Is the National Harbor DC-centric or it's own entity? (Silver Spring: appointed, leases)

[justtitans]

There was an interesting article written in the Washington Post the other day talking about these new trends of suburbs life style centers and if they can truly take the place of city life. Of course as I was reading the article, I immediately thought about National Harbor (surprised by the lack of acknowledgement about NH). Is this the vision of National Harbor? To be a place that provides a city setting without going downtown or is National Harbor simply trying to become an extension of the DC city experience by connecting itself to the downtown areas?

Can city life be exported to the suburbs? - The Washington Post

The spread of “town center” projects, particularly in the Washington suburbs, is making it harder to distinguish what makes a city a city. The urban neighborhood has become an exportable commodity.


By the end of 2011, there were 398 such city replicas — town center or “lifestyle center” projects — in the United States, most of them built in suburbs, in exurbs or on farmland alongside a highway. Since the 1960s, developers had promoted suburban shopping centers as safe, clean escapes from crowded cities. But with urban living back in vogue since the late 1990s, developers are trying to create it outside city limits.

[North Beach Person]

Town centers are a planning concept that was devised to direct growth and forestall sprawl.

I think those who are boosters of National Harbor are going to extremely disappointed once the casino opens, it will suck the air out of the rest of the development.

Even though I pay attention I can't tell you what else is there, which is a problem that Peterson has in marketing.

[adelphi_sky]

Originally Posted by North Beach Person

Even though I pay attention I can't tell you what else is there, which is a problem that Peterson has in marketing.

Hmmmm. I'm not so sure that's Peterson's problem. Normally developers don't market to the public. Marketing to the public is the responsibility of the businesses there. For example, the Gaylord Convention center needs to market to those who travel, as well as Wyndham Resorts. Etc. I have never received mail fliers or seen commercials by developers for neighborhoods or town centers. Maybe they are in trade magazines?

For you personally, you may be a bit too far out of the region that will frequent National Harbor most. Also, you actually have to go there to explore and find out what's there. Just like I have traveled to North Beach and can remember things I saw there. And I go maybe once a year. I don't blame the city of North Beach for not marketing to the DC area. Also, visiting the website is a great way to find out what is at a certain place.

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by adelphi_sky

Hmmmm. I'm not so sure that's Peterson's problem. Normally developers don't market to the public. Marketing to the public is the responsibility of the businesses there. For example, the Gaylord Convention center needs to market to those who travel, as well as Wyndham Resorts. Etc. I have never received mail fliers or seen commercials by developers for neighborhoods or town centers. Maybe they are in trade magazines?

For you personally, you may be a bit too far out of the region that will frequent National Harbor most. Also, you actually have to go there to explore and find out what's there. Just like I have traveled to North Beach and can remember things I saw there. And I go maybe once a year. I don't blame the city of North Beach for not marketing to the DC area. Also, visiting the website is a great way to find out what is at a certain place.

I really meant the businesses and said Peterson but you understood what I meant.

North Beach actually does market, at a somewhat low level, throughout the Metro area.

I guess what I was getting at is that if National Harbor is to be a regional draw then the marketing of the businesses has to be regional. If I remember correctly Peterson discounted clientele from Prince George's when pitching the project and called it a regional destination.

As a personal opinion, anyone that saw National Harbor being planned and then built without thinking that gambling would eventually be placed there wasn't thinking clearly. Same way with the Hyatt (?) in Cambridge. That whole building is designed as a casino. The only reason there's not one there is because the legislators are Republican and Thomas V. "Mike" Miller is punishing them for that.

[UrbanScholar]

Originally Posted by North Beach Person

I really meant the businesses and said Peterson but you understood what I meant.

I guess what I was getting at is that if National Harbor is to be a regional draw then the marketing of the businesses has to be regional. If I remember correctly Peterson discounted clientele from Prince George's when pitching the project and called it a regional destination.

I think the problem with most of the businesses that are there at the moment is that they are really not regional draws. My thought is that most are on temporary leases to tide over the development until they can draw some bigger players......I think marketing to the region will change once Tanger opens up next Fall. Not really surprised that they were discounted the local residence, you see that done in DC and other tourist cities around the country.

[tcave360]

Anybody got a look at the Chakaboom dance event at the Harbor today? Just saw it on the news, it looked pretty funny.

[Mahatma X]

Extension of DC, just like Silver Spring is.

[UrbanScholar]

Originally Posted by tcave360

Anybody got a look at the Chakaboom dance event at the Harbor today? Just saw it on the news, it looked pretty funny.

Yeah I saw it and it was but at least it was for a good cause. There are waaaaaaay too many overweight Americans out there.

[BigCityDreamer]

National Harbor feels to me almost like an extension of Alexandria, Virginia across the Potomac. LOL.

[adelphi_sky]

Originally Posted by BigCityDreamer

National Harbor feels to me almost like an extension of Alexandria, Virginia across the Potomac. LOL.

That's interesting.