DC Government

Letter From Linda K. Argo, Director DCRA, About Uptown ARTS Overlay District

By Prince Of Petworth

Last week week we had a huge discussion about “no New Building Permits or C of Os will be issued to eating and drinking establishments in MidCity (14th and U Streets, NW)”. The Director of DCRA, Linda Argo recently sent out a letter to clarify the situation. She writes:

“Also, it is very important to note that the Office of Planning is finalizing recommendations to the Zoning Commission to increase the 25% cap on eating and drinking establishments, as well as how the cap is calculated. These proposed amendments will be submitted to the Zoning Commission by April 26, 2010.”

Word on the street is that the increase could go up to 50%.

See full overlay map here – Uptown ARTS Overlay District

Full letter after the jump. (more…)

DDOT Launches Pay By Phone Parking Meter Pilot

By Prince Of Petworth

Well this is wild. From a DDOT press release:

There’s a new way to pay for parking in the District, and all you need is a mobile phone. The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) today launched a Pay by Phone pilot program that will eliminate the need to carry change for the meters or run back to your car to add more time. This cashless payment option will be offered at 700 parking spaces in three areas: Dupont Circle, Union Station, and downtown on K Street, I Street, and New York Avenue, NW.

“This service will greatly improve the parking experience for many of our residents, because it’s so simple to use,” said DDOT Director Gabe Klein. “No one likes to carry a lot of change, but almost everyone has a cell phone, and all it takes is one call to pay for a meter.”

DDOT will begin operating the service on April 12, but motorists can sign up today at paybyphone.com or by calling 1-888-510-PARK (7275). Drivers will need to provide their mobile phone number, license plate and credit card number.

Once they are signed up with a free pay by phone account, users just follow these simple steps to make a payment:

1. Call the toll free number from their mobile phone
2. Enter the location number that is posted on the meter or nearby signs
3. Enter the parking time desired.

The appropriate total will be charged to their credit card. A history of transactions is viewable any time the user logs into their account.

When paying by phone, motorists may also select the option to receive a text message reminder minutes before their time expires and can also call back to add additional parking time remotely from any phone, provided they won’t exceed the parking time limit. That feature greatly reduces the chance of a parking violation.

“Pay by phone service is an important part of our commitment – spelled out in our 2-year Action Agenda – to find innovative solutions to update our outdated inventory of parking meters,” said Director Klein. “We are going to take advantage of the most cutting-edge technology to improve the parking experience city-wide.”

DDOT has already installed multi-space meters throughout commercial corridors in the District replacing many old and non-functioning single space meters. Also, the department is currently testing solar-powered single space meters that take credit cards as well as coins.

The District’s pay by phone pilot service will be provided by Verrus Mobile Technologies, Inc.

“We’re excited to be launching Pay by Phone in the DC area,” said Verrus Co-Founder, David Spittel. “Our service takes the pain and hassle out of everyday parking, and once registered, motorists can use their Verrus account in the 100-plus cities we service as well.”

Sherman Ave Streetscape Project will be held Tonight Thursday, April 8, from 6:30 to 8 PM

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I came across a new DC Department of Transportation website that has tons of great new information on the Sherman Avenue Streetscape project (which, for those who are unfamiliar with the project, will reduce the number of traffic lanes from four to two and add a tree-lined median, wider sidewalks, new landscaping and traffic lights, and shared bike lanes). According to the website, the design is supposed to be finalized by mid-April, construction bidding should be finalized by June, and construction is slated to start this August and be completed by September 2011.
http://dashboard.ddot.dc.gov/ward1/ShermanAveStreetscapeW1/default.aspx

This document from the website also has lots of new design information and the latest depictions of the project. The plans still look great. As someone who lives on Sherman Avenue, I can’t wait.
http://dashboard.ddot.dc.gov/ward1/ShermanAveStreetscapeW1/Shared%20Documents/Progress%20Reports/Sherman_Ave_65pctDesign_2009-11_presentation.pdf

PS – The final DDOT community meeting on the Sherman Ave Streetscape Project will be held Thursday, April 8, from 6:30 to 8 PM at the DC Housing Finance Agency at 815 Florida Ave NW, according to a flyer I received yesterday at my house from the leader of the Pleasant Plains Civic Association.”

Friday Question of the Day – Any Idea Who You’re Gonna Vote For?

By Prince Of Petworth

2009 DC Caribbean Carnival parade
Photo from PoPville flickr user quigley brown

Lots of action happened this week on the DC Political front. Looks like we’ve got a race for Mayor and a new race for Council Chairman. I know it’s early but I’m just curious how folks in PoPville feel about a few races. First the Mayoral race:


Council Chair:


And At large Council Member:


Message from Chief Judge Satterfield, DC Superior Court and CM Jim Graham on Youth Crime

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo from PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

I had to share this message, from the Ward 1 listserv, about juvenile crime. Get ready to be frustrated:

I have been made aware of an email exchange on several Ward1 listservs last week in which several inaccurate statements were made about the juvenile justice system in the District of Columbia . I wanted to take this opportunity to clarify what authority D.C. law does – and does not – provide Family Court judges. I would ask that one of you please forward this to the listservs that the exchange was posted on.

DC law does not provide the Court with any authority over youth committed to the custody of the city. Family Court judges who find a juvenile ‘involved’ in a crime (the DC Code’s nomenclature for guilt), have but two options: put the youth on probation, which the court’s juvenile probation officers monitor and over which the judges have control, or, if the judge thinks probation is not sufficient, the judge can commit the youth to the city at which point the court loses all authority over the youth including the authority to securely detain a youth.

