For the record, I am happy that Ross and Marshals are coming, because

I'm on a limited budget, live in the neighborhood, and appreciate

options for reasonably priced (what many of you call "low end") clothing.



I know I'm not alone and that many of my neighbors agree.



I just thought that it should at least be stated here that not

everyone, and most likely not "most people" would prefer not to see

Ross and Marshalls.  Maybe "most people" that post on this message

board, but that's a small sampling of Columbia Heights.



Thanks for listening.

I don't think you understand.  My point is that a lot of people in

Columbia Heights could care less whether the development on 14th

Street ends up like the Mall of America or like Friendship Heights.

Many of us, homeowners and renters (I'm an owner), just simply want

affordable commercial stores, safe streets, and a safe, clean place to

live.



I think a lot of people's priorities are out of whack by concentrating

so much on what stores come to the neighborhood.



Silver Spring was just fine before that monster of a mall opened up.

But hey, you're convinced that you want high end retail, if that's

your thing, so be it.  I just wanted people who read this message

board to know that there are many people who aren't as interested in

it as the few people who post here.



--- In columbia_heights@yahoogroups.com, "RJ Mauch" <rjbeg32@...> wrote:

>

> I can appreciate shopping on a budget I too not much for shopping for

> expensive clothing.

> However, with a Marshals and Target, both sell clothing at better than

> reasonable prices.

>

> Do you mean to tell me that's not enough? You NEED that Ross in

there too?

>

> Yes, Ross and Marshals like to open competitive stores next to each

but who

> cares why like to do that.   There's plenty of other retailers out

there,

> smaller, local business retailers, all kinds off possibilities.

>

> There was a Marshalls in Silver Spring's City Place Mall.  You want

to see

> the online reviews for that place?  Here's your link to that

> mess<http://tinyurl.com/2kpm5g>.

> Marshals and Burlington Coat Factory as "anchors" did nothing for

the area

> other than depress it for years until Discovery came into Silver

Spring with

> heavy investment behind it.   Yes, they just spruced City Mall up a bit,

> only thanks to all the other development around it that came in

after that

> near collapse.

>

> They almost lost it all to some jerks that wanted dump a Mall of

America in

> the middle and glad that the neighborhoods didn't buy the agressive

> arguments from them. The very same arguments I read here, were given

there,

> "no proven customer base" for the area, "the location only attracts

discount

> retailers", etc.

>

> And, boy, the naysayers couldn't have gotten it anymore dead wrong.

   If you

> haven't been, you have to stop a take a look at the area and it's

only half

> done.

>

> And here, Columbia Heights has everything in its favor to be set to

be the

> new retail center of the city but we're at risk of yet another "Mall of

> America" like situation.

>

> All I'm asking is that a range and variety of shops are given the

> opportunity to bid.

> And I am definitely not interested in hearing whatever what's

"easiest" for

> DCUSA to fill those spaces with.  Once they're job is done, they get

go home

> in the suburbs of Maryland.  We get to live with the results.

>

>

> On 7/9/07, Michael <Michael_WCL@...> wrote:

> >

> >   For the record, I am happy that Ross and Marshals are coming,

because

> > I'm on a limited budget, live in the neighborhood, and appreciate

> > options for reasonably priced (what many of you call "low end")

clothing.

> >

> > I know I'm not alone and that many of my neighbors agree.

> >

> > I just thought that it should at least be stated here that not

> > everyone, and most likely not "most people" would prefer not to see

> > Ross and Marshalls. Maybe "most people" that post on this message

> > board, but that's a small sampling of Columbia Heights.

> >

> > Thanks for listening.

> >

> >

> >

>

There will be no pawnshops or check cashing places or the like in the new

development so I don't see your point there.



I never heard of retailers such as Best Buy or Target bringing down a

neighborhood or preventing a BID.



It is marginal retailers, i.e. local businesses that can be a problem in

financing a BID, not national retailers such as are slated for DCUSA.



If you prefer upscale retailers why not just say so and be done with it. The

more upscale offerings will likely be in the surrounding buildings.

Otherwise if you can afford upscale you can afford to get to Georgetown.



Or perhaps you are thinking upscale stores = affluent residents = real

estate profits.



