Public Spaces
Artists still waiting to revitalize Dupont Underground
Beneath Dupont Circle lie two long, dank tunnels that were once a bustling underground streetcar station. A coalition of arts groups want to reactivate the space for arts exhibition and performance, but they need community support and action from the Deputy Mayor's office.
Dupont's tunnels.
The tunnels became empty in 1962, as DC was dismantling its streetcar system. Today, the only remnant is the many covered staircases surrounding the circle, which now look more like utility shafts. In 1995, one developer tried to turn the space into a food court, but that project failed quickly and morphed into drawn-out litigation. As reported a year ago, a number of arts groups have banded together to propose renovating the space into a shared arts exhibition and performance space.
Arts space could succeed where fast food failed. Food establishments rely on foot traffic for much of their patronage, and a dark, cavernous underground tunnel is not exactly the ideal dining space. The tunnel is curved, reducing sight lines. But exhibitions and performances typically don't want outside light, and people travel to them purposefully rather than happening by.
Concept sketch for Dupont Underground. Image from Hunt Laudi Studio.
What's the holdup? The organization, the Arts Coalition for Dupont Underground, has been waiting for city government to release an RFP for a new lease. Initially, an outstanding contract mandated that only adjacent property owners could bid for the space, according to coalition representative Adam Griffiths. But, of course, the adjacent owners already have space on Dupont Circle, and aren't necessarily interested in this. The DC Council passed a law voiding that requirement, but the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development has still not moved ahead.
Recently, DMPED officials also told Griffiths and the Coalition that they wanted to conduct community discussions about the future of the space. As a Dupont Circle resident, I think the arts would be a great use for this space where commercial enterprises are unlikely to succeed. Many other residents have expressed enthusiasm for this arts option. It's worthwhile to also consider other possibilities, but would any work?
Back in 2003, the Dupont Circle ANC discussed potential uses (DOC). Suggestions included a movie theater, DC permit offices, storage for nearby residents, and retail. Some suggested a gay and lesbian museum, but GLBT officials were unenthusiastic about the symbolism of locating a museum underground for a civil rights issue that spent too many decades in the figurative closet.
In any event, DMPED has still also not scheduled community meetings, and the coalition is still waiting for the opportunity to bid and begin real fundraising. If they can secure a lease, the coalition will still face obstacles. The tunnels are in bad shape from years of neglect and the water that inevitably collects in underground spaces unless actively removed. They hope to raise money to renovate a small portion of the space for about $100,000, then begin a capital campaign to fund the remainder of a Phase 1 build-out at a cost of about $500,000.
There are actually two tunnels, one on each side of the circle. The group currently proposed to use the western tunnel, which is closer to more of the existing galleries and the P Street commercial area. The tunnels are also much longer than just surrounding the circle, though all of the entrances are on the circle; they include long, straight segments along Connecticut from R nearly to N Streets. The coalition would use the circular section for programming and small pieces of the straight portions for storage. Conceivably, the eastern tunnel could go to another use, if another company or organization were interested enough and could afford to renovate that space.
Concept plan for Dupont Underground. Image from Hunt Laudi Studio.
 | David Alpert is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Greater Greater Washington and Greater Greater Education. He worked as a Product Manager for Google for six years and has lived in the Boston, San Francisco, and New York metro areas in addition to Washington, DC. He loves the area which is, in many ways, greater than those others, and wants to see it become even greater.   |
Comments
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by beatbox on Oct 19, 2009 1:37 pm • link • report
it was made to be a streetcar turaround/station- not a shopping center or a gallery.
Although- if it will not be used for it's intended purpose- this is not at all a bad thing.
by w on Oct 19, 2009 1:45 pm • link • report
by j on Oct 19, 2009 1:50 pm • link • report
Why isn't the city helping out. This would be a truly unique art space. Is there any historic signage down there?
The other half could totally work as a bike station too, better than the one at Union Station. If there was a food court previously, that means there's water/plumbing, etc. to support showers/restrooms. That would be a MAJOR amenity for any neighborhood: secure, underground bike storage/bikeshop.
by Justin from ReadysetDC on Oct 19, 2009 1:55 pm • link • report
by Justin from ReadysetDC on Oct 19, 2009 1:57 pm • link • report
by Nick on Oct 19, 2009 2:00 pm • link • report
They are also not particularly interested in new ideas unless they originate from their bureaucracy and if they can take the credit for these ideas.
by w on Oct 19, 2009 2:28 pm • link • report
by JTS on Oct 19, 2009 2:32 pm • link • report
by Paul S on Oct 19, 2009 2:42 pm • link • report
by Hiya on Oct 19, 2009 2:50 pm • link • report
But we have always kept in mind that this was and remains a streetcar tunnel, and - should the trolley system eventually include K Street, it might be a good idea to take it up Connecticut Avenue - under the circle - and perhaps up into Adams Morgan. If not, the Circle might be the natural turnaround.
