Stumbled upon this video at the National Building Museum while on an extended recess during Jury Duty last week. It is a very interesting piece that lays out the vision of DC Parks in 1932, as part of their "Washington: Symbol and City" exhibit which looks at the history of DC from a resident standpoint. There is a particularly interesting part on the once proposed Fort Circle Drive that was to link all the Civil War Defense Parks, and includes a few archived shots of our very own Ft. Totten (around 10:50 in the video).
An interesting piece of history, at least to us anyway! I also must say, if you find yourself on Jury Duty and have an extended recess, the Building Museum is just up the street from the Moultrie Courthouse.
Here are a list of the upcoming DC Zoning Comission and Board of Zoning Adjustment hearings this month that may be of interest to our neighbors. All hearings are held at: One Judiciary Square 441 4th Street, NW
Washington, DC 2001
The full calender of the ZC and BZA can be found here.
Sept. 11 2012 9:30 AM
Case Number :
18392
Case Name:
Application of Betty J. Williams
Case Summary :
(Special
Exceptions) Pursuant to 11 DCMR § 3104.1, for a special exception under
section 205 to allow a child development center (12 Children and 2
Teachers) in the R-2 District at premises 5350 Chillum Place, N.E.
(Square 3751, Lots 138).
Case Number :
18460
Case Name:
Request for Expedited Public Hearing for Appeal No. 18460 of Ginia L. Avery, et al.
Case Summary :
(Appeals)
Pursuant to 11 DCMR §§ 3100 and 3101, from a decision by the Department
of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, to issue a building permit
(#B1202925) allowing the construction of a Walmart store in the C-3-A
District at premises 5929 Georgia Avenue, N.W. (Square 2986, Lot 38).
Temporary Closures and Final Traffic Pattern Shift Set for South Dakota Avenue, NE
Traffic Pattern Shifts for South Dakota Ave and Riggs Rd NE (Washington, D.C.) are scheduled to finalize on June 25th. The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will be installing the final asphalt pavement on South Dakota Avenue, NE between Riggs Road and Kennedy Street. This activity marks the final major milestone in the completion of the Riggs Road and South Dakota Ave intersection reconstruction project in northeast Washington. While this paving activity takes place there will be intermittent lane closures and temporary traffic pattern shifts on South Dakota Avenue, NE. At a minimum one traffic lane will be kept open in each direction at all times. Once the pavement process is complete, traffic will be shifted into the final configuration. Variable message signs will be in place to guide motorists through the area. Drivers and pedestrians are urged to stay alert and use caution when traveling by the work zone.
---------------------------------------------
While the shift to the final traffic pattern means the end moving the street acesse around, it does not mean the end of construction. However it is a good sign that the end is nearing!
MPD has sent out a list of the newest automated speed enforcement camera locations across the city. Per the MPD release, "the 30 day educational phase will commence on May 7, 2012, when violators will begin receiving warning citations. On June 6, 212, MPD will begin issuing live moving citations to violators."
See the below image for exact locations, and good luck!
Starting tomorrow (May 24, 2012) Chillum Place, NE will be temporarily closed south of Riggs Road, NE. Weather and construction conditions permitting, DDOT will close Chillum Place, NE south of Riggs Road, NE between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. to connect a new water pipe to the existing system. The same stretch of Chillum Place will close again starting at 8:00 a.m. on Friday May 25, 2012 and will reopen by 5:00 p.m. on Saturday May 26, 2012 to complete roadway excavation and concrete base installation activities. During this closure, access to the businesses on the corner of Riggs Road and Chillum Place NE will be kept open from both streets. Signs will be in place to guide travelers in the corridor around the temporary traffic pattern. Drivers and pedestrians are urged to stay alert and use caution when traveling by the work zone.
This is a reminder that the Michigan Park Citizens Association will be meeting tonight (tuesday, May 1st) at 7:15pm, at Bunker Hill Elementary (1401 Michigan Ave. NE Washington, DC 20017). Parking and entrance to rear of building.
Agenda:
- Treasurer's Report
- Elections of MPCA Officers
- Motion to create the position of the Financial Secretary
- Traffic Management
- DC Statehood -- Speaker, Josh Burch
- Spring Potluck and Park Maintenance
Neighborhood Boundaries:
The Michigan Park Citizens Association stretches, East to West, from Eastern Avenue to the Railroad and, North to South, from Buchanan Street to Otis Street.
The fifth annual Great Brookland Yard Sale will take place on Saturday May 12th from 10:00 AM until 2:00PM. Over 50 households have signed up to have yard sales. For more information, visit the Brookland Civic Associations Website. This years rain date is May 13th.
