| www.downtowndc.org/update |
February 2010 |
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| BID BIZ |
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A True Downtown Champion
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Frank Russo and Downtown SAMs
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The Downtown BID will miss Frank Russo, who founded the Downtown “SAM” (Safety, Hospitality and Maintenance) Program. He retired last month following more than a decade with the organization. Thanks to his efforts as deputy executive director of programs and services, Downtown advocates credit the SAMs with improving people’s perceptions of the area as a place that is “clean, safe and friendly.”
“Frank was an invaluable resource,” said Richard H. Bradley, the Downtown BID’s executive director. “We patterned the SAMs on a program that he developed in Baltimore. He also served as a consultant to hundreds of such programs throughout North America and Europe. Though he has retired from full-time employment, his 20 years of BID-related leadership will enable him to continue serving as a resource to us and others.”
In addition to leading the SAM program, Russo developed partnerships with city and federal agencies—especially the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and the National Park Service (NPS)—which have resulted in millions of dollars of physical improvements to the one-square-mile Downtown BID area. More recently, he was instrumental in initiating the Downtown BID’s “Greening Downtown DC” sustainability initiative.
A New Look for a New Decade
As you can see, the Downtown BID has re-launched its website. Our new logo and overall brand repositioning are reflected in the site's crisp graphics and fresher, more contemporary look and feel. New and improved navigational features make it easier for users to follow their interests, be they finding related stories, connecting to neighborhood activities, exploring Downtown businesses and points-of-interest or reading BID-prepared research and reports.
The site is built upon Geocentric's Webby-Award-winning Citylight, a location-driven, map-based platform designed especially for Business Improvement Districts and Convention and Visitor Bureaus. Graphic design is from DC-area powerhouse BrowserMedia.
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So please, give us a try. We would love to know what you think. By the way, in the unlikely event that you can’t find some of your old favorites on the new site, our former site will remain online for a limited time.
Going for the Gold 
The third annual Downtown Neighborhood Survey has been extended to February 19. Join hundreds who have already responded and make your voice heard. The information you provide will help inform retailers about the growing Downtown consumer market and the area’s retail needs, as well as attract new and better retail to the neighborhood. Participants who live or work Downtown are eligible to win wonderful prizes, including a weekend stay for two at the Hotel Monaco (700 7th Street) and gift certificates for dinner at a variety of Downtown restaurants.
Click here to take the Downtown BID, the Downtown Neighborhood Association and the Penn Quarter Neighborhood Association sponsored survey.
 Holiday Bliss
The 2009 Downtown Holiday Market was bigger and better than ever, running for 20 consecutive days--from December 4 to December 23--on F Street between 7th and 9th. The Market generated an estimated $63,000 in sales tax revenue for the city. Despite a heavy snowstorm that shuttered most of DC, about 160,000 people turned out for the fifth annual outdoor marketplace.
The large number of vendor applicants led to a rigorous selection process in which 187 unique exhibitors (53 artisan and food exhibitors per day) out of more than 350 applicants qualified. There were 60 live musical performances, resulting in 114 delightful hours of entertainment. A diverse group of artisans participated, including those who sold jewelry (41), crafts (11), clothes and accessories (26), imported crafts (17) and paintings (17). More than 85% of the artisans live in DC, Maryland or Virginia.
Record publicity helped boost the event’s success. The Washington Post’s Going Out Guide featured four separate web-based or print articles. With more than 25 listings within the top 50 finds in a recent Google search, the Holiday Market also appeared in the Diverse Markets Management and Eastern Market e-newsletters; more than 20 individual blogs and 10 tweets; and attracted a news team that weathered the snowstorm to see if the Market was open--it was! The number of Downtown BID website page views of Holiday Market-related pages exceeded 15,000 for the month of December. Media partners included WAMU, The Washington Examiner and WASH FM.
The Holiday Market continues to prove that Downtown DC shoppers are delighted to find high-quality artisan craft items in this neighborhood. It has become a model for citywide marketplaces and seasonal shopping programs. Thank you for supporting the Holiday Market, which the Downtown BID produces annually in partnership with Diverse Markets Management!
