"workforce" housing.

here is a "workforce housing" project on capitol hill.

Eckingtonians might be especially interested in the guidelines in this PDF

the st. martins project is also supposed to be a "workforce housing" complex.

yesterday: arts on the avenue, project 4, and a chat with the ( future honorable) big bears

I went to arts on the avenue, and despite the I HATE DEL REY blog, i really like del rey.
I like the mix of stores and the strolling atmospehre of the avenue ( though to me "the Avenue" is in hampden, which is way colloer that alexandria could ever be...) Still, Del Rey has a strong community feel to it, and its not stagnant. Its gotta be the best neighborhood in NOVA.

Lots of art to see. despite the overcast weather it was a great turnout.

Later in the evening, we went to the opening of a show at Project 4 gallery at the suggestion of a guy we met at a fundraiser for a team that's doing this, which if you like baltimore,beer and kitsch, you should go to. Aparently the building that houses Project 4 used to be a numbers joint, for YEARS. One guy that used to run, put his kids through university with his procedes.

At the gallery we ran ito the owners of the soon-to-be-opened Big Bear Cafe. I had met one of them at the design showcase evening they held, but hadn't met the second half. Both super friendly people.... that i'm sure all yous will meet when they open.

It was great to talk to them about their plans for the store, and other community oriented ideas they have. I'm thinking this place will create quite a buzz ( ha!) and do a hell of a lot of good for our neighborhood. I was quite impressed by the scope of their plans. They make make a big impact on bloomingdale in the next few years.

I also ran into the guy that used to own Bardo's in Arlington. Remember that place? the best local brewed beer in the dc area. i asked him to open a new place along north cap, but he replied with tales of bricks being thrown at friends of his as they bike through blomingdale 15 years ago......

and 10 year olds walking down the street smoking boats. alas our hoods notorious past.

my future studio, art school, gallery, decorative painting services showroom is still on the market

yes, after 258 days on the market 1631 North Capitol ( MLS #DC5508084) has still not sold, though there has been a price reduction.

So that means that for a mere $800,000 ( plus closing costs and taxes) any of you out there could fund my serious art habit!


while the place is a bit raw, i freaking love this building. look at pictures here

it's interesting to note that the Lincoln road side has the more interesting facade, which indicates the "front side" so to speak. The pop out window is gorgeous.

At roughly $200/square foot plus big time renovation costs it seems that this wont be a major addition to the sparse retail/commercial /begging bloomingdalian art studio landscape of bloomingdale/ eckington/ the north capitol corridor anytime soon.


but seriously... if'n you want to patronize the arts, i'm always looking for a sponsor....

Call me, we'll work something out.

Basketball Tournament in Crispus Attucks Park

Basketball Tournament in Crispus Attucks Park – Saturday, 10/14/2006




Old School and Young School Basketball Tournament
The Crispus Attucks Park

When: Saturday, October 14, 2006 at 1:00 pm

Where: Crispus Attucks Park (access thru alley entrances at 1st & U and 1st & V Streets, NW)


OLD SCHOOLERS - Dust off them high top Converse sneakers and tube socks.
Head back to the gym!!

YOUNG SCHOOLERS - Come and learn some moves from old and experienced ballers! Get schooled!

There will be 3 on 3 pick-up games and playoffs for the for ages:
10-14;
15-17; 18-30; 30 and older.

It promises to be lots of fun and good sportsmanship!

Rumor has it that Harry Thomas, Jr. will stop in and show his skills!!


For questions, more information, or to arrange a team in advance call:

Reginald Carthen (202) 215-8006

Reggie Parrish (202) 236-2307


Sign up in advance or on day of event. Also enjoy a potluck/barbecue and other activities.

some lyrics i was just listening to....

What's wrong with the world mama?
People living like aint got no mamas
I think the whole worlds addicted to the drama
Only attracted to the things that bring you trauma
Overseas yeah we tryin to stop terrorism
But we still got terrorists here livin
In the USA the big CIA the Bloodz and the Crips and the KKK
But if you only have love for your own race
Then you only leave space to discriminate
And to discriminate only generates hate
And if you hatin you're bound to get irate
Yeah madness is what you demonstrate
And that's exactly how anger works and operates
You gotta have love just to set it straight
Take control of your mind and meditate
Let your soul gravitate to the love y'all

People killing people dying
Children hurtin you hear them crying
Can you practice what you preach
Would you turn the other cheek?
Father Father Father help us
Send some guidance from above
Cause people got me got me questioning
Where is the love?


black eyed peas.

bike map

click to enlarge


*note chain reaction is now on north capitol street nw.

mas from dc department of transportation

seaton

110 Seaton Pl NW 036
Originally uploaded by hipchickindc.

here is a recent foto from the bloomingdale photstream......

http://flickr.com/groups/bloomingdale/pool/

tour coming through the hood.

cut and pasted from the neighborhood email

Tourists Coming to Bates/Truxton Circle/ Eckington/ Bloomingdale – Saturday, Oct. 14th

See this message from Bloomingdale resident Sara:

As Scott’s email reported earlier - On 14 October the D.C. Preservation League (DCPL) is holding its annual Wardman Row-House Tour.

BUT – did you know it will drive through our neighborhoods to view our famous Wardman homes?

AND the tour makes a stop in Bloomingdale?

Will your street and tree box be presentable for a bus full of sightseers?

Listed below is last year’s tour stops through our area - which is expected to be largely the same this year:

10:00 AM Depart National Building Museum, 401 F Street, NW

N. Capitol & Bates St, NW - Philanthropic rowhouse flats

3rd St & Florida Ave, NW - Wardman rowhouse flats

North Capitol St between Florida & Rhode Island avenues,

10:35 - 2006 tour - Stops at 2200 block of 1st Street / Corner of 1st & W NW

The route is not finalized – the bus full of tourists may come up First Street or North Capitol. Please help make our neighborhood shine!

Bloomingdale - keep those tree boxes and streets presentable for:

More Tourists Coming to Bloomingdale:

Sunday October 22: The first-ever Bloomingdale BBQ Bash!

Put on by the Bloomingdale Civic Association – in the Bloomingdale Business District – on First Street between Rhode Island Avenue and S St NW.

To prep for the BBQ Bash:

Saturday October 21: A Neighborhood Clean-Up - hosted by the Bloomingdale Beautification Committee.

9 AM to Noon .

Details for both events coming soon.

Brookland on Saturday!

10th Annual Brookland Day Festival 2006
Saturday October 7, 2006, 11:00 PM - 5:00 PM
12th Street, NE (between Monroe and Otis Streets)
Washington, DC

Washington, DC--Brookland, one of Washington DC's Main Street communities, will hold its 10th annual Brookland Day Festival on Saturday, October 7, 2006. The festival is a community-oriented event for all ages and it always captures and highlights the special small-town-in-town flavor of Brookland.

At 11:00 AM, a parade featuring the Archbishop John Carroll High School Band and the Festival's spoof brigades of neighborhood residents, including phalanxes of dog walkers, lawnmower pushers, and baby stroller pushers, will march from Franklin Street to Michigan Avenue, NE.

Between 12:00 PM and 5:00 PM, performance and exhibit pavilions, including nonprofit organizations, businesses, and arts and crafts exhibitors, will be featured in booths along Brookland's commercial district, on 12th Street, between Monroe and Otis Streets, NE.

With Amanda Sweet as its Master of Ceremonies, the main stage on Otis Street will feature performances by The DC National Guard's Capitol Sounds, The Dance Place, The Archie Edwards Band, Benat Baharat, and The High Signs. Performances will start at noon.

The Festival is sponsored by the National Capital Revitalization Corporation, Keller Williams Capital Properties, The Washington Post, Citibank, DC Lottery, and PNC Bank.

The festival is coordinated by the Brookland Community Development Corporation, the parent organization of Historic Brookland Main Street, the commercial district revitalization program working with property owners, business proprietors, residents, and other stakeholders to bring about focused improvements to the commercial district.

