DC Government

Funding Approved for 3145 Mt. Pleasant St, NW – Very First Horse’s Ass Award Nominee

By Prince Of Petworth

Great development from Council Member Jim Graham’s Web site:

I am pleased to announce that last week, the Mayor recommended, and Council approved, a loan of $4,137,000 from the Community Development Block Grant Program to acquire the old Deauville Apartments at 3145 Mount Pleasant Street.

Located at 3145 Mount Pleasant Street, the Deauville was a historic building that was destroyed by a five alarm fire in March 2008. As a result of the fire, the tenants were relocated . We had all been working hard for years up until that time in order to overcome the nefarious actions by the slumlord who owned the property. Those actions were obviously set back with this fire.

This loan approval is an essential step towards redeveloping and rehabilitating the property. We appreciate the hard work of the Mayor and his staff in making this possible. The Mayor has been with us on this since the first hours of that devastating fire. The strong interest and support from ANC1D has also made a huge difference. And, of course, the tenants and housing advocates have stood strong in their determination to become the owners of 3145.

This loan will be used to fund the acquisition of 67 units of affordable housing in Ward 1. Forty of these units will be occupied by the original displaced tenants.

I look forward to putting this horse’s ass award nominee behind us and I can’t wait to post photos when progress takes shape!

Remember if there is no progress at all by March 2011 that’s when we start the revolution…

Thurs. Fun – More Outdoor Movies and Politics

By Prince Of Petworth

In case you don’t want to watch Happy Gilmore at the Cap. Riverfront you have another outdoor movie watching option in Columbia Heights. From an email:

“THURSDAY: Movie Nights in the Heights presents “Hairspray”

8PM: Live Music, 8:30PM: Feature Film

Thursday, July 29: Hairspray & DJ Chris Burns
Thursday, August 12: Shrek & DJ Gavin Holland

Harriet Tubman Elementary Field
11th and Kenyon Streets NW

** NO ALCOHOL**
Remember to pick-up your trash
Flashlight recommended”

Also on Thursday evening is:

“Ward 1 Councilmember Candidate Forum

Jim Graham (incumbent)
Marc Morgan
Jeff Smith
Bryan Weaver

Thursday, July 29, 2010

6:00-8:30p.m.

(Program will start promptly at 6:30p.m.)

True Reformer Building, Lankford Auditorium, 1200 U Street NW

The forum is free and open to the public. Audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions.”

Gage-Eckington Park Disapproval Filed by CM Barry, CM Graham Pissed

By Prince Of Petworth

Yesterday I reader wrote in asking about the status of the Gage-Eckington park project in Ledroit Park. I’m afraid there is bad news to share. A number of readers have forwarded me an email from CM Jim Graham titled ‘CM Barry up to no good– Gage-Eckington Park Disapproval Filed’:

This is an outrage, and a totally needless delay in a very worthwhile project. We need this project to go forward, because of the recreational and park benefits it will bring to the entire community, and most definitely including all of the kids at Kelly Miller.

I will speak to him, though I suspect it will be to no avail. Perhaps also Chairman Gray (copied herein) can approach him?

I think LeDroit Park should descend on him en masse. What do you think?

Are you ready for the revolution residents of Ledroit Park?

Dear PoP – What’s the Status of the Gage-Eckington Park?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

Have you heard an update on the Gage-Eckington park? It does not look like any progress has been made since the weather broke. I thought the contract mess got sorted out. Any news?”

Last we heard back in March Jim Graham annouced that money had been found for the project. The Ledroit Park Civic Association updated back in April that the project was slated to be completed by Nov. I too noticed that not much progress has been made after demolition and the fences went up. Anyone have the scoop? I’ll also email CM Graham’s office to see if they can update.

Dear PoP – What is the Park Road Facade project?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I was walking down park road and noticed some guys nailing wooden stops to the brick on a storefront. Above them was a sign that said something about the Park Road Facade Improvement Project. It’s on the East side of the strip between 14th and Hiatt, near Pho 14.

Maybe someone more familiar with this type of construction knows more. Do you know anything about this project and what it entails?”

There was just a groundbreaking on this project yesterday. Sounds like it’s gonna be a serious improvement ($700,000).

Following is a press release about the groundbreaking from Mayor Fenty:

“Today, [Wed. July 21]Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham, Department of Housing and Community Development Director Leila Edmonds, and Development Corporation of Columbia Heights (DCCH) CEO Robert Moore joined Ward 1 business leaders to begin façade improvements on 13 businesses on the 1400 block of Park Road, NW.

