I live one block from that strip, and I generally agree with your assessment of 17th Street. That stretch is a little frustrating for me, because I think that it could be so much better than it is. If a lot of those storefronts were improved to interact with the street better, and a little bit more density was added, things could improve dramatically.

I think the building at 17th and R housing Cobalt would be a lot better if it housed a decent restaurant on the lower floors (nothing against Cobalt itself, but I don't think they're making very good use of the space and site)... I'd like to see something that was open during the day, that also made use of the outdoor patio/seating, to liven up the corner a bit. That space isn't being used to anywhere near its potential. Other buildings on that corner could be spruced up a bit, though the Admiral Dupont (the building that houses Steam Cafe) is indeed really bland.

The Safeway doesn't interact with the street at all. A produce stand outside might help, or maybe actually changing the facade (and I know they just "renovated" it) so that it has windows looking out to the street. What I'd really like to see, though, in addition to opening up the store so that it interacts better with the street, is the addition of residences above (maybe along with an expansion of the actual store to two levels, with three to four levels of apartments above).

The McDonald's on the other side of the street is another eyesore. A four to five floor mixed-use building there (retail at ground level, residences above) would be nice.

Benches (in places where they'll fit) along 17th Street would also be nice. So would a few more trees in some of those really sunny spots.

I'd also really like o see the CVS/Blockbuster/Sushi Taro building improved or replaced. At least have some (unblocked) windows on the first floor... CVS loves to block off windows in all their stores, though. Hell, put in a new building with residences built above the retail spaces here, too. Just find a way to keep Sushi Taro around, though, please!

And you're right, aside from Komi and Sushi Taro, the restaurants on 17th Street are generally mediocre to bad. While not everything needs to be as nice (or pricey) as Komi, there has to be something in the middle...

Beyond that, there's a big parking lot at the corner of 17th and O (behind the baptist church on 16th). Put that parking underground, and build something on top of it, like a nice apartment building or something. I know that there is also a day care center behind the church, but that could be incorporated into a new building or plans.

I know that my ideas for this stretch add a bit more density than some of my neighbors would like to see, but I think that adding a few more people would make things a little more lively and would create more customers for local businesses... which, in turn, could maybe attract some better businesses to the neighborhood.

by hiya on May 21, 2008 5:22 pm • link • report

Oh, and about the CVS/Sushi Taro/Blockbuster building... The CVS is actually useful in that location, so I'd actually like to see CVS or another drug store (just one that engages the street a lot better...) return to any redeveloped building on that site.

by hiya on May 21, 2008 5:28 pm • link • report

Safeway doesn't get it. It's too bad. They did a horrible renovation two years ago.

I feel that 17th Street property owners (there are really only like three) need to embrace retail encumbation as their niche. This is what happened with Universal Gear, Reincarnations and Circle Boutique. They made it! They started retail businesses and survived the painful early years. They then moved to better retail spaces on 14th Street. The spaces are better on 14th. Period. Any successful retailer would rather be located there. Especially now with all the press that cooridor gets.

An encubator type street would be awesome! The excitement of new start up businesses is immense. Entrepreneurs can cut their initial risk by leasing smaller spaces and if they take off they can move. 17th Street could sort of be inbetween vending at public markets and having an inline location in a commercial district with better buildings and accessability to the rest of the city. I think that would add buzz and foot traffic to the street.

by MZ on May 21, 2008 6:04 pm • link • report

Interesting points, MZ.

I've got to say that I gravitate toward 14th Street for eating/shopping more than 17th Street, even though 17th is closer to home.

I will say this, though: As bad as it is, I do have a soft spot for Fox & Hound, as I've been going there since I was a teen!

by hiya on May 21, 2008 11:04 pm • link • report

I have lived on 17th for 4 years now and have to agree and disagree with some of the comments.

First of all, not every street in DC has to be amazing with innovative stores. Some streets need to be more utilitarian. We need a Safeway, we need a CVS, we need a hardware store. I agree that these places might not be architecturally pleasing, but they are necessary. Let 14th have all of the high-end boutiques, that is fine. But DC cannot support high end stores on every commercial corridor, how many stores selling $50 t-shirts do we need? I can walk the 3 blocks if needed.

The restaurants are mixed. Sushi Taro, Komi, Hanks and Floriana are all good; La Frontera and the Italian Kitchen are mediocre at best, but we can't have a street full of high-end restaurants - sometimes I just want a pizza! A take-out place would be great - something like Aioli on P and 22nd - but Prego again just did a little remodeling and it is a good addition to the neighborhood.

There are great community gathering spots too - Java House is always packed and Steam is rather full too. We just added Tranquil Space Yoga - that is a nice addition.