Thi annual event is always a great way to get out, meet neighbors and find some great deals and steals! In past years participation has been mostly by Brookland residents, but this years map shows a few houses in Michigan and North Michigan Park as well. If you would like to participate in the GBYS, follow this link, and provide your name and address of your yard sale. Also send a list of specific items for sale, and photos to draw people to your sale. This will get you on the official Map and hopefully increase your foot traffic!
From CUA Campus Ministry
"On behalf of the Office of Campus Ministry at The Catholic University of America, I would like to invite you for a firework show that is being held on our campus on Friday, April 27, 2012. This is the finale to our end of the year celebration that has been organized by our students at CUA.
The firework show will begin at 9:45pm and can be viewed best from the west side of campus, nearest the Basilica of the National Shrine of Immaculate Conception. This event has been coordinated with the Office of General Counsel, Department of Public Safety, Metropolitan Fire Department and Zambelli Firework Company.
We hope that you will be able to join us in this celebration."
This surely seems like a can't miss for tomorrow night, especially considering the the First Family of Fireworks are producing it! Hopefully those of us neighboring the CUA Campus will take full advantage of the event being in our own back yards! Hopefully some of you readers will take some great pictures to share with us here at the Blog as well!
If you plan on getting around the city this weekend, you could be in for a little hassle...especially if you are planning to use the Ft. Totten Station. WMATA has announced system maintenance taking place from April 20th through April 22nd that will result in the closing of the Ft. Totten Metro Red line Station, as well as Takoma and Brookland stations. Busses will be running between Rhode island and Silver Spring stations all weekend, but you should plan to ad at least 30-40 minutes to your normal travel times. More information can be found here. Good luck and safe travels.
Many residents of NE, especially Brookland, Ivy City, Michigan Park, NOMA and surrounding areas, are familiar with the DC Farmers Market located on 5th St NE aross from Gallaudet University. The location of a vibarant urban market place in the 1800's, gave way to the meat packing and produce district in the early-mid 1900's, and now on to an underutilized and often unknown area of the city. With the exception of a few hidden gems, like A. Litteri's italian market and the Weekend Flee Market, most of the area laid unknown to a majority of the city's everyday residents. All of that will soon be changing however, with the market scheduled to re-open (unbeknownst to us) this coming June with an all new look and feel.
This past October an electrical fire broke out at the market, devastating the structure and closing it indefinitely. However, from the ashes risese a bright new future. The owners of the marlet have long had plans for redevelopment of the property, and it looks as though these plans are moving along quicker than anticipated. The below video is from the Washington Post provides an overview of the redesign of the market, as well as a glimpse of things to come at the new Union Market!
Below is the advertising video provided by EDENS, who owns the market site, showcasing some of the market's history and their vision for the future.
To celebrate the reopening of the market, EDENS is holding a "Sunday Supper" on Jun 3rd, to benifit the FoodCorps of DC. While the ticket price is a little steep at $240 a pop, the quality of Chef talent is second to none! One thing is for sure, and that is it will be nice to have a fresh food market and entertainment sight so close to our part of DC.
The Washington Area Community Investment Fund (WACIF), in partnership with the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD), is conducting a business needs assessment for the Brookland 12 St NE Business Corridor. The survey is asking residnets for inputs regarding what changes you would like to see take place on 12th St including businesses, accesibility and safety. The Poll is quick and shouldn't take more than 5 minutes, and could be helpful in attracting new business opportunities to the neighborhood. The Survey can be found here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8HMVCWX
WACIF is a non-profit community development loan fund located in Brookland, whose mission is to empower underserved communities and individuals in the Washington, DC metropolitan area by providing access to capital and technical assistance to small businesses, childcare centers, affordable housing developers, and community organizations.
For those of you who missed this bit on Fox DC, neighbors in the Rigg Plaza Apartments apprehended two would be car thiefs without police assistance. While we do not condone this type of justice for obvious reasons, it's nice to see neighbors coming together to make a difference and let people know this will not be tolerated in our neghborhood!
