Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Delayed restaurant openings, losing Eckington Park, and safety escort services...

Check out NoMa BID's spring newsletter. It provides an overview of all NoMa-related happenings since the start of the year. Here are notables:

Heidi’s Brooklyn Deli and Sister’s Pizza & Mussels is expected to be open by June. That is probably very unlikely. It is already mid-April and although the space has been cleaned out the last time I passed by and I see what look like walls being built, I don't think it'll be done by June.

Coming soon are the ground breaking for several residential buildings, two of which are far away from Eckington (450 units at 1st and M Street NE and 300 unit apartment building at 60 L Street). But Trammell Crow Residential's 650-unit Eckington I is right in the neighborhood. That is the location of "Eckington Park." I don't really see any new activity at the park besides the occasionally residents running laps or playing with their dogs. Anyone notice anything new? Does coming soon mean some time this year?

Finally, BID is planning to launch a Safety Ambassador Program this month. These ambassadors I assume will be like those in other BIDs. Among their tasks is "providing safety escort services upon request." As an Eckington resident, I couldn't imagine using such a service (except super late at night when the ambassadors probably aren't working anymore).

But for those people who will soon be working in NoMa and are worried about safety, I hope these ambassadors will be able to appease some of your concerns. I've never felt unsafe walking or biking through NoMa during the day or early evening but I consider this area my neighborhood. I can completely understand not feeling too great in an area that you're not familiar with.

6 comments:

John W DC said...

If they open in late June that gives them two and a half months to fill out the new space.

That seems doable now that they've started.

dcavocado said...

As much as I would love them to open by late June, I'd be willing to bet they won't be done by then. :o)

Anonymous said...

I watched a Taco Bell go up on King St. in Alexandria/Arlington and begin operations in about a month.

They started with a weed-filled lot, and turned it into a Taco Bell in about one month.

I hear McDonalds can do it even faster.

dcavocado said...

These eateries are no Taco Bell or McDonalds. As I said, I'm taking bets, it ain't gonna happen by end of June. :)

dcavocado said...

Well, I don't know what you'd bet but if at least one restaurant is open by end of June, I'll buy you lunch at that restaurant (less than $10)! :)

Anonymous said...

Walked by last night and they had put up the studs for the drywall.