Downtown DC is a storefront ghost

[Anonymous]

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.

Yes, adding hotels downtown for middle to upper middle to upper price points is a no brainer. Especially if they have kitchenettes.

[Anonymous]

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.

[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.

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.

[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.

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.

[Anonymous]

the reasons behind what's really going on will be explained soon and it has nothing to do with what you all think it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:the reasons behind what's really going on will be explained soon and it has nothing to do with what you all think it is.

A DCUM cliffhanger...or a Q conspiracy?

[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.

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.

[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.

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.

[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.

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.

[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.

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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The CRE industry still needs to work through refinancing these properties. Or defaulting, tearing down, etc. which could take years or decades as loans come due. Few if any conversions or other renovation projects can be financed in the current environment. Once rates go down in the next year or so, there could be a little more hope for downtown buildings. I’ve heard that 30% of all office buildings in the nation should be demolished. So we have lots to change before things look up.

Add in that much of the commercial real estate lending is done by small commercial banks which are in a really precarious place right now.

[Anonymous]

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.

And bring back all the street parking we lost to bike lanes!

[Anonymous]

There’s a conversion to residential opening at L and 15th and I’m really curious who would want to live there. It is not a charming street and there’s not that much right there, although I guess there’s some good restaurants if you head north from there. Will be interesting to see if it rents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There’s a conversion to residential opening at L and 15th and I’m really curious who would want to live there. It is not a charming street and there’s not that much right there, although I guess there’s some good restaurants if you head north from there. Will be interesting to see if it rents.

Seems like a prime spot for short-term corporate rentals. Lack of a grocery store in the vicinity is a serious problem.

[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.

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.

lol the wharf is constantly packed.