TGI Fridays “New Upscale Concept ”, Chipotle, Starbucks, Burger Place all coming to The shops At Dakota Crossing (Costco et al)

by Prince Of Petworth February 26, 2016 at 4:00 pm 52 Comments

View as you’re coming off Rt. 50/NY Ave

Thanks to a reader for taking some photos and sending this update from the local ANC’s Gateway to the City:

“Site work at The shops At Dakota Crossing is progressing and last week we received updates on some of the prospective tenants to make Fort Lincoln their home. The retailers include:

Starbucks

Chipotle

T-Mobile

TGI Fridays “New Upscale Concept”

Vitamin Shoppe

Burger Place”

View from 33rd Place & Ft. Lincoln Drive

Philippe Lecheval

So glad they brought Fair Lakes to the city, so I don’t have to go out to Fair Lakes!
- I Dont Get It
  
  Yes we need a closer Joe’s Crab Shack!
  - Jan
    
    Elitist much?
    - c
      
      somebody’s got to stand up for what’s right.
    - IDontGetIt
      
      Yes!
- Jayne Wallace
  
  haha, philippe
JP

OK, boring stuff is good so as not to add to Costco traffic.
stacksp

There is a fear that TGIF’s will be the primary local watering hole for patrons of Stadium and Bliss Nightclubs and will attract non upscale clientele in this upscale concept of the restaurant chain.
Woodridge lift

Why can’t they get a local chain like something from the Great American (or whatever) or Neighborhood Restaurant Group? They seem to be popping up everywhere.
- analyst
  
  Prices are too high for the customer base.
- Woodridge
  
  Rents are too high for local small businesses to get into any of these places built by big developers. They have no choice but bring in big corporate chains. They’re the only ones who can afford to be there. Bah humbug.
Timebomb

That enormous surface parking lot makes me so sad.
- textdoc
  
  Take heart, though — if the area becomes more and more popular, the parking lot might eventually be occupied by buildings. (I’m thinking of how the area around the Prince George’s Plaza Metro station has filled in.)
- neighbor
  
  Really? I hate parking lots as much as the next guy, but it’s practically in MD. The land just isn’t worth enough to build a ramp, much less below ground parking.
  - Timebomb
    
    Proximity to (or even presence in) MD isn’t why that’s the case (there are many urban clusters on the other side of the District line in all directions). But yeah, I can accept this for now in hopes it’ll get filled in with buildings someday, after NewCityDC and other nearby projects eventually fill in the wasteland between there and NoMa.
    - Philippe Lecheval
      
      High density development is unlikely to reach this area anytime soon. There’s no need for it.
      - stacksp
        
        +1
- Jerry Grundle
  
  I know! Every time I go to Costco, I start sobbing uncontrollably as soon as that parking lot first comes into view.
John

I’ve been to an upscale TGI Fridays! If I recall correctly, it was called Denny’s.
Bruce

Yessss. Commodity crap keeping America fat.
- Kingman Park
  
  Yeah because pork belly being sold at every restaurant doesn’t contribute at all.
- sproc
  
  And creating a lot of jobs in NE and paying all those taxes. Awful stuff.
  - Bruce
    
    Working at chipotle might not be as marketable of a talent/skill as you think it is. These are adults working jobs that teenagers used to do, for very little.
    - sproc
      
      Dyed in the wool liberal here and I share some of your angst. But there’s no New Deal coming and this is vastly better than an empty lot.
c

It’s very sad that RIA ave metro and Fort Totten Metro stations are being developed in the way they are.
Those areas need stronger leadership.
- Neighbor
  
  Not sure if you’re confused but this is nowhere near any metro.
  - Woodridge
    
    It’s About one mile from the metro. Not exactly no where near it.
- stacksp
  
  Curious as to your gripes regarding those two. They aren’t that aesthically pleasing to the eye but I assume you are referencing something else.
  - c
    
    it’s about catering to the developers ( thanks Vincent Orange) and also delivering lower quality designs, infrastructure and businesses to communities with less power and influence.
    The comment by Blithe is also part of this issue. lowered expectations. it’s sad. ( the “to me” is implied, and understood by most)
    - JoDa
      
