Hugh Youngblood's thoughts from Thursday night's McMillan meeting

See this 6/17/2011 message from ANC 5C03 Commissioner Hugh Youngblood:

Dear Fellow Members of the Community,

Thank you very much to everyone who joined for Thursday night`s Joint SMD Meeting on the McMillan Project. We greatly appreciate the level of energy that you all delivered to the discussion and your explicit calls for community action. I received the clear message that the community is ready to deploy its skills and dedication into an effort equivalent to the Manhattan Project with the mission of taking the power back and developing a plan for the historic McMillan by by the people and for the people.

Another personal takeaway from the dialogue was that you`ve lost faith in the ability of your elected leadership and the DC Government to serve as a neutral broker between the profit-motivated development team and the people who live here. This means that we need to tackle the ``McMillan Manhattan Project`` from a grassroots level, and we certainly have the talent required to get the job done.

I captured extensive notes last night comprising the wide variety of community concerns and construction design input. My office will work with the offices of SMDs 5C04 and 5C07 to produce a consolidated set of minutes and issues, which we will socialize with the community in short order. I`ll paraphrase a few of the highlights of the discussion now:

- We need to start operating like a business and go on the offensive in order to effect change. This means that many members of the community will need to take on this project as a full- or part-time job, likely without pay.

- We need to embrace the historical significance of this magnificent site and honor the role that it played in delivering the essence of life on this planet--clean water--to the DC community in the generation that preceded us. We need to establish a conservancy to serve as our vehicle for historic preservation.

- The time for action is now.

- What can we (the individual members of the community) do Right Now to get started?

I propose that we identify the answer to the question above as follows.

- Take a survey of all the skills and talents within the community members who wish to work on the project and identify the ways in which we would each most love to serve.

- With a basic comprehension of our talent pool, we design an aggressive summertime project to create a community design for the site. We can supplement any gaps in local talent by tapping into the summer internship market and by outsourcing pieces of the work electronically to the global open-source development community.

More to come. Please share your thoughts.

Thank you,

Hugh Youngblood
ANC, SMD 5C03
70 R St NW
240 . 925 . 1079
anc5c03@gmail.com

McMillan Sand Filtration site community meeting #3 -- this Saturday, 11/20/2010

See this 11/16/2010 message from Tania Jackson:

McMillan Sand Filtration Site

The Deputy Mayor for Planning & Economic Development
Councilmember Harry “Tommy“ Thomas, Jr.
Vision McMillan Partners

Meeting #3: What We Heard — Preliminary Design Concepts

Join us for a look at the preliminary design concepts based on feedback garnered from meetings and salons. This is Meeting #3 of what is now a 4 meeting series and will give you a chance to talk to the design team, get a schedule for future meetings, and learn how to share all of your ideas.

Please also visit wikiplanning.org and log in (your email + the password MCM1) and answer our survey question.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

9 AM to 12 NOON
St. Martin`s Church
1908 North Capitol Street NW
Washington, DC 20001
(Enter on T Street NW)

Questions? Call: Tania Jackson (202) 355-8998

want to get plugged into the McMillan Sand Filtration site development discussion?

McMillan Sand Filtration Site Community Meeting #2 – Saturday, 11/6/2010

From Tania Jackson:

McMillan Sand Filtration Site Meeting #2: What We Heard- Design Principles & Approach

Join us for a discussion of the elements that will go into the final design plan, based on the feedback the design team got in Meeting #1 and the Salon Sessions at Big Bear. This is Meeting #2 of a three meeting series and will give you a chance to meet and talk to the design team, get a schedule for future meetings, and learn how to share all of your ideas.

Saturday, November 6, 2010
9 AM to 12 NOON
St. Martin`s Church
1908 North Capitol Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
(Enter on T
Street NW)

The Deputy Mayor for Planning & Economic Development
Councilmember Harry ``Tommy`` Thomas, Jr.
Vision McMillan Partners

Questions?
Call: Tania Jackson (202) 355- 8998

reminder: "meet the experts" McMillan Sand Filtration site community meeting this morning, 10/16/2010

Here is a reminder message from Tania Jackson about this morning's community meeting on the development of the landmarked McMillan Sand Filtration site.