Pay the Piper
Good news for the city’s future: DC Council Members Jack Evans (Ward 2) and Jim Graham (Ward 1) have introduced a bill to add BID tax payments to "Clean Hands" regulations. The existing law prevents the city from issuing permits or licenses to individuals and businesses with overdue taxes or fines but does not cover BID taxes. The proposed amendment seeks to change this to ensure compliance--and with good reason: BIDs have a tremendous impact on neighborhoods, the city and the region. They promote economic development, public space improvements, safety, maintenance and a host of other benefits funded by a special tax that property owners agree to pay. High and prolonged delinquencies, coupled with lower assessment revenues, make it difficult for BIDs to provide premiere business services and benefits to the community.
Currently, the city has eight BIDs and one community improvement district (CID): Adams Morgan, Anacostia, Capitol Hill, Capitol Riverfront, Downtown, Georgetown, Golden Triangle, NoMa (north of Massachusetts Avenue) and the Mount Vernon Triangle CID. The Downtown BID’s tax assessment is based on square footage and the collection rate is expected to reach 99.19% in the first half of fiscal year 2010. However, some BIDs bill property owners based on assessed values, which have dropped precipitously in recent years due to depressed real estate prices. If approved, the "Clean Hands" amendment will enable BIDs to fulfill their missions without cutting or limiting services to stakeholders.
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| DEVELOPMENT DOINGS |
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 Presidential Facelift
The Ford’s Theatre Society, which purchased 514 10th Street in 2007, has begun renovations to house the Center for Education and Leadership, focusing on the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln. Restoration on the façade began last November and interior work will commence this summer. The Center, located across from Ford’s Theatre (511 10th Street), will contain 6,000 square feet of exhibit, classroom and office space, as well as a small gift shop. Last year, the Society opened an upscale gift shop with a separate street entrance. This shop is now closed temporarily due to construction on the building’s façade. It will reopen in the spring at the height of tourism season. The Society, which operates Ford’s Theatre through a partnership with the National Park Service (NPS), has set a 2012 completion date for the project. For more information about Ford’s Theatre, visit www.fords.org.
A New Chinatown
The DC City Council has approved the Chinatown Cultural Development Strategy as a Small Area Plan unanimously. Now the Office of Planning (OP) and the Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs are moving forward to implement changes. Efforts to position Chinatown as the regional anchor for Chinese-Asian culture and attractions, with national and international appeal already are underway. The Downtown BID, working with OP and community stakeholders, has secured $64,000 from the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) to begin renovating Reservation 72 (Chinatown Park) this year. OP also has begun working with Cultural Tourism DC (1250 H Street) to develop, promote and market a year-long calendar of Asian events and performances focused in and around Chinatown and, along with a task force consisting of merchants, property owners and residents, will pursue creating a Chinatown Vending Development zone this summer. A community forum to share additional implementation activity will be held this spring. Meanwhile, a copy of the plan is available at http://planning.dc.gov/planning/cwp/view,a,1285,q,647223.asp.
 Heavenly Mission
If you noticed a crane parked outside Calvary Baptist Church (755 8th Street) in Chinatown, no need to fret. The red brick church was simply making a minor DC Historic Preservation Review Board mandated modification to its historic steeple. The Church renovated and demolished part of its facility to create a new, mixed-use development a few years ago. The steeple is a prominent part of the Downtown skyline in the Gallery Place/Chinatown neighborhood. Abolitionists founded Calvary during the Civil War and the Church was completed in 1866. It is now home to several non-profit community organizations, including Kid Power, Brainfood Chinatown and the Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts.
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| DOWNTOWN DISH |
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 How Green is Your Garden?
