dereknolini says:
(1/10/13 11:02 AM)
This concept sounds great. I completely support these residents. It may take some great negotiators or serious access to capital (if it goes to auction).
This neighborhood is constantly changing (all for the better).
The 5 to 10-year outlook is great for those who own property.
jacques says:
(1/10/13 11:06 AM)
I like the concept, but with Eastern Market a mile away and Union Market about 2 miles, I wonder how much of a challenge the location would present for a sustainable customer base, when it comes to artisan food retailing.
I do think if they were able to get a cooking school in as an anchor tenant, then filling in the additional space with cafe, and some retail stands becomes much more appealing.
Eric says:
(1/10/13 11:23 AM)
Sounds cool, but not sure SW/Near SE has the population density to sustain it.
Jacques idea sounds nice
F says:
(1/10/13 1:27 PM)
OK. I'll be the first to say it: Let it be a Whole Foods!
n.alberg says:
(1/10/13 2:17 PM)
Thanks JD for posting this. We'll need alot of community support to make this happen - and we've been getting alot already.
I would like to add one thing - what will potentially differ this market from others in our area would be its flexibility. By using moveable/folding stands and furniture, this market could potentially have a luxury others don't - the ability to use the main space for other community or private events. You could even have multiple events throughout the day... it could still have a number of permanant vendor stalls though.
conngs0 says:
(1/10/13 2:20 PM)
First off, as this is your first post of 2013, Happy New Year, JD!
I love that the first post of the new year is one about a fairly long-term potential project, which makes it reminiscent of so many of the posts from the beginning of this blog.
I'm very excited about the possibility of a public market located in this space. It offers a great complement to the larger apartment, condo, and office buildings currently in the area or in the pipeline. It would even complement the Harris Teeter to be completed a few blocks away (you know, if something ever comes out of that hole that is supposed to be Twelve12).
For those of you concerned about population density, I just think we need to consider the likely population of the neighborhood when/if this project is complete as opposed to the current population. A lot of people are going to live down that way (not to mention those who already live north of the freeway who could easily walk down to Half and L).
Moreover, as more entertainment options open, the neighborhood will attract more people from throughout the area. I don't live in Eastern Market, but whenever I'm around there, I almost always swing by to grab something cool to cook for dinner. I could see people doing the same thing after a baseball game, trip to Yards or Canal Park, or (perhaps!) a movie.
Ed says:
(1/10/13 4:45 PM)
The Half Street Market and Teaching Restaurant has a public vocational education mission to train post-high school and DCPS students in the culinary arts and food business. The restaurant area on the top of the building provides classroom space and open demonstration areas visible to patrons. Students will be trained in the arts of cooking upstarts and have small business training and first-hand food business experience in the Main Hall. The site could employ 100s of food workers and provide an incubation environment for emerging food entrepreneurs
This educational mission is significant to the project.
The Administrator of General Services, in his discretion, to assign to the Secretaries of Education and Health and Human Services, as appropriate, for disposal of such surplus real property, including building, fixtures, and equipment situated thereon, as is recommended by the appropriate Secretary as being needed for school, classroom, or other educational uses.
The public benefit conveyance (PBC) allows the Federal government to lease or transfer title of surplus property to qualified entities for public uses at a substantial discount (up to 100% of fair market value). The intent of a PBC is to support property uses that benefit the community as a whole.
JD says:
(1/10/13 4:56 PM)
(probably worth noting that the previous comment is from Ed Kaminski, 6D02 commissioner and one of the leaders of this concept)
Eric says:
(1/10/13 6:04 PM)
So if the properties became "public use" then no super expensive usage charges, right?
In that case, sounds great!
Ed says:
(1/11/13 8:53 AM)
Sharing more on the classroom space and demonstration Kitchen for Culinary Training. This concept is more than a market building or a restaurant building.
The concept will leverage emerging trends in web-based learning and demonstration kitchen trends that are underway in New York and London. Think TOP CHEF with real-time food arts streamed by cyber links to DCPS Schools like Roosevelt High School in DC also linking to the culinary programs at Howard University, GW University and University of District of Columbia. All behind glass where restaurant patrons can watch the process in motion.
But this cannot happen unless the economics of the building disposition support this non-profit mission.
Eric says:
(1/11/13 10:15 AM)
Yeah I think this would be great. We need more unique draws to the neighborhood and it would be better than another empty office building.
Cooking school would be totally awesome and you don't find that in most neighborhoods in DC!
Eric says:
(1/11/13 10:15 AM)
Yeah I think this would be great. We need more unique draws to the neighborhood and it would be better than another empty office building.
Cooking school would be totally awesome and you don't find that in most neighborhoods in DC!
Eric says:
(1/11/13 10:15 AM)
What's the timeline on this? I'm guessing 5-10 years?
Packinblackandred says:
(1/11/13 10:53 AM)
@Eric
Considering the fact that the building itself is already made, I would hope that the timeline is at least towards the lower end of your range! Although I suppose GSA's disposition process probably takes forever.
ZoolanderANDtheBoYz says:
(1/14/13 5:07 PM)
Fantastic idea and good luck!
Hopefully, the GSA will donate the building to the city.
It would be interesting to see what exactly would happen if you sit the city and other developers in the same auction house for a building that is assessed at $19.2 million.
JD says:
(1/14/13 5:11 PM)
I do think folks would be very well advised to remember that GSA is under a lot of pressure these days to not give away the farm when dealing with their excess inventory. And, as I said in the post, this is some very valuable land.
Also, this hasn't even been deemed excess inventory yet--"in the process of potentially auctioning" has a whole lot of wiggle room in it.
ZoolanderANDtheBoYz says:
(1/14/13 6:29 PM)
As much as positive and supportive that I am, this is a far-fetched idea. GSA is under a lots of scrutiny after their $800K splurge in Vegas a couple of years ago and the government itself is under immense pressure how they are going to raise a revenue. They will never give it nor will they sell it for a fraction of what it is worth. I am not being negative. I am just being realistic.
I don't think the city is going to spend over $19 million to buy a building that will generate a little tax revenue. But, hopefully there is a loophole somewhere out there.
Ed says:
(1/16/13 11:33 AM)
The $19M is not relevant to a discussion because a public market business model does not work with this kind of purchase price for land. No public market (in any city) can be instituted with land and buildings purchased at typical urban land prices. So if there is a public market in our future, the land and building will be required through special means.
ZoolanderANDtheBoYz says:
(1/16/13 1:41 PM)
Thank you for clarifying it Mr. Kaminski.
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