T-Mobile signs lease at City Vista

Commercial real estate firm Edens and Avant (E&A) recently executed a lease with T-Mobile to be a future tenant at City Vista. When E&A purchased the portfolio of City Vista retail space from Lowe Enterprises last December this negotiations with the celluar provider were already well under way. The lease is for Bay 30 which is ~1500sf situated on Fifth Street between Chevy Chase Bank and Ace Hardware. No permits have been posted and I do not yet have any idea on ETA.



The City Vista retail along Fifth Street will remain services oriented. I believe contractual obligations with Safeway do not permit competing food uses at City Vista within a certain radius from the Safeway main entrance.

The plans continue for City Vista's K Street frontage to be a restaurant row. The retail bays along K, with their large windows, 22 foot ceilings and plaza sidewalks are well suited for restaurants. Negotiations with restaurant tenants for K Street are ongoing and this blog will report the news when deals are executed. In this economic climate deals move slowly but, as I've previously written, down the road we could expect 3 or 4 additional restaurants in the K Street space.

5th and Mass pedestrian improvements - updated

Last Thursday's I posted on the spray painted outlines to the NW corner of 5th and Mass that seemingly represent plans to create a much needed substantial pedestrian refuge. I've now noticed that the SW corner has similar paint outlines to reclaim a westbound lane of Eye Street. The aerial rendering is updated below.


These improvements coupled with a renovated Chinatown Park could begin to create some meaningful public space for Triangle and Chinatown. A Smart Bike station would also be a great addition to pull more people into this space.

5th and Mass pedestrian improvements

Tuesday morning I noticed (presumably) DDOT laying out faintly spray painted lines for new wider cross walks and a more substantial pedestrian island at the NW corner of the 5th and Mass intersection. These marking appear to outline plans for more permanent improvements in the near future.

I found the change to the pedestrian island the most interesting. The little tiny stub of Eye Street in front of 555 Mass would be reduced to a one way slip. This will allow pedestrians less distance to cross and a more substantial area to stand while waiting to cross. Will these changes to the island only be paint stripings? Or will the changes be paint first with an eventual upgrade to a landscaped or bricked island?



The red triangle in the second picture above is my best attempt to represent the size of the island.

Chinese Community Church exterior upgrade complete

The Chinese Community Church at 500 I Street NW has completed it's exterior remodeling in time for Easter. The upgrade returned the building to it's roots by discarding a Formstone exterior for the elegant look of brick and sandstone. These improvements to the facade and roof were made possible by a $600,000 donation from the Gould Property Co which will be developing an office building at 600 Mass Ave NW.

1906 image from the Washington Times

July 2007 photo from flickr user Kyle Walton

2008 image from Google Streetview

2009 image taken on Easter

The building has a 155 year history and currently serves as the only Chinese house of worship in the district.

DuMont's Fourth Street sidewalks

Yesterday's post showcased the reopening of The DuMont's Mass Ave sidewalks. But many may wonder why does Fourth Street look like crap?


The asphalt and elevated curb are temporary fixtures until Fourth Street is restored to two way traffic later this year.


The sidewalks at the corner of Fourth and Mass are quite narrow. I believe the plans to alter Fourth Street also involve redesigning the traffic island - at which point the sidewalk will become wider.

Tony Cheng's 5th Street property

In a discussion last week a reader inquired about 925 5th Street NW.

Check out 925 5th Street NW. That is the building next to Fun Fair that has no roof and only a facade. Apparently it is allowed to stand because under the plywood at the top is an art deco era material (vitrolite). Apparently it is one of the remaining "examples" of this material's use in DC. Just because it is hiding under the plywood, do we have to keep a structurally unsound building and crack addict magnet? There is nothing special about that facade.

The property is owned by Tony Cheng and assessed at $1.6 million.

Exterior of 925 5th Street NW

"Interior" of 925 5th Street NW

The photos are part of a larger set taken by James "Jad" Donohoe and uploaded to flickr in May of this year. Donohoe Development ultimately was awarded the 5th and Eye RFP in September.

Click on image to view entire 25 photo set

Donohoe Development is interested in acquiring the properties on 5th Street to expand the Arts at 5th and I project towards K Street.

Shattered windows at City Vista - again

Lydia S of the MVSNA blog had the scoop earlier today on more unfortunate vandalism to windows of the retail storefronts at City Vista. This is a repeat of vandalism that occurred on July 26th. I learned from Lt Durand that the previous vandalism was deemed to be via BB gun or CO2 rifle. To my untrained eye this new vandalism looks like the same MO.

One Safeway window is shattered as well as both display windows at 5th Street Hardware.

Banking on Fifth Street

The MVT community is banking on the retail at City Vista along Fifth Street NW to energize our 'hood. Well, soon you will be able to literally do your banking on Fifth Street as well. These electrical permits for Chevy Chase Bank went up at 1075 5th St NW.

MVT CID: Bill McLeod on the Mount Vernon Triangle

Recently The Triangle had the opportunity to interview through the email format the Executive Director of the Mount Vernon Triangle Community Improvement District. We chatted with Bill McLeod about issues ranging from basic daily functions of the CID to the future plans for this community. In the process we gained a greater understanding of what the CID has influence in and what solutions are steered by the market (developers) or D.C. government agencies.