Mixt Greens, an eco-gourmet restaurant concept, will soon open two locations at 1311 F Street and 927 15th Street. Organic to Go, which has closed operations nationwide to focus on its organic wholesale and catering business, once occupied both sites. Mixt Greens opened in San Francisco five years ago and features tossed-to-order, gourmet salads and sandwiches served on organic, artisanal breads. It serves organic, sustainable and locally grown food in a quick-service format. Of particular interest: its contemporary interior will include an "edible living wall" of seasonally rotating herbs and vegetables that highlight indoor urban agriculture, a low-energy, high-yield farming technique that is sustainable and fertilizer and pesticide-free. Look for the F Street restaurant to open this month, followed by a March opening for the 15th Street location. Each site will operate Monday through Friday from 10:30 am to 3:00 pm. For more information, visit www.mixtgreens.com/dc.
Fresh Goodness
Pret A Manger, the United Kingdom-based salad and sandwich shop, will open an eatery at 1155 F Street this spring. The restaurant prides itself on providing fresh fare with natural ingredients and makes it salads and sandwiches in-house and sells them the same day. There are no “shelf life” dates and “display until” notices on its food. Like variety? Its menu is updated regularly. Pret A Manager has about 225 shops, in the UK primarily, with about a dozen in New York and one in DC. For more information, including nutritional details, visit www.pret.com/us.
Do-It-Yourself Fare
We mentioned in September that a yogurt shop was planned for the Douglas Development (702 H Street) property located at 1006 F Street. Well, it’s here. Fro-Zen-Yo, a self-serve frozen yogurt shop, is serving up 16 flavors and 30 toppings and fresh fruit. Both tart and non-tart flavors are offered, along with no-sugar-added vanilla and chocolate. The shop is the "sister" to Froyo on Wisconsin Avenue, where the yogurt is measured by the ounce. Guess we can get used to that concept. A pound of blueberry tart anyone? For more information, visit http://froyodc.com.
Tavern on the Quarter
The Iron Horse (507 7th Street) has arrived. The taproom sports an urban décor that combines art and classic motorcycle culture. So don’t be surprised to see both upon entering--two murals by a graffiti artist and seven real bikes on display. The two-level establishment seats close to 300, serves 20 types of draft beer and offers billiards, a jukebox, a shuffleboard table and snacks. Bring your own food. The tavern has no kitchen but welcomes brown bags. More information will be available soon at www.ironhorsedc.com.
A New Arrival
Szechuan Gallery, which for years resided at 617 H Street, is no more. The Chinese restaurant that advertised dim sum and an affordable menu, reopened as Ming’s last month. The upscale Chinese/Japanese restaurant offers authentic Hong Kong style dishes and a sushi bar. Operating hours are Sunday through Thursday from 11:00 am to 1:30 am and Fridays and Saturdays from 11:30 am to 3:30 am. For more information, call 202.289.1001 or 202. 289.1005.
Springing Forward
Aria Trattoria (1300 Pennsylvania Avenue), the Italian restaurant located on Woodrow Wilson Plaza at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, is closed for renovations. It will have a grand reopening in the spring. Until then, customers can continue to visit Aria’s walk-up window, which serves pizza, panini and salads. For more information, visit www.ariatrattoria.com or call 202.312.1250.
Change is in the Air, Again
It’s true: IndeBleu (707 G Street) closed its doors again several weeks ago to remodel and reopen as a new concept. The restaurant, which offered contemporary French-Indian cuisine, underwent a similar transformation in 2007 when it introduced a new look, attitude and menu. Last spring, IndeBeu closed its Tantra Lounge to make way for Stir Lounge, an upscale nightspot that is located downstairs and remains open during the makeover. No clue about what to expect next. The restaurant’s website, www.bleu.com, says only that details will follow. We’ll keep you posted.
 Hanging with the Best
Downtown restaurants continued to impress again this year, making up 25% of Washingtonian magazine’s 100 Very Best Restaurants list. The exclusive ensemble was ranked based on "memorable cooking that communicated a sense of place or personal expression. Not just good service ... but the feeling of being pampered." The list was a year in the making.
