Downtown DC is a storefront ghost

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not "downtown" but still in the middle of DC-- I had to run an errand at Union Market today around 2 pm, and it was absolutely hopping. I drove to save time and I shouldnt have-- lot at UM was totally full, 6th Street spots totally full, no street parking on surrounding streets. Finally found a spot in the garage under the Latin market over on 4th. UM itself was packed, lines at bunch of stalls, indoor tables full, many outdoor tables as well. This was Wednesday afternoon, a lot of the weekend stalls were not even open, same with the bars. The Latin market was more dead but I popped into trader Joe's for a minute and it was busy too.

I've had similar experiences recently in Navy Yard, the Wharf, and Georgetown.

There is absolutely no reason you can't recreate this downtown with the right investment.

La Cosecha lost a bunch of tenants!

Not only do they have no dedicated parking, they turned the street parking in front into a parklet. Hopefully they figure it out before the whole concept fails.

Why would it be the parking given that Union Market is doing great? Two cars parked in the parklet space make zero difference. This is a city - there isn’t unlimited space for parking anyway. What actually will help is redoing Dave Thomas Circle to make it easier to walk/bike there. A better pedestrian connection from NoMa metro as well.

Even better, the Council is allocating $50mm to put in an entrance to the NoMA/Galludet metro station that provides safe and direct access to Union Market. WAY FREAKING BETTER than a stupid ass parklet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not "downtown" but still in the middle of DC-- I had to run an errand at Union Market today around 2 pm, and it was absolutely hopping. I drove to save time and I shouldnt have-- lot at UM was totally full, 6th Street spots totally full, no street parking on surrounding streets. Finally found a spot in the garage under the Latin market over on 4th. UM itself was packed, lines at bunch of stalls, indoor tables full, many outdoor tables as well. This was Wednesday afternoon, a lot of the weekend stalls were not even open, same with the bars. The Latin market was more dead but I popped into trader Joe's for a minute and it was busy too.

I've had similar experiences recently in Navy Yard, the Wharf, and Georgetown.

There is absolutely no reason you can't recreate this downtown with the right investment.

It’s hilarious that you don’t see the pattern.

PP here and I genuinely do not know what you are talking about. These are all neighborhoods that saw a ton of economic investment, do you mean that pattern? That is also what I think they should do downtown.

Also while Georgetown has been nice for a while, Union Market, Navy Yard, and the Wharf were all really rough neighborhoods before all this development went in. I live on Capitol Hill and the transformation is dramatic. As little as 10-15 years ago, these were neighborhoods you would not walk around in at night comfortable, they were just warehouses and crappy little shops, or empty lots. Union Market used to just be permanently filled with trash. There was violent crime and drug activity. Now these places are the bougie-est parts of DC. So there is absolutely no reason we can't do the same think downtown. It might look a little different because it's converting an office district instead of warehouses and industrial properties, but this idea it's impossible just does not add up. It obviously is.

The pattern is available parking (but not enough.

Navy Yard barely has any parking now (except for baseball games) and is inconveniently located but that hasn’t slowed its popularity. Downtown is central and served by every metro line. And there is some parking. If there was stuff bringing people downtown, they’d go.

Navy Yard has plenty of parking but is also easy to get to by Metro. I find parking in the Wharf to be much less practical and far more expensive.

DC government gave into the GGW ideologues and drastically cut available parking at the Wharf. It was a bad mistake that is dragging the Wharf down as a destination location. Cars are more routinely doubled parked along Maine Ave causing traffic congestion and people, like you, rightly second guess going due to the parking hassle. But there is minimally enough parking right now that it will survive but not really thrive as much as it could.

It’s funny though that the PPP is all gung ho about car free downtown DC living while documenting his exploits trying to find parking at Union Market.

The lack of convenient and reasonably priced parking will be a long term drag on downtown DC as both a neighborhood and a destination location.

I am not aware of any significant urban core that either lives or dies based on parking. Even downtown LA which is kind of hot these days has expensive parking…and everyone drives in LA.

