November 14, 2007
Grocery Store Shuffle in Northeast
Via bloomingdale (for now), it looks like Harris Teeter has committed to open a location in a new development project called Constitution Square at 1st and M Streets NE, right next to the New York Ave. Metro station. The news was first posted on the ANC 6C05 blog maintained by commissioner Alan Kimber.
Kimber reported that Harris Teeter had originally been interested in an approx. 40,000 sq. ft. space at 3rd & H Streets NE owned by Stuart Development, but the grocery store chain has since pulled out of its non-binding agreement with the developer in favor of the New York Ave. Metro location. The PUD for the 3rd and H space was approved in part on the premise that there would be a full-service grocery store in the development, so Stuart Development has apparently been pursuing a variety of grocers, including Trader Joe's, but no company has committed to lease all or part of the space for a grocery store yet.
Kimber says that if no full-service grocer store can be convinced to open in the H Street space, the developer will likely have to seek an amendment to their PUD to permit a splitting of the space in order to entice a smaller, specialty grocery that could share the space with something like a CVS or Rite-Aid.
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i'm more concerned as to whether the harris teeter will ever, ever, ever, open at 17th and Kalorama. It looks like they aren't doing anything in there.
I don't get grocery stores being so cautious about opening in DC. The Whole Foods on P is the busiest store they have on the east coast. Trader Joes in Foggy Bottom is always mobbed. There's obviously a need for stores in town that aren't Giant or Safeway, both of which have shown disregard for District consumers for years now.
Isn't it standard practice to spell out an acronym before it's used? What's a PUD? And please don't tell me "pudenda" because I've already had an image of "amending" one and it's not really where I wanna be right now.
PUD = Planned Unit Development
PUD is planned unit development, but you knew that. I put $10 down that this Teeter will be open before the one on Potomac Ave.
Never mind these froufrou stores. When is someone going to explain to me why the Super Save Market on Mount Pleasant Street stopped carrying Mrs. T's Pierogies?
The reason for the caution, chrisafer, is that with the exception of Whole Foods, most DC residents are wet-your-pants NIMBYs who want to retard any and all development in their neighborhood. If I were a grocer and saw that a few screaming lunatics in the neighborhood could waste my time and cost me thousands in legal expenses, I'd head for the sub-suburbs, too.
As hungeegirl noted, the 17th/Kalroama saga has delayed the HT opening there for years, and like her, I'm wondering if it will EVER happen.
EdTheRed:
17th/Kalorama HT is supposed to open in February '08. File under: "See, Believe When."
I figured it would take at least 5-7 posts before someone complained about HT, but Hungeegirl knocked it out of the park on the first pitch. Well played.
On the subject of the NIMBYs... Of all the things that could be built in your neighborhood, isn't a grocery store a pretty safe bet? It's not like the stores attract a lot of crime. I just don't get it...
ill on the hill,
Trucks, noise, traffic, bright lights, etc. etc. etc.
Nothing is a safe bet to a NIMBY, except NO change at all.
"The Whole Foods on P is the busiest store they have on the east coast"
REALLY? Have you been to Columbus Circle or Union Square in New York City?
The 17th/Kalorama Harry Teeter's doors face a neighborhood. A row of houses. The proposed Harry Teeter on M & 1st NE is not in a residential neighborhood.
The nearest NIMBY people are in Eckington and Trinidad. Close enough to benefit yet far enough not to be inconvenienced.
Don't forget the RATS. Rats love them some grocery stores. All those rotting fruits and vegetables that people aren't eating and get thrown in the dumpsters.
call me naîve, but can someone spell out "NIMBY" please?
for those not knowing what a "planned unit development" is, it's basically a permit process that requires a piece of land to be developed evenly - combining residential, office, retail and/or public space [parks, etc]. it's a pain in the ass to get approved [i work in the architecture industry], but it seems to be a good thing for development when done right.
Ohh, Mrs. T's...does any place sell them? I know the Giant in Columbia Heights doesn't...
O Street Market Giant (8th and O NW) has 5 or 6 flavors of the perogies!! (yet, they don't sell a boneless chicken breast or lettuce that isn't more brown than green....)
NIMBY = Not In My Back Yard
As for the rats. It can't be any worse than the empty fenced in contaminated field which currently exist.
Yay!!!! Finally, some quality groceries in my hood.
Well, probably won't open till 2009 and I'll be long gone before then...
The Giant at the big, bad, PG Plaza sells Mrs. T's. Kind of a trek, but if you're there to go to Target or whatever....
No, we just don't want stupid development. Seriously, do you want to be picking condoms up out of your flower bed every Sunday morning (adult entertainment district) or not be able to find a place to park in front of your own house because you had to take your kid all the way across town to school because the charter school down the block opened with a full roster for the next five years?
NE desperately needs decent groceries. Every since Stop & Shop took over Giant the products and service have been inconsistent as hell.
