more trouble at sursum corda

here is a washington post article about it

seems the city has plans for the entire redevelopment of northwest one. sursom corda is the last holdout, and the city is threatening eminent domain.

heres something from dc.gov about it

shooting at busses

i saw the cops, and the bus, and the tv cameras this morning.

here's the story about what happened at first and florida nw.

thankfully, no one was hurt.

baseball stadium design.

heres the article

no, not bloomingdale, but this is big for the city.

mess in Eckington.

St Martins church is hoping to build a large low income housing project on T street NE. Its become quite the issue in Eckington, just across the street from Bloomingdale. i've mentioned it a few times.here
here
here
here

and here
I don't pretend to know the full details, but i have been reading the Eckington Listserv and i have received a bunch of flyers from st martins.

The war between the two sides has been going on for a few months now. Now it seems that all who oppose the project, and have expressed such opposition on the Ward 5 listserve, have been banned from that listserv.

St Martins claims to have community support, but their support seems to only exist in the Ward 5 listserve, and in the st martins congregation, which many neighbors claim is mostly non residents of the community. St Martins has been engaging in very questionable tactics. Their use ( and ANC rep Cleopatra Jones') of the phrase "workforce housing" is one of their shady spins on the project. The is no such designation, and no possible means of its insurance. It is a lie that is meant to paint the project in a more positive hue.

I'd post a picture of the project, but my requests for an image from st martins have been repeatedly ignored. Perhaps i would be less skeptical of this project if St Martins was more forthcoming and open. they have not been treating this community fairly and will not receive the proper support until they do.

as have been my questions regarding the project to vincent orange and cleopatra jones.
theres a big breakdown in community happeing over here.its very sad

a bakery and a bar in bloomingdale

the DC North has two blurbs that include bloomingdale
check it out here

one mention os of hellers bakery thatsmoving into the green ember.
the other is about the firehouse on north capitol.

changes in bulk trash removal.....

Bulk Trash Now Collected Only From the Front of Residential Properties

(Washington, DC) Sometimes residents need to dispose of appliances,
furniture, mattresses and other items that are just too big to fit into
regular trash trucks. The Department of Public Works (DPW) collects these
bulky items - by appointment - from households that also receive DPW trash
collection service. In the past, bulk trash could be set out at the same
point of collection used for the resident's regular trash, alley or curb
side. Beginning this week, however, residents requesting bulk trash
collection are being directed to put out bulk items only at curb side in
front of their property.

The change is, in part, a response to complaints that the large trucks used to pick up bulk items are too big or too ungainly to fit through alleys and can sometimes damage residents' property. To arrange for a bulk collection appointment, call the Citywide Call Center at (202) 727-1000. After taking your information, the Call Center Service Representative will give you a collection date and a confirmation number. Up to seven items may be collected at a time.

Customers with more than seven items will be given subsequent appointments dates. Bulk items should be set out in front of your residence at the curb line no earlier than the day before your service date. Single-family homes and buildings with three (or fewer) apartments are eligible for bulk collection services. Be aware that renovation materials, plate glass and other construction debris cannot be collected. DPW does not remove bulk trash from commercial establishments, including multi-unit apartment buildings
(more than three units).
changes in bulk trash

affordable housing and wards......

DHCD Funded Projects 1999 – 2004
(from the DC Department of Housing and Community Development Housing
Affordability chart)

Units created
Citywide 9,657
Ward 8 (Anacostia, Congress Heights) 4,520
Ward 7 (Capitol View, Benning Heights) 2,266
Ward 1 (Crestwood, Mount Pleasant) 1,231
Ward 5 (Eckington, Brookland) 1,145
Ward 4 (Manor Park, Barnaby Woods) 139
Ward 2 (Georgetown, Dupont Circle) 136
Ward 6 (Capitol Hill) 97
Ward 3 (Wesley Heights, Tenleytown) 0





Seems a little bit unbalanced for such a great city such as ours.

DC council

DC Council

All DC Council:

dccouncilmembers@dccouncil.us
Individual DC Councilmembers:
mbarry@dccouncil.us
vgray@dccouncil.us
vorange@dccouncil.washington.dc.us
sambrose@dccouncil.washington.dc.us
afenty@dccouncil.washington.dc.us
kpatterson@dccouncil.washington.dc.us
lcropp@dccouncil.washington.dc.us
schwartzc@dccouncil.washington.dc.us
dcatania@dccouncil.washington.dc.us
jackevans@dccouncil.washington.dc.us
kbrown@dccouncil.us
pmendelson@dccouncil.washington.dc.us
jgraham@dccouncil.us

art in bloomingdale

New art space

87Florida is a new art venue located at 1st and Florida NW, and their grand opening reception is Saturday, March 11 from 5-7 pm.

DC artist Ceci Cole Mcinturff recently purchased the building and it houses her studios upstairs and on the mainfloor she has an exhibition space. There she will host a series of fine art exhibitions, musical events, digital mixed media events, as well as some "Art in Community" events.

The initial exhibition, titled "Little Differences," features the work of Melissa Glasser and runs through March 20, 2006. The reception is Saturday, March 11 from 5-7 pm. There are also viewing hours Fridays 4:30-7:00pm, Saturdays 1-6:00pm, Sundays 1-5pm and Mon-Thurs by appt.

listed september 2004, under contract may 2005, still hasn't closed.

thats seems a bit crazy, no? there is no construction going on.. its just stting there.

27 RANDOLPH PL NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20001
ML#: DC5052483 LP: $355,000
Status: CONTRACT DOMM/DOMP: 49/49
Adv Sub: ECKINGTON
Ownership: Fee Simple Total Tax: $1,841
Contract Date: 18-May-2005 Close Date: 27-Mar-2006

List Date: 25-Sep-2004 Update Date: 13-Feb-2006
Company: Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.

police in bloomingdale.

I've been noticing a lot more police activity in the neighborhood lately.
anyone else?

Also... that house that caught on fire last week was finally boarded up this weekend.

dc water taxi

dc water taxi

seems like this could blossom into a great service.

Big Bear Cafe!

please check out the website for the future Big Bear Cafe.


The Big Bear Market was the former bodega on 1st at R street NW.

The future of the DC Farmers Market

Across from Galluadet, two blocks from the new york avenue metro, along the revitalizing strips of florida avenue and new york avenue the DC Farmers Market and the wholesale shops are in whats becoming PRIME real estate.

There had been talk of revitalizing the area keeping the main focus as a market. I once saw the plans.. but cant find them on line anywhere... It seemed like a larger version of eastern market. It was in keeping with the market as already existing, but fixed up.


The owner of a large chunk has a different idea. Read the post article here

governor of dc

i like the idea.
read it here

Is the neighborhood grocer back?

Is the neighborhood grocer back?

lecture at the national press club. here's the flyer in pdf form

lots orf work happening along north capitol

I walked down to union station this morning and noticed a lot of work going on just north of new york avenue.

Lots of renovation projects.
also, the former junk store on the nw side of north capitol is being gutted. I had heard rumors that this would be turned into condos, but dont know for sure.
This is the place across the street from the "flea market"

a good map of dc.

click to enlarge.

building permits

Building Permits Made Easy for DC Homeowners


The Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs has developed an exciting new resource to help homeowners get building permits more easily in Washington, DC. The Homeowners Center will provide prompt and expert assistance to DC homeowners who are seeking building permits for home improvement projects.

the 38 page You Can Build It PDF

this booklet also contains the building permit form.

