A year after launching a campaign to rescue downtown, Mayor Muriel E. Bowser’s quest faces a slew of hurdles - including crime, vacant offices and the effects of the pandemic.
An unhoused person sleeps on 18th Street NW in downtown D.C. on Feb. 29, next to a vacant restaurant space. Gary Cohen knows it may seem absurd to think people would move to a neighborhood dominated by offices that are often more empty than occupied. But hear him out: Downtown Washington — still reeling from the ravages of the pandemic — could be a cool place to live.
“I love it, I love it,” the mayor said as she toured a one-bedroom apartment at Cohen’s building Monday, using the visit to announce a 20-year tax abatement program to spur residential development downtown. Bo Blair, a veteran Washington restaurateur who owns Surfside Taco Stand south of Dupont Circle, said he was on downtown’s east end on a recent weekday afternoon and found himself walking several blocks “without seeing one person. I couldn’t believe it.” An upper Northwest resident, he said that within his social circle “where I live, nobody’s going downtown to eat at night that I know of. It’s purely about safety.
Benda Bushell, 78, a K Street accountant, said she stopped driving her Volvo into work a year ago because she’s afraid of being carjacked. Now she commutes an hour by bus from her home near Columbia, Md., and makes a point of leaving work before dark. “It doesn’t feel the same here,” Bushell said as she walked near 16th Street NW one afternoon. “I just feel scared.
Three days later, on a Friday, a trio of thieves drove up to Rosenheim’s shop and used a sledgehammer to smash holes in an exterior display window. Before fleeing, they stole nine Rolexes with a collective worth of nearly $215,000.Toward the end of last year, Alex Walker, a veteran D.C. real estate broker who specializes in retail, was close to signing two restaurants to long-term leases near Capital One Arena.
“It has to come back, it’s the center of the city,” he said. “I’m a believer in the cycle, and the tide will come back at some point.”
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser signs omnibus crime bill in to lawMayor Muriel Bowser signed off on the sweeping Secure D.C. legislation as the District aims to curb crime.
Read more »
LA Mayor Karen Bass signs agreement with Paris suburb mayor ahead of OlympicsMayor Karen Bass signed an agreement with the mayor of a Paris suburb Saturday to collaborate on multiple issues as Paris and Los Angeles prepare to host the next two summer Olympics.
Read more »
Protester charges at DC Mayor Bowser, calls for cease-fire in GazaA pro-Palestinian protester was intercepted and escorted away by security after she charged the stage at Mayor Muriel Bowser during an art festival in Washington, D.C.
Read more »
Houston mayor’s statement on near decade of crime data manipulation echoes KPRC2 Investigates reportHouston Mayor John Whitmire said today that he believes crime data for the city has been manipulated for nearly the past decade, but he vowed to get to the bottom of whoever is responsible. He also vows to fix the issue.
Read more »
Houston Mayor Appoints Panel to Investigate Manipulated Crime DataMayor John Whitmire has appointed a panel to investigate the manipulation of crime data in Houston over the past eight years. The mayor criticized the previous administration and police chiefs, stating that the city's crime data is flawed. The panel consists of a Texas Ranger, Pastor, Deputy Inspector General, and City Attorney.
Read more »
Chicago Mayor Launches New Program to Address Crime in Hardest-Hit NeighborhoodsChicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is implementing the People's Plan for Community Safety, a community-led initiative aimed at reducing crime and addressing historic disinvestment. The program will initially focus on four neighborhoods and collaborate with various stakeholders to tackle issues such as unemployment and education.
Read more »