DC North | August 2007

Ward 4 News

by: Ingrid Drake

Public Hearing on Upper Georgia Avenue Draft Plan
More than 70 residents and merchants attended the DC Office of Planning’s July 25 public hearing at Emery Recreation Center on the draft Upper Georgia Avenue Great Streets Redevelopment Plan, “a revitalization strategy and framework for future development along the corridor from Decatur Street north to Eastern Avenue.”

While written testimony can be submitted until Sept. 28, almost 20 people made public comments about the plan, developed over the last 1½ years with a 17-member advisory committee and public meetings. A majority expressed support, yet almost everyone had recommendations and examples of where the 47-page document is too vague.

Despite millions of dollars anticipated for redevelopment, none of the 10 action items for implementation include creating jobs and training opportunities for local residents, a concern of TA Uqdah with the 14th Street Uptown Business Council. “Consider the critical need for skilled and unskilled labor” and “incorporate a training component for African-American men ages 17-24,” said Uqdah.

Plan funds should be allocated to Brightwood first, said Laura Scott of Emory Beacon of Light Community Development Corporation. “Brightwood has been overlooked over the years.”

“There’s not enough detail” in the draft about how to prevent the Hemlock-Geranium single family homes from being dwarfed by new development, noted Sara Green, who serves as the area’s advisory neighborhood commissioner.

“No safe pedestrian crossing areas” was one of the issues resident Tony Giancola wants to see addressed.

“How can we prepare for climate change which is approaching?” asked Faith Wheeler, ANC 4B02, referencing the lack of environmentally sustainable goals in the plan.

Many complained that the plan does not contain enough innovative parking solutions. Mark Loud, of the Gateway Georgia Avenue Revitalization Corporation, suggested an angled parking weekend pilot project from Fern Street to Eastern Avenue and an underground parking garage at the DC Auto site.

“The easiest way parking is gonna come is those houses sitting behind,” warned audience member Michael Cash. “Eminent domain.”

Not using those exact words, Stephen Whatley, ANC 4A commissioner, Fern Street resident and business owner, urged the city “to take action to aggregate property” to make way for restaurants like Red Lobster. “There is a question on franchises. It really is a dispute in the community.”

While one of the plan’s action items is to establish a Georgia Avenue Merchants Association in the “long-term,” Uqdah pushed for strategies to empower small businesses to weather the big changes ahead. “Establish business incubators… provide layout assistance and product exposure,” said Uqdah, who pointed out that the high number of merchants living in the neighborhood is unique to the area.

Ward 4 Councilmember Muriel Bowser (D) made opening remarks, emphasizing that the goal of the plan is not to “push out residents and businesses, but let folks stay in the avenue who have invested so much for so many years” However, the lack of specifics for accomplishing this goal is causing anxiety among some in the community.

“Property development and redevelopment are bad words for small-business owners and homeowners,” explained Gerald Johnson, a Whittier Street resident and Georgia Avenue commercial property owner.

Receiving loud audience applause, Johnson criticized the city’s reappraisal of commercial property values as “government-assisted gentrification” that forces fixed-income property owners to sell to rich developers or displace tenants with higher rents.

“This is something we will look at more closely,” Harriet Tregoning, director of the Office of Planning, told DC North after the hearing. When asked by a community member, Tregoning said she would “absolutely” tell her boss Mayor Fenty about the demand for commercial property tax caps.

A big issue to emerge had less to do with what was contained in the plan and more with the Office of Planning’s communication about development projects underway or in the pipeline with community members.

Commissioner Jourdinia Brown (ANC 4A) had an “unpleasant surprise” when she recently encountered tree-cutters making way for a new condo project at 7700 Georgia Ave. “It kind of scares me. I did not get information in writing,” said Brown. “Everything should be transparent. If development is planned, the community should have the opportunity to vet it.”

“There’s a lot of ambiguity,” sighed TJ, a resident who told DC North she has been frustrated when calling the DC Office of Planning for more information about development projects underway. “People don’t know developer’s names. They say, ‘We don’t have the plan finalized,’… I have a hard time believing they don’t know how to answer key obvious questions. Either they’re a fool, or somebody is lying.”

ANC 4D Commissioner Renee Bowser approached the microphone to ask Councilmember Bowser to tell the group which public property on upper George Avenue was disposed of by emergency council legislation in July. Bowser’s question “Did any ANC get notice?” was met with shaking heads in the audience.