Fire on North Capitol NW

There was fire on the 1700 Block of North Capitol NW this afternoon.

Seems that the borded up house next to the church caught fire. I dont know the details yet as the firemen are still pretty busy cleaning up the mess.

mayoral candidates.

the post has put together info on the mayoral candidates here

4th and rhode island

here is the plan for the development of a building at 4th and rhode island NE

PDF

gas station

The Friday, 2/24/2006 Washington Business Journal Commercial Real Estate Transactions column reports that BP Products North America Inc. fka Amoco Oil Co. sold 306 Rhode Island Avenue NW (Lot 60 Square 3097) -- the BP Amoco gas station at Rhode Island & Florida Ave NW -- to Kase Properties LLC for $739,468.

St. Martin's Apartments "Community" Update from Father Kelley

MESSAGE FROM FATHER KELLEY
Welcome to the first issue of St. Martin¡¯s Apartments Community
Update, a community newsletter designed to keep you informed of
St. Martin¡¯s Catholic Church¡¯s plans to bring mixed-income housing to
our neighborhood. The development of St. Martin¡¯s Apartments is
grounded in the belief that people of all income levels, races and
cultural backgrounds deserve well-designed, safe and affordable
housing. In addition to enhancing the community¡¯s value and helping
those less fortunate, it also addresses the District¡¯s affordable
housing crisis by creating housing for working class people. This
housing will be a sustainable community resource where one might
live, become more established and move on to the next stage. . .
perhaps even homeownership. What is important is that a housing
resource will still be here for the next family in need.

To bring this development to fruition, we partnered with Catholic
Community Services (CCS) and invested more than $28 million to build
184 apartments for working families and individuals. A Neighborhood
Steering Committee (NSC), comprised of neighbors, representatives
from seven area churches, the Ecumenical Council (EC), and civic
organizations, has guided the planning of this project and will
continue to help oversee its management. With St. Martin¡¯s
Apartments, we look forward to bringing the first new affordable
housing to our neighborhood in more than three decades.

ENHANCING THE NEIGHBORHOOD
For more than a 100 years, St. Martin¡¯s has been an integral part of
the community and led the fight to rid the neighborhood of
undesirable activities and blight. Through our partnership with
community leaders, we succeeded in reducing prostitution, crime and
drug activity in the community. Now, we want to give residents who
helped make this a safer neighborhood an opportunity to remain in it.

ENHANCING THE NEIGHBORHOOD
St. Martin¡¯s Apartments will bring neighborhood-enhancing design and
quality to a former convent. Located at 116 T Street, NE, the
structure is a secluded building atop a hill, isolated from the
community and it needs a lot of work. It currently features black
tarmac surface parking and an aluminum Quonset hut. Further cutting
the site off from the neighborhood is the fact that there are no
sidewalks on the Todd Place side, which decreases accessibility.
quality property management and landlord services to 17 formerly
homeless men who are fully employed. This home is so well run that
many neighbors don¡¯t know the building is occupied.

WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED?
In keeping with our core values, St. Martin wants to use the site to
build affordable housing for working families and individuals in the
District who are facing displacement due to increasing rents and the
lack of affordable rental housing in their community. The plan
includes:

¡ñ 134 one and two bedroom apartments renting to individuals whose
annual income is 60% of the District¡¯s current median income, which
is from $30,000 to $54,000 per year depending upon family size.
These units will rent between $869 and $1,039 per month.
¡ñ 50 Jr. one-bedroom apartments renting to formerly homeless
individuals whose annual income is about $18,000. These units will
rent for about $500 per month.
¡ñ Based on community input, we will include some market-rate units.
¡ñ 120-140 underground parking.
¡ñ An exercise facility and community meeting spaces.

HOW WILL IT LOOK?
Our architects have designed a first-class building with quality
amenities and spectacular views of the Capitol and monuments.
Amenities include: in-unit laundry/dryer, fully equipped open
kitchens, direct access from underground parking, and double pane
windows. Our design blends with and complements the historical
character of neighboring town homes. The Todd Place facade is
designed to resemble a series of townhouses and will contain an
internal landscaped courtyard and separate child¡¯s play area, as well
as, two roof terraces to provide solitude and quiet green space. The
two bedroom units will be a spacious 1,050 sq ft with two baths and
one bedroom will be 750 sq. ft. Building amenities will include: an
exercise room, clubroom, library with fireplace, and community
meeting space. A professional management company will manage the
building and maintain the highest standards of property management by
enforcing community rules, adhering to strict rental and occupancy
criteria and ensuring that the building is a good neighbor to the
community.

WHO WILL LIVE HERE?
In keeping with the District¡¯s Comprehensive Housing Strategy and the
Ward 5 Plan, St. Martin¡¯s Apartments is a mixed-income development
for families and individuals and everyone living here will be fully
employed or a retiree with a pension. Also, in fulfilling Catholic
Community Services¡¯ mission, we will make 50 apartments available to
graduates of various CCS self-sufficiency programs. These
individuals will have incomes of approximately $18,000 and will
include the 17 men currently living on the premises who are formerly
homeless and fully employed. (Many Americans are unaware that most
homelessness is due to life circumstances and less than a third of
the homeless have ever experienced addiction.)

The people who will live here are working families, government
employees, fire cadets, library aides, and hospital, hotel, and
restaurant workers. Everyday people like those pictured below.

COMMUNTY BENEFITS
St. Martin¡¯s Apartments will add substantial value to the community
► Job opportunities at a livable wage for District residents
► Local business contract opportunities
► New community meeting room
► Neighborhood enhancing design
► New landscaping along T Street and Summit
► New sidewalks and landscaping along Todd Street
► Improved security with cameras, security screens, and controlled
access
► $28 million investment in the neighborhood

VOICES OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD
¡°I own a home in this neighborhood and want to make certain that my
property value is protected. I am glad St. Martin¡¯s is making this
investment in improving our community.¡± ---Karen Cotton

¡°I like the idea of having more neighbors because retail follows
density and we need neighborhood-serving retail like a coffee house,
caf¨¦ or a book store.¡± ------Mrs. Alice Turner

¡°We are retired and once operated a deli in the neighborhood. We¡¯d
like to move back. Thank goodness there will be a new decent and
safe place to live.¡± ---Earl and Gertrude
Washington

COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Hundreds of Edgewood and Eckington neighbors and Ward 5 residents and
more than a dozen community institutions support St. Martin¡¯s
Apartments as affordable and workforce housing including AN5C whose
opinion is given ¡°great weight¡± by the Board of Zoning Adjustment
(BZA). The following are a few of our supporters:

¡ö The Edgewood Civic Association
¡ö Eckington Parishioners of St. Martin¡¯s for Workforce Housing
¡ö Manna, Inc.
¡ö Brentwood Civic Association
¡ö Neighborhood Steering Committee
¡ö Ecumenical Council of Churches (7 Local Churches)
¡ö WIN (45 City-wide Churches)
¡ö ACORN

THE FACES OF ST. MARTIN¡¯S APARTMENTS
Like our Eckington neighbors, the residents who will live at St.
Martin¡¯s Apartments will reflect a diverse cross section of the
community. To get to know prospective residents, speak with your
child¡¯s charter school teacher, the one who recently began his career
and wants to serve District children.