I spend quite a lot of time in LA during the winter, specifically around Hollywood, Westwood, and downtown, and I have only rarely failed to find street parking within a block or two of where I needed to be. Compared to DC, LA is a parking spot paradise.

I actually rarely have trouble finding parking in DC, sometimes on the street and easily in any garage. However, I often Uber or metro…kind of based on the mood.

I just don’t see why parking is somehow uniquely critical to DC’s resurgence.

If I have to pay $40 to park, as is common in downtown DC during the day or at the Wharf any time ... then I'm not going. I can't be alone in this. The Wharf in particular is such bullshit. There's no street parking option, realistically, and the Metro is a shooty 3-block walk in the dark.

Or I suppose I could embrance the crazily jacked-up 2024 rates for an Uber ($50 round trip from my address in NWDC).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not "downtown" but still in the middle of DC-- I had to run an errand at Union Market today around 2 pm, and it was absolutely hopping. I drove to save time and I shouldnt have-- lot at UM was totally full, 6th Street spots totally full, no street parking on surrounding streets. Finally found a spot in the garage under the Latin market over on 4th. UM itself was packed, lines at bunch of stalls, indoor tables full, many outdoor tables as well. This was Wednesday afternoon, a lot of the weekend stalls were not even open, same with the bars. The Latin market was more dead but I popped into trader Joe's for a minute and it was busy too.

I've had similar experiences recently in Navy Yard, the Wharf, and Georgetown.

There is absolutely no reason you can't recreate this downtown with the right investment.

La Cosecha lost a bunch of tenants!

Not only do they have no dedicated parking, they turned the street parking in front into a parklet. Hopefully they figure it out before the whole concept fails.

Why would it be the parking given that Union Market is doing great? Two cars parked in the parklet space make zero difference. This is a city - there isn’t unlimited space for parking anyway. What actually will help is redoing Dave Thomas Circle to make it easier to walk/bike there. A better pedestrian connection from NoMa metro as well.

Because Union Market has an adjacent and convenient surface parking lot.

La Cosecha is steps away. Try again.

Blocks away. Do you even live in this city?

Do you? The idea that La Cosecha is empty due to parking while everything around it is thriving is … interesting

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not "downtown" but still in the middle of DC-- I had to run an errand at Union Market today around 2 pm, and it was absolutely hopping. I drove to save time and I shouldnt have-- lot at UM was totally full, 6th Street spots totally full, no street parking on surrounding streets. Finally found a spot in the garage under the Latin market over on 4th. UM itself was packed, lines at bunch of stalls, indoor tables full, many outdoor tables as well. This was Wednesday afternoon, a lot of the weekend stalls were not even open, same with the bars. The Latin market was more dead but I popped into trader Joe's for a minute and it was busy too.

I've had similar experiences recently in Navy Yard, the Wharf, and Georgetown.

There is absolutely no reason you can't recreate this downtown with the right investment.

It’s hilarious that you don’t see the pattern.

PP here and I genuinely do not know what you are talking about. These are all neighborhoods that saw a ton of economic investment, do you mean that pattern? That is also what I think they should do downtown.

Also while Georgetown has been nice for a while, Union Market, Navy Yard, and the Wharf were all really rough neighborhoods before all this development went in. I live on Capitol Hill and the transformation is dramatic. As little as 10-15 years ago, these were neighborhoods you would not walk around in at night comfortable, they were just warehouses and crappy little shops, or empty lots. Union Market used to just be permanently filled with trash. There was violent crime and drug activity. Now these places are the bougie-est parts of DC. So there is absolutely no reason we can't do the same think downtown. It might look a little different because it's converting an office district instead of warehouses and industrial properties, but this idea it's impossible just does not add up. It obviously is.

The pattern is available parking (but not enough.

Navy Yard barely has any parking now (except for baseball games) and is inconveniently located but that hasn’t slowed its popularity. Downtown is central and served by every metro line. And there is some parking. If there was stuff bringing people downtown, they’d go.

Navy Yard has plenty of parking but is also easy to get to by Metro. I find parking in the Wharf to be much less practical and far more expensive.