For further information on sponsorship opportunities or to participate in any events, contact the Brookland Festival Committee by phone at 202-529-8400, fax at 202-526-0837 or e-mail brooklandcdc@aol.com.

another take on the mcmillan

chek out this brooklanders blog.
Their photos are pretty damned good.

I do disagree with their take on the place though.
I think "profoundly unsafe" is hyberbole and fear mongering, but whatever... we have gotten so used to "safety" it seems quite sad, and just a bit spoon-fed. I have hiked/traveled a lot and been to some pretty perilous places, in national parks, in caves, on trails, historic sites here and in europe and in the middle east. Mcmillan is, as it stands, much safer than many places tourists frequent. ( have you been to black rock falls on the Blue Ridge Parkway... or Great Falls, even?) The promenade of McMillan is perfectly sufficient to walk safely around. Personally i feel that the "average american tourist" could use a good challenge.

Hell, it's safer inside the gates of mcmillan than outside, holes not withstanding.


Running, frollicking around the "mews" as we've been told happened in days of yore does seem a bit of a stretch. I do agree with the blog post, that the cell lids ( i'd say 1/4") make this far too unlikley.

Any bloomingdale Artists reading this?

please consider doing this

public art project.

Barbecue and Potluck- october 14th. in the secret park.

Summer’s gone and it’s time for the
4th Annual

BARBECUE and POTLUCK

Saturday October 14th, 2006
12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
in Crispus Attucks Park
(access thru alley entrances at 1st & U and 1st & V Streets, NW)

Hot dogs,burgers,drinks and lots of fun activities like face painting, sack races, a balloon toss and more.
Bring a lawn chair or blanket!
Contact Lisa (571-228-2777) realnnatural@aol.com to donate your favorite side dish, snack food, or dessert!!

Come and enjoy or participate in our very first neighborhood Youth/Adult basketball challenge (more information on back of this flyer).

Youth players contact: Reginald Carthen @ 202-215-8006
Adult players contact: Reggie Parrish @ 202-236-2307

General QUESTIONS? Contact Lisa at 571-228-2777

(Rain date: Saturday, October 28th.)

yes! organic market 3829 12th Street, NE

I have now a confirmed address.
3829 12th Street, NE




Opening in brookland any week now.

I like yes organic a lot. Its a great urban gorcery with ( generally ) a small footprint that can fit in many places.

While not really a destination shop like Whole Foods or giant, etc... Its a great place and i'll probably go there.

Apparently there were some neighbors who didn't want the store to open, despite the fact that there was a safeway in the same spot years ago.
As i understand it, some residents felt like there would be an increase in noise and traffic. I think thats code for "we dont want no dirty hippies".

heres where i think its going to be.


Can anyone confirm that?

AJ wright.

I stopped by this morning as i was picking up some stuff at Giant. Ever been to the TJ Max up in friendship heights? AJ's a bit nicer and seemed less expensive.

Still, it is somewhat depressing the see the growth of this strip mall. Someday it will be a wasteland.

Envisioning the hood, thinking a-blog.

What would you like to see come to bloomingdale?
Where would you like to see it?
What are they types of business that you think are an asset to neighborhoods in DC?

-I would like to see a farmers market, perhaps in Crispus Attucks Park.

-I would like to see a nice bar that occasionally has live music. Maybe along north capitol.

-I would like to see a small grocer in the lot at north cap and florida.


-I would like to see more representation of local art in the neighborhood, perhaps as public art, perhaps as a gallery or other art space.

-I'd like to see some of our liquor stores evolve into shops that can accomodate the wants of all residents. For me, that would be a better selection of micro-brews and no bullet proof glass.

-I'd like to see frager's hardware open up a store in our area.

-A bookstore would be nice.

Dear Wonkette

Dear Wonkette,

How is it that my little blog about my little neighborhood got on your radar?
Thanks for linking here. Seriously, that's pretty terrific. I've gotten about a zillion hits.... Maybe there is someone that dreams of opening that perfect little restaurant in the middle of dc amongst your readers!


thanks again,

The Begging Bloomingdalian.
(see... that could be a good name for a place!)

Bloomingdale Photostream

i have updated some pictures on the bloomingdale photo stream. Please join the group to share your photos of our neighborhood. Joining Flickr is FREE

McMillan Sand Filtration Plant.

I took the tour of the sand filtration plant this morning and have some pictures of it.

HERE is the slideshow


HERE is the page of individual photos

empty #2

Here is another building that i'm suprised is sitting empty. Its across the street from the other empty building.

Hellers bakery is going in on the other end of the block. There is foot traffic, and tons of car traffic here. Have i convinced you restauranteurs yet?




Englert? Buehler? anyone?




I'll give you a good deal on some faux finishing!

empty

I'm actually very suprised that this place hasn't been turned into a restaurant of some sort. Seems perfect. It has the possibility of sidewalk seating. Neighbors will flock to it. A diner anyone? La Loma 5?

Big news in Eckington

Fairfield Residential will construct three large buildings ranging in height from 11 stories, stepping down to 9 and 7 stories as it approaches Eckington Place NE. There will also be townhouses on the portion of the site that borders the Wholesale Flower Market. There will be 625 to 675 units, which will be a mixture of condominium and rental units. The final condo/apartment mix will be dependent on market conditions as the units come on line. There will be 750 - 800 underground parking spaces. 8% of the square footage, or 65-70 units interspersed throughout the building will be affordable workforce housing, affordable to households earning less than 80% of area median income.

Q Street NE will be extending through the middle of the site and dedicated to the city as part of the Office of Planning's goal to rebuild the L'Enfant grid, when possible. There will be a lighted walkway connecting Q Street NE to the Metropolitan Branch Trail vis a vis a dedicated easement through a Pepco-owned site. That connection to the Branch Trail will allow residents to walk directly to the metro station without having to cross New York and Florida Avenues at street level.

There will be 15,000 square feet of neighborhood-serving retail space with preference being given to restaurant/deli use. That will be located at the corner of Eckington Place NE and Harry Thomas Way NE, providing a good retail location to serve FedEx, ATF, XM, and the community, as they come and go from the metro.

Bloomingdale Center

event at crispus attucks park

MOBILIZING DC YOUTH TO…

STEP UP!

B-READY

MOBILIZING DC YOUTH TO…

Saturday, September 30, 2006

Games ~ Prize Giveaways ~ Refreshments

Yayah’s Inc.

Crispus Attucks Park
Between 1st Steet to North Capitol and U
to V Street NW

11:00am – 3:00 p.m.
Call (202) 291-5538

Sponsored by
The D.C. Department of Health
Addiction Prevention & Recovery Administration
Office of Prevention & Youth Services
and Neighborhood Youth Organizations

Attendance at and/or participation in any Blitz Event grants consent to use photo, audio or video images of all attendees.

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



This Bloomingdale-based event is part of the city-wide youth drug prevention Blitz that's taking place on September 30th. Organizations all over DC will be sponsoring youth gatherings at parks and other facilities in every ward that day. The focus of the Blitz is for the youth to have some fun while also getting some positive messages about drug prevention. The target audience is youth ranging from 8 to 16, but ALL are welcome!

Yayah's is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to serving DC's youth. According to its Web site, "Yayah's, Inc.'s primary focus is on giving at-risk District of Columbia youths what they require to adapt to, acquire, and appreciate a healthy, productive lifestyle. We actively reach toward those who have fallen off the path and work to prevent others from doing the same. We've incorporated unique beneficial components into our programming. Yayah's, Inc. is more than another average group home. Our mission, vision, and methods are significantly different." Much of Yayah's funding comes from DC's Addiction Prevention Recovery Agency. For more on the organization, go to www.yayahs.org

Units of affordable housing in DC by ward

according to a post on the eckington yahoo group

Units
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

still arguing in Eckington.