Speak with some newly weds looking for a welcoming and diverse
neighborhood.

Talk to a young couple who are just starting their family and want to
live in a safe, quiet community.

COMMUNITY MEETINGS
►Feb. 21 ANC 5C Approved Development
►Feb. 27 Edgewood Civic Association meeting at McKinley, 7 PM
►Mar. 12 Full Community Meeting at McKinley, 3PM

For more information, contact Ward 5 Citizens for Workforce Housing
at 202.316-6451 or email us at WardFiveDC@aol.com.

howard theatre development

this seems to be a very important project in the city's Uptown Entertainment District. If this happens, its affects will be felt far down florida avenue.

A PDF from dc.gov

an article from the examiner

St martins bus tour

St. Martin's Bus Tour
Workforce and Affordable Housing Development

Let's Take a Ride!

St. Martin's and Catholic Community Service invite you to join us for a tour of several workforce and affordable housing developments in the District. The tour is open to Ward 5 residents especially our Edgewood and Eckington neighbors. We will view Victory Housing, several developments in Mount Vernon and the 14th Street Corridor and if time permits, some of the HOPE VI developments. The buses will depart from 116 T Street, NE, Sunday February 26 promptly at 12:30 PM and return at approximately 3 PM. Light refreshments will be served. To sign up, call Ward 5 Citizens for Workforce Housing at (202) 316-6451 or email Ward5DC@aol.com.

big bear market

i read this today on a community email

"I noticed a sign yesterday as I was driving home on Big Bear Liquor on the corner of 1st and R Street NW. They are having a closing sale 1/2 off..........there was small print below the hand written 1/2 price, but I couldn't read what it said. It seems that the current business will not be there much longer."

yes, i have H street envy.

no, i won't be moving, but i'll be going to h street a lot.

look at this

Longtime Shaw Residents Ponder: Cash Out or Stay

here is a post article about Shaw

heres a section:
When Brodgins steps outside these days, he said, the stoops are empty, the sidewalk is barren and there is no one to talk to. He finds company around the corner where people still congregate outside the shuttered Howard Theater, under the rusting blue "Jimmy's Golden Q" sign, a vestige of a long-closed pool hall.

Brodgins's new neighbors seem to be in a hurry, he said, often checking him out warily, if acknowledging his presence at all. " They're the strangers," he said. "I'm here. I got here before you got here. Why can't you at least be cordial?"



To me that is the saddest part. The loss of neighborlyness, as many new residents move in, changing the long developed balance that is community. While it is certain that a new community will be fashioned with new and old residents, the fact that this guy feels like many people are ignoring him is sad. Talk to one another people! at the very least look a man in the eye and say hello.


see this Washington post history of shaw timeline

from the MPD-5D listserve

i have had similar problems with 311 and 911 concerning incidents ON north capitol. It's ON NORTH CAPITOL STREET, it doesn't matter! the cops can see 20 feet cant they? i hear now that there will be separate officers for the nw and ne sections of 5d. great.
anyway here's the post from the listserve:


Yesterday afternoon while driving hoem from work along NY Avenue (5:25 pm), I witnessed a teenager carrying a handgun in and then proceed to reach into another guy's pocket and take a round out and proceed to load the handgun ... and then walk towards the crowd of people standing in front of Big Ben.

As soon I realized that he was loading the handgun, I called 911 to report the incident to get some police there ASAP.

So much for that......

When I called to report the incident, the dispatcher who answered the phone proceeded to argue with me on my location. I had told her that I was at the corner of NY Avenue and N. Capitol Street at Big Ben. She said she had no such address for Big Ben. She asked again where I was located and I told her NY Avenue and N. Capitol Street NW. She said there is no Big Ben there. She said are you sure it's NW and not NE? I said no, it's NW. She said look up at the street sign and tell me what it says ... by this time, I had traveled from NY Avenue and N. Capitol Street to NY Avenue and 1St NW (anyone who knows how slow traffic moves there in the afternoon now knows how long it took her to get to this question). I said it says NW. I live just a few blocks from here and it's NW.

Here is this kid with a handgun and she says she can't dispatch the police with out the correct address -- if it's not in her system, then she can't dispatch them.

She finally locates the address by using NE instead of NW ..... although the incident is clearly happening at the NW corner of NY Avenue and N. Capitol Street at the Big Ben. By the time she locates it, she says, that once she located the address, she found that police had already been dispatched to the area and should be there shortly. When she found the location, I was already at NY Avenue and NJ Avenue ... again you now how slow traffic moves along NY Avenue - precious time was lost

She was given a description of the kid with the handgun and his accomplice with the round in his pockets, the EXACT location that the incident was occurring at --- but "it isn't in my system" was the response I got back.

So, MPD, how many innocent people were shot yesterday afternoon because "it wasn't in the system"?

lots o info on the St. Martins project

here is the PDF. its big.

homicide

On Tuesday, at 2:30 am, police were called to the 300 block of W Street NW for the report of a shooting. There they found 45-year-old Gregory Washington dead from a gunshot wound to the head. Anyone with information in this case is asked to call 202-727-9099. A reward of up to $25,000 is offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction of the people responsible.

urban groceries

this is an article from the brilliant blog Rebuilding Place in the Urban Space.

north capitol main streets website

(ec-12 is gonna get sooo much free advertising!)

anyway click here for the North capitol main street site

firehouse info

info pirated from the bloomingdale listserve.
;)


Old Firehouse / EC-12 and XM Satellite Radio

Brian Brown and Mike Benson gave a brief presentation on the plans for the old firehouse at North Capitol Street NW and Quincy Place NW. The EC-12 restaurant will be on three levels. The third floor will be for private dining. The second floor space would be shared with XM Satellite Radio, which will be doing occasional simulcast broadcasts. There would be no cover charge when the XM guest artists would be performing. When XM is not there, that space would be for dining. Mike advised that the restaurant would be working with DC Central Kitchen. Graduates of DC Central Kitchen would work in the EC-12 kitchen. (Currently, Mike uses DC Central Kitchen graduates at Café Saint-Ex.) Brian mentioned that they were working on parking, such as negotiating with existing nearby parking lots for peak periods. Brian also said that they would be obtaining a Class C (restaurant) liquor license. They won’t be running a nightclub! No secret switcheroos at the last minute. Regarding the restoration of the firehouse building – Brian advised that he plans to do a full-period restoration. EC-12 will be open for lunch and dinner. It would close at 2 AM. There was mention of having off-duty police around. Brian said that they would be settling on the property in a month or two. The potential EC-12 menu? Brick oven pizza is the primary venue, with hamburgers and pasta. Mike said that his Cafe Saint-Ex would also be the EC-12 chef. The prices would range between $5 and $20. The 2nd floor could be used for community meeting space, too.

just north of us

here is an article about the development of the old soldiers home.

Its administrators have drafted a master plan, opposed by a small group of neighborhood activists and planning officials, to save the landmark from financial hardship by turning more than half its vast space -- 9 million square feet -- into a development project that could include condominiums, shops, a hotel, embassies, and medical and office buildings.

an example of the great fight in eckington.

this is an email from the eckington listserve.


I received a copy of the outrageous emails that have been bantered about on the Eckington egroup and I was shocked by the tactics these "new homeowners" have used to try to stop St. Martin's from building workforce and affordable housing in Eckington. Their venomous attack on the project smacked of thinly veiled discrimination against people of moderate and low income, against people in recovery and against people who happen to rent rather than own a home.

