Monthly Archives: May 2016

May 27: Town Hall Meeting on Proposed Ward 5 Homeless Shelter

Posted by nextstoprp in Ward 5

For those of you sticking around DC for the holiday weekend, Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie is hosting a meeting on the council’s proposed locations for the Ward 5 homeless shelter.

From the Councilmember:

—

May 25, 2016

Dear residents,

We all know that the conditions at D.C. General are simply not acceptable for the families and children that are currently housed at the site. On Tuesday, May 17, the Council voted to approve and fund a new plan for closing DC General with two new proposed sites in Ward 5. Some of you have contacted my office to voice your concerns regarding the new plan. Our office is committed to working with you to answer your questions and to discuss how we can move forward together with compassion for our most vulnerable population. I will hold a town hall meeting on Friday, May 27, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at Israel Baptist Church, Rev. Dr. Morris L. Shearin, Sr. Community Life Center, Capital City Hall of Distinction (CCHOD) located at 1251 Saratoga Avenue, NE. I hope that you will be able to attend.

In February, Mayor Bowser proposed a plan to close D.C. General. As initially proposed the plan called for locating the Ward 5 temporary shelter at 2266 25th Place, NE. The 25th Place site presented serious challenges including its proximity to a trash transfer station, bus lots, a strip club, a night club, and freight rail tracks. Additionally, its distance from public transportation and grocery stores presented more problems. In fact, the Mayor’s proposed Ward 5 location was almost universally opposed by residents, advocates, and health professionals.

Under the new plan, the Council’s proposal provides the Mayor with two alternate locations in Ward 5: the former Metropolitan Police Department Youth Division Building located on 17th and Rhode Island Avenue, NE, and the Penn Center, located at 326 R Street, NE. Additionally, the Council’s revised proposal would save District taxpayers at least $165 million when compared to the leases initially proposed in the Mayor’s plan.

Importantly, it should be noted that I prefer the Youth Division building, especially given that it is one of the sites that was developed as a recommendation by Ward 5 residents as a result of one of the several community meetings that were held after the Mayor’s initial proposal. Our office will continue to work with the Mayor to push for the preferred location on Rhode Island Avenue to be selected and to address any concerns that might arise from the community.

I look forward to hearing your input on Friday.

In Service

Kenyan

MBT Update

Posted by nextstoprp in Transportation

Speaking of bikes, the facebook group for the Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT) shared DDOT’s rough timetable for extending the trail from Brookland. The timetable breaks up the next phase into two segments: (1) Bates to Gallatin Street and (2) Gallatin Street to Maple Avenue. Based on this timetable, looks like those of us near Fort Totten should expect to be able to ride south on a permanent trail in 2018, while the ride north on a permanent trail will have to wait until 2019.

MBT Phase II Schedule

MBT Phase II Schedule Source: metbranchtrail.com

May 20: Bike to Work Day & PSA 406 Community Walk

Posted by nextstoprp in Public Safety, Transportation

Tomorrow is Bike to Work Day. Check the website for information about registration and pit stop locations. WMATA is hosting a pit stop at Fort Totten metro station from 6:30 am to 9:30 am.

Also tomorrow, MPD Fourth District PSA 406 Lieutenant Ozetta Posey is hosting a community walk in the neighborhood. Details from Lt. Posey:

As we approach the summer months, we would like to walk and talk about our community concerns  while discussing possible solutions.

The first community walk will take place on Friday, May 20, 2016, at 7 PM. We will meet in front of 501 Riggs Road, NE. We will walk the area of Oneida, Oglethorpe, Kennedy, Madison, Eastern Avenue and Riggs Road, along the NE corridor.  During this time we will be walking, talking to neighbors, and gathering input on issues within the community. Please put on your walking shoes and come out and join us.

This comes on the heels of abatement of a “nuisance house” in the 800 block of Kennedy Street NE on the PSA 405 side, so it definitely helps to get to know your PSA officers. (Kennedy Street is generally the dividing line between PSAs 405 and 406.)

Free arts events: Art on 8th

Posted by nextstoprp in Arts

Today marks the start of Art on 8th, free arts events in nearby Brookland/Edgewood. Events take place on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays during the months of May through September at venues near the Brookland metro station. This week, hear Americana music, learn hand dancing, or indulge in arts and crafts.

