California is suffering from the recession in ways best assessed from the safe distance of Washington, D.C. Taking a short vacation here in San Francisco, I am getting a front-row seat.
Revenue shortfalls are all but bankrupting cities and counties and the state. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vows to veto the legislature’s bill to handle the $24 billion shortfall. Summer school classes have been canceled across the state. Santa Cruz has put its work force on a four-day week — and cut 33 jobs.
Here in the city by the Bay, things are not so dire, by California standards — especially when my wife is on the loose with her credit card. She leaves in her wake an economic stimulus.
That is partly because San Francisco has great storefront shops. Dear Louise dropped cash on Union Street, sprinkled plenty up Filmore into Pacific Heights and reached her limit at the little boutiques around Union Square.
San Francisco’s strength is the capital city’s weakness. Where the Fog City has thriving neighborhood economies, the capital city’s storefronts are in distress.
Take, for example, Cleveland Park. Connecticut Avenue north of the National Zoo has always been a thriving, upscale neighborhood. Back when I settled in the city, I would have a regular Monday night dinner at the Roma, a family-run Italian restaurant and raw bar. I remember taking in “Apocalypse Now” at the Uptown theater and repairing to one of the two Irish pubs.
Roma closed years ago, and though newer restaurants have moved in, the strip is sprouting holes. Magruder’s has closed, Cold Stone Creamery shut down, even the McDonald’s has been out of commission for many years. In a truly crummy sign, Starbucks at 3420 Connecticut just closed after 15 years.
Drive farther down Connecticut Avenue south of Dupont Circle and you will see more empty storefronts. What is known as the Golden Triangle is looking a bit tarnished. There are empty storefronts on both sides of the street.
If the neighborhood stores along Connecticut Avenue in the heart of downtown are buckling under stress, imagine the struggles in less affluent strips. It could be the recession, perhaps it’s high business taxes, maybe it’s lack of quality stores. Terry Lynch, who champions neighborhood development as director of the Downtown Cluster of Churches, believes the city could help.
“We need a deal maker in the economic development office who’s concerned about small-business development rather than blockbuster deals like the stadium and convention center hotel,” he says. “In places like Adams Morgan, Georgia Avenue, Petworth, Brookland and Anacostia, that’s not happening.”
Karen Sibert, marketing director for the Downtown Business Improvement District, says Gallery Place is doing quite well, and storefronts along F Street are hot. “Slowly, but surely, retail is filling in,” she says. Judging from the lively retail storefronts throughout San Francisco, I can see where building strong community retail would be a win for D.C. It would bring my wife’s stimulus package back to town.