Councilmember Bowser explained that the property was 7300 Georgia Ave., the old Blockbuster Video site, where last year, community groups rejected the city’s proposal for a fire station. “The city bought it from a developer at the threat of eminent domain. And the city decided it no longer had a need for the property.”

“That’s crazy,” someone from the audience remarked.

With her turn at the mic, resident Verona Givens cited “safety concerns” and the need for additional fire-fighting resources to be specifically addressed as the plan reports that Georgia Avenue can support 900 new housing units.

Councilmember Bowser told the group of the need for the city to “move expeditiously on Georgia Avenue,” and that “the mayor needs to give us a detailed plan of actions so the recommendation doesn’t end up on shelf.” Yet not everybody was ready to do so.

After the meeting, a group of longtime residents spoke on the sidewalk of their frustration with a plan that will “bring Starbucks to Georgia Avenue” and destroy its culture. Noting “strength in numbers,” the group talked about the need to organize prior to the plan’s passage.

In September, the Office of Planning will attend ANC and community meetings for additional feedback. After including community comments in an October draft, the Office of Planning will submit the plan to the DC Council, which will schedule a public hearing in late fall before voting on its approval as a small area plan.

Review the draft plan at Emery and Fort Stevens recreation centers, Fourth Police District, Shepherd Park Elementary School and online: www.planning.dc.gov
Up to Sept. 28, written testimony can be directed to:
Malaika Abernathy, Ward 4 Neighborhood Planner
801 North Capital St. NE, Suite 4000
Washington, DC 20002
202-442-7600
malaika.abernathy@dc.gov

ANC Briefs

ANC 4C
During the July 10 meeting, Jacquelyn Lendsey, president of EdBuild, a local nonprofit founded in 2005, announced that the Board of Education and the DC Public Schools approved EdBuild to modernize the physical facilities and improve school performance at Rudolph Elementary and MacFarland Middle School.

At MacFarland, EdBuild will find a space-sharing partner, either a complementary charter (middle) school or a community health provider, as school enrollment is well below the size of the facility. The space-sharing partner would bring in revenue to help pay for maintenance. The contract awaits council approval.

Lendsey said the city’s chief financial officer will release funds to an escrow account out of which EdBuild can pay invoices as the renovation work is completed. EdBuild will earn $200,000 per school per year for project management of the renovation and seeks to have 35 percent of its request for proposals from minority participants. EdBuild will receive $40,000 per year per school for its efforts to improve performance.

Lendsey said community members can work with teachers to look at space-sharing plans and find complementary partners, and ask for council support of the EdBuild contract.

Passing unanimously, Timothy Jones introduced a resolution that ANC 4C support the Office of the People’s Counsel’s objection to PEPCO’s request for a rate increase and that the DC Public Service Commission reject the increase.

With Commissioner Tim Jones voting against, the commission approved 6-1 a $1,000 grant to Raising Expectations, an arts enrichment program for youth aged 13-20, for a mural project at the Petworth Library or at Sweet Mango’s Cafe.

Raising Expectations is requesting artwork proposals from local artists by no later than Aug. 31: 202-204-0536 (fax) or P.O. Box 60416, WDC 20039. The theme is "Re-Educate, Re-Unify, Re-Connect through the Arts."

Thanks to Liesl Heeter for meeting minutes.

ANC 4D
With rats in the neighborhood such a hot issue during the last meeting, ANC 4D Chair Everett Lott introduced Gerard Brown from the Department of Health’s Rodent Control Division to speak at the July 17 meeting.

“Rats are a problem, but the real problem is the behavior that supports and attracts rats,” explained Brown. With “less poison and more communication,” Brown said the division tries to form partnerships with businesses and residents to properly dispose and store waste.

In addition to filling out petitions to get the division to investigate and bait rat burrows, Brown said residents can contact him to report nearby residents in violation.

For those who don’t comply with cleanup warnings, fines are $500 for commercial properties and $75 for residential, with commercial fines slated to increase to $1,000 at the end of the year.

The District only has five code enforcement officers, who average a total of 60 violations. Commissioner Robert Whiddon expressed concern that there was not enough enforcement. “For what we have, we do pretty good,” responded Brown.

During community concerns, Walter Hawthorne expressed frustration with the maintenance of the recreation center near Rudolph Elementary. Hawthorne also asked to see PE and art teachers at Rudolph, on par with nearby Shepherd Elementary.

Ward 4 Councilmember Muriel Bowser’s constituent services coordinator Mark Smith said he would follow up with Hawthorne’s concerns.

