From Madam’s Organ owner Bill Duggan:
“18th STREET LOOKS FANTASTIC WITHOUT STREETERIES.!!!! But DDOT and the BID plan to build new ones this week Many(most?) businesses do no want them
Even with those ugly Beirut Barriers still in place, it was so refreshing to see our beautiful, historic street for the first time since Covid over the weekend
But BEWARE!….
DDOT and the BID received a $750,000 grant that has to be used by Sept 30,2024 so they decided to use it to fix a problem that doesn’t exist….and create and exacerbate problems that do exist
18th St already has sidewalk cafes and outdoor dining…..what is does not have is parking and spaces for deliveries……but, get ready, starting tomorrow, DDOT /BID start installing new, modern, modular, identical(except each business was forced to pick from 4 color choices) streeteries…..which absolutely would never be permitted in an Historic neighborhood
18th Street has been designated Historic……for ANY project, public or private, to be approved it must first go through hearings with the ANC and the Historic Preservation Board. Kimberly Vacca, the DDOT lead on the project bragged that they were circumventing all Historic oversight because they were claiming that the project was just a “pilot”, even though their own literature says they intend to make these streeteries permanent
At the initial “input” meeting with businesses where no input was sought but. rather , we(a total of 13 businesses who attended….great outreach DDOT/BID) were told that the project was moving forward at warp speed and our only choice was to agree to a new streetery or have DDOT/BID dictate what they would place in front of our businesses…..and when I did not agree to sign on without further information I received a threatening email from Vacca….and, true to her word, the initial plan showed motorcycle/scooter parking in front of Madam’s Organ…..Surprise! I agreed to a streetery
After speaking with many neighboring businesses, all but three (haven’t reached them yet) expressed that they would rather have the street, with parking, revert to its Historic, pre-Covid appearance but felt powerless in the face of DDOT/BID strongarm tactics
I met with the anti-vector(rat) patrol who said that they had not been consulted but felt that the flooring being installed as part of every streetery would create harborage for rats and exacerbate an already formidable problem along 18th St
The leadership at 3D said that the streeteries created a Public Safety issue with the loss of sightlines for patrols ……..I can personally attest to this…..after witnessing a man murdered less than 12′ behind me in December2023, I watched as that man disappeared after firing his final shot at me as I dove for cover behind a outdoor cafe’s flowerbox
Additionally, the project seems to be picking the winners and losers…….if a business did not exist or have a streetery under the Covid program they are barred from a streetery under this “pilot/permanent” program
Considering how little (none) feedback DDOT/BID sought from affected businesses, I am assuming they likely intentionally also did not seek out or listen to community voices.
To have our beautiful, historic street permanently disfigured because someone has $750,000 burning a hole in her pocket seems so, so wrong 18th Street deserves better. We, local businesses deserve better, and you, the Adams Morgan community, deserve better”