Posts Tagged ‘h street

23
Dec
11

H Street Community Development Corp on RIA NE?

By stephanieliottaatkinson 9 Comments
Categories: Redevelopment
Tags: , , ,

By Stephanie Liotta Atkinson

In February 2004 the H Street Community Development Corporation purchased 2321 4th Street NE. (See that empty lot in front of the National Wholesale Liquidators and behind the BP? That’s it.) 

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According to old “Think Rhode Island Avenue” documents, the H Street CDC planned to develop a 170-unit apartment building on the site after demoing the “Heroin Hotel” that sat atop the parcel.  Nearly eight years later the Heroin Hotel is gone, but nothing has been constructed in its place.  With its proximity to the Metro, and Rhode Island Row about to blossom, one must ask: why is lucrative development stalled here?

When I called H Street CDC I was told that the person responsible for the RIA project is out of town until January.  Perhaps there will be a follow-up post when I get a hold of someone there…

It strikes me as odd that a corporation would simply sit on a mortgage and taxes for eight years.  So, I also called the Office of Tax and Revenue to investigate a bit more.  At 39,190 square feet, H Street CDC’s vacant land is assessed at $2,351,400.  According to OTR, H Street CDC owes $38,798 in taxes per year on its RIA property.  Incidentally, it hasn’t paid the September installment and what was once a $19K bill is now over $22K and climbing.  Anyway, is H Street CDC simply carrying $38,798 in annual taxes plus financing and demolition costs without any meaningful redevelopment plan or way to recoup its costs?  I don’t get it.  (While I’m on the subject of empty lots, I also don’t understand the vacant parcel at 13th and RIA.  Recall the graffiti-tagged sign asking whether it’s hot enough in Brookland? Yeah, I guess it’s not… More about that clusterF in the future.)

In any event, a look at H Street CDC’s website yields a noble plan for combating crime, drug-infestation and blight with a new 170-unit “mixed use high rise structure with housing, in-ground parking and retail” all within walking-distance of the RIA Metro.  So, H Street CDC: we’re knocking on 2012 – what’s the plan?

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15
Feb
11

A Shuttle for us all

By rhodeislandinsider 25 Comments
Categories: Redevelopment
Tags: , , , , , , ,

======Click the “Take Action” button =======

The Rhode Island Ave NE corridor is on the verge of great things but it is missing one key component to spur it forward: transportation. The Rhode Island Ave segment was added to the 2010 Updated Street Car plan. The problem is that of the three phases that they place the segments into (under construction, in design, and planning phase), the RIA phase is not listed. This could mean that it is not going to be considered for some time to come (I would highly encourage everyone to contact the Council members below and tell them to push RIA for the Street Car plan).

So what are we to do while we wait for the Council to recognize that Rhode Island Ave (Rt 1) is not only one of the most historic roads in America, but also a changing area that has been considered a diamond of the District?

Perhaps a shuttle service?

The H Street Business Cooperative was able to establish, through City funding, to have a free shuttle service along the H Street Corridor to take residents from a metro station on one end to another on the other end. The shuttle service was to help serve the business community and encourage further business growth while the Street Car construction was under way. (note: the shuttle service has ceased operation as of Dec 31, 2010 mainly because it had served its purpose during the heavy construction times of the Street Car project).

A shuttle service from the Rhode Island Metro station development to South Dakota Ave with various (probably 3-4 stops) could potentially be a boon for residents, Metro, the new development at the Metro, and small businesses along RIA. First, it would bring those from the well established neighborhoods on the north side of RIA down to the Rhode Island Station to spend money and patron the retailers there. Second, those same residents could take it to ride the Metro (especially since many people would rather leave their cars at home). Third, it would bring Metro riders and others to frequent stores along Rhode Island Ave.

Having this shuttle service could help spur the redevelopment of Rhode Island Ave. When small business owners see that their potential customers have a means to reach them and that a shuttle drops off patrons throughout the day and evening, they see the potential for business. This could also alleviate parking situations for businesses along RIA.

Although the H Street shuttle was free, there is no reason why a RIA Shuttle couldn’t charge $1 or something minimal to ride. It will be dedicated to the business district areas of RIA and be dedicated, which the bus system is not. Through my discussions with Council member Thomas, he has been encouraging in relation to providing transportation solutions for RIA. But he cannot push this issue alone…he needs all of our help!

So what say you? Is it time that our Council starts giving the so called “diamond of the District” some attention?

Click the “Take Action” button below to send an email to the Mayor, Council, and ANC to let them know that you want a shuttle service for Rhode Island Ave and then comment on this post and let us all know you wrote them! Tell your friends to do the same!

26
May
10

Street Car’s Future?

By rhodeislandinsider 1 Comment
Categories: Redevelopment
Tags: , , , , , ,

***UPDATE: Thanks to blog reader, Stephanie, it seems that Vince Gray worked to find the funding. See this article here. Thanks Stephanie!

This article from the Washington Business Journal has to scare some people about the future of the Street Cars in DC. Although most of the Council decided not to touch the Anacostia street car (which I assume is a positive thing), they did decide to cut the budget to bring the Street Cars to H Street by 2012. This is disappointing as how that will affect the entire time line for the rest of the City slated for Street Cars — such as Rhode Island Ave NE.

Vince Gray’s reasons for the cuts are suspect and not a clear reason for the delay. He claims that there are many questions to be answered but cutting the budget back to just $3million to further plan is ludicrous. Moving ahead with a full budget would allow questions to be answered at the same time the project moves forward. This will seriously hurt the redevelopment of H Street, while small businesses have invested in….which could further discourage investment in areas slated for Street Cars and redevelopment.

Let’s hope this isn’t the case.

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