DC government gave into the GGW ideologues and drastically cut available parking at the Wharf. It was a bad mistake that is dragging the Wharf down as a destination location. Cars are more routinely doubled parked along Maine Ave causing traffic congestion and people, like you, rightly second guess going due to the parking hassle. But there is minimally enough parking right now that it will survive but not really thrive as much as it could.

It’s funny though that the PPP is all gung ho about car free downtown DC living while documenting his exploits trying to find parking at Union Market.

The lack of convenient and reasonably priced parking will be a long term drag on downtown DC as both a neighborhood and a destination location.

I am not aware of any significant urban core that either lives or dies based on parking. Even downtown LA which is kind of hot these days has expensive parking…and everyone drives in LA.

I spend quite a lot of time in LA during the winter, specifically around Hollywood, Westwood, and downtown, and I have only rarely failed to find street parking within a block or two of where I needed to be. Compared to DC, LA is a parking spot paradise.

I actually rarely have trouble finding parking in DC, sometimes on the street and easily in any garage. However, I often Uber or metro…kind of based on the mood.

I just don’t see why parking is somehow uniquely critical to DC’s resurgence.

If I have to pay $40 to park, as is common in downtown DC during the day or at the Wharf any time ... then I'm not going. I can't be alone in this. The Wharf in particular is such bullshit. There's no street parking option, realistically, and the Metro is a shooty 3-block walk in the dark.

Or I suppose I could embrance the crazily jacked-up 2024 rates for an Uber ($50 round trip from my address in NWDC).

Ok then its not for you? I haven’t heard about Wharf businesses failing and it appears to be busy when I go. You can’t simultaneously demand no traffic, free street parking, and crowded urban entertainment. Just does not add up …

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not "downtown" but still in the middle of DC-- I had to run an errand at Union Market today around 2 pm, and it was absolutely hopping. I drove to save time and I shouldnt have-- lot at UM was totally full, 6th Street spots totally full, no street parking on surrounding streets. Finally found a spot in the garage under the Latin market over on 4th. UM itself was packed, lines at bunch of stalls, indoor tables full, many outdoor tables as well. This was Wednesday afternoon, a lot of the weekend stalls were not even open, same with the bars. The Latin market was more dead but I popped into trader Joe's for a minute and it was busy too.

I've had similar experiences recently in Navy Yard, the Wharf, and Georgetown.

There is absolutely no reason you can't recreate this downtown with the right investment.

La Cosecha lost a bunch of tenants!

Not only do they have no dedicated parking, they turned the street parking in front into a parklet. Hopefully they figure it out before the whole concept fails.

Why would it be the parking given that Union Market is doing great? Two cars parked in the parklet space make zero difference. This is a city - there isn’t unlimited space for parking anyway. What actually will help is redoing Dave Thomas Circle to make it easier to walk/bike there. A better pedestrian connection from NoMa metro as well.

Even better, the Council is allocating $50mm to put in an entrance to the NoMA/Galludet metro station that provides safe and direct access to Union Market. WAY FREAKING BETTER than a stupid ass parklet.

Oh that is good news! Not for the guy who wants to drive from Trader Joes to La Cosecha though

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not "downtown" but still in the middle of DC-- I had to run an errand at Union Market today around 2 pm, and it was absolutely hopping. I drove to save time and I shouldnt have-- lot at UM was totally full, 6th Street spots totally full, no street parking on surrounding streets. Finally found a spot in the garage under the Latin market over on 4th. UM itself was packed, lines at bunch of stalls, indoor tables full, many outdoor tables as well. This was Wednesday afternoon, a lot of the weekend stalls were not even open, same with the bars. The Latin market was more dead but I popped into trader Joe's for a minute and it was busy too.

I've had similar experiences recently in Navy Yard, the Wharf, and Georgetown.

There is absolutely no reason you can't recreate this downtown with the right investment.

La Cosecha lost a bunch of tenants!

Not only do they have no dedicated parking, they turned the street parking in front into a parklet. Hopefully they figure it out before the whole concept fails.