At first, they were too transparent and argued that they had a problem with St. Martin's Apartments because they did not want people of "certain income levels" renting in their neighborhoo. Now, they've gotten a little more sophisticated in the jargon and have formed "Eckington Citizens for Smart Growth, talk welcomingly about diversity and then started complaining about "density." This past week, a group of Eckington folk joined the Ward 5 egroup to spew their venom in an egroup that they had heretofore deemed unimportant.

Let's set the record straight immediately. . .we, who are long-term residents of Ward 5, want workforce and, yes affordable housing in our Ward. We are not going to sit idly by and watch new entrants to the neighborhood attempt to change the complexion, density, income levels and culture of our Ward. The 'historic' homes that you refer to in Eckington, only became historically significant to you when you could no longer afford to purchase in Dupont Circle, Logan Circle and the list continues. We want entry-level housing close in for our sons and daughters, nieces and nephews as they start their careers and we want it in the District -- not Prince Georges County.

We support ANC 5C, Manna, the 7 churches in the Ecumenical Council, the 17 working class men living in St. Martin's and the effort to build workforce and affordable housing for 407 District, tax-paying residents who happen to qualify for workforce and affordable housing. There is room in this big tent for all of us.





Also, apparently listserves are "elitist" according to other emails. and apparently church congregations aren't.

tuesday night ANC meeting

The next monthly ANC 5C meeting will be held at:

ANC 5C Monthly Meeting
Harry Thomas Recreation Center
1743 Lincoln Road, N.E.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
7:00 PM until 9:00 PM

affordable housing article

here is an article in the post about restructuring low income housing

6th and T street NW

you must see this PDF from the city.



QUALITY OF ENVIRONMENT / PUBLIC REALM
The “Howard Theatre Sub-district” will be a vibrant center focused upon a revived Howard Theatre. The Theatre will be restored to approximate its original and historic facade and will be well-programmed with local and national performers who attract day and night time patrons. Performances recall the time when, in the Theatre’s heyday, legendary greats like Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie and many more honed their artistic craft and set a standard for excellence in the performing arts. Performances will be affordable to patrons who will be a range of local residents, visitors and tourists.




also look here:
another PDF from the city

the fight in eckington

the proposed St Martins affordable housing project is causing a rather derisive rift in the community. Accusations of pimping poverty have been thrown. Accusations of Racism are coming into the mix. The debate is now a fight.
I saw this letter in the Bloomnigdale listserve, and felt like it was the most articulate of the arguments. It is in response to some derogatory letters.


Ms._________


First, I would like to clear up some misconceptions you might have. We have never been against affordable housing. CCS would like to say that is the case so that we could be easily dismissed as a bunch of NIMBY’s. They are also using this to cloud the real issues with this project. We agree that there is a need for affordable housing in our neighborhood as well as all of DC. The real problems with this project are the size and design.



The lot is currently zoned R-4 in a residential neighborhood. The purpose of R-4 zoning is to preserve single-family row houses. In order to build their large 184-unit apartment complex, they will have to get a zoning change to R-5. Attached you will find a document from HUD about the HOPE VI project. In it it says:



Historically, the design of public housing focused on building the maximum number of units for minimum cost, resulting in the current problems today associated with public housing nationwide - developments in such poor physical shape that they often fail to meet the minimum HUD-standard for decent, safe and sanitary housing, and serve as obstacles to any serious investment in the surrounding neighborhood. The traditional site designs incorporate elements that have the tendency to foster criminal activity, such as odd street patterns that dead end in the middle of a development and central spaces that are invisible from the street and are absent defensible space housing. The physical plans often call for reducing density, building single-family units that face the street, improving security through physical enhancements and connecting the development with the surrounding community.



The St. Martins project is focusing on building the maximum number of units at the lowest cost by utilizing the LIHTC. Catholic Charities, by their own admission, calls this form of financing “wasteful and full of corruption and profiteering”. See the attached Millennial Housing Survey. In order for the developers to make money, they have to build a large complex which disconnects it from the surrounding community. The design also includes 2 enclosed courtyards that are invisible from the street. Although they are building a parking garage, they are charging an additional fee. A lot of families might not be able to afford the additional $600-$1000 fee per car per year. There have been several projects built recently that incorporate good urban design practices. We only ask that CCS do the same thing. I’ve attached documents for several of the projects that incorporate the ideals of home ownership, affordable housing, mixed income, and good urban design.



Now to clarify a few points. Once again I have to point out that most teachers, EMTs, firemen, librarians, and social workers would make too much money to qualify to live here unless they have several dependents with no income. The maximum salary for a single person is $37,500. The income level of $48,000 that you state would be the combined incomes of 3 people. I’ve attached the full chart for you information. Regarding Sursum Corda: The New Communities Plan objective is “designed to stabilize the District's most distressed neighborhoods by transforming them into mixed-income communities that protect housing for the poor. In these areas, the District will create more opportunity through better jobs, education and training, and human services, around rebuilt community anchors like schools and recreation centers.” At Sursum Corda, they will be achieving this by retaining all of the current residents through home ownership. The new Sursum Corda will be a mix of affordable housing and market rate housing. We would love to see this model applied to St. Martins as well, but the Archdiocese refuses to give up ownership of the property. The Fairfield Project which is being built behind FedEx is providing affordable housing units along with the market rate units. Again, another concept we would embrace. As to the accusation that we are racist and classist: Our group consists of people from many different races and economic abilities. On a personal note, we value diversity. My husband is mixed race which is one of the reasons we wanted to move into a diverse neighborhood. If I were single, I would qualify to live in the apartments. Would I not be entitled to a clean, safe, healthy place to live or would you relegate me to a project being built using outdated ideologies?



We, the residents of Eckington, have attempted to discuss our issues with St. Martins, Niel Drobenare, CCS, Cleopatra Jones, Mary Farmer-Allen and the ANC on numerous occasions. They refuse to even meet with us to discuss our concerns. Their response thus far has been to ignore the residents and spend even more money on expensive mailings and PR campaigns to cloud the real issues and start a dialogue to address our concerns. Once again, we remain available for meaningful discussions to address our concerns. We would be happy to discuss them with you directly if you’d like.



Sincerely,



Susan Lilavois



Eckington Citizens for Responsible Development (ECRD)

building materials

check out community forklift

Community Forklift's mission is to operate a business enterprise for the recovery and reuse of salvaged or surplus building materials. Goals for the business include:

* fostering community revitalization by providing low-cost quality building materials
* developing training, job, and career opportunities for low-income residents
* diverting reusable building materials from disposal, and
* dedicating proceeds toward allied community-based sustainability initiatives.

The Seventh Annual Ward 5

The Seventh Annual Ward 5
Constituent Services Summit
Saturday, March 11, 2006 (8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.)
Trinity University (O'Connor Auditorium)
125 Michigan Avenue, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20017

Working together to improve our neighborhoods!
Meet face-to-face and dialogue with agency directors charged with providing service.

Onsite Registration for Summer Youth Employment
10:00am until 2:00pm
Must bring: proof of residency, citizenship/permanent residency, Social
Security Card, recent report card
For additional information please call (202) 724-8028

good article about neighborhood happiness

check this out
The way an area looks, including levels of litter and rubbish, scruffiness of gardens and the prevalence of high rise flats or open space, is a better guide to local residents' satisfaction with their surroundings than levels of deprivation, according to research out today.

i found this through this site

an article about the firehouse

i missed this one from last week....