McMillan Sand Filtration Site
Meeting #1: Meet the Experts

Join for a re-visioning of McMillan Sand Filtration site. Meet and talk with the design team: Matthew Bell of Ehrenkrantz Eckstut & Kuhn Architects and Warren Byrd of Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects.

This is meeting #1 of a three meeting series.

Saturday, October 16, 2010
10 AM to 12 NOON
St. Martin`s Church
1908 North Capitol Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
(Enter on T Street NW)

The Deputy Mayor for Planning & Economic Development
Councilmember Harry ``Tommy`` Thomas, Jr.
Vision McMillan Partners

Questions? Call: Tania Jackson (202) 355- 8998

candidate for ANC 5C07 in November: Barrie Daneker

See this message from ANC 5C07 Commissioner and Bloomingdale resident Barrie Daneker:

RE-ELECT

BARRIE DANEKER
ANC Commissioner 5C07
Prosperity, Progress and Putting People First

Endorsed By:

Harry “Tommy” Thomas Jr., Councilman Ward 5
Mark Jones, Ward 5 School Board Member
Anita Bonds, Chair DCDSC and ANC 5C
Ronnie Edwards, Vice Chair ANC 5C
Mary Farmer-Allen, Commissioner 5C06
Denise Wright, Commissioner 5C05
Marshall Philips, Commissioner 5C08
Silas Grant, Commissioner 5C09
Timothy Day, Commissioner 5C10 &
Republican Candidate Ward 5 Council
Fred Allen, DCDSC Member and DC Union Leader


I’m excited to be seeking election to the ANC representing Stronghold, Bloomingdale, and Park Place communities. Together we have made great progress in many areas of our community: new alleys and curbs; fostering excellent communications with MPD over crime; Inter-generational Education Development Center in Franklin Place; to improvements at Washington Hospital Center.

My efforts with the Mayor resulted in all 5C07 city owned vacant properties being auctioned off , now rehabilitated and new families moving into those homes. With the support of active community members, CM Thomas, and I; we have had walkthroughs the neighborhood to point out issues for DOT, MPD, and DPW that needed attention. We have seen great results on a great many of those issues. By fostering relationships and communications with Howard U and Catholic U, we have seen great successes in reducing noise and public nuisance issues. With the help of the CAC along with Cmd. Green of MPD, there has been attention given to areas of the community with respect to drug related, auto-theft and home evasion crimes. The institution of the Visitor Parking Pass Program has also been a great success.

Let’s not lose site, the McMillan Sand Filtration development project which was acquired 30 years ago and has been revived again. I have spent the past 3 years working with other members of the McMillan Advisory Group, CM Thomas, Office of Economic Development, and VMP Partners, to help shape this site plan and to keep this project on track. The signs of progress are just now starting to show with the opening of Rustic Tavern and the soon to open Boundary Stone in Bloomingdale Center. My voting record attests to the support for local small businesses. My background in affordable housing and financial services along with my expert contacts in the areas of architecture, architectural preservation, water filtration and engineering have been a great asset to the shaping of the McMillan development.

If you desire a fair, equitable and balanced plan for McMillan and a Commissioner who represents the major interests of the overwhelming majority of our neighbors who have longed for development of McMillan. If you desire a development that provides jobs; integrated independent senior living; affordable work-force housing; service orientated retail meeting the needs and desires of our community; “smart” preservation of McMillan; and good urban planning and design with 1/3 green/public, 1/3 residential, and 1/3 commercial/office space then I ask you to support me November 2nd.

Much more needs to be accomplished, and the work is never done. This year is a very important election to ensure progress keeps moving forward here in DC and the country. I need your support and vote on November 2nd. This election I have an opposition for my seat, and the special interest groups have entered the political arena; out of the gate, the negative attacks have started. As in the past and now, I have stayed away from negative campaigns and prefer to focus on people, issues and continue progress in our community.

