First Johnson's, now Sullivan's! Who is the landlord behind this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So with all the development underway, planned and advocated for, we’ll get higher assessments, more traffic, even more overcrowded schools and the loss of cherished locally-owned businesses. What’s not to like about more and more dense, vibrant mixed-use “Smart” Growth?!

Why don’t you want more neighbors? /sarcasm

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So with all the development underway, planned and advocated for, we’ll get higher assessments, more traffic, even more overcrowded schools and the loss of cherished locally-owned businesses. What’s not to like about more and more dense, vibrant mixed-use “Smart” Growth?!

Here we go:

[e-mail]

I am excited to join the AU family, be part of the team, and help write the next chapter for this distinctive university. Feel free to contact me with questions or comments at [e-mail].

Sylvia M. Burwell
President, American University

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So with all the development underway, planned and advocated for, we’ll get higher assessments, more traffic, even more overcrowded schools and the loss of cherished locally-owned businesses. What’s not to like about more and more dense, vibrant mixed-use “Smart” Growth?!

Here we go:

[e-mail]

I am excited to join the AU family, be part of the team, and help write the next chapter for this distinctive university. Feel free to contact me with questions or comments at [e-mail].

Sylvia M. Burwell
President, American University

Had to look this lady up because the name sounded familiar. Former HHS secretary under Obama. Doesn’t even have a masters degree but is a university president?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So with all the development underway, planned and advocated for, we’ll get higher assessments, more traffic, even more overcrowded schools and the loss of cherished locally-owned businesses. What’s not to like about more and more dense, vibrant mixed-use “Smart” Growth?!

Here we go:

[e-mail]

I am excited to join the AU family, be part of the team, and help write the next chapter for this distinctive university. Feel free to contact me with questions or comments at [e-mail].

Sylvia M. Burwell
President, American University

Had to look this lady up because the name sounded familiar. Former HHS secretary under Obama. Doesn’t even have a masters degree but is a university president?

I believe she would be the person to contact about losing 2 neighborhood institutions in that block due to high rents + negotiation practices. AU bought cheap and owns massive real estate in the neighborhood. They have 'built up' a ton in the past 20 years, changing the landscape completely on many streets. Closing the beloved plant nursery and toy shop doesn't show much consideration for a varied retail environment or independent businesses. A little Grinch Who Stole Christmas IMO!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All these YIMBY folks don’t own a backyard or anything.

There are a ton of apartments being built as has been noted. All these folks insistent on more more building can’t afford the condos soon to be for rent.

Small retail - like Sullivan’s - is over. Such stores can’t swing the rent for the space in one of these new overbuilds:

This. No one will be able to afford the condos. It you are going to pay that money, then you'll spend it on a 4 up/4 down center stair colonial which around here are starting at $1.2M. They you at last get a back yard....

It's so crowded, nobody goes there anymore.

[Anonymous]

I am not sure getting mad at AU is the solution.

Johnson's business was tailing off. AU offered them to continue at the same rate, but Johnsons declined and then turned around and falsely accused AU of raising the rents.

Sullivans hasn't been a viable business for more than a year. Between the pandemic and supply chain issues, their shelves have been almost bare.

It is sad, but as someone else noted above thread, the distributors etc are hedging against the little guy, and Sullivan's was rolled up in it.

But AU is the easy culprit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure getting mad at AU is the solution.

Johnson's business was tailing off. AU offered them to continue at the same rate, but Johnsons declined and then turned around and falsely accused AU of raising the rents.

Sullivans hasn't been a viable business for more than a year. Between the pandemic and supply chain issues, their shelves have been almost bare.

It is sad, but as someone else noted above thread, the distributors etc are hedging against the little guy, and Sullivan's was rolled up in it.

But AU is the easy culprit.

The "same rate" might be considered excessive and driven by greed, not simple fiduciary responsibility. To stab a business that was viable pre- the Covid Act of God and not give it time to re-establish itself is simply Grinchy. Would you feel the same if the street were destroyed by a hurricane and AU didn't provide time to recover? They are a huge landlord with enough properties in the area to show some flexibility and also understanding of the value these businesses provide to the same neighborhood they inhabit. Do AU students not buy each other flowers sometimes? Or art supplies?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure getting mad at AU is the solution.

Johnson's business was tailing off. AU offered them to continue at the same rate, but Johnsons declined and then turned around and falsely accused AU of raising the rents.

Sullivans hasn't been a viable business for more than a year. Between the pandemic and supply chain issues, their shelves have been almost bare.

It is sad, but as someone else noted above thread, the distributors etc are hedging against the little guy, and Sullivan's was rolled up in it.

But AU is the easy culprit.

The "same rate" might be considered excessive and driven by greed, not simple fiduciary responsibility. To stab a business that was viable pre- the Covid Act of God and not give it time to re-establish itself is simply Grinchy. Would you feel the same if the street were destroyed by a hurricane and AU didn't provide time to recover? They are a huge landlord with enough properties in the area to show some flexibility and also understanding of the value these businesses provide to the same neighborhood they inhabit. Do AU students not buy each other flowers sometimes? Or art supplies?

Again, you seem to have a penchant for telling others how to operate their property. Why don't you buy a building and rent the space to whomever you like and cover the excess costs of maintenance etc out of your own pocket?