The bones of the old system are still there. They can rise again and be part of a new system.
by Mike Silverstein on Oct 19, 2009 4:12 pm • link • report
by Todd on Oct 19, 2009 4:16 pm • link • report
http://www.conoperative.com/blog/2009/08/26/dupont-circle-underground/
by Matt Johnson on Oct 19, 2009 4:16 pm • link • report
by Michael on Oct 19, 2009 4:22 pm • link • report
todd hates to look FOR parking but i hate to look AT parking taking up all that lovely public real estate that could be better used by people in motion, making the streets better for drivers and cyclists alike.
by j on Oct 19, 2009 5:39 pm • link • report
by metronic on Oct 19, 2009 5:40 pm • link • report
If it could still function for future transit, it should definitely be reserved for that use.
I've given up on seeing it for any other functional non-municipal use in my lifetime. It probably has all kinds of HVAC, ADA, etc issues.
by spookiness on Oct 19, 2009 5:45 pm • link • report
---------------------------------
http://sexlivesandliterature.blogspot.com/
by Cryin' on Oct 19, 2009 10:23 pm • link • report
by SG on Oct 20, 2009 12:28 am • link • report
(The closest cities by population to DC are Seattle, Nashville, Las Vegas, and Portland, all of which are at least twice the geographic size of DC.)
by Gavin Baker on Oct 20, 2009 1:46 am • link • report
by J on Oct 20, 2009 2:30 am • link • report
Until DC stops giving 99-year development rights to the insider with the most connections, look forward to more vacant properties languishing for decades.
by monkeyrotica on Oct 20, 2009 7:39 am • link • report
I hope there's a plan for a small theater space in the mix that could host several troupe--something along the model of the Source theater, which brings some nice crowds into the 14&U area.
by John on Oct 20, 2009 9:22 am • link • report
by Zac on Oct 20, 2009 9:38 am • link • report
by Scott on Oct 20, 2009 10:24 am • link • report
by Katz on Oct 20, 2009 12:20 pm • link • report
by Roger on Oct 20, 2009 2:11 pm • link • report
I've seen dcdot concept plans showing street cars on K street. The lines here go practially to K street already. It is just itching to be used again for it's original purpose. Take it up Florida ave to adams morgan or to U stree and run it the full length. It can be the "circulator" equivalent for metro.
In a time where digging holes for tunnels etc costs hundreds of millions, if not billions of dollars, giving up one already built for transportation seems like a huge waste. You can have all your other stuff down there (art,bars,clubs etc) just don't give up the tracks!
by loki on Oct 20, 2009 4:34 pm • link • report
Putting in elevators, exhaust fans and lighting does not mean destroying the space for future mass transit. Art space has about the least-demanding build-out requirements of any usage.
Art space is a low-investment, high-return strategy that does not preclude transit use later on, if funding is ever secured for transit.
Yes, some commercial involvement is needed to get Mayor Fenty to sit on the DMPED's head and make him/her take action. Publicity and money motivate him in ways almost nothing else does. (He reminds me of Sharon Pratt Dixon Kelly in that regard.)
In any case, it is not because of inattention or accident that DMPED has not moved. Fenty will be microcontrolling this situation as usual (which Kelly did not do much of only because she did not know how to.)
by slangwhanger-in-chief on Oct 20, 2009 5:36 pm • link • report
Why not use the tunnels for performing arts rehearsal space?
by Mike Licht on Oct 26, 2009 6:06 pm • link • report
_______________________________________________________
Dear Deputy Mayors Office,
I’m writing concerning the “Dupont Down Under” and what will become of this location in the future.
Approximately 2 months ago, I submitted to Paul Williams, Executive Director of “Historic Dupont Circle Mainstreet” who was compiling suggestion from local residents of Dupont Circle to deliver to your office, some well thought out suggestions of what I felt would be good use of the location making it a major in city attraction for years to come, while generating an opportunity for up & coming Artist, Crafters & Designers to take the next step to become established new business owners.
