The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development announced today the selection of Howard Theatre Development Group, LLC, to enter into exclusive negotiations to lease and redevelop the historic Howard Theatre, located at 620 T Street, NW in the heart of the Cardozo/Shaw and LeDroit Park neighborhoods.

Howard Theatre Development Group, LLC presented a strong and creative development plan and a strong development team.  The plan for the Howard includes mixed used entertainment with dining and educational facilities; museum and retail shops; performance theater, and programs that include educational outreach and partnerships with other theaters, museums and associations.

“I look forward to seeing the Howard come alive and spur the further revitalization of the Cardozo/ Shaw and LeDroit Park neighborhoods,” said Deputy Mayor Stanley Jackson. “To hear music, applause and laughter coming from this iconic symbol of African American history will be great.”

My car was killed by the deluge of rain that hit Washington, D.C. in late June.  Suddenly, our household was dependant on charitable friends, public transportation, and Larry/Ralph (my left foot and right) to get our weekly grocery shopping done.  I realize that for many in the Greater U Street neighborhood, this has been their situation for a long time, but like most, the fact did not hit home until it really hit home.

 

Getting to the grocery stores that border our community - Shaw to the south, Columbia Heights to the north, Dupont Circle and Adams Morgan to the west - is restrictive at best.  And, my pocketbook cannot support a weekly trip to Whole Foods for all of our essentials. 

At this point I began to ask why U Street did not have a viable grocery store option for the variety of tastes and incomes that this community attracts and serves?

 

Several community organizations, including the MidCity Business Association, Cardozo Shaw Neighborhood Association, Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1B, with support from the Executive Office of the Mayor and Ward One Councilmember, Jim Graham, came together yesterday to launch a new pilot project in the neighborhood, the Hospitality Resource Partnership at 9th & U Streets, NW (HRP at 9th & U or HRP).

 

The HRP at 9th & U's goal is to unite key representatives from hospitality, public safety, government, development and community toward a common goal of planning, managing and policing safe and vibrant places to live, work, and socialize.  The HRP pilot project is focused on the area within 1 ½ blocks of the center of the intersection of 9th & U Streets, NW.