      We have yet to see final designs on Brentwood Village or the to-be-named development on the Foreman Mills plaza lot (I was going to call it the Safeway plaza, until I checked myself on just how long ago that (terrible) Safeway closed…). Both are still in the design phase, and I’m sure you’ll be at community meetings to comment on the final designs when they come to present them, right?
      .
      Rhode Island Row is not the prettiest to look at, but I resign myself that it was better than a parking lot and doesn’t seem to have much trouble leasing apartments. Their troubles leasing retail space are not a problem with the development, but with perceptions and, slightly, the community. Even if a building is ugly, retailers will locate *basically on top of* a Metro for the foot traffic, if they think the foot traffic will patronize them. Retailers don’t think that neighborhood residents will patronize them, and there isn’t much residential density in the immediate area. Perhaps you should be telling your favorite retailers about a location where you would patronize them conveniently? Ultimately, that problem should solve itself as more residential developments go in nearby (the Douglas condos on Reed seem to be moving along at a fast clip…).
    - Blithe
      
      I’m curious, and somewhat perplexed. I don’t have any expectations for this development — so what part of my comment did you manage to translate into “lowered expectations”? Was it the part where I suggested that the development might be “meeting the needs of people whose shopping and recreational goals differ from yours”? Or is this another one of those things that’s “understood by most” ? I could extrapolate from your comments that any development that you feel doesn’t meet your personal set of needs is somehow representative of “lowered expectations” — but that would speak to your own expectations and values rather than to mine.
- Blithe
  
  I’m reading this comment as being “very sad” that the development will be meeting the needs of people whose shopping and recreational goals differ from yours. I’d be interested in learning more about your concerns regarding both development and what you mean by “leadership”.
  – As an aside, I find it galling when people write as though their own opinions are both factual and universal: ‘it’s very sad’ implies a lot of assumptions that the more responsible ‘ it saddens me’ does not. Which reminds me that I’d really like to track down some of my HS teachers and thank them for their patient instruction. Go tigers!
  - Blithe
    
    FWIW, I’ve never been to a tgif and don’t eat burgers, so I’ve no personal investment re: how well this particular development might fit the needs of those particular communities.
    - anonymous
      
      there is a Walmart at Ft Totten with housing above, not super high end but pretty good density. The new building at ft Totten fronting on South Dakota has not even hinted at what the retail offerings will be. The next wave of development at RIA includes two large projects, one on each side of Rhode Island in addition to the large building already under construction, looks promising. Note: One of the projects is right of the MBT. Which should improve trail safety. Many of my neighbors in Brkland (Edgewoood) want mid-level development with a few high end offerings. Brkland is still kinda friendly and many of us don’t want maximum density so it can stay that way. And it would be nice IMO if young families still have a punchers chance to buy a home in Brkland/Edgewood/Woodridge/Mich Park like we did.
      - stacksp
        
        Brookland/Woodridge etc has nice SF detached homes and they should keep it that way. One of the better neighborhoods for families.
      - Blithe
        
        Thanks for the information!
      - BlueStreak
        
        I like this. Other neighborhoods should be dense. But the one I live in should stay SFHs to maintain the character of the neighborhood….
  - c
    
    ok.
- jdegg
  
  Is RIA even being developed?
  - Anonymous
    
    I don’t know if I can post links
    GGW
    “A Big Lots and Forman Mills currently sit on the huge swath of land on Rhode Island Avenue NE, next to the Metro station. Soon, that same land may be home to a 1,550-unit housing development with retail stores on the ground floor of all of its buildings.”
    