 

ANC 5A April 25, 2016 Meeting Recap

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 5A and tagged with , , ,

Guest Post

On Wednesday, April 25, 2016, ANC 5A held its monthly public meeting.

Commissioners Present: Angel Alston (5A08), Isaiah Burroughs (5A04), Ronnie Edwards (5A05), Grace Lewis (5A02), Adrian Jordan (5A03), Jasmine White (5A06), and Frank Wilds (5A01)

REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS

DC Water Green Infrastructure Briefing

Meghan Hazer, Green Infrastructure Coordinator, DC Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water), discussed the Clean Rivers Project. She explained that DC has a single system to handle both sewage and storm water. But during heavy rains, the system overflows and releases raw sewage into our rivers. To manage the overflow, DC Water is implementing a Green Infrastructure (GI) program, which the nearby Rock Creek Project A represents. DC Water is conducting a neighborhood survey for this project area.

Ms. Hazer said the GI program’s goal is to reduce storm water runoff using various technologies such as bioretention curbs and planters and permeable pavement. Each captures and slows storm water runoff by design.

In response to questions, the DC Water team said:

  • A National Green Infrastructure Certification training program will be available to DC residents;
  • CBE requirements are included in the DC Water contract;
  • DC Water will provide a sewage cleaning schedule; and
  • The GI program cost is covered by a portion of your DC Water bill.

Catholic University of America (CUA)

Mr. Lawrence Morris, CUA General Counsel, informed the community of the latest CUA campus issues. He covered the university’s interest in a new business school and residence hall, a student bar on campus, and work on CUA’s walls facing Michigan Avenue, NE. In response to questions, he said CUA owns the land supporting the development on Monroe Street, NE. However, CUA is not affiliated with either the hotel on Michigan Avenue and Irving Street NE, nor Chancellor’s Row on Seventh Street NE.

District Department of Transportation (DDOT) State Rail Plan

Ryan Westrom, DDOT Senior Transportation Planner/Engineer, discussed DC’s State Rail Plan. He said that Federal Railroad Administration standards require all states to develop a State Rail Plan. (DC receives state treatment regarding transportation matters). The plan covers the 22 miles of DC commercial and passenger railway, but not Metro. According to Mr. Westrom, DDOT will host a public meeting on the State Rail Plan in June at Eastern Market.  He is also aware of the train vibrations affecting housing along Puerto Rico Avenue, NE.

University of the District of Columbia: Urban Food Systems

Dwane Jones, Ph.D., is the Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at UDC. Dr. Jones discussed DC’s goal to grow its own food, and how UDC can assist.  He cited three proposed training programs UDC plans to offer: aquaponics, business kitchen incubation and even, a food truck.  Entrepreneurs will raise fish for sale via aquaponics, apply business concepts in the incubator kitchen space, or manage a food truck.  According to Dr. Jones, UDC is still refining the details of each program.

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) PSA 405

Lieutenant Ashley Rosenthal introduced Captain Brian Bray to everyone. He is responsible for PSA 403, 404 and 405.  Lt. Rosenthal said robbery and theft are still a problem, and she cited the theft of an ATM from the Providence Hospital lobby.  She asked everyone to not leave anything in their cars and to secure car doors and windows.

DC Council Update

Ronan Gulstone, Chief of Staff for Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, covered the councilman’s latest bills: “Financial Exploitation of Vulnerable Adults and the Elderly Amendment Act of 2016” and “Fair Criminal Record Screening for Housing Act of 2016.” The former protects seniors from financial exploitation, while the latter bans a housing provider from making criminal history inquiries until a housing offer is conditionally extended. Owner-occupied residences and residences with three or less units are exempted.

Old Business

EYA gave a briefing on its development plans to ANC 5A’s Committee of the Whole, and no decisions or agreements were made.

Commissioner Jordan wants an economic development Survey. He proposed revising the North Capitol Main Street Survey for use by the ANC within 90 days. Also, he suggests that each SMD select a community volunteer to assist.

The Commissioners are reviewing “The Advisory Neighborhood Commission Omnibus Amendment Act of 2016” sponsored by CM Bonds.

The March minutes were approved.

Adjournment: 8:50 p.m.