednesday’s Washington Times reports on lawsuits stemming from the Convention Center’s retail space, which, five years after opening, still is not completely filled. This week, the Convention Center was hit with a half million dollar verdict for conspiring to keep local disadvantaged small businesses out of the retail space within the building in order to favor a politically connected businessperson. According to The Times:

The dozen retail spaces that line the outside of the convention center have been a sore spot for the five-year-old complex. At least four tenants have filed lawsuits against the WCCA over problems with construction on their spaces. In addition, eight neighboring retailers have filed a joint suit against the convention center charging that it hasn’t lived up to promises made before construction started.

Once touted as economic development catalyst, the 12 spaces still haven’t all been leased.

My opponent routinely hails the Convention Center as one of his achievements for Ward 2. It cost the taxpayers of this city $850 million in public financing, just short of the baseball stadium, and it’s not delivering. We are paying about $36 million each year alone on debt service associated with its construction. But that’s ok, because it created jobs and brought in more conventioneers to the city who spend money here, right? Wrong. According to a Brookings Institution report, “After building an entirely new
convention center with almost double the exhibit space, the Washington Convention Center Authority has seen effectively no increase in attendance or hotel use.”

The fact of the matter is, the Convention Center has truly become the great white elephant that some feared. It is a convention center designed solely for conventioneers, not as a means for neighborhood revitalization. The first of the retail spaces were not ready for occupancy until three years after opening, and are still not finished today. Conventioneers enter through Massachusetts Avenue or are dropped off and picked up by bus on L Street, giving them no incentive to visit neighborhood businesses. Even the retail spaces inside the convention center don’t actually connect to convention center space. Seventh and Ninth Streets are mostly lined with a long wall, providing no street life. A Convention Center hotel, long planned, is still several years away. It’s an unforgivable case of poor planning and a tremendous missed opportunity.

There still is a chance to reclaim some of the lost potential. Let’s get way finding signs with maps and directories of neighborhood restaurants and shops up along Massachusetts Avenue and L Street. Let’s take action with respect to long vacant commercial properties that line 7th and 9th Street. Let’s finish filling the retail spaces and resolve outstanding lease disputes with small business owners. Let’s get our priorities back on track.

(3 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

 Loading ...

As an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in Logan Circle, I enjoyed working with our small, local businesses to help them succeed. Over the years, I have watched them struggle with permit and license paperwork, loss of pedestrian access during periods of construction, and rising property taxes. Throughout the city, our small businesses are facing difficult times and we are losing more and more to chain stores. At least one study has ranked the District, when compared with states, dead last for small business survival.

We are doing something wrong. When I’ve visited San Francisco or growing up in New York, I’m astounded by the amazing diversity of small shops and restaurants, even in the heart of downtown. But in DC, you have to look quite hard to find a place to buy a newspaper in Chinatown or a slice of pizza or lunch to do from a local spot downtown. Earlier this year, I was sad to see Candida’s World of Books in Logan Circle close, a long-term result of the cutting off sidewalk access to her store, soon after it opened, during a prolonged period of surrounding development.

This week, we held an event at Rice Restaurant, just across the street from the former Candida’s, which is now an empty storefront. I had the chance to work with owner Sak Pollert when he opened, helping him navigate the process of applying for a liquor license and sidewalk cafe. Now, his property taxes have skyrocketed. He basically has to sell a month’s worth of Pad Thai to cover the costs.

The DC Council has not taken adequate steps to help. Last year, they passed legislation to provide $11 million for small business relief. That may sound like a lot, but considering there are between 20,000 and 25,000 small businesses in the District, it amounts to about $500 each. That’s an insult. It’s not worth the time and paperwork for a small business, and, of course, it would cost the DC government money to administer the program. Predictably, the election-year “plan” fell apart.

Then, the DC Council tried something else… a reduction in the commercial property tax. Ultimately, they settled on reducing the tax rate for the first $3 million of assessed property value (amounting to $21 million in savings for commercial property owners, and amount that was significantly scaled back as soon as the budget tightened). The problem with that approach… it is billed as helping small businesses, but it actually applies to all owners across the board. In other words, as Council Member Jim Graham recognized, it provides greater relief to the Marriott and large land owners than to small businesses.

