Residents say Sluggish Movements and Little Improvements

Mounds of dirt, crooked wooden and metal protective fencing, heaps of lumber and construction caution signs. This is the site at the upper level of the Meridian Hill Park, which after 5 years of unsteady renovation, is yet to reopen its doors, now slated for the end of this Spring.

Pete's New Haven Style Apizza, located at the top of the metro in Columbia Heights, is opening its doors to the public on Monday, April 28th, at 11AM.

We are so grateful...

We just received word from Councilmember Jim Graham's office that Best Buy and Councilmember Graham will be hosting a grand opening celebration at its DC USA location (2nd Floor, 3100 14th St, NW) tomorrow (Thursday, March 27) at 6pm.  Best Buy will be presenting a $2,500 check to each of the following local organizations:  Latin American Youth Center, Hispanic College Fund, Columbia Heights Community Center, and the Boys and Girls Club.

Best Buy Press Release

Best Buy Opens Four New Stores

New stores support local non-profit organizations and  offers employment opportunities for local communities

MINNEAPOLIS, March 25, 2008 - Best Buy today announced the grand opening of four new U.S. Best Buy stores. The new stores are set to open this week in the following cities:

The owners of Bus Boys and Poets will bringing a new restaurant called Eatonville to the Union Row development located at 14th and V Streets NW.

Press Release for Councilmember Jim Graham

Ward One Restaurant Expands to Union Row

Washington DC:  Councilmember Jim Graham (D-Ward One) joined PN Hoffman today to announce that Bus Boys and Poets will open a second restaurant at the Flats of Union Row, in Ward One. 

A new yoga center will be opening in Columbia Heights next Monday.  Quiet Mind Yoga will be setting shop in a renovated rowhome on 14th Street between Monroe and Newton Streets.

Press Release from Quiet Mind Yoga

just one block north of the tivoli center, columbia heights finally has a place for the community to take a deep breath and relax...

With the opening of the District's first Target, DC USA's doors were officially open to the public today.  This truly is a momentous occasion for Columbia Heights.  Considering that this was merely a "soft opening" for Target (the official grand opening is scheduled for this Sunday), DC USA was abuzz with many excited people this evening.  We couldn't help but notice the wonderment in people's eyes as they stepped inside DC USA for the first time -- that is, after we got past our own amazement.

Target is set to open to the public on Wednesday at 8 AM at the DC USA retail complex, several  days ahead of schedule.  Apparently this will be a "soft" opening.  The grand opening is scheduled for this Sunday.  There has been a lot of buzz in the media surrounding this historic day for Columbia Heights and the District.  The following are some interesting articles from major media sources that cover the opening of the District's first Target and the impact it has made on Columbia Heights:

As mentioned in the previous article, Michael Wilkinson of Windsor Consulting was given the opportunity to tour the DC USA retail complex this past Friday.  During the tour, he had a chance to talk in depth with Drew Greenwald, president of Grid Properties (the lead developer for DC USA), about the latest retail developments at DC USA.  Wilkinson was kind enough to share the information he gathered with us.

DC USA Retail Updates 

Written by Michael Wilkinson

DC-USA, as most people in the neighborhood are aware, is nearing completion, with a number of the retailers even beginning to stock their shelves.  Thirty interior photos here.

Target is holding a VIP reception on Tuesday, March 4th, and the city is hosting a ribbon cutting the following Saturday (the 8th), which is the retailer's "soft opening." That store officially opens to the public on Sunday the 9th.  Other retailers will stagger their openings over the subsequent 6-8 weeks.  Almost ready: Best Buy, Bed Bath & Beyond, Marshall's, Lane Bryant and Best Buy.

Michael Wilkinson of Windsor Consulting, had the privilege of touring the DC USA retail complex with developers on Friday.  He snapped some photos and uploaded them here.  The following is a detailed account of Wilkinson's walkthrough of DC USA.

DC USA Walkthrough

Written by Michael Wilkinson

Sidewalk along 14th Street has a lot of the small retailers.  Very pedestrian-friendly and likely to add an urban bustle to the whole streetscape.  Enter the building through the main entrance on 14th Street.  Doors to fairly large retailers on right and left.   Escalator directly in front of you.  View to the third floor.  Wide open in front here.  Move toward the rear of the main hallway/entry, on the right is a bank of four elevators.  At the rear is the Marshall's.  Two smaller retailers in between the main 3-story entry and the Marshall's -- these were to be Maggy Moo's and Quizno's.   They are probably going to divide the former Quizno's space into two smaller spots.

