Dear PoPville,
I am wondering whether blocking a parking spot as seen below is legal. Everyday they block their parking spot! [in Ledroit Park] Would the cops do anything and what would someone report as the problem? Any thoughts on what if anything can be done?
Ed. Note: We’ve previously spoken about parking spot savers in the winter (back when we used to get snow and folks would shovel out a spot) but I’ve never heard of folks saving spots like this in other times of year.
Photo by PoPville flickr user caroline.angelo
Dear PoPville,
We’re young newlyweds buried with work but looking to meet new friends in the city. What would be great venues or events to do it?
Banneker Pool; 2500 Georgia Avenue, NW
Sorta great news for swim fans. Most outdoor pools will open this memorial day weekend. Banneker hours will be:
Mon – Fri 1:00pm – 8:00pm; Lap Swim Mon – Fri 8:00am – 10:00am; Sat – Sun 12:00pm – 6:00pm. Closed Thursdays.
Opening for weekend operations only starting May 25, 2013. Open Monday May 27, 2013 for Memorial Day. Full operational hours starting Monday June 24, 2013
You can find a list of all DPR pools here.
Part of a letter from The Dorchester Residents Alliance to Borger Management:
Residents of the Dorchester House Apartments received notice on May 10, 2013 that the pile driving phase of the expansion project would, after a short delay, begin today. The notice stated that “there will be a significant amount of loud noise” starting at 7:00 a.m. and lasting approximately three to four weeks. The notice also invites residents to contact Borger Management regarding concerns that pertain to the expansion project.
To further minimize the impacts of noise on residents and the community, we respectfully request that the Dorchester House and Clark Construction delay the start of pile driving until 8:30 a.m. on weekdays. In past construction projects, the Dorchester House and Borger Management have observed a policy of delaying start times of construction inside the building until 8:30 a.m. on weekdays. The purpose of this policy was to limit disruptions caused by construction noise occurring within close proximity of residents’ homes.
Although pile driving is a necessary part of the construction process that provides foundation support for future buildings, the noise created through this process is disruptive to the residential community near the expansion project. Given the close proximity of the expansion project to our homes, delaying the pile driving to 8:30 a.m. would be a reasonable accommodation—consistent with past practices— that the Dorchester House and Clark Construction should take to minimize the impact on
hundreds of residents affected by expansion project.
Do you think requesting the start time from 7am to 8:30am is reasonable?
Photo by PoPville flickr user ewilfong
Dear PoPville,
These are all actual emails sent in the past few months. The only changes I have made are to delete names, addresses and other identifiers.
March 1, 2013, 11:20:34 PM
From: Neighbor 1
Hello to all –
I have purchased the condo parking space next to the church. (Neighbor) has purchased the space next to me. As existing contracts on condo units close, the additional five spaces will be assigned new residents and more cars will begin parking there.
I will be cleaning the spilled garbage and debris from the parking area next to my space and under the church stairs in the next week but would appreciate your removing any trash or recycling cans you might have in that area immediately. (I don’t think I saw many there this evening.)
Your trash and recycling cans must be placed in front of your homes on (Address) since I don’t believe trash collection will agree to collect it from the rear of your properties. It should not be placed in the alley either behind my house and the church or the condos.
I appreciate your understanding and cooperation.
Mar 2, 2013, at 3:13 PM
From Neighbor 2
DPW has been collecting from the rear of (address) since I moved in 10 years ago. Initially there was a problem with DPW trash collectors, but we met with reps from our city council member and DPW and got agreement that alley collection would be accepted.
I frequently have to move cans associated with our neighbors directly to the east, as they are blocking the alley, but have never complained, in the interest of being neighborly. However, in keeping with the thoughts of this email from (neighbor 1), perhaps their cans should be placed in front of their houses on (street), where they will not block the alley.
Continues after the jump. (more…)
Great news on the fountain front – Meridian Hill Park fountains have been filled “early”! Thanks to everyone who sent word yesterday. In early April a reader was told the fountains wouldn’t be filled until Memorial Day due to budget constraints. Super psyched to see they are already filled:
Dear PoPville,
I’ve a got a problem and I would appreciate PoPville’s advice. I live in a row house near the corner of a major street in Columbia Heights. The problem is that me and my neighbor’s alley fence seem to be a preferred spot for inebriated individuals and the homeless to relive themselves – No. 1 and 2. In addition to using our fence as a toilet, the alley is also a preferred place to down some brews and bum wine based on the trash I pick up there almost weekly.
It’s vile – I can’t even spend time in my backyard the smell is so bad.
Is there anything I can do to make the area less attractive to guys looking for relief?
Dear PoPville,
I’m desperate! An apartment building that adjoins our property keeps a garbage bin right next to our property. Every few days it overflows, and trash is thrown next to the dumpster by residents even when it is not full- I’ve even seen them throw it down (and miss) from the fourth story window!
This has been going on for many months and I’ve contacted the management company multiple times, suggesting that they take measures to control the rats (I’ve seen them climbing out of the dumpster!) and the amount of garbage and overflow: more frequent pick ups, add an extra dumpster, etc.
The dumpster is located on private property near Logan Circle. I have documented the overflows with pictures- probably more than 20 over the past year (some of which I have sent to the management company). I’m at my whits end! Who in the city government (or elsewhere) can help?