How Downtown restaurants fared in the rankings: Minibar (2), inside Café Atlantico at 405 8th Street; The Source (3), 575 Pennsylvania Avenue; J & G Steakhouse (4), inside the W Hotel at 515 15th Street; Rasika (8), 633 D Street; Central Michel Richard (13), 1001 Pennsylvania Avenue; Bistro Bis (14), 15 E Street; Zaytinya (16), 701 9th Street; Café du Parc (21), 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue; Charlie Palmer Steak (23), 101 Constitution Avenue; Proof (27), 775 G Street; Jaleo (31), 480 7th Street; Tosca (33), 1112 F Street; Poste (38), inside the Hotel Monaco at 555 8th Street; 701 (41), 701 Pennsylvania Avenue; Siroc (43), 915 15th Street; Adour (50), inside the St. Regis at 923 16th Street; PS 7’s (66), 777 I Street; Sei (68), 444 7th Street; Zentan (70), inside Donovan House at 1155 14th Street; Potenza (74), 1430 H Street; Brasserie Beck (80), 1101 K Street; Art and Soul (88), inside Liaison Capitol Hill at 415 New Jersey Avenue; Cedar (93), 822 E Street; Acadiana (96), 901 New York Avenue; and Bibiana (99), 1100 New York Avenue.
Many of the restaurants--J & G Steakhouse, Zaytinya, The Source, Proof, Cedar, Bistro Bis, Charlie Palmer Steak, Rasika, Zentan and Central Michel Richard-- also were recognized for having some of the best dishes on the list. Others--Adour, Tosca, Zaytinya, J & G Steakhouse, Charlie Palmer Steak and The Source--were noted for having the best desserts.
In other news, both Siroc and Bibiana received additional accolades from the Washington City Paper. Siroc ranked second and Bibiana fourth on the paper’s Top 10 Best New Restaurants of 2009 list.
Chef Shuffle
After opening Central Michel Richard (1001 Pennsylvania Avenue), highly acclaimed executive chef Cedric Maupillier has left the popular restaurant. Arthur Cavaliere, formerly the executive chief of Parc, the restaurant, bistro and cafe in Philadelphia, has replaced the protégé of owner Michel Richard. Richard said the newcomer will work with him to develop American cuisine with a French accent. Cavaliere’s background is in classic, high volume French bistro cooking. For more information about the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington’s 2009 "Power Spot of the Year," visit www.centralmichelrichard.com.
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| HOTEL HAPPENINGS |
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A Ray of Hope
Compared to the rest of the city, Downtown BID area hotels fared relatively well in 2009. Hotel occupancy was up over 2008--77.1% versus 75.3%. This is the highest rate since the Downtown BID began ordering hotel reports from Smith Travel Research in 2003. However, average daily rates are down from $220.14 in 2008 to $211.08 in 2009. RevPAR, or revenue per available room, is also down slightly--to $162.67 versus $165.71. Ironically, the rate cuts actually have helped raise occupancy rates during the economic decline. Occupancy rates in other parts of the city fell from 73.1% in 2008 to 70.9% in 2009, and RevPAR dropped from $147.65 to $135.74. The data shows Downtown continued to stand out as a major destination area at the same time hotel tax dollars to DC government coffers dipped.
 Hospitable Welcome
The Willard InterContinental Hotel (1401 Pennsylvania Avenue) has a new general manager, Jim Veil. He succeeds Herve Houdre, who recently was appointed regional director of operations and general manager of the InterContinental New York Barclay. Veil has more than 30 years experience in the hospitality industry. Most recently, he was president of Twelve Hotels & Residences, a boutique hotel brand in Atlanta and served previously with The Ritz Carlton Hotel Company for 18 years in various positions, including vice president. Welcome to the BID!
