NoMa (Near Northeast)

“Regrettably, our building was sold to development groups who plan to evict all of us – the resident artists and organizations – by September 1”

By Prince Of Petworth

411 ny ave ne
411 New York Ave, NE

“Dear PoPville,

Boutique hotel proposal goes to BZA Monday. Plans to turn Union Arts located at 411 New York Ave NE into an “arts hotel”. Has collected 80 letters of opposition which can be found on the zoning case search #15-19. Facebook group calling for more signatures and stand in at case Monday:

#SaveDCArts – The Union Arts building at 411 New York Ave NE is the last collective art space of its kind in Washington, DC. It has been home to more than 100 artists and numerous organizations for many decades working as a catalyst of creativity for many communities throughout the city.

Regrettably, our building was sold to development groups who plan to evict all of us – the resident artists and organizations – by September 1. They intend to displace us so they can build an 11-story luxury boutique arts hotel. The DBLee and Brook Rose development groups have enlisted Cultural DC to convert the now affordable and diversely accessible art space into a chic hotel, where only 7 art studios will be made available to no more than 20 artists. This is far fewer than the number of artist collectives currently working in the building, who after being displaced will then be forced to compete for studios at a significantly higher price. In addition, the new building will greatly alter the character of the area into another sterile development, not suited for creative inspiration.

What is definite is the building has been sold. The current tenants at 411 New York Ave NE must vacate out by September 1st.

HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO: (more…)

Another Disturbing Report of Youth Lawlessness on Metro “They immediately began harassing and terrorizing fellow passengers”

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user Pablo Raw

Ed. Note: Perhaps some of our feckless Council Members will start to recognize that we have a serious problem here…

Thanks to a reader for passing on from the Brookland listserv:

“This evening I had a terrible and frightening experience on the red line. I boarded a train at Brookland at about 4:45 PM. A group of approximately 20 high school students (male & female) boarded the same train at NOMA. The group boarded screaming obscenities.They immediately began harassing and terrorizing fellow passengers. They messed with me a bit (took the hat off my head, took videos of me, screamed in my face, etc) and later bothered another gentleman, and eventually a third person which resulted in physical violence. Almost all of the group was involved in the violence- swearing, screaming, kicking and punching, laughing, and again taking pictures and videos. I tried my best to pull some teens off of the man. I couldn’t get off at Union Station because I was blocked in. I eventually got off at Judiciary Square and reported the incident to metro police.

I have lived and worked in Brookland for nearly 16 years. This is the first time I have experienced an incident of this magnitude.”

“Mason Dixie Biscuit Co. will launch its Thursday Test Kitchen concept at Union Market” Today

By Prince Of Petworth

Union_market
1309 5th Street, NE

From a press release:

“Mason Dixie Biscuit Co. will launch its Thursday Test Kitchen concept at Union Market (1309 5th St NE) this Thursday, January 21, 2016 at 3pm. The menu for Mason Dixie’s Thursday Test Kitchen will be a departure from the usual breakfast options and include new savory items, such as chicken pot pie, creme brûlée filled doughnuts, coconut curry chicken biscuit sandwiches, and Mason Dixie’s version of the banh mi. (more…)

NoMa scores a “two-acre parcel from Pepco” for a second public park

By Prince Of Petworth

NoMa Green
“Bounded by Harry Thomas Way NE, the popular Metropolitan Branch Trail and New York Avenue NE” courtesy NoMa Parks

From a press release:

“The NoMa Parks Foundation, an affiliate of the NoMa Business Improvement District, announced today that it has acquired for $14 million a two-acre parcel from Pepco. Bounded by Harry Thomas Way NE, the popular Metropolitan Branch Trail and New York Avenue NE, this acquisition is the culmination of two years of effort by the Foundation. It is the second acquisition by the Foundation since being awarded $50 million from the District of Columbia Government for the purpose of developing new public parks and civic spaces in the NoMa neighborhood. The District passed the NoMa Parks Grant Authorization Act in 2013. The Act provides the plan and funding for the creation of parks to serve the residents of NoMa and near northeast. (more…)

Metro Transit Police Releases Photos of Persons of Interest in Connection with “Attack on Metro at Rush Hour – guy had a broken jaw and his face was swollen beyond recognition”

By Prince Of Petworth

noma metro
Photo by PoPville flickr user Phil

From Metro Transit Police:

“The Metro Transit Police Department is seeking assistance in identifying the individuals pictured below as part of an investigation into an Aggravated Assault that occurred Monday, December 21, 2015, at approximately 5:00 p.m. aboard a Red Line train in the area of NoMa-Gallaudet Metrorail Station.

Anyone who is able to identify the individuals pictured below is asked to call Metro Transit Police Detectives at (202) 962-2121 and reference case #2015-61461. Tips also can be sent via text message to “MyMTPD” (696873).

There are no current warrants for the individuals pictured below in reference to this case.”

“Attack on Metro at Rush Hour – guy had a broken jaw and his face was swollen beyond recognition”

By Prince Of Petworth

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Ed. Note: In July there was a stabbing homicide aboard a Red Line train by NoMa. An arrest was made.

A reader passes on from the Brookland Listserv:

“Attack on Metro at Rush Hour

Just to let the neighborhood know, I saw a group of kids beat a guy on the metro on the way home from work today. I got on the train at Union Station and realized I should move away from a group of 10 or 12 kids who were being loud and rowdy. And sure enough they egged each other on to attack a guy who was just sitting there for no reason. They were punching his head until he tried to move and then they knocked him out. When he came to he stumbled over to us where I had alerted the driver that we needed the train to stop and the police. He couldn’t remember what had happened and was totally out of it and was bleeding everywhere. The driver held the train at metro and kept the doors closed for a bit but the kids were running through the cars and escaped when the doors opened. They tried to lock down the station but I think they got on a train going in the other direction.

The poor guy had a broken jaw and his face was swollen beyond recognition. His poor wife was there at NoMa and held him until the ambulance came. She said he had texted her not to get on the car because there was a rowdy group and he was going to move. What a way to come home from work. Stay away from rowdy groups of kids and know how to alert the driver should you ever need to.

Some advice for metro: (more…)

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