Dave McIntire



----- Original Message -----

From: "RJ Mauch" <rjbeg32@...>

To: <columbia_heights@yahoogroups.com>

Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2007 11:35 PM

Subject: Re: [columbia_heights] Re: Some people, perhaps many people, want

Ross and Marshals





> Michael, you need to familiarize yourself with just how much impact the

> selection of commercial retailers can have on area like C.H.  You want

> safe

> streets, and clean places to live, well that costs money.

>

> For example, having pawn shops and check cashing stores can have a

> negative

> impact in area.   The effects are analogous having bad neighbors move next

> door to your property and not take care of their place.  Eventually, it

> affects your property values, your other neighbors, and left uncheck can

> get

> out of hand very quickly.  There's a term for these types of retailers:

> Redundant Retail

>

> If you want clean streets for example, having sufficient mix of retailers

> can make all the difference.  It increases the chances of forming a

> business

> improvement district, which is a self-taxing entity that can pay for extra

> services that your local government can't or won't deal with sufficiently,

> like making sure the streets stay clean, invest in better lighting,

> security

> patrols, etc.   The cleaner the streets, the more respect the area

> emboldens

> into its inhabitants and visitors.

>

> However, if the area were to attract marginal to low-end retailers, they

> will most likely not be able to afford to get involved into a BID.  These

> BID's can run around $4million a year.

>

> So, I strongly urge you to rethink your position, considering you have a

> lot

> to lose and gain from having the right mixt of retailers.

>

> If you leave a street trashy, it's only going to get worse and it takes

> money and great detail of attention to detail to get that around.

>

> And MY point is simply that we got a Marshals, we got a Target,  why do we

> need a Ross?  Let's get some local businesses in there, anything but yet

> one

> big box, national discount retailer.

>

> It's just how it works Michael.

>

> P.S. Your entitled to your opinion, but the majority of Silver Spring

> residents did NOT think Silver Spring was "just fine".   It took nearly 15

> years of hard work from many, many engaged groups of resident to finally

> get

> some badly needed attention into the area.   This at a  time when

> Montgomery

> County legislators nearly wrote off Silver Spring's resurgence as

> impossible.   Those are the facts, Micheal.  Please be careful not to

> denigrate the tremendous effort of a community to get back their downtown

> from near ruin.

There will be no pawnshops or check cashing places or the like in the new
development so I don't see your point there.

I never heard of retailers such as Best Buy or Target bringing down a
neighborhood or preventing a BID.

It is marginal retailers, i.e. local businesses that can be a problem in
financing a BID, not national retailers such as are slated for DCUSA.

If you prefer upscale retailers why not just say so and be done with it. The
more upscale offerings will likely be in the surrounding buildings.
Otherwise if you can afford upscale you can afford to get to Georgetown.

Or perhaps you are thinking upscale stores = affluent residents = real
estate profits.

Dave McIntire

----- Original Message -----
From: "RJ Mauch" <rjbeg32@gmail.com>
To: <columbia_heights@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2007 11:35 PM
Subject: Re: [columbia_heights] Re: Some people, perhaps many people, want
Ross and Marshals

> Michael, you need to familiarize yourself with just how much impact the
> selection of commercial retailers can have on area like C.H. You want
> safe
> streets, and clean places to live, well that costs money.
>
> For example, having pawn shops and check cashing stores can have a
> negative
> impact in area. The effects are analogous having bad neighbors move next
> door to your property and not take care of their place. Eventually, it
> affects your property values, your other neighbors, and left uncheck can
> get
> out of hand very quickly. There's a term for these types of retailers:
> Redundant Retail
>
> If you want clean streets for example, having sufficient mix of retailers
> can make all the difference. It increases the chances of forming a
> business
> improvement district, which is a self-taxing entity that can pay for extra
> services that your local government can't or won't deal with sufficiently,
> like making sure the streets stay clean, invest in better lighting,
> security
> patrols, etc. The cleaner the streets, the more respect the area
> emboldens
> into its inhabitants and visitors.
>
> However, if the area were to attract marginal to low-end retailers, they
> will most likely not be able to afford to get involved into a BID. These
> BID's can run around $4million a year.
>
> So, I strongly urge you to rethink your position, considering you have a
> lot
> to lose and gain from having the right mixt of retailers.
>
> If you leave a street trashy, it's only going to get worse and it takes
> money and great detail of attention to detail to get that around.
>
> And MY point is simply that we got a Marshals, we got a Target, why do we
> need a Ross? Let's get some local businesses in there, anything but yet
> one
> big box, national discount retailer.
>
> It's just how it works Michael.
>
> P.S. Your entitled to your opinion, but the majority of Silver Spring
> residents did NOT think Silver Spring was "just fine". It took nearly 15
> years of hard work from many, many engaged groups of resident to finally
> get
> some badly needed attention into the area. This at a time when
> Montgomery
> County legislators nearly wrote off Silver Spring's resurgence as
> impossible. Those are the facts, Micheal. Please be careful not to
> denigrate the tremendous effort of a community to get back their downtown
> from near ruin.