What does the CID do?

The Mount Vernon Triangle Community Improvement District operates programs that promote a cleaner and safer neighborhood. MVTCID also raises public awareness about the Triangle through its website, broadcast emails, quarterly newsletters, press releases, and neighborhood events.

<The Triangle’s Clean Team works seven hours a day, seven days a week, between 7:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. They keep the neighborhood looking great by picking up hundreds of pound of trash each day. And, they provide an added benefit through outreach to those in need from the community.

In August 2007, MVTCID started safety services by hiring a Metropolitan Police Department officer (through Reimbursable Detail) Friday and Saturday nights from 6:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. In the spring, we were awarded a grant to double the police on Friday and Saturday nights – to two officers.

We recently launched three committees: Property Managers Committee, Jobs Committee, and Marketing Committee. The Property Managers Committee focuses on several issues, such as building construction, streetscape timelines, homelessness, safety, security, and other matters of interest to our property managers, business owners, and building owners.

The Jobs Committee organized two job-training fairs for residents in the immediate community looking for employment training, and we hope to host another job-training fair in the autumn. And, the committee works closely with life-skills training organizations, such as Strive DC, to assist people with resume building and interview skills.

The Marketing Committee was formed to implement strategies to promote the neighborhood, including updating the website, branding the neighborhood, and planning community activities. This year, the website was restructured, adding pages that tell the story of the neighborhood, and we updated the development map to include retail listings. Two park clean-up events were organized in partnership with the National Park Service and two walking tours were given through Walking Town DC. In June, we organized a bike ride with police officers, and this August, we will have a dog walk with MPD.


Tell us about your background. How did your past experience as Executive Director of Barracks Row Main Street prepare you for this job? Are the challenges of the job similar or mostly different?

That is a loaded question. In college I studies Social Sciences with a concentration in Sociology. I worked for the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main Street Center for seven years before moving to Barracks Row Main Street, where I works for 4.5 years. In December 2006, I switched jobs and came to Mount Vernon Triangle CID because I knew the neighborhood well since I lived at 5th and R in 1991-2. The development of the neighborhood has been amazing.

My experience with Barracks Row Main Street totally prepared me for this job. But there are two major differences: as a BID, funding is secure, so I don’t spend nearly as much time fundraising, and we have very few volunteers since the neighborhood is not very well populated yet. I still do grant writing here and volunteer recruitment, but I’ll be ramping that up in the next year.

The challenges are similar in Mount Vernon Triangle as Barracks Row. Mount Vernon Triangle had few buildings, and Barracks Row had lots of old buildings but most of them we empty or occupied by marginal businesses.


The area is facing a potentially massive influx of new residents in the coming year. How do you see these residents fitting into the community? What are some of the most important ways for new residents to become involved in the community? And conversely, is the community doing anything to welcome or attract new residents? What concerns do you have about this influx of new residents?

I love density! New residents mean more active streets, better-used parks, more eyes on the street, and more dollars to support retail. It is a win-win all the way around – more people using facilities creating a cleaner and safer neighborhood.

There are several ways a resident can get involved. MVTCID has committees where volunteers can direct their energy: Marketing Committee, and Jobs Committee. And it time, we will add more. Plus we have neighborhood clean-ups and safety events throughout the year. And, for those really involved in the CID, we are always looking for stalwart board members.

We don’t “attract new residents” directly. I think that is best left to the developers and sales teams from the condos. But, I like to think we are marketing indirectly through our website, articles in the paper, and events like WalkingTown DC.


Papa John's, 5th Street Ace Hardware and the Results Gym Sales office have recently opened. Is there any word of unofficial ETAs for the Safeway, Busboy and Poets or Ledo's? After these businesses deliver what is next horizon? [Ed note: This question was asked prior to Safeway hanging up their banner]

Yes, Safeway is planning to open September 12, and Busboys & Poets and Results are hoping to open around that time too. Having worked with retailers for a number of years now, I know that opening dates seem to slide, especially when DCRA inspections are required. Ledo’s has not been working on its building for a while, which makes me worried. Don’t know what is going on since the owner has not been in contact with me for six months. Once the retail in City Vista opens, there will be a few retail spaces left, and we hope we can identify some local businesses to fill those slots.

455 Mass has a restaurant space, and they were talking to Lawry’s Steak House, but that deal fell through. But another restaurant is in the works. Also, I heard a UPS store is going into 455 Mass, but the sign has come down for some reason.


Have there been any recent updates on development that has yet to break ground such as Mount Vernon/Carmel Place, Steuart Investment's parcels or Bozzuto's 460 New York Ave? Has the recent softening of the real estate market changed development plans for the area or simply shifted out the time horizon?

Developers keep their business very close to the vest, so I am not privy-ed to that information. But, I suspect the softening of the housing market and now the mortgage crisis has contributed to the delay of some groundbreakings. As far as I understand it, no deals have fallen through – just longer timelines.


