Morning Roundup: Goodbye, Abe Edition
Vegetate to Close at the End of the Month
D.C. Police Seek Suspect in Series of Bank Robberies
Suspect in 9-Year-Old's Murder Found Dead in D.C. Jail
Wizards Owner Abe Pollin Dies at 85
Good morning, Washington. Metro is still waiting on a judge's ruling on whether it might have to cough up $43 million all at once to a Belgian bank. Metro spokesperson Candace Smith said that the agency expects to be back in court this morning at 11 a.m., so stay tuned.
Citywide Sweep of Used Car Lots: WJLA reports on Mayor Fenty's crackdown of shady used car lots in the city, resulting in at least one closure on Bladensburg Rd. The video shows employees at one lot crying foul about it being unfair to just shut down their business with no warning. We're guessing their neighbors probably aren't sorry to see them go.
Mt. Pleasant Gets the Schwartzman Treatment: Feels like it's been a while since the Washington Post's Paul Schwartzman focused his gentrification laser beam anywhere, doesn't it? Well today he takes a good long look at Mt. Pleasant, and concludes that just as Columbia Heights is seeing this amazing commercial turnaround, Mt. Pleasant is actually worse off than it was a few years ago. A combination of the fallout from the big apartment fire and too many empty storefronts has some residents feeling like they are being left behind. What do you say, Mt. Pleasant crowd?
Briefly Noted: Good Guys strip club fire attack trial underway ... Cheh holding second hearing on voting issues today ... Chevy Chase Bank may be selling to Citigroup ... Former aide to Sen. Barbara Boxer charged with possession of child pornography ... PG County facing $70 million budget shortfall.
This Day in DCist: One year ago, we got the first word that the Office of Tax and Revenue scandal was much, much bigger than anyone initially realized, and two years ago, the city first approved opening up the licensing process to new street vendor foodcarts.
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If Chevy Chase goes to Citigroup, I'm changing banks.
Good thing we're throwing $700 billion at those banks so they can demand their $45 mil from Metro so it can totally shut down in time for the innauguration. Maybe!
Shady used car lots? No....really?? Hold page one--dog bites man story. First it's the demise of Latino markets on Mt. Pleasant St., now this. What would Bladensburg Rd. be without tawdry used car lots?
From the Mt. Pleasant Article. they wait until page 3, but this paragraph pretty much sums up the problems.
Besides the economic hurdles, she said, potential investors often skip over the neighborhood because of activists who make it difficult for restaurateurs or tavern owners to obtain liquor licenses.
"Anytime they want to do something, have music, everyone screams and yells," Abitbol said. "They don't want to deal with the activists, the aggravation."
I say the Post should save its money and just replace Schwartzman with anti-gentrification Mad Libs.
"It was a dark and stormy (day/night/brunch) when (Mt. Pleasant/Shaw/Swampoodle) residents discovered that all the (African Americans/Latinos/Morlocks) couldn't afford to live in their (vibrant/hiptardy/ghetto-fabulous) community."
How do those crappy used car places stay in business?
Theres a ton of them in arlington too, can fenty come over and close them down while he is at it?
That sucks about Chevy Chase Bank. Citigroup is a terrible bank compared with Chevy Chase. Their customer service makes Verizon look great. Plus, it's another blow to a great community bank (although Black Washingtonians are excused for not shedding a tear over its demise, since CCB has a shameful history of redlining.) I love the customer service I get from Chevy Chase. For one thing, you get an American at the other end of the line, and normally it's a pleasant one to boot. With Citigroup you get a inscrutable accent and a script.
There aren't many Washington community banks left. The only ones I can think of are Industrial Bank, the Bank of Georgetown, and Adams National Bank.
I'm with RFTH, if Chevy Chase sells out to Citigroup, I'm gone. Not sure where yet, but I'm definitely gone.
Does anyone know of an updated list or map for street vendors? I love the Korean cart at 14th/L but have not been impressed with the smart cart food.
Banks? Who still uses banks?
Hookers and blow are safer investments these days.
While I like the convenience of Chevy Chase Bank, they have almost no functionality. I tried to set up a monthly direct debit from my account to my landlord's at a different bank (PNC). Apparently that's just not possible for CC. Silly me for assuming such a thing would be simple in this day and age.
I haven't gotten to my metro section yet, but I think I would rather have anti-gentrification Mad Libs.
Pure genious Monkey. You need a publisher.
How do those crappy used car places stay in business?
Easy. Organized crime launders its money by setting up dummy companies, like used car stores, pizza joints, aromatherapy spas, etc. Same kinda deal with the Eritrean mafia and Ethiopian restaurants, the Chinese tongs and Panda Gourmet takeout joints, Gothamist LLC and local websites. You get the picture. Just don't tell anyone or they'll take your thumbs.
