Union Station smells like urine, has a homeless problem, and is half deserted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Penn Station says hold my beer.

I have spent lots of time in both Penn and Union stations, and Union Station is 100x worse.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:This is not so new, actually. The problem is that the rest of DC has turned into Union Station. But Union Station has pretty much always been that way.

It’s been worse the last few years and has fallen off a cliff since COVID. Believe it or not but there was a time when Union Station had high end retail and fine dining.

I remember that time, but the bathrooms were urine-soaked even then.

When was that time? I worked at a restaurant in Union Station during undergrad and it was never a retail or dining destination.

2004 or so. Used to host fancy black tie parties. There was a high class restaurant on the mezzanine.

Even before that (mid 90s), there were a few good restaurants, high end shops, etc. I went to a few black tie parties and fundraisers and graduation events in the main space in the 90s, and it was beautiful

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wake up DC you’re about to lose people to flying and none is going to come downtown to eat or shop. Had to go to NYC today and the smell of urine is unbelievable. Barely anyplace to eat. I felt uncomfortable multiple times given the crappy homeless men milling about. Basically it’s a shit hole.

I lived on the Senate side when Union Station was recently renovated. It was so vibrant and beautiful and befitting the nation’s capital city then. It is disgusting now and a shamefull entry to the city.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Had opposite experience from PP. Had not been to NYC since the refurbished Penn Station opened and was astonished to find that the former armpit of Amtrak was now this pristine marble space age station. However, week later was at Union Station at 9:30 PM waiting on DC to arrive on train and a homeless woman was ranting---quite angrily and loudly---in a way that was unnerving and threatening to everyone in the waiting area. It took far longer than it should have for the security to intervene and calm her down.

Prior to Covid I was taking Marc and metro for a decade and this has always been an issue. One of my law school classmates was almost attacked by a homeless man in a metro train who was screaming at her crazily. I have been yelled at and spit on by people outside of union station.

The homelessness problem is out of control. The shelter a few blocks from union station kicks people out at 5 am and where else are they supposed to go all day?

They could take a shower at the shelter and get a job, you know, work.

Most of them have mental illness or other serious issues and aren't capable of holding down a job. They get sent to DC by other places that don't want to deal with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is not so new, actually. The problem is that the rest of DC has turned into Union Station. But Union Station has pretty much always been that way.

It’s been worse the last few years and has fallen off a cliff since COVID. Believe it or not but there was a time when Union Station had high end retail and fine dining.

I remember that time, but the bathrooms were urine-soaked even then.

When was that time? I worked at a restaurant in Union Station during undergrad and it was never a retail or dining destination.

2004 or so. Used to host fancy black tie parties. There was a high class restaurant on the mezzanine.

Even before that (mid 90s), there were a few good restaurants, high end shops, etc. I went to a few black tie parties and fundraisers and graduation events in the main space in the 90s, and it was beautiful

First time I went was late 90s and it was definitely swanky then and certainly a destination on its own. People would just go to Union Station, just to dine and shop. I cannot imagine someone suggesting that now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is not so new, actually. The problem is that the rest of DC has turned into Union Station. But Union Station has pretty much always been that way.

It’s been worse the last few years and has fallen off a cliff since COVID. Believe it or not but there was a time when Union Station had high end retail and fine dining.

I remember that time, but the bathrooms were urine-soaked even then.

When was that time? I worked at a restaurant in Union Station during undergrad and it was never a retail or dining destination.

The '90s. But the bathrooms were always gross.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These were all such grand old stations. We have no civic pride. We can take care of people AND have nice things. When did we stop aiming for that?

I think this is it. We can't have nice things here in DC.

[Anonymous]

Just elect more democrats. That will solve the all the problems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Union station is disgusting and an embarrassment but not much anyone can do.

Maybe stop electing a do-nothing Mayor

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is not so new, actually. The problem is that the rest of DC has turned into Union Station. But Union Station has pretty much always been that way.

It’s been worse the last few years and has fallen off a cliff since COVID. Believe it or not but there was a time when Union Station had high end retail and fine dining.

I remember that time, but the bathrooms were urine-soaked even then.

When was that time? I worked at a restaurant in Union Station during undergrad and it was never a retail or dining destination.

2004 or so. Used to host fancy black tie parties. There was a high class restaurant on the mezzanine.

Even before that (mid 90s), there were a few good restaurants, high end shops, etc. I went to a few black tie parties and fundraisers and graduation events in the main space in the 90s, and it was beautiful

First time I went was late 90s and it was definitely swanky then and certainly a destination on its own. People would just go to Union Station, just to dine and shop. I cannot imagine someone suggesting that now.

PP here. I started working there in 2005, I think, and Union Station was absolutely disgusting then. B Smith’s was nice enough I guess.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Penn Station says hold my beer.

Yes, last week I was stunned by the number of unhoused people at Union Station until I got off the train in NY and Penn Station was much worse.

"Unhoused people"

I'm not the poster you quoted, but that is the new politically correct term to use. I didn't know either until a friend told me a few months ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is not so new, actually. The problem is that the rest of DC has turned into Union Station. But Union Station has pretty much always been that way.

It’s been worse the last few years and has fallen off a cliff since COVID. Believe it or not but there was a time when Union Station had high end retail and fine dining.

I remember that time, but the bathrooms were urine-soaked even then.

When was that time? I worked at a restaurant in Union Station during undergrad and it was never a retail or dining destination.

2004 or so. Used to host fancy black tie parties. There was a high class restaurant on the mezzanine.

Even before that (mid 90s), there were a few good restaurants, high end shops, etc. I went to a few black tie parties and fundraisers and graduation events in the main space in the 90s, and it was beautiful

+1
DP. We actually considered the main atrium area for our wedding - 1993. It was flat-out gorgeous. Such a shame. I can't even bring myself to go there now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just elect more democrats. That will solve the all the problems.

I'm wondering when Democratic voters will realize their culpability here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Penn Station says hold my beer.

Yes, last week I was stunned by the number of unhoused people at Union Station until I got off the train in NY and Penn Station was much worse.

"Unhoused people"

I'm not the poster you quoted, but that is the new politically correct term to use. I didn't know either until a friend told me a few months ago.

Well, they are both unhoused and homeless. Both are true and correct.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is not so new, actually. The problem is that the rest of DC has turned into Union Station. But Union Station has pretty much always been that way.

Union Station used to be nice and not that long ago. I used to go shopping there, I especially liked Lucy, the workout clothes store. It was not a shithole.