In response to public pressure, city council concerns or whatever the reasons may be, Walmart announced it's Neighborhood Partnership Initiative on their DC Website this morning. In this announcement, Walmart announced it's intention to not only provide the District with some 1,800 permanent jobs city wide, but also increasing the District's tax revenue by some $15 million while they also "identify and create charitable partnerships during this timeline worth $21 million in critical areas of unmet needs such as hunger relief, health and wellness, education and workforce development." The major construction projects they plan to start will also utilize DC based contractors and distributors for at least 35% of work, implement transportation demand management measures for each new store (Capital Bikeshare, bus shelters, bike racks, Smart Trip, electric car charging stations), as well as "create and fund a city wide workforce development program that provides training services for DC residents, with emphasis on programs that assist low income families, minorities, veterans, at-risk yourh and formerly incarcerated residents." Along with the proposed workforce development program, Walmart plans to focus even more keenly on creating jobs in the communities surrounding their developments through the use of hiring centers located near each site, as well as job fairs and cooperation with CCDC and Community Groups. Several of these items address many of the major concerns people have with the Mega Box Store, however they extent to which these are carried out and how much leverage the District has to ensure these happen will not be realized until much of the planned development in near or has been copmpleted,
Boys Town DC will be hosting their "Spirit of Youth Breakfast Fundraiser" September 22nd at the Ritz Carlton on 22nd St in the District. The nationwide organization, which has it's DC location in the Michigan Park area is dedicated to assisting the city's at-risk youth by providing them various services form housing, to mentorship and trianing. Not only is the organization selling tickets for the event, they are also looking for sponsors! Details can be found on the Boys Town DC Website or by contacting Tosha Roundtree, Boys Town Washington, D.C. Development Director at 202-650-6313 or tosha.roundtree@boystown.org.
Date: Thursday, September 22 Time: Networking 7:30 a.m., Program 8:30 - 10 a.m. Location: The Ritz Carlton
1150 22nd St, NW
As the construction traffic increases and multiple development projects prepare to permanently change the neighborhood landscape surrounding the Ft. Totten Metro, the residents are left pondering the question "what is being done to improve the neighborhood for us." Well, DDOT has heard your pleas. In fact, a little known plan has been in existence for quite some time that will totally re-invent the current pedestrian, cycle and motorized traffic patterns around the entire neighborhood. The selected design concept for 1st Pl and Galloway St, NE will improve circulation in the area, improve the astetics of the metro station and make it more comfortable for all users going to and from the Fort Totten Metrorail Station.
As a means of sharing this information with the neighborhood and getting your input and feedback, DDOT will be holding a meeting reviewig the proposed plan this coming Tuesday at the WMATA Police substation. The presentation will not only review the changes to the station astetics, but also show proposed path locations (yes a cut through for the park between g\Galloway and Gallatain is in the proposal!), improved traffic signals/signage, improved lighting, improved bike storage/access and improved/additional cross walks (the below maps details areas and changes that were studied for the proposal). If you live in the neighborhoods surrounding , or regularly use, the Ft. Totten Metrorail Station, this meeting is a must attend!
Ft. Totten Metro Station Transportation Access Final Project Presentation Date: Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011 Time: 6:30 – 8:00 pm Location: WMATA Police Substation
5315 1st Place NE
Washington DC 20011
(next to the Fort Totten Metrorail Station) Presentation Agenda:
1. Recap of the project goals & process
2. Present preferred design
3. Discuss next steps for the design
This is a reminder to everyone that the Single Member District 5A05 Communnity Meeting is happenign in hte next few days. Get out and make your voice heard.
Meeting Agenda Includes:
· Meet and Greet
· ANC Call to Order – Welcome
· Open Forum – Neighborhood Concerns & Issues
· Introduction of Guest Speaker
Councilmember Harry “Tommy” Thomas, Jr.
Ward 5 Chairman, Economic Development Committee
Date: Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Time: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Place: Providence Hospital – Lecture Hall
1150 Varnum Street, NE
Washington, DC 20017
Join Council-member Harry "Tommy" Thomas at the Ward 5 Council Office Open House on Tuesday, January 4, 2011, from 3 to 7 PM to celebrate the beginning of his second term. Festivities follow the first legislative session of City Council Period 19. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW -- Suite 107
North Michigan Park Civic Association Meeting
Wednesday, January 5th at 7pm
Guest: Councilmember Phil Mendelson
Holiday Tree Collection between January 3rd and 15th
Holiday trees and wreaths will be picked up curbside from January 3 to January 15. Remove all decorations and place the greenery in the treebox space in front of your home between Sunday, January 2, and Sunday, January 9. Please do not put the trees in plastic or cloth bags.
• Any trees not collected by January 15 should be set out with your trash to be picked up as space in the trash trucks allows over the following weeks.
The HIV/AIDS epidemic in our Nations Capitol is always a hot point of contention among our leaders and citizens. It touches almost every aspect of our lives, whether we realize it or not. Currently more than 3% of D.C.'s population is living with HIV/AIDS- a prevalence rate higher than West Africa. According to the 2009 HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Report, this rate has increased 22% from 2006, signaling that a dramatic response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in D.C. is necessary. It is important to note that the disease is not limited to a specific sexual orientation or demographic. D.C. residents of differing races, sexes, and levels socio-economic status have all been affected. Men having sex with men is the leading mode of transmission however; heterosexual transmission and injection drug use are not too far behind in numbers. These sobering facts often leave people helpless and unsure of what they can do to help. Well here is your chance to have your voice heard and help fight this menace to our society!
