| | 
| | | Lower 8th discussions center around retail | | November 23, 2009 | | | | Staff Writer | | As plans evolve for the development of the area now deemed Lower 8th Street SE, suggestions are piling up for the use of the many vacant commercial areas there.
For the area bounded by M Street SE, 7th Street SE, 11th Street SE and Interstate 295, the ideas so far include a grocery store, a theater, a boutique hotel, a day-care facility and clothing stores.
Michael Stevens, the executive director of the Capitol Hill Riverfront Business Improvement District, has estimated that the area could potentially hold as much as 731,796 square feet of both retail and residential development. But he said that number is more likely to be closer to 500,000 square feet due to neighborhood concerns about density and historic preservation.
“We need to say, ‘Here’s what we want as a community.’ [And then ask], ‘How do we get there?’” he said.
The Lower 8th Street Visioning Committee, a group of leaders of Hill community groups, began the planning process about two months ago. They have held several community meetings to collect ideas, including one last Tuesday. Another is planned for Dec. 15.
While they are dreaming big dreams, planners also have to contend with a number of potential obstacles. They include CSX’s plans to tear up Virginia Avenue from 2nd to 11th streets for up to three years to make room for a double-stack train tunnel; the Marine Barracks master plan, which is set to be unveiled soon; and the 11th Street Bridges expansion project.
“Now is the time for us to be making these decisions. We’re in this incredible pause called a recession,” Stevens said.
Barracks Row Main Street executive director James Dalpee suggested that a Columbia Heights-style model, with several big anchor stores, might be what’s needed to spur retail in the area. Retail stores have been struggling on the upper part of 8th Street SE even as restaurants and bars there seem to thrive. Just last week, a longtime 8th Street store — Capitol Hill Bikes — announced it was closing, and there are several empty retail storefronts on the strip.
| | | | | Log in to comment on this article |
| |
|
| | | |
|
