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| www.downtowndc.org/update |
June 2011 |
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| BID BIZ |
An Easy Transition
The DowntownDC BID is pleased to welcome David K. Kamperin as its director of public space management, a newly created position. Formerly the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) First Patrol District Commander, Kamperin
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David K. Kamperin
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is no stranger to the BID. While at MPD, he provided stellar leadership on the BID’s Safety Alliance Council, consisting of safety community members and property managers, who confer about personal safety and auto, office, and nuisance crimes. Kamperin’s First Patrol District also oversaw several Downtown activities, including the Chinatown-Gallery Place Security Detail—a 10-officer patrol along the 7th Street corridor near Gallery Place (7th and H Streets) and the Verizon Center (601 F Street)—deterred crime and provided a safe place for people to visit and enjoy themselves in Downtown.
“He will be a tremendous asset to our organization,” said Richard H. Bradley, the BID’s executive director. “His outstanding leadership, vision and knowledge will enable us to fulfill an aggressive agenda focused on public space management goals.” Kamperin will oversee BID initiatives that involve security and emergency management, property management coordination, safety and inspection, traffic control, and vending enforcement. Kamperin served 26 years with the MPD, where he worked in a number of areas, including the Homeland Security and Special Operations Division.
Preparing for the Future
The DowntownDC BID will hold a joint annual Member and Board of Directors Meeting on Monday, June 20, at 1250 H Street NW, Suite 1000. The membership will elect new Board members and the Board will elect new officers. The proposed fiscal year 2012 operating budget will also be presented. Authorized representatives of property owners, commercial tenants, and voluntary contributors within the DowntownDC BID area are eligible to cast membership votes. The meeting will begin at 4:00 pm and is open to all members of the corporation.
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 Sharing the Love
While the cherry blossom tree flowers have faded, remnants of last spring’s National Cherry Blossom Festival certainly are enduring. At the Festival’s Stakeholders’ Luncheon last month, attendees learned firsthand how significant the popular springtime extravaganza, which attracted more than one million visitors, is to the local economy, as well as DC and Downtown’s national profile.
The Festival’s Annual Review report shows:
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Festival tourists generated more than $126 million in direct spending for the city this year. |
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During the Festival, DC had the highest revenue per available room night in the country. |
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The number of metropolitan Washington area restaurants participating in the Cherry Picks Program, which encourages cherry-inspired menu items, increased to 83—up 17% from last year. |
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More than 14,000 visitors attended the Family Day & Opening Ceremony at the National Building Museum (401 F Street), breaking records for a one-day event there. |
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A seven-week public relations and marketing campaign was valued at more than $15 million. |
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Local and national TV stations mentioned the Festival more than 2,650 times, and reached about 175 million people. |
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The Festival’s new website launched in February and garnered more than 4 million page views and 800,000 unique visitors. |
In Spring 2012, the Festival celebrates the 100th anniversary of the gift of trees from Tokyo to DC. To honor the gift, an unprecedented celebration is planned. The Festival will expand to five weeks with new initiatives to include the “City in Bloom” welcoming campaign, featuring buildings awash in pink; groundbreaking exhibitions; a historical tree-planting reenactment; a two-day Family Day; the nation’s greatest cultural institutions; and world-class performances.
For more information about the National Cherry Blossom Festival, visit www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org.
 Biking Downtown
Pick 'em up here and drop 'em off there or pick 'em up there and drop 'em off here. What could be cooler than those shiny red Capital Bikeshare bicycles that virtually everyone in DC (and Arlington) is riding? The answer: Us—at www.downtowndc.org, that is. Now when you choose any Downtown destination from the BID’s interactive maps, you also get bicycle information. Here's how it works: from any of our top-level pages go to the yellow Neighborhood Information box and select Places to Eat, Shop, Visit, Stay or Get Service. When you find the place you want, you'll get a map and a description that includes hours, contact information—and links to the four nearest Capital Bikeshare stations. You also will get links to nearby shopping, dining, arts & entertainment, services and other transportation options, plus links to any special events at your selected location. Here’s to smooth surfing, and biking!
