Morning Feed

DONT QUIT YOUR DAY JOB. There are probably many reasons why work continues on the Beauregard, a new condominium in DC, well into the wee hours of the night. Some days work goes until 10 p.m. or 11 p.m. The photo at the below was taken around 6 p.m., after work began at 6 or 7 a.m.

The DC Bubble suspects that the developer, Robertson Development, sees the growing inventory and has said to himself, "Let's get this thing built before its too late."

Of course, Robertson Development is a quality builder that wishes to deliver a product on time and meet expectations of his demanding Washington buyers.

Nonetheless, changing market conditions probably give Robertson comfort that his building is rising quickly.

If you want proof the housing market is slowing and some smart people fear they will get whipsawed, drive by 11th and V Sts NW late at night. You will see for yourself how its a race against time and a decling market in DC.


One Liners

"A DECENT COMPROMISE." That's what DC Council Chair Linda Cropp says about her stadium lease proposal. The key provision, which she says would win council support for the stadium, would cap construction costs at $535M.

Its sounds so innocuous. Cap construction costs. This would be great if Major League Baseball would go for it. Aren't the baseball owners being rightfully demonized for being sharks? Why would MLB go for this, Linda? Compromise is when both sides give not when one side says: "Im being nice so take my position."

Linda: what happens if the arbitors impose financial penalties on DC for failing to approve the lease? Whether you favor the stadium or not? What then?

SCHOOL-YARD BRAWL I. Part of the school restructuring plan expected later this months calls for grouping schools for families to choose from within loose neighborhood boundaries rather than using the current rigid school boundaries, according to DC School Board members who have been briefed on the most recent draft of the plan.

Such a change surely will draw the ire of parents and homeowners in NW DC who enjoy higher property values than those in other parts of the city, partially because of their neighborhood schools.

Suddenly if parents whose children currently are in bounds for, say, Oyster in Woodley Park have to compete with children from Adams Morgan or Columbia Heights to get into school, they will be very unhappy. Much of how one ultimately feels about this depends on which side of the fence or boundry line you sit one.

SCHOOL YARD BRAWL II. Resident around Lincoln Park are fighting the location of a school in their neighborhood. Do charter shools have the same right as do public school do to locate in a residental neighborhood as a matter of right? At first blush allowing the AppleTree institute to locate to 138 12th St. NE seems like a good idea. Why not? Parking and noise, say these good people. Can't we all just get along?