Comments on: EC-12: A Little Excessive?

By: BajanYankee

BajanYankee — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 20:54:07 +0000

I think you’re on the money JTE. The city owns the buliding…it was an old firehouse. Why couldn’t they just sell it at a huge discount (unless $600k is considered a HUGE discount) or sell it to some people who would turn it into a coop or something? For all the work that building requires, only Pizzareia Uno’s or Bertucci’s could afford to run a pizza business out of it. The cost of business is just too high in the city. That’s why the Big Bear Cafe sells $4 brownies.

By: BajanYankee

BajanYankee — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 20:48:47 +0000

I agree that this project is overly ambitious. I wouldn’t mind having a pizza restaurant in the neighborhood, but you could certainly achieve that for far less than $3 million. And what’s up with the name? Just call it Engine Co. 12. That’s more unique sounding and has some basis in the history of the neighborhood.

But honestly, I wouldn’t mind a Delassandros, Jim’s or Max’s Steaks in the neighborhood. Man, those are some good cheesesteaks. Philly!!!!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:22:39 +0000

I understand that under the agreement with the city, Brian Brown can sell this property after five years, at market rate, whatever that is, without compensating the city for the low sales price that he received. Usually these tyep of “deals’ have a longer restriction period, My take is that he is speculating, hoping that the market will change enough in five years that he will be able to double his “investment” and get out, without ever opening anything in the location. We are now almost halfway through that five year period……..and not close to anything at the site. Plus with the SAVEMORE gone, the 1700 block of North Cap is almost totally dead now. There are more than 30 vacant retail spaces between NY and R st on North Cap, we have lost eight businesses in the past six months in this corridor. I know all the business owners in the corrider, and most of the property owners and every one is having an extremely difficult time getting tenants, everyone is hurting. And the new people complain and complain, but unless we support the businesses that we have, we will soon have none at all.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 01 May 2008 18:59:22 +0000

this is completely idiotic. the reviews of this establishment in cleveland are horrific, uniformly and completely negative. the H street approach is the right one, create a string of well-executed but straightforward concepts but get them right and don’t drop millions on some bizarro speculation.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 13:54:32 +0000

Just wait until the neighborhood riff raff start loitering in front of this place… How many project trash and section 8 types will be eating here? I just don’t think there are that many available customers in the neighborhood that will be able to eat here regularly. This project will fail and then it will become another fried chicken and soul food restaurant.

By: Lady E

Lady E — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:15:46 +0000

Why so much negativity?

Development takes time. We’re, obviously, in the nascent stages of developing the retail and commercial (let alone residential) markets in the Bloomingdale-Eckington neighborhoods. Or, should I say, replacing the litany of liquor stores and unkempt storefronts that have accommodated loiterers and fostered the de-beautification of our streets and sidewalks. I am tired of trash-lined walkways.

One of my favorite blocks to walk lately is R St NW between North Capitol and 1st NW. Those red tulips are beautiful. Kudos R St NW neighbors!

But I digress. The 2020 Martini design concept sounds a bit garish to me, but I am hopeful that progress and investment will lead to a more walkable neighborhood, cleaner streets, in turn more investment and a step in the right direction.

Time will tell.

By: sean

sean — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:55:02 +0000

how many people have been very serious about opening up a restaurant on north capitol?

i know of one couple who got very far in their planning but they just couldn’t crunch numbers to afford rent. this was at least three years ago. there thought was a tavern type place. i’ve not heard of anything else.

i’m sorry to read so many voice so down of this project. since i dont have any cash or desire to run a place, i’m glad someone is doing it.

if any of you can do a better job please try! a most sincere PLEASE.
i’ll come often if you have beer.

sean.

By: JTE

JTE — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:34:17 +0000

I’m a bit concerned that because it’s going to be a huge and flashy establishment that’s trying to do a lot, property owners along North Capitol will use that as an excuse to jack up sales and lease prices. So it will even be harder for small business owners or newbies who want to invest in North Capitol but don’t have the large financial backing that the firehouse seems to have.

—My response to that, DC Avocado, is that we are already there. The high real estate costs on North Capitol already stifle the opportunity for little bars or retail places to flourish. There is a cute neighborhood in Baltimore just outside the Inner Harbor (I forget the name) where there are a ton of independent little shops and bars. Looking at that made me think about how to get North Capitol to be like that, and it’s the real estate costs. They are already too high in the entire city. Even Dupont has lost most of its independent stores. The chains are the only ones that can get over those real estate costs with their formulaic efficiencies. This real estate decline, I hope, will help our little neighborhood, but it’s frustrating.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:16:48 +0000

Sorry, but the area just sucks beans! Can’t we get a simple burger/beer joint (that does it right) first? This place will fail because it won’t attract the crowds to support the debt that this place will generate.

By: John

John — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:23:04 +0000

They said under $30 a plate. So yes if you and your date have the most expensive entrees on the menu you’ll pay $60 before drinks.

If this is not your kind of venue then try the Brooklyn Deli & Sister’s Muscles in the ATF retail building when it opens in a few months. Or are those not what you want either?

Either move to dupont where you have 100 restaurant options within a few blocks or relax and let the area gentrify and have it come to you.