Another Furniture Store for 14th Street?

Via DCist, we learn today of the potential arrival of yet another furniture retailer for 14th Street. Reportedly CB2--a less expensive cousin of Crate & Barrel--is in talks with Central Union Mission-building developer Jeffrey Schonberger to move into the as-yet-undeveloped space at 14th and R streets.

Although the deal has not yet been finalized, it would add another furniture retailer to an already crowded market (with places like Mitchell Gold and and Reincarnations to the south, and Vastu, Muleh and the soon-to-come Room and Board to the north, not to mention various antique and secondhand retailers scattered about).

The deal is contingent of course upon the Mission being able to relocate to proposed new quarters downtown in the Gales School building. Though the move was announced last year, complications have arisen stemming from the donation of the school property to the Mission, a religiously supported institution.

So what do you think--is this exciting news? On the one hand, in the current economy the fact that ANY retail tenants are being found to fill vacancies along the 14th Street corridor should be viewed as a net positive. The area on the east side of 14th Street between Q and S is largely a dead zone, and no doubt a national tenant of this caliber will aid that.

On the other hand, one of the positive attributes people frequently cite about 14th street is the unique retail and restaurant offerings. The corridor does have one of the most diverse markets in the city, and practically all of the retailers are independent boutiques. With Room and Board and now, potentially, CB2 entering the mix, there will be two rather significant retail frontages filled by national furniture chains.

We'll try to keep you up to date as plans for this move forward during the coming months.

"Room and Board" Deal Back On (For Now); Plus, a New Restaurant From the Policy Team

Those hoping for a 24 hour diner at 14th and T will have t put those hopes on ice...maybe.

The on-again off-again courtship between Minneapolis-based furniture retailer Room and Board has veered back into "on again" territory, as the report came out today that the chain has once again announced plans to purchase the building at 14th and T streets.

This is the second time the furniture retailer has announced that it is buying the building; the first time around, the economic crisis caused the deal to implode.

Our reaction to this news is: blah. Just, blah. Yes, we're glad to see the "Taylor Motors Building" (so called because it used to be a car showroom, way back in the day) renovated and put to use. The building and its fantastic space have stood empty for far too long. But a furniture store? You'll forgive me for failing to get myself all worked up about that.

For one, 14th street is awash in furniture stores. If you don't believe that, check out our post on that very topic from last year. Secondly, and perhaps even more frustrating, is that this means that the pipe-dream plans for a Constantine Stavropoulos diner/comedy club/yoga studio for that space can be put to rest. (Although I do have it on good authority that Stavropoulos remains very interested in the 14th Street corridor and continues to look for available spaces there.)

And, yeah yeah...I'm sure Room and Board has fine things, and yes I'm sure they have some affordable things, and yes I know that big box chains aren't all bad...but this is like your father coming home and announcing with great excitement that he had just purchased a new Ford Taurus.

As to whether or not Room and Board will actually open up this time...all signs point to yes, but I'll believe it when I see it.

"Policy" Guys Opening New Spot

Speaking of the "Room and Board space", the 14thandyous have learned that the same team that brought you trendy DC restau-lounge "Policy" are making plans to open a new establishment soon, in the space immediately adjacent to the future (?) Room and Board space. No formative plans as of yet for what the new space will be, but with Policy's success and generally favorable reviews, it's a safe bet to believe that yet another popular, trendy dining establishment is on the horizon.

If You've Missed Dragonfly . . .

Dragonfly Design and Decor, formerly of the 1400 block of Church Street, has set up temporary shop in Reston through December. Those interested should visit the ARTWORKS Gallery at 11411 Sunset Hills Road between 12 and 5 on Tuesdays through Saturdays. You can also make an appointment with owner Kim Hesller (703) 362-9571. If you missed the shop's closing last month, this is a great opportunity to snatch up Asian antiques at a discount.

More on t Street Development: What kind of retail do we want?

This recent article from the Business Journal shows local retailers around U Street and 14th Street casting a wary eye towards the potential arrival of Minneapolis-based furniture palace "Room and Board" to the new development heading towards completion at T and 14th streets.



The article raises several points related to the ongoing development and gentrification of the U Street/14th Street corridor. Chief among them: what type of retail do residents want, and what type of retail are we likely to get?