Washington Times article

Eckington Community Association meeting

Subject: Eckington Firehouse Development update at ECA Meeting on Monday February 20, 2006

Economic Development in Eckington is the focus of the Monday, February 20, ECA meeting which is being held at McKinley Technology High School at 7 pm.

The Agenda includes:

Presentation by developer Brian Brown on the restaurant, etc. to be established at the Eckington Firegouse on North Capitol St.

Updates on:

Proposed Fairfield Development on Harry Thomas Way(market rate with some units for low/moderate income residents);

Proposed housing for drug rehab clients, and households earning between $30,000(one person household) and $54,000(4 person household) using the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program;

Additional items:

Update on the Emery Shelter transition.

McKinley Tech Open House – This Saturday, 2/18/

Who: McKinley Technology High School
What: Admissions Open House
When: Saturday, February 18th 2006, 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Where: 151 T Street NE
Washington, DC 20002

The McKinley Technology High School will host an Open House on Saturday, February 18th, for students who are interested in applying for admission in school year 2006 -07. Applications are being accepted for incoming 9th grade and some incoming 10th grade students.

McKinley Technology High School is a citywide DC Public High School featuring training in three technology academies: Biotechnology, Information Technology and Broadcast Communications Technology. The curriculum integrates technology with a liberal arts college preparatory program. McKinley also has a full range of traditional sports, clubs and other student activities.

The Open House will feature guided tours of McKinley’s technology labs, classrooms and presentations from each of the academies.

McKinley Technology High School is located at 151 T Street NE, Washington, DC 20002

For further information, please call: 202 281-3950 x5225 or visit our website: http://mths.k12.dc.us .

NCMS Design Committee’s 3rd Annual Winter Blues Party & Silent Auction

What: NCMS Design Committee’s 3rd Annual Winter Blues Party & Silent Auction
Where: Social Hall, Trinity University, 125 Michigan Avenue, NE
When: 7 pm to 10 pm, Saturday, February 25, 2006
Featuring: * Silent auction
* Wine bar
* Hors d’oeurves
* Live jazz band
* Gift basket raffle
Minimum Donation: $25 at the door [$20 for individuals age 65 or older]

Purpose: To raise money for the beautification projects of the NCMS, Inc. Design Committee. Funds raised from the 2006 Winter Blues Party will be used to make additional improvements to the public parks the Committee has adopted on North Capitol Street, as well as additional streetscape improvements on North Capitol Street and at First St. and Rhode Island Ave., NW.


RSVP by calling 202 326 5918 by Emailing vicky (at) vickylc.com.

more dc north

another dc north article

includes:
-development plans of Radio One, and how they plan to aid local business.
-development in Ivy City, and how threy plan to use local labor.

more firehouse press

there is an article in this months dc north about our beloved firehouse

People have been living with it as an eyesore for years

north capitol & metro

This is interesting.
unusual website too.....

some weeks nothing, some weeks a lot..

theres been a lot of stuff to write about this week. maybe i'm just listening more post Christmas, new years, etc...

Here an article about the Old Engine Co. #12. you know the places that has many of us all euphoric.

Historic Firehouse in Bloomingdale
To be Restored and Given New Uses

[from February 2006 issue]

By P.L. Wolff

The restaurant, to be known as “EC-12,” will include a sidewalk café and a renovated rooftop deck.

February 1st meeting.

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE

Monthly Meeting

Invited guests include representatives from the following:

Howard University’s Center for Urban Progress
Reference: Update on CUP's Lead Poisoning Prevention Efforts

H Street Community Dev Corp Proposal
Reference: Update on Consolidated PUD on 4th Street NE Property

Metropolitan Police Department
Reference: Public Safety Report


Where: Harry Thomas Recreation Center
1743 Lincoln Road, N.E.
When: Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Time: 7:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M.


GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION 5C
P.O. Box 77761
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20013
_______________________________________________________________
TELEPHONE: 832-1965/1966
www.anc5c.org

C. Dianne Barnes 21 February 2006
Convener Harry Thomas Recreation Center
1743 Lincoln Road NE.


MONTHLY MEETING
AGENDA

1. Meeting Called to Order 7:00PM

2. Opening Comments

3. Public Safety Report: Fifth District MPD 7:05PM

4. Community Concerns - Constituents 7:10PM

5. Presentation: Anita Amero, HU's Center for Urban Progress - Lead Technical Studies 8:00PM

6. Presentation: Eric Jones Proposal H Street CDC PUD for property east side of 4th Street 8:15PM
NE, Square 3629, Lot 808 - Update

7. Review and Approval of Minutes: 17 Jan 06 (Action Item) 8:30PM

8. Treasurer’s Report: (Action Item)
a. Outstanding Bills (Phone, Storage, Internet and Web Services)
b. Review and Approval of Grant Applications

9. Consideration of ANC 5C FY06 Priorities and Projects (Action Items)
a. Approval of FY06 Budget
b. Approval of Policies/Guidelines
c. Approval of Grant Committee
d. Approval of Office Space at Rhode Island Avenue Plaza
e. Approval of FY06 Meeting Site: Harry Thomas Recreation Center/Multiple Sites

10. Consideration of ANC FY06 Speakers (Action Item)

11. Announcements: 8:55 PM
a. 16 Feb 06, Police Service Area (PSA) 501, Edgewood Terrace - 7PM - 9PM
b. 11 Mar 06, Ward 5, 7th Annual Constituent Services Summit, Trinity - 8AM - 4PM
c. 16 Mar 06, Police Service Area (PSA) 501, All Nations Baptist Church, 7PM - 9PM

15. Adjournment 9:00 PM




ATTACHMENT:

Other Action Items Considered by ANC 5C

1. Public Service Applications for Public Pay Telephones in 5C

2. Board of Zoning Adjustment/Zoning Commission Applications:

a. BZA Application No. 17437 - of Amsale Teku, request for variance from the use provisions (DCMR Title 11, Section 2003.1) of the R-4 Zone in order to locate a “Beauty Salon” at premises 1543 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Square 510E, Lot(s) 800, First Floor.

b. Case # 05-25 - Consolidated Planned Unit Development (PUD – H Street Community Corporation – For review and approval of a consolidated PUD for property located on the east side of 4th Street, NE between Rhode Island Avenue, NE and Bryant Street, NE. Square 3629, Lot 808

c. Case # 05-23 - Consolidated Planned Unit Development (PUD) - & Related Map Amendment –
CSX Realty Corp & FF Realty, LLC – For review and approval of a consolidated PUD and related
map amendment from M to C-3-C for property located in the Eckington neighborhood. Square 3576, Lot 815

d. Case # 05-20 - Asphalt Plant – Text Amendment - To allow asphalt plants as a permitted use within the industrial zone districts subject to special to special except review.

e. Case # 17404 - Reference 410-416 Richardson Place NW: Applicant – Wilbur Mondie.

f. Large Tract Review Application for PEPCO NE Substation (LTR 04-04) – From the Potomac Electric Power Company for he construction of a 69 kilovolt power substation on a portion of the Capitol Commerce Center in the Eckington section of NE Washington.

g McMillan Reservoir Proposed Economic Development Activity.