The sidewalks need to be replaced, we need better landscaping, more trash cans, some benches - but all of that is in the works with the 17th St streetscape project. My one gripe is that the street gets dirty easily - not enough trash cans, the ones that are there are always overflowing, lots of cigarettes on the street from the club goers. I'd love to see a cleaner 17th. Create some community involvement.

Point being, 17th isn't perfect, but it's a whole lot better than lots of DC. Maybe the small problems would be solved with a Dupont Circle Business Improvement District?

Just my $0.02 on the topic.

by therbs on May 22, 2008 9:09 am • link • report

therbs,

I actually mostly agree with you (if you were referring somewhat to my post...).

The Safeway and CVS are definitely needed. I just think that they could be a bit less fortified and more open to the street, and that there could maybe be more above the retail levels of those buildings.

I forgot about Hank's (d'oh!), but we'll have to disagree on Floriana. I wouldn't want to see all high end restaurants on the strip, just some better mid-range (or cheaper) options. McDonald's, Subway, Pasha, Annie's, and Jack's are all not so great. Trio's is pretty mediocre, but okay if I'm in the mood. And I'd really like to see the lower levels at Cobalt's space better utilized (with a restaurant with daytime hours...), and in a way that makes good use of the patio area.

Agreed on needing more trash cans. Things do pile up and get dirty.

Somewhere to get a slice of pizza would be great! As much as I like Hank's, I really miss being able to grab a slice from the old Trio's take out (though I'll admit that the pizza there could be a bit of an acquired taste).

A business improvement district (or something focused on coherently improving the area) could help.

by hiya on May 22, 2008 12:45 pm • link • report

OK, a few basics. In working on the brand repositioning of commercial districts in stable communites it is important to focus on retail, not restaurants. There are a few reasons for this:

1) People eat everyday. The market for restaurants will shake out and the worst operators will be eliminated. Now that foot traffic and dining patterns have shifted around the city in the past few years the weaker players on 17th Street will feel the pinch and some will go under. The market can determine this on its own. A coordinated strategy is not needed. (In an emerging or marginal community we would be talking about turning carryouts into gathering places but 17th Street is not emerging or marginal).

2) Destination marketing relies upon the presence of quality retail. Restaurants are located everywhere, no one needs to travel to go to one. Retailers need the clustering of a district to attract customers, and there are often only a handful of independent retailers in a region that cater to any of our incresingly specific tastes. Commercial districts with the best brand recognition focus on retail and the restaurants simply follow. Georgetown being the best local example of this.

3) Small retailers need all the help they can get. The competitve niche for independent retailers is very narrow. Between the affordabilty of large big box stores and the accessability of the interent there is very little room for independent retailers to grab customer dollars. That is why communities need to nurture and support them at all costs - if they care about having a great commercial district.

4) Retailers help to better program the entire commercial district. Focusing on restaurnats is really only focusing on using the commercial district for the 6 hours between 5 and 11pm everyday. Retail shopping happens earlier and gives your strip more life, more customers and a better overall environment.

That is why I focused my point on encubater retail. The retailer are not going to leave the larger area, 14th Street is only 3 blocks away, but they can get started on 17th Street. Much like a condo is a starter home for young home buyers. That's it.

PS - From what I understand, a BID on 17th Street is all but dead.

by MZ on May 22, 2008 1:51 pm • link • report

hiya - I think we agree here. I actually have never eaten at Floriana, so I shouldn't have included it in my post. And I agree that the lower level of Cobalt does need a real restaurant, the space is poorly utilized (and Food Bar, a few years ago, was bad).

MZ - couldn't a BID be part of a larger Dupont Circle BID? Which may or may not be happening...seems like the Dupont Current mentions it every few months.

I wonder what will happen to the space formerly occupied by Universal Gear?

by therbs on May 23, 2008 9:16 am • link • report

Historic Dupont Circle Main Streets has been trying to organizae a Business Improvement District. Connecticut Ave. and P Street are enthused about it, but the businesses (restaurants) on 17th were dragging their heels and so the BID is proceeding without 17th Street. A real tragedy.

by Irisher on Jul 2, 2008 5:48 pm • link • report

Pharmcare (or whatever it's being called now) at the corner of 17th & Church (across that little street from JR's) is going to move into the Universal Gear space.

That little corner building that Pharmcare is in now would be a cute place for a bakery or a general store or something. It's such an adorable building.

by ras508 on Jul 2, 2008 7:11 pm • link • report

SteamCafe is great due to its bright interior and very fast internet. When looking for a good wireless internet cafe it seems to be fantastic because its wifi is fast, not to mention wifi printing there. Whats also great is that because it is located on a busy corner with large windows, Steam Cafe lets you feel connected to the outside world in a way that lots of other cafes don't.

by Michael on Aug 18, 2008 3:34 pm • link • report