And in these uncertain times, Banko Monkeyrotico Internacionale has always been a secure place to keep your money, your jewels, and your slutty teenage daughters in booty shorts. Open a savings account today and receive as our gift to you, free of charge, fistful of warm feces thrown at your face.*
(*Offer void in most States and the District of Columbia. Warning: feces may explode. Ask your doctor if you need exploding feces. Side effects include burning, itching, hematoma, sleeplessness, narcolepsy, and Cupid's itch.)
I moved to Petworth from Mt. Pleasant 5 years ago and I guarantee there are much more than 7 vacancies for every 40 storefronts on Georgia Avenue. I'm feeling no pity for Mt. Pleasant.
I'm in the process of giving CCB the heave-ho, and not a moment too soon it would appear. If you want to develop a "banking" relationship that has strong ties in your neighborhood, go with a credit union. Same functionality and deposit insurance ($250k, through NCUA, not FDIC) as a bank, without all the corporate BS and BOHICA fees.
That said, National Capital Bank is still locally owned, and probably will always be, as long as the Diddens are around.
CCB customers: Did you ever think banking at Giant was at all convenient or practical? Me neither.
ack! any suggestions on where to move my moolah if Chevy Chase Bank goes to punkass Citigroup would be most appreciated!
I agree that Schwartzman needed to address the role of activists who I will loosely refer to as NIMBYs because a famous one lives in Cleveland Park and others are actually residents of Columbia Heights. I for one would love to see any form of a legal vibrant business open on Mt.P. Street. My family does not eat McD's but the vast majority of people do. They would be an improvement over the numerous vacant rat incubators that exist currently. I have a wish list of what I would like to see but Mt.P. needs solid businesses.
The article also leaves out the fact that there are some really nice businesses on Mt.P. Boveda, the dentists office, the pharmacy, the hardware store, the shoe repair store (not pretty but they do a great job ), dry cleaners, Sportsman liquor store with a half decent wine selection, Hellers, Radius, Tonic, 7-11, Haydees, the ice cream place in the basement of Dos Gringos, etc. The glass is more than half full it just needs a little fortification with businesses that appeal to middle class professionals.
I find the statement that the DCUSA is not having a profound effect on Mt.P. businesses disingenuous at best and an outright lie at worst. As I was buying diapers for my kid a couple of weeks ago at Target there were lots of Latin families in line buying stuff easily available at Dollar Star for a higher price like diapers, umbrellas strollers, formula, dishes, etc.
ack! any suggestions on where to move my moolah if Chevy Chase Bank goes to punkass Citigroup would be most appreciated!
tvc15, If you live or work east of Rock Creek Park, check out Lafayette Federal Credit Union. In a bit of redlining-in-reverse their DC service area is only east of the park. :)
If CCB goes to Citigroup, who will get all of their 23-kajillion atms? Because that is the main reason I have been their customer for 14 years.
Mt. P has the potential to be amazing, with its proximity to the subway, Columbia Heights, Rock Creek Park, 16th St. buses, and Adams-Morgan nightlife, complimented by its homey main street vibe. One neat idea floating around is turning Mt. P St. itself into a pedestrian mall (see e.g. Church St. in Burlington, Vermont) with retractable pylons so that delivery trucks can get to businesses during certain hours of the day. Something like that could not just turn the neighborhood around, but make it into a regional destination spot. Businesses would positively flock.
I find the statement that the DCUSA is not having a profound effect on Mt.P. businesses disingenuous at best and an outright lie at worst.
Yeah, he's lying. I remember when Irving Street was empty after dark, except for the rats, the dealers, and the homeless. Now there's CONSTANT foot traffic between DCUSA, the Metro, and Mt. Pleasant.
i like the idea of adding mt. pleasant to the columbia heights metro name. now we just need a third name to fulfill the rule of three. because god knows things won't bee good until we have enough long wmata station names!
i propose columbia heights/mount pleasant/rock throwing at biking white folk
@ledroitist: You're right about credit unions vs. commercial banks, finding fee-free ATMS is a pain but other than that I'll never go back to banks.
Citibank has all US 7-11 ATMs for free. I used to bank at Chevy Chase, but paying ATM fees when travelling sucked. I can’t wait to use all those Chevy Chase ATMs free now.
One bad think about Citibank is there is a separate web site for bank accounts, another for your credit card, and a third for your mortgage. I have never understood why. You can transfer money to other banks online for free which is nice.
riptip, MtP is a largely residential neighborhood of single-family rowhomes, without large commercial or residential buildings. Unless there were a metro stop smack-dab in the middle of Mt Pleasant St., there just can't be sufficient foot traffic for that kind of thing.
Handful of vacant retail spaces aside, the scale of commercial development there seems about right for the neighborhood. The area couldn't support both DCUSA and some kind of commercial pedestrian mall three blocks away, especially in this economy.
Mommyworks- I used to go to that cobbler all the time, he's on my corner. But enough was enough. I just about called the BBB on him. He never had anything done when he said he would. I had to go into the shop and hound him for days to get shoes back. When he wasn't done he's do a shoddy job as I waited. And his repairs always fall apart the first time I wear the shoes.
