Marc says: (10/25/17 4:03 PM)
Great to know about Cava and the ice rink :) I read an article that said Amazon's acquisition of Whole Foods is delayed pending their ending Amazon's online wine business, which will close in late December. Maybe this is why there's been no action on Whole Foods, but maybe it also means that by March or April, we'll have some news on it. Hopefully!

conngs0 says: (10/25/17 4:39 PM)
Thanks for the update, JD! Good to see that the ice rink might get a little refresh. I don't think I ever really counted on sharp rental skates, but the improved quality there is welcome.

In addition to either not being very good and/or properly set up to take advantage of the ice rink, the one unfortunate thing for Il Parco or even Park Tavern is that the weather the last few years hasn't been terribly conducive to consistent turnout at the ice rink (and when the weather was good, something weird would happen - like the pumps malfunctioning - to keep skaters away). But regarding the restaurant space, I'm prepared to accept that prospective tenants are going to miss out on another opportunity to capitalize off of the ice rink, but hopefully someone is in their in time for Opening Day 2018.

RMP says: (10/26/17 11:29 AM)
If anyone sees Mike Rizzo around the neighborhood this week make sure to voice your support for hiring Girardi.

Section314 says: (10/26/17 12:03 PM)
Better yet, if you see Old Man Lerner, let him know your thoughts about hiring Girardi.

JD says: (10/26/17 12:14 PM)
Given that Girardi got dumped for just barely missing the World Series, I'm not sure DC is the town he'd feel like heading to next.

DCisforLovers says: (10/26/17 2:49 PM)
Anyone else think the Il Parco space could fare better as a beer garden or craft beer/wine bar? Especially in the warmer months with all the outdoor possibilities... Obviously a food oriented establishment serving mediocre beer and cocktails doesn't seem to fit there.

JES says: (10/26/17 3:36 PM)
Park Tavern was god awful in just about every respect. Il Parco had some flaws, but I actually thought the food was at least quite good. The one thing both had in common was that the ownership group had NO IDEA how to properly monetize or promote that space, given its location. Something as simple as a well-publicized "10% off your bill with an ice skating receipt" kind of promo may have done wonders for their business in winter months.

I like the idea of a wine bar, but whatever goes in there probably has to be better at marketing to families, given that the ice rink is right outside their window. A beer garden would be great in the summer, but the clientele that patronizes the ice rink doesn't exactly strike me as a beer garden crowd.

JD says: (10/26/17 4:45 PM)
Yeah, it needs to be family oriented at least partially, otherwise both the restaurant and the rink (and the splash park in summer) suffer.

And the neighborhood is not suffering a lack of beer garden and wine bar options!

jdc says: (10/27/17 10:12 AM)
I propose a dunkin donuts...because i am desperate for one to open in the neighborhood.

RMP says: (10/27/17 10:24 AM)
Every year on the BID survey I have a harder time answer the question about what kinds of new businesses I want to see in the neighborhood. This year I said doctors and dentists, which isn't very exciting, but would be convenient, since it seems like the big concentration of them is still in NW. As for the Il Parco space... I have a hard time. Maybe one of those bar-arcades with the old fashioned games you can play for a quarter? Could be made family friendly and something we definitely don't have.

Speaking of new businesses... anyone know what's going on with 18/8? Seems like the built out the space 80% of the way and then haven't worked on it in weeks.

JES says: (10/27/17 12:00 PM)
I always thought it'd be cool if they'd replace the windows on the rink side with one of those garage door things that could open up in the summer out onto the patio space. if they built a bar into it facing outside (think the setup that morini piccolo and due south dockside have), it could serve hot chocolate and things in the winter and beers/wine in the summer.

202_cyclist says: (10/27/17 12:32 PM)
NO DENTISTS!

Also, apparently I wasn't the only one who tried to get free lunch from Cava. The line was too long for me.

walt says: (10/27/17 1:20 PM)
JES: great idea on the garage door opening up for the Il Parco space.

