DC Government

A Quick Rave from a Reader

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Wake Up The Giant

“Dear PoP,

Since many of your readers live in areas where graffiti continues to be a problem, just wanted to send you a quick note about my experience with using 311 to get it removed. Our wooden fence got tagged last week, so I put in a request for removal online to the mayor’s 311 center. To be honest I didn’t really have high hopes that anything would come of it. However, two days later a ‘homeowner waiver’ appeared in our mailbox, I guess to release the city from liability since they would be removing the graffiti from our private property? At any rate, I filled it out and faxed it back the next day. Two days after that (today!) the city showed up and started powerwashing my fence! It took them all of 10 minutes, and it got almost everything off except for the vague trace of an outline that I’m hoping will fade with time.

Anyway, isn’t it nice when something actually works like it is supposed to in DC? Just thought I’d let folks know how quick and easy this all was.”

Dear PoP – Question about illegal dumping

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I’ve done some extensive landscaping over the last few weeks and have accumulated a lot of waste in the process. A neighborhood guy (lets call him “Alanzo”) who has mowed my lawn and hauled waste for me on several previous occasions offered to haul a recent load away for $100. Turns out, his truck contact fell through this time and rather than approaching me, he decided to illegally dump the waste yet graciously accept payment under the pretenses that the job had been completed. Of course, I didn’t learn of this until a few weeks ago, when a public works inspector dropped off a card with a note on the back instructing me to contact him regarding illegally dumped yard waste in a nearby alley. I immediately went to the dump location and determined that most (but not all) of the waste had originated from my yard. Wanting to rectify the situation immediately, I brokered a deal with a neighbor to dump the waste a his pull-away dumpster. The next day, I called the inspector and left him a voicemail explaining what had transpired. After a few days and no response, I contacted the inspector once more to no avail.

On Saturday, I was greeted with a certified letter from DC Public Works indicating that I had been charged with illegal dumping and fined $1000. I was livid. The inspector neglected to return my calls, yet decided to issue me the infraction despite my explanation and effort to resolve the issue. Clearly, if my intent was to illegally dump my waste less than a block from my property, I would have done so myself and saved the $100.

I’m wondering if either you our the PoP readers have any insight on how to move forward. On the infraction notice, it indicates that I have the option to deny, admit, or admit with written explanation. I’ve got nothing to hide, but at the same time, I don’t want to be screwed by the DC government. Any/all advice would be much appreciated.”

Wow, this sounds especially painful since you went out of your way to do the right thing. Illegal dumping is a frustrating experience for many in our neighborhoods.

Do you think the DC Public Works department is being fair? If not, do you think there is anyway to get the fine rescinded? I’m thinking you should definitely contact your Council Member but I suspect this is going to be very frustrating experience.

Dear PoP – What’s Going on with old Alliance of Concerned Men Building?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I was hoping you could do an update of the building at 11th and Harvard that once housed the Alliance of Concerned Men. As you probably remember, there was a fire in the building in January. Since then the windows have remained boarded up and it doesn’t appear there has been any work done to restore the damage from the fire. At various time the place has become a magnet for tagging and graffiti which the city thankfully removes. I thought it was interesting that the Alliance of Concerned Men sign that used to stand at the corner was taken down or removed not too long ago.

Does the group plan to return to building? Do they plan on making any repairs? Right now it’s bordering on a Horse’s Ass award since it’s stood boarded up for so long without any indication of repairs.

Any new info would be greatly appreciated by the residents of the neighborhood!”

According to Council Member Jim Graham: “it will be rehabbed as a seniors only building.” I’m trying to get confirmation from DC Housing Authority. Signs have recently gone up announcing trash removal (thanks to another reader for sending):

I’ll be sure to show new photos when/if it’s completed in August.

Dear PoP – DC Property Auction June 30th

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I know last you covered the DC property auction and it seemed to draw a good bit of interest from your readers. The DC Gov is doing it again and there are some properties that may interest your readers.

You can see the list of properties here.

Which of these properties do you think has the best potential.
Last year’s auction seemed to have a lot of investor types and they have worked to change this.

Participation in the auction is limited to the following participants:

A) Homeowners who intend to purchase the property and reside in the property as their principal place of residence

B) Business entities which are active certified business enterprises (“CBE”) registered with the District of Columbia Department of Small and Local Business Development

C) Not For Profit Corporations

Here is a press release from the DC Gov about the property sale. “

Interesting Locations for Campaign Banners

By Prince Of Petworth

I’m just wondering if anyone knows how campaign banners get posted on and/or in vacant buildings or buildings under going renovations. Is it first come first served? If there is an owner, I assume it is at the discretion of the owner, but what if the building is vacant. The one above is from the old CVS by the Chinatown metro on 7th and H St, NW.