----- Original Message -----

From: Janet Girard

To: columbia_heights@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Friday, July 13, 2007 2:43 PM

Subject: Re: [columbia_heights] Re: Some people, perhaps many people, want Ross and Marshals

forget big & tall, i think there is a demand for small men's shop in ch

David McIntire <mail@...> wrote:

There will be no pawnshops or check cashing places or the like in the new
development so I don't see your point there.

I never heard of retailers such as Best Buy or Target bringing down a
neighborhood or preventing a BID.

It is marginal retailers, i.e. local businesses that can be a problem in
financing a BID, not national retailers such as are slated for DCUSA.

If you prefer upscale retailers why not just say so and be done with it. The
more upscale offerings will likely be in the surrounding buildings.
Otherwise if you can afford upscale you can afford to get to Georgetown.

Or perhaps you are thinking upscale stores = affluent residents = real
estate profits.

Dave McIntire

----- Original Message -----
From: "RJ Mauch" <rjbeg32@gmail.com>
To: <columbia_heights@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2007 11:35 PM
Subject: Re: [columbia_heights] Re: Some people, perhaps many people, want
Ross and Marshals

> Michael, you need to familiarize yourself with just how much impact the
> selection of commercial retailers can have on area like C.H. You want
> safe
> streets, and clean places to live, well that costs money.
>
> For example, having pawn shops and check cashing stores can have a
> negative
> impact in area. The effects are analogous having bad neighbors move next
> door to your property and not take care of their place. Eventually, it
> affects your property values, your other neighbors, and left uncheck can
> get
> out of hand very quickly. There's a term for these types of retailers:
> Redundant Retail
>
> If you want clean streets for example, having sufficient mix of retailers
> can make all the difference. It increases the chances of forming a
> business
> improvement district, which is a self-taxing entity that can pay for extra
> services that your local government can't or won't deal with sufficiently,
> like making sure the streets stay clean, invest in better lighting,
> security
> patrols, etc. The cleaner the streets, the more respect the area
> emboldens
> into its inhabitants and visitors.
>
> However, if the area were to attract marginal to low-end retailers, they
> will most likely not be able to afford to get involved into a BID. These
> BID's can run around $4million a year.
>
> So, I strongly urge you to rethink your position, considering you have a
> lot
> to lose and gain from having the right mixt of retailers.
>
> If you leave a street trashy, it's only going to get worse and it takes
> money and great detail of attention to detail to get that around.
>
> And MY point is simply that we got a Marshals, we got a Target, why do we
> need a Ross? Let's get some local businesses in there, anything but yet
> one
> big box, national discount retailer.
>
> It's just how it works Michael.
>
> P.S. Your entitled to your opinion, but the majority of Silver Spring
> residents did NOT think Silver Spring was "just fine". It took nearly 15
> years of hard work from many, many engaged groups of resident to finally
> get
> some badly needed attention into the area. This at a time when
> Montgomery
> County legislators nearly wrote off Silver Spring's resurgence as
> impossible. Those are the facts, Micheal. Please be careful not to
> denigrate the tremendous effort of a community to get back their downtown
> from near ruin.

---

Luggage? GPS? Comic books?
Check out fitting gifts for grads at Yahoo! Search.

The Columbia Heights listserv has been a heated battle ground of thinly veiled race and class issues of late. When they're not sniping back and forth, many of the posters have been loudly bemoaning the Ross and Marshalls discount clothing stores coming to the new DCUSA development at 14th and Irving NW. They also complain about the incoming Lane Bryant, Foot Locker, and Mattress Discounters.