Cream of the Crop
Ah, we love it when Downtown BID area businesses and organizations receive worldwide commendation. Such was the case for The Hay-Adams (800 16th Street) and the Willard InterContinental Hotel (1401 Pennsylvania Avenue), which both were ranked among the 500 top hotel properties in the world by the readers of Travel + Leisure magazine
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| NIGHTLIFE NATTER |
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Night at the Movies
Did you know that free movie tickets are available online for Downtown theaters? Both E Street Cinema (555 11th Street) and Regal Cinemas Gallery Place Stadium 14 (707 7th Street) offer sneak previews hosted by major movie studios. To take advantage of offerings at E Street Cinema, sign up to join its Film Club at www.landmarktheaters.com. Patrons are directed to Fox Studios, www.foxstudios.com, to learn more about free passes to Regal Cinemas. District 13 Ultimatum anyone? |
| AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD |
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Taking a Bite Out of Crime
Crime in the Downtown BID area has ebbed, proving that the area continues to offer a safe and friendly environment for workers, visitors and residents. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) statistics show crime fell 39% in December 2009 compared with December 2008. Violent crimes--sexual assaults, robberies and assaults--were down 10%, while crimes involving property--burglaries, theft, stolen automobiles and theft from automobiles--were down 42%. A continuing nuisance: stolen autos, which rose 133%, from three thefts in 2008 to seven in 2009.
Chinatown, a vibrant Downtown neighborhood with a growing evening presence, also saw improvement. Since a 10-officer patrol, the Chinatown Community Policing Enhancement Project, was created last May along the 7th Street corridor near Gallery Place at 7th and H Streets and the Verizon Center (601 F Street), violent crime fell 42% and property offenses fell 29% through mid-January, compared with the same period a year ago. Overall, crime in the area was down 32%.
 Arts Galore
Hats off to the many Downtown organizations that received 2010 grants from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH). The agency awarded more than $3.8 million to fund 350 individual and group arts projects across the city. Downtown BID recipients include the National Building Museum (401 F Street); the National Museum of Women in the Arts (1250 New York Avenue); The Shakespeare Theatre (450 7th Street); The Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts (733 8th Street); Turning the Page (1010 Vermont Avenue); Washington Bach Consort (1010 Vermont Avenue); Cultural Development Corporation of the District of Columbia (916 G Street); DC Film Alliance (1317 F Street); Ford’s Theatre Society (511 10th Street); Sixth & I Historic Synagogue (600 I Street); Cultural Tourism DC (1250 H Street); One in Ten, Inc. (916 G Street); The Thomas Circle Singers (5 Thomas Circle); Solas Nua, Inc. (916 G Street); and Consumer Action Network (1300 L Street).
In addition, the Capital Fringe Festival and the National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. (1250 H Street), DC and Downtown’s signature springtime event, also received grants. The Downtown BID supports Capital Fringe, the independent performing arts festival, as well as providing a home and critical staffing assistance for the National Cherry Blossom Festival.
Help for Retailers
The Washington, DC Economic Partnership (WDCEP) and DC’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) gave DC retailers a big holiday gift. OCTO’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) group partnered with WDCEP to build a new web-based retail search site that allows retailers, restaurants and small businesses to query more than 280 retail opportunities by size, neighborhood, timeframe and location to find the best space to attract and serve their customers. The web tool integrates Google Maps & Streetview, DC GIS, OCTO and WDCEP technologies and data. The Economic Partnership designed the website and provided the retail sites data. Beyond the retail information, users can also learn about the zoning around a particular site and determine the size of adjacent parcels. The new retail site search is accessible from WDCEP’s website, www.wdcep.com.
Upstaging the Competition
Nominees for the 26th Annual Helen Hayes Awards, the prestigious Washington area theatre celebration, are now in. Kudos to those theaters representing the Downtown BID area in 21 categories--including Outstanding Costume Design, Outstanding Set Design and The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical. They are: Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company (641 D Street), up for 11 awards; Shakespeare Theatre Company (450 7th Street), up for 13 awards; Ford’s Theatre (511 10th Street), up for 11 awards; and the National Theatre (1321 Pennsylvania Avenue), up for one award. For more information, and the complete list of nominees and categories, visit www.helenhayes.org.
Moving On
Michael Kyrioglou, the long-time communications director at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company (641 D Street), has left the popular Downtown institution. He will spend the next few months working with the Helen Hayes Awards organization on projects that help promote the DC area theater community. For a short time, he will also assist the League of Washington Theatres, an association of non-profit professional theaters in the DC area, with promotions.
