Sweetgreen on 1400 block of P Street NW: What’s on your wish list for 2012 for the Dupont-Logan-Circle area? Borderstan team contributors share their wishes. (Luis Gomez Photos)
Vote! Reader Poll: What Kind of Businesses Do You Want in Borderstan?
We polled the Borderstan team of contributors, asking, What’s your wish list for 2012 for the Dupont-Logan-U Street area? There were some definite repeat wishes from team members.
The most common requests on wish lists were related to food — especially cheap, inexpensive and good everyday food, as in diners that are open 24/7. The second most common type of requests on wish lists were related to specific types of businesses for the neighborhood.
Only two people mentioned crime, and public infrastructure got only a few mentions. However, there were calls for more festivals, a move theater and events that bring residents together throughout the year.
Food
- A 24/7 diner and/or cheap casual eats was the top vote getter in all categories of wishes. Eight of 15 Borderstan contributors who turned in their wish lists want more affordable, non-fancy food in the area. There were also requests for more vegetarian food and another request for more Indian restaurants.
- As for chains, Trader Joe’s was mentioned twice and the return of Taco Bell to the 14th and U corridor was on one wish list (when you have a lack of late-night diners people will go with what’s there).
- Cheese shops and bakeries got two votes each and there was a shout-out for a good deli as well as a butcher shop.
- Three contributors want more independent coffee shops/cafes and there was a call for a used bookstore. Maybe combine all three into one?
Businesses
- There was a shout-out for more stability for locally owned businesses — after a year of turnover among some long-time establishments on the 14th Street corridor. There was also a wish for smaller retail spaces in the developments along 14th Street — ones that would be more amenable to smaller, mom-and-pop type businesses.
- Three people called for movie theaters (with one suggestion of turning the Lincoln Theatre). BTW, there used to be three movie theaters in Dupont Circle, until just a few years ago.
- Practical: two calls for an office supply store so as not to have to venture to Columbia Heights or downtown.
- There was a shout out for more clothing stores (particularly more for men, would be great).
Public Spaces and Public Safety
- Three Borderstan contributors want more street festivals (how about more food and Go Cups to go with them?).
- More bike infrastructure was a wish, including bike lanes and bike parking.
- The deplorable state of the sidewalks and tree boxes on the 14th and U corridor was mentioned by three contributors — and indeed they’re pretty bad (not to mention U Street). How about more benches our commercial boulevards… for enjoying a cup of coffee and people watching?
- Fewer robberies and a superhero to get back all the stolen cell phones were on the list, too!
Here’s what some of the Borderstan team members have on their wish lists for 2012 for the Dupont-Logan-U Street area.
Alejandra
- I’d like to see more boutiques and restaurants on Connecticut Avenue north of the circle.
- How about a Trader Joe’s in Borderstan?
- I’d love more cheap, casual eats throughout the hood. Like, less than $13 per check cheap.
Ashley
- More secure bike parking.
- More green space.
- More community events such as yard sales, festivals, celebrations.
- More businesses that make this an area for people to come other than bars, such as a movie theater, etc.
Candida
- A diner, a simple, all-American, 24/7, reasonably priced diner where you can go in your sweets for a relaxed brunch, or in your evening wear, after seeing a Studio Theatre production.
- An office supply store.
- More public parking.
- Always more bike lanes.
Cecile
- New diner would be great!
- Not sure where they would put it, but I would love a Target so I wouldn’t have to venture to Columbia Heights.
- Would also like for Stoney’s to bring back their spinach and artichoke dip.
Cody
- Reduction in robberies.
- Continued progress on the many development projects on 14th between T and Florida NW.
- The return of Taco Bell (I miss it dearly!).
Eliza
- More stability for local businesses. This year, it seemed like many establishments closed, or almost closed. I realize that the economy is still recovering, and that independent retail and restaurants are risky businesses. Even though in most cases new owners quickly take over the vacant storefront, I think the area would benefit most from diverse businesses that attract a range of customers throughout the day.
- A good used bookstore.
- A reasonably priced, vegetarian-focused restaurant.
Jana
- Independent coffee shops: There’s lots of open space on 14th street — so it’d be cool if we could convert some empty lots and vacant warehouses into large coffeehouse space. Lattes / Spoken Word / Musicians. Think Jolt N’ Bolt, but bigger.
- Indian food restaurants: there’s not enough Indian food in the area. Sacrificial Lamb (17th and R) is great, but we could use more sit-down places on 14th Street.
- Late night diners. What could be better than a 24-hour diner in the area? We’re at the convergence of the AdMo/U Sstreet nightlife — so we are primed and ready for a late night stop! (That’s not McDo or KFC.)
Khelan
- More healthy/cheap eating establishments.
- More clothing stores.
- More cafes.
Luis
- More benches in public spaces… on 14th and 17th Streets, for example. I would like to be able to sit down with a cup of coffee and enjoy people watching.
- I would like to see the sidewalks replaced on 14th Street — they are a mess. Plus, I hope to see the city, local businesses and community groups form a partnership to clean and maintain the tree boxes on 14th Street NW.
- An office supply store in the neighborhood!
- A really good bakery that is not ridiculously priced — combine it with a nice coffee shop/cafe.
- Turn the Lincoln Theater into a movie theater. I think that’s the best option to preserve this landmark.
Maggie
- A Metro station at 14th and P NW.
- A kitchen supply store.
- More traffic cameras at stop lights to keep people from running reds.
- A resident superhero to get everyone’s stolen phones back.
- A restaurant on 14th Street with large plates that you don’t have to share.
Matty
- I wish for the Melrose Diner in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood to open a 24/7 spot on 14th or 17th Street. I know this will never happen, but it’s my damned wish list.
- Would love to see the retail spaces in the new buildings going up on the 14th Street corridor to have much smaller retail spaces on the ground floors… to encourage more diversified, smaller mom-and-pop-type businesses.
- I hope more young families continue to stay put in the neighborhood… instead of moving to DC’s outer neighborhoods and the suburbs. I like living in a community with faces of all ages.
- Lots more street festivals, complete with music, food and Go-Cups.
- A movie theater! There used to be three movie theaters in Dupont Circle or just north of it.
- Would decent sidewalks and well-maintained tree boxes on the 14th and U corridor be to much to demand?
Mike
- A fun-themed bar of any kind.
- A really good hot chocolate place now that mine has closed.
- A specialty cheese shop.
Scott
- An actual tri-state functioning diner and not something expensive and trendy… that’s open 24 hours a day.
- More places to get a decent deli sandwich not costing more than $10.
- Bakery, we always need more.
Stephanie
- A Trader Joe’s!
- I would love to see a true butcher shop open up in the area.
- And a specialty cheese shop!
Tom
- Repair or replacement of sidewalks along 14th and U Streets.
- Quality programming, year-round at the Lincoln Theatre.
- More inexpensive lunch-time food options in the neighborhood.
