Let's Do Something About North Capitol Street

Last night, I met with several Bloomingdale residents at Nellie's Sports Bar to throw around some ideas on how to improve North Capitol Street. Bloomingdale has a great recap which I'm reposting here:

Last night a group of neighbors, and even some considering moving to our neighborhood, got together at Nellie’s sports bar. The purpose was to meet each other and recognize that all the ideas that we have to improve our neighborhood are shared by many of us. Perhaps we knew that, but it was good to meet each other. FABULOUS IDEAS. Wow. Come join us next time.

To recapture some of the ideas:

1. Most agreed that we would like N. Capital to be organic in its development (no big box stores) . . . we feel that NOMA can take care of the bigger development. Ideally we would like places that we can walk to, that are unique to the neighborhood, and/or fill neighborhood needs. Yoga, community theater space, bars, sit down restaurant, baker, butcher, etc. In a perfect world we would have a movie theater and bookstores . . . and that would indeed be perfect (at least in my world).

2. There is an organization in Adams Morgan called Cool Town Studios. They have identified something called ‘beta communities’ http://www.cooltownbeta.com/ It turns out that a "beta community" project was started in Mt. Vernon Square. Is this something that we would want to consider? http://www.cooltownstudios.com/mt/archives/001021.html

3. one person has a lot of experience in theater. Her suggestions were to contact theater groups in DC (the second largest community theater venue in the country). These organizations are always looking for places to host productions and/or house actors. We could get a list of theaters and start contacting their community outreach (if they exist?) and at a minimum invite them to walk around the neighborhood.

4.Another great idea was to contact the community relations departments of FedEx and XM Radio. Both of these companies benefit from being in this neighborhood and may be interested (and able) to donate money to a neighborhood organization. If you know contacts, start hustling them. :)

5. We should look for other like-minded organizations in our neighborhood so that we are not duplicating efforts. The North Capital Main Street Initiative is one which comes to mind.

6. talk to friends, neighbors, friends of friends . . . people always know someone who knows someone and they may be interested in what we are doing.

7. Think about coming up with more concise ideas about how we could implement some good changes. Do we approach shop keepers to offer solutions on facades (does this mean volunteering to paint a building) . . . do we plant flowers on N. Capital so that people start to notice? North Capital Main Street Initiative may have grant money for these types of things.

8. another idea was advertising the neighborhood. Whether we hire a firm or do it ourselves, we could put together a “North Capitol” website that contains information about residents within Bloomingdale/Eckington, and pictures to remind investors of the amazing panorama that already exists. It could be done with little to no money and could be used as a resume for the neighborhood....anybody know how to create a website? interested?

Think about it. It could be great. It could be fun. Be positive.

James Bond Film Festival at NoMa Coming this Summer

frozen tropics and bloomingdale has the press release regarding this summer festival.

Organized by the Georgetown Film Festival, the summer-long festival will run from May 8 through August 28, 2008, is free to the public, and will feature 15 of the best Bond flicks from 1962 through 2006. The films will be shown each Thursday night, rain or shine, on the site of the future Washington Gateway at the intersection of Florida and New York Avenues.

Wow, I'm really looking forward to this festival. Not only do I love James Bond, it will be very interesting to see what that intersection will look like teeming with people.

I don't know if Heidi's Brooklyn Deli and Sister's Pizza & Mussels will be open by then. I don't see much activity at their spaces but it definitely would be a prudent idea if they sped up their construction and take advantage of this (as well as Artomatic). I also noticed Pound Coffee is initially going to be open only until 5. I would assume that those hours will be adjusted if there is a certainty that there will be a lot more foot traffic.

Justice Department approves XM-Sirius merger

Area newspapers are reporting that the Justice Department just approved the XM-Sirius merger.

So what does that mean for our neighborhood? Will XM up and leave and consolidate offices in NY? Will they keep both NY and DC locations? This bizjournal article from a year ago has a good overview of the pros and and cons for XM/Sirius to stay in DC, move to NY, or keep facilities in both cities. Since that article came out, much has happened in NoMa (i.e., NPR, DOJ, Harris Teeter leases) which might be factors for XM/Sirius to consider in determining the location of its operations.
I guess if the merger was meant to make both XM and Sirius more competitive and viable, it makes complete sense to me that they would maintain locations in DC and NY. XM already owns their space in DC and real estate is still more affordable in DC than in NY. But of course I'm biased. I'm sure everyone in DC wants XM to stay put.

Five Guys Coming to NoMa

A commentator mentioned that an ATF insider had told him it was Five Guys who would be leasing the last remaining space at the ATF retail area. He was right. According to the biz journal, Capital Retail Group is finalizing plans with the hamburger and fries franchise. I don't eat meat so I'm not terribly excited about a burger joint, I would have much preferred a Thai or Indian place. But I know hubby and most of the DC population LOVE Five Guys so I'll be excited for them.

The article also talks about the potential of NoMa now that several big leases have been signed. In particular, it discusses the challenge of creating the right retail and restaurant mix for an area with diverse real estate ownership. The BID has already formed a retail committee of brokers and developers to address this challenge and perhaps develop a formal strategy. Some of its goals are "to determine how to make retail and restaurant offerings complementary, how to take advantage of certain locations and, essentially, how to build the identity of the neighborhood through its retail and eateries."

I know there are people who hate the label "NoMa" and the whole concept of NoMa (i.e., this post). And perhaps this committee (or a newly formed one) should attempt to acknowledge its former identity as Swampoodle instead of creating a totally new one.

I would never have thought a dozen years ago when I first moved to DC that I would be living in the NE. So NoMa or Swampoodle...I honestly don't care. I'm just happy to see the area being developed.

Pound Coffee's Soft Opening Delayed

Pound Coffee is delaying their "soft opening" to Friday, March 28 & Monday, March 31. They will be closed over that weekend however. The "Live" opening will still be on Tuesday, April 1.

Artomatic to be held in Noma

Artomatic is coming to NoMa this May! Artomatic, a traveling art exhibit, will be held from May 9 through June 15, 2008. The events and exhibits will be set up on eight floors of the Capitol Plaza 1 building at 1st and M streets NE. It will also be the biggest Artomatic to date and is expected to attract 50,000 visitors to see work from about 800 artists.

I've been to several Artomatics in the past and I am definitely excited about being able to stroll over to the events and exhibits!

Summer Events Coming to NoMa

According to Bisnow, NoMa will soon be announcing that they are hosting two big cultural and entertainment events this summer, including a film festival. The purpose of the events is acquaint people (beyond the real estate and investment community) with NoMa's rapid development.

I wonder where in NoMa these events will be held. Much of the area still consists of scattered buildings with undeveloped lots in between. Also, I wonder whether these are completely new DC events or events that have been previously hosted elsewhere in DC.

On a side note, someone asked me whether there are any rumors about what will occupy the last 4K SF retail space at the ATF bldg. I speculated that it would be a general merchandise store (like those you typically see in office buildings) but I was wrong. According to the same article, it will be a "well known food service operator" offering a casual dining facility.