The listserv has been abuzz with messages such as "How do we encourage Ross, NOT to come into CH?." The way some posters talk about the stores, it sounds like they expect the only people who will shop there will be crackheads and burglars looking to break into cars and stick people up on their way to and from buying some pants and a belt. The discussion has been noted a few other places too.

For the most part, listserve participants are avoiding stating their reasons for opposing Ross and Marshalls other than a general desire for Whole Foods or Trader Joe's, which has come up time and again. They've also said that Ross and Marshalls are too similar to each other.

Photo by dabdiputs

However, commenters at the Columbia Heights News blog are more direct about it: "Come-on folks, I really don't think we need the demographic (socio-economic) that Ross is going to attract to CH" (parenthetical theirs, not mine). Other commenters call them "ghetto ass stores," adding "Let's hope when Xmas time comes no one gets mugged walking home with Best Buy bags." The site's bloggers talk of their hearts sinking when Whole Foods and Trader Joe's said no, with rhetoric like "And it looks even worse when you consider who the top contender for the space maybe now...you guessed it - Ross Dress For Less."

At least some people want or at least don't mind Ross, Marshalls and the like. The same poster also makes the point that the listserv is hardly representative of the neighborhood as a whole, so saying that "most people don't want Ross" is inaccurate.

The Spamjacker is at it again! In reposting an article from DCist, he

(purposely?) left out the following commentary:



....Re #16: There are certainly a few "racist and classist liberal-in-

name-only assholes" among the new Columbia Heights residents, just as

there are plenty of racist and classist assholes among the "old"

residents: William Jordan is the most prominent example.



As has been pointed out elsewhere in the discussion, the idea that

the Columbia Heights listserv represents the neighborhood is

laughable. It represents the bizarre ramblings of a few people with

far too much time on their hands, and little else.



While there are doubtless people who object to these stores because

of concerns about property values, there are many valid reasons to be

concerned.



First, trying to anchor the trail with two enormous, two enormous,

very similar retail offerings that cater primarily to one

socioeconomic class in a diverse neighborhood is probably not wise.

Consider the shopping plaza being torn down on 14th to make way for

condos – it offered a mix of weak retail and empty stores. Now

contrast that to the Giant, which appeals to a broader range of

people in the neighborhood, and complaints about service aside, has

been quite a success.



Second, many people object to large stores per se, not just to these

two specifically. I'm not thrilled about Best Buy or Target, nor

would I be thrilled by Sur Le Table or another uber-yuppie offering.

The neighborhood lacks the infrastructure to handle so much traffic.

And besides, why do people choose to live in a city? I understand the

argument that some retail is better than nothing, but it's sad to me

that Columbia Heights is charting a course to look like Silver

Spring. If there's anything we can agree on, it's fuck Silver Spring.



[40] Posted by: guest | July 12, 2007 2:51 PM...



To protect yourself from becoming a victim of selective reposting,

let me suggest that you paste and follow the link and read the ENTIRE

posting --- not just the excerpt the Spamjacker choses for us to read.



http://dcist.com/2007/07/12/columbia_height_1.php



Fight Spamjacking! Seek the truth!





--- In columbia_heights@yahoogroups.com, William Jordan <whj@...>

wrote:

>

>

>

>

>       Columbia Heights Listserve vs. Ross

>

> http://dcist.com/2007/07/12/columbia_height_1.php

>

> Columbia Heights bulldozer The Columbia Heights listserv

> <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/columbia_heights/> has been a heated

> battle ground of thinly veiled race and class issues of late. When

> they're not sniping back and forth, many of the posters have been

loudly

> bemoaning the Ross and Marshalls discount clothing stores coming to

the

> new DCUSA <http://www.dcch.org/html/dcusa.html> development at 14th

and

> Irving NW. They also complain about the incoming Lane Bryant, Foot

> Locker, and Mattress Discounters.

>

> The listserv has been abuzz with messages such as "How do we

encourage

> Ross, NOT to come into CH?

> <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/columbia_heights/messages/25846?

threaded=1&m=e&var=1&tidx=1>."

> The way some posters talk about the stores, it sounds like they

expect

> the only people who will shop there will be crackheads and burglars

> looking to break into cars and stick people up on their way to and

from

> buying some pants and a belt. The discussion has been noted a few

>

<http://www.readexpress.com/read_freeride/2007/07/in_columbia_heights_

retail_sparks_class.php>

> other

<http://dc.metblogs.com/archives/2007/07/does_ross_marsh.phtml>

> places too.