As a Council Member, I’ll make sure that small businesses get the attention and tax relief they deserve. That’s why I will introduce the following measures to address these issues before we lose more of our small businesses:

Create an Office of the Small Business Advocate

As I discussed, it is tremedously difficult for small business owners to navigate the government bureaucracy. No organization is currently dedicated to assisting and advocating for small businesses in DC. My proposal is that DC adopt a program that borrows from cities such as Chicago and San Diego, as well as the federal Small Business Administration. In fact, in 2007, San Francisco voters, by referendum, called for such a program. The DC Office of Small Business Advocate would:
Include a staff member for each of eight Wards responsible for building relationships and outreach to each small business in their ward.
Provide ombuds assististance with licenses and permits, zoning, and regulatory applications; assist with impact of street and sidewalk construction.
Disseminate information regarding grants and other financial assistance.
Provide impartial analysis of the impact of legislative and regulatory programs on small businesses. Testify before the DC Council and government agencies to present the affect on small businesses of various proposals.
Prepare annual report on issues facing small businesses in the District, provide recommendations for addressing them, and analyze effectiveness of existing programs.
Examine potential avenues for tax relief and reduction of fees.

Provide Needed Tax Relief
I am committed to enacting a reasonable cap on the percent that property taxes can rise in a single year, similar to the limit placed on residential properties. There is currently no limit to the size of the increase.
I would develop a tax credit targeted very specifically to small, local businesses who have faced steep rises in rent or property taxes in past years.

These proposals are meant only as a beginning. I value your thoughts and suggestions.

(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

 Loading ...

I learned this morning that there has been a rash of robberies on the border of the Logan and Dupont Circle neighborhoods where I lived before moving to Mount Vernon Square. The e-mail below is from Officer Mike Smith, passed on to me by a resident for dissemination. Crime this week is up 177% over last week. If you have any questions, please contact your Police Service Area (PSA) officer:

PSA 208 (west of 15th Street): Officer Mike Smith
PSA 307 (east of 15th Street): Officer Richard Parrish

Keep your eyes open… be aware of what is going on around you… be careful getting in and out of your car. Thanks to our officers for being on top of this and keeping us informed.

There have been more robberies in the area since my last email. One in particular was unusually violent in that one victim was possibly pistol-whipped during the robbery. That incident occurred early Sunday morning at approximately 4 am at the corner of 15th and Church Sts NW. The victims had just parked their car when the suspect approached and asked the driver for directions. Suspect # 1, described as a black male approximately 5′7″ with a thin build, short afro hairstyle then punched the driver in the face demanding money. The driver was able to exit the car pursued by Suspect #1 who continued to strike the victim, then he produced a black handgun, striking the victim again. The second suspect was described as a light skinned black male or hispanic male approximately 5′9″ with a stocky build. His hairstyle was described as somewhat unique as it was described as long black hair pulled back into a knot, th en the hair below the knot appeared to be braided. Suspect #2 held the second victim at gunpoint as victim #1 was robbed. Both suspects fled on foot on Church St towards 16th St.

I did arrest one suspect for attempted armed robbery at the corner of 15th St and Q St on Friday night at approximately 10:15 PM. This suspect approached two pedestrians and produced a box cutter and attempted to rob them but they were able to flag down a patrol car and the suspect was immediately arrested.

Robberies are occurring on both the 2D and 3D sides primarily between 14th and 16th Streets, mostly between R and U Streets. I have been working with the 2D detectives office to see if we can identify the suspects. Crime over the last 7 days is up over 170% from the same period last year (18 crimes vs. 6 crimes a year ago).

Ofc M. Smith/2nd District

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Today, Mayor Fenty held a press conference to tout legislation that will finance the O Street Market revitalization, called “CityMarket at O.” Finally, the end is in sight. This project began in 2001 when Roadside Development purchased the historic market. Then, in 2003, the market’s roof caved in under a heavy snow storm.

Unlike the quick citywide action we saw earlier this year when Eastern Market went on fire, the O Street Market, which will provide extraordinary boost for the Shaw community, got stuck in red tape: hearing after hearing from historic preservation to zoning. It’s final (hopefully) two hearings are coming up in July before the DC Council, as it considers the tax increment financing package (TIF) to move it forward. It’s about time. Actually, it’s way past due.

City Market at O will bring the largest Giant in the District, retail and restaurants, affordable senior housing and market-rate apartments and condos, and a significant amount of underground parking. The project will also reopen 8th Street (currently an island in the Giant parking lot) to traffic.

It’s not quite over yet. After approval of its financing package, Roadside will need to obtain the necessary permits to begin construction, a process that is expected to take an additional year. After groundbreaking, construction is expected to take 12 to 18 months. During that time, Giant will provide free shuttle bus service to nearby stores.

I’ve supported and cheered for this project for years — as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in adjacent Logan Circle, as a board member of Shaw Main Streets, and as president of the Mount Vernon Square Neighborhood Association.