All I want today is a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup. If Il Parco had that and mac and cheese, I'm sure they would do a huge business in the winter.

I would just like to add for the umpteenth time: I do not like personal pizzas. There is too much dough and not enough good stuff. I want pizza by the slice. New York style.

Snacks says: (10/27/17 4:33 PM)
Every pizza is a personal pizza if you try hard and really believe in yourself

JD says: (10/27/17 4:35 PM)
This thread forced me to go to Pizza Autentica for lunch today. Thanks a lot.

202_cyclist says: (10/27/17 4:36 PM)
JD-- it would be nice if you hosted a pizza party for your dedicated readers.

JD says: (10/27/17 4:38 PM)
Hope everybody likes Domino's.

202_cyclist says: (10/27/17 11:48 PM)
Just to circle back to RMP’s comment— NO DENTISTS IN THE NAVY YARD!

jdc says: (10/28/17 5:18 PM)
Interesting idea about a small to mid-size medical office building. It would serve residents/workers in JD Land, and I assume pull some folks from Capitol Hill. I would certainly benefit from not having to slog across town on a monthly basis.

JD says: (10/28/17 5:32 PM)
I would be surprised if One Medical didn't end up opening a branch around here eventually. No inside knowledge, just speculating.

202_cyclist says: (10/28/17 10:27 PM)
MedStar has a a walking clinic at Eastern Market.

In other news, what is the status of the lot next to One Hill South? It looks like the fence there was recently augmented.

Also, we saw three brave people campaign outside of the Bower sales office so they can be the first ones to put out a down payment on a condo when the sales office opens tomorrow.

JD says: (10/29/17 10:55 AM)
The One Hill South folks are in the early stages of starting work on Phase 2 -- they've filed for their excavation permit, though not yet foundation or building.

For the record, "excavation permit filed" is basically the same stage that three other projects are currently in: Paradigm for its residential building on the east side of 1st across from Velocity, Tishman for its residential project on the big empty lot at 1st and I/K, and the second phase at Florida Rock. (and no, no renderings yet for either Paradigm or Tishman)

The Garrett has its shoring and its full building permit approved.

Parcel L2 (residential) has its shoring permit approved, and has filed its foundation permit. Interestingly, Parcel L1 (the hotel) also has its foundation permit filed, and its building permit.

JD says: (10/29/17 11:16 AM)
(Sorry, I ended up using both "shoring" and "excavation" -- they're interchangeable. It's technically a "shoring, sheeting, and excavation" permit.)

202_cyclist says: (10/29/17 11:30 AM)
I guess I was suffering from fat finger syndrome (or margarita finger) when I typed this last night:

Walk in -- not walking clinic
Camping -- not campaign.

Section314 says: (10/29/17 10:41 PM)
Do you have any particulars on the Phase 2 project by Ruben (One Hill South)? I don't think I've seen details on this or else I can't find anything on the site other what appear to be plans for an office building from 2007. I don't see anything on the BID site, either.

At a minimum, we need for you to provide a rendering like you did for phase I (or at least bring that one back).

202_cyclist says: (10/30/17 6:39 AM)
Yes, draw us another nice rendering!

RMP says: (10/31/17 9:31 AM)
I feel like I'm missing an inside joke here re: dentists.

Anyone else notice the vintage aerial shot of JDland in the T-mobile commercial that's playing during the World Series? Maybe we can have a content to see who can correctly time stamp it (starts at 0:20): link

Snacks says: (10/31/17 10:45 AM)
I have no clue what's up with the dentists. I'm fairly new though. Maybe this is a community of anti-dentites...

sameter says: (10/31/17 10:54 AM)
@rmp I'm guessing 2014. scary building between 1st and new jersey seems to be in the middle of demolition.

walt says: (11/1/17 1:19 PM)
oh my gosh, why on earth would they use such dated aerial shots in their ad?

JD says: (11/1/17 1:24 PM)
They used those graphics back in 2015, and so just reused them, I guess.