Here is a post by ANC candidate Kris Hammond concering the St. Martins vs. The Eckington Community affordable housing conflict.

-Kris talks with Neal Drobenare and he makes a lot of promises about the project.
-Apparently the Edgewood Civic Association speaks for Eckington, since its "official".
-The application for historical status for the convent building got circumvented with a deal and concession by St. Martins.
-The number of units has slightly decressed.
-Its still messy and disruptive for our community.

links added and such....

i've added a bunch of links over to the right there ---->
neighborhood blogs and some governmental stuff.


check out this blog .

McMillan sand filtration site

here is a big 40 page PDF of the site.

and hey! there's a tour on friday.



go here for more info and liability waivers.

You must reserve your space by Tuesday.

Metropolitan Police Department 5th District PSA

ANC -5 website and commisioners

http://www.anc5c.org/

James D. Berry, Jr. (5C 01)
Cleopatra Jones (5C 02)
Tom E. Fulton (5C 03)
Robert V. Brannum (5C 04)
Bertha Johnson (5C 05)
Mary Lois Farmer (5C 06)
Celia Dianne Barnes (5C 07)
Marshall R. Phillips, Sr. (5C 08)
Debbie Smith (5C 09)
Vacant (5C 10)
William Jentarra (5C 11)
Derrick O. Holloway (5C 12)

Bizarre comments over this ANC post

Check this out on the Kris for ANC blog.

then theres the junk over over in shaw HERE and HERE and even threaded here

5th District Polic Information

Contact info as of August 2005

Fifth District (5D) Police Station
1805 Bladensburg Road NE
Washington DC

Commander Jennifer Green
Jennifer.greene@dc.gov

5th District new numbers

Main Numbers
(202) 698-0150

Commander Greene's
(202) 698-0111

Captain's Number
(202) 698-0121

Lieutenant's Number
(202) 698-0268


Sergeant's Office
(202) 727 4494


Fifth District US Attorney Community Prosecution Office
(202) 727 9711

Anita LaRue
Assistant US Attorney, Grand Jury
Anita.larue@usdoj.gov

John D. Davis
Community Outreach Specialist
John.d.davis@usdoj

eckington yahoo group

i added a button on the bottom of the blog to join the eckington forum.


alt="Click here to join Eckington">
Click to join Eckington

...from the bloomingdale garden club.....

“The Nation’s Capitol Among the Green Guide’s Ten Greenest Cities in America ”

No, that isn’t a current news headline. But, it could be one you’ll see in the future. Join other citizens of like mind at a meeting at 7:00 p.m. at Windows Café & Market next Wednesday, September 27th to begin putting together an agenda for the greening of DC using Bloomingdale as the proverbial lab rat.

Citizens of Green cities can boast of cleaner air, water, and all the other things that go to make up a healthy ecosystem. Green cities also provide safe, reliable, and non-polluting public transportation options, walkable streets, loads of green space, broad access to and use of renewable energy resources. They also seek to pioneer the use of green building techniques in public buildings and to encourage green building among industries, businesses, and private citizens through effective legislation, building codes, and targeted funding opportunities.

Being Green can be all that has been mentioned and so much more. Every citizen of Bloomingdale wants and deserves a green neighborhood and a green city for themselves, their children, and for future generations of Bloomingdalians.

Have your say about what you’d like to see and learn from others as we begin the work of charting a greener path for DC at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 27th at Windows Café and Market. For more information contact Cassandra Costley at 202-462-3737 or sandysan55@hotmail.com.

Bloomingdale photo group

I just started a bloomingdale photo group on Flickr.

Please check it out and post some images

3 years in bloomingdale 1 year blogging about it.

It was three years ago today that my wife and i moved into our house.
One year ago i started this blog... is that all? damn.. it's been a big year.

gun buyback

Does anyone else out there think that the Gun Buyback program is just an excuse for the thugs to trade up?

not that they did
Officials said that most people turning in weapons were law-abiding citizens
from THIS article


Curfew for kids? i'm all for it. Gun Buyback? i dont think so.

this is pretty funny

a comical blog concerning the "eckington theater" and a notorious ruse.

fire on new york avenue

anyone have links to the fire on new york avenue yesterday? it was apparently quite large.

making bloomingdale more beautificated

The Bloomingdale Civic Association
Beautification Committee is meeting Monday 18 Sept at 6PM at Windows Market & Cafe - prior to the main BCA meeting at 7PM at St George's Episcopal Church. The BCA Beautification Committee is working on some exciting ideas to make Bloomingdale bloom even more.

Attend the meeting or contact Cassandra Costley at sandysan55 (@) hotmail.com for more information

Mr Fenty, Mr Thomas.

A neighbor allowed me to post these images he took of Adrian Fenty and Harry Thomas on wednesday morning thanking the city and ward for voting for them. generally there are drugs dealers hanging on that corner. One well dressed gentleman asked me if i would perchance care to purhase some very fine smoke/blow on that very corner, the very same evening of Fenty's thank you showcase. Once there was a guy in a wheelchair selling out of a tackle box.

maybe it was nightcrawlers.




This is on the sw corner of New York and Florida NW.








"people first", right? we'll see.

ANC 5c meeting

This Tuesday, September 19, 2006, is the ANC 5C meeting to be held at the Harry Thomas Recreation Center, 1743 Lincoln Road NE, beginning at 7:00 PM.


The invited guests include:
1) a person to speak on the community amenities package for the consolidated PUD-Florida & Q Street LLC (1600 North Capitol Street NW),

2) a person to speak about the community amenities package for the Fairfield project at Capitol Commerce Center,
3) a person from Holland + Knight to speak on the PUD for the Washington Gateway (Florida & New York Avenues NE) hmmmm... i just posted about that last week.....

4) Maybelle Bennett, Director of the Howard University Community Association, regarding the HU Living and Learning Center,

5) Craig Parker, General Counsel, Catholic University Project,

6) Robert Taylor, Thoron Development (14 O Street NW) and the Fifth District.

BID in adams morgan

I'm interested in BID's and what they have done to improve neighborhoods. Still, i am a bit uneasy about the privatization of public services.

here is a washington post article about adams morgan with this quote

I don't think we should be doing the work that we're already paying taxes for," said Bill Duggan, owner of Madam's Organ, a popular bar, who wants the improvement district to dissolve. "It's insulting to the community to have to pay for security or trash removal. It's a testament to the inefficiency of the government.

Fenty and tommy thomas.

Harry Thomas Jr. won the democratic primary for ward 5. Fenty for the mayoral race.

lets hope they can both help in making our city a better place.

If the number of signs and supporters i saw today indicates election results

the Adrian Fenty will win hands down.

I was all around today on errands and his supporters were freakin everywhere.

i was cut off by a van plastered in Orange signs . warning: If you are advertising something on your van; drive courteously. that goes for you contractors too. Mr Flood, you know who i'm talking about.


Anyway. I saw what must have been the fenty victory party tent on u street. Or something akin. It looked like a Fenty family renunion, what with the t-shirts and all.



I saw a large moving billboard/sound board of Marie Johns driving around preaching her message.

The line was really short over at Dumbar and there were about 100 people handing out information. mostly holding green signs.

find your polling place

GO VOTE

in Bloomingdale it's either

Precinct 135

Polling Place Name Mt. Bethel Baptist Church

Address 1901 1st St. NW, Washington DC, 20001

Description Church Hall

or

Precinct 19

Polling Place Name Dunbar Senior High School

Address 1301 New Jersey Avenue NW, Washington DC, 20001

Description Gymnasium/Armory

voters guide in the post

here is the washington post section on the dc primaries

downtown retail

here is a washington post editorial about retail in downtown dc.