It’s actually pretty cool, there was even one with Chinese:

What the Hell is a Blighted Property?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user rockcreek

I was trying to get to the bottom of the whole blighted vs vacant property tax issue. I think it is great news that CM Bowser has re-instituted the tax penalties (it will go into law when the budget is signed):

Example: If a vacant house is assessed at $500,000 for tax purposes, the owner will be charged $25K per year in vacant property taxes, or $5 per $100 of assessed value.

Example: If a blighted house is assessed at $500,000 for tax purposes, the owner will be charged $50K per year in blighted property taxes, or $10 per $100 of assessed value.

Following is the official description of a blighted property:

A blighted home is one that is “a vacant building that is determined by the Mayor to be unsafe, insanitary, or which is otherwise determined to threaten the health, safety, or general welfare of the community;

“(B) In making a determination of the blighted vacant building, the Mayor shall consider the following:

“(i) Whether the vacant building is the subject of a condemnation proceeding before the Board of Condemnation and Insanitary Buildings;

“(ii) Whether the vacant building is boarded up; and

“(iii) Failure to comply with the following vacant building maintenance standards:

“(I) Doors, windows, areaways, and other openings are weather-tight and secured against entry by birds, vermin, and trespassers, and missing or broken doors, windows, and other openings are covered.

“(II) The exterior walls are free of holes, breaks, graffiti, and loose or rotting materials, and exposed metal and wood surfaces are protected from the elements and against decay or rust by periodic application of weather-coating materials, such as paint; or

“(III) All balconies, porches, canopies, marquees, signs, metal awnings, stairways, accessory and appurtenant structures, and similar features are safe and sound, and exposed metal and wood surfaces are protected from the elements by application of weather-coating materials, such as paint.”

Now that looks like a whole lot of gibberish to me. I know that legal language is obviously necessary. But I’m wondering if someone can explain to me in plain English and bluntly when a property gets declared blighted. Is it basically at the discretion of an assessor? I may not speak, or understand for that matter, legalese but I sure see a boatload of “blighted” properties around town…

Petworth Section of Georigia Ave’s Great Streets Improvement Project Begins

By Prince Of Petworth


Map from DDOT via GGW

Holy cow, not sure how I missed this. Greater Greater Washington’s Kent Boese reports:

On May 17, 2010, work on the $7.9 million Middle Georgia Avenue Great Streets project began. The project is expected to last approximately 18 months and will include the area between Webster Street and Otis Place, NW, and include Upshur Street between 8th and 9th Streets.

The greatest changes will come to two triangular parks along Georgia, one at Upshur and 9th and the other at Varnum and Kansas Avenue. Both will get new landscaping and the sidewalks realigned.

Most significantly, 9th Street will be closed to traffic at the tip of the triangle, where it splits off Georgia at a narrow angle. That will become community greenspace, including one of several bio-retention ponds.

The project will consist of roughly three phases starting at Webster Street and working south.

Lots more great info and maps here.  This community greenspace is gonna make for a great Petworth Farmer’s Market, hopefully, starting June 25th.

Update: Thanks to a reader comment, you can track progress on this project here.

Dear PoP – Unfortunate encounter with MPD

By Prince Of Petworth


Photos from PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

“Dear PoP,

Last night, Sunday, I went to the bus station at midnight to pick up my roommate who was coming in late. I got to the Greyhound bus station behind Union Station, and pulled off to the side of the street. I called her to find out where she was, only to find out she goofed and told me the wrong bus station. (She came in on MegaBus at Metro Center.) I was trying to calm her down and tell her it wasn’t a big deal and I would be there in a few minutes. I put the car in drive and began to hang up my phone, when a cop car pulled in behind me. I didn’t move, and the cop car flashed his lights, then proceeded to pull along side me. The cop then slid to his passenger seat, rolled down his window and knocked on my window. I rolled down my window, and the officer said (and I quote) ” Get off the F***ing phone.” I said, ” I’m sorry Officer, I’m a little turned around and I was trying to figure out where I need to go.”

I’m not sure what disturbs me more, the fact that the police officer dropped the F bomb on me, didn’t get out of his car, or when I admitted I was a little lost, he didn’t even ask if I needed help. And the area I was in is not well populated, and not that safe late at night. I also have to admit I look like I’m about 18 when I’m actually 26.

I can’t help but think this officer violated his duties of an officer of the law a few times during my brief encounter. I was just wondering if anyone else has ever had this type of experience before of an member of the MPD.”

I agree that this is completely unacceptable behavior. I know this is not a life or death example but small examples like this, I think, can lead to larger problems. I will make sure that this note is forwarded to the commander of this police district. Have others experienced behavior like this before?

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