One reason grocery stores are hesitant to locate in urban areas is theft. Both theft by shoppers and theft by employees. Apparently it runs rampant in 'transitioning' urban locations.
Hey all, I am new to posting on DCist, so go easy on me... I am from Richmond, VA, but came across this discussion and wanted to share... just wanted let to let you know that Ellwood Thompson's is trying to move up to DC. We are a locally owned grocery store that only sells local goods, supporting local farmers, and believes that it is important for a business to be active in the community.
Some folks have already started talking about our move over in Columbia Heights... looking to get the support going.
Check it out if you get the chance: http://www.columbiaheightsnews.org/Home/Ellwood-Thompsons-Information/Show-Your-Support-For-Ellwood-Thompsons-2.html
Hoping that we qualify as a YIMBY "Yes, in my back yard!"
wow.
cool to see that i got a whole post pimping something i was pimping for someone else (pimping squared?)
anyway, johnwdc has it right. the nimby argument here is moot, since there's no one there to piss off, force out, or gentrify out of existence. a grocery store there would be a HUGE boost to the whole noma thing. chrisafer is right...dc needs and CRAVES more grocery stores. in the areas where there are a few complainers (see 17th and kalorama HT), it's a shame that they're holding up the progress that will make DC an even better place to live.
Thanks, woodstock, for those fascinating effects of a f'ing grocery store moving into the neighborhood. Let's see....place to buy food, check. source of used condoms in my yard, check. source of rising enrollment at my neighborhood charter school, check.
Seriously, I'm coming to believe that DC gets what it deserves. People in this city I know complain non-stop about how it's "not a real city," then will literally stand in the way of anything that could possibly make the place a better place to live.
And, for all the anti-adams morgan-HT folks out there, I am so glad that Doug Jemal dumped the PUD agreement and is shoving the HT down your smug throats, I hope that the delivery trucks keep you shaking under your wet blankets all day and night!
"Well, probably won't open till 2009 and I'll be long gone before then"
anyone else think its funny that someone with the name "dc4life" said this? anyone?
I'll be leaving the the NE part of DC for a NW address... so I don't think I'll be shopping at the HT in NOMA. Sorry, I should have provided some background information.
I'll be leaving the the NE part of DC for a NW address
For some reason, I'm hearing the theme to The Jeffersons.
Ah, to live in a highrise with a sassy maid and a chunky / plucky wife and weirdly annoying friends / hangers-on.
The stuff dreams are made of. Movin' on up, indeed.
the funny thing with that location is that i think of it as being in northwest anyway. it seems that, with the railroad tracks being where they are, that everything up to new york ave. that's east of north capitol shares more of a connection to what's west of it than what's east of it.
Well, I live four blocks away from North Cap and people act like I live in another country or something. Oh, and I'm getting a sassy maid...
One thing about living in DC: four blocks can be a VERY long walk in some parts of town. Stand at the corner of Maryland and H Streets NE, walk four blocks in any direction, and you'll be able to buy a $1.2 million rowhouse, reefer, moulle frites, and a contract hit, all in one lazy afternoon.
Take that, Bethesda!
DudeLooksLikeALady: Maybe you should read my comment again.
My point was not that grocery stores bring used condoms and increased school enrollment but that development needs to consider both growth and the needs of the people who already live in a neighborhood.
There's no question that DC in general needs more grocery stores, ones where we can get more than a 2 liter of soda and a bag of Doritos (fresh produce anyone?). But if you ignore the needs of existing residents and say raze a thriving farmers' market to put up $350,000 "loft" condos in a neighborhood that's already edgy all you end up doing is driving the struggling and the poor to another part of the city.
Oh, wait, that would be the definition of gentrification...never mind.
"$350,000 loft condos"...HA! yeah in 2002.
What's going on with the Harris Teeter that's across from the Potomac Avenue Metro station? With the Pentagon City and now the New York Avenue stores, Teeter seems to be putting their stores in close proximity to mass transit. Do a lot of people actually Metro to grocery stores, or do they bum rides/Zipcar instead?
Do people actually use zip car to buy groceries? That would really drive up the price.
Have loft condo prices really dropped that far? I looked at The Floridian a couple months back and even the cheapest one bedroom was just shy of $400k. And the area (Near 9th & U) is still in the early stages of gentrification.
I know at least two couples who used Zipcar for major grocery runs. They've both since caved and bought cars.
Again, the four blocks rule. Some neighborhoods, lofts have imploded; others, they're more stable. Certainly nothing like way out in the sticks in NoVA.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to Harris Teeter to pick up my turducken. Mmmmm, you can really taste the turd!
I am thrilled about the news of a Harris Teeter grocery store coming to our hood. I frequently hit the one at Pentagon Row in Arlington, VA. Now, if we can get Ballys or some other reasonably priced gym to open in the area - that would be great! The Brentwood Shopping Center would be an excellent area for this, right at the metro - easy access. We need good grocery stores and exercise facilities to counteract the bad food-fast food dives on every other corner.