One of the disappointing things about downtown Washington is how limited and boring its retail offerings are, particularly considering the wealth and sophistication of the millions of people who live and work in the District or visit here each year.

big bear

word on the street is that the big bear cafe is up to three months away. hopefully less.

my sarcasm worthy of Express

here

but there was a good piece of anon sarcasm in todays bloomingdale community email
I can’t wait ...to shop for all my off-brand and seconds/reject clothing at the Brentwood Shopping Center while my car gets stolen from the parking lot.

I really don't understand why dc is so inept.

1. four years ago the company contracted to print out the voters guide sent it AFTER the primary.

2. DC used that same company again. When some business screws up something that affects ( insert number of registered voters) NEVER hire them again.


Please go here to find your correct polling place, rather than trust the guide you received in the mail.


i think DC's new motto should be

DC- the little engine Dat Couldn't.

shopping in brentwood. More Strip Malls!

The new 58,000 square foot shopping center will be home to 8 new stores:

AJ Wright - 24,000 sf,
Downtown Locker Room- 5,000 sf,
Rainbow Women - 5,000 sf.
Anna's Linens - 5, 500 sf,
America's Best Optical 3, 750 sf,
Radio Shack - 2, 500 sf and
Citi-Bank 5,000 sf.

AJ Wright is scheduled for opening on September 28th. Construction for Citi-Bank is complete and fixtures are being installed. Construction for all other stores will be completed by September 15th. All stores will open by the end of October in time for the holiday season.



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All this does make me think of the more intelligent and better designed plans that are happening in Columbia Heights... but here in ward five we're happy with the scraps, huh?

i know i'll go. i mean radio shack coolness. how retro!

a blog by a neighbor thats running for ANC

check it out here.

The privatization of public services.......

read this post over at frozen tropics

Apparently H streets got its own private public works force hitting the streets.
I exagerate, of course, but i am saddened and impressed by our city government that fails us and our businesses that are trying to make up for it. NoMa is working on a BID, but the restaurants/bars over in the Atlas District are a bit more admirable since they are just doing it without the officiousness.

If only North Capitol had a Joe Englert. Perhaps one of our neighbors could fill the niche?

a BID for NoMa?

Here is an article about developements in NoMa. The area for the Business Improvement District is proposed to be roughly the area north of Massachusetts, south of R Street NE, west of Third Street NE and east of New Jersey Avenue NW.

That doesn't really give a clear idea where the northern boundary in NW is, though it may extend into the very southern section of Bloomingdale. This seems like a promising move for the area and for business along these corridors.

we'll see.

Saint Martin again disturbs community members.

Its strange to me that the church whose mission is altruistic and beautiful is causing such complications and rifts in its own community. I have emailed then a few times asking questions but have never received any response. Why the shroud of mystery?

here is a community members retort of Father Kelly's assertion that the large scale affordable housing unit slated for t street will be for woking class people.


ere is the part that the neighbor has a problem with:
Kelley says the $31 million project will house about 50 formerly homeless men who are working to become productive members of society. It will also include 134 units for people earning about $30,000 to $54,000 a year -- cops, firefighters, teachers and social workers.

from The Washington Business Journal
---------------------------


the eckington neighbors response:

In response to Father Kelly’s quote in the Washington Business Journal, OK, let’s not be misinformed. We’ve gone through the salary information for police, firemen, teachers, and social workers before and most affordable housing studies put them in a group NOT covered in LIHTC funded apartments (like St. Martin’s). They are the middle class “forgotten group”. Too high an income for public funded housing, and too low an income to actually afford a home (80% AMI).

But let’s look at the numbers. I gathered this information almost one year ago so they may need minor adjustment. I’ve listed all of the sources for the following salary information, so if they are misinforming me please let them know.

DC Salary information
(From the Danter company’s market feasibility study for the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program):
2005 County Median Income for the District of Columbia is $89300.

The chart below lists the maximum combined incomes for groups of family members in a household. Since those salaries are shared by household residents I have added the last column which shows what these numbers mean per person.
One Person: $37,500 $37,500 per person
Two Persons: $42,840 $21,420 per person
Three Persons: $48,240 $16,080 per person
Four Persons: $53,580 $13,395 per person

Note that the larger the number, the LESS money per person. So when you see the statement, “working people who make between $30,000 and $54,000 a year,” it becomes clear that an individual making $43,000 will be turned down for residence in St. Martin’s or any other LIHTC funded project unless they have 2 non-income dependents to become a household of 3 sharing the $43,000.

Salaries of DC Police, Firemen, Teachers, and Social Workers
OK, now lets look at the average salaries of the working DC professionals used as examples of the type of people they want to attract into their complex. Consider that most of this is old information (I posted it last year and it was old then) so it is very likely that these salary levels have gone up.
Teacher Salaries (From the NEA Rankings and Estimates report dated June 2005):
Average salaries of public school teachers, 2003–04 District of Columbia: $57,009
The average Teacher would not qualify to rent in the St. Martins complex unless they were the only working person in a five-person family. Although not impossible, it’s not likely.
Police Officer Salaries (From the dc.gov website):
What is the starting salary for police officers in the MPDC?
The starting salary for police officers is $44,611 a year. After 18 months of service, most police officers can expect to earn a base salary of approximately $48,809 a year. Lateral officers' starting salaries range from $46,842 to a maximum of $65,907, depending on their previous experience.
The starting Police officer would not qualify to rent in the St. Martins complex unless they were the only working person in a three-person family. If they had 18 months of service they would need to be the only working person in a four-person family to qualify. If in that 4 person family they had a child with a part time job it is likely they would not qualify at all.

Fire Service District of Columbia Salary Schedule: (Union)
Class 01 (the lowest salary class of 9 classes) - Private Base Annual Salary October 3, 2004 $40,156 $41,361 $43,368 $45,376 $48,187 $50,999 $53,810 $56,619 $59,432
The lowest salary of a starting Fireman would not qualify to rent in the St. Martins complex unless they were the only working person in a two-person family. If they were in the middle of the Class 1 range they would need to be the only working person in a family of three. And this data is from 2004!

Social Worker Salaries (From a job posting):
Government Of The District of Columbia
Position Vacancy Announcement
Child And Family Services Agency
Human Resources Administration
Announcement No: Cfsa-05-P012 Position: Social Worker (Trainer),
DS-185-9/11/12
Salary Range: DS-185-09 $45,721 - $57,079 PA
First Screening Date: DS-185-11 $52,078 - $65,803 PA
10-13-05
The lowest paid Social Worker filling this position would not qualify to rent in the St. Martins complex unless they were the only working person in a three-person family.

...ALL of these professionals would make too much money to qualify to live in the St. Martins complex if they were single or had a working spouse or child.

What does all this mean?

Well for one, it means it’s not likely to have many police, firemen, teachers, and social workers residing in the complex. Is that the issue? No, not really. But it does mean that those who planned the St. Martin’s apartments have not thought it out very well and have no idea who their market is; or it is intentional deception to appease a neighborhood. Either of these situations concerns me.

It also concerns me that they (CCS/St. Martin’s) have seen all of this information, and heard all of our concerns. But expressions like the one in the WBJ show that they still don’t understand them. How can they run a huge apartment complex when after a year of listening to community concerns, they still get them wrong?

What is the Issue?

Any large housing complex, outrageously expensive or affordable, should be built on the edge of R-4 zoned areas on major streets, not in the middle. Otherwise they should conform to zoning (with potential minor variances).

An affordable housing complex so large that it takes up an entire city block is a community within a community. Without an appropriate mix of unrestricted housing the complex is a form of economic segregation. Also, without a financially motivating amount of market rate apartments, the complex will not have to compete and keep to market rate standards.

Bottom line – We need affordable housing. We don’t need to hear about police, firemen, teachers, and social workers because it is clear that this complex and all other LIHTC funded projects will continue to treat them as a “forgotten group”. That does not mean that others won’t be served, but we can build it without compromising reasonable zoning regulations or ripping down potentially historic landmarks. Also, we should follow modern mixed-income best practices. The newest should be better then all that came before.

