2500 block of 7th

Anonymous reports:

I'm following up on the question about what's going on on the 2500 block of 7th street where it's been bulldozed.

For whatever reason, even though there's a "financed by Wachovia" sign in the middle of the land, most of the people I've called have tried to say as little as possible. I was told the "official release" will be in a couple of months. I called around and was able to get this info:

-The plans are for 45 townhomes
-3 stories
-They will be 1700 to 1800 sq/ft
-The avg townhome will have 3 bedrooms and if I understood correctly, 3.5 baths.
-They will have a 1.5 car garage
-The pre-construction prices will be "in the low 2's". I asked what they meant and was told "215-220".
-They are being built by gateway homes

There are several condemed and nearly condemed properties on that block and right next to the soon-to-be-built townhomes, but the demolition for this project is complete. I was told they woul "probably look similar to the homes ate www.PrestonTownHomes.com", although they don't know if they'll be brick or not.

one more thing: completion of the project will be 14 months from now.

Conformity on Seventh

The secret is out. Plans are underway to develop the Roy White property on Seventh. Monte Ritchey may have been playing coy with the Business Journal, but he made a presentation to the ECA meeting Tuesday night. Let's hope he can do something good for the neighborhood with that property and end the long-running saga.

Relive the PD

Download the Progressive Dinner recipes here. Enjoy.

Progressively fuller

At our Progressive Dinner house on Greenway, hosts Beth and Scott Haenni went beyond the call by also preparing warm goat cheese salsa and fresh guacamole. (That's Scott in the back in black t-shirt; Beth at far left, also in black.) So I ate some. It was really good. Just before that, at the appetizers house, I nibbled on various things while never straying far from the two frozen margarita machines. So when it came time to actually eat dinner, I was already fat. That I did not join the clean plate club was no reflection on the meal. Maya and company, you did a great job choosing the menu -- again. Afterward, the desert house on Bay Street made up for the dearth of sweets last year with an overload this year. All in all, an excellent Progressive Dinner -- again. If you didn't make it -- and we know who you are 9th Street -- rest assured we talked about you.

Seis de Mayo

When you attend the Progressive Dinner Saturday night, I encourage you to eat too much, drink too much and misbehave. I don't want to be the only one. One warning, like last year, I'll have my camera. If you act up, I'll snap your picture. If you've never been to the Elizabeth PD, you ought to go. It's one of the best things our neighborhood does. Maya says she has space for five more people if you forgot to sign up. And the correct starting time is 6:30 p.m., even if you see a flyer that says 6.

Whole year wait

Bummer. Looks like Whole Foods won't open on Elizabeth Avenue until 2008, not next year as originally planned. I'm looking forward to the gluten-free bakery.

Bulls eye

I'm not a huge Target shopper. But when I heard they were building one on the site of the old Charlottetown Cinemas I thought, "Sure would be nice to have a movie theater there." And then I thought, "But a Target and Home Depot won't be bad" -- especially since we're supposed to get up to eight screens at the Elizabeth Avenue redevelopment project. I resent the heck out of having to drive out to the suburbs for shopping and entertainment. I'm glad our fair city is getting the density needed to bring these businesses back into town.

Table turnover

So long Ethan's. So long Schlotzsky's. Seems like we hardly knew you. Hello Pearl of Elizabeth and the Corner Place. We are to expect American cuisine with an emphasis on fresh seafood at Pearl of Elizabeth. I'm not sure what to expect from the Corner Place, but it's open, so stop in. Apparently the Pearl is open too, as they get ready for a grand opening on May 5.