Why would it be the parking given that Union Market is doing great? Two cars parked in the parklet space make zero difference. This is a city - there isn’t unlimited space for parking anyway. What actually will help is redoing Dave Thomas Circle to make it easier to walk/bike there. A better pedestrian connection from NoMa metro as well.

Because Union Market has an adjacent and convenient surface parking lot.

La Cosecha is steps away. Try again.

Blocks away. Do you even live in this city?

La Cosecha is like two blocks away. And there are small shops in between. This is a city- if people are that lazy they can’t walk two blocks then they are going to have complaints no matter what.

You have no idea how consumer behavior works. You wonder why this place is not doing as well as Urban Market and you cannot figure out that someone who parks at Urban Market would probably just rather eat something there than walk several blocks away. Seriously LOL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not "downtown" but still in the middle of DC-- I had to run an errand at Union Market today around 2 pm, and it was absolutely hopping. I drove to save time and I shouldnt have-- lot at UM was totally full, 6th Street spots totally full, no street parking on surrounding streets. Finally found a spot in the garage under the Latin market over on 4th. UM itself was packed, lines at bunch of stalls, indoor tables full, many outdoor tables as well. This was Wednesday afternoon, a lot of the weekend stalls were not even open, same with the bars. The Latin market was more dead but I popped into trader Joe's for a minute and it was busy too.

I've had similar experiences recently in Navy Yard, the Wharf, and Georgetown.

There is absolutely no reason you can't recreate this downtown with the right investment.

La Cosecha lost a bunch of tenants!

Not only do they have no dedicated parking, they turned the street parking in front into a parklet. Hopefully they figure it out before the whole concept fails.

Why would it be the parking given that Union Market is doing great? Two cars parked in the parklet space make zero difference. This is a city - there isn’t unlimited space for parking anyway. What actually will help is redoing Dave Thomas Circle to make it easier to walk/bike there. A better pedestrian connection from NoMa metro as well.

Because Union Market has an adjacent and convenient surface parking lot.

La Cosecha is steps away. Try again.

Blocks away. Do you even live in this city?

La Cosecha is like two blocks away. And there are small shops in between. This is a city- if people are that lazy they can’t walk two blocks then they are going to have complaints no matter what.

You have no idea how consumer behavior works. You wonder why this place is not doing as well as Urban Market and you cannot figure out that someone who parks at Urban Market would probably just rather eat something there than walk several blocks away. Seriously LOL.

It’s not a mall. It’s a city. And the restaurants around La Cosecha seem to be doing fine. Also there’s no place for additional parking so what are you even arguing about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not "downtown" but still in the middle of DC-- I had to run an errand at Union Market today around 2 pm, and it was absolutely hopping. I drove to save time and I shouldnt have-- lot at UM was totally full, 6th Street spots totally full, no street parking on surrounding streets. Finally found a spot in the garage under the Latin market over on 4th. UM itself was packed, lines at bunch of stalls, indoor tables full, many outdoor tables as well. This was Wednesday afternoon, a lot of the weekend stalls were not even open, same with the bars. The Latin market was more dead but I popped into trader Joe's for a minute and it was busy too.

I've had similar experiences recently in Navy Yard, the Wharf, and Georgetown.

There is absolutely no reason you can't recreate this downtown with the right investment.

La Cosecha lost a bunch of tenants!

Not only do they have no dedicated parking, they turned the street parking in front into a parklet. Hopefully they figure it out before the whole concept fails.

Why would it be the parking given that Union Market is doing great? Two cars parked in the parklet space make zero difference. This is a city - there isn’t unlimited space for parking anyway. What actually will help is redoing Dave Thomas Circle to make it easier to walk/bike there. A better pedestrian connection from NoMa metro as well.

Because Union Market has an adjacent and convenient surface parking lot.

La Cosecha is steps away. Try again.

Blocks away. Do you even live in this city?

La Cosecha is like two blocks away. And there are small shops in between. This is a city- if people are that lazy they can’t walk two blocks then they are going to have complaints no matter what.