Father Kelley stated "It's almost like a war of words in a sense”. We should and could become partners in this. It need not be a war of anything.

big bear cafe part two.

and no.. im not stalking you... i just want some coffee......

Big Bear Cafe

I never see anyone there, but works seems to be happening. Just today i saw a sign that says
Big Bear Cafe above the door

and paint swatches on the outside wall. i like the green, but the grey was cool too.


any word on the anticipated opening date?

where florida and new york avenues meet.

this project was ( maybe still is..) planned for the area of new york and florida avenue.

a post about cars

this post reminded me of a fascinating book i read earlier this year.

Its a great account on how the car has shaped our society. i truly recommend it for those of you that: appreciate urban communities; like cultural anthropology; think cars represent freedom.


i mean.. obviously a drive-thru is for cars only......

trader joe's near bloomingdale?

visit this site concerning a petition to entice trader joe's to the u street corridor. Well, i guess it worked with Whole Foods.

I, for one, am a huge fan of trader joes.

updating links

if there are neighborhood, or dc links that you think i should have, please comment or email me. i'd like to update some stuff.

Recreation Centers

In response to the crime emergency, the Department of Parks and Recreation has extended hours at 10 sites throughout the city. The recreation centers are a safe haven for teens, offering sporting activities, games, movies, field trips and classes.
The following recreation centers are opening on Sundays from 12 pm – 8 pm:
Brentwood Recreation Center 2311 14th Street, NE (202) 576-6667
Emery Recreation Center 5701 Georgia Avenue, NW (202) 576 -3211
Harry Thomas Recreation Center 1743 Lincoln Road, NE (202) 576-5642
Kennedy Recreation Center 1401 7th Street, NW (202) 671-4792
King Greenleaf Recreation Center 201 N Street, SW (202) 645-7454
Petworth Recreation Center 801 Taylor Street, NW (202) 576-6850
Parkview Recreation Center 693 Otis Place, NW (202) 576-5786

The following recreation centers are opened Monday – Saturday from 10 am until midnight unless otherwise noted:
Bald Eagle Recreation Center 100 Joliet Street, SW (202) 645-3960
Benning Park Community Center 5300 Fitch Street, SE (202) 645-3957
Benning Stoddert Community Center 100 Stoddert Street, SE (202) 698-1873
Emery Recreation Center 5701 Georgia Avenue, NW (202) 576 -3211
Fort Stanton Recreation Center 1812 Erie Street, SE (202) 645-3920
Kenilworth Parkside Center * 4300 Anacostia Avenue, NE (202) 727 5440
Kennedy Recreation Center 1401 7th Street, NW (202) 671-4792
King Greenleaf Recreation Center 201 N Street, SW (202) 645-7454
North Michigan Park ** 1333 Emerson Street, NE (202) 541-3522
Sherwood Recreation Center 640 10th Street, NE (202) 698-3075

* Monday – Thursday until 10 pm; Friday –Saturday until 12 am
** Monday – Saturday until 11 pm.

1 million, 9 hundred thousand dollars

here is a very beautiful house in LeDroit Park. for a mere 2 million, it could be yours. Seems like it still need$ work, at least on the outside. and some color on the walls!

urban grocery

a small post about urban grocery stores over at rebuilding place in the urban space

thinking of remoldeling?

this estimator might be helpful

neighborhood author, Natalie Hopkinson, speaks at Busboys and Poets

Busboys and Poets
November 10, 2006 (Friday)



6:30 - 8:00 PM (Langston Room) Authors Natalie Hopkinson and Natalie Y. Moore discuss and sign their new book: Deconstructing Tyrone: A New Look at Black Masculinity in the Hip-Hop Generation. In Deconstructing Tyrone, journalists Hopkinson and Moore examine black masculinity from a variety of perspectives, looking not for consensus but for insight. With chapters on Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, on the complicated relationship between women and hip-hop, babydaddies, gay black men on the so-called “down low,” strippers and their fathers, black men in the office, at school, and in jail, Deconstructing Tyrone presents a multifaceted picture of American black men. Hopkinson is a staff writer at the Washington Post and a Scripps Howard doctoral fellow at the University of Maryland-College Park, where she is also a visiting professor of journalism. A graduate of Howard University, she lives in Washington, D.C. Moore is a freelance journalist who has worked for the Pioneer Press, Detroit News, and Associated Press. Her work has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Bitch, Black Enterprise, NPR.org and In These Times. She is a graduate of Howard University and has a master’s from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.

Vegetate

My experience at Vegetate was disappointing.

I recall hearing about the restaurant before it opened. I remember when it opened i was excited to have a nice modern american vegetarian restaurant in the city, close to my house. I remember first seeing their menu online and while salivating, i looked at the prices and was distanced. I prefer to go out a lot to mid priced places than just a few times to expensive places. I only just made it to Vegitate this week.

So here's what my wife and i had:

Drinks:
Lime aid- way too tart and acidic for me, and i'm a big big fan of limeaid.

first course-
Herb Risotto Croquettes with parmesan & tomato jam - This was tasty and the tomato jam was terrific. really terrific. the crouquette was sadly a little dull. If you 've had this dish at Two Amy's, you know what it ought to taste like. This was a bit bland in comparrison.

Heirloom Tomatoes with olive oil, balsamic, basil & grilled bread (vegan)- The "grilled bread" portion was a tiny sliver of homemade melba toast.. or may as well have been. The tomatoes were tasty. nothing great, but decent.


Second Course

Sesame Crusted Tofu with quinoa and gingered organic pea shoots (vegan)- This was good. nicely herbed and had the feeling of breaded fish, oddly. I'd have marinated the tofu first since the frying process doesnt give enough time for the herbs to soak in. it was a bit dry too.

Roasted Zucchini and White Beans on a corn grit crust with organic collards (vegan)
The corn grit crust was lacking in spice, in my opinion. justplain ole grits really. the zuchini was fine. The collard greans were outstanding. they were marinated and oozed with flavour. a sweet soy saucey vinegaryness. I couldn't quite place it. They were great.


Dessert

Ice Cream Sandwich molasses cookies with Tahitian vanilla gelato
Local organic peaches with vanilla vinegar over Raspberry Sorbet (vegan)
the desserts were average. I'm not a big dessert guy, so it has to be outrageous good for me to care.


All in all i was very disappointed in my Vegetate experince. The food was generally lacking in flavour and i find the price a bit silly. To be fair, i do prefer spicy foods, exotic foods, Thai, indian , african, things with zing and perhaps i'm not as attune to the subtlties of this type of cooking. Perhaps it was "minimal" as is the decor.

So, the decor. The place is pretty cool. I'm excited that there is a place in that area of ninth, which when i first walked around there 10 years ago, was like a ghost town. SOOOO many boarded up places, so desolate. Now, its bustling. i like that. The walls are gray and green. I like the color combinations a lot. the furniture was a dark wook. very pretty place, though there werent really any focal points. i'd have pizazzed up a coupla walls. still, it felt cool. The look of the place was inviting though like the food, could use a bit more spice. just a bit. and oh..our waitress was about as friendly as a tax audit. The music was cool, and it was DJ'd. the place would be a great lounge.


I dont think i'll be back.I actually feel pretty ripped off. For a $70 meal for two without drinks, you'd think we'd get something more exciting than the collard greens.

The Covenant House @ North Cap and New York

the place on the corner that is just south of bloomingdale....


they have a blog. Check it out.

Art-o-Matic

Word on the street in that Art-O-Matic may be very close to Bloomingdale this year.

Maybe in NoMa. i hope so and i'll definitely be exhibiting.

restaurant week

well, there are no restaurants in Bloomingdale participating so i decided on one in Shaw which i havent been to yet.