In his email, in reference to a particular case, CM Graham said that judge after judge did not “take charges seriously enough” and that “one of the reasons we have such a high level of youth violence in this city is this: Young criminals think they have nothing to fear from the courts…” I agree that youth often do not fear going before a judge but the reason is that youth know that if they are adjudicated guilty by a judge, the judge has no authority to securely detain them under DC law. However, I disagree with CM Graham’s statement that judges do not take the charges seriously. Usually when judges commit youth to the city, we do so because we believe that probation is not sufficient and that the youth needs secure detention or long term residential placement at a treatment facility. In other words, we believe that the charges are serious enough to warrant removing the youth from the community either for the safety of the community or safety of the youth. We just do not have the authority to accomplish this goal. I have expressed these concerns many times to members of both the legislative and executive branches of government. So I find it very troubling and somewhat irresponsible when I see this public effort by CM Graham to blame the judges. No system is perfect, including the court system. However, we make every effort to meet the needs of all residents in the community that we serve, consistent with our mandate to provide justice for all.

Lee F. Satterfield

Chief Judge
Superior Court of the District of Columbia

After the jump is an email from CM Graham about the need for tougher youth laws. (more…)

Final Community Meeting for 11th and Monroe Streets, NW Park and Bruce Monroe Interim Use Meeting Tonight

By Prince Of Petworth

From an email:

“Our third community meeting to discuss the improvements for the park at 11th and Monroe Streets park is a week away. Please mark your calendars for Wednesday, March 31, 7:00 pm, Mount Rona Church. We hope to use the feedback from this meeting to refine our design before putting the project out to bid.

Visit DPR’s website here for this project for information about prior meetings.”

The former school is located at Georgia Ave between Columbia Rd. and Irving Street, NW. We learned there would not be a parking lot on the site here. From an email:

“The Bruce Monroe Site Interim Use Subcommittee of the Georgia Avenue Community Development Task Force will meet with Councilman Graham, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, and the DC Office of Planning to disclose and discuss the community’s suggestions for use of the Bruce Monroe site. Please see the information below for the time, location and date of the meeting. Bring your neighbors with you.

What: Bruce Monroe Interim Use Plans
Where: Emergence Community Arts Collective, 733 Euclid Street, NW
When: Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Time: 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Who Should be There: Community Members, Businesses, Parents and Youth”

This is Disconcerting – D.C. police and fire communications Goes Down Mon. Night

By Prince Of Petworth

From Local NBC News:

“The fire and public safety radio system went down about 7:15 p.m., according to D.C. fire. The fire department operated on backup systems, including portable and mobile radios and sub channels from Montgomery and Arlington counties.”

I’m really curious to know what happened here. I mean sometimes shit just happens. But the potential for disaster here seems pretty high. I will update as more info becomes available.

Dear PoP – Raw Sewage Day and Night

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

Day and night, raw sewage seeps from a recently demolished building into an alley on the 800 block of Kennedy Street, NW, in Brightwood Park, causing the foulest stench to fill the air. This has been occurring nonstop since JANUARY. The unmistakable smell of sewage can be smelled all the way to 9th and Kennedy. While Council-member Bowser’s office has been helpful in trying to pressure the city to rectify this problem, it has gone on for far too long. Exposure to raw sewage has health risks that the city has not addressed with so much as a sign. I witness children and adults walk through this spill every day, not knowing what it is.

DCMud reported in January 2009 that 809 Kennedy NW was set for demolition: http://dcmud.blogspot.com/2009/01/brightwood-tenement-set-for-demolition.html

New System Demolition and Excavation was reported to carry out the demolition.

New System Demolition and Excavation said that the owner of the building had been fined and it was their responsibility to clean and fix the issue — the owners did not pay NSDE what they are owed, so the city (DCRA) will be rolling out some sort of bidding process to get contractors to complete the work.

I spoke to the owners of several Kennedy Street businesses on Tuesday, March 24. One in particular said that his business had been damaged by fewer customers coming in to his restaurant due to the stench adjacent to his establishment. There is also a nagging feeling that our community is being ignored because it has a largely Spanish speaking, immigrant population.

On Wednesday, March 24, I made phone calls to the DC Department of the Environment, where I was referred to Bob Emwanta, and later to Sylvester Mode (pronounced moe-DAY) where I left a message.

I then made a phone call to Chris Davis at the Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services, who said that he was currently awaiting a response from WASA on the matter. He, too, had experienced the stench first-hand after his office conducted “Operation Fix-It” in the community. I asked him to keep Robert Idlett from my councilwoman’s office in the loop as well.

And still the stench fills our block.”

Wow, this is completely unacceptable. Which agency should be pressured to get this fixed immediately?

1421 Euclid Street, NW Proposals (Near the soon to be Justice Park)

By Prince Of Petworth

I received a couple of renderings for the parcel that is set to be developed at 1421 Euclid Street, NW. Above is from Dantes Partners. The proposal above is for 37 rental apartments. You can see all the other renderings plus more info on the project here. Do you have a favorite?

Ed. Note: Back in Dec. Council Member Graham said that Justice Park funding was back on track. However I don’t think construction has started yet, last time I passed it.

Should Pawn Shops Be Regulated?

By Prince Of Petworth

From a Press Release:

“Councilmember Bowser introduces bills to open government meetings and to regulate pawnshop operations

The “Predatory Pawnbroker Regulation Act” establishes that the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking will regulate pawn shops like payday lenders and check cashing operations. The bill would cap at 24 percent the interest rate that a pawn shop may charge.

Councilmember Bowser said, “In many cases, people who sell items to pawn shops are down on their luck. These people need protection from unscrupulous practices, so pawn shops should be subjected to the usury law, just like other lenders in the District.”

The “Predatory Pawnbroker Regulation Act” has been referred to Councilmember Bowser’s Committee on Public Services and Consumer Affairs.”

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