You have no idea how consumer behavior works. You wonder why this place is not doing as well as Urban Market and you cannot figure out that someone who parks at Urban Market would probably just rather eat something there than walk several blocks away. Seriously LOL.

It’s not a mall. It’s a city. And the restaurants around La Cosecha seem to be doing fine. Also there’s no place for additional parking so what are you even arguing about.

I guess it will just continue to only he a mystery to you and only you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not "downtown" but still in the middle of DC-- I had to run an errand at Union Market today around 2 pm, and it was absolutely hopping. I drove to save time and I shouldnt have-- lot at UM was totally full, 6th Street spots totally full, no street parking on surrounding streets. Finally found a spot in the garage under the Latin market over on 4th. UM itself was packed, lines at bunch of stalls, indoor tables full, many outdoor tables as well. This was Wednesday afternoon, a lot of the weekend stalls were not even open, same with the bars. The Latin market was more dead but I popped into trader Joe's for a minute and it was busy too.

I've had similar experiences recently in Navy Yard, the Wharf, and Georgetown.

There is absolutely no reason you can't recreate this downtown with the right investment.

La Cosecha lost a bunch of tenants!

Not only do they have no dedicated parking, they turned the street parking in front into a parklet. Hopefully they figure it out before the whole concept fails.

Why would it be the parking given that Union Market is doing great? Two cars parked in the parklet space make zero difference. This is a city - there isn’t unlimited space for parking anyway. What actually will help is redoing Dave Thomas Circle to make it easier to walk/bike there. A better pedestrian connection from NoMa metro as well.

Even better, the Council is allocating $50mm to put in an entrance to the NoMA/Galludet metro station that provides safe and direct access to Union Market. WAY FREAKING BETTER than a stupid ass parklet.

Oh that is good news! Not for the guy who wants to drive from Trader Joes to La Cosecha though

I care more about the thousands and thousands who take metro!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not "downtown" but still in the middle of DC-- I had to run an errand at Union Market today around 2 pm, and it was absolutely hopping. I drove to save time and I shouldnt have-- lot at UM was totally full, 6th Street spots totally full, no street parking on surrounding streets. Finally found a spot in the garage under the Latin market over on 4th. UM itself was packed, lines at bunch of stalls, indoor tables full, many outdoor tables as well. This was Wednesday afternoon, a lot of the weekend stalls were not even open, same with the bars. The Latin market was more dead but I popped into trader Joe's for a minute and it was busy too.

I've had similar experiences recently in Navy Yard, the Wharf, and Georgetown.

There is absolutely no reason you can't recreate this downtown with the right investment.

La Cosecha lost a bunch of tenants!

Not only do they have no dedicated parking, they turned the street parking in front into a parklet. Hopefully they figure it out before the whole concept fails.

Why would it be the parking given that Union Market is doing great? Two cars parked in the parklet space make zero difference. This is a city - there isn’t unlimited space for parking anyway. What actually will help is redoing Dave Thomas Circle to make it easier to walk/bike there. A better pedestrian connection from NoMa metro as well.

Because Union Market has an adjacent and convenient surface parking lot.

La Cosecha is steps away. Try again.

Blocks away. Do you even live in this city?

La Cosecha is like two blocks away. And there are small shops in between. This is a city- if people are that lazy they can’t walk two blocks then they are going to have complaints no matter what.

You have no idea how consumer behavior works. You wonder why this place is not doing as well as Urban Market and you cannot figure out that someone who parks at Urban Market would probably just rather eat something there than walk several blocks away. Seriously LOL.

It’s not a mall. It’s a city. And the restaurants around La Cosecha seem to be doing fine. Also there’s no place for additional parking so what are you even arguing about.

I guess it will just continue to only he a mystery to you and only you.

La Cosecha and its tenants chose to locate there. Where do you think they should have demanded parking?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not "downtown" but still in the middle of DC-- I had to run an errand at Union Market today around 2 pm, and it was absolutely hopping. I drove to save time and I shouldnt have-- lot at UM was totally full, 6th Street spots totally full, no street parking on surrounding streets. Finally found a spot in the garage under the Latin market over on 4th. UM itself was packed, lines at bunch of stalls, indoor tables full, many outdoor tables as well. This was Wednesday afternoon, a lot of the weekend stalls were not even open, same with the bars. The Latin market was more dead but I popped into trader Joe's for a minute and it was busy too.

