Bye Bye Borderstan.com

After five years of publishing information about our neighborhood known to some as Borderstan, the blog co-founders of borderstan.com have decided to end its online run.  Many of us who live in the target areas of Logan North, Dupont East, and Cardozo-Shaw have enjoyed the information sharing and cross-pollination that took place during those five years.

The neighborhoods surrounding 14th Street have certainly come into their own during that time and perhaps we don't need this kind of blog any more.  With all of the money and development that has come into our neighborhoods, the need for sharing information about "future projects" is no longer there.  We are fully developed...except for a few parcels that remain unbuilt (but there are plans on file!).  As I tell newbies who stop me on the street, they should have been here 10 years or 15 years ago to buy the properties that are now being redeveloped, including our rowhouses!

As for covering the 3 ANCs that represent the target area, I often found Borderstan.com's coverage instigated unnecessary controversy and nasty comments, so I won't miss their coverage.  I tell residents and business owners to attend the monthly ANC meetings to see for themselves what happens and to not believe what they read on the blogs.  The information in blog write-ups is often inaccurate or misleading or designed to instigate.

BTW Borderstan.com joins seven other local blogs that have stopped publishing online.  You are welcome to visit my website and blog for continuing coverage of  "our neck of the woods."  I always argue for more facts and verbatim quotes.  In that spirit, I have provided a link to the co-founders' parting words...good-bye Borderstan!

Merlot's Masterpiece Opens in our Arts District

Merlot's Masterpiece has opened in the 1500 block of U Street in our Arts District.  Here you can sip on a glass of wine and snack on some cheese and crackers while you learn how to paint a masterpiece!  Owner Raiguel Brown met recently with residents from Caroline Street and me to discuss her business.  She has had a lot of interest shown by DC residents who want to take advantage of this opportunity to learn to paint.  She contracts with a local artist to instruct her customers 15 at a time for a nominal fee of approximately $50 per session.    At at the end of the session you can take home your new piece of art!  She is in the middle of applying for her liquor license.  You can visit her website to learn more.  We wish her best of luck in her new business in our neighborhood!

JBG Unveils Plans for Residences at Former Hotel Site

Last week the JBG design and management team unveiled plans for a residential building at the former 13th

and U hotel site. They cited community opposition to the height and massing of the proposed hotel as one reason for switching to a residential building that will contain 135 one and two bedroom apartments with 72 parking spaces for residents. Loading and unloading for the building and Rite-Aid will be inside an enclosed docking area off of the 13th Street side of the building. Trash will be kept inside the building and there will be a roofdeck for residents to enjoy.

The project is slated to be a Planned Unit Development (PUD) since the building will need special zoning treatment to allow the 90 foot height (with an 18 foot mechanical override) that JBG is seeking. The DC Zoning Commission defines a PUD as “a planning tool which allows a developer greater flexibility in site planning and building design. This flexibility permits the developer to incorporate amenities in the project that exceed those that could have been achieved under the general provisions of the Zoning Regulations.” There will be some Inclusionary Zoning units required by law for this size project in order to provide some affordable housing to the community.

Community leaders will have to learn the details of what a PUD entails  and decide what community benefits they will seek from JBG for approval of their proposed project. Stay tuned for more upcoming information about this project. JBG will design and launch a website dedicated to this project soon...the project manager is Brook Katzen and he can be reached at bkatzen@jbg.com.

To learn more about the PUD process go to: http://tinyurl.com/PUD-Process-Fall-2011-ANC-1C

Old Post Office Construction to Begin Soon

The owner of the Old Post Office, Ron Eichner of New Legacy Partners, has confirmed that renovation/construction will begin in a few weeks and last for nine months. The plan is to add a second story to the Post Office building with a 15 foot setback. The old postal truck driveway will become a two story brick building. The space may be subdivided into several businesses depending on the tenants' wishes for space. Pictured here is the approved concept plan and a photo of the properties at 1407 and 1409 T Street NW. We look forward to the changes to these properties which served as storage/display space for Rough and Ready Furniture for many years.

Graphic and photo courtesy of New Legacy Partners website