Feeling the pinch Some Route 1 businesses under the gun by Paula Minaert
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he economic upheaval currently roiling the country is touching businesses on Baltimore Avenue, according to a recent survey conducted by the HL&T. “This has been the slowest week so far,” said Godfrey de la Rosa, owner of Under the Coconut Tree Caribbean Bakery and Café, in a conversation shortly before Christmas. “The guest count hasn’t dropped much — the number of people — but the check average has.” The café has been open for seven months. De la Rosa had been looking to open in a new location since 2002, and saw this spot, he said. His brotherin-law, Frank Lovelace, was already across the street in his barber shop, Sooper Cuts. And de la Rosa knew about the development already happening in Hyattsville. But now, he said, “It’s a struggle. It’s definitely partly from the economy.” Lovelace agreed. He pointed to the man whose hair he was cutting one recent afternoon and said, “This is my third customer today.” Paul Richards, partner in Artists on the Avenue, has a similar story. “We opened Sept. 28 and the stock market crashed Oct. 6. We had an abysmal first month, though November and December have been a little better.” The news seems to be grim
PINCH continued on page 8
Vol. 6 No. 1
Hyattsville’s Community Newspaper
Looking back, forward n
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Developer EYA has stocked its storefronts on Baltimore Avenue with stores including the BookNook Bookstore, Artists on the Avenue and Design Studio. Last year, several shops opened their doors in Hyattsville's arts district, including Arrow Bicycle, Shagga Coffee and Rancho Grande restaurant.
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he HL&T asked Mayor William Gardiner about the year behind and the year ahead. Here’s what he had to say: HLT: Generally speaking, what are some things that you would highlight for the coming year? What would you like to get done? And, in that vein, what are 2008’s highlights? Lowlights?
2008 highlights in Hyattsville New businesses and development n Many new stores and restaurants opened along Baltimore Avenue and East West Highway / University Town Center n Renaissance Square, the city’s first arts district anchor project, consisting of 44 units of artist housing, was completed
Mosaic at Metro, the residential phase of the mixed-use development at the Prince George’s Plaza Metro [station] was completed Completion of the stabilization and re-roofing of 4318 Gallatin Street Ratified contract to purchase the BB&T building
New legislation n Updated the charter and code regarding committees, ethics, yards and mobile vending n Adopted new council and committee policies n Adopted a city piggyback on the state homeowners’ tax credit program n Adopted a bike and pedestrian master plan for the city (developed by the bike and pedestrian safety committee) Administration and city services Created new positions—assistant city administrator, communications manager, police officers and police staff n Completed compensation study and adjusted salary tables for sworn and civilian staff n Received significant grant funding from the federal, state, and local n
LOOKING BACK continued on page 7
‘Culinary Epicureanism’ under the coconut tree A review by a neighbor by Daniel Coogan
Hyattsville Life & Times PO Box 132 Hyattsville, MD 20781
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very Friday Godfrey de la Rosa, pastry chef at Under the Coconut Tree, drives to a seafood market in Jessup to pick up fresh mako shark for the Saturday Special, the Shark and Bake sandwich, a delicacy on the beaches of Trinidad and Tobago. After marinating the shark all day Friday, he prepares it for Saturday’s lunch on a sandwich roll with an assortment of condiments. Garnishing the mako — which tastes similar to tuna — with let-
COCONUT TREE continued on page 9 Under the Coconut Tree restaurant, on Baltimore Avenue, offers indoor and outdoor dining with a Carribbean flair.
Life of Pie See p.10
Kill the winter chill with these tips. See p.5
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit # 43 Easton, MD 21601
City Council votes to buy BB&T buidling. See p.4
January 2009
Hyattsville, misc. A few questions for Gardiner by Sarah Nemeth
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ver the past several years, Hyattsville has evolved into a Mecca of real estate development and retail opportunity. Shops and restaurants have popped up along Baltimore Avenue and at University Town Center. Large tracts of land — including University Hills and the Mall at Prince George’s — have been added to the city’s perimeter, boosting residential and commercial tax bases while also expanding the responsibility of infrastructure duties like trash pickup and police services. Still, some of the plans set in motion for development and progress have stalled due to Gardiner a variety of factors. EYA’s East Village property, which is to be developed into a mixeduse project including the restaurant Busboys & Poets, remains nothing more than a fenced-in hill of wild grass and weeds. While the Renaissance Square HIP artists’ apartment building on Jefferson Street has been completed, plans for a YMCA facility at the location are AWOL. Homes remain empty at both EYA’s West Village and at University Town Center. Will the city move forward with its plans? The HL&T spoke with Mayor William Gardiner for his take on the city’s future. “The YMCA project has been very difficult to put together, and the economic situation makes it even more challenging. The Y is interested in developing a full-service facility here, but they have not figured out the financing — the building alone would likely cost between $10 and $14 mil-
GARDINER continued on page 7
Included: The January 14, 2009 Issue of The Hyattsville Reporter—See Center Section