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The one advantage I think H Street has is that it's longer (or at least it seems that way to me). Most of the good stuff on U Street is concentrated between 11th and 16th Streets. After 16th Street, it kinda hits a deadzone with rowhouses on both sides of the block. H Street has the potential to be about 8 or 9 consecutive solid blocks of retail, dining, and entertainment options. The only thing that might keep it from reaching its full potential are the Auto Zone and that little strip mall.
And like I said before, the streetcar will be an attraction all on its own. You can already hear the sounds of the doors opening and people rushing off to get to Smith Commons or the H Street Country Club.
I always felt that this little strip mall should be down the road on Benning Road instead of H Street. It looks out of place. I think U Street will still be more popular due to the metro. But H Street won't be far behind. You're right, that streetcar will be an attraction in itself. People are ready to stop using the dirty and packed X2 bus and get on this streetcar. It's a pain to drive down that street right now. But it will be worth it in the long run
The AutoZone building was sold to a developer in January, so I wouldn't worry about it in the long term. As big-money, new-construction developments come on line soon, though, I'll be interested to see how the vibe of the street changes -- whether people with cutting-edge business ideas continue to go to H Street and pay the speculators' rents, or whether they go elsewhere. There really aren't many other areas with both high density (principally multifamily dwellings, which create a critical mass of foot traffic) and low rents.
U Street has a central location among the city's densest and liveliest neighborhoods, plus the opportunity to expand via infill (e.g., replacing Rite Aid and Foot Locker) and through growth towards the Howard Theatre to the east. It also has a long history of being an entertainment district, which keeps the NIMBYs from clamping down too hard on new venues. I think it will endure, but mellow out as its clientele ages.
Keeping the balancing act of a great urban retail street going is a very challenging business, and it will be fascinating to watch these two streets -- and the many other aspiring entertainment districts out there (Yards, Wharf, Shirlington) -- continue to evolve over time.
Thought I'd never see the day when H street would have yuppies and hipster and other people walking on it.
I guess you're next Minnesota ave and Good Hope road!!!!
Thought I'd never see the day when H street would have yuppies and hipster and other people walking on it.
I guess you're next Minnesota ave and Good Hope road!!!!
Yeah I spent some time during the day on H street and it was just fine. I think there's lots of potential. However, I don't see it getting to the level of U street due to a lack of high density housing. Which is just fine. I wonder if this means Trinidad will start getting cleaned up.
U Street has already gentrified. I haven't seen anything even remotely sketchy on U Street in the last couple of years. Hell, I think that U Street is less sketchy and a more grown up experience than going out in Adams Morgan.
H Street is growing fast and I think will become a pretty vibrant neighborhood. There are already plans to tear down the H Street Connection and built a six story building. There are a few locations where some pretty big buildings can be built especially on the west end of H Street. The development on 3rd and H will bring some density to the neighborhood.
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