Riding High
Congratulations to DuPont Fabros Technology, Inc. (1212 New York Avenue) and Blackboard, Inc. (650 Massachusetts Avenue), which rank among the Top 50 publicly traded Washington metropolitan area companies to gain stock price increases in 2009, according to the Washington Business Journal. DuPont owns, develops, operates and manages data centers. The company’s stock rose 769%, to $30.58, for the year. Blackboard’s stock climbed 73%, to $45.39. The company is a leading provider of education and learning software. Nice.
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| GREEN GAINS |
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Greening the Labor Force
Federal stimulus funds continue to flow into DC. The US Department of Labor is awarding a major national grant to only one of four regions nationwide. The purpose of the grant is to enhance workforce development projects that connect workers to careers in green industries. DC and Maryland have submitted a joint application to receive the Energy Training Partnership grant. The exact amount of the DC/Maryland award has not been determined at this time. However, the training grant totals $4.6 million.
The grants invest in partnerships consisting of labor organizations, public or private employers in the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries and other workforce entities. Locally, more than 100 workers will be trained and 80 will be placed in environmental services jobs with employers who are going green. In addition, more than 400 workers already in these jobs will be trained on new green methodologies and work processes, while 80 additional workers will receive post secondary preparation to enter green certificate and degree programs. Twenty workers also will be trained for advance placement in the environmental services departments at participating local hospitals.
 Standing Up for Trees
An innovative project to raise awareness about trees and sustainability is getting close to selecting artists and designers who will help transform the Downtown environment. The Urban Forest Project DC, a collaborative effort among the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), the Downtown BID and Worldstudio Inc, a New York-based marketing and design firm, called upon the creative community to produce banner art that employs the idea or form of a tree to make a powerful visual statement about the environment. Through partnerships with AIGA DC, a professional association of designers, and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the project received more than 400 entries to create 100 banners that will hang on light poles in high-traffic areas in Downtown and other neighborhoods beginning in mid April--coinciding with Earth and Arbor Days. The entries were juried at Fox Architects (1121 14th Street).
This highly visible public arts, educational and environmental initiative unites the public, creative professionals, the business community, local government, educators and students in the campaign to raise awareness for urban forestry initiatives in DC. Once the banners come down, they will be recycled into unique tote bags designed exclusively for the project and sold to benefit local tree planting efforts. Corporate sponsorships also will help fund this innovative project, which had huge success in New York’s Time Square. The sponsorship deadline is February 28. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, contact Andrea Pellegrino at apellegrino@worldstudioinc.com
Federal Support
President Obama signed an Executive Order last year that sets sustainability goals for federal agencies and focuses on making improvements in their environmental, energy and economic performances. The Executive Order will help create a clean energy economy and advance regional and local planning by ensuring that planning for new federal facilities and leases include sites that are: 1) pedestrian friendly; 2) near existing employment centers; 3) accessible to public transit; and 4) located primarily in central cities and existing or planned towns.
"The Executive Order is very favorable to downtowns around the country," said Richard H. Bradley, the Downtown BID’s executive director. "In the Washington metropolitan area, the General Services Administration is seeking office space to expand federal offices aggressively. This is all very positive for Downtown, the city’s emerging neighborhoods and the region."
By April, GSA and other agencies will review existing policies and practices associated with site selections for federal facilities and make recommendations for sustainable location strategies. Again, central business districts and rural town centers will be given priority, particularly if they are well served by transit and have adopted strategies such as adaptive reuse and parking management.
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| TRANSPORTATION TALK |
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Changing the World, One Meter At a Time
By now, you may have noticed a few parking meter changes around town. Free Saturday parking is no more on several city streets--now drivers must feed the meter. In addition, nighttime enforcement hours have been extended in many high-demand traffic areas, so be diligent. Finally, the city has introduced a new parking meter pilot program that accepts credit and debit cards as well as coins. Yes!