3. Department of Public Transportation

a. Bryant Street NW One-Way Conversion - Resolution
b. T Street NW One-Way Conversion – Resolution
c. Yellow Line Extension - Resolution

4. ABC Applications/Issues in 5C Area

Home Again Releases RFP for Development of Ivy City Properties

I am certainly interested in the development of ivy city. I am a frequenter of A Literri's, and i have a few friends with art workshops in the area.

Also, Ivy City has a terrible reputation.

read this DC gov dispatch about fixing up the place

article about NoMa

read this article about development in NoMa, and a restaurant coming to north capitol

"It has terrific road access and it's one of the last islands of undeveloped land," Doran said of NoMa. "It's a no-brainer that it's going to develop successfully."

"This is an area where there was nothing going on," Jemal said, "and now there's plenty of things going on."

projects in the area

here are some of the projects going on around eckington/ward 5/ places i consider close by.



Washington Gateway-Florida & New York Avenues, NE Washington Gateway is located at the intersection of New York and Florida Avenues, NE. It is a multi-building mixed-use site, with three buildings each approximately 230,000 sq. ft.



McMillan Sand Filtration site- you know where it is.

A proposed redevelopment of the 25-acre McMillan Sand Filtration site bounded by North Capitol Street (E), Michigan Avenue (N), First Street (W) and Channing Street (S) calls for a 1.2 million sq. ft. mixed-use development. Initial plans include about 1,100 residential units, 100,000 sq. ft. of retail (including a grocery store), 15,000 sq. ft. community center, 12 acres of parks and 2,600 underground parking spaces. A developer will be selected through an RFP process.




Fairfield Residential Eckington Place & Harry Thomas Way, NE
Description:
A mixed-use development by Fairfield Residential is planned to contain 650 - 675 condominiums, 15,000 sq. ft. of retail and 750 - 796 parking spaces across from XM Satellite Radio and north of the FedEx distribution center. It is expected to deliver in 2007. The site is 4.3 acres in size.


Shops at Rhode Island Place yep, by the home depot.

Description:
This mixed-use development will be constructed on an 8.78-acre site located at the Rhode Island Metro station. The project will include a residential component featuring 270 traditional and urban-loft style apartments. The development will also include a three-story, 200-space parking garage (56,500 sq. ft.) and an additional 130 spaces at grade. The 70,000 sq. ft. of retail stores are located along a central access corridor that includes a landscaped boulevard.


Rhode Island Avenue Gateway

Description:
The proposed project is located near the intersection of 4th Street and Rhode Island Avenue, NE. H Street CDC in 2004 acquired and razed three dilapidated buildings and prepared the site for development. In 2005 HSCDC is seeking under the Planned Unit Development (PUD) approval process to construct a nine-story, 253,388 sq. ft. residential structure with retail on the first floor. In addition to the PUD process, the project is undergoing additional planning and predevelopment activities.


New York Avenue Gateway (Square 0670) ????? no info yet for this proposed project at north cap and new york.......


New Town at the Capital City Market Description:
The New Town at the Capital City Market development will consist of condos and apartments, office and retail, hotel, YMCA, townhouses and an amphitheater. The site is bounded by Florida Avenue (South), New York Avenue (North) and 6th Street (West).

brookland

here a link to a Brookland community blog

We have been noticing the changes happening along h street ne progress. The main streets program has a bit to do with this. I imagine we're about to see Brookland getting hit with these changes too, as their main streets stuff is kicking in.

Sadly here on north capitol, we lost our official main streets funding... oh well, things are happening here too.

heres a pdf of the brookland main streets

and oh yeah.. about a bakery

i had received an email from Hellers Bakery stating that they hope to open up shop in bloomingdale this year.

i had mentioned it here


seems 84 t street, a commercial space around the corner is available to rent also, you know... in case anybody wanted to open up some nice shop....

arts and revitalization

here is a link to information about the economic impact of the arts


America's nonprofit arts industry generates $134 billion in economic activity every year, including $24.4 billion in Federal, state, and local tax revenues.


Perhaps some arts related non-profits would like to set up shop along north capitol......

north capitol main streets

In light of the knowledge that there is one restaurant for certain in the future of the north capitol main streets area, and the hope of at least one tavern, i found it fascinating to see what is currently for sale.

heres a list:
1633 north capitol NE-
1742 north capitol NW
1732 north capitol NW
1511 north capitol NE
1631 north capitol NE
1410 north capitol NW
1815 north capitol NE
1728 north capitol NW
12 Florida ne
29 Florida ne
35 Florida avenue ne
133 Florida ave NW
306 Florida nw
222 Florida NW
71 Florida NW
58 Florida nw

1718 1ST ST NW

that is a LOT of potential for things to happen.

PSA 501 meeeting.

Thursday, February 16, 2006 7:00pm PSA 501 monthly meeting 1908 North Capitol Street, NE St. Martin’s Church

·

if H street can do it......

heres ANOTHER washington post article about the sensational h street ne


The District is planning a makeover for the H Street NE corridor, the once bustling commercial strip now undergoing a transformation, with a new arts center and chic bars and restaurants.

Within a few years, that renovation could include a light-rail system and the remaking of a major intersection, just east of H Street, with a $2 million pedestrian plaza.

Home and Garden Show

The Home and Garden Show is going on at the convention center



The Washington Home & Garden Show is the biggest and best home & garden show on the entire East Coast. With over 800+ booths and more than 24 fully landscaped full sized gardens, plan to spend the day.

2006 WASHINGTON HOME & GARDEN SHOW

WHERE
Washington D.C. Convention Center
801 Mount Vernon Place, N.W.
Washington, D.C.

Metro stop: Mt.Vernon SQ. / Convention Center

DATES
Thursday, February 9 – Sunday, February 12, 2006

TIME
Thursday: 11 a.m.– 9 p.m.
Friday: 11 a.m.– 9 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m.– 9 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

click here for a coupon in PDF form

this blog made the post express!

(click to enlarge)

I received an email this morning telling me that this blog was in the post express. thats pretty exciting! p. 31.

nw corner of florida and north capitol

"The Applicant intends to construct a new building on the site consisting of approximately 85,428 square feet of gross floor area [or a FAR of 4.5]. The building will contain approximately 75 apartment units (4.3 FAR) and a maximum of 4,000 square feet (.2 FAR) of gross floor area devoted to neighborhood serving retail and service uses. The new building will be constructed to a maximum height of 82.5 feet with the height stepping down to approximately 65 feet at the top of the sixth floor level and further stepping down along the west and north exposures. There will be approximately 85 parking spaces provided in a 2 level below-grade garage accessed from Florida Avenue. The Applicant is also requesting a Zoning Map Amendment to rezone the property from C-2-A to C-2-B."

rumour is....

that there is a coffee shop in the future @ 1st and florida nw.


on the other end of the block to the east will be EC-12. To the west another block, another coffee shop.

Are things really happening here in bloomingdale?

let's hope.

FIREHOUSE!

i just got this from the city:


Historic Firehouse Disposition Awarded to Local Development Team
Project expected to generate substantial sales tax revenues and benefits to the community



(Washington, DC) Today, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development selected NC Firehouse, LLC to develop and restore Old Engine Company 12, located at the corner of North Capitol Street and Quincy Place NW. Built in 1897, the historic firehouse is one of the District's 29 pre-World War II firehouses.