[Anonymous]

AU apparently regards the building as just another portfolio asset on which they seek the highest return, when they also need to consider their position as a major stakeholder in the community and the importance of retaining small, neighborhood-serving businesses. Sadly, however, the Sullivan’s saga is representative of the creeping vibrantdensemixeduseification of Upper NW and how it squeezes out these business. For many years, Sullivan’s operated successfully in the commercial block at Wisconsin and Idaho next to The Kellogg Collection and a number of other locally-owned businesses. When the block was leveled to build the Catherdral Commons-plex, the developer/owners promised the BZA and the community that they would offer concessionary rents to displaced small businesses that wanted to return to the site. Of course, this never happened. Sullivan’s moved to its present site about a mile to the north. In the past two years, Johnson’s closed because AU raised the rent, and now their former customers have to drive to Maryland for even basic gardening needs. Soon Sullivan’s will be gone. And it’s just a matter of time before AU sells to or partners with a big developer to redevelop the whole site as an extension of the tall, dense mega-blocks under construction at Fannie Mae and 4000 Wisconsin. The new business tenants then won’t be the likes of Sullivan’s and Johnson’s, but more of the same upscale generic retail: bank branches, national chains, well-capitalized “concept” restaurant groups with focus group-tested menus. These are the types of tenants, with deep balance sheets and corporate lease guarantees, that Smart Growth investors demand. There will be no place for the smaller, locally-owned, neighborhood serving businesses that meet the ordinary needs of the community. And you will still have to drive to Maryland to buy a shrub or a flat of flowers. Just how “walkable” is that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not enough kids in upper NW DC to support a toy store. They can't even fill their schools there. That's why they need to have such a high number of out of bounds students at Wilson and Deal and Janney etc.

It took me too long to realize this is sarcastic.

Though honestly, even with free rent, I bet the store would've died soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AU apparently regards the building as just another portfolio asset on which they seek the highest return, when they also need to consider their position as a major stakeholder in the community and the importance of retaining small, neighborhood-serving businesses. Sadly, however, the Sullivan’s saga is representative of the creeping vibrantdensemixeduseification of Upper NW and how it squeezes out these business. For many years, Sullivan’s operated successfully in the commercial block at Wisconsin and Idaho next to The Kellogg Collection and a number of other locally-owned businesses. When the block was leveled to build the Catherdral Commons-plex, the developer/owners promised the BZA and the community that they would offer concessionary rents to displaced small businesses that wanted to return to the site. Of course, this never happened. Sullivan’s moved to its present site about a mile to the north. In the past two years, Johnson’s closed because AU raised the rent, and now their former customers have to drive to Maryland for even basic gardening needs. Soon Sullivan’s will be gone. And it’s just a matter of time before AU sells to or partners with a big developer to redevelop the whole site as an extension of the tall, dense mega-blocks under construction at Fannie Mae and 4000 Wisconsin. The new business tenants then won’t be the likes of Sullivan’s and Johnson’s, but more of the same upscale generic retail: bank branches, national chains, well-capitalized “concept” restaurant groups with focus group-tested menus. These are the types of tenants, with deep balance sheets and corporate lease guarantees, that Smart Growth investors demand. There will be no place for the smaller, locally-owned, neighborhood serving businesses that meet the ordinary needs of the community. And you will still have to drive to Maryland to buy a shrub or a flat of flowers. Just how “walkable” is that?

AU did NOT raise the rent on Johnsons. That is simply a lie.
Sullivans rn an unviable business as its distributors have confirmed to the Sullivans customers.

The rest of your post is word salad.

[Anonymous]

Didn't Sullivan's already move once? I thought it used to be down where the Giant is and got kicked out when they redeveloped?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not enough kids in upper NW DC to support a toy store. They can't even fill their schools there. That's why they need to have such a high number of out of bounds students at Wilson and Deal and Janney etc.

It took me too long to realize this is sarcastic.

Though honestly, even with free rent, I bet the store would've died soon.

Maybe they will get a CVS in the space when Sullivan’s leaves. It’s practically a CVS desert between Newark and Brandywine Streets. We could use more vibrant CVS density in Ward 3.

[Anonymous]

Guys, dedicated toy stores across the country are closing. This isn't so much about raising the rent as toy stores not being able to afford increased rent because NO ONE goes to toy stores anymore. I bet a lot of parents are buying toys at Target now and skipping the overpriced locally owned toy store (yes, I know it has to be overpriced to stay in business).

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry folks, but Tenleytown is and has been a joke for many, many years now. It has NEVER been a destination. When was the last time you ever heard someone say "let's meet up in Tenley"? And the turnover there has ALWAYS been high. The bars and restaurants turn over every few years with the exception of, like, Panera, and I don't even know if that's still there. It's dumpy and needs the makeover it will hopefully get in the next 10 years. Those of you talking bout family businesses...Sullivan's has only been there a few years, it was displaced out of the Wisconsin Ave. portion of Cleveland Park where it was very successful. If you talked to the owners, you would know that business never went back up to the level it was at when it was in a true family-friendly area. Back then it was walkable from McLean Gardens, which is far more families with young children than its current area.