At that time, I referred Paul to a similar project in NYC named The Limelight MarketPlace, which is still underway, but due to hold the Grand Opening in late April. The LimeLight MarketPlace will be located in NYC's Chelsea section. The LimeLight is a Huge Old Church that was in past years one of NYC's hottest gay/straight nightclubs. It then closed and sat vacant for several years. It is now being converted into a Boutique Market Place - giving preference to up and coming Artist, Crafters & Fashion Designers at an affordable price. By affordable, IÂ’ve been told that they have structured a POS System for all merchant vendors to tie into (required) and the merchant vendors would pay their lease fees based on their sales volume each month, making this an affordable venture for any up and coming start up Artist, Crafter & Designer. This is something that I believe would work very well in the Dupont Circle area, while giving an opportunity to up and coming Artist, Crafters & Designers in the DC area. I myself am a well established and still up and coming Handcraft Jewelry Designer. I've currently been looking for a location to open a store in this area and have become very frustrated with the over inflated leasing rates. Here's a couple of links to the LimeLight MarketPlace websites if you would like to check it out.
http://www.limelightmarketplace.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-York-NY/Limelight-Marketplace/123977387675
Additionally, a friend and well known local Belt & T-Shirt Designer, Jon Wye, who started out at Eastern Market several years agoÂ…has signed a lease at the LimeLight MarketPlace in NYC and is in the process of preparing for his store opening late in April. He actually has some pictures of his proposed store build out on his website that might interest you, since itÂ’s a similar project as to what IÂ’m suggesting for the Dupont Down Under. Pictures are on the Home Page of his websiteÂ….just page down. Exciting times for a local DC Designer that ended up opening his first store in NYC and not in DC due to the high lease rates and little opportunity for up and coming business owners to find affordable opportunities to get started here in the District of Columbia.
http://www.jonwye.com/
As far as leasing requirements for the “Dupont Down Under” Project, I would suggest that there would be strict leasing guidelines that would need to be established & met to ensure that NO national & commercial chains be permitted to lease space in this venue. Additionally, I would suggest that a jury committee be tasks with reviewing & interviewing each lease candidate for quality and proper balance & fit for this venue. This would ensure continuity throughout this project…such as not too many vendors in any specific category, giving an even balance of categories throughout the Artist, Crafter, Designer Market Place.
I would also make these permanent lease agreements, perhaps in 1-year contracts, making it easier for start up vendors. The space would not be your usual large store spaces, but smaller spaces to afford more variety for shoppers throughout this market place like setting. The LimeLight Market Place was able to get 80 smaller store spaces out of their location. There is a floor plan on their website.
I would definitely not make this a place where the vendors rotate weekly or anything like that. We have plenty of open-air markets throughout the DC Metro area for those types of vendors. This venue would be an opportunity for those vendors that would like to take the next step towards becoming an established new business owner.
OK, I’ve covered the Artist, Crafter & Designer Market Place Portion, but I understand that there are several sections to the “Dupont Down Under” and my suggestions for the remaining sections are as follows. Make a quaint, up scale, eclectic Jazz, Blues, Martini Lounge section…not nightclubs or just bars. This is something that would definitely be a draw to the area. Other things to consider for other sections would be…..NY Style Deli’s, Wine & Cheese Market’s and places like that. Also, I understand that a one time back when the old “Dupont Down Under” was being proposed, there was a Gym that was interested in the East Section and I think that this might also be something to consider.
Now, here’s probably the most important part of all this. Once the decisions have been made and all starts to move forward, there must be established 1 and only 1 Grand Opening date for all sections of the entire “Dupont Down Under” with a heavy hitting advertising campaign, which is heavily endorsed by not only the city, but by the Arts community and other related sponsors. This is a must to ensure the total success of this type of project for years to come. It must be something that is advertised as the place that everyone wants to be and the place to go in DC for years to come. It needs to make news in order to be successful. Also, all 9 entrances need to be open for access to all areas of the Down Under and these entrances should all be designed for maximum exposure to the “Dupont Down Under” so that people see these coming from any direction in a way so that even someone driving by will notice and ask….”What’s the “Dupont Down Under”. MAXIMUM EXPOSURE!
As a patron, I know I would frequent a place like this. Actually, I thought that the original attempt of the Dupont Down Under was suppose to be more like this....so, you can imagine my disappointment the first time I went there upon opening several years ago....only to find mostly fast food chains...UGH. We have plenty of them around already. LetÂ’s not make that same mistake again.
OK, I know this was long, but IÂ’ve live in DC for many years and feel pretty strongly about this particular project. IÂ’ve seen this city make so many mistakes with various projects over the years and IÂ’d like to see this one become something that will revive the Dupont Area and keep giving people another reason to come here to Dupont for years to come, while supporting the Arts, Crafts & Designers & up and coming start up businesses at establishing themselves.
by Thomas Troy Dent on Apr 7, 2010 12:24 pm • link • report
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