August 10, 2005
another restaurant in the works!
One day the old fishmarket at 25th and M Streets will be a restaurant tentatively named The Five Points Grill. The future a vision of John Sanchez, the site is right now a dusty behive of activity.
The building, built in 1905 and a fishmarket in recent memory, served as a drugstore in its heyday. A.W. Broaddus ran a drugstore at the site from 1935 to 1955. The recently removed stucco was added sometime in the 1930s, covering the original paint. The prominant Bromo-Seltzer/Rexall sign on the side was probably added in the 1930s.
Having received many calls, Sanchez made it clear that he plans to keep or restore all of the original signage. The tin ceiling of the future dining area will remain as well.
Plans for the building include an apartment upstairs and a restaurant downstairs. There are plenty of broken panes of glass and uncertain walls that need to be fixed up. The apartment will probably be available for rent in 4 or 5 months. The restaurant will probably be ready in the same timeframe, though Sanchez expects that getting all of the paperwork and licensing cleared will delay the opening. He is leary that the city will impose some sort of parking requirment, though neither the Hill Cafe or Captain Buzzy’z are required to provide parking.
Sanchez, an area resident, is no stranger to restoration and is actively looking for other commercial properties. Convinced of the direction that the area is taking, he says that he expects to see “dumpsters and port-a-potties” (indicating renovation) on Fairmount Avenue soon, “as long as money stays cheap”.
Slowly, slowly, we are resurrecting a Church Hill that is a mixed-use community bustling with the energy of not just homes and condominiums, but restaurants, movie theaters, shops and numerous other services. But the City needs to get real about parking! Church Hill is an urban community, not a strip mall! We have feet and legs and plenty of on-street parking. There is no need to sacrifice potential infill development sites for parking lots!!! We need high quality, mixed-use infill development and restoration that resurrects the historic commercial and entertainment venues hidden on nearly every street in Church Hill. These are the land uses that will improve our neighborhood and make it healthier and stronger – not more parking lots!!! The City’s strict adherence to ludicrous strip mall parking standards provides no benefits to our community and threatens to create an unwelcoming environment for small investors and entrepreneurs, like John, who are key to the resurrection of our unique historic, urban neighborhood.
What happened to this? Is financing holding back these projects (CH Market, Je’s, 5 Points) or is it the city?
Last I heard about this project was that it got shot down by the city due to inadequate parking. Unless that changes I don’t think there is hope for the “Five Points Grill.” I completely agree with what Brad B posted a looong time ago.
The flip side to this is, what about the people that live near these establishments? I do, and a lot of times it is a pain to find parking close to my home. I do not think it is fair for me to have to park a block over, sometimes in the evening, and walk with my child or lug groceries. So while I would not and do not mind these places, there has to be aplace for the clientele to park without causing undue stress on the people living there. What good would it do to have all businesses and no residents?
I’ll trade you a Cuban restuarant and a market for 2 churches…
As long as those churches have parkings lots that the restaurant and market can use! :)
nope, no parking, but they are effectively vacant corners 6 days out of 7 for the hookers to work, and then on the 7th day they take all of the parking.
I feel you on the parking, but at the same time surface parking lots suck. One of the (many) things that this area has over the Fan is that parking really isn’t an issue.
Believe me, I see what you are saying. I really do not like the looks of parking lots either. But I live near some or these places, and there are more vacant stores and stores being renovated near me (within a 1-2 block radius), so the parking situation for me will get worse. And as you know, a lot of the houses do not have a back yard/alley to speak of, so that is not an option for residents. I just do not think it is fair that 5 nights out of 7 in a week I have to park so far away from my door. It is fine occasionally, or even, maybe, for a church service. But it is constant now. What benefit will come if no one wants to live here because there is no place to park? I am going through this now, but as more places open, more CH residents will be affected. I have no idea what the solution is, but somehow there has to be one.
