National Harbor - News, Events, Updates, Questions and Developments Etc. (Bethesda: zip code, grocer)

[UrbanScholar]

Originally Posted by Sampg1

Is there any plan on Rivertowne Commons shopping Center and on the land previously proposed for wal-mart ?

Not in the near term. I think that is in part due to the master plan for that area which includes widening OHR to accommodate some form of mass transit. I don't think anything will happen until the plans are clearer. As for the former Wal-Mart site, unless they can get passed the opposition from the neighboring school, that site will remain empty in the short term. But for the life of me I don't see why they have a problem with Wal-Mart being a safety issue when they are between three strip malls and a couple of hotels.

[UrbanScholar]

Cool article on the maturation of the National Harbor into a well-rounded focal point for the county. The popularity of the residential side is evident by the pace at which their townhome community is being built out.

A popular destination for tourists and conventioneers, National Harbor is becoming a booming residential community. It has become a magnet for military families looking for housing near U.S. defense facilities and for families in search of an active lifestyle and new housing that is more affordable than in most affluent *Washington-area neighborhoods.

Indeed, it has become a mini-city, with about 1,000 residents and 6,000 workers at 30 restaurants, six hotels and 150 retail stores. Thirty small companies have offices there and more than 12 million people visit annually.

National Harbor is shaping into a lively community, not just a tourist destination - The Washington Post

[justtitans]

Originally Posted by UrbanScholar

Cool article on the maturation of the National Harbor into a well-rounded focal point for the county. The popularity of the residential side is evident by the pace at which their townhome community is being built out.





National Harbor is shaping into a lively community, not just a tourist destination - The Washington Post

Interesting piece. One thing that they noted that I think is a good point, is the lack of playground/dog park. I think it was wise to transition National Harbor to a residential-type development instead of a tourist spot, it ultimately may have saved the project, but I think they still have work to do and perhaps should consider things that need to be added to get them there. It has a lot of things that are essential for residents living there, but they need to keeping adding things to make it more residential like a Hair Salon/Barber Shop or what about a Bank/Credit Union?

Transportation is a good point, but that is likely going to improve with the casino coming. Besides those things, all they really need is to keep getting more companies to move their work site there and then the foot traffic that is necessary to maintain a development that size will be there.

[UrbanScholar]

Originally Posted by justtitans

Interesting piece. One thing that they noted that I think is a good point, is the lack of playground/dog park. I think it was wise to transition National Harbor to a residential-type development instead of a tourist spot, it ultimately may have saved the project, but I think they still have work to do and perhaps should consider things that need to be added to get them there. It has a lot of things that are essential for residents living there, but they need to keeping adding things to make it more residential like a Hair Salon/Barber Shop or what about a Bank/Credit Union?

Transportation is a good point, but that is likely going to improve with the casino coming. Besides those things, all they really need is to keep getting more companies to move their work site there and then the foot traffic that is necessary to maintain a development that size will be there.

Agree it was interesting. A little on the fluffy side. Although I agree that there is a need for a play space for children, I am surprised that residents didn't link the proposed central park as a green space/play space since that has been a part of the master plan since the beginning. They could benefit from a second one that is not a part of the townhome community. I agree that there are other amenities that could help shape the residential component. A better more mainstream grocery store (MOM, Whole Food, Trader Joe's, or something along those lines) would help. I recall hearing that one is one the books but would come once they have more residents. Hair Salon/Barber Shop would be great but there could be a challenge with attracting a reasonable one since the cost to rent space there is high. Based on the master plan, they look like they are trying to get a bank in the space next to McDonalds.

I agree that there would be more transportation options once MGM goes live. At minimum, additional buses but it would be great to see a BRT or Streetcar until they get the metro up and running. Once those come more companies will be inclined to move there. It does have to be much just widely available/accessible

[Sampg1]

Originally Posted by UrbanScholar

Not in the near term. I think that is in part due to the master plan for that area which includes widening OHR to accommodate some form of mass transit. I don't think anything will happen until the plans are clearer.

Good point, OHR plan should be considers first, i think it would be appropriate to have mass transit be implemented adjustment to 495 instead of creating a congestion with some kind of Mass transit on Oxon Hill rd itself,

[Sampg1]

Originally Posted by justtitans

Interesting piece. One thing that they noted that I think is a good point, is the lack of playground/dog park. I think it was wise to transition National Harbor to a residential-type development instead of a tourist spot, it ultimately may have saved the project, but I think they still have work to do and perhaps should consider things that need to be added to get them there. It has a lot of things that are essential for residents living there, but they need to keeping adding things to make it more residential like a Hair Salon/Barber Shop or what about a Bank/Credit Union?

Good article

Tourism will be the focus but having a good residential neighborhood is a good addition to NH, 2500 Housing unit sounds good.

[justtitans]

Originally Posted by UrbanScholar

Agree it was interesting. A little on the fluffy side. Although I agree that there is a need for a play space for children, I am surprised that residents didn't link the proposed central park as a green space/play space since that has been a part of the master plan since the beginning. They could benefit from a second one that is not a part of the townhome community. I agree that there are other amenities that could help shape the residential component. A better more mainstream grocery store (MOM, Whole Food, Trader Joe's, or something along those lines) would help. I recall hearing that one is one the books but would come once they have more residents. Hair Salon/Barber Shop would be great but there could be a challenge with attracting a reasonable one since the cost to rent space there is high. Based on the master plan, they look like they are trying to get a bank in the space next to McDonalds.

I agree that there would be more transportation options once MGM goes live. At minimum, additional buses but it would be great to see a BRT or Streetcar until they get the metro up and running. Once those come more companies will be inclined to move there. It does have to be much just widely available/accessible

Yeah that part about having transit to Alexandria is interesting. I didn't realize that they would be sacrificing the Branch Avenue service, which is definitely one that is needed. If they can get buses coming from either Huntington or King Street Metro, that would be huge, especially considering the latter will get people from Amtrak, VRE, National Airport and of course Metro. It would make bring more people to visit, but that would also make it easier for people who work there during the day that live in VA.

[justtitans]

Originally Posted by Sampg1

Good article

Tourism will be the focus but having a good residential neighborhood is a good addition to NH, 2500 Housing unit sounds good.

I wonder if they are going to isolate the residential part more and make the casino area more of the focus for tourism. Let's be honest, the casino is probably going to generate more of the tourism than even the convention center. They can definitely get away with both, but they need to make sure that keep in mind how one affects the other. It's going to have to take a some good planning to make it work. That is at least one of the elements that separates NH from Tyson Corner, RTC and Rockville, tourism.

[Sampg1]

Originally Posted by justtitans

Let's be honest, the casino is probably going to generate more of the tourism than even the convention center.

Yes, MGM will attract more visitors than the convention center

[Sampg1]

What do you think is needed around National Harbor? To move NH Neighborhood to the next level – I know metro and some road work will be the main things but on top of that what would give NH/Oxon Hill area a boost.