Tectonic Shift: Alexandria Slipping Away From DC

With each new feature that comes to the southern half of the city you can almost feel Alexandria and all its trade associations moving further and further away. Not in a physical sense, but in terms of travel time. While they once claimed "we're only minutes from Capitol Hill," only a year or two from now that will change to "we're only an hour, except on game days."

The impact on traffic of the baseball stadium, the redevelopment of L'Enfant Plaza, the Waterside Mall, the Southwest waterfront, the condo development has caught the attention of Councilman Tommy Wells noted the WashExam. “Even when there’s not a baseball game. We’re going to have to come up with a new traffic plan to begin with,” he said.

Also in the works is the redevelopment of the Randall School at 65 I St. SW, which was sold last year to the Corcoran Gallery for $6.2 million. Under the proposal, two-thirds of the original school building would be preserved and renovated to house new classroom, exhibition and studio space for the Corcoran College of Art and Design. As many as 500 new condominium units will replace the remaining buildings.

Maybe its time for those trade associations to relocate back to the city.

Ding Dong the Mall Is Dead

DING DONG THE MALL IS DEAD. Well not exactly dead, but at least the execution has been scheduled for sometime in the future on a day no one really knows when yet. But on that very day, DC will rejoice for the Waterside Mall will be no more. Chamaigne corks will pop in the restaurants while there is dancing on the tables.

The half billion project to redevelop the 13 acre Waterside Mall at 4th and M Sts. SW is on again. Potential tenant Fannie Mae backed out last year, so the whole thing was put on hold, explains the Washington Business Journal. The landowner, the National Capital Revitalization Corp. that is developing Columbia Heights, will be the lead tenant with Waterfront Associates.

Under the deal, NCRC will develop 400,000 SF of residential space. Waterfront - a consortium of developers -- will develop an eye-popping 2.1 million SF of office, residential and retail space. Under the plan, fourth street will reopen as well.

Before you celebrate recognize that this deal still is very fresh and that the DC Council must endorse it. Stadium lease. New hospital. Now this third item. Question of the Day: How many balls can the clownish DC Council juggle at one time? Answer: Zero.

DC Bubble predicts yet another circus at One Judiciary Square. Please pass the cotton candy.

One Liner

$100 MILLION FOR DC SCHOOLS approved by DC Council Committee. The dough comes from the sales tax.

ADAMS MORGAN HARRIS TEETER ONE STEP CLOSER. The DC Board of Zoning Adjustment gave approval this week of the zoning variances for the proposed Harris Teeter grocery store to be located at 17th & Kalorama NW. The order contains 17 conditions, including a required Truck Management Plan that must win endorsement by DC DOT before a certifcate of occupancy will be issued.

"By and large, most of these conditions in concept track those that the developer and the [Adams Morgan Advisory Neighborhood Commission] proposed," said ANC Commissioner Alan Roth in a recent email.

As noted on DCist some still have quibbles with Harris Teeter coming to the neighborhood. Though, for god's sake, DC Bubble can't understand why. Its not like DC has lots of grocery stores to choose from? Whole Foods is overpriced. Safeway is hit or miss. Giant. Don't get DC Bubble started.

Wouldn't it be great if everyone shopped at neighborhood bodegas and green markets to buy their food? Well they don't. Not in DC. Not in the U.S. Not in Europe.

TAX ASSESSMENTS UP 18% in Arlington.