This is Jazzy Wright.
Bloomingdale Bites
McMillan Development Gains Supporters
A new advocacy group has sprouted up to publicly support the McMillan redevelopment plan. The members of Neighbors for McMillan, founded in December of last year, are Bloomingdale and Stronghold residents who want to bring new park space, retail, jobs, and dining options to the community – amenities they say can be brought to the area by the proposed redevelopment of the McMillan sand filtration site.
Members plan to express their support for the city-backed Vision McMillan Plan at various upcoming community meetings and planning hearings. The group is distributing green “Create McMillan Park” lawn signs in neighborhoods surrounding McMillan Park.
“We started the group to get the word out about McMillan and promote factual information instead of the emotional cry we’ve heard before,” said Barrie Daneker, an active member of the organization, who said that more than 60 lawn signs were distributed to the community during the first month of the group’s existence. “Neighbors want to express themselves and support this project. The District has owned the property for 30 years and spent $9.3 million to develop it. We’re hoping to build the park space and affordable housing that the people have called for.” Daneker continued, “A lot of us are long-time residents who have what I call ‘McMillan fatigue’ after watching the development project go on for 30 years.”
Daneker, who lives in Bloomingdale and previously worked as an advisory neighborhood commissioner in the Stronghold neighborhood, says that past conversations about McMillan focused excessively on community opposition to the site. In a letter to the community he wrote, “For too long now, opponents of any redevelopment – or those who foolishly think that creating a park on the entire space is remotely financially feasible – have been bullying this community, taking over the conversation and misrepresenting the views of the larger community.”
According to Daneker individual contributions fund Neighbors for McMillan. He added that the group has not yet asked corporations or local businesses for donations.
Costa Brava Moves Forward
After nearly two years of waiting, construction may be underway on Costa Brava, the soon-to-be-opened tapas restaurant on 1st St. NW. According to building permits issued for the restaurant the new eatery will include two dining floors, with 46 seats indoors and 14 outdoors. Located directly opposite the Red Hen, the restaurant is slated to offer Balkan-style tapas cuisine, small Spanish ensembles, and live acoustic music.
- See more at: http://www.capitalcommunitynews.com/content/bloomingdale-bites-12#sthash.mCQYjozc.dpuf
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