A couple days ago Navy Yard ANC Rep David Garber tweeted:

“Hmmm.. just received BZA application for a new “grocery store and apartment” development at 800 NJ Ave (NJ & H SE). Whole Foods?”

Last night he sent an updated tweet though renderings haven’t been shared yet:

“Got renderings for “grocery+apts” building at NJ & H SE. Let’s just say grocery sign is green.”

In a response he admits:

“Haha — y’know.. no lease is signed but it’s fun knowing we could be really close again. Stars *starting* to align.”

So wishful thinking or you think this will really happen?

Ed. Note: A Harris Teeter is coming to Navy Yard at 4th and M St, SE.

Thanks to a reader for sending these great photos of the 11th Street Bridge:

“This is from the last Navy Gate on 11th-where the path splits: down to the NY trail or up over the bridge.”

“Temp access on left, permanent on right (nice n wide) but concrete still drying.”

“Pedestrian observation decks off of 11th St Bridge – this is gonna be awesome when it’s finished!!”

Last week we learned a Sweetgreen would be coming to Navy Yard at 4th and Tingey SE, opening mid-2014. YardsDC posts the rendering above on Facebook. Like the way it’s planned?

Dear Popville,

On Memorial Day my fiance and I attended the Nationals game, and her purse was stolen out from under our seats around the sixth inning. The same thing happened to a couple sitting next to us. We were in the last row of Section 135, so it was definitely possible for someone to get directly behind our seats, reach down, and grab the bags without us immediately noticing. After the fact, a guy who had been standing in the area thought that he had seen something suspicious–two kids seemed to be distracting him by asking him to take their picture while two male adults were behind our seats. So that may well be the group responsible for the heist, although there is no security footage to verify this.

Anyway, I’m wondering if anyone else out there has had this experience or heard of a similar scheme taking place out at the ballpark, or at any other area sports venues. It sure seems like something whoever is responsible wouldn’t pull just once; they knew what they were doing by targeting our seats at a full game.

WBJ reports on a permit for:

“a fenced outdoor venue, with a tents for food and beverage sales and live music at 101 Tingey St. SE”

From an email:

The Capitol Riverfront in SE Washington is an exciting area of the city, especially during baseball season,” says John Shaw, COO, Hill Country Hospitality. “The team at Hill Country Barbecue Market has started the permitting process for a potential pop-up outdoor barbecue venue in the area, but no deal has been solidified to move forward with this opportunity. If we do proceed, we do not yet know whether it will happen this year or next season.

Hill Country recently kicked off their Backyard Barbecue on the west lawn of the National Building Museum.

From a press release:

sweetgreen, the much-loved, organic, farm-to-table salad shops founded in Washington, D.C., is opening a new location at The Yards in the heart of D.C.’s Capitol Riverfront district at 1212 Fourth Street SE. Opening in mid-2014…

The Yards is a 42-acre urban mixed-use waterfront project located between Nationals Park and the Washington Navy Yard on the riverfront. At completion, The Yards will include 2,800 residential units, 1.8 million square feet of office space, and up to 400,000 square feet of retail and dining space, as well as the already completed five-and-a-half acre riverfront public park. The multi-phased project is expected to total 25-30 buildings.

Yesterday @TheYardsDC tweeted the good news:

“This just in: Nicoletta NYC Pizzeria will be opening in the seasonal stalls at The Yards Park/The Yards DC”

A recent liquor license posted at the Lumber Shed lists Osteria Morini/Nicoletta:

“New full service, fine dining restaurant specializing in authentic Italian food. Separate kiosk for casual dining and takeout/delivery. Inside seating capacity is 165. Two summer gardens with a total of 136 seats. Background music, occasional live music and/or DJ will be provided.”

This is gonna be awesome.

Yesterday we learned Rocklands BBQ would be expanding their Glover Park location. They’ve also some plans to add beer sales to their food truck when they are at to 1st and N Streets, SE while the Nats are in town. From a liquor license application:

“New Tavern, Food Truck. JBS is planning to serve barbeque and related food products from its food truck on private property at Ball Park Square (at the corner of 1st and N Streets, SE) on days of Washington Nationals home games. JBS is seeking an ABRA license to serve beer at the property on those days in conjunction with its food sales.”

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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?

When the azaleas are in full bloom Yards Park is a must visit spot in Navy Yard.