Many of my opponent’s supporters have used questionable tactics, threats and lawsuits to stop development of the site and to deny residents the amenities we have long sought in ANC 5C. I have worked hard with DC Economic Development Partnership to help attract first class retail to the area, along with being a strong advocate for reputable local small businesses looking to locate here in Ward 5 and in DC. So don’t let your voice not be heard or drowned out by outside special interest groups, their money. As always, to maintain integrity and transparency in my bid for office; I do not accept campaign contributions from special interest groups, political groups, or even you, my neighbors and voters of SMD 5C07. Let your voice be heard! I ask is for your support and vote on November 2nd, get the VOTE OUT!
Vote Barrie Daneker for ANC 5C07

brdaneker@hotmail.com
202 - 986 - 8781.

McMillan Sand Filtration site Community Meeting #1 - "Meet the Experts" - Saturday, 10-16-2010

See this 10/05/2010 message from Tania Jackson:

McMillan Sand Filtration Site

Meeting #1: Meet the Experts
Join us for a panel introduction of the design team that will create the final concept plan for the site. This is Meeting #1 of a three meeting series and will give you a chance to meet and talk to the design team, get a schedule for future meetings, and learn how to share all of your ideas.

Saturday, October 16, 2010
10 AM to 12 NOON
St. Martin`s Church
1908 North Capitol Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
(Enter on T Street NW)

The Deputy Mayor for Planning & Economic Development
Councilmember Harry ``Tommy`` Thomas, Jr.
Vision McMillan Partners

Questions? Call: Tania Jackson (202) 355- 8998.

community meeting NOT coordinated by DMPED & the development team this Wednesday on the McMillan Sand Filtration site development

This Wednesday, 9/9/2009, there will be a meeting on the development of the McMillan Sand Filtration site (and not the McMillan Reservoir site, which reporters consistently confuse!).

Note that this meeting is NOT NOT NOT being coordinated by the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning & Economic Development (DMPED) and the Vision McMillan Partners land development team which has put on the prior community meetings.

It should also be noted that the members of the McMillan Advisory Group (MAG) are not a sponsor of this event.

No agenda for this meeting has been provided.

(Photo of the McMillan sand filtration silos courtesy of hipchikindc: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hipchickindc/1556599315/)

Item #1) See this message from ANC 5C04 Commissioner John Salatti:

A few weeks ago, I announced a community meeting about the McMillan Sand Filtration Site. But because a number of key people were not able to make that date, I postponed the meeting. But now with the help of a new host committee, the meeting has been rescheduled and revamped into a series of meetings.

So on behalf of the host committee consisting of several ANC commissioners, community associations, and residents, I invite you to the attend the first of these meetings to discuss the future of the Sand Filtration Site. This meeting is set for Wednesday, September 9, 2009 at St. George's Episcopal Church, at 2nd & U Streets, NW, starting at 7:00 p.m.

This first meeting will cover some history, the results of a previous community input process in 2000, a slide show of the site, the current development plan that has been discussed over the last year, and other options for developing such a site. While this meeting will mainly present broad information, it will lay the foundation for succeeding ones, which will cover more technical issues and offer ways for participants to develop a consensus for what they would like to see happen at the site.

Because the future of the Sand Filtration Site is complex issue and sometimes contentious, we will have a professional facilitator who will run the meetings.

Also, come early. St.George's only seats about 100 people!

If you have any questions, please let me know.

John

John T. Salatti
Commissioner, ANC 5C04
(202) 986- 2592
John.Salatti @ gmail.com
"Together, Building a Better Bloomingdale"

Item #2) I spotted a few fluorescent green leaflets blowing around some sidewalks in the neighborhood, announcing the Wednesday McMillan community meeting.

Here is the text from the leaflet:

ANC Commissioners Stuart Davenport, Ronnie Edwards, Myla Moss & John Salatti

Howard University Community Association

McMillan Park Committee


Our Community, Our Choice
My McMillan


Please become part of a community effort to shape the future of this national treasure in our own backyard.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009
7 pm to 9 pm


St. George's Episcopal Church
160 U Street NW

info @ mymcmillan.com
202 - 986 - 2592

http://www.mymcmillan.com/

-------------------------------------------------------


And let’s review, once again, what the rules are for posting comments:

1) Identify yourself. A full name would be best, but at least include a first name.

2) Identify your neighborhood.

3) Totally anonymous posts will not be allowed and be deleted, regardless of the content of the comment.

BOTH name and neighborhood name are required! Thanks for honoring the rules.