 The FY 2010 Budget Support Act authorized the first two changes and will make it easier for more Downtown residents and visitors to find available short-term parking in commercial areas. The meters discourage drivers who tie up parking spaces for long periods of time, making it difficult for others to find short-term, curbside parking to patronize local businesses. At the same time, the changes will help reduce the congestion and pollution from vehicles circling the block for curbside spaces. Meanwhile, nighttime enforcement hours have been extended from 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm in Penn Quarter and Chinatown, both premium demand zones where on-street parking is scarce.
The three-month pilot program includes aging meters at 600 Indiana Avenue, near Downtown’s Archives/Navy Memorial/Penn Quarter Metrorail station. The single space meters are being touted for their efficiency, accessibility and convenience. A solar-powered battery system charges the meters, which are tied to a web-based management system feeding information to the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) via text message or e-mail. So it’s out (gradually) with the old and in with the new as the city embraces innovative technological advances in parking management.
Let DDOT know what you think about the pilot program meters. Call Customer Service at 202.673.6813; call the Mayor’s Call Center at 311; use the On-line Service Request Center at www.dc.gov; or send a text message or Tweet to DDOTDC@twitter.com. Your communication is welcomed. Meanwhile, get ready for more changes. This year, DDOT plans to roll out additional parking meter pilot programs such as pay-by-cell and in-car metering systems. For more information about DC’s parking operations and policies, visit www.ddot.dc.gov.
 Spreading the Ride
It was bound to happen. Intercity bus lines to New York now leave from Union Station. Three carriers--Boltbus, DC2NY and Washington Deluxe--are offering discount travelers curbside bus service under a new pilot program established between the city and the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation. It makes perfect sense. Union Station is a major transportation hub, serving as an essential transportation resource for Amtrak, the MARC and VRE commuter trains and Metrorail. The DC Circulator also offers continuous bus transportation between Union Station and several Downtown locations. The pilot will be reevaluated after a six-month trial period ending in July and supplements, but does not eliminate, the existing pick up and drop points elsewhere in the city. For more information and service schedules, contact Boltbus (www.boltbus.com), DC2NY (www.DC2NY.com) and Washington Deluxe (www.washny.com).
Welcome to the Future
Got great ideas about how the city can design a network of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations? If so, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) wants to hear from you. Hurry. DDOT has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for installing, managing and operating these curbside EV charging stations. The deadline is February 25. For more information and a copy of the RFI, visit www.ddot.dc.gov.
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| NEWS YOU CAN USE |
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Moving On Up
Is DC about to become the capital of commercial real estate? According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, "Rents Signal Rise of DC, Fall of NY," the city is poised to topple New York as the nation’s most expensive market, reflecting the declining fortunes of the nation’s financial center and the federal government expansion underway here. Average effective rents (the net amount tenants pay after landlord concessions) fell 20% to $44.69 per square foot annually in New York --the biggest decline since Reis Inc., a New York-based research firm, began compiling data in 1981. In contrast, average rents were $41.77 per square foot in DC, down 3% annually. Reis estimates New York rents will dip to around $41.07 by the end of the year, slightly below the $41.27 estimate for Washington. And to think, just two years ago, the average rent was $61 per square foot in midtown Manhattan, nearly $20 per square foot higher than the average rent in DC’s prime downtown area.
 More Help for the Homeless
The DC Department of Real Estate Services (DRES) has issued a Request for Offers (RFO) to lease the former Gales School at 65 Massachusetts Avenue and use it as a homeless shelter. Only respondents who can demonstrate a creative and viable approach, have a track record of offering high-quality homeless shelter services, are committed to providing opportunities for local, small and disadvantaged businesses and jobs for DC residents and have the financial wherewithal to execute the proposal will be considered. RFO responses are due February 16.
Built originally in 1881, the three-story brick building served as a school until 1944 before serving a variety of uses ranging from temporary housing for soldiers returning from the Second World War to offices for the Rent Control Board. Most recently, the Gales School, now empty, served as a temporary hypothermia shelter for the homeless.
