Click to enlarge New Rendering via Ellis Development

From a press release:

MRP Realty and Ellis Development Group have teamed with Fundrise, a local, online platform that uses technology to create a new model for real estate investment centered on crowdsourcing, to offer the public the opportunity to invest in their next development, The Griffith, located at 965 Florida Ave, NW. The Griffith is a mixed-use development consisting of approximately 370,000 square feet, including 40,000 square feet of ground floor retail and residential units above. The Griffith title is in homage to the old Griffith Stadium that was located between Georgia Avenue and 5th Street from 1911 – 1965. The development parcel is currently being sold through the District of Columbia Deputy Mayor’s office, and MRP’s proposal has been selected to be in the best and final round.

Ground floor retail of the development will include Griffith Market, designed as an indoor farmers’ market that allows small and independent grocers, operators, and retail entrepreneurs to set up inside the building and serve the general public in a creative and affordable manner, thereby creating an urban village that is authentic to the culture of Shaw and LeDroit Park. It is intended to compliment, not diminish, the high end, large scale grocery store planned for the Howard Town Center. More importantly, Griffith Market is intended to provide food and retail options that serve the immediate neighborhoods of the community while also serving as a destination for residents throughout the City.

Ed. Note: In late April we looked at the Ellis and competing JBG proposals for 965 Florida Ave, NW. A winner has not yet been selected.

I’m curious what folks think about the proposed Griffith Market. Do you think it will work well in that location? Do you think it can serve the public in an “affordable manner”? Would you invest in something like that?

Photo by PoPville flickr user llahood

Two years ago I asked readers where they planned to send their children to school in DC. It was roughly evenly split (sorta) between public, private and charter schools. To oversimplify, back in the day, lots of folks I knew either moved when they had kids or moved when their kids finished elementary school. Today, I’m seeing more and more of my friends staying in the district after they have kids.

However, last week reports came out that DC’s charter school waitlists had hit 22,000. And talking to friends who have gone through the process, it sounds brutal. So I thought (especially since I have a kid now) I’d see what folks are doing now and what folks plan to do in the future. For those who have kids that have reached school age – where did you end up sending them? How did the process work for you? For those who have kids not yet of age – what are your plans?

Photo by PoPville flickr user rockcreek

I’m not necessarily talking about Taco Bell, though of course that could be an answer, I’m more talking about where to grab quick, good lunches. While I really love Greek Deli on 19th St, NW I can’t stand waiting on line. So it got me thinking about what are the best lunch options around town where you don’t have to wait on line forever? Where’s your favorite fastest food?

Photo via @GarberDC

On Thursday The House Subcommittee on Government Operations had a hearing to address the future of 49 L Street SE. The Half Street Market blog wrote:

The hearing is being called to discuss “the costs to the taxpayer of underperforming or vacant Federal assets and, in particular, the status of the vacant GSA Warehouse located on L Street in southeast Washington, D.C.” The committee has invited representatives from the GSA, GAO, and Ward 6 Council to testify on possible uses of the warehouse. Councilmember Tommy Wells (Ward 6) and Ed Kaminski (ANC 6D02) have been invited to testify.

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ANC Rep and Half Street Market Supporter @GarberDC tweeted:

“@HalfStMarket hearing went really well. Congress & GSA very aware of community interest. …What a great building”

However Washington Post reporter @TimCraigPost wondered:

“Has anyone considered some won’t want to spend $19 million to build another Union Market, which many in DC can’t afford?”

Post reporter @OConnellPostbiz also wondered:

“We already have @EasternMarketDC and @UnionMarketDC — hard to see a third this close being best economic use.”

So what do you guys think – should DC buy the vacant L St, SE warehouse for $19 million and convert it into a new Market? If not, what do you think should become of the old warehouse?

Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

Dear PoPville,

Thanks for posting the “Where’s Your Favorite Chill Brunch Spot?” as last week’s Friday Question. To be honest, though, I can’t afford many of these places. So I wanted to suggest a follow up for readers like me: What is DC’s Best Brunch Bargain? My hope is that readers will highlight places with enjoyable flavors, service, and atmosphere that don’t get the $$$ rating on yelp.

I’m gonna stick with my original answer for favorite chill spot and say Red Derby. Where’s your favorite brunch bargain in town?

Photo by PoPville flickr user nairdaecartal

A friend of mine asked for brunch recommendations and for some reason I always seem to blank on brunch recs. We got a few recommendations back in 2009 but obviously a million places have opened since then. I’m not looking for best food really – I’m more interested in best atmosphere where you can relax, though of course decent food is important too. For me, I can’t really think of a brunch spot I prefer to chill at over Red Derby (14th and Quincy St, NW.) And now that the weather is getting nice, bonus points for a place that has a good outdoor option too.

So for the Friday Question of the Day – what’s your favorite chill brunch spot where you can hang out for hours?

Rendering via ANC Rep David Garber’s Facebook page

Last week a commenter pined for a movie theater in Columbia Heights (I also wondered about that possibility back in 2009.) On March 1st, Navy Yard ANC Rep David Garber posted a rendering for a proposed movie theater in Navy Yard:

“Curious to hear what you think of the design for this new 16-screen ShowPlace ICON movie theater near the ballpark!”

Personally I think a movie theater would do very well in Navy Yard as more and more development continues to sprout near the baseball stadium and coming soon to the nearby SW Waterfront as well. Anyway, it got me thinking about what other neighborhoods – could realistically – support a movie theater? I think NoMa probably could as well. Which neighborhoods do you think could support a 16 screen theater? How ’bout a smaller independent two screen theater like West End Cinema?