Once I told him I needed my shoes back by a certain day, he said he could do it, when he of course did not he only offered me a free repair job the next time I went. There has not been a next time and there will not be, that was over a year ago.
I recommend the one next to Cold Stone in Cleveland Park or on 14th and V. They are worth the trip, Leon's isn't worth the half block walk for me.
Jeslett - I am sorry to hear that. I have always had good luck with him. I only take leather soled shoes in to him. I have even taken purses in to get repaired with luck too.
gbert, I'm not sure that have a pedestrian area on Mt. pleasant st is a fantastic idea either however you have clearly never been to Church St in Burlington, VT or The Commons in Ithaca, NY (same architect).
Both Burlington and ithaca have less than a 40k population year round. Neither have anything like the metro and both have terribly unreliable public transportation. I lived in both cities without a car, believe me, your feet are more reliable than any bus.
mt. pleasant could be a DC version of del ray pretty damn easily, i'd think.
gbert -- I think a lot of MtP residents would love to hang out on MtP St. more, but there are zero spots to grab a beer and watch the world go by, and the narrow sidewalks (not to mention the burned out shell of a building) make it tough on people looking for a leisurely stroll. Plus, I'm arguing that a MtP St. pedestrian mall would draw visitors from across the city, not just neighborhood residents, in the same way that people make special trips to downtown Bethesda when the streets are closed for arts/crafts festivals and the like. On weeknights and weekends there could be street performers, vendors, informational booths for nonprofits, on weekends there could be the same plus an expanded farmers market, festivals, etc. Imagine.
IMGoph -- I.M. agreeing with you. Lincoln Road in Miami is another good example. And it has worked well in Europe too since the 1960s. Where the idea had problems, it was made successful by allowing for truck deliveries at specified times, hence the retractable post idea I suggested above. Here are some more cases: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedestrian_mall
At any rate, a lot of MtP transportation improvement issues will be discussed with D.C. Council Member Jim Graham this Saturday morning from 9-12 in the Sacred Heart Church. Come on by y'all!
By the way, according to WaPo, the guy who knocked out a gay man with a glass bottle in G-Town while shouting anti-gay epithets pleaded guilty to felony assault with "bias intent" (read: hate crime).
I just don't think a single 15-block square area can support DCUSA, the 18th St. strip, AND a commercial strip that draws enough pedestrian traffic to close the street.
Not saying it wouldn't be cool and all, but where's the market for it? And who would take the risk to plan so big and invest so heavily during a down economy?
MtP retail probably just needs a bit of a realignment. With the new Latino-oriented retail just north of DCUSA, maybe MtP doesn't need a laundromat and a papuseria on every block (and apparently the recently-closed laundromat is indeed to be replaced with another laundromat).
I hope the Latin retail flavor remains a defining characteristic, but think the strip could use a couple more spots catering to young people and professionals (not that professionals and Latinos are mutually exclusive!)
And who would take the risk to plan so big and invest so heavily during a down economy?
Doug Jemal. He does this sort of stuff in his sleep. He bought up most of Penn Quarter in the 1980s back when people couldn't give the properties away.
qbert -- The market could be the whole DC region. And as far as investment risks, I haven't done a study, but I don't believe the startup costs would be much beyond the retractable posts I mentioned. The idea could even be promoted as a pilot project on the weekends, using nothing more than orange cones. If people like it, if existing businesses are not negatively affected, and if entrepreneurs express interest, then it could be gradually expanded, partnerships with developers could be made, and then we can start to talk about more extensive streetscaping. All you need is one or two outdoor seating cafe/pubs to pop and businesses will be clamoring for a spot on the strip. I guess I'm basically saying, let's think big. We can always scale down ideas as needed, if needed.
RE: Mt. Pleasant: I just moved from Mt. Pleasant to Gtown. While I have found a few things to complain about in Gtown [Republicans, suburban riff-raff, frat daddies] I cannot list “nothing to do” as one of them. I would never think about going back to Mt. Pleasant! The inhabitants of Mt. P are cool but the total and utter lack of commerce in the area only works to its detriment. Mt. Pleasant offers no shopping, few decent places to eat and increasing crime rates. And speaking of crime, it’s my opinion that the gentrification of Columbia Heights has pushed an undesirable element into Mt. P….something that wouldn’t be happening if Mt. P had been/was being gentrified as well. Sorry if that’s offensive to anti-gentrificationists, but it’s my opinion and I did live there for 2 years. Additionally, I was told there is a neighborhood association (or something) in Mt. P who has feverishly fought to keep everything, dreaded live music and patios included, out of the neighborhood. Way to go assholes, now you can enjoy the deterioration of your neighborhood in solitude. Simply put, there is nothing to do in Mt. P and there is no Metro stop in the immediate vicinity. Nothing to do + limited transportation options = dull, underdeveloped neighborhood. And it’s a pity because it COULD be a great area with some improvements.
Are crime rates in fact increasing in Mt. Pleasant? I'm assuming actual data is available somewhere; it doesn't have to be a matter of opinion.