>

> For the most part, listserve participants are avoiding stating

their

> reasons for opposing Ross and Marshalls other than a general desire

for

> Whole Foods or Trader Joe's, which has come up time

> <http://dcist.com/2006/07/24/the_fetishism_o.php> and again

> <http://dcist.com/2007/02/07/the_great_groce.php>. They've also

said

> that Ross <http://www.rossstores.com/> and Marshalls

> <http://www.marshallsonline.com/> are too similar to each other.

>

> Photo by dabdiputs <http://www.flickr.com/photos/dabdiputs/>

>

> However, commenters at the Columbia Heights News blog are more

direct

> about it

> <http://www.columbiaheightsnews.org/News/Retail-News/DC-USA-

18.html>:

> "Come-on folks, I really don't think we need the demographic

> (socio-economic) that Ross is going to attract to CH"

(parenthetical

> theirs, not mine). Other commenters call them "ghetto ass stores

> <http://www.columbiaheightsnews.org/News/News-Front/Updated-DC-USA-

Floor-Plan.html>,"

> adding "Let's hope when Xmas time comes no one gets mugged walking

home

> with Best Buy bags." The site's bloggers talk of their hearts

sinking

> when Whole Foods and Trader Joe's said no, with rhetoric like

> <http://www.columbiaheightsnews.org/Home/Whole-Foods/Whole-Foods-Or-

Ross-.html>

> "And it looks even worse when you consider who the top contender

for the

> space maybe now...you guessed it - Ross Dress For Less."

>

> At least some people want

> <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/columbia_heights/messages/25889?

threaded=1&m=e&var=1&tidx=1>

> or at least don't mind Ross, Marshalls and the like. The same

poster

> also makes the point that the listserv is hardly representative of

the

> neighborhood as a whole, so saying that "most people don't want

Ross" is

> inaccurate.

>

> Sometimes you have to call a spade a spade: there are some Columbia

> Heights residents posting to their neighborhood listserve who are

> uncomfortable with new retail services that cater to lower income

> individuals and families. Whether their predictions that residents

> aren't interested in these stores are true will only be borne out

after

> they open: if the stores do solid business, it'll be tough to keep

up

> the argument that discount retailers aren't welcome in the "new"

> Columbia Heights.

>

What are you talking about?  I read the original post on DCist and

it's just what William posted.  Are you saying he should have posted

every comment that followed the post?  I don't agree with all of

William's views but he does post plenty of purely informational

messages - articles, links - without commentary that people can take

or leave as they see fit.



--- In columbia_heights@yahoogroups.com, "jhorvatsr" <jhorvatsr@...>

wrote:

>

> The Spamjacker is at it again! In reposting an article from DCist, he

> (purposely?) left out the following commentary:

>

> ....Re #16: There are certainly a few "racist and classist liberal-in-

> name-only assholes" among the new Columbia Heights residents, just as

> there are plenty of racist and classist assholes among the "old"

> residents: William Jordan is the most prominent example.

>

> As has been pointed out elsewhere in the discussion, the idea that

> the Columbia Heights listserv represents the neighborhood is

> laughable. It represents the bizarre ramblings of a few people with

> far too much time on their hands, and little else.

>

> While there are doubtless people who object to these stores because

> of concerns about property values, there are many valid reasons to be

> concerned.

>

> First, trying to anchor the trail with two enormous, two enormous,

> very similar retail offerings that cater primarily to one

> socioeconomic class in a diverse neighborhood is probably not wise.

> Consider the shopping plaza being torn down on 14th to make way for

> condos – it offered a mix of weak retail and empty stores. Now

> contrast that to the Giant, which appeals to a broader range of

> people in the neighborhood, and complaints about service aside, has

> been quite a success.

>

> Second, many people object to large stores per se, not just to these

> two specifically. I'm not thrilled about Best Buy or Target, nor

> would I be thrilled by Sur Le Table or another uber-yuppie offering.

> The neighborhood lacks the infrastructure to handle so much traffic.

> And besides, why do people choose to live in a city? I understand the

> argument that some retail is better than nothing, but it's sad to me

> that Columbia Heights is charting a course to look like Silver

> Spring. If there's anything we can agree on, it's fuck Silver Spring.