Good Looking Out
The May SAM of the Month meeting took place at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library (901 G Street), DC’s main public library and a historic landmark designed by Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe. The SAM of the Month meetings recognize individual SAMs for their stellar performance and informs all SAMs of new developments in the DowntownDC BID area by enhancing their understanding of Downtown institutions, which enables them to better assist visitors, workers and residents.
During the meeting, Safety/Hospitality Team Member Crystal Saunders and Maintenance Team Member Jose Rivas were recognized as the April SAMs of the Month.
Crystal Saunders joined the SAM Hospitality team in February 2001. The  native Washingtonian and former Strayer University security guard enjoys meeting people from different parts of the country, and the world, and engaging with Downtown’s homeless population. When she’s not on the street, Saunders works the SAM dispatch desk. Says her supervisor: “Crystal’s great. She’s instrumental to our safety information fairs, volunteers to we ar costumes at the Downtown Holiday Market, and conducts tours for our training classes.” Saunders has a 16-year-old hearing-impaired daughter and devotes her free time volunteering at her daughter’s school, learning sign language, and attending movies and museums.
Jose Rivas joined the SAMs 10 years ago. He has performed every task imaginable, from picking up trash and sweeping the streets and sidewalks to meticulously taking care of hanging baskets and performing landscaping duties. He learned from a pro: his brother once worked as a SAM. Originally from El Salvador, Rivas lives in DC with his wife. He has two adult children and a granddaughter. In his spare time, he treasures time with family, planting flowers, shopping, and eating.
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| DEVELOPMENT DOINGS |
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 Spreading Out
Apparently, LivingSocial (829 7th Street) loves the DowntownDC BID area. Who doesn’t? There are enough restaurants, cultural and entertainment venues and discrete office buildings to satisfy every taste. No surprise, then, that the online daily deals company leased yet another property from Douglas Development Corporation (702 H Street) last month, thereby bringing the total amount of space that it leases here to 61,000 square feet (SF). The fast-growing company will occupy 918 F Street, a seven-story, 26,000 SF historic building near Gallery Place and the Verizon Center. LivingSocial already occupies more than 10,000 SF at 829 7th Street; 12,500 SF at 718 7th Street; and 12,500 SF at 702 H Street, all within walking distance of one another.
Sprucing Up
Last year, Edge Fund Advisors, acting on behalf of HSBC Alternative Investments Limited (HAIL) and a syndicate of HSBC Private Banking Clients, purchased 1350 I Street for $209.2 million, or about $550 per SF. And now it’s wasting no time undertaking major renovations at the 12-story, 381,000 SF building located across from Franklin Square Park. The seven-figure overhaul—including a more modernized lobby, improvements to the common areas and mechanical upgrades—will begin this summer and wrap up by year’s end. The 22-year-old building is fully occupied, has Silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification—although it’s aiming for Gold status—and offers a fitness and conference center, a rooftop terrace, and four levels of below-ground parking. Tuscana West, the Italian restaurant, resides on the ground floor.
 Catching Up
The Rockefeller Group and Mitsubishi Estate New York reportedly acquired 1101 K Street from JBG Cos. for just under $200 million, or about $686 per SF during the spring. The 310,825 SF, Class A building offers a concierge, fitness center and rooftop terrace and houses anchor tenant Brasserie Beck, the contemporary European-style restaurant. The purchase marked The Rockefeller Group’s first DC investment, although it’s doubtful it will be the last—the real estate behemoth opened its first office here late last year. The company has been involved in some of the nation’s most significant real estate endeavors, including Rockefeller Center in New York and the Renaissance Center Phase II in Detroit.
Extreme Makeover
More than a year has passed since MRP Realty purchased the 93,553 SF YWCA building (624 9th Street) for $21 million. Now MRP is set to renovate the Class B building by enhancing its physical appearance, improving its mechanical systems, and adding 9,000 SF. Specifically, MRP plans to replace the interior systems and the brown exterior façade with transparent glass; and secure Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Core & Shell Gold certification. The building is located across from the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library (901 G Street) and is currently home to such organizations as the YWCA National Capital Area, the US Commission on Civil Rights and City Segway Tours. |
| DOWNTOWN DISH |
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 Out with the Old, In with the New?