When we talk about vacant retail spaces the topic of chain stores/restaurants is often a concern. Personally I think it would be horrible for retail strips to have nothing but chain stores. Having said that, I have no problem if one of the spaces were used for a chain. And whenever I walk past a Chipotle, in any neighborhood, it is always packed. So clearly some folks do like a chain store. So for today’s FQotD – if you were to have ONE chain represented in your neighborhood – which chain would you most like to have? Chipotle? Something else?

Over the past few months (and years really) there have been lots of discussions about the controversy over the use of the name Redskins. Most recently a few folks sent me links to the article Bill in Congress challenges Redskins trademark:

Legislation was introduced Wednesday that would cancel the NFL team’s trademark of the term “redskin.” The bipartisan bill comes as a federal trademark panel considers a petition brought by a group of young American Indians who say the Washington football team should not be allowed to trademark its name because it is offensive.

Friends of mine know that I’ve been wrestling with this question for a few years now. But it seems to me that it is no longer a matter of if, rather, it has simply become a matter of when the name will be dropped. Back in the good old 90s I attended Miami University of Ohio. At that time our nickname was the Miami Redskins. My senior year the student body was polled to see if we wanted to keep the name or drop it. I think 98% voted to keep the name. Nevertheless the next year 1997 the name was switched to the Miami Redhawks. There was no student uprising as result. None of my fellow alumni friends think any less of the school because of the name change. We all still root for the Redhawks. Damn you Boston University…

Looking back it now seems obvious that the university made the right decision unilaterally changing the name. I think when the Washington Redskins one day change their name, we will also look back and say it was the right thing to do. Most people I talk with feel the same way.

So for today’s FQotD – when do you think it will actually happen? Will it only happen when the courts/Congress make them change it? Realistically how many years away do you think it will be?

We’ve spoken a lot about our favorite local beers and craft beers but today I want to talk about imported beers. I had a delicious Japanese White Beer ( Hitachino Nest) at Red Rocks and I’m hooked on it. Though it’s pretty damn expensive at Red Rocks I’ve seen it at time at D’Vines in 750ml bottles for around 10 bucks. Anyway it’s delicious – if you like white beer and see it offered, you should give it a taste. What’s your favorite imported beer?

Photo by PoPville flickr user ericnuzum

This one comes from the forum – but I’m curious to hear more folks recommendations:

“In a few months I’ll be moving out of DC–after 8+ years here. I’ve tried to be a pretty active resident in terms of sightseeing and activities, but are there any must sees I might have missed? I’m thinking more “off the beaten path” places or events (outside of the Smithsonians, art museums, monuments) that I’d want to check out before it’s too late.”

We got some great recs back in 2011 – but I’m what curious folks would recommend today?

Assuming the weather is nice, I think I would recommend a tour of the parks. Maybe take an epic walk or bike ride from the Georgetown Waterfront, to Meridian Hill, to Lincoln Park on the Hill, to the Yards Park in Navy Yard (or maybe split it up over a few days) and I’d try to hit some of my favorite restaurant/bars for a drink along the way. Another thing I’d recommend (which may say odd to some) is check out and walk around some of DC’s cemeteries like Rock Creek Cemetery and Congressional Cemetery. What would you guys do?

I was gonna ask about sequestration this week but to be honest I’m just sick of sequestration. Yesterday I posted one of my favorite lion sculptures and others voted for their favorites. So to get as far away from sequestration as possible – I wanna talk outdoor art today. It can be either from a private residence or from a museum or government owned. For non private, I love the Kahlil Gibran memorial garden sculptures and poems. From a private home I love this origami crane from Dupont. What’s your favorite piece of outdoor art?

For today’s Friday Question of the Day I’ve simply got a random proclamation for ya and I’m curious to know yours. I’ll say – Thai Xing is absolutely phenomenal and surpasses the hype. If you haven’t been yet – go. I had huge expectations and had heard so much about Thai Xing that I didn’t think it could possibly be as good as everyone said it was. But it was. And since we live in the land of best of lists and random proclamations – what restaurant do you think most meets or surpasses the hype it’s received?

515 Florida Ave, NW

Photo by PoPville flickr user JosephLeonardo

With Lent starting I thought I throw this out there – where is your favorite seafood restaurant? I really love Luke’s Lobster but I’m thinking more of a sit down restaurant and I’m drawing a blank. I guess it doesn’t have to be exclusively a seafood restaurant – know of a restaurant that has a delicious fish/seafood option?

From ANC1C representing Adams Morgan:

ABC and Public Safety Committee
Wednesday, February 13, 7:00 PM
Kalorama Recreation Center, 1875 Columbia Road NW

Adams Morgan Moratorium. The Committee will continue discussion of the Adams Morgan Moratorium on alcohol licenses. The current Moratorium will expire early in 2014 and the Commission will need to let the ABC Board know how the community would like to proceed by fall of 2013. The Committee will endeavor to establish a schedule over which the discussion will continue, and to identify the topics that are likely to be considered along the way. The Committee will not vote concerning the substance of the Moratorium itself at this time.

While debate has once again started again around a proposed U street liquor license moratorium – I’m wondering what folks think of the one currently in place in Adams Morgan. Do you think it has worked in diversifying retail and adding daytime vitality to the neighborhood? Do you think it should expire in 2014?