I've had similar experiences recently in Navy Yard, the Wharf, and Georgetown.

There is absolutely no reason you can't recreate this downtown with the right investment.

La Cosecha lost a bunch of tenants!

Not only do they have no dedicated parking, they turned the street parking in front into a parklet. Hopefully they figure it out before the whole concept fails.

Why would it be the parking given that Union Market is doing great? Two cars parked in the parklet space make zero difference. This is a city - there isn’t unlimited space for parking anyway. What actually will help is redoing Dave Thomas Circle to make it easier to walk/bike there. A better pedestrian connection from NoMa metro as well.

Because Union Market has an adjacent and convenient surface parking lot.

La Cosecha is steps away. Try again.

Blocks away. Do you even live in this city?

La Cosecha is like two blocks away. And there are small shops in between. This is a city- if people are that lazy they can’t walk two blocks then they are going to have complaints no matter what.

You have no idea how consumer behavior works. You wonder why this place is not doing as well as Urban Market and you cannot figure out that someone who parks at Urban Market would probably just rather eat something there than walk several blocks away. Seriously LOL.

It’s not a mall. It’s a city. And the restaurants around La Cosecha seem to be doing fine. Also there’s no place for additional parking so what are you even arguing about.

I guess it will just continue to only he a mystery to you and only you.

La Cosecha and its tenants chose to locate there. Where do you think they should have demanded parking?

And their tenants are choosing not to continue to do business there after discovering that its location is not conducive to profitability.

Starbucks spends ungodly sums of money to determine which corner of an intersection will be the most profitable to put a store but I appreciate your attitude. “It’s a city, people can walk”. LOL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not "downtown" but still in the middle of DC-- I had to run an errand at Union Market today around 2 pm, and it was absolutely hopping. I drove to save time and I shouldnt have-- lot at UM was totally full, 6th Street spots totally full, no street parking on surrounding streets. Finally found a spot in the garage under the Latin market over on 4th. UM itself was packed, lines at bunch of stalls, indoor tables full, many outdoor tables as well. This was Wednesday afternoon, a lot of the weekend stalls were not even open, same with the bars. The Latin market was more dead but I popped into trader Joe's for a minute and it was busy too.

I've had similar experiences recently in Navy Yard, the Wharf, and Georgetown.

There is absolutely no reason you can't recreate this downtown with the right investment.

La Cosecha lost a bunch of tenants!

Not only do they have no dedicated parking, they turned the street parking in front into a parklet. Hopefully they figure it out before the whole concept fails.

Why would it be the parking given that Union Market is doing great? Two cars parked in the parklet space make zero difference. This is a city - there isn’t unlimited space for parking anyway. What actually will help is redoing Dave Thomas Circle to make it easier to walk/bike there. A better pedestrian connection from NoMa metro as well.

Because Union Market has an adjacent and convenient surface parking lot.

La Cosecha is steps away. Try again.

Blocks away. Do you even live in this city?

La Cosecha is like two blocks away. And there are small shops in between. This is a city- if people are that lazy they can’t walk two blocks then they are going to have complaints no matter what.

You have no idea how consumer behavior works. You wonder why this place is not doing as well as Urban Market and you cannot figure out that someone who parks at Urban Market would probably just rather eat something there than walk several blocks away. Seriously LOL.

It’s not a mall. It’s a city. And the restaurants around La Cosecha seem to be doing fine. Also there’s no place for additional parking so what are you even arguing about.

I guess it will just continue to only he a mystery to you and only you.

La Cosecha and its tenants chose to locate there. Where do you think they should have demanded parking?

And their tenants are choosing not to continue to do business there after discovering that its location is not conducive to profitability.