Café Atlántico (405 8th Street) will vacate its current location on June 12 to make way for a casual concept, America Eats Tavern, a six-month “benefit” destination. Say what? Yes, it’s true. Renowned chef José Andrés of ThinkFoodGroup—owner of such Downtown restaurants as Jaleo (480 7th Street) and Zaytinya (701 9th Street) and recent James Beard Award winner—plans to find a new home for the award-winning Nuevo Latino restaurant in order to roll out the tavern. American Eats will sport a menu and atmosphere inspired by What’s Cooking, Uncle Sam? The Government’s Effect on the American Diet, a National Archives’ (700 Pennsylvania Avenue) exhibit running June 10 through January 3, 2012.
A partnership between Andrés and the Foundation for the National Archives spurred the new ground floor concept, the proceeds of which will be donated to the Foundation. A more “refined” menu will be featured on the building’s second and third floors. America Eats will open on July 4, the same day the minibar by jose andres, located on the second floor, reopens (it will close briefly the third week of this month to get ready for the transition). Once the National Archives exhibit ends next year, so will the tavern. Then, ThinkFoodGroup will begin the next phase of 405 8th Street and the minibar. Wow! For more information, click here.
French Goods
To the delight of bread and pastry lovers, Paul, the old-fashioned Parisian bakery, opened at 801 Pennsylvania Avenue last month—it’s first US location. The 121-year-old bakeshop offers a wide range of traditional and specialty breads, delectable pastries and a full-service coffee bar, featuring fresh, gourmet coffee and Paul’s own specialty teas. The bakery seats up to 50 at café tables and in booths. For more information, click here. |
| HOTEL HAPPENINGS |
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 Here to Stay
The St. Regis Washington, DC (923 16th Street) has a new owner. Westbrook Partners, a New York-based private equity firm, reportedly purchased the 182-room hotel for $100 million, or $549,450 per room, according to the Washington Post. That’s way below the $170 million price tag that Claret Capital, a private equity firm based in Ireland, paid for the luxury hotel in 2007. Previously, the hotel sold for a mere $45 million in 2005. Barclays Capital, the property’s lender, assumed ownership of the hotel in April before selling its interest to Westbrook, which immediately foreclosed on Claret. The good news: it’s business as usual at the St. Regis, a favorite haunt of diplomats, Hollywood stars and past US presidents. Despite the financial turmoil, the property continues to enjoy worldwide recognition. It recently ranked high on Conde Nast Traveler’s Gold List and Traveler + Leisure’s World’s Best Hotels list.
In the Mix
It’s no surprise that the Willard InterContinental hotel (1401 Pennsylvania Avenue) played a prominent role during the Civil War. After all, the historic hotel was a center of political and social life in DC. To commemorate that period, the Willard has joined with the Civil War Trust to present a free, three-dimensional photographic exhibition of Civil War images, 1861: The Civil War’s First Year in 3D. The exhibit will be on display in the hotel’s Peacock Alley area from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm daily beginning Friday, June 24, and ending on Friday, July 15. An opening day presentation, Civil War Washington in Pictures, will feature historian Garry Adelman, who will provide a unique glimpse into Civil War Washington from 1861 to 1865.
Because this year marks the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War, the Willard InterContinental also has scheduled several year-long events—from lectures to concerts—in conjunction with Destination DC’s regional Civil War to Civil Rights commemoration. Through partnerships with the International Spy Museum (800 F Street), Ford’s Theatre (511 10th Street), the Civil War Preservation Trust and others, the hotel will showcase Willard Hotel and the Civil War, which highlights significant periods in the hotel’s history. For that extra touch, the events will include presentations by actors Stephen Lange of Avatar fame and Sam Waterston, a Law & Order star. For more information, click here. |
| RETAIL RAMBLINGS |
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 At a Whole New Level
Get ready to shop till you drop. Come 2013, the DowntownDC Shopping District will reach new heights. That’s when CityCenterDC will create a bustling new focal point for Downtown and DC, with substantial retail anchoring the DowntownDC Shopping District, according to a new retail brochure released by the DowntownDC BID. The report, “DowntownDC Shopping District,” notes that the 10-acre CityCenterDC mixed use development will meet some of the $600 million in unmet shoppers’ goods retail demand. With more than 600,000 square feet (SF) of existing shoppers’ retail already in place, the DowntownDC BID shopping district has 60,000 SF of retail space available today and another 100,000 SF that will be converted from non-shoppers’ goods retail to shoppers’ goods retail.