The street-level retail portion of the Allegro residential development is being brokered by JBG Rosenfeld.  Two fairly large spaces are being advertised:  2,704 and 3,400 square feet.

We just got word from a number of readers that the Allegro condominium development will become rental apartments.  Allegro condo purchasers were recently sent letters from the developer informing them of the news and providing assurance that their deposits will be returned as a result of the conversion to rentals.

We recently received word from Ryan Youngman, CEO of Ellwood Thompson's Local Market, that his company remains in talks with the DC USA developers.  Mr. Youngman is strongly committed to bringing his local market to Columbia Heights.  He stated the following:

Reader submitted post.  Thanks John!

The Columbia Heights Public Realm Plan is getting closer to implementation. After YEARS of planning and community meetings (since 2003), the city is almost ready to start work on the central area of Columbia Heights.

Before		After

Reader submitted post.  Thanks John!

On Tuesday night, November 27th, Columbia Heights was featured on HGTV's show "Designed to Sell"! A young couple selling a two-bedroom condo was the focus of the 30-minute show. In the process of filming the redesigning of the condo, Columbia Heights was featured as a hip and sought-after place to live.

Press release from Donatelli Development

Highland Park Announces Retail Tenants, Conversion To Rental

Donatelli Development and Gragg and Associates announced today they will convert their Highland Park building, nearing completion at the southwest corner of 14th and Irving streets in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of Northwest Washington, from condominium to rental.  

In addition, the company announced it has reached agreements with six retailers, including five restaurants, to take space in the retail portion of the development.

Message from Councilmember Jim Graham

Dear Friends:

Since October 1, we have experienced an unprecedented cycle of violence in various parts of the Ward , the likes of which I have not seen in my nine years in office.  Well over a 100 shots have been recorded.  Others have been heard, but not recorded.

There was an alarming amount of violence in the streets of Columbia Heights over Halloween night.  Councilmember Jim Graham responded to the violence with a message this morning.

Message From Councilmember Jim Graham

Positive Crime Solutions After A Rough Night Of Violence

Dear Friends: Last night was a tough night for our neighborhoods...with an armed car jacking, one homicide, four wounded two critically, another wounding on Sherman Avenue, robberies ... more robberies.

There was a fight and stabbing incident over night near the El Salvadoreno restaurant at 3548 14th Street NW.  The following is a message from our Councilmember Jim Graham:

Fight/Stabbing Salvadoreno 14th & Parkwood

Dear Friends:
 
This morning at 3:10 AM, a patron of El Salvadoreno was stabbed five times (once in the head) as  a result of fight that began in this restaurant (CR alcohol license) at 3548 14th Street NW.  The stabbing involving two assailants occurred outside the restaurant.

A letter was sent earlier this month to the residents and businesses within 500 feet of the View 14 project detailing the project and announcing the start of construction.

Letter from Level 2 Development Project Manager, Jonathan E. Kardon

Dear Neighbor:

On behalf of Level 2 Development, I am writing to introduce to you the View 14 Apartments development at 2303 14th Street, between Florida Avenue and Belmont Street (on the east side of 14th Street), and to inform you that construction is beginning this month.

Press Release From Donatelli Development

Mediterranean Bistro To Fill Last Retail Space At Kenyon Square

Coming Soon to Kenyon Square: the Mediterranean. Donatelli Development is proud to introduce Royal Blue Mediterranean Bistro to Columbia Heights.

Following a season of grand openings, Donatelli had only one retail space left to lease in Kenyon Square by the summer. As the city was finishing up the sidewalks and crews were taking down the construction fencing from in front of the building, interest in the space hit a peak.

With the recent anouncement of an upcoming Yes! Organic Market location in the U Street Corridor, many of you have expressed concern on how this would impact Ellwood Thompson's resolve to open a Columbia Heights location.  We assumed there would be very little impact as the retail corridor around the Columbia Heights Metro serves as a distinct, separate market and it is clear that the demand for a specialty, organic market in this neighborhood is very high.  Yes! Organic is also small-scaled compared to Ellwood Thompson's at only 5,000 square feet.  Ellwood Thompson's is proposing a Columbia Heights location that is triple the size.