I'll be hitting up Vegetate this week. Since my wife and i dont eat meat, seems like the best choice.


here's the menu:



Fresh- Squeezed Juices (complimentary)

Homemade Ginger Ale
Strawberry Lemonade
Limeade

First Course

Herb Risotto Croquettes with parmesan & tomato jam
Organic Melon & Habernero Soup with cilantro crema (vegan)
Heirloom Tomatoes with olive oil, balsamic, basil & grilled bread (vegan)

Second Course

Goat Cheese Tart with sun-dried tomatoes and roasted corn & arugula salad
Sesame Crusted Tofu with quinoa and gingered organic pea shoots (vegan)
Roasted Zucchini and White Beans on a corn grit crust with organic collards (vegan)

Dessert

Ice Cream Sandwich molasses cookies with Tahitian vanilla gelato
Warm Chocolate Cake (vegan) with sorbet or gelato
Local organic peaches with vanilla vinegar over Raspberry Sorbet (vegan)




1414 9th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 232-4585 | www.vegetatedc.com

Bus Stop at North Capitol and Florida Avenue NW

If you have ever used this bus stop, walked by it, or even driven by, you know that its a troublesome place.

Its a small triangular park and the bus stop serves 6 bus lines. There are a few trees and some plants. A few years ago someone put very nice steel frames around the tree boxes. 1.5 inch tube steel. They instantly became seating since there is and was only one bench serving this large bus stop. I used the "seating" often. There someone installed spikes atop the planter boxes to impede sitting down. I argued against this on the eckington message board but was brushed off. A few months later the entire planter box was covered with large plastic containers that straddled the spikes. there was seating again. i dont use these, but many people do and they leave them there. all the time. What seemed like a simple solution was crippled with a complete lack of foresight. foresight that would have been obvious to those that utilize the stop and actually take the bus.

Now this year, there seems to be a call on the eckington listserve to reinstall benches, but with perhaps bars that stop people from laying down. old school bus/ train terminal benches. i remember these as a kid. i'm not sure why they disappeared for so long.

There is also talk of moving the bus stop altogether.where? i dont know. i can only pressume that the 80/p6 stop would be moved south of florida and the X/90 buses would move.... uh... either in front of KFC or Soul Day Spa. If we want to follow neighborhood revitalization practices we WOULD NOT move the stop to be plaed in front of existing business, but move them away from store fronts. Remember the old pay less on 8th se that had a bus stop? when it became a starbucks with outdoor seating, the barracks row lobby got the stop booted.

anyway, seems idiotic to me, at least as a bus taker. I imagine if i wasn't a bus user i'd want all these "eyesores" removed citywide. damn busriders.


Now, were the city to actually enforce anti public drunkeness/ littering laws, that bus stop would probably be pretty nice. till then, the problem wont go away by inconveniencing bus riders since the troublemakers don't really take the bus. they just sit there. all day. nearly everyday. With their community liquor bottle.

Natalie Hopkinson, writer and bloomingdale resident

Bloomingdale resident Natalie Hopkinson has co-authored a book titled "Deconstructing Tyrone: A New Look at Black Masculinity in the Hip-Hop Generation" -- about "examining Black masculinity from a variety of perspectives, looking not for consensus but for insight."
Read an interview with Natalie and her co-author at

And read about the book

Congratualtions on getting the book out! and good luck with it!


Before either of us had moved to Bloomingdale, Natalie interview me about an exhibit i had. Read it here

war in our neighborhoods article/ my ramblings about dealing with crime and the tactics of my two neighbors.

here is a washington post article about dealing with crime in our neighborhoods.

The problem of conflict resolution surrounds us. One commenter on this blog recommended shipping troubled kids off to other neighborhoods, but the problem is actually embedded in our society, everywhere.

We stick to our own, however we define that. If our people get looked at the wrong way, we fight back. If our country gets dealt, we deal something harder.

It’s the same code for "civilized" America as it is in the street. It’s a problem I find deeply disturbing. We are very quick to look and to judge. We are quick to retaliate. As a society we support retribution.


I have two elderly neighbors that I deeply respect and admire. Both have lived in the neighborhood their whole life, both have live on my street for 30 years+. Both are among the friendliest people I have ever met. Both face down the thugs they encounter but in two different ways. Despite their similar experiences in location both deal with street crime and thugs very differently.

One, a former working class man with kids, and a bevy of grandkids who seems to know everyone on a strong basis. He grew up a trouble maker, not a fighter so much as a mischief maker. His experiences as a kid make me think of my experiences as a troublemaking street kid. He knows the thugs well, by name. He knows what they are up to. He knows a lot about them. When they cross his line of decency he asks them to stop. If they don’t listen, he calls the cops, and tells them so. His dealings are tolerant, frank, and clear. He comes across as just an average guy, but with an amazing capacity for tolerance and forgiveness. In his life he's needed to utilize that a lot.

The other is a woman whom for her age is a miracle. It’s crazy how strong and active she is. I pray I’m that healthy in my senior ages. She is a former professional and extremely crime intolerant. EXTREMELY. She expects and demands ZERO crime on our street. She too, knows the thugs, but won’t use their names because she feels they don’t deserve it till they shape up. She threatens THEM. She too, has had death threats made against her, but her bravery is unsurpassed. She laughs at them. Her approach to crime is to call 911; them call the police office, and then leave a message with the mayor’s office. Then call to check up on the action. She is a die-hard. She is a very classy put together woman that emanates the expectation that you will act your very best in front of her.


I feel fortunate to have these neighbors and feel that they have done tons to deal with crime on my street, in their own very different ways. Its seems to me that both of these tactics are necessary to deal with our street culture of lack of respect. I wish that this micro tactic could be brought to a city-wide level, but I don’t know how to do it.

little know facts about bloomingdale

passing this on since i thought it looked fun:


The Neighborhood of Bloomingdale: A Hidden Jewel in the Middle of the City
NE DC Historical Society Sunday, August 13, 2006 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
at Crispus Attucks Park (Use the alley entrance at 1st & U Streets, NW.) Washington, DC 20001
1. Why is the Neighborhood Called Bloomingdale?
2. What was Bloomingdale like at the start of the 20th century?
3. The Past, Present, and Future History of the People and Places of Bloomingdale to include: Gage-Eckington Elementary School, Crispus Attucks Park, and McMillan Reservoir
4. Little known facts about Bloomingdale

Chain Reaction

Chain Reaction

Visit the new location:
1416 North Capitol Street, NW
Washington, DC

Opening Hours
Tuesday to Saturday
11am-6pm

Phone:
(202) 265 0179

the kids are not alright

here is a story about fighting that broke out at a teen concert near the florida avenue market.

anybody have solutions?

artists on north capitol?

maybe, just maybe some artists may be setting up space on north cap.

not me though.

the heat

the last few days my AC was "broken". i can mostly take the heat. but humidity? i cant deal with that. my wife and i didn't sleep too well. She took it worse than i did.
We bought a couple fans this weekend as we didnt get an AC guy out till today. the cats werent happy.

See, what happened was one day last week i saw water all around the AC unit in the basement. I shopped vac-ed it up, but wasnt really sure where it was coming from. Has the hot water heater bit it? is this from the rain from last weekend? I wasnt entirely sure. I supposed also that the drain from the ac unit was leaking. Still i kept the AC on. that night, there was more water and there was water INSIDE the AC. damn, not good. That prompted me to turn it off completely.

Turns out that the drain pipe was clogged. Now its fixed and my house is cooling down from todays interanal temperature of 95. tonight would have been too brutal for my northern states homeostasis. my wife would have just killed me.

i'm glad it was still under warranty.

This summer we've been keeping the AC set to 81. 79 when we're feeling luxurious. its crazy that we can really really tell the difference.

What do you keep yours set to?


and bless those people who dont have AC at all. this weather, combined with this polution, combined with all the concrete is just too brutal. even the breeze is hot.
even a cold shower is not cold..


beer in the fridge, beer mugs in the freezer.

what would you like to happen at the old sand filtration site?