Photo by PoPville flickr user sophiagrrl
Dear PoPville,
I’ve lived on my street in lower Shaw for seven years, not that it should matter. Our building has a small patch of grass with no fencing. We’re really the only non-wrought iron fenced lawn on the block. We’re also the crappiest building on the block, but again, that shouldn’t matter. I’m writing because recently I’ve started politely asking people not to curb their dog on our lawn. I’m a tenant, it is private property and the many children in the building play on this space. Dogs are not permitted in the building so it’s not an issue with the tenants who share the property. I’ve encountered everything from “I’ve lived in this neighborhood for X years!!” to anger and people flinging curses at me to the weirdest “Go back to Norther Virginia (bleep bleep)!” I’m working with the landlord to put up those no-pooping signs, but in the meantime I just wanted to see if anyone out there in PoPville can tell me why my neighbors feel so entitled to let their dog feces be, even if temporarily, plotzed upon private property? Would it be okay if I curbed a dog on your fenced lawn even if I cleaned it up? I’m frustrated and pretty sure the next time someone reacts with anything but “Oh, no problem” I’m going to scream like a crazy person.
Open to Suggestions
Dear PoPville,
Everyday on my walk to the Columbia Heights metro, I cross 16th street on Park road, but yesterday I noticed that there are no longer men lingering outside the Hermano Pedro Day Shelter / Shrine of Sacred Heart Church.
Having had several scary experiences with men blocking my way on the sidewalk, shouting profanities, spitting in my face, and then banging on the windows of cars stopped at the stoplight on Park, I can’t say that I’m not pleased. Just curious about whether this is part of some larger change in the neighborhood.
Dear PoPville,
I’m tired of the horseshit, literally.
I understand there are a lot of double standards in this city, but one I just can’t wrap my head around is that of the mounted police. I live near the MPD stables and have found that when they are exercising or employing their mounted force, the police officers don’t clean up after their equine companions.
If the police horse is considered an animal, then it should have to be cleaned up after just like any other domesticated pet. If I allowed my dog to defecate in public, and didn’t clean up after her, I would be subject to a hefty fine.
Why the double standard? Why can’t the horses be cleaned up after? I’ve contacted Mayor Vincent’s office, but heard no response.
The first photo is of horse waste on the Ellington Bridge near the stables. The second photo is at the Cherry Blossom Festival near the Jefferson Monument.
Ed. Note: I believe those horses are Park Police and not MPD.
From DDOT:
To prevent the notoriously unpleasant odor of female ginkgo fruit from overtaking city streets, the District Department of Transportation’s Urban Forestry Administration (UFA) will start spraying these fruits starting Monday, April 29.
Spraying will begin in Wards 1, 2 and 6, where female ginkgo trees are most prevalent, and continue through Wards 4, 3, 7, 8 and 5. Spraying will occur overnight for several nights and there is no need to move vehicles parked on streets. If you have any questions, please contact UFA at 202-671-5133 or visit ddot.dc.gov/trees for more information
We’ve previously discussed this unpleasantness a couple of years ago. Anyone starting to notice the smell this year?
Dear PoPville,
I live on U Street between 14th and 13th and regularly walk past a homeless woman whom has made the stoop for the former Republic Gardens nightclub her hangout spot morning, noon and night where she congregates with other homeless, boozes, and asks for change. She also uses the alcove next to “her” stoop as her personal restroom, resulting in a constant and nauseating scent whenever you walk past. On occasion the walk from the stoop to the alcove is too much and she will just urinate where she sits. In recent weeks she has been an even more frequent fixture at this locations.
While I realize that homelessness and public urination (among other things) isn’t a new problem or even one unique to this location, it is without question disgusting.
Apart from notifying the police, which has proven useless in the past (I once informed a nearby officer that she was hammered and vomiting all over the stoop and sidewalk and he said “oh you mean [Susan], not much we can do about that”), is there anything else that can be done? This has to be a public health issue…right? She disappears for a few days from time to time, which I assume is when she either finds a new spot temporarily or is admitted somewhere but I suppose the allure of U Street keeps calling her back. Is there something that can be done as a more permanent solution?
Has anyone had success with DC’s Homeless Services?
Photo by PoPville flickr user quemac
I don’t mean to make light of this – the mosquito situation in DC is seriously awful. From the Brookland listserv:
I have a neighbor with no running water so all his drinking and bathing is done with water captured in lots of trash cans in his back yard. The city seems to have given up on him, so no amount of calls do anything. His yard also harbors a lifetime supply of rats which are already bad this year.
I’m pretty sure I got bit by my first mosquito of the season last night. I thought we would’ve had at least until late May. Time to break out the deet…
Alley between the 1400 block of Columbia and Irving St, NW
Dear PoPville,
Since the construction staging site went up in the alleyway between columbia and irving at the 1400 block in late august to early september 2012 there has been a homeless man living under the stairs of the condemned church. He is a hoarder and had managed to amass a huge pile of stuff in and around the stairs. Basically kept to himself, was just an eyesore and made us nervous.
However, the past few weeks he has set 3 fires. The first got out of control and spread into the church, due to all of the hoarded stuff in the alleyway. We cleaned out the alleyway and didn’t come back for a week, when i smelled the second fire. I am writing to you at 2 AM early Thursday, right after the 3rd fire has been put out. I have been told to call 911 immediately when I see him, but since that doesn’t seem to work, I was wondering what else can be done on my part to take care of this problem.
Yes, I am sympathetic to his plight but he is putting our lives at risks by setting these fires. In addition, I have been the one to smell it first due to our proximity to the fires and now I’m fearing for my safety.
Any and all suggestions would be helpful. Thanks.
Perhaps the DC Mental Health Mobile Response Team could intervene:
Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES): 202-673-9319 (24hrs, 7 days per week)
Mobile Crisis Services (MCS): 202-673-9300 (9am -1am, 7 days per week)
Homeless Outreach Program (HOP): 202-673-9124 (9am -8pm , M-F)