“Supporting small, local businesses has always been important to my administration,” said Mayor Adrian M. Fenty. “The renovations to the businesses on Park Road will continue to make Columbia Heights a great business corridor for District residents to find the goods and services they want.”

“We are happy to support the façade improvements on Park Road,” said DHCD Director Leila Edmonds. “The improvements to the businesses on Park Road will not only enhance the image of Columbia Heights but can also continue the economic growth in Ward 1.”

DHCD awarded DCCH a grant of $618,000 for the project, which is expected to cost approximately $700,000 in total. DCCH is overseeing the façade renovations with Keystone Plus Construction as the general contractor and Architecture by Tono as the architects. All property owners of the 13 businesses are members of the Coalition of Park Road Businesses, which was founded in 2006. The store front renovations are expected to be complete fall of 2010.”

Dear PoP – Parking Pay By Phone in Dupont

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

Have you seen these signs in Dupont on Q St, NW across from Teaism, to pay to park? I didn’t think I had seem them on your blog. Just curious if anyone has used them?”

Hmm, we spoke about the pilot program but I think these just rolled out this week. It looks pretty easy. Has anyone given them a shot?

Take the 2010 DCRA Street Vending Survey

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Bogotron

DCRA

“The DCRA is working to gain full authority to issue all types of vending licenses, but currently lacks authority for some. At this time, the DCRA does not have authority to expand the number of vendors selling goods or foods from public sidewalks. We have recently published new street vending regulations to grant the agency full authority to launch the new street vending program. Once these new rules are passed by the Council of the District of Columbia, the DCRA will be fully authorized to once again, offer a license and permit to sidewalk vendor licenses across the city. Before the final rules are published, however, we want to hear from you. We want to know what you like and don’t like. We want to know what type of foods you’d like to see more of and less of.”

Take their Survey Here.

I’d like to see some street gyros!

Dear PoP – Speed Camera Fines-through the roof!

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Rukasu1

“Dear PoP,

Just to give the PoP community a head’s up…speed camera fines have gone through the roof. I knew they had gone up but wasn’t aware as to exactly how much until I got a lovely new one in the mail. 1-10 mph over the speed limit: increase from $30 to $75. 11-15 mph: increase from $50 to $125 (that’s 150%!!! insane!). I’m not sure what the original fines were for higher speeds but those are very very steep now too: 16-20 mph is $150, 21-25 mph is $200, and 26-30 mph is $250. Just though everyone would like to be aware of the massive increases for minor speeding.”

DC Public Schools Test Scoring Goes Down, Is it Rhee’s Fault?

By Prince Of Petworth


Sign spotted in front of a DC home after a few school closings were announced last year.

“Dear PoP,

I thought this article was interesting and something people would be eager to discuss.

Rhee seems to have made HUGE strides in public schools and yet she still seems to get ripped on. Reading the comments at the bottom of the article I get the distinct feeling that many of those are coming from teachers that were fired. All of that being said, I think that it could be very difficult for parents of the kids who are having so much turnover in their school’s staff.”

The brief Post article says:

“D.C. officials announced Tuesday that reading and math test scores declined in elementary schools this year, halting a two-year run of significant gains and dealing a setback to Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee as she seeks to overhaul city schools.”

However the article also says:

“Rhee called the three-year gains at the middle and high school levels — an average of 14 percentage points in reading and 17 points in math — a significant achievement.”

So how do you judge if Rhee is successful or not? Clearly this has become a major (Mayoral) campaign issue as the article also notes. Can success or failure be judged now or will it only become clear a few years from now?

In completely unrelated Rhee news it was reported by News8 that “Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson says he will marry D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee over the Labor Day weekend.”

Dear PoP – 16th St, NW Construction?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

Is there any info out there on the construction currently going on between Euclid and Harvard on 16th Street this week? They’re working during rush hour and blocking multiple lanes of traffic. Each day this week my bus has taken twice as long to get to work because of this. Who at DDoT decided it would be find to close multiple lanes on
both 14th and 16th Streets at the same time for major roadwork?

Anyone know if this is a major project that will take some time? It could have serious implications for the commute down 16th street if this continues beyond this week.”

There were lots of details given yesterday about 14th and Park Road, NW. Anyone have details on the 16th St, NW between Euclid and Harvard construction?

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