Gerard Brown, DC Department of Health, Rodent Control Division: 202-535-2636 Gerard.brown@dc.gov.


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Ward 4 News

by: Ingrid Drake
Public Hearing on Upper Georgia Avenue Draft Plan More than 70 residents and merchants attended the DC Office of Planning’s July 25 public hearing at Emery Recreation Center on the draft Upper Georgia Avenue Great Streets Redevelopment Plan, “a revitalization strategy and framework for future development along the corridor from Decatur Street north to Eastern Avenue.” While written testimony can be submitted until Sept. 28, almost 20 people made public comments about the plan, developed over the last 1½ years with a 17-member advisory committee and public meetings. A majority expressed support, yet almost everyone had recommendations and examples of where the 47-page document is too vague. Despite millions of dollars anticipated for redevelopment, none of the 10 action items for implementation include creating jobs and training opportunities for local residents, a concern of TA Uqdah with the 14th Street Uptown Business Council. “Consider the critical need for skilled and unskilled labor” and “incorporate a training component for African-American men ages 17-24,” said Uqdah. Plan funds should be allocated to Brightwood first, said Laura Scott of Emory Beacon of Light Community Development Corporation. “Brightwood has been overlooked over the years.” “There’s not enough detail” in the draft about how to prevent the Hemlock-Geranium single family homes from being dwarfed by new development, noted Sara Green, who serves as the area’s advisory neighborhood commissioner. “No safe pedestrian crossing areas” was one of the issues resident Tony Giancola wants to see addressed. “How can we prepare for climate change which is approaching?” asked Faith Wheeler, ANC 4B02, referencing the lack of environmentally sustainable goals in the plan. Many complained that the plan does not contain enough innovative parking solutions. Mark Loud, of the Gateway Georgia Avenue Revitalization Corporation, suggested an angled parking weekend pilot project from Fern Street to Eastern Avenue and an underground parking garage at the DC Auto site. “The easiest way parking is gonna come is those houses sitting behind,” warned audience member Michael Cash. “Eminent domain.” Not using those exact words, Stephen Whatley, ANC 4A commissioner, Fern Street resident and business owner, urged the city “to take action to aggregate property” to make way for restaurants like Red Lobster. “There is a question on franchises. It really is a dispute in the community.” While one of the plan’s action items is to establish a Georgia Avenue Merchants Association in the “long-term,” Uqdah pushed for strategies to empower small businesses to weather the big changes ahead. “Establish business incubators… provide layout assistance and product exposure,” said Uqdah, who pointed out that the high number of merchants living in the neighborhood is unique to the area. Ward 4 Councilmember Muriel Bowser (D) made opening remarks, emphasizing that the goal of the plan is not to “push out residents and businesses, but let folks stay in the avenue who have invested so much for so many years” However, the lack of specifics for accomplishing this goal is causing anxiety among some in the community. “Property development and redevelopment are bad words for small-business owners and homeowners,” explained Gerald Johnson, a Whittier Street resident and Georgia Avenue commercial property owner. Receiving loud audience applause, Johnson criticized the city’s reappraisal of commercial property values as “government-assisted gentrification” that forces fixed-income property owners to sell to rich developers or displace tenants with higher rents. “This is something we will look at more closely,” Harriet Tregoning, director of the Office of Planning, told DC North after the hearing. When asked by a community member, Tregoning said she would “absolutely” tell her boss Mayor Fenty about the demand for commercial property tax caps. A big issue to emerge had less to do with what was contained in the plan and more with the Office of Planning’s communication about development projects underway or in the pipeline with community members. Commissioner Jourdinia Brown (ANC 4A) had an “unpleasant surprise” when she recently encountered tree-cutters making way for a new condo project at 7700 Georgia Ave. “It kind of scares me. I did not get information in writing,” said Brown. “Everything should be transparent. If development is planned, the community should have the opportunity to vet it.” “There’s a lot of ambiguity,” sighed TJ, a resident who told DC North she has been frustrated when calling the DC Office of Planning for more information about development projects underway. “People don’t know developer’s names. They say, ‘We don’t have the plan finalized,’… I have a hard time believing they don’t know how to answer key obvious questions. Either they’re a fool, or somebody is lying.” ANC 4D Commissioner Renee Bowser approached the microphone to ask Councilmember Bowser to tell the group which public property on upper George Avenue was disposed of by emergency council legislation in July. Bowser’s question “Did any ANC get notice?” was met with