The real hero in this battle is Roadside Development. How many others would have held on after so many years?

This is a big step forward and there is much more work to do. Onward and upward to addressing vacant and nuisance properties, bringing retail, and making the neighborhood a safer place to live.

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

This morning, I joined concerned residents of Logan Circle at a special meeting of the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA). The meeting was called at the urging of the neighborhood’s Advisory Neighborhood Commission, which had withdrawn its support for the Morrison Clark Inn’s expansion project. The ANC requested that the BZA reconsider its approval after the community realized that the planned expansion would bring the hotel within 3 feet of the windows of the adjacent Quincy Park condominium. The ANC and Quincy Park residents felt they were misled by the developers, who showed them plans that did not accurately illustrate the impact. While the BZA decided to reconsider its decision, it did not reopen the record or take additional evidence. It merely reaffirmed its decision, permitting the expansion to proceed, and disregarding the “great weight” that it must accord ANC’s by law. It is not yet known whether residents will appeal the decision in court.

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

This week, I attended the third community meeting on the proposed new Watha T. Daniels Library. The library will serve the Shaw, as well as Logan Circle, communities, will be located at 7th and Rhode Island Avenue.

A brief bit of background. The previous library, a concrete fortrees constructed in the 1970s, was closed in December 2004. The community had no library for three years before opening of an interim library. The frustration led to a protest reported in the Washington Post. The interim library, a trailer, is doing well, with circulation surpassing that of the permanent library before its closure. This demonstrates the need for a top-of-the-line library in Shaw and the great potential to make it a center piece of the community.

So why was I disappointed after the meeting? Our new libraries should welcome and draw in the community. They should recognize the new and different environment in which libraries operate today: where computers and printers are as important to literacy and as resources as paper books and newspapers; and where residents have the option of going to a private book store with comfortable seating, a cafe, a wifi. Libraries of the 21st Century can provide computer training, a literacy center, a cafe and sidewalk seating, a book or gift shop, neighborhood historic resources, a dedicated computer lab and a low-cost kinkos-type business center. The proposed Watha T. Daniels Library, while including a modern facade with a commendably environmentally-friendly building, looks much on the inside as any library today or a decade ago for that matter, with a few more computers and without the card catalogue. I’d like to see innovation and excitement in our future libraries.

At this week’s meeting, the discussion focused, unfortunately, on unanticipated construction costs for the new library that would raise the costs 20% above budget. These expenses primarily relate to the cost of remediating groundwater under the site, the location’s proximity to the underground metro line, the rising cost of steel, and extensive use of glass. The architects presented modifications to lower the cost, including slightly lowering the height of the second story, raising the basement level, and reducing coverage of the sun screen. There was little news to report — the lower level remains a work in progress; landscaping, streetscaping, and public art are still question marks; there is no dedicated computer lab; vending machines are anticipated in the basement, with the possibility of a coffee cart.

DC Public Library staff and the architects say that cost issues will not delay the project. Stay tuned for a fourth and final meeting in the near future.

The West End/Foggy Bottom/Dupont Circle community has the right idea. You can read what they have proposed for their new library, which they view as a central part of a vibrant neighborhood, here. More to come on that topic in a future blog post.

Resources:
Notes from the previous Watha T. Daniels public meetings and design plans
DC Library Dynamos Watha T. Daniels Survey Results
My letter providing feedback and recommendations on the proposed design

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

On Saturday, Cary for Council campaign team demonstrated its strong support for the LGBT community in the 2008 Capital Pride Parade. We decorate my jeep (which will not soon recover from the sparkles) and joined in the march to show our commitment to marriage equality and civil rights.

The crowd was extremely enthusiastic and it was a great time - the storms could not rain on this parade. The Washington CityPaper named our float as “the most festive vehicle of the parade.” The excitement that the parade brought to Ward 2 is an outstanding example of the value of the diverse community within the ward. As Council Member, I will take a leadership role on issues of concern to the city’s LGBT community.

You can view more photos on our Facebook album.

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

I’ve found time and time again that those who fight hardest for Ward 2 residents are often members of the Council from other parts of the city or elected at-large. Today, was another perfect example.