The Best & Final Offer date for the 5th and Eye RFP has been pushed back a couple times and is presently August 18th. What has been the CID's involvement on this process to-date? What future involvement would take place after the city awards the site?

As a BID, we are precluded from commenting on land use. I’ve gone to several meetings about the site but kept silent. Whatever developer is selected, I’m sure it will be great because it will add density to the neighborhood, and I liked all of the top four choices. We would like to see public art included in whatever is built since it is a gateway site into Mount Vernon Triangle. And, we want all buildings to be good neighbors – whether commercial or residential. So whatever developer is selected, I want them to understand that Mount Vernon Triangle will be primarily a residential neighborhood – so no loud music, build with double paned windows, etc.


The Mount Vernon Triangle Action Agenda outlined a vision for a vibrant mixed use community. A solid foundation of residential buildings has delivered in the last year. But the office component, especially on K Street, is needed to realize the goal of being an 18-hour community. One can't help but notice that the NoMA and Capitol Riverfront BIDs are poised to add a combined 25 million s.f. of office space to the city and have landed major tenants like the ATF, DOJ, DOT and NPR. How does the MVT CID meet the goal to add offices/tenants to our community in this competitive market?

The DC office market is still strong, and Mount Vernon Triangle is situated very well – on the east end of downtown. Location, location, location – are our three advantages over SW, NoMa, or the Capitol Riverfront. New office space will open on K Street and it will be great! Think of K Street on the west side of Mount Vernon Square as our vision for what will be built on the east side – only better with more retailers and cafes and fewer offices on the first floor.


The final report for the Mount Vernon Triangle Transportation and Public Realm Design Project included several recommendations for improving transportation in the Triangle. These included bike racks, bicycle lanes, redesigning New Jersey Ave, L Street and a segment of 4th Street as two-way streets before 2010. L Street has undergone its transformation. Any word on the other plans? Bike racks at City Vista would seem appropriate.

Streetscaping is a big-ticket item, and we have been working behind the scenes with DDOT, Councilmember Tommy Wells, and Councilmember Jack Evans to fund the streets and sidewalks plan in the Public Realm Study (rendering). L Street is basically done, and 4th Street will return to two-way traffic in DC’s FY09 budget. Next up will be to return NJ Avenue back to two way traffic and then new streets and sidewalks for all of K Street. Bike racks are easy in comparison and should be going in at City Vista shortly.


Economic development in the Triangle is geared around new high-rise construction, which requires a long development cycle to build. Unlike 14th Street NW or H Street NE our streets lack a stock of vacant commercial spaces to tap into on a shorter cycle via renovation. With no construction currently underway nor any new construction slated to break ground until 2009 our growth may pause after the retail at City Vista delivers. How can we work around this limitation? What tools are at our disposal?

Sadly, you are correct. There are very few old buildings remaining in Mount Vernon Triangle – partly because of the MLK riots, partly because of the urban renewal plan for Lower Shaw, and partly because of demolition by neglect and the construction of the 395 Freeway in 1962. Nevertheless, both the lack of vacant buildings and the lack of construction sites does affect the economic potential in the short term. To work around this limitation, some people have suggested adding street vendors, which I’m not convinced is ideal because of the state of street vending in DC. Others have suggested a weekly market – like the Georgetown Antiques Market. Sadly, they are not willing to move from their current home in Clarendon. Personally, I am banking on the success of Safeway to spur further development as the neighborhood is transformed by new residents, office workers, and visitors from all parts of the city.

A big thanks to Bill for participating in this chat with us. We hope to have more in the future.

Inspiration for this post was from DCMud's interview with Michael Stevens.

Shattered Windows at City Vista

Storefronts on the 5th Street facing of City Vista appeared to have had their windows shattered by bullets over the weekend. Both display windows of 5th Street Ace Hardware are shattered as well as windows at Safeway and the City Vista Sales office.

Three shattered windows at Ace Hardware(2) and City Vista's Sales Center

Closeup of a bullet hole at 5th Street Ace Hardware

The Lifein MVSNA community blog reported this shameful vandalism earlier today.

UPDATE (8/6/2008 11:10am): I forgot to update this to the post last week, but Lt Durand replied to my inquiry and said "It appears that someone used a BB gun or CO2 rifle to shoot out the windows. My troops will be giving the area special attention."

5th Street Ace Hardware

5th Street Ace Hardware at City Vista (1055 5th Street NW) is set to open this upcoming Monday, June 30th. The location will have over 9,000 square feet of retail space and will be open Monday-Saturday 8am-8pm and Sunday 10am-6pm.

Photo is of the Logan Circle P Street location

5th Street Ace Hardware is a new location of the local chain A Few Cool Hardware Stores. The original store is Logan Hardware which opened on March 1, 2003 at 1416 P St NW.

Other locations can be found in Tenleytown, Glover Park, and Federal Hill (Baltimore). The stores are affiliated with the ACE Hardware retailer cooperative. The products offered span the categories of Paint & Cleaning Supplies, Tools, Electrical, Plumbing, Hardware, Automotive, Housewares, and Lawn & Garden.

Yelp! has 24 reviews of the Logan Hardware location.

I'll visit the store next week and report back with more detail and photos.