The Old Convention Center site (along H Street from 7th to 11th Streets), the largest cluster of planned Downtown retail space at 325,000 SF, will anchor a blend of shops, restaurants, cafes and boutique grocery stores. Richard Bradley, the BID’s executive director, says “The anticipated retail element will add to Downtown’s world-class status as the region’s premier urban gathering place, while positioning it as a major urban shopping district. This is what we have envisioned for years, and we’re delighted to see that the vision is fast becoming reality.”
So, brace yourself for a gigantic shopping spree. Until then, to review a copy of the report, which provides extensive data on retail demand drivers and market statistics and projections, visit www.downtowndc.org/retail.
Barring None
Another fitness center is coming to Downtown. The Bar Method DC, which combines isometrics, dance conditioning, physical therapy and interval training, will open in late June or early July in the Victor Building at 750 9th Street. The San Francisco-based sculpting studio has locations in the US and Canada. For more information, visit www.dc.barmethod.com.
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| AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD |
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 Brother, Can You Spare a Bed?
The Capital Fringe Festival will celebrate its sixth anniversary in Downtown next month. In addition to local artists, young, emerging performers from across the country will participate in the award-winning festival and present their work free of a selection process. Where to house them is always a challenge. Both the festival and the artists have limited resources. Volunteers are needed to house the artists. No extra beds? A living room floor might do; the artists aren’t picky. The 2011 Fringe Festival descends on Downtown from July 7 through July 24. Most artists begin arriving in DC on or around July 4. To help the Festival make good matches, click here to complete a Host an Artist Form. For more information, including about ticket sales (available beginning June 20), visit www.capitalfringe.org. And, if you’re feeling especially generous, check out the Fringe’s Donation Wish List. Miscellaneous production items such as lighting gels, paint, brushes, screws, respirators, and rental subsidies are needed.
Temporary Closure
Visitors looking to savor presidential history will have to bypass Ford’s Theatre (511 10th Street), at least on the afternoon of Friday, June 3, and all day on Saturday, June 4, and Sunday, June 5. That’s because the Ford’s Theatre Society will host its Annual Gala on June 5, at which time basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and actress Julie Andrews will be presented with the Lincoln Medal, bestowed upon those persons who, through their body of work, accomplishments or personal attributes, exemplify the character and lasting legacy of President Lincoln. Both Abdul-Jabbar and Andrews will be recognized for their extraordinary careers and commitment to education, understanding, and equality. The evening also will include appearances by several big name draw entertainers, including Richard Dreyfuss, Avery Brooks, and Aniki Noni Rose. A seated dinner follows at the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) and National Portrait Gallery on F Street between 7th and 9th Streets. Proceeds from the gala benefit the Ford’s Theatre Society, its programming, and the new Ford’s Theatre Center for Education and Leadership (514 10th Street), opening in February 2012. This year’s event is open to the public. For more information, including ticket prices, send an email to RSVP@fords.org.
 More Concerting Presence
Music lovers accustomed to attending the Tuesday Concert Series at the historic Church of the Epiphany (1317 G Street) will have to wait until October to rejoice in the weekly classical offerings. The 169-year-old Episcopal Church is undergoing major renovations through December at a cost of roughly $3 million. Both the church and the parish will receive a new look. The church closed last month and is expected to reopen in the fall with an enlarged stage, better handicap accessibility, improved lighting, state-of-the-art amplification and a more attractive décor. Following its completion, work will begin on the Parish House, which will receive significantly expanded restroom facilities and an elevator to make all levels handicap accessible. Recognized as an open and inclusive faith community that reaches out to people in need, the Church of the Epiphany has seen seven clergy members become bishops and a few parishioners assume National Episcopal Church leadership roles. Click here for more information about the church, including how to make donations or grants for the renovation project.
