DC Government

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.”

Dear PoP – Who Gets New Street Lamps?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

Why do some neighborhoods have historic looking gas lamps along their streets, while others are lit with ugly 1970’s lamp posts? Even streets that are not designated in a historic district have installed gas lamps. How does the District determine which streets qualify for street improvements?”

I’ve noted these lamps a few times. I think I’ve seen them on H St, NE, a large section of Georgia Ave, 11th Street, NW in Shaw and maybe one or two other spots.

Though, I’m fairly certain they are just regular electric lamps. Are there gas lamps that I’ve missed? If so, where have you spotted them? Anyone know how the location for these new lamps are chosen?

Dear PoP – Real Property Assessment Question

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I am considering submitting an appeal on my recently assessed Property Taxes. I am a recent first time home owner, so I am new to the “fun” world of taxes regarding property. I feel that my assessment was quite high. I compared my assessment to every house on the block and I am probably the most heavily taxed on the block (I have the Homestead Deduction, as does 90% of the houses on the block). I bought a 1909 rowhouse that needs quite a bit of work. It is liveable, but needs quite a lot of finesse to make it shine. Of the 24 or so houses on my block, I would say 60% have been renovated nicely (i.e. gutted, updated, etc…), 30% need some work, and the final 10% need substantial work. My property falls in the 30% pool of needing some work. I was shocked to see that the majority of the renovated homes have substantially lower taxes then my house. I called into the DC Real Property Assessment Division and spoke with my designated assessor and he mentioned that my tax assessment was more or less based on other home sales and most importantly my actual purchase price of the house. “Even if that house needs work and isn’t as nice as your neighbors, you paid that much for it, you are going to get taxed about that much for it.”

My immediate thought is I paid $x.xx amount of dollars because that house was worth that much to ME. But how much is it worth to the city? If I felt like paying $1,000,000 for the home, should I get taxed for that amount?

With my house needing quite a bit of work compared to the other “nicer” houses on the block, should I be taxed that much more than them? Avg is a solid $80,000 assessed value more…

Should I submit an appeal?”

You should definitely appeal the assessment in my opinion. I appealed once for a similar reason and won. And also don’t forget to file for the deduction if it is your primary residence. Here is the discussion we had last year. Did anyone’s assessment go up?

PoPville Discussion Sparks New Web Site from DCRA about Basement Rental Info

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

Well this is rather cool. Last week’s legal question about basement apartments has sparked a new Web site from DCRA. It is called Rent Your DC Basement Apartment Legally. They say:

“Yesterday, the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) ending up in a huge conversation about the fears, misconceptions, challenges, issues and obstacles facing DC residents who are either considering renting their basement as a rental property, buying a home with a basement apartment they plan to rent, currently renting their basement apartment (legally and illegally) and other various scenarios. The District of Columbia is filled with basement apartments and entire generations of folks have at one point or another lived underneath other people.”

Check back here as they populate the Web site with helpful info.

Friday Question of the Day – Transportation

By Prince Of Petworth

As you may have heard by now 15th Street, NW between K St. and Massachusetts Ave. will remain 2-way at all times according to DDOT. In a press release they write:

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced today it will eliminate the reversible lanes on 15th Street, NW. Beginning on Monday, March 15, 2010, 15th Street between K Street and Massachusetts Avenue will operate as a two-way street at all times. Currently, that 3-block street of 15th Street already carries two way traffic for most of the day, but during the afternoon rush hour (4-6:30 pm) it is one-way northbound.

The change was requested by the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID) and was presented to Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANCs) 2B and 2F for comment. Neither ANC opposed the change.

DDOT also analyzed the traffic on 15th Street and found that four lanes are not required to handle the volume of traffic during the evening rush hour. In addition, the reversible lanes still cause confusion for motorists despite the fact that they have been in place for decades.

“We believe this will be a positive change for the downtown area,” said DDOT Director Gabe Klein. “It will improve the flow of traffic, make the businesses more accessible, and make 15th Street safer for everyone: motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians.”

Variable message signs (VMS) will be deployed to alert drivers to the new traffic pattern. The change will not impact 15Th Street north of Massachusetts Avenue which will remain one-way northbound at all times with a separated contra-flow lane for bicyclists.

Is this a good decision for 15th Street, NW?

Also since we’re talking about DDOT, I wanted to ask folks what they thought of powering the proposed street cars. If you’ll recall streetcars are slated to come into H Street, NE and Anacostia first and then to Georgia Ave. We spoke about the plans here. My question is: Would you object to the streetcars if they are powered by above ground/overhead wires?

Congratulations to the Newly Married

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo from PoPville Flickr user Mr. T in DC

Just wanted to add my voice sending congratulations to the same sex couples who are now allowed to get married in our nation’s capital.

Anyone get/getting married?

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