Update on HR-57

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Prince of Petworth reported late last night that HR-57's new location will be 816 H street NE.

DC Raconteur first let you know about the move about a week ago, including some commentary from U Street girl about the neighborhood's loss.

Renowed Jazz Club HR-57 Moving to H St NE

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This afternoon, DCist reported that 14th street jazz institution, HR-57, will be relocating to the blossoming H street corridor in NE. HR-57 (or technically, the HR-57 Center for the Preservation of Jazz and Blues) has been operating on 14th street since 1993.

Owner Tony Puesan has confirmed that the Atlas District's cheaper property taxes were a motivating factor in the move. "It's a very nice place," says Puesan. "It's just in a little bit cheaper building."

Puesan owns the building that houses HR-57, and plans to sell it once HR-57 has completed their move.

Journalists and bloggers have already begun speculating about the move's implications. Relocating such a popular establishment to H street will certainly be a boon to this developing corridor. Yet, the Atlas District is markedly less visible and not easily accessible via public transportation. From a business perspective, the cheaper property taxes may not compensate for the lost foot traffic and revenue.

According to DCist, HR-57 will pack its bags after the New Year, heading for 9th and H NE. No word yet on what establishment will replace HR-57 in January 2011.

Update: U Street Girl bemoans the loss of an independent neighborhood establishment. While I commented on PoP that I thought this was a good business decision, her point is one I hadn't considered. As U Street/Logan Circle/14th street become more popular, I hope we don't see the independently run businesses that make the area unique get priced out of the neighborhood.

New Giant Slated for 3rd and H St NE

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Good news for the H street corridor. The Washington Business Journal reports that Chevy Chase-based developer Steuart Investment Co. has lured Giant as the retail anchor for their 286,500-square-foot-project called 360˚ H Street. The Giant will fill 41,200 square feet of ground-level retail, with another 1,500 square foot bay yet to be filled.

The development, which will house 215 rental units and 270 underground parking spaces, has been looking for a grocery for its ground level for quite some time. Steuart Investment Co, led by Guy Steuart, also approached Harris Teeter, Yes!Organic Market and Trader Joe's.

Not all residents were thrilled to see Giant lease the space over the other higher-end groceries. H Street's ANC chairman, Kelvin Robinson, commented that the H street community “wanted to have a different level of store.” 

However, the move appears to be a savvy one for Giant. As Tony Richardson (ANC 6C) aptly noted in response to some critics, "What’s so bad about Giant? Right now there’s nothing there.”

The new store will be two blocks from Union Station, along the much-anticipated (and yet unbuilt) NE streetcar line, and will be across from another residential development by Abdo, with an additional 480 units. Per DC's supermarket tax exemption program, it's likely that Giant will be granted a 10-year tax abatement at that location. Steuart Investment Co was awarded a $5 million abatement last year to build 360˚ H Street.

DC's Ward 6 councilman, Tommy Wells, has also expressed his support for the project. He was recently quoted by WBJ as stating, "This is a great next step in the revitalization of the H Street Corridor. I'm excited that Giant has been exploring more urban and transit-oriented store designs and I'm eager to see Steuart and Giant deliver on a vision that embraces the new streetcar and the proximity to Union Station."

Giant is also leasing retail space at the new Citymarket at O development--a highly anticipated project that will encompass the blocks between 7th and 9th, and O and P streets NW. The historic Shaw location will feature a 72,000-square-foot Giant, almost twice the size of the H St location.