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE

Special Community Meeting

THE MCMILLAN PROJECT

Special Guest

The National Capital Revitalization Corporation

Where: All Nations Baptist Church
2001 North Capital St, NE
When: Tuesday, August 8, 2006
Time: 6 pm to 8 pm


Here is the meeting agenda:

Agenda

Called to Order 6:00PM

Opening Remarks: Commissioners

Special Guest: NCRC

Community Concerns

Adjournment: 8:00 PM

eleanor holmes norton

via dcist here is Steven Colberts interview with our representative.

click play on the youtube window.

the old sand filtration plant

everytime i pass by this place after the weeds have been cut i think that i wish this was a public park. considering the state of public areas in bloomingdale this may not be wise, but its such a fascinating looking place and its got a great view.

but, it is in motion to be developed in some way. here is some recent info:

For Immediate Release
July 27,2006

The National Capital Revitalization Corporation Releases Anticipated Public Solicitation for a Land Development Partner for McMillan Development

Washington, DC— 120 days after Mayor Williams announced the transfer of the 25-acre McMillan Sand Filtration site to The National Capital Revitalization Corporation (NCRC), the development corporation in keeping with its promise, released a public solicitation online today.

The solicitation, which is available at www.ncrcdc.com, details NCRC’s search for an accomplished land development team with whom it will partner to conduct predevelopment and land-use planning and analysis for the land development phase of the project.

“We’re looking to partner with the best of the best,” says NCRC President and CEO Anthony C. Freeman. “McMillan is a historically significant site that will require the complex marriage of art and science to deliver a world-class development.”

NCRC’s overall development strategy will mirror development objectives that arose from previous community workshops and charrettes held by the DC Office of Planning. Open, green space, mixed income housing, commercial and retail developments are all intended options. The corporation has met with and shared details of the development process with the communities surrounding the site, and will continue to engage residents throughout the development process.

As master planner, NCRC will be able to move McMillan to market more quickly. Another benefit of this model is Local, Small and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (LSDBEs) will have more opportunities to participate in the project. This solicitation includes a mandate for LSDBE equity participation and procurement opportunities, a policy which will be maintained throughout all phases of the project. We also anticipate there being associated capacity building initiatives for local and small businesses.

NCRC is looking to transform McMillan into a mixed-use, medium density community within a community that respects the character of bordering neighborhoods—while embracing the site’s historical integrity as much as possible. The establishment of an equity partnership with Morgan Stanley substantiates NCRC’s ability to take on sizeable projects such as McMillan through public/private ventures.

"This site is one of the District's premier development opportunities. I'm excited that NCRC is moving forward on this project, which will create a variety of neighborhood amenities for all District residents," says Mayor Anthony Willilams. "I look forward to the day when the McMillan Sand Filtration site becomes an active and vibrant part of the city's landscape."

The National Capital Revitalization Corporation (NCRC) is a publicly chartered corporation charged with spurring the revitalization of underserved and emerging neighborhoods in the District of Columbia. This is accomplished through large scale strategic business and real estate development partnerships that build communities, enhance job creation, provide neighborhood amenities, and generate capacity for small businesses. The RLA Revitalization Corporation (RLARC) is a subsidiary of NCRC charged with the management and development of a portfolio of more than 80 parcels of real property located in the District of Columbia. Together with its affiliate, NCRC has attracted $1 billion in private-sector investments to District neighborhoods with another $1Billion in the pipeline.

582,049.

apparently the city is getting larger
here is the post article.

Crispus Attucks Work & Play Day in the Park!!!

Crispus Attucks Work & Play Day in the Park!!!
FREE LUNCH!!!

Saturday, July 22, 2006
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
CRISPUS ATTUCKS COMMUNITY PARK
Enter via Alley at U Street/V Street/North Capitol/First Streets NW

Please join us in the Park for our July “Work & Play Day”. This month we are continuing with the Park Beautification Plan.

Here are some of the items we hope to complete:
Installing the Doggie Comfort Station for our Furry Friends
Meet Neighbors
Finish Removing the Chain-link Fence on the East End
Create Community
Begin Installation of 6 x 6 timbers on the East End of the Park
Get a Great Work Out
Trim and Remove Brush around concrete pad and South End
Picnic with New Friends
Dig/Expose Water Line for Water Meter
For additional information contact Austin Neal, Phone 202.281.8019/Email Austin_Neal@comcast.net

neighborhoody stuff

eckington merchandise available here

also, bloomingdale resident Tricia McCauley has a holistic health consuling business

Emery Shelter update

from the eckington listserve from eartha issac




I am happy to report that effective July 1, 2006, the Emery Shelter was downsized to a 100 bed working men’s program. Currently, 97 men live in the facility, including:

33 residents who are enrolled in the Therapeutic Rehabilitation Program (TRP);

52 men who are in the work program: and

12 individuals who are either physically or mentally disabled or elderly.

As you are aware the Eckington Civic Association (ECA) made addressing problems and safety risks associated with the inappropriate co-location of the Emery Emergency Shelter with Emery Elementary School, and adjacent to a youth recreation center, a priority of our 2004/2005 workplan. You may recall that ECA initially became concerned about the Emery Shelter when residents reported that the MPD website listed the 1700 block of Lincoln Road NE as the residence of 3 convicted sex offenders, including a child molester.

After visiting the shelter and being informed that the management could not confirm whether any sex offenders were living in the shelter, and after being unconvinced that there was an acceptable screening process to prevent sex offenders from residing next to a school and youth recreation center, ECA launched an education/lobbying/negotiation strategy that has resulted in the relocation of emergency shelter services from the Emery facility.

Now after two years of focused, persistent work on this issue, ECA and our supporters (Bates Area Civic Association, PSA 501, and North Capitol Main Streets, Inc.) have brought about changes that area residents have asked for for almost 18 years.

Although, ultimately, ECA believes that as a matter of social policy, the Emery location is an inappropriate site for delivering homeless services, we were willing to work with government and other stakeholders on an interim plan.

This is a win-win for the community, for working homeless men, and for the government, which needs to demonstrate the ability to assist homeless men achieve greater independence.

To everyone who did some "lifting" on this project......my heartfelt thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!

bloomingdale residents ordeal

this is crazy.

issues from the bloomingdale community newsletter

two topics from the newsletter than i find interesting.

1. why does petworth have more going on business-wise than bloomingdale?

2.Is the neighborhood heading backwards?

the reason for my absence

i was away for the past three weeks, and i have photographic proof

in the past i had compared an area of beirut to bloomingdale in its transitional state of gentrification


that neighborhood has skyrocketed and is now the place to be. unlike our beloved bloomingdale. bars. shops. restaurants. the tiny street of gemayzeh is jam packed. quite astonishing. things seems to change much faster in beirut. well physical change, anyway. and oh yeah, luxury condos are going up in this quaint low rise historic area. plus its safe.

coming back to bloomingdale, i see that we still dont have a restaurant. no bars. no public places for families. i see the drug dealers. i see litterers and trash. i read about the recent murder and other muggings. i see men sleeping on the streets. i hear people yelling at the top of there lungs. i see guys sitting on the curb all day long. i see others on their stoop drinking all day long. i read that a candidates car got torched. a female neighbor just got assaulted by three kids on bikes in front of my house.


at least my neighbors are still great.

rain.

I've been away for the past few weeks, though i had heard of the flooding and the rain.
I didnt get flooded but my house smells pretty damp. I also had a leak that cause damage to part of my ceiling.



And most sadly, I have come home to the news that Maurice Darnaby was murdered inside of his A&L market. My prayers to his family.

a funny thing happened on the way to St. Martins affordable housing.

Seems the building that's sitting on the land that St. Martins wants to turn into a large low-income development is now pending historical designation.