Press Release From Starbucks Coffee 

DC Councilmember Jim Graham will Join Starbucks Coffee Tomorrow to Celebrate the Opening of the Coffee Company’s First Columbia Heights Location

The New Store will Kick-off its Partnership with the GALA Hispanic Theatre by Presenting the Theatre with a $25,000 Donation

What

Starbucks Coffee Company will celebrate the opening of its first location in Columbia Heights tomorrow, on Thursday, September 20th beginning at 11:30am. In celebration of the new store opening, DC Councilmember, Jim Graham, will join Starbucks Partners (employees,) representatives from GALA Hispanic Theatre, and customers for a ceremonial first pour, Starbucks version of a ribbon cutting. As part of the grand opening ceremony, and to kick off their partnership with GALA, the Columbia Heights Starbucks will be presenting the theater with a $25,000 check donation. Members of the GALA youth group, Paso Nuevo, will be at the event reciting their own original poetry at the grand opening.

This news release was issued today by RedRocks FireBrickPizza.

RedRocks, Columbia Heights' Favorite Spot For Gourmet Pizza, Now Open For Lunch, Brunch, And Monday Nights

Bottomless Mimosas, Happy Hour Food and Drink Specials Now at RedRocks FireBrickPizzeria, 1036 Park Rd., NW 

Washington, D.C., (Sept. 19, 2007) --- RedRocks FireBrickPizzeria, Washington, D.C.'s favorite new pizzeria and café, is now open Monday nights, as well as Tuesday through Sunday for lunch, offering the full menu of gourmet, brick-oven pizza, panini, salads and starters. Located in D.C.'s booming Columbia Heights neighborhood, RedRocks is now also serving a full brunch menu-featuring omelets, Belgian waffles and breakfast pizza, every Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Press Release From Columbia Heights Day Initiative

LAST REMINDER TO THOSE BUSINESSES/ORGANIZATIONS/INTERESTED PARTIES THAT HAVE NOT SIGNED UP TO PARTICIPATE YET AT THE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS DAY FESTIVAL:

This email primarily serves as a reminder to those vendors and businesses that wish to participate at the First Annual Columbia Heights Day Festival (October 6) but have yet to commit…we have a sign-up/informational meeting tomorrow at Temperance Hall ( 3634 Georgia Ave NW) starting at 7pm (Weds, September 19th). Most small to mid-sized businesses have donated $150 for the table space (to help pay for equipment rental), so please bring your checkbook to make the small donation if you want to participate (tax-deductible). We have ordered a limited number of tables for Year 1 of the Columbia Heights Day Festival, so don't miss your chance! Remember, the more success we have for Year 1 of the festival, the more we can grow for Year 2 to make the CH Day Festival as spectacular as other festivals in town.

We heard the buzz surrounding Columbia Heights Day several weeks ago but were unable to contact the organizers until fairly recently.  We were told that they were careful not to advertise the event too extensively until they new it was actually going to happen.  They just recently received all the necessary permits.  We requested more information on who the organizers are and how the funds they receive from donations will be spent.  We got the following response.

Press Release From Columbia Heights Day Initiative

Be a part of local history! 

The First Annual Columbia Heights Day Festival is scheduled for Saturday, October 6th from 11 AM to 6 PM.  It will begin with an informal dog parade and community bike ride from Sticky Fingers Bakery, north on 14th Street, east on Monroe Street, and south on 11th Street to Harriet Tubman Elementary School.  Activities include, live music, dance performances, children's and senior's areas, and health and wellness expos.

We received some updates on the two Level 2 Development projects planned along 14th Street near the southern boundary of Columbia Heights:  View 14 and 2400 14th Street.  View 14 is located at 14th Street and Florida Avenue NW and will offer 185 apartment units and 36,000 square feet of retail space.  The other project is located at the Nehemiah Center site (2400 14th Street NW) and will consist of 250 apartment units and 18,000 square feet of retail space. 

Project Manager Jon Kardon of Level 2 Development provided a brief progress report for these two projects.

Some of you may have noticed the pick up in construction activity at Meridian Hill Park in the past several months.  The National Park Service has been renovating the park since 2003 and is expected to finish the renovations in Spring 2008.  It is currently in the second phase of the two-phase renovation project.