    URBAN TURF
    “In zoning documents filed Wednesday, developer Mid-City Financial Corporation lays out a sweeping vision of a planned-unit development called Brentwood Park that would create eight new city blocks near the Rhode Island Avenue Metro.
    The first stage of the project includes a staggering 200,000 square feet of retail space and 2,200 residential units, 20 percent of which will be designated as affordable. The development is roughly bounded by Rhode Island Avenue to the north; Brentwood Road to the west; Montana Avenue to the west; Downing Street to the southwest; and Bryant Street to the south (map).”
Dan

D.C. appears to be only building expensive small apartments instead of home. I am not a big fan of Chipotle, however, it’s good to see economic development come to this area. I was reading in the Washington Post yesterday, wealthy residents living near the Washington Cathedral doesn’t want a homeless shelter in their Ward 3 neighborhood because it will bring down the property value of homes.
- JoDa
  
  That depends on where you are and how narrow your focus. While the new developments coming to the RIA area mentioned above are mostly apartments, many other large developments in the vicinity have been townhomes, 2-on-2’s, and large condo flats, most big enough for families and some on the large side. Brentwood Village (the development from Mid-City mentioned above) has mostly apartments by sheer number (because there are naturally more apartments on a given size plot than single-family or two-family homes), but includes single-family townhomes, 2-on-2 condos, and traditional condos (flats) for purchase. Other notable developments that are townhomes, 2-on-2’s, or large condos are Mint (many floorplans over 1000 ft2), the condos on 4th at Adams or Bryant (all over 1k ft2), Chancellor’s Row (all single-family townhomes), Jackson Place (which is, oddly, fully named “Jackson Place Flats” when all the homes are 2-on-2), Brooks Row (2-on-2’s), Perry Place (all single-family townhomes), Gallery (all single-family townhomes), and the new homes just south of the Brookland Metro on 9th (2-on-2’s and quite big…I saw 1400-1600+ ft2). There are also two pending proposals for townhome developments in Brookland/Michigan Park. Speaking directly to the area that is the direct subject of the post: the Ft. Lincoln development is all single-family townhomes, and TONS of them (I looked: 580 total once the project is fully built-out).
  .
  But, sure…it’s all expensive, tiny apartments.
  - Anonymous
    
    WOW JoDa very thorough.
    
    “There are also two pending proposals for townhome developments in Brookland/Michigan Park.”
    
    Are you talking about EYA project near providence and HU School of Divinity site?
    
    There are plans are in place for townhomes @7th and Jackson on the grounds surrounding the ‘castle’ and the rest of the Paulists land fronting on 4th Street side of Chancellor’s is slated for development according to the local ANC Rep but EYA is not doing that project.
    
    Don’t forget about stalled Colonel Brooks project which may evolve into something else.
frickorfrack

This stretch of Rt. 50 is a gateway into Washington, D.C., I consider it to be like one’s ‘front door’ to your home.

These establishments are known for garish lighting, cheap industrial design, and are generally anchor tenants in strip malls. Strip malls have a legitimate bad reputation.

Tacky.
- eva
  
  There may be places where strip malls have a bad reputation, but it’s hardly universal. DC area strip malls contain many of my favorite restaurants. I’m a staunch cyclist, and pretty anti-car culture, but I also know that that area of DC where you come off what is essentially an expressway is going to have primarily car-driven development. And I make many weekend pilgrimages to the strip malls of VA and MD for great food and groceries I can’t get here in the District.
  - EG
    
    I agree 100% with your last point. I drive 30+ minutes to go to Great American restaurants in VA. They would definitely succeed in the Fort Lincoln development.
ambivalent

Let’s be honest – this is much more a “Gateway to the Suburbs” for urbanites who want cheap bulk items from Costco than it is a “Gateway to the City”. It bears no likeness to the city and no one in the suburbs would need to drive into DC to access enormous parking lots and big box stores.
- stacksp
  
  Plenty of people from MD shop at that Costco. It is the closest Costco on that side of town for DC and MD residents. The next COSTCO that I am aware of is either Laurel or Pentagon City for that side of town.
  - Anonymous
    
    It also sells booze.
    
    I love the nice liquor stores popping up in DC. I try an support mom & pop type places but I can’t pay $12 more for a bottle Scotch to support local store over Costco.
    - anon
      
      Agreed. I was at a liquor store near my office the other day where a small bottle of Bulleit bourbon was $50. A bottle more than twice that size at Costco is $38. Just can’t justify it. The way I see it, Costco’s primary purpose is booze and toilet paper :)
      - Toin
        
        And gas.
      - Anon
        
        It is not worth driving there for gas to save two dollars on a fill up. If you’re there to shop, sure.

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