PoPville » Dear PoP – Blight in Brightwood Remains, Revisiting 809 Kennedy St, NW

Dear PoP – Blight in Brightwood Remains, Revisiting 809 Kennedy St, NW

“Dear PoP,

809 Kennedy St, NW was on PoP here, a year ago.

While the disgusting flow of water did get resolved, the property is still a shoddily-fenced disaster — huge pits full of stagnant water, a wasteland of mud and debris. And it’s been like that forever. Again, it’s slightly better than it was in that PoP post from a year ago (chain-link fence surrounds it, and the piles of debris got a bit smaller, it’s not quite as smelly), but it’s worse than an eyesore, it’s dangerous and depressing.

Is there anything residents can do about properties like that? Or is it, since it’s private property, OK by the city as long as their taxes are paid?”

We need to get DCRA and Ward 4 Council Member Bowser’s office to follow up on this property. Since there doesn’t seem to be an actual property on the property – does anyone know how this affects how it gets taxed? Do you guys have any other suggestions on how to remove this blight beyond contacting DCRA and CM Bowser’s office?

Category: Brightwood, DC Government, quality of life

By: Prince Of Petworth | 06 April 2011 11:00 AM | 18 Comments

tballer

Mosquito breeding habitat!

April 6, 2011 at 11:19 am
Anon

More like BLIGHTwood!

April 6, 2011 at 11:25 am
emma d.

I keep wondering, isn’t there supposed to be some sort of Kennedy Street revitalization project going on? How in the world is this part of it? Absolutely disgusting. And yes — the mosquitos are going to LOVE it.

April 6, 2011 at 11:38 am
- Anonny
  
  a little oil on top of the water – assuming that it’s not running at all – will discourage the mosq. from staying.
  
  of course, and water inside the fenceline and within tires, cups, etc, is going to be hard to get to.
  
  April 6, 2011 at 11:44 am
LisaT

We live about a block away, and it is indeed disgusting. It’s not just a vacant lot–that I could live with. This is far worse. Some developing country sci-fi haz-mat scene. I don’t know why the guys dealing drugs on our street and peeing in our alley don’t just go hang out over there.

And yeah, come summer it’s going to reek and be completely infested with all manner of swamp life. Well, maybe not alligators.

I wonder if the cherry blossom goers would like to come see the “real DC?”

Seriously, something should be done, and props to PoP for bringing it up again.

April 6, 2011 at 11:46 am
- Li'l Zé
  
  Favela tours in DC!!!
  
  April 6, 2011 at 12:20 pm
  - LisaT
    
    Why not? The city needs the money!
    
    Maybe if we host tours of our little Brightwood favela we’ll raise enough money so DPW can buy garbage cans.
    
    April 6, 2011 at 12:54 pm
emma d.

OK I wrote to Councilwoman Bowser and received an immediate response:
“I share your disgust. This project hit a big snag with the spring discovery. We’ll get DCRA to clean it up if he refuses and create a better temporary situation asap. Muriel”

Is this straightforward, or does someone more familiar with politics have another reading? Is a DCRA clean up likely?

April 6, 2011 at 12:03 pm
Alex in Brightwood

I also live a couple of blocks from that site. It is deplorable. Calling Bowser’s office now. Everyone should do the same so they get a flood of calls. Maybe then they will be responsive on this?

April 6, 2011 at 12:07 pm
Anonymous

There’s a similar spot in the middle of the 1400 block of Chapin, in Columbia Heights. Condo development was halted due to bankruptcy shortly after the basement was poured, leaving a filthy, rat-infested nuisance on the block. Unfortunately, that spot is likely to be in legal limbo for years and years to come.

April 6, 2011 at 12:36 pm
- LisaT
  
  Oh the irony–we used to live in the 1400 block of Chapin St. Maybe it’s us?
  
  April 6, 2011 at 12:52 pm
DJ Roombah

Maybe the city can hire Leslie Knope to build a park there.

April 6, 2011 at 1:52 pm
quincycyclist

This is being taxed at the commercial property rate it looks like ($1.65 per $100 of value). I would think it should be taxed at the vacant or blighted property rate ($5 or $10 per $100 value). Contact your council member about it.

I used the property tax search to look it up:
https://www.taxpayerservicecenter.com/RP_Detail.jsp?ssl=2993%20%20%20%200800

April 6, 2011 at 1:54 pm
- DC Foodie Luvah
  
  Only vacant buildings are subject to the higher property tax rates, not a vacant lot.
  
  April 6, 2011 at 2:23 pm
  - emma d.
    
    Ahhh of course. OF COURSE. Sigh. Thanks.
    
    April 6, 2011 at 2:25 pm
- emma d.
  
  Thank you! Bowser’s office is speaking to DPW about it, and I followed up my conversation with them with your information about the tax rate.
  
  April 6, 2011 at 2:25 pm
victoria

Maybe someone can get healed by the spring water and build a shrine. . .

April 6, 2011 at 2:34 pm
stacy

Just a note that within the last couple of weeks a bulldozer came through this property, leveled it, and filled in the hole of standing water. While there’s still nothing there, it looks a lot better.

April 29, 2011 at 9:36 am