Comments on: Rhode Island Station

By: mona

mona — Tue, 22 May 2012 19:35:32 +0000

will there be free parking at cvs? where?

By: 2010 in review « Rhode Island Ave NE Insider

2010 in review « Rhode Island Ave NE Insider — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 15:03:31 +0000

[...] Rhode Island Station May 2010 16 comments 5 [...]

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 04:59:27 +0000

I agree, I think the word “ghetto” gets tossed around too much, usually by people that have no idea what ghetto is. I’ve lived in NE for a number of years, part of the time in the rougher areas. I’ve come out and found stray bullet holes in my car and have come home to find my block taped up with police tape, unable to enter my own home. That’s ghetto. Home Depot not providing the most stellar service is hardly ghetto.

I’m by no means advocating that we just sit by and settle for less, but there’s a clear distinction between pushing for better services and whining. Calling every little thing ghetto because it’s not exactly like it was in Nova or wherever you came from comes falls into the category of whining. I think it’s been pretty well established that NE DC is a developing urban environment. If you’re going to live here and pay less for housing, you have to be willing to make some compromises and appreciate what you have.

By: Ward 5 Resident

Ward 5 Resident — Mon, 31 May 2010 15:37:55 +0000

I agree. I’ve spent a lot of time in Home Depot over the past year. On a rare occasion, I go to the store in College Park or Hyattsville if the local store doesn’t have what I want. For the record, both of those stores in MD ask for a reciept when you leave.

But yes, the Home Depot is pretty typical. As with any big box store, staff typically have limited product knowledge. You need to research online and know what you need before you go shop. This applies to stores like Best Buy, Target, etc. Having said that, I’ve been in the Home Depot enough that I know who the knowledgable staff are and where/when to find them, so there are people there that can provide product knowledge to you if you are lacking.

I just think some people are extra sensitive to businesses that are “ghetto”. If you don’t like a litle urban grit, move to NW. If you can’t afford NW, go to Nova. If you can’t afford Nova, move to Kansas.

By: Woodie

Woodie — Mon, 31 May 2010 10:38:00 +0000

On the strip at Montana Avenue, you have the Premier Development Corporation which is involved in economic development for that area, and William Shelton, the ANC 5B01 commissioner. I undertand Mr. Shelton testified at the Mayor’s hearing on the Rhode Island Avenue Great Streets Small Area Plan. Have you contacted either of them about your interests in retail on that strip?

Also, has any one seen the final document for the Rhode Island Avenue Great Streets Small Area Plan. I’ve heard that the plan was passed. Is this correct?

By: Resident

Resident — Sat, 29 May 2010 15:20:38 +0000

I’m excited about the possibilities for the continued elevation of retail on RIA. I hope this spreads to the strip at Montana Ave.

By: Ms. D

Ms. D — Tue, 25 May 2010 02:59:07 +0000

I’ve never had the security guards at HD ask me for my receipt, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they did. The very nice super Wal-Mart in Frederick makes me show my receipt upon leaving when I stop passing through, as do other stores, and, in any big-box store, it’s a simple step to prevent theft. I don’t find anything “ghetto-fabulous” about our Home Depot, it’s pretty typical of my big-box home improvement store shopping experiences. Some of the staff could use improvement, but it’s really nothing compared to staff I’ve run into at other stores in nicer and worse areas, alike.

In the same vein, the AJ Wright is a little trashy, but nothing much different than any other discount-type store I’ve been to, in nicer and worse areas, again. The Filene’s Basement at Downtown Crossing in Boston (the original, where they have the running of the brides) has nicer stuff but ruder staff, trashier patrons, and is much more disorganized. I currently have a number of items from our AJ Wright in my home, and, while the store is not an A+ for retail, it’s definitely on-par with other stores of its stature. Many of my friends from all over the city and metro area shop there for a number of common personal and household items. It’s no worse than a TJMax or AJ Wright in any other DC Metro area, or almost anywhere else in the country.

By: MisterWeederson

MisterWeederson — Tue, 25 May 2010 01:06:13 +0000

BrentwoodGuy: The developers of this project (as well as other developers working on projects of this area) are not necessarily developing these projects for Ward 5 residents en masse, they are developing them for people they would like to attract to this area (ie, people who can afford higher rents who would pay for more “upscale” offerings.

Stephanie: Top 3 in the nation is by $, not by quality. Also, there are other HD’s in the metro area that make you show your receipt at the door. Hopefully your disdain for shopping in DC will subside once the area has become nicer and meets high expectations.

By: Ms. D

Ms. D — Mon, 24 May 2010 23:11:57 +0000

Thanks for responding…I totally agree. The stores would not allow their logos to be used unless they had at least expressed interest, and maybe signed an intent agreement (a non-binding lease that usually allows them out if certain peramaters are not met, such as other stores or pre-leasing percentages, or they can buy out for a fee). There are no BCBGs in DC, and they may see this as their opportunity to break ground in the District. Cheaper rent for them, high-end tenants upstairs, and a Metro a few steps away to bring their other customers to their doorstep. If they sign a long-term lease, they may ALSO be able to ride the development wave. And if things don’t work out exactly as they envisioned, they could always open a cheaper BCBGeneration store, or another one of their lower-cost brands.

By: rhodeislandinsider

rhodeislandinsider — Mon, 24 May 2010 21:23:27 +0000

Developers usually publish future tenants in their leasing info to attract other tenants. They would not be able to use their logo without the company’s permission. You may be correct that there are no signed leases as that usually comes later and these are confirmed interest and verbal commitments to lease. Again, BCBG has given them permission to use their logo in leasing materials so there would need to be some level of interest for them. And this area is not out of reach for BCBG especially given future buildout and sales per square foot of other retailers. The market for this development is not reliant on the immediate area but DC in general, just like Home Depot did not open for the sole reason to only service Ward 5, etc. Their projections show a very wide service area. Also, bankruptcy doesn’t mean that Blockbuste is going away or cannot open stores. There are MANY levels of bankruptcy and theirs could be a simple restructuring, closing underperforming stores, etc but they still operate as a business. This one would be a “Total Access” which is a new format for them and I think you will see more and more of these type of new formats from them in other areas as they reorganize their company.