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After a few months where we wondered if any business could maintain an open storefront in Cleveland Park, it looks like two of the most quizzically empty spaces in the neighborhood have plans to be filled. Posters to the neighborhood's ubiquitous listserv have passed on the information that the space at Connecticut Avenue and Porter Street which formerly held a 7-11 could house an urgent care office. (Urgent care next to the new Walgreens? Convenient!). Meanwhile, the former McDonalds at 3407 Connecticut -- which has literally been empty for years -- could potentially become a diner. A fun place to get some awesome breakfast before or after a weekend matinee at the Uptown sounds utterly delightful.
Of course, it just wouldn't be Cleveland Park without everything being a humongous ordeal. The board of directors at the Monterey condo building, located above the former 7-11, are looking into legal options to prevent the Urgent Care office from opening. And the diner plans to have a bar, so I'm sure that there will be plenty of the usual "don't turn Connecticut Avenue into 18th Street" ridiculousness. Stay tuned.
UPDATE: A member of the Monterey Condominium Association Board took to the listserv on Monday evening, stating that the board had "not taken any position regarding prospective tenants for" the former 7-11 space, but that the board has "a process in place" to review what is going in on the ground floor.
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oh, good lord, what do the people in the building want there, then? why don't they pony up the money to make their vision happen? can they ever be made happy? doubt it.
I noticed a new Wine store where the Blockbuster used to be.
That McDonalds closed down in like 2003 or so, right? That's a ridiculous amount of time for such a prime location to sit vacant. Then again, it's not exactly a rare phenomenon in DC.
Looking into legal options to prevent an urgent care office from opening on the first floor? SRSLY?
These people are insane. How can you move to a condo in the commercial strip on Connecticut Ave. and be such a NIMBY?
I believe the average age of Connecticut Avenue condo owners is about 652. Perhaps they are afraid an urgent care center could lead to a whooping cough or bubonic plague outbreak in their building.
The McDo's closed in January of 2004, and the spot has been vacant since then.
I imagine developers proposed any number of viable businesses since the McDicks closed in '04. But without neighborhood buy-in, nothing happens in Cleveland Park. Anyone know why the McDonalds failed in the first place? Mismanagement, overexpansion, or high rents?
Given the rents in the neighborhood, a liquor license is a must for this to be a viable business. And NIMBYs aren't known for relishing the idea of all-nite restaurants with liquor licenses. Look forward to "voluntary agreements" to cutoff booze sales at 11pm, no sidewalk seating, and decibel meters all over the f**king place.
If the property owners were really concerned about a long term slide in Cleveland Park, you'd see more for sale signs. That you don't, and see for rent signs, just says they're not realistic about their market.
I saw that Palena LLC has a liquor license up on the window of the old Magruders. Wonder what's going on with that.
They're expanding into the Magruder's space
I just found the following on the Cleveland Park listserv:
As a member of the Monterey Condominium Association Board, I want to correct
some misinformation posted on this listserv earlier this week. The post
concerned the commercial space on Connecticut and Porter that was formerly
occupied by the 7-11.
Our Board has not taken any position regarding prospective tenants for that
space. Any posts or reports to the contrary are not accurate and do not speak
on behalf of our Board.
There is a process in place to allow the Board to fulfill its responsibilities
on behalf of the Monterey owners and residents. All parties share a common
desire to contribute to the neighborhood, as well as to conduct our discussions
in a honorable way.
We have agreed to refrain from public comment beyond this email to allow that
process to work efficiently. While we appreciate our neighbors' interest, the
Monterey would also appreciate everyone's understanding and patience until there
is news to report.
Ted Sobel
Connecticut and Porter