Starbucks spends ungodly sums of money to determine which corner of an intersection will be the most profitable to put a store but I appreciate your attitude. “It’s a city, people can walk”. LOL.

Is your vision that everyone should be able to drive everywhere and park for free right in front of the venue in DC? Because that is frankly bizarre. The business model of dense urban areas is for people to arrive by modes that don’t require parking, by definition. And Union Market doesn’t seem to lack for tenants.

You seem peeved that you cannot drive your car from NW and park wherever you want downtown for free. That’s as clueless as me complaining that I cannot take Metro to a rural stripmall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not "downtown" but still in the middle of DC-- I had to run an errand at Union Market today around 2 pm, and it was absolutely hopping. I drove to save time and I shouldnt have-- lot at UM was totally full, 6th Street spots totally full, no street parking on surrounding streets. Finally found a spot in the garage under the Latin market over on 4th. UM itself was packed, lines at bunch of stalls, indoor tables full, many outdoor tables as well. This was Wednesday afternoon, a lot of the weekend stalls were not even open, same with the bars. The Latin market was more dead but I popped into trader Joe's for a minute and it was busy too.

I've had similar experiences recently in Navy Yard, the Wharf, and Georgetown.

There is absolutely no reason you can't recreate this downtown with the right investment.

It’s hilarious that you don’t see the pattern.

PP here and I genuinely do not know what you are talking about. These are all neighborhoods that saw a ton of economic investment, do you mean that pattern? That is also what I think they should do downtown.

Also while Georgetown has been nice for a while, Union Market, Navy Yard, and the Wharf were all really rough neighborhoods before all this development went in. I live on Capitol Hill and the transformation is dramatic. As little as 10-15 years ago, these were neighborhoods you would not walk around in at night comfortable, they were just warehouses and crappy little shops, or empty lots. Union Market used to just be permanently filled with trash. There was violent crime and drug activity. Now these places are the bougie-est parts of DC. So there is absolutely no reason we can't do the same think downtown. It might look a little different because it's converting an office district instead of warehouses and industrial properties, but this idea it's impossible just does not add up. It obviously is.

The pattern is available parking (but not enough.

Navy Yard barely has any parking now (except for baseball games) and is inconveniently located but that hasn’t slowed its popularity. Downtown is central and served by every metro line. And there is some parking. If there was stuff bringing people downtown, they’d go.

Navy Yard has plenty of parking but is also easy to get to by Metro. I find parking in the Wharf to be much less practical and far more expensive.

DC government gave into the GGW ideologues and drastically cut available parking at the Wharf. It was a bad mistake that is dragging the Wharf down as a destination location. Cars are more routinely doubled parked along Maine Ave causing traffic congestion and people, like you, rightly second guess going due to the parking hassle. But there is minimally enough parking right now that it will survive but not really thrive as much as it could.

It’s funny though that the PPP is all gung ho about car free downtown DC living while documenting his exploits trying to find parking at Union Market.

The lack of convenient and reasonably priced parking will be a long term drag on downtown DC as both a neighborhood and a destination location.

I am not aware of any significant urban core that either lives or dies based on parking. Even downtown LA which is kind of hot these days has expensive parking…and everyone drives in LA.

I spend quite a lot of time in LA during the winter, specifically around Hollywood, Westwood, and downtown, and I have only rarely failed to find street parking within a block or two of where I needed to be. Compared to DC, LA is a parking spot paradise.

I actually rarely have trouble finding parking in DC, sometimes on the street and easily in any garage. However, I often Uber or metro…kind of based on the mood.

I just don’t see why parking is somehow uniquely critical to DC’s resurgence.

If I have to pay $40 to park, as is common in downtown DC during the day or at the Wharf any time ... then I'm not going. I can't be alone in this. The Wharf in particular is such bullshit. There's no street parking option, realistically, and the Metro is a shooty 3-block walk in the dark.

Or I suppose I could embrance the crazily jacked-up 2024 rates for an Uber ($50 round trip from my address in NWDC).

Or you could take the free shuttle to the metro.