It's not surprising that with skyrocketing commercial lease rates and a decreasing number of options, that the 14th and U St. retail corridor would begin to attract a greater number of "chain stores". After all, conventional wisdom goes, once the local businesses have moved in and paved the way for commercial success, the rents go up and the only businesses left who can afford them are national retailers. it's not true in every sense, of course, but a quick gander around Dupont shows a relative lack of the independent stores for which the neighborhood used to be known.

But what is more valued: a vibrant business corridor, or vacant storefronts awaiting the local tenant who can afford its space?

Those are not always mutually exclusive options of course, but those of us who were less-than-thrilled at the prospects of yet another chain furniture store setting up shop on 14th street might also ask what price independent stores should be maintained, simply because they are independent.

Let me be the first to tell you: I've seen a lot of overpriced crap at independent retailers. And I've seen a lot of merchandise at local stores that I could purchase cheaper at a chain establishment (the quote in the article from the Urban Essentials owner is a good comparison).

While I think we can all agree that a diverse mix of retail is an important component of any vibrant commercial corridor, I think it's also easy to too quickly adopt the "chains bad, local stores good" mentality at the cost of filling retail space. I'm not necessarily excited by the potential arrival of Room and Board, but would I be any more excited by the prospect of a new Muleh or Circle Boutique filling the T Street space? I doubt it.

Important Neighborhood Happenings

There's a lot going on in the hood over the next couple of weeks, and rather than hash it out over several posts, we thought we'd just put it all out there in one handy post.

11th Street:  When is it going to start/end?

Unfortunately, we can't answer any of those questions, because it doesn't seem as if there are any answers to be had.  However, next Thursday, November 6, DDOT will be hosting an informational session about the project including, presumably, when it will begin.  From ANC2f commissioner Mike Bernardo:

On Thursday, November 6, at 6:00 pm the District Department of
Transportation (DDOT) will provide the public with an update on a
roadway construction project along 11th Street from L to O Streets,
NW. The meeting will be held at the Asbury United Methodist Church,
located at 926 Eleventh Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001.

The improvements in this area include roadway reconstruction,
sidewalks, street lighting, intersection and signal improvements,
enhancements to traffic operations, pedestrian amenities, and safety
improvements.

Thursday's briefing with residents and businesses in the area will
provide an update on construction timing, phasing, and traffic
management, as well as DDOT's plans for coordinating with utilities
and private developments in the area.

Information will continue to be distributed throughout the
construction of this project.

For more information please contact the construction manager, Mr.
Osman Mohamed; or DDOT's project engineer Mr. Michael Conley at (202)
671-4550.

The project's public outreach coordinator, Martha Kemp can be reached
by e-mail at mkemp@volkert. com or by phone at (202) 237-6269.

Shocking News:  Furniture Store Coming to 14th Street?

As DCist reported earlier this week, it seems that big box Crate 'n Barrel lookalike "Room and Board" is in the running to move into the new project at 14th and T, beating out a proposed comedy club that had financial backing from Dave Chappelle.

Because, you know, that's exactly what 14th St. needs--another furniture shop. Now, don't get me wrong: as anyone who has read this blog knows, we're fans of the furniture scene that has developed along 14th St. Heck, Mrs. 14thandyou wrote an entire post about it not too long ago. But I think it's saf to say the market has been saturated by this point. If you can't find what you're looking for along 14th St., what, a drive to West Elm or Crate and Barrel is going to kill you?

Plus, I just have to add one final comment about the name of the new store, "Room and Board": Ugh.

Efforts to Curb World's Oldest Profession Continue

We've all seen it at some point: a woman of the night waltzing around the 'hood, maybe along the AYT Auto lot, maybe behind the Mr. Wash. And we'd all be thrilled to eradicate it from the neighborhood. Well, the City Council's Public Safety Committee has got a meeting for you.

Phil Mendelson and the committee will convene a meeting to discuss efforts to combat prostitution in the District next Friday, November 7 at noon. Unfortunately, the 14thandYous have prior commitments with our employers, but we both feel this is an important neighborhood issue. Hopefully, someone can attend and report back as to what efforts the city is undertaking to stem the tide of people paying for sex.