The Future of the Rhode Island Avenue Shopping Center

The Rhode Island Avenue Shopping Center at the edge of Edgewood is an homage to suburban shopping centers in the city and was built in the late 1980s. I met part of the Vanguard Realty Group at the DCBIA Met Branch Trail project volunteering and thanks to my favorite DDOT employee I was able to talk to him in length about the shopping center and the changes that are coming to it and the community. I was surprised to learn that while most of the attention has been about Safeway leaving and the center needing a new grocery store, especially from the seniors, the rest of the center is fully leased. Here is the listing for the empty Safeway space.

Here are the current tenants of the center:

Forman Mills
Key Kiosk
Judy's Beauty Supply
Rainbow
H&R Block
Cricket
Rent-A-Center
Susan Fashion
Subway
Popeyes
Ashley Stewart
Payless ShoeSource
CVS/Pharmacy
Neighborhood Legal Services Program
New Vision Photography Program, Inc.
Zipcar

The truth is that Safeway left our neighborhood with a year left on their lease. I would like people to take that in, as well as, the condition of the store and conclude that Safeway was not going to invest in the Edgewood community. When people were protesting Safeway leaving and wanting the City Council to intervene I was very confused. I shopped there occasionally because it was quick to walk to, but besides the location the only thing it had going for it was a few really great employees.

What's next for that space? The Vanguard Realty Group is actively trying to lease the space and was in talks with a discount grocery store and a discount retail store last time I checked. I have put in a call to see if there are any updates and will let you know as soon as I do. I was told that whatever moves in it will not happen until Spring 2011. They are looking for a store that will sign a 10 year lease and that is complicating matters. Most of the stores in that center have about 8-10 years left on their leases except for Forman Mills which has about 12 years.

You may be wondering why the length of the leases matters so much and that is because all of this is background to my questions about the future of the center. If you attended any of the Rhode Island Avenue Great Streets meetings you would know that the plan suggested extending roads into this shopping center and making it more urban and pedestrian friendly. Given the current lease terms it looks like the development of this shopping center will not happen for another 8-12 years. While I am sad to report this I will say I do feel more positive about the shopping center and their plan for growth. The owners of the shopping center and the leasing agent have been very active in the community. They have allowed for the creation of community murals, an entrance to the Met Branch Trail, volunteered with DCBIA community improvement day on the trail, been supportive of hosting an Edgewood Farmer's Market, and are excited about the pedestrian bridge from their center to the metro. They have also stated that they would be open to developing the center one half at a time if Forman Mills is the only one left with a lease.

DCBIA Met Branch Trail Project

The DCBIA work on the Edgewood section of the trail is very close to completion and you should check it out if you have not yet. On October 2nd there were close to 500 volunteers cleaning out the area and planting. I was there for the whole day and it was amazing to see the amount of trash and debris that was removed - many, many truck loads. The project implementation was continued by professionals that week and a second smaller group of volunteers on the following Saturday. I really want to thank DCBIA and all of the volunteers for adding such a great amenity to our community. I was able to volunteer both Saturdays and met a lot of great people that are working on other projects in our community. I was told by the Bozzuto crew that the Rhode Island Station project is coming along nicely.

The finished project is full of edible and fruit bearing plants and will be joined by fruit trees to be planted by Casey Trees this December. I believe that close to 5,000 plants were added with this project. I hope that everything will grow, thrive and become a destination spot for our neighborhood.

Here is a link to the news story:

http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/dc/15,000-newly-planted-trees-beautify-the-district-100410

Volunteers Needed for Saturday Met Branch Trail Improvements

I have been posting about this for months now and wanted to remind everyone to come and volunteer this Saturday!!!

The DCBIA (DC Building Industries Association) has selected the Metropolitan Branch Trail for their 18th Annual Community Improvement Day project.

The project will consist of landscaping the hillside between Edgwood/8th Streets and the Rhode Island Ave. Shopping Center.

Date: Saturday, October 2, 2010, 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Location: Check in at the Rhode Island Ave. Shopping Center (just past the CVS)

Volunteers needed! If you would like to volunteer for this event to support the trail in our community, either RSVP to the email address below, or just show up at the morning of the event.

Food and t-shirts will be provided!

Additional information:
- Middle/High School students can earn community service hours
- Back-up Date: Saturday, October 9, 2010
- To volunteer, contact DCBIA at info@dcbia.org or (202) 966-8665
- Check out the DCBIA website www.dcbia.org for more information

DCBIA Community Improvement Day in Edgewood

The October 2nd date for the improvements coming to the Edgewood section of the Met Branch Trail by DCBIA is fast approaching. I now have even more detailed versions of the plans and I have posted them above.

The project will be taking place on October 2, 2010 from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and the Edgewood section of the Met Branch trail will be closed during this time.

Remember this is a community project and they need volunteers! You can get involved by contributing your time or donating money by going to the website.

DCBIA Community Improvement Day in Edgewood

A couple of months ago I wrote about the improvements coming to the Edgewood section of the Met Branch Trail by DCBIA and promised updates as I received them. I now have copies of the plans and layouts and I have posted them above.

The project will be taking place on October 2, 2010 from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and the Edgewood section of the Met Branch trail will be closed during this time.

Remember this is a community project and they need volunteers! You can get involved by contributing your time or donating money by going to the website.

Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT) Improvements by DCBIA

It seems that thanks to the District of Columbia Building Industry Association(DCBIA) and DDOT the Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT) is about to get even better! DCBIA is planning a Community Improvement Day for the Edgewood section of the MBT for October 2, 2010. I have seen the preliminary plans and it looks amazing! I was promised a more formal plan to share in the future. They are planing a nature trail, adding seating, and planting many trees and bushes. From what I have seen so far they are going with theme that would encompass mostly fruit trees, berry bushes and other types of plants that can provide sources of food. A very cool concept! You can get involved by contributing your time or donating money by going to the website.