>

> [40] Posted by: guest | July 12, 2007 2:51 PM...

>

> To protect yourself from becoming a victim of selective reposting,

> let me suggest that you paste and follow the link and read the ENTIRE

> posting --- not just the excerpt the Spamjacker choses for us to read.

>

> http://dcist.com/2007/07/12/columbia_height_1.php

>

> Fight Spamjacking! Seek the truth!

>

>

> --- In columbia_heights@yahoogroups.com, William Jordan <whj@>

> wrote:

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >       Columbia Heights Listserve vs. Ross

> >

> > http://dcist.com/2007/07/12/columbia_height_1.php

> >

> > Columbia Heights bulldozer The Columbia Heights listserv

> > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/columbia_heights/> has been a heated

> > battle ground of thinly veiled race and class issues of late. When

> > they're not sniping back and forth, many of the posters have been

> loudly

> > bemoaning the Ross and Marshalls discount clothing stores coming to

> the

> > new DCUSA <http://www.dcch.org/html/dcusa.html> development at 14th

> and

> > Irving NW. They also complain about the incoming Lane Bryant, Foot

> > Locker, and Mattress Discounters.

> >

> > The listserv has been abuzz with messages such as "How do we

> encourage

> > Ross, NOT to come into CH?

> > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/columbia_heights/messages/25846?

> threaded=1&m=e&var=1&tidx=1>."

> > The way some posters talk about the stores, it sounds like they

> expect

> > the only people who will shop there will be crackheads and burglars

> > looking to break into cars and stick people up on their way to and

> from

> > buying some pants and a belt. The discussion has been noted a few

> >

> <http://www.readexpress.com/read_freeride/2007/07/in_columbia_heights_

> retail_sparks_class.php>

> > other

> <http://dc.metblogs.com/archives/2007/07/does_ross_marsh.phtml>

> > places too.

> >

> > For the most part, listserve participants are avoiding stating

> their

> > reasons for opposing Ross and Marshalls other than a general desire

> for

> > Whole Foods or Trader Joe's, which has come up time

> > <http://dcist.com/2006/07/24/the_fetishism_o.php> and again

> > <http://dcist.com/2007/02/07/the_great_groce.php>. They've also

> said

> > that Ross <http://www.rossstores.com/> and Marshalls

> > <http://www.marshallsonline.com/> are too similar to each other.

> >

> > Photo by dabdiputs <http://www.flickr.com/photos/dabdiputs/>

> >

> > However, commenters at the Columbia Heights News blog are more

> direct

> > about it

> > <http://www.columbiaheightsnews.org/News/Retail-News/DC-USA-

> 18.html>:

> > "Come-on folks, I really don't think we need the demographic

> > (socio-economic) that Ross is going to attract to CH"

> (parenthetical

> > theirs, not mine). Other commenters call them "ghetto ass stores

> > <http://www.columbiaheightsnews.org/News/News-Front/Updated-DC-USA-

> Floor-Plan.html>,"

> > adding "Let's hope when Xmas time comes no one gets mugged walking

> home

> > with Best Buy bags." The site's bloggers talk of their hearts

> sinking

> > when Whole Foods and Trader Joe's said no, with rhetoric like

> > <http://www.columbiaheightsnews.org/Home/Whole-Foods/Whole-Foods-Or-

> Ross-.html>

> > "And it looks even worse when you consider who the top contender

> for the

> > space maybe now...you guessed it - Ross Dress For Less."

> >

> > At least some people want

> > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/columbia_heights/messages/25889?

> threaded=1&m=e&var=1&tidx=1>

> > or at least don't mind Ross, Marshalls and the like. The same

> poster

> > also makes the point that the listserv is hardly representative of

> the

> > neighborhood as a whole, so saying that "most people don't want

> Ross" is

> > inaccurate.

> >

> > Sometimes you have to call a spade a spade: there are some Columbia

> > Heights residents posting to their neighborhood listserve who are

> > uncomfortable with new retail services that cater to lower income

> > individuals and families. Whether their predictions that residents

> > aren't interested in these stores are true will only be borne out

> after

> > they open: if the stores do solid business, it'll be tough to keep

> up

> > the argument that discount retailers aren't welcome in the "new"

> > Columbia Heights.

> >

>