Lucrative Game Plan
CoStar Group (1331 L Street) continues to make waves. The highflying commercial real estate information company recently agreed to purchase LoopNet, Inc., for approximately $860 million. LoopNet, an online commercial real estate marketplace, revolutionized how the industry markets properties. The combined $320 million company is expected to transform the $11 trillion commercial real estate industry by creating the premier online resource for researching, analyzing, and marketing commercial real estate properties. CoStar says the comprehensive coverage should reduce customers’ total costs, save them time, and help them better serve their customers. Both companies have nearly 160,000 paid subscribers between them, although CoStar typically sells to companies and LoopNet sells mostly to individuals. CoStar entered into the deal shortly after pulling off the most profitable “flip” of DC commercial property since the economic downturn. Earlier this year, CoStar sold its headquarters for $101 million—a $60 million profit. The LoopNet transaction is expected to close by the end of this year.
Mobile Dining
Just when you thought you’ve seen it all, the mobile food truck vendors keep coming. A few seen recently traversing Downtown and DC: Yellow Vendor, Sol Mexican Grill, DC Empanadas,
Sixth & Rye, Meathead Mobile Eatery, and Big Cheese. Yellow Vendor serves up Korean fare, including bibimbab—a warm white rice, seasoned vegetable and chili pepper dish—and bulgogi, marinated barbecue beef. Sol offers tacos and burritos served with toppings—including rice, black beans and guacamole. DC Empanadas’ menu rotates daily but includes beef, pork, chicken and vegetarian fare. Sixth & Rye dishes out old-fashioned Kosher deli cuisine. Meathead Mobile Eatery offers rib-eye steak, pork and chicken sandwiches, and Big Cheese serves up grilled cheese sandwiches using artisan cheese.
The Office
Five businesses either based in Downtown or doing business here are the 2010 winners of the Washington Business Journal’s Best Places to Work awards, designed to honor the metropolitan Washington area’s leading employers, who go beyond the norm to foster enjoyable and meaningful work environments for their employees. Companies involved in real estate prevailed among the DowntownDC BID area businesses chosen, although a law firm held its own.
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Akridge (601 13th Street) |
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Brookfield Properties Corp. (750 9th Street) |
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Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group LLC: Hotel Monaco (700 F Street), Hotel George (15 E Street) and Poste Moderne Brasserie (555 8th Street) |
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Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP (1300 I Street) |
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Studley Inc. (555 13th Street) |
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| GREEN GAINS |
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 Leading the Way
The DowntownDC BID organized and hosted a Green Marketing Meeting last month to discuss a plan to produce a pilot communications campaign which organizations and businesses can use to collectively promote sustainability in DC and the region. Nearly two dozen participants, including the District Department of the Environment (DDOE); the Apartment and Office Building Association (AOBA); Akridge (601 13th Street); Cultural Tourism DC (1250 H Street); the District Department of Transportation (DDOT); and the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), convened at BID headquarters to confer about goals, challenges, benchmarks and measurements, the cross marketing of events and messages, and how best to communicate about important green initiatives and citywide and regional sustainability efforts.
The group, called ecoMarCom, will meet periodically to assess current outreach initiatives, communication and resource challenges and identify ways to cross market and promote sustainable programs. If you are interested in being a partner or joining ecoMarCom, contact Karyn Le Blanc, the DowntownDC BID’s director of communications, at Karyn@downtowndc.org.
 Slap on the Wrist
Casey Trees, the non-profit organization that restores, enhances and protects the city’s tree canopy, has given DC a "C" for overall tree care, down from a "B+" in 2009. The group’s third tree report card for the city shows DC received a "B-" for tree health; a "B+" for tree coverage; an "A+" for planting; an "A+" for awareness; and an "F" for tree protection. The latter grade measures the effectiveness of the Urban Forest Preservation Act (UFPA) of 2002. The City Council created the UFPA and its Tree Fund to replace large trees that were removed because of development and related activities. Casey Trees said the UFPA is not achieving its goals because of poor oversight and the city redirecting $539,000 from the Tree Fund to the General Fund in fiscal year 2011 to offset budget shortfalls. Among its recommendations: DC reevaluates how the UFPA is administered, and potentially shift that role from the District Department of Transportation’s (DDOT) Urban Forestry Administration (UFA) to the District Department of the Environment (DDOE). On the positive side, the city’s tree awareness and tree planting grades improved. In 2009, they stood at a "B" and "C-," respectively. For more information, including changes to the metrics used in the 2010 Tree Report Card, visit www.caseytrees.org.