Vacant for nearly a decade, Old Engine Company 12 will transform into a full-service, sit-down restaurant named "EC-12" with a second-floor cultural and performing arts space programmed by XM Satellite Radio, a marketing partner on the team, who will broadcast live music events from the location. The lounge will also provide community meeting and exhibition space. EC-12 will include a sidewalk café and a renovated roof top deck to accommodate an outdoor seating area.

"We are thrilled that NC Firehouse LLC will transform this historic landmark into a destination for all of the community to enjoy," said Stanley Jackson, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development. "We expect that the restoration of Old Engine Company 12 will serve as a catalyst for economic growth and stimulate retail development along North Capitol Street."



NC Firehouse LLC is a local limited liability company whose principal owner is NextGen Construction and Renovation, LLC, a District-based development firm. The Tenant and Co-Developer for this project is Novel Foods Hospitality Management, LLC, which manages and operates the popular restaurants Café Saint Ex and Bar Pilar on 14th Street NW.



A superior development plan, skilled development team, strong Local, Small, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise and First-Source hiring commitment and solid financial plan made NC Firehouse LLC the preferred developer. Plans for a sit-down restaurant will make the property accessible to the larger public as well as provide for a much needed community gathering spot on the North Capitol Street corridor. A sit-down restaurant was identified by community members as a preferred use for the site.



The EC-12 restaurant proposal will also create significant job opportunities for local residents. The new development program is expected to produce 60-80 full or part-time jobs and 6-10 additional temporary jobs during the restaurant startup phase for the final build-out. The development team will collaborate with the DC Central Kitchen to form a job training alliance and create a new culinary internship training program. In addition, the project is expected to generate substantial sales tax revenues and benefits to the community.



As a result of this selection, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development will enter into exclusive negotiations with NextGen Development on the terms of the disposition. Once an agreement is reached, the Mayor will submit the sales contract to the Council of the District of Columbia ("Council") for its approval and grant of authority to dispose of the property to NC Firehouse, LLC on specified terms

dcist rings in on the orange sign.

you've seen it. the big vincent orange sign in chinatown.

READ THIS







This is not an endorsement of vincent orange.

Post mention about AV's.

Post article that mentions AV's

i had heard it was a done deal with AV's.
Its sad to see AV's go. i really like the place. No doubt, if another restaraunt ever occupies that land, it'll be expensive.

WETA neighborhoods series

you can watch the video of

LeDroit Park

The Anna J Cooper House



more here

NOMA

article about the developemnt in NOMA

fundaraiser for north capitol

Please mark your calendar to attend the neighborhood social event of the season -- the North Capitol Main Street, Inc. Design Committee’s Third Annual Winter Blues Party and Silent Auction, to be held on Saturday, February 25, 2006 from 7 pm to 10 pm.

This is sure to be a memorable party [just ask anyone who went to the First or Second Annual Winter Blues events!] where you will be able to meet and socialize with neighbors and friends, have some good wine and great food, and bid on some cool silent auction items, all while supporting a great cause!

Party details are as follows:

What: NCMS Design Committee’s 3rd Annual Winter Blues Party & Silent Auction
Where: Social Hall, Trinity University, 125 Michigan Avenue, NE
When: 7 pm to 10 pm, Saturday, February 25, 2006
Featuring: * Silent auction
* Wine bar
* Hors d’oeurves
* Live jazz band
* Gift basket raffle
Minimum Donation: $25 at the door [$20 for individuals age 65 or older]

Purpose: To raise money for the beautification projects of the NCMS, Inc. Design Committee. Funds raised from the 2006 Winter Blues Party will be used to make additional improvements to the public parks the Committee has adopted on North Capitol Street, as well as additional streetscape improvements on North Capitol Street and at First St. and Rhode Island Ave., NW

a bakery?

i can hardly believe my eyes, but i'm reading a blooomingdale newsletter and i see

"Heller's Bakery "Branch" Coming to 1st & T Street NW"


hellers website

lets hope this really happens.

got crack?

if you have a problem house in your hood check this out:

Operation crackdown

hot spots

Eckington/Rhode Island Avenue NE Hot Spot
Bound on the South by R & Q St. NE, on the West by Lincoln Rd, on the East
by 5th St. NE and on the North by RI Avenue NE.



link to hot spot information

mcmansions in arlington

this is a short video piece about a mcmansion in arlington.

i thought it was pretty funny.
click here for post


its what In Shaw would call crack head design

more on street cars

this is the newsletter about the alternative transporation study.

its a pdf file.
click here

i know its not our neighborhood

but im fascinated by the progrees happening along h street ne.
read the discussion of street cars here

article about housing project

“We seem to be getting a dinosaur,” Isaac said, wondering aloud if it could evolve into another Sursum-Corda. “The intent is noble but we don't need to import problems. This community is already struggling. It's not solid middle-class.”

DC North article
scroll down to the second heading:
Eckington/Edgewood: Housing Headache?

184 unit low income housing project

there have been countless emails flying back and forth on the eckington listserve about this.

The Catholic Charities and St Martins are planning to build a low-income apartment building encompassing an entire block. The boundaries are T street( to the south), Todd Place( to the north), Summit place ( to the east) and the City Lights School. This is across the street from McKinley Tech.

Funny that in Eckington, where there is already a HOMELESS SHELTER attached to a GRADE SCHOOL ( ! ) there should also be a place to put low income housing across from a DC pulic school.

To me, its a mockery. A spit in the face of hard working and community minded people in Eckington. Why does Eckington keep getting dumped on?

Does anyone support this project thats not making money from it?


History has shown us that the construction of HIGH DENSITY LOW INCOME HOUSING in an already drug and crime plagued urban area is highly volatile. That there exists people that think this is a good idea, points to the fact that we learn nothing from facts.

Please do not take us back in time.
Please do not sacrifice the progress that has been made in this recovering neighborhood.
Please do not move forward with this project.
Please step up to the present.

this is, in my opinion, the best website discussing urban issues. Please check out
Rebuilding Place in the Urban Space





Also, Please read about the Ellen Wilson Project, a mixed income housing project in SE DC.

how wars start.

this was on a few of the neighborhoods listserves today



Today, a large group of male teenagers around 4:30 p.m. and a few adult males -- attacked a young boy in the alley. The boy was unconscious from the beating. When myself and several other adult neighbors came outside the large group moved on. I immediately called 911 as did several other neighbors.

The group disbanded and the boy lay unconscious in the alley. I pleaded with his friends to not move him until the ambulance came. He could not stand or walk on his own. They lifted him up and carried him to 1711 Lincoln Road where he lay on the sidewalk. Then later they carried him down the alley to get away before the police arrived.

After I hung up with police and fire, I ran down to the alley to check on the boy. My neighbor ran outside to give the boy some ice to put on his face. His friends were crying and carrying him down the alley -- promising to retaliate later on today.

The young boy could not have been more than 12 or 13 years old. I am still a bit shaken up from the experience.

day work

this morning i made a run to home depot and noticed a bunch of men lingering around the parking lot.

Day laborers? seems like it. Seems like a wise place to hang around looking for manual labor too.

i hadn't noticed them before today. Lately its been rare that i make a morning run to Home Depot, since i loathe the place, so i may have missed them. But i still go to giant often enough. Perhaps this is a new thing




Please note: I support the right of anyone to perform work that is legal for citizens. Much better than the sad ass con stories i get from those bumming on the streets. When begging for money is eliminated in this country, then i feel, we can deal with the sometimes controversial issue of day laborers.

train tracks on h street

read about it on Frozen Tropics


other stuff
google map of dc crime

in addition to contractor guy, big news in the hood is the proposal to build an 180 something unit low income housing project in eckington. i'll post more about that it a bit.

