Jim Graham on Columbia Heights’ Thwarted Condo “Clearance”
Back in December, I blogged about the Allegro Apartments, a new building going up on 14th Street in Columbia Heights, a few short blocks away from the Giant. Well, the building is now complete, and earlier this week, the developer held its opening night party, apparently sponsored by On Tap Magazine and Grey Goose vodka. I don't know how bountifully the liquor was flowing, but Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham looks a little loopy in a video recorded at the event (click on the following link for access). 
With local blog The Heights Life's camera rolling, Graham got into some serious discussion about the neighborhood's growth, and what he views to be the area's real strengths. It has been over a year since Target opened. I think it's an appropriate time to evaluate. Here's what Graham had to say:
We have broad vitality in what were once vacant lots with chained link fences. That's what Columbia Heights had been known for, for a number of decades. But at the same time we've broadened that vitality—Target and apartments and restaurants and all sorts of interesting things to do, subway functioning—we have also preserved the low-income housing, the whole length of 14th Street, and so we've held onto all the good things in the neighborhood, and supplemented with wonderful, new things. And I think that's a success story. Because this neighborhood could have easily been the subject of like a clearance, and the whole thing would be condo—building after building after building. But if you go and look at the major buildings...from U Street to Spring Road, one after another, those low income buildings have not only been preserved, but they've been rehabilitated.
I'm not sure if I understand his point about condos. After all, roughly a month and a half ago, Graham helped some troubled 14th Street condo builders obtain a tax break. The Allegro also was once a condo project. Really, how many more condo buildings could this neighborhood support? Columbia Heights still has a long way to go, in my mind—which is not to say the neighborhood doesn't have definite assets. But until it builds a larger stock of small, independent, prosperous businesses, it will always feel like a suburban strip mall mashed into a city block. It's getting there though, even with that whole crippling recession thing.
1:39 pm
I am no personal fan of councilmember Graham, however it must be acknowledged that he is singularly responsible for turning columbia heights, where I've lived and worked since 1996 on and off, from a war zone (no joke, it used to be a war zone, gun shots at all hours and bodybags in the 7-11 on 14th and columbia) into an example of how to improve a neighborhood by brining new business and new residents while keeping the current residents, i.e. avoiding the bad parts of gentrification.
This blog entry is good, however to insinuate that councilmember graham is loopy, perhaps drunk, is completely unnecessary. What is the point of bringing that up? in the video he is at an opening, let the man celebrate without judging. And, he doesn't look loopy, he looks exhausted that's all. Lastly, it was always my understanding that he doesn't drink, so you may want to get your facts straight before claiming he's "loopy". Again, good blog, CH and Graham deserve acknowledgment (the old giant was disgusting, and dangerous, thank you mister graham), but leave out the silly speculation, get a life.
2:02 pm
The loopy thing was meant in jest---probably inappropriate, you're right, considering I just watched the video.
3:42 pm
And...I was cranky bse allergies are flaring, so I really didn't mean to say "get a life" rather let's be a bit more professional. i love this blog, truly, it covers DC Development in a way nobody else does, it's great. I just saw the whole loopy thing as distracting, actually it undermined what would have been an otherwise great and original blog. and, I'm no defender of the councilmember, I won't say what I don't like about him as that's irrelevant. Keep up the good work, dont get a life you got one, just keep up the high quality insider info your known for in development circles.
3:44 pm
Jim Graham does not drink -- once heard him say that he has not had a drink in 25 years or something.