| In related news, Casey Trees offers the following tips for keeping trees healthy and thriving during the summer months: |
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Install slow release watering bags around newly planted trees. Practice “25 to Stay Alive,” a watering method that entails giving trees that have been in the ground fewer than three weeks 25 gallons of water, equal to 1.5 inches of rain, per week. |
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Mulch trees to keep the soil moist and discourage summer weeds. Apply the 3-3-3 rule: 3 inches of mulch in a 3-foot ring with a 3-inch space around the trunk. |
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Add trunk guards if lawn mowers or weed whackers will come near trees. |
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| TRANSPORTATION TALK |
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 In the Know
Looking for the latest bicycle stats about Capital Bikeshare, DC and Arlington County’s regional bike sharing program? Search no further than cabidashboard.ddot.dc.gov, the new dashboard developed by the District Department of Transportation (DDOT). It provides performance information galore about the popular bike sharing program. Say you seek monthly stats for ridership, membership and more. The dashboard features 18 individual performance metrics under four categories: ridership, fleet performance and safety, customer service and membership. Review, analyze and download data as you see fit, and let DDOT know what you think. There’s even an online Dashboard Tutorial available on DDOT’s YouTube Channel. For inquiries or to provide feedback, e-mail cabidashboard@dc.gov.
Meanwhile, enjoy the ride. Both DC and Arlington County will add more bicycles and kiosks to the Capital Bikeshare network, which now includes 1,100 bikes and 115 stations. Also, Downtown visitors, workers and residents can rejoice: additional dock capacity is being added to Downtown bike share stations, increasing the likelihood that bikers will be able to find an empty space to park the bicycles once a trip ends.
On another point: DDOT is launching a summertime competition, Reverse Rider Rewards, to urge Capital Bikeshare members to help redistribute bicycles from “typically full” stations to “typically empty” ones during peak hours, 8:00 am through 10:00 am. As an incentive, members can earn points and entry into a raffle good for a one-year or one-month membership extension. The competition begins on Wednesday, June 1, and ends on Wednesday, August 31. For more information, click here.
Leaving the Car Behind
Could DC’s car ownership numbers be down because more people are now hopping a ride on Metrorail, Metrobus, the DC Circulator and Capital Bikeshare? It’s a possibility, according to the District Department of Transportation’s (DDOT) goDCgo.com transportation demand management program. A recent goDCgo newsletter cites stats from Fortworthology.com showing car registrations have fallen by about 15,000 in DC, even as the city’s population has risen by more than 15,000 new residents. The publication also goes on to note that rising gas prices have prompted more people to dump their cars, with positive consequences—improved health benefits. Obesity, stress, air pollution and accidents and injuries all are directly related to car-dependency. Another reason to run for the bus, train, bike, or let your feet do the walking: AAA’s 2010 edition of its annual “Your Driving Costs” study, shows the average cost to own and operate a sedan has risen 4.8% to 56.6 cents per mile, or $8,487 per year, based on 15,000 miles of annual driving.
¿Dónde es el autobus?
