fice tenants moving in soon. The first is Youth for Understanding USA, which manages an international high school and community college exchange program. The other is WeWork, a co-worker services business that provides office space and facilities support to startups and individual entrepreneurs. Also, the office space at neighboring building Progression Place is now fully leased, with developer Four Points moving their offices into the last remaining space. They join United Negro College Fund, Teach for America, College Success Foundation, and the National Urban League’s Washington Bureau.
And Rumors of Leases
In perhaps an inevitable sign of gentrification in Shaw, Curbed DC reports that Starbucks has signed a lease at City Market at O. The Starbucks is going to be on the ground floor of the project’s Cambria Suites Hotel and expects to open this spring. The Washington Business Journal noticed that the District released a letter from Zoning Administrator Matthew Le Grant responding to an inquiry about permissible uses at the Jefferson at Marketplace building undergoing construction on the west side of the 1500 block of 7th Street NW. The reply, to attorneys Saul Ewing LLP, confirmed that Unleashed by Petco can operate in one of the new building’s retail spaces. The assumption is that there are serious plans to open an Unleashed in Shaw. This would be the third location in the District for the new urbanformat pet supply store from Petco. And although it will take a while, Landmark Theaters, which is known for showing mostly art and independent films, announced that it will open a six-screen cinema at the Atlantic Plumbing project, currently under construction at 8th and V streets NW. The addition of a movie theater in Shaw will certainly enhance its reputation as a major entertainment destination. However, the project is not expected to be completed until the end of 2015. u
Bloomingdale Bites
McMillan Development Gains Supporters
by Jazzy Wright
A new advocacy group has sprouted up to publicly support the McMillan redevelopment plan. The members of Neighbors for McMillan, founded in December of last year, are Bloomingdale and Stronghold residents who want to bring new park space, retail, jobs, and dining options to the community – amenities they say can be brought to the area by the proposed redevelopment of the McMillan sand filtration site. Members plan to express their support for the city-backed Vision McMillan Plan at various upcoming community meetings and planning hearings. The group is distributing green “Create McMillan Park” lawn signs in neighborhoods surrounding McMillan Park. “We started the group to get the word out about McMillan and promote factual information instead of the emotional cry we’ve heard before,” said Barrie Daneker, an active member of the organization, who said that more than 60 lawn signs were distributed to the community during the first month of the group’s existence. “Neighbors want to express themselves and support this project. The District has owned the property for 30 years and spent $9.3 million to develop it. We’re hoping to build the park space and affordable housing that the people have called for.” Daneker continued, “A lot of us are long-time residents who have what I call ‘McMillan fatigue’ after watching the development project go on for 30 years.” Daneker, who lives in Bloomingdale and previously worked as an advisory neighborhood commissioner in the Stronghold neighborhood, says that past conversations about McMillan focused excessively on community opposition to the site. In a letter to the community he wrote, “For too long now, opponents of any redevelopment – or those who foolishly think that creating a park on the entire space is remotely financially feasible – have been bullying this community, taking over the conversation and misrepresenting the views of the larger community.” According to Daneker individual contributions fund Neighbors for McMillan. He added that the group has not yet asked corporations or local businesses for donations.
Costa Brava Moves Forward
After nearly two years of waiting, construction may be underway on Costa Brava, the soon-to-be-opened tapas
The new “Create McMillan Park” signs. Photo: Barrie Daneker
restaurant on 1st St. NW. According to building permits issued for the restaurant the new eatery will include two dining floors, with 46 seats indoors and 14 outdoors. Located directly opposite the Red Hen, the restaurant is slated to offer Balkan-style tapas cuisine, small Spanish ensembles, and live acoustic music. u Midcity DC | February 2014 u 43