Hazardous Boxes
You’ve seen those hideous newsrack boxes. They’re unsightly, dangerous ... and about to be removed. The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will tag and then haul away sidewalk newsracks that create a dangerous obstruction in public spaces if their owners don’t remove them within two weeks. So kiss those broken sharp edges and nesting places for vermin and other unwelcome pests goodbye. Report faulty newsracks by emailing policy.ddot@dc.gov or calling 202.671.2740.
Parks and More
The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) made its CapitalSpace Plan available for public comment through December. The final draft of the plan, which the NCPC Commission is expected to adopt at its March meeting, will be available mid-month at www.capitalspace.gov and www.ncpc.gov. CapitalSpace seeks to enhance Center City parks, transform small parks, enhance natural areas, improve public schoolyards and playfields and link the city’s Fort Circle Parks.
Artistic Excellence
Calling all artists. The 25th Annual Mayor’s Arts Awards, the most prestigious honors conferred by the city on individual artists, organizations and patrons of the arts is now taking applications. Got talent? Patronize the arts? Submit nomination forms in one of eight categories--including Outstanding Emerging Artist, Excellence in Service to the Arts and Excellence in Teaching Performing Arts--by February 5. For more information, or to receive a nomination form, call Victoria Joy Murray at the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities office, 202.724.5613.
Taking Up Space
Three Downtown BID area companies made the Washington Business Journal’s list of the area’s Top 21 commercial real estate developers. Boston Properties, Inc. (505 9th Street), Louis Dreyfus Property Group (1101 New York Avenue) and Akridge (601 13th Street) placed 9th, 13th and 19th, respectively. The ranking considered the number of metro-area square feet (SF) under construction as of December 31, 2009. Boston Properties had 639,523 SF, followed by Louis Dreyfus with 400,000 SF and Akridge with 30,379 SF.
Wheelers and Dealers
Here yee! Here yee! The Washington Business Journal is now accepting applications for its 13th annual Best Real Estate Deals of the year awards. The awards recognize the top deals of the previous year in a wide range of categories such as office development; office, retail and industrial sales and leases; and land deal and community impact. Last year, seven Downtown BID area projects were finalists in six of 13 categories. Nominations close on February 5. For more information and to nominate a project, visit www.washingtonbusinessjournal.com/nomination.
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| MEETINGS AND MORE |
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Wednesday, February 24, 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
National Building Museum
Sustainable Designs for Emerging Energy and Movement Technologies
401 F Street
The National Building Museum presents this free meeting with Shannon Sanders McDonald, professor at Southern Polytechnic State University and author of The Parking Garage: Design and Evolution of a Modern Form. He will discuss emerging technologies for transportation and movement that promote the use of alternative energy sources. Registration is required. Walk-in registration is based solely on availability. To register, visit www.nbm.org.
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Thursday, February 25, 7:30 am - 10:30 am
District of Columbia Building Industry Association
The Dollars-and-Sense of Going Green
National Press Club
529 14th Street
Learn about the "green lease," new LEED developments, the DC Green Building Act and much more at this District of Columbia Building Industry Association (DCBIA) meeting. Speakers include Steven Teitelbaum, partner, Jones Day; Marc Heisterkamp, director of commercial real estate for the US Green Building Council; Cliff Majersik, executive director of the Institute for Market Transformation; Donald Nimey, principal with the Reznick Group; and David Weiss, president and chief operating officer of Pepco Energy Services. Registration and a networking breakfast begin at 7:30, followed by the meeting at 8:30. Members pay $70. The cost is $95 for non-members. To register, visit www.dcbia.org. For more information, e-mail events@dcbia.org or call 202.966.8665.
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Thursday, February 25, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
National Building Museum
For the Greener Good: A Green Building Is a Healthier One
401 F Street
All interested parties are invited to attend this National Building Museum meeting. Find out if working in a green building can make you healthier, if it can reduce a company’s health care insurance and if it can be a game changer when considering how and when to build sustainability. The cost is $12 for members, $20 for non-members and free for students. Prepaid registration is required. Walk-in registration is based on availability. To register, visit www.nbm.org.
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