If you speak Spanish, French, Chinese, Korean or Vietnamese, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) heard your complaints about website translation flubs and acted on them. Translation enhancements were made to WMATA’s multi-lingual website pages using skilled linguists, thus answering the prayers of many who objected to awkward and incorrect machine translations. Most of Metro’s homepage and its most critical and popular pages for accessing the system—including the Trip Planner and the Getting Around and Fares section—now feature the new, human translations. Besides English, the five foreign languages noted are the most widely spoken languages in the Metro service area. A link on Metro’s homepage allows customers to select a language. To check it out, visit www.metroopensdoors.com. |
| NEWS YOU CAN USE |
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 Expanding the Visitor Experience
Ah, finally, new signage directing visitors and residents to national monuments and Downtown destinations is being installed on the National Mall and Memorial Parks. Last month, the National Park Service (NPS) announced that 500 new signs—orientation maps and directional and information markers—will replace existing signage through August in the program’s first phase. The $2.2 million project is designed to enrich the quality and comfort of the visitor experience through good wayfinding signage that augments and complements the District Department of Transportation’s (DDOT) blue signage program. NPS began developing a comprehensive signage project for the National Mall and Memorial Parks in 2008, and several entities, including the NPS; the National Capital Planning Commission (401 9th Street), NCPC; the Commission of Fine Arts (401 F Street), CFA; the DowntownDC BID; DDOT; the DC Office of Planning (OP); Cultural Tourism DC (1250 H Street); and other city BIDs have worked to make it a reality.
Both NPS and the Trust for the National Mall, a major source of private financing for Mall improvements, unveiled the first installation of the new wayfinding system outside the Smithsonian Metrorail station last month. The sign includes a map showing neighborhoods near the Mall, Downtown destinations and other Metrorail stations. The Trust, launched and chaired by Downtown property owner Chip Akridge, raised $1.1 million for the project, including a substantial contribution from Akridge (601 13th Street) . The federal government funded the other $1.1 million. Now, just as appropriate city wayfinding signs direct visitors to the National Mall, appropriate NPS wayfinding signs will direct visitors into the city. So, if Downtown appears to have more tourists ambling about, you’ll know why. And for the technologically savvy, the program also offers a smartphone application with wayfinding information for the iPhone and Android systems. Nice.
Home Training
Litterbugs beware. Mayor Vincent Gray is on a mission to eradicate refuse from city streets. Last month, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) began a pilot program to educate the public about litter enforcement. Now a full-fledged effort to impose penalties on pedestrians and motorists officially kicks off in MPD’s Fourth District—which includes much of Ward 4 and part of Ward 5—on June 1. Violators could be ticketed, even arrested. The goal is a worthy one: to create a clean, livable city by making residents and visitors alike accountable for their actions.
 Art Exemplars
Congratulations to this year's winners of the 26th Annual Mayor's Arts Awards, which recognizes artistic excellence and service among artists, arts organizations, and arts patrons in DC. The DowntownDC BID-based finalists include The Shakespeare Theatre (450 7th Street), a recipient of the Excellence in Artistic Discipline award; Capital Fringe, the performing arts festival and year-round training factory which receives support from the DowntownDC BID and won the Excellence in Service to the Arts award; and Solas Nua, the only contemporary Irish arts organization, walked away with the Innovation in the Arts award. Way to represent!
Lights, Cameras, Action!
The DC Office of Motion Picture and Television recently launched two new initiatives that are capturing local, national and international attention. The One City Location of the Month program kicked off in March and features a unique and cinematically appealing business, institution, private property or public open space to bring attention to diverse locations available to film and television productions—and to spur revenue-generating business relationships. Ben’s Chili Bowl, the popular U Street restaurant, was the inaugural One City Location of the Month, followed by Arena Stage, the Hillcrest Community and, this month, the Atlas Theatre.