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Anonymous wrote:Not "downtown" but still in the middle of DC-- I had to run an errand at Union Market today around 2 pm, and it was absolutely hopping. I drove to save time and I shouldnt have-- lot at UM was totally full, 6th Street spots totally full, no street parking on surrounding streets. Finally found a spot in the garage under the Latin market over on 4th. UM itself was packed, lines at bunch of stalls, indoor tables full, many outdoor tables as well. This was Wednesday afternoon, a lot of the weekend stalls were not even open, same with the bars. The Latin market was more dead but I popped into trader Joe's for a minute and it was busy too.

I've had similar experiences recently in Navy Yard, the Wharf, and Georgetown.

There is absolutely no reason you can't recreate this downtown with the right investment.

It’s hilarious that you don’t see the pattern.

PP here and I genuinely do not know what you are talking about. These are all neighborhoods that saw a ton of economic investment, do you mean that pattern? That is also what I think they should do downtown.

Also while Georgetown has been nice for a while, Union Market, Navy Yard, and the Wharf were all really rough neighborhoods before all this development went in. I live on Capitol Hill and the transformation is dramatic. As little as 10-15 years ago, these were neighborhoods you would not walk around in at night comfortable, they were just warehouses and crappy little shops, or empty lots. Union Market used to just be permanently filled with trash. There was violent crime and drug activity. Now these places are the bougie-est parts of DC. So there is absolutely no reason we can't do the same think downtown. It might look a little different because it's converting an office district instead of warehouses and industrial properties, but this idea it's impossible just does not add up. It obviously is.

The pattern is available parking (but not enough.

Navy Yard barely has any parking now (except for baseball games) and is inconveniently located but that hasn’t slowed its popularity. Downtown is central and served by every metro line. And there is some parking. If there was stuff bringing people downtown, they’d go.

Navy Yard has plenty of parking but is also easy to get to by Metro. I find parking in the Wharf to be much less practical and far more expensive.

DC government gave into the GGW ideologues and drastically cut available parking at the Wharf. It was a bad mistake that is dragging the Wharf down as a destination location. Cars are more routinely doubled parked along Maine Ave causing traffic congestion and people, like you, rightly second guess going due to the parking hassle. But there is minimally enough parking right now that it will survive but not really thrive as much as it could.

It’s funny though that the PPP is all gung ho about car free downtown DC living while documenting his exploits trying to find parking at Union Market.

The lack of convenient and reasonably priced parking will be a long term drag on downtown DC as both a neighborhood and a destination location.

I am not aware of any significant urban core that either lives or dies based on parking. Even downtown LA which is kind of hot these days has expensive parking…and everyone drives in LA.

I spend quite a lot of time in LA during the winter, specifically around Hollywood, Westwood, and downtown, and I have only rarely failed to find street parking within a block or two of where I needed to be. Compared to DC, LA is a parking spot paradise.

I actually rarely have trouble finding parking in DC, sometimes on the street and easily in any garage. However, I often Uber or metro…kind of based on the mood.

I just don’t see why parking is somehow uniquely critical to DC’s resurgence.

If I have to pay $40 to park, as is common in downtown DC during the day or at the Wharf any time ... then I'm not going. I can't be alone in this. The Wharf in particular is such bullshit. There's no street parking option, realistically, and the Metro is a shooty 3-block walk in the dark.

Or I suppose I could embrance the crazily jacked-up 2024 rates for an Uber ($50 round trip from my address in NWDC).

Or you could take the free shuttle to the metro.

Or bike or take a short uber ride. Somehow people are managing to get to the Wharf. PP is essentially saying he feels entitled to access all parts of the city for free in his personal car, apparently because he lives in an expensive NW house. It’s laughable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Was in a meeting today near the Capitol on a higher floor and the entire glass-box modern office building across the street was dead empty.

3 of the floors were empty shells ready for construction, but no activity. Of the floors that had finished office space, I saw exactly ONE PERSON in the office on that side of the building (a receptionist at the front desk for a larger office space).

It's grim.

I wonder if this is my office bldg. 75% of the space is vacant (no tenant). In our part, very few ppl are in on any given day.