8th or 11th/15th...the choice depends on a key reckoning. Is 8th in need of further nurturing to sustain its economic vitality? If it can do well enough regardless, are there then sufficient anchors (the new 11th street bridge, Frager's, and the Harris-Teeter for the 11th/15th route to help create a second economically viable commercial district on the Hill? If the 11th/15th route were chosen as worthy of nurturing, won't redeveloping Hines Junior High (adding many commercial addresses) divert patronage needed left to sustain a viable second commercial district further east?
South of Pennsylvania this could prove a fascinating test of the Mayor's more inclusive and deliberate planning process; north of Pennsylvania I fear it may boil down to which residential street (for only 7th has much non-residential frontage) cries the most compelling NIMBY (or NIMFY)...still, these are the problems to struggle with; they will inform the next half century of Capitol Hill development.
Jeff - 13 years ago
I agree with one point the C100 made -- 8th Street is already developing into a great business corridor and is well served by existing transit. That doesn't mean it couldn't benefit from streetcars, but I think the intersection of Potomac Avenue and Pennsylvania can benefit from streetcars *more* than 8th Street can. Streetcars are the missing link needed to bring the kind of development we see on Pennsylvania closer to the Capitol down to the end by Barney Circle. Besides, there are very few transportation options from that intersection that go northward.
Dave B - 13 years ago
Can we vote for anything other than what the C100 proposes? They seem to have strange motives to prevent street cars. The really don't like overhead wires, or at least they use that as a masquerade for whatever motives they have, since it doesnt really seem like that bog of a deal. I think they wrote letters to the federal government opposing additional federal funds to connect the H St line to Ward 7.
I think their motives are abou 10% historical preservation and 90% NIMBY/hater/other
8th or 11th/15th...the choice depends on a key reckoning. Is 8th in need of further nurturing to sustain its economic vitality? If it can do well enough regardless, are there then sufficient anchors (the new 11th street bridge, Frager's, and the Harris-Teeter for the 11th/15th route to help create a second economically viable commercial district on the Hill? If the 11th/15th route were chosen as worthy of nurturing, won't redeveloping Hines Junior High (adding many commercial addresses) divert patronage needed left to sustain a viable second commercial district further east?
South of Pennsylvania this could prove a fascinating test of the Mayor's more inclusive and deliberate planning process; north of Pennsylvania I fear it may boil down to which residential street (for only 7th has much non-residential frontage) cries the most compelling NIMBY (or NIMFY)...still, these are the problems to struggle with; they will inform the next half century of Capitol Hill development.
I agree with one point the C100 made -- 8th Street is already developing into a great business corridor and is well served by existing transit. That doesn't mean it couldn't benefit from streetcars, but I think the intersection of Potomac Avenue and Pennsylvania can benefit from streetcars *more* than 8th Street can. Streetcars are the missing link needed to bring the kind of development we see on Pennsylvania closer to the Capitol down to the end by Barney Circle. Besides, there are very few transportation options from that intersection that go northward.
Can we vote for anything other than what the C100 proposes? They seem to have strange motives to prevent street cars. The really don't like overhead wires, or at least they use that as a masquerade for whatever motives they have, since it doesnt really seem like that bog of a deal. I think they wrote letters to the federal government opposing additional federal funds to connect the H St line to Ward 7.
I think their motives are abou 10% historical preservation and 90% NIMBY/hater/other