Odd huh?

Strikes me as a bit shady that this has just come up. Not that we dont have wonderfully historic and worthy of saving buildings here, but you gotta wonder how this slid in.

or maybe you know.

tile in an old home

Firehouse @ New York and M

you know that cool firehouse on new york? About a year ago i saw a for lease sign and called about it. it was 12,000 a month or something crazy. I thought it'd make a good shop for my business, but thats too expensive.

Seems its been rented to a capoeira studio. heres the website.
I wonder if the rent dropped.

site tour of mcmillan?????? Bloomingdale Civic Association Meeting.

I cant make this meeting but if anyone goes PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let me know if there is a mcmillan tour. i would love to go on that!

DC FEDERATION OF CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS
BLOOMINGDALE CIVIC ASSOCIATION, INC.
Post Office Box 1438
Washington DC 20013


19 June 2006 St. George’s Church
2nd and U Sts, NW
Monthly Meeting Agenda

Called to Order 7:00PM

Invocation

Public Safety Report: PSA501 Officer 7:10PM

Community Concerns 7:15PM


Determination of a Quorum

Review and Approval of Minutes 7:45PM

Correspondence Report


Financial Report


Unfinished Business
Report from Bylaws Committee
Report from the Campaign Committee
BIO and Letter of Interest for Vacancy Positions
Bloomingdale Welcome Signs Fundraisers (July)

New Business
Guest from NCRC (Vision, Community Meetings & Site Tour Info on McMillan)
Bloomingdale’s DCRA Issues


Announcements 8:55PM
Tuesday, 20 June, 5C ANC Meeting (Catholic University Campus/7PM-9PM)
Wednesday, 21 June, The COVE—Adrian Fenty TBD/6:30PM-8PM)
Wednesday, 21 June, PSA 501 Meeting (All Nations Baptist Church/7PM-8PM)
Thursday, 22 June, 5D Citizens’ Advisory Council Meeting (5th District HQ/7PM-9PM)
PSA 501 Officers: Lt. Dean Welch and Lt. Ronald Wright – 202-698-0268
Fiscal Year 2006 dues are $10 Per Person

Adjournment 9:00PM

President
Dianne Barnes
dianne_brns@yahoo.com
387-2497

Vice President &
Parliamentarian
Deloris McCarter
delorismccarter@aol.com
462-2307

2nd Vice President
Vacancy

Recording Secretary
Robert Brannum
rbrannum@robertbrannum.com
256-8452

Correspondence Secretary
Karen Cotton
cottonkr@aol.com
986-8466

Treasurer
Bertha Holliday
bholliday@apa.org
336-6029

Sergeant of Arms
Vacancy

Delegate to DC Federation
Vacancy

Immediate Past President
Cleopatra Jones
commishcjones@prodigy,net
635-2850

Standing Committee
Amenities
Community Relations
Education
Finance
Historic Preservation
Housing
Membership
Neighborhood Clean-up
Public Safety
Recreation
Transportation
Youth Programs

Next Meeting Date
17 July 2006

PSA: Our Stories, Our Voices, Our City

The Humanities Council of Washington, DC invites you, your neighbors, associates and every DC enthusiast you know to join us Tuesday, June 20 for the Humanities Council of Washington, DC's community dialogue "Our Stories, Our Voices, Our City" at the Charles Sumner School. Presenters are listed in the announcement below. A separate announcement has been attached for you to post. Register today - Admission is FREE and includes dinner. Call 202-387-8391, ext. 30 or email dchistoryproject@wdchumanities.org



For immediate release



June 12, 2006



Contact: Michon Boston

dcnhistoryproject@wdchumanities.org

202-265-0068

202-387-8391 – Humanities Council of Washington , DC

http://www.wdchumanities.org



WHAT: Our Stories, Our Voices, Our City

The D.C. Community Heritage Project



A community dialogue on collecting and preserving D.C. community heritage and history presented by the Humanities Council of Washington, DC



WHEN: Tuesday, June 20, 2006

5:30 – 9 p.m.



WHERE: Charles Sumner School

1201 Seventeenth Street, NW

Washington , DC



Light meal provided.

Admission Free. Reservations required.

Call 202-387-8391, ext. 30, or email dcnhistoryproject@wdchumanities.org .



How can we help local residents to collect, inform, and preserve the heritage, history and culture of DC's communities? Evening includes panel sessions with local community cultural and historical preservationists.



Presenters:

Clarence Davis and William Branch, Office of Public Records/DC Archvies
Eileen Torres , DC Salsa Network
Parisa Norouzi and Ingrid Drake, Empower DC ( Ivy City )
Elizabeth Davis , John Philip Sousa Middle School (Making the Case to Save Sousa)


Co-sponsors: NEH "We the People" program, District of Columbia Office of Planning Historic Preservation Office, National Trust for Historic Preservation through the Dorothea de Schweinitz Preservation Fund for Washington, DC , and the Project on Civic Reflection.

a post about St. Martins affordable housing thing.

I was linked to from here

Check it out.

heres the intro

neighborhood sensitivity (one might say anxiety) around affordable housing is just as common in urban neighborhoods, as in this good Washington DC example


kinda odd article, really.

two things tonight in bloomingdale

1.Come hear from the developers,
ask your questions and find out more!

COMMUNITY
INFORMATION
MEETING

On the redevelopment of
Old Engine Company 12

Thursday, June 8th
7:00-8:00 pm
Harry Thomas Recreation Center
1743 Lincoln Road, NE



Hosted by the ANC 5C
with presentations from the DC Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development and NC Firehouse, LLC


For more information contact Susan Cheng in the DC Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development at (202) 727-6880.

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



2. Open House "Block Party" Throughout LeDroit Park, Bloomingdale and Eckington

5-8 pm

Agents from several different companies are working together to all hold Open over 30 houses that are currently listed for sale in the neighborhood. All of the properties that will be Open appear on the last two pages of the current Washington City Paper.

bloomingdale youth declare beginning of the fourth of july season.

To my ears, the 4th of july celebratory season has begun.

30 open houses.

This thursday there will be over 30 open houses in the hood.
So, from 5-8 pm you can go see many of the houses listed for sale in LeDroit Park/ Bloomingdale/ Eckington.

You can see the listings of them on the back two pages of the city paper. If anyone has a city paper and cares to type them out, i'll post em.


Every open house i've gone to in the neighborhood i have met a bunch of neighbors. Seems we all want inspiration for our renovation jobs, and to see the subtle diffences in our old houses.

liquor stores in the hood

Seems that there are petitions going around to block the alcohol licence renewals for at least three area liquor stores, Big Ben included.

here's a thread over at InShaw


There is also some discussion on the Truxton Circle Website.

I don't know if its the right thing to do or not, but i do know that there would still be plenty of choices for alcohol purchasing in the hood if these stopped selling.



Apologies to Big Bear




****UPDATE****

heres more info

Application No. 60771: Moon, Inc., t/a Moon Liquors, 322 Florida Avenue, N.W.; Petition Date: 6/5/2006; Hearing Date: 6/21/2006; at 941 North Capitol Street, N.E., 7th floor Hearing Room 7200, 10:00 a.m.; 5C01.

Application No. 60657: Carnival, Inc., t/a Sunset Liquors, 1627 First Street, N.W.; Petition Date: 6/5/2006; Hearing Date: 6/21/2006; at 941 North Capitol Street, N.E., 7th floor Hearing Room 7200, 10:00 a.m.; 5C01.

Application No. 70552: C&B Incorporated, t/a Walter Johnson’s Liquor Store, 1542 North Capitol Street, N.W.; Petition Date: 6/5/2006; Hearing Date: 6/21/2006; at 941 North Capitol Street, N.E., 7th floor Hearing Room 7200, 10:00 a.m.; 5C01.

not bloomingdale, but brooklyn

here is a blog that i like. Its all about buildings in Brooklyn.