shaking heads in the audience. Councilmember Bowser explained that the property was 7300 Georgia Ave., the old Blockbuster Video site, where last year, community groups rejected the city’s proposal for a fire station. “The city bought it from a developer at the threat of eminent domain. And the city decided it no longer had a need for the property.” “That’s crazy,” someone from the audience remarked. With her turn at the mic, resident Verona Givens cited “safety concerns” and the need for additional fire-fighting resources to be specifically addressed as the plan reports that Georgia Avenue can support 900 new housing units. Councilmember Bowser told the group of the need for the city to “move expeditiously on Georgia Avenue,” and that “the mayor needs to give us a detailed plan of actions so the recommendation doesn’t end up on shelf.” Yet not everybody was ready to do so. After the meeting, a group of longtime residents spoke on the sidewalk of their frustration with a plan that will “bring Starbucks to Georgia Avenue” and destroy its culture. Noting “strength in numbers,” the group talked about the need to organize prior to the plan’s passage. In September, the Office of Planning will attend ANC and community meetings for additional feedback. After including community comments in an October draft, the Office of Planning will submit the plan to the DC Council, which will schedule a public hearing in late fall before voting on its approval as a small area plan. Review the draft plan at Emery and Fort Stevens recreation centers, Fourth Police District, Shepherd Park Elementary School and online: www.planning.dc.gov Up to Sept. 28, written testimony can be directed to: Malaika Abernathy, Ward 4 Neighborhood Planner 801 North Capital St. NE, Suite 4000 Washington, DC 20002 202-442-7600 malaika.abernathy@dc.gov ANC Briefs ANC 4C During the July 10 meeting, Jacquelyn Lendsey, president of EdBuild, a local nonprofit founded in 2005, announced that the Board of Education and the DC Public Schools approved EdBuild to modernize the physical facilities and improve school performance at Rudolph Elementary and MacFarland Middle School. At MacFarland, EdBuild will find a space-sharing partner, either a complementary charter (middle) school or a community health provider, as school enrollment is well below the size of the facility. The space-sharing partner would bring in revenue to help pay for maintenance. The contract awaits council approval. Lendsey said the city’s chief financial officer will release funds to an escrow account out of which EdBuild can pay invoices as the renovation work is completed. EdBuild will earn $200,000 per school per year for project management of the renovation and seeks to have 35 percent of its request for proposals from minority participants. EdBuild will receive $40,000 per year per school for its efforts to improve performance. Lendsey said community members can work with teachers to look at space-sharing plans and find complementary partners, and ask for council support of the EdBuild contract. Passing unanimously, Timothy Jones introduced a resolution that ANC 4C support the Office of the People’s Counsel’s objection to PEPCO’s request for a rate increase and that the DC Public Service Commission reject the increase. With Commissioner Tim Jones voting against, the commission approved 6-1 a $1,000 grant to Raising Expectations, an arts enrichment program for youth aged 13-20, for a mural project at the Petworth Library or at Sweet Mango’s Cafe. Raising Expectations is requesting artwork proposals from local artists by no later than Aug. 31: 202-204-0536 (fax) or P.O. Box 60416, WDC 20039. The theme is "Re-Educate, Re-Unify, Re-Connect through the Arts." Thanks to Liesl Heeter for meeting minutes. ANC 4D With rats in the neighborhood such a hot issue during the last meeting, ANC 4D Chair Everett Lott introduced Gerard Brown from the Department of Health’s Rodent Control Division to speak at the July 17 meeting. “Rats are a problem, but the real problem is the behavior that supports and attracts rats,” explained Brown. With “less poison and more communication,” Brown said the division tries to form partnerships with businesses and residents to properly dispose and store waste. In addition to filling out petitions to get the division to investigate and bait rat burrows, Brown said residents can contact him to report nearby residents in violation. For those who don’t comply with cleanup warnings, fines are $500 for commercial properties and $75 for residential, with commercial fines slated to increase to $1,000 at the end of the year. The District only has five code enforcement officers, who average a total of 60 violations. Commissioner Robert Whiddon expressed concern that there was not enough enforcement. “For what we have, we do pretty good,” responded Brown. During community concerns, Walter Hawthorne expressed frustration with the maintenance of the recreation center near Rudolph Elementary. Hawthorne also asked to see PE and art teachers at Rudolph, on par with nearby Shepherd Elementary. Ward 4 Councilmember Muriel Bowser’s constituent services coordinator Mark Smith said he would follow up with Hawthorne’s concerns. Gerard Brown, DC Department of Health, Rodent Control Division: 202-535-2636 Gerard.brown@dc.gov.