In addition, April ushered in a new effort dubbed Filmmaker of the Month, designed to expose overlooked and untapped DC-based filmmakers to national and international audiences. The online feature gets up close and personal, as it profiles a talented artist every month. Ryan Richmond, director of the award-winning film Money Matters, is the first filmmaker to be profiled, followed by Jonathan Zurer, the Emmy award winning producer of the “The West Wing.” Ada Babino, founder of Jezebel Filmworks and BlackFilmMakers.net, is this month’s featured filmmaker. Know of a filmmaker, business or location that you think should be featured in the One City Location of the Month or Filmmaker of the Month programs? If so, send an email to film@dc.gov. |
| MEETINGS AND MORE |
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Saturday, June 4, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
District Department of Housing & Community Development
3rd Annual DC Housing Expo & Foreclosure Clinic
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
801 Mount Vernon Place
The District Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD), in partnership with the Greater Washington Urban League, will host this housing clinic for local residents. Among the topics to be discussed: homeownership, home retention, financial literary, post-foreclosure, green living, rental housing, home rehabilitation, credit counseling and neighborhood development. This is a free event. For more information, visit www.dhcd.dc.gov/dhcd |
Wednesday, June 8 and Thursday, June 9, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
US Environmental Protection Agency
EnergyStar Training
Online at: www.energystar.gov/businesstraining
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is offering live webinars as part of a new training series that began last month with the in-person class, EnergyStar Portfolio Manager for Multi-family Buildings, co-hosted by the District Department of the Environment (DDOE), Pepco and the US Green Building Council’s (USGBC) National Capital Region and was held at Pepco’s Downtown headquarters. The series is designed to help building owners and managers prepare to meet the city’s July 1 benchmarking deadline. The June 8 webinar focuses on commercial office buildings, while the June 9 webinar centers on multifamily buildings. Register online at www.energystar.gov/businesstraining or, for details, contact info.benchmark@dc.gov. |
Tuesday, June 14, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
DC Chamber of Commerce
Chamber’s Champions Small Business Awards and Expo
National Museum of Women in the Arts
1250 New York Avenue
The DC Chamber of Commerce invites well-wishers to salute the recipients of its inaugural Chamber’s Champions Small Business awards. The event will recognize and exhibit those businesses that embody the entrepreneurial spirit. Tickets are $75 for members and $125 for nonmembers. Contact Annette Coram at acoram@dcchamber.org, or visit www.dcchamber.org, for more information and to register. |
Wednesday, June 15, 9:00 am – 10:30 am
Washington, DC Economic Partnership
Doing Business 2.0: Doing Business with Government
Venable, LLP
575 7th Street
The Washington, DC Economic Partnership (WDCEP) invites local DC businesses to learn more about contracting and certification programs that are provided by both federal and DC entities, which highly favor businesses in DC. Panelists include Antonio Hunter, director of the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development; James Staton, chief procurement officer at the DC Office of Contracting and Procurement; Shaunta P. Johnson, director of the Small Business Utilization Center at the US General Services Administration (GSA); and Dave Wiggs and Elsie Price, representatives of the US Small Business Administration (SBA). For more information about this free event, visit www.wdcep.com. |
Thursday, June 16, 10:00 am – Noon
District Department of the Environment/US Environmental Protection Agency
Portfolio Manager Training for Multifamily Buildings
Pepco Headquarters
701 9th Street
Join the District Department of the Environment (DDOE) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the third in a series of Portfolio Manager training classes designed to help building owners and managers prepare to meet the city’s July 1 benchmarking deadline. Pepco and the US Green Building Council’s (USGBC) National Capital Region also are hosting this event. Participants can bring laptops to practice benchmarking on a sample, or their own, project. DDOE staff will be available to answer questions about benchmarking requirements and guidelines. Interested parties can register at info.benchmark@dc.gov. For more information, contact info.benchmark@dc.gov. |
Thursday, June 16, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
Apartment and Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington
TOBY Awards Celebration
Capital Hilton
1001 16th Street
Join the Apartment and Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington (AOBA-Metro) as it celebrates the companies that competed for the Office Building of the Year (TOBY) awards and salutes the winners at this annual luncheon. This year’s guest speaker is General Services Administration (GSA) executive Cathleen C. “Cathy” Kronopolus, regional commissioner for Public Buildings Service in the National Capital Region (NCR). Members pay $125; nonmembers pay $150. To register, visit www.aoba-metro.org.
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Tuesday, June 21 – Thursday, June 23 (times listed on website)
Washington, DC, Potomac Valley, Northern Virginia Chapters/American Institute of Architects & US Green Building Council’s National Capital Region
DesignDC 2011: In the Green
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
801 Mount Vernon Place
Local chapters of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the US Green Building Council’s (USGBC) National Capital Region invite metropolitan Washington area architects, designers and building industry professionals to a three-day interactive conference and exhibition. Get unique access to cutting-edge technology, projects and practitioners. Increase your knowledge, expand your network and advance your career. The full conference fee for members is $395 per person; non-members pay $500. Half-day passes, trade show, student rate and individual session fees also are available. For more information, and to register, visit www.aiadesigndc.org. |
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