DC/USA 2004...

This is from email to the Columbia Heights email list. Although I don't think that the $2 million for local business development ever came through. And maybe the parking garage isn't an asset that the DC residents want to own. And maybe we'll lose money.

That being said, I do think spending public money to assist the creation of DC/USA was a good idea, and I have to admit that I didn't think so at the time. (I guess I do learn stuff.) You do need regionally attractive shopping options within DC, even if "region" in this case means other parts of the city, but not the region outside of the city.

Where I think we fall down within the city is figuring out how to leverage these additions to our overall retail offerings and commercial districts in ways that also strengthen and extend the qualities of independent businesses and unique retail.

I.e., how can the energy and demand for retail at DC/USA be pulled along the 14th Street corridor and spillover to adjacent commercial areas. For example, despite the success of DC/USA and the Giant Supermarket, two restaurants, Rumberos and Nori, located on the 3200 block of 14th Street in Tivoli Square, abutting the Giant, have failed.

That is an indicator that something about this process isn't working...

PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Steven Hernández
July 13, 2004

COUNCILMEMBER GRAHAM MOVES EMERGENCY BILL TO PROMPT TARGET AND MAJOR RETAIL DEVELOPMENT TO COLUMBIA HEIGHTS

(WASHINGTON, DC) In order to ensure that Target comes to Columbia Heights, Councilmember Jim Graham (Ward 1) moved, and the Council passed, emergency legislation to provide $42 million in tax increment financing to build a needed garage and thus transform a vacant lot into a major retail development.

The tax increment financing ("TIF") is for the Target/DC USA retail and entertainment development at 14th and Irving Streets, NW. $2 million of the TIF funds will go directly towards supporting existing small businesses impacted by the development. With this legislation, construction is estimated to begin in 6-8 months, with scheduled completion in 2007. "For too long, District residents have been forced to go out of town for their retail needs," said Councilmember Graham, "The Council's action helps ensure a new major retail center, not only for Ward One, but for the entire region."

Target/DC USA will provide approximately 460,000 square feet of high-quality retail development with 1000 spaces of below-grade parking, create approximately 500 construction jobs and 1000 new permanent jobs for District residents, all at no cost and no risk to the District. In fact, with the tax revenues that will be generated by the project as soon as it opens, DC USA will practically pay for itself. Furthermore, upon repayment of the debt service on the TIF Note, this project will also generate over $240 million in new tax revenue to the District over the first 20 years.

Moreover, unlike any other TIF approved by the District to-date, DC taxpayers will come out of this deal with an asset: we will own the 1000 space garage built on the premises to support the retail development. The Target/DC USA project will be the centerpiece of Columbia Heights initiatives which include:

* The Tivoli Square project, featuring a 53,000 square foot full-service Giant Food supermarket, a 250-seat theater managed by GALA Hispanic Theatre, 24,000 square feet of additional retail, 28,000 square feet of commercial space, 220 parking-garage spaces, and 40 for-sale town homes, (20 percent of which will be affordable). The project is expected to generate approximately 200 permanent jobs, where possible, first priority for new jobs going to Columbia Heights' residents;

* The Donatelli & Klein development of Kenyon Square and Victory Heights (Parcel 15), comprised of mixed-use development to include 153 condominium units offered at various affordability levels, 21,000 square-feet of retail space, a 75 unit affordable senior housing building, and underground parking;

* The Donatelli & Klein development of Columbia Heights Station (Parcel 26), comprised of mixed-use development to include 235 residential units offered at various affordability levels, 22,000 square-feet of retail space, and underground parking;

* La Casa, a new state of the art homeless facility on the 1400 block of Irving, NW, replacing dilapidated trailers currently on that site;

* The Dance Institute of Washington (DIW) project, a two-story non-traditional 7,000 square foot retail project that will bring badly needed child-care services to the community (ground floor) and provide the community with a valuable recreational resource, a two-story professional 6,250 square foot dance studio (2nd floor);

* The Metro/WMATA project at 14th and Kenyon, NW, with 18,000 square feet of retail and 120 new residences offered at various affordability levels.