First, the Council gutted the noise bill. The original bill would have placed reasonable restrictions on the volume of daytime noncommercial speech (i.e. people shouting into loud speakers) that goes on for prolonged periods, intruding into people’s homes and places of work. DC has absolutely no limit, unlike any other major city, and what was originally proposed was still more lenient than places like New York City. An amendment proposed by Council Member Harry Thomas (D-Ward 5), which was essentially a rewrite of that proposed by Council Member Evans and defeated last month, passed 9-4 this time, after some unions ran radio ads threatening two members up for reelection, Kwame Brown (D-At Large) and Yvette Alexander (D-Ward 7). It raises the decibel level limit from 70 to 80 dB, restricts the limit to R-1 through R-4 zones (i.e. there is no limit for areas in which there are large apartment buildings or downtown), and changes the place of measurement to inside the home rather than 50 feet from the noise.

Those fighting for Ward 2 on the noise bill included Council Members Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3), Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6), David Catania (I-At-Large), and Carol Schwartz (R-At Large). While Ward 2 Council Member Jack Evans represented that he has never received a noise complaint from residents of his Ward that would be protected by the legislation, Catania and Cheh discussed a different reality. Catania, himself a Ward 2 resident, expressed outrage that the children of Stevens Elementary School (located in West End/Foggy Bottom) lost an entire semester of school because of a prolonged protest across the street by hired hands. Cheh suggested that Penn Quarter residents ask why they are being treated differently — why they get no protection in their community and in their homes, noting that, “just because [you] live in a mixed [residential / commercial] area, Penn Quarter residents will have to suffer from noise assaults.” Cheh noted that under the Evans’ supported amendment, the noise can go 7am-9pm every day, all day, no matter how long, how loud, how amplified — “you get no protection whatsoever, none.”
“Penn Quarter, I hope you are listening, you are being written off.”

–Council Member Mary Cheh (Ward 3), quoted in the Washington Post

Council Member Wells, who shares a portion of Penn Quarter with Ward 2, attempted to amend the Thomas amendment to restore some protection for downtown, but failed. In the end, Cheh and Wells, the primary sponsors of the bill, voted against the do-nothing legislation.

Lost in all the noise over the noise bill were two very other important quality of life proposals on the Council’s Tuesday agenda: single sales of alcoholic beverages and vacant property.

The Council passed a ban on the sale of single alcoholic beverages for Wards 4, 7, and 8, with Council Member Wells pledging to add the entirety of Ward 6, which already has a partial ban, at the next meeting. Council Member Evans, spurred by the action of his colleagues, has after 17 years of complaints from neighborhoods residents, committed to proposing a similar ban for Ward 2. But his proposed ban, yet to be introduced, will cover only two Advisory Neighborhood Commission areas, Logan Circle (ANC 2F) and Shaw/Mt. Vernon/Penn/Chinatown Quarter (ANC 2C). Residents of Dupont Circle, Foggy Bottom/West End, Georgetown, and downtown should prepare to see more public intoxication, public urination, aggressive panhandling and trash, as those who cannot get a cheap drink in more than half of the rest of the city (Ward 1 already has a partial ban) find your corner and liquor stores.

Finally, the Council took on long-delayed legislation designed to move owners of vacant property to put their property to productive use. The legislation increases the vacant property tax rate from about 5x the regular occupied rate for residential property to 10x, while eliminating many of the loopholes that allowed derelict owners and speculators to avoid the higher rate for decades. It was Council Member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) who sought to fight off a series of 11th hour amendments that would have placed some of those exemptions back in the law and created a few new ones. That included a complete exemption on properties within the central business district proposed by Council Member Evans. It was withdrawn when it came under fire from Graham and Council Member Barry (D-Ward 8). Council Member Evans also proposed an amendment to increase the period of time before the higher rate sets in from 1 year (existing law) to 2 years and for residential property to 1 year (same as existing law, but the bill would have reduce dit to 8 months). That proposal passed. Another Evans proposal, to restore a loophole providing a 24-month exemption for properties under a deed of trust, was removed after Graham objected.

Graham also attempted to fight off, with some success, amendments proposed to allow the Mayor to single handedly exempt properties (passed subject to renewal by Mayor every 24 months), to exempt newly constructed buildings (passed limited to 4 years), and to require government inspectors evaluating whether a property is indeed vacant to consider the owner’s alleged “intent” to return.

It’s time we had a Ward 2 Council Member who places his constituents before developers, unions, and other special interests. By the way, what happened to the idea of creating a livable downtown? With the carving out of downtown from the noise bill and an attempt to take the central business district out of the vacant property protections, residents should be very concerned.

What people are saying about the noise bill’s silencing (no one is happy):
Quest for Quiet blog
PQ Living blog
Greater Greater Washington blog
DCist
DC Wire blog
The Express
Washington Post

(2 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

 Loading ...