LB– you make some very valid points that all residents should fully think through. Yes, business development is great and I think the majority would like to see these places thrive. However, noise, traffic and lack of nearby parking has and will have an impact on your property value. Yes, a thriving marketplace may have a positive impact on your value (as a neighborhood). But, those who are immediately impacted by the noise, traffic, and lack of parking created by a business will most likely be on the short end. These by-products of business will make the surrounding properties less desirable for a future buyer. Like the old saying goes….”not in my backyard”. These are serious concerns for the folks in the immediate vicinity of any business. First and foremost, Church Hill is a residential district. Responsible development should be encouraged but not at the expense of residential quality of life. Any business that attracts people should be encouraged to build, expand, etc. along the established 25th Street corridor. Pretty central to all in the Hill and already zoned for that use. The scale of any proposed business should be carefully measured for minimal impact on the existing residences. Once the nuisance is there, you can’t unspill the milk.
If the city had a decent bus system, then parking wouldn’t be an issue.
Church Hill isn’t just a residential district and deserves small scale retail and commercial development within it’s bounds and small to medium urban neighborhood scale development within it’s business corridors (Jefferson and 25th). For CH to thrive we need to be able to walk, bike, or bus to destinations within our neighborhood. That’s what makes a neighborhood livable. I for one want to LIVE in my neighborhood and not just sleep here.
Agreed jc…. however, I don’t think anyone would dispute the fact that the majority of the district is residential. There are far more residential dwellings than businesses. Everybody wants to see services and entertainment in the immediate area but done in a manner which peacefully co-exists with the already established residential neighborhoods (meaning…they should not negatively impact the properties immediately surrounding them). I agree that businesses that draw traffic–both footsteps and cars, should be located in the appropriately zoned area–25th Street and as you mentioned–Jefferson.
like probably most of us, i lived in the fan for quite a while, and had to deal with lack of parking for years. it was a pain, yes, and i sure as hell complained about it, but it was also so cool to have so many things going on around me that it was worth the small amount of pain to look for a space. this is a city, right? things like this happen in the city. sometimes there is nowhere to park, so you drive around the block. if i wanted a parking space right in front of my house, i would live in the west end and park my hummer in my heated three-car garage (if i had either). i will give up my parking space in front of my house right now for mr. sanchez’s restaurant!
I would imagine that most of the business for these places will come from residents most of whom would walk. Why not give the business a couple spaces out front with 2 hour parking? Captain Buzzy’s does wonderful business most from neighbors who greatly enjoy the stroll to the local coffee shop.
As I understand it the owner of the Cuban joint has contacted every lot owner nearby to lease spaces, and all have said no. He’s even looked into buying lots to pave them over for parking. What is really a shame is that we have an individual willing to invest in our community and he is being shut out because of lack of parking. Really? What type of community do we want here?
So, where did the folks who used the Pharmacy park? Funny how the Mayor just announced a valet parking plan for the Slip, but no budge up here. The fact is that this city’s overall parking planning and administration is woeful. From zoning regs, to lax and uneven enforcement. Parking is part and parcel to any meaningful economic development plan. Listen here to Donald Shoup, the preeminent scholar on parking (yes, a parking scholar!)
http://www.planetizen.com/node/19197
An idea I have seen work around the country is to meter streets like 25th (unless you have a resident sticker) and return the meter money back to the district where it was collected. In fact, Dr. Shoup’s latest book is called the high cost of free parking.
when referring to the “Cuban joint” is that the place on 25th across from the EDI? If so, the city should certainly not discourage development in that area. They should be working hard to provide parking solutions so business development can thrive. Are there many residents along that stretch that would be competing for space? I don’t recall that many dwellings along 25th.
yep, that’s the place…
Has our revrend been notified about this situation. She seemed to claim bringing many buisineses to the area last November, this would be the time where she should step up and help out a man who has done alot for neighborhood already. Oh and has anybody noticed that the revrend doesnt call herself revrend anymore?
Well, judging from her answers to questions posed at the latest town hall meeting; I bet if you asked the reverend about this particular parking predicament, she’d say “the council is working on it.” As to how? Only God knows.