Shaw - What now The Passenger, Hogo & BicycleSPACE

Aaron Wiener posted an article in The Washington City Paper today (31/12/13) looking into the immediate future of the block of retail operations on the 1000 block of 7th St NW.  Douglas Development are gearing up for their 650 NY Ave. projects and the effect on this small enclave of popular small business' could be more than challenging. On NY Avenue NW, DC Eagle has already started negotiating a new location at Benning Road  - their current location will be 'physically moved' to abut Lux Lounge. On 7th Street, The Civilian Art Projects has announced that it is closing  its gallery after four years. Douglas Development estimate that the project will take 18 months to complete, and that they are expecting all affected retailers to vacate by May 2014.

7th Street NW, potential loses of The Passenger, Hugo, Bar7 and BicycleSPACE

 The Washington City Paper/Aaron Wiener has reported that;

Douglas' Paul Millstein says some of the retailers have already been given notice of termination, while the businesses owned by Paul Ruppert—including The Passenger and Hogo—will soon be asked to vacate. "We're still working on some timing issues, but the hope is that they'll be vacant by May 2014," Millstein said recently of the Ruppert properties, which Douglas acquired this year. The other retailers will vacate sooner, he says. Ruppert declined to comment.

Millstein, who could not be reached for additional comment, told me earlier this year the Passenger and Hogo could move to other Douglas properties in the area, either temporarily or permanently. The completed office building, for which Douglas expects construction to last 18 months, will have retail along 7th Street, and some of the current retailers could return. Millstein also said that another 7th Street store, BicycleSPACE, might be able to remain in its location during construction.

BicycleSPACE co-owner Erik Kugler says things are still "pretty wide open." The store, he says, is two years into a 10-year lease and hopes to stay. Douglas has been showing him some of its other nearby properties where the store might be able to move. BicycleSPACE is also part of one potential plan to develop a city-owned parcel at 5th and I streets NW, and Kugler says he could envision using an opt-out clause in his lease to move there in around four years, but wouldn't operate the two stores in tandem.

The rendering of the planned Douglas 650 NY Project, includes offices and retail

The Project will (according to Douglas Dev) create an estimated 350,000 sq ft of office space,70,000 sq ft of retail space and will be be the first of 2 Phases - Phase 1 being 7th St. NY Ave & L St. Phase 2 being NY Ave, 6th St and L St. will include approximately 250,000 sq ft of office space (see below)

Photograph by Aaron Wiener, Washington City Paper

Photograph by Aaron Wiener, Washington City Paper

Livingsocial seems safe, but Lux Lounge, DC Eagle and other business' may not remain

L Street Between 6th and 7th is a the only part of the project that could really do with a makeover

 Sources: Washington City Paper/Aaron Weiner

                  Douglas Development

                  Washington Business Journal
                  Historic Preservation Review Board