Hard Hat Tours!
Last week, we invited a dozen users to join us for our first round of Hard Hat Tours at 1351 H Street. Here are some of our users taking a tour of the property:
Having Popularise users see the property spurred some great discussion about potential use, and gave them the opportunity to give us very helpful feedback. I thought it would be worthwhile to share some of the best questions and comments:
1. How will the process of picking the tenant(s) work?
We have to consider both what is popular and what is economically viable in making decisions about tenancy. With traditional development models there is very little ability to capture a broad segment of true local demand. Using Popularise, a landlord can look at both components — consumer demand and economics. Our goal is to find a business(es) for 1351 H Street that not only reflects what people have been asking for in the neighborhood but also will succeed financially (including factors such as raising the capital to open, as well as paying market rent). For Popularise to truly change the way neighborhoods are developed, we must prove that engaging with the community and succeeding economically are mutually reinforcing.
2. What is the time frame for picking a tenant(s)?
Our goal is to announce a tenant(s) in approximately 60 days. While we have received tremendous feedback to date, we want to reach as deeply as possible into the surrounding communities before making a decision. In my geek speak, we want to achieve a statistically significant number of votes to make sure we have a good representative sample.
Other frequent comments we heard from hard hatters:
-The building was bigger than they expected. (It has a huge first floor that stretches through an outdoor patio all the way to the alley, similar to Rock & Roll Hotel. In addition, the building has a large second floor.)
-Many people were struck by the possibility for multiple uses. Everyone saw it was possible to house a combination of ideas in the property.
-A bunch of folks asked for something that caters not just to a nighttime crowd but also functions during the day. There has been a lot of interest in trying to expand H Street’s daytime activities and street traffic, obviously balanced by the fact that most of a business’ revenue would come in the evenings, at least for the near future. People want something that can help H Street grow beyond the bars and nightlife that are thriving today.
-A few people were interested in the development process in general and were wondering if they could continue to stay involved even after the business is selected. We think this is a great idea and will work on ways to make that possible.
Thanks to all who joined us on the tours.
If you would like to RSVP for an invite to join the next Hard Hat Tour please email us at contactus@popularise.com
We always welcome questions or feedback — just email us or comment below!
-Ben, co-founder
