Jim Graham (Photo: AP)

UPDATE Sept. 8: Yep, it was IHOP. Opening date now projected to be Nov. 16.

Hot off the presses from Ward 1 D.C. Councilmember Jim Graham's office: He's poised to announce a "major new development" for the DCUSA complex in Columbia Heights at a 10 a.m. press conference Wednesday morning.

"During this recession and anemic recovery, Ward One businesses have continued to thrive, and hire our residents,” reads the statement attached to the media advisory. “Our newest partner is much anticipated, and will add to this great success by taking us over 1,000 jobs created at this one location.”

So what is it? Given a reference in the announcement to the "potential for 100 new jobs at DCUSA" and the participation of Tyoka Jackson from Jackson Investment Company, it has to be IHOP, which has been pretty publicly on the radar since at least spring, has had signs up in the windows announcing its plans for months, and last we heard from the company is set to open in mid-November. Given all that, It's not clear why the Graham camp is attempting to keep the content of this press conference a surprise, other than perhaps to gin up a little extra enthusiasm for what will surely double as a campaign event for the councilmember, along with his colleague Kwame Brown, who will also be in attendance (the advisory says Mayor Adrian Fenty was invited, but it's unclear whether he'll show as well).

It'll be interesting to see whether IHOP manages to get its apparent building permit issues sorted out before tomorrow morning.