Seems no one except for the catholic charities and anc rep. Cleopatra Jones like the idea. Makes me wonder how much the idea is worth to her.

news in the bloomingdale

Contractor Guy!

seems like he's mentioned often on all the discussion boards.


the story itself doesnnt matter. the bottom line is- Dont be such suckers people!
don't give strangers on the street money unless they are playing music.

ledroit park renovation

read the article about the renovation of the anna j cooper house

of late

i've been out of town a lot lately so havent posted much about the neighborhood.

the only things i've heard and noticed lately are

1. the rumor of a diner theatre type establishment opening on North Capitol.
2. the three presentations for the firehouse have been made and that we should hear more by the end of the month
3. crime in my alley has been crazy lately and the cops havent been around much.
4. the ATF building is gigantic.
5. h street is going to be rocking once all the stuff comes out of the pipeline there. i heard that there will be a train/trolley running along h street from union station down benning.

firehouse

i have heard that the presentations for the firehouse are supposed to happen next week. Seems that people representing one of the applicants were able to reschedule the original meeting so that they could get their proposal in the mix.

So there are three possibilities in the mix. as i understand it, they all include some type of "restaurant"
1. a bloomingdale resident and restauranteur.
2. a bakery/coffeeshop
3. a food court type thing. "small restaurants" is the pitch.

lets hope that whatever is chosen, it happens smoothly and quickly.

D.C. Plans River Ferry Experiment

The District's Department of Transportation has begun considering several proposals for a commuter ferry service on the Potomac and Anacostia rivers and hopes to have a vessel on the water by next spring, officials said.


read article

local business

If you have a storefront business, or plan to open a storefront business that serves blooomingdale, eckington, or truxton, i'll post a link to it here. just let me know.

drinking in old dc

this is fascinating to me.

Where old DC drank






check out this site

bloomingdale, victorians, and ramshackled.

Those of you that love our architecture in bloomingdale might like this site about sadly empty Victorians all over the city

Victorian Secrets

new years eve

On the Millennium, DC put together a nice New Years Eve Party. Fireworks, concerts, closed streets.. it was great. Maybe in 994 years we can do it again.


sydney, doing it up, this normal every year kinda year:

crack down

Seems like there was a big drug crackdown in eckington yesterday. from early in the morning till into the evening there were cops all around the neighborhood. searching people, questioning people, even arresting some.

apparently there were over 10 guys lined up in my alley being frisked.


The drug activity has been quite active in the past 2 months, perhaps they drew too much attention to themselves.

Manasas combats illegal immigrants

American, getting less free by the minute!
Check this out
The city of Manassas yesterday defended a new zoning ordinance that restricts households to immediate relatives, saying that the city acted within its limited right to control residential occupancy and that the new rule defining "family" was adopted in response to "broad-based community concerns about overcrowding."


This is an interesting article to me because of my concerns for a legal and clean neighborhood, and my concerns for freedom. But i dont want the govermnet to be concerned with whats happeing INSIDE my house.

This connects to Bloomingdale, in that we have many many "problem houses" in our neighborhood. Most of us want them gone, but the judges don't seem to lock up enough perps of "quality of life" crimes. I dont believe that we should legislate symptoms of crimes, as the article claims overcrowding is. Much like i dont believe in the "drug enforcemnet zones" that frequently get set up in Bloomingdale, Eckington, and Turxton. But, when someone breaks a real law, the law needs to pound them for it.

On tricky issues like this, i will always have to side with more freedom, less legislation.

starbucks in annapolis

I find this article a bit funny considering how many times i have heard people express their hopes for a Starbucks in our hood. I especially like the "Coffeehouses were very popular in Annapolis and other 18th-century cities, both here and in England. They were a gathering place, and that's basically what this Starbucks is planned to be." comment.

Post Article

How would Bloomingdale react if a Starbucks ever actually opened up here?

changes in adams morgan

here is a Post Article about the closing of The Comet liquor store and the changes that have happened in Adams Morgan

Gentrification in another country

I just got back from a short trip to Lebanon. There's a neighborhood in Beirut that I loved the last time I was there and wanted to check it out again. I was instantly curious at the similarities to Bloomingdale, and the issues we face in DC.


The neighborhood is Gemayze, just east of the newly rebuilt Downtown , one of the most amazing downtowns of any city I have ever seen in my life.


Though rather Disney-esque in its trying to look old yet newly built freshness. Still, much better than what it was and what the areas that haven't been fixed up look like

It is also just west of the famous Green Line , a major division line during the war, which apparently some cabs will still not cross.


Before the war Gemazye was a very, if not entirely Christian neighborhood. Mainly filled with beautiful old homes from the 1800's. Mostly stone. Nothing is built with wood there!


My last visit was in 2003,in the summer, and the obvious beginnings of a rebuilding after the war was occurring. Now, that growth is even more so, and it has become clear that Gemayze is "In". Bars and restaurants are lining a street that was formerly very residential. Real estate prices are sky rocketing in a city that is already one of the most expensive in the world. Parking is extremely difficult, and the narrow sidewalks are packed in the evenings. Cute boutique shops are opening and there is fear that many of the old shop will close and be replaced by a more contemporary sense of commercialism.
While walking through the neighborhood with a friend and resident of Gemayze, we saw an Italian restaurant called "Corleone's". My friend said, " What business does a place like that have opening here, ruining the integrity of my neighborhood". Its next to a Sushi Bar, and many other bars where you can see Christians, Muslims, and even Druze, sharing a drink.

Gemayze "has arrived", as realtors like to say. It is certain that much of the old charm of this hood will disappear.


Many shops that catered to the old residents will indeed close. Neon will light up the streets and larger and larger cars will try to find parking.



While gentrification in Beirut, and in Gemayze, doesn't come with the overtones of a stereotypical priviledge white person displacing the stereotypical poor black family, like it is portrayed in DC, there is a mixing of cultures and incomes that must find a commonality. I come back to DC to find liquor bottles and trash in my front yard, guys pissing in my alley, a few newly renovated buildings and a few more troubled properties that for sale or have sold. Keep it up Bloomingdale, we have a long way to go. If Beirut can do it, I know we can.





more pictures here

news concerning Lebanon here

away

i've been out of town for a while so i dont know whats going on in bloomingdale lately.

i'll cross my fingers thats some big changes have been made during my vacation.

sursum corda article

heres a post article about sursum corda.

according to the article there is concern of some residents that they may not be able to receive government assistance after getting the promised $80,000. $80,000?????? and the concern is continued government assistance?
not trusting the developer, i could see. having the money NOT TO NEED assistance, and you complain? that attitude is absurd.

Rumor about the firehouse

I had heard that the proposals for the firehouse are down to TWO. And both include a restaurant on the ground floor.

While I don't really know how accurate that is, I'm still excited by the prospect.

One of the proposals is for the entire place to be a restaurant, the other is to have an arts based business/studio/school on the second and third floor. Both sound GREAT to me.


Also, there's talk of a Tavern coming to the 1500 block of north capitol. That may be as early as next summer.