The D.C. HIV Prevention Community Planning Group (HPCPG), along with the Department of Health’s HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD, and TB Administration (HAHSTA), is looking for people who are interested in finding a solution to the local HIV epidemic. HPCPG is looking for new members to sit on the committee to help guide the city’s approach to HIV/AIDs detection and prevention. HPCPG members serve two year terms. The HPCPG is currently recruiting new members from all backgrounds, and welcomes unique and differing perspectives on the issue, as we work together to find a solution. Applications for the group are due on December 2nd; therefore it is best to get your application out sooner rather than later.
The District of Columbia HPCPG guides HIV prevention in the District, along with the DC Department of HAHSTA. Members of the HPGCP are from local communities and/or HIV/AIDS prevention specialists and reflect the District’s diverse population. The HPCPG is responsible for deciding which populations are in greatest need of HIV prevention services, as well as deciding what the best ways to meet those needs are. HAHSTA, in turn, is responsible for funding programs and services that match the HPCPG’s decisions.
How can you become involved? Easy! There are two ways to participate in the HPGCP...join the HPCPG or come to meetings! The membership application can be downloaded from http://doh.dc.gov/hiv. Even if you do not join, you are always welcome at any of our meetings. The HPCPG meets monthly on the second Thursday of the month from 5:30-8:00 PM at Department of Health facilities. Meeting dates and times are posted on our website: www.doh.dc.gov/HPCPG. If you have the time, or can make the commitment, please take the time to get involved. Let's make it a priority to help control the HIV/ADS epidemic before it's too late.
This Saturday there will be a panel introduction meeting of the design team that is in charge of the final design plan for the McMillian Sand Filtration Site. This is the first of a three part series discussing the project, and will give the neighborhood a chance to voice their comments and concerns, and gain a better understanding of the project's scope. The development of the site has been a point of contention among many groups, so the meeting should be action packed!
Meeting Details:
Date: Saturday, October 16, 2010
Time: 10:00 AM
Where: St. Martin`s Church
1908 North Capitol Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
Attendees:
The Deputy Mayor for Planning & Economic Development
Ward 5 Council-member Harry Thomas, Jr.
Vision - McMillan Partners Design Team
If you are planning on attending the meeting here is a brief history of the facility. The McMillan Sand Filtration site is a 25 acre decommissioned water treatment plant located at the intersection of N. Capitol and Michigan Ave, adjacent to the Washington Medical Center. The complex dates back to1905 when it's completion signaled a milestone in DC public health through the use of sand, rather than chemicals, to eliminate communicable diseases. The original design of the site was dual use, also serving the city as a walking pedestrian park. Two paved courts lined by regulator houses, tower-like sand bins, sand washers and the gated entrances to the underground filter cells provided a promenade for citizens enjoying the parks unique beauty. The complex served the city until 1986, and then in 1987 the District of Columbia purchased the site for $9.3M in order to develop the sight. In 1991, the D.C. Historic Preservation Review Board designated McMillan Park a Historic Landmark.
"The site has been described as an imaginative combination of landscaped park, with promenades, sculpture, curving carriage drives, careful grading and the placement of trees planned and personally supervised by Olmsted. The heirs of Senator McMillan personally financed the landscaping. Crowning the park was a pink granite fountain, designed by Adams and Platt and dedicated in 1913 as a memorial to Senator McMillan. Featuring three nymphs representing faith, hope and charity, the monument was funded by contributions from every Michigan county. The fountain has since been removed."**
Also, here is a youtube video we found from BloomingdaleNow regarding the site.
Reader S.R. sent us the below message this morning regarding a Yorkshire Terrier she found this morning. If you, or some one you know are missing a dog, please read below and help this little guy out.
---------------------------
Hello There,
I'm hoping you can post something for me. I was out running at about 7:30 this morning on Puerto Rico Ave NE and I found a little stray dog who kept wandering into traffic. He (or she?) looks like he may be a Yorkshire Terrier. He has a pink harness on but no collar. I got him to follow me home and now Animal Control is on their way to pick him up. Unfortunately I can't keep him here because I have my own dog and a cat. Animal Control will only keep him for five days, so I'm really hoping that if you can post this information and some pictures on your blog, whoever lost him can go pick him up before it's too late. AC's phone number is: 202-576-6664.