“Oh, be fair.” That is the response I received from DDOT Director Emeka C. Moneme in a public meeting of the Downtown Neighborhood Association last week. A Penn Quarter resident had informed Director Moneme that he had noticed walk signs swinging to face the wrong direction around town. Just call 311 was the response and we’ll send someone out to fix it. Then I thought of the Ward 2 resident I met at Whole Foods, and ran into again in Foggy Bottom, who told me how he had three times called in the same problem at a very busy intersection in Georgetown where he lives and works. Each time, the DDOT contractor came out and it was broken again within days. I told Director Moneme that he should be aware that some of his contractors are doing a “shoddy job.” Ward 2 Transportation Planner Christopher Ziemann then chimed in with some helpful advice: residents can fix the crosswalk signs themselves. Perhaps with a broomstick, you may be able to swing the pedestrian walk signs back into place.

Brick sidewalks. They look nice, but why can’t DDOT maintain them? A few weeks ago, a Foggy Bottom resident suggested that residents with wheel chairs use the streets rather than the sidewalks, because of the hazardous missing bricks. Well folks, here’s your answer. According to Mr. Zeimann, DDOT only has a single brick masonry crew for the entire city. That means that you are lucky to get asphalt to cover those holes until the crew gets around to you.

Light timing. You can literally walk across some areas of the city faster than attempting to drive or take a cab. From red light to red light you go, for miles at a time. Why? Wasted gas, wasted money, wasted time, unnecessary congestion. Fix it.

Fixing What Isn’t Broken. There’s so many dangerous intersections to fix, sidewalks to mend, walk lights facing the wrong way, and crosswalks to paint that you might think DDOT has its hands full. There’s also unfulfilled plans that might actually do some good if implemented, such as the New York Avenue Corridor Study and the Mount Vernon Triangle Transportation and Public Realm Project. Those sit on a shelf or in a file cabinet. Instead, the agency seems to repeatedly undertake efforts that leave residents fighting to ensure that the District’s congestion and pedestrian safety don’t get worse. A few recent or ongoing cases in point:
This week, after vigorous discussion and opposition on the Georgetown Forum, DDOT decided against plans to reverse the traffic flow on 33rd Street NW. As a former resident of 33rd Street, I know this was an obvious bad idea.
About two months ago, DDOT proposed eliminating a portion of The Circulator route that serves those who live and work along Wisconsin Avenue. After strong opposition from the Georgetown Advisory Neighborhood Commission and Citizens Association of Georgetown, DDOT abandoned that plan.
In Logan Circle, residents are very concerned about a DDOT proposal to make 15th Street (which currently is one-way heading northbound) into a two-way street.
DDOT, with the support of my opponent, has repeatedly studied the feasibility of removing the Whitehurst Freeway, an expense The Georgetown Current called “ridiculous”, and has garnered strong opposition.

To be fair to DDOT, there are some positive initiatives underway. Finally, we are beginning to see less closed sidewalks as DDOT is beginning to require developers to use covered walkways and maintain pedestrian access during construction. It is about time. I’m also glad to see the smart bike program come online - it is a good environmentally-friendly and convenient idea.

Can we please get back to basics? As your Council Member, I will push DDOT to fulfill its core mission — that includes:
Doing whatever it takes to address the most dangerous intersections in the city;Ensuring that crosswalks are always highly visible and signage is immediately and properly fixed when broken;Moving forward with needed infrastructure improvements to address congestion and safety hazards;Installing traffic calming devices where needed and effective;Sidewalk and street repair; andEnhancing public transportation options.

In short, I want to see shovels and paint brushes, not paper, presentations, and unnecessary proposals.

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

The Washington Area Bicyclist Association will hold its annual Bike to Work day this Friday, May 16 from 8am to 9am. You can register here for the free event and get a t-shirt if you are one of the first 7,000 to sign up.

One of the great things about living in Ward 2 is the proximity to downtown and, for many of us, the close distance between home and work. I bike just about everywhere, everyday, unless it is pouring as it has been this past week. From home to work, from meeting to meeting, to join friends for coffee or dinner - you can even find me biking around in a suit (not good for the longevity of the suit, btw). It’s fastest, cheapest, it’s exercise, and it’s environmentally friendly. You can’t go wrong.

There’s more we can do to make the District bike friendly. For example, bike lanes on Fifteenth Street in Logan Circle will make it more accommodating for riders and may slow down what has become a four-lane speedway for commuters. In Georgetown, removal of parking meters in favor of the less evasive ticket machine system has had the unintended effect of leaving very few places to lock a bike. All of our commercial areas should have sufficient bike racks to encourage ridership and lessen reliance on driving.

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...