quality of life

Dear PoPville – How to Deal with Road Blockage and Trucks Idling?

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

“Dear PoPville,

14th St. and Columbia Rd NW is a really busy intersection and was so long before DCUSA opened. It’s full of commuters and especially traffic heavy during morning and evening rush hours.

This corner is also home to a 7-11 and, like all stores, it needs to be refilled on a regular basis. The semi trucks that bring all the Cheetos and Coke have been parking in the space for the bus stop on Columbia Road for years and essentially block half of the road while unloading.

I get that the 7-11 needs to be restocked and they’ve got to park somewhere. If they’d unload and then move on I wouldn’t be writing. The issue is that a truck will park and then sit there for three to four hours at a time blocking half of the road. Sometimes they don’t even unload, they just park and sit there, which obviously means they’re not restocking the store.

That’s where it affects me and my neighbors. I live in that building and work from home; I have to sit and listen to a monster truck’s engine and air conditioning units for half of my day. DC drivers aren’t known for their patience so it’s a constant stream of honking and occasional yelling. Columbia Heights is energetic enough without this, thank you.

The people who use the H busses and the Circulator are affected as a truck will make it difficult for a bus to pass. I’ve seen the whole thing completely jammed up on a few occasions as a bus will get stuck and then block 14th St southbound as well as Columbia Road. The day an ambulance got stuck in that mess wasn’t fun, I can only hope the person inside was OK after the lengthy delay to move on.

I’ve talked to 7-11 and they shrug or give platitudes that it’ll be moved soon. Calls to 911 and MPD haven’t worked so far. Calls to 311 and the Parking department haven’t worked either. My first thought was the WMATA might have some influence on asking law enforcement to keep the road clear but complaining about them not being proactive is like berating a badly socialized dog for going through the garbage.

In the grand scheme of things it’s just an inconvenience but it inconveniences a lot of people. What city department can keep the roadway clear? If this was a parked car it would be ticketed and towed in no time at all.”

Dupont Circle Updates – 15th Street Bike Lane Repaving and Timing Lights for Pedestrian Crossing

By Prince Of Petworth

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In mid-June we learned pedestrians would soon be able to cross Dupont Circle streets without waiting in the median, plus the 15th Street bike lanes would get repaved. Regarding the lights for pedestrians – I’m told they hope to synchronize the lights by the end of July. And with a bit more specificity ANC Rep @KevDC tweeted:

“Repaving of 15th St NW Bike Lane set to begin a week from Monday (7/22) #ANC2B”

Random Awesomeness – Tango Dancing at Freedom Plaza

By Prince Of Petworth

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“Dear PoPville,

We bumped into a bunch of folks tangoing on Freedom Plaza last night [after the AFIDocs screening of the fabulous “Muscle Shoals” at American History]. Truly a variety of skills on display. Some were intensely sweaty, many had much of the flourish, few had the basics down, most looked like they were having fun.”

Awesome.

Dear PoPville – “Attempted attack on my wife and I on Friday at about 5:30 PM on 14th and Park”

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user rosiedawn

“Dear PoPville,

At about 5:45 PM on Friday night (June 21), my wife and I were walking down 14th street toward the metro and were approaching Park Road. We were just at about the front door of Z Burger on 14th street when we both noticed a suspicious male staring at us as we we were walking. He was maybe 3 feet from the Z Burger entrance where we were closer to Wells Fargo entrance but much closer to the right side of the sidewalk, close to the street.

We both didn’t know we sensed something strange about this guy until my wife and I talked after the incident once we were safe. Basically, “Yeah I noticed him too when we were walking but didn’t think that was going to happen.”

As we were approaching him, I started to move my wife and I closer and closer to the right hand side of the sidewalk as I saw the man keep staring at us and walking slowly towards us. Again, something seemed strange and my instincts kicked in.

I would say there were probably easily 100 people crowded on the sidewalk in every direction as this was as a very busy time on Friday night as the “square” in front of the Pollo Campero and the yogurt shop was packed and people walking “with” us and past us on 14th as usual.

As we got closer to the Z Burger, he came sprinting at us with what I can only describe as a 1000 yard stare in his eyes – as if he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. It was very scary. I yelled at my wife to run, and I shielded her from him as we moved away. He came charging at me, and I put my hands out instinctually and yelled as loud as I could at him. My hope was I could startle him as well and prepare to physically defend myself if he kept charging. (more…)

Man Plants Flowers at Dupont North Metro Entrance, Metro says this is not Kosher, Change.org Petition Launched

By Prince Of Petworth

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Thanks to a reader for sending this link from Let My Flowers Grow:

Dear Metro Officials:

As you may not know, after considerable expense of my time and money and at some cost to the peace in our home, I planted over a thousand flowers at the Dupont Circle Metro North Station. Metro ordered me to Stop. If I stop, the flowers will die before they bloom.

Tears are in my eyes as I write this letter with a very heavy heart. I was stunned and saddened by your Fed Ex response that I would face “arrest, fines and imprisonment” if I continued to tend to the thousand flowers I planted at the Dupont Circle Metro North Station.

Your Order that I “cease and desist with this activity immediately” seems a little inappropriate for this situation. The previously abandoned and filthy terraced garden squares had been neglected for years. They did not appear to be high on your list of priorities, in spite of the considerable efforts Metro expends elsewhere to make their properties attractive.

Out of the goodness of my heart, last Fall I planted over 100 bulbs in the very same neglected garden squares. Months later they bloomed, sharing their joy and beauty with fellow Metro Riders.

This Spring I returned. I weeded and two trash bags were filled with more than 300 discarded cigarette butts, shards of glass, wads of gum, tree branches and assorted fast food restaurant garbage.

But when your representative writes that Metro wants to explore “affordable and sustainable” ways to improve the station’s appearance, I wonder what you have in mind and on what time table?

What could be more “affordable” to Metro than an artist who gives away a garden of a thousand flowers? What could be more “sustainable” than an artist who’s willing to provide the labor this Summer and Fall to water and care for the garden and then clean up when everything is brown and dead after our First Frost?

Gardening on those terraces is no more physically challenging than hiking on the Billy Goat Trail near Great Falls, MD or Old Rag in Virginia. I respectfully disagree that this performance art piece “endangers not only yourself but the public as well.” Nevertheless, I offered to sign a waiver to hold Metro harmless as I recognize your concerns are part of the fear filled society we currently live in. But flowers are nature’s way of affirming how beautiful life can be.

During this time when our country faces numerous challenges, it does not makes sense to discourage and delay the creation of something beautiful. Nevertheless, I understand your reluctance and am willing to forgo re-entering the site and installing the whimsical sculptures and trellises for the flowers to climb up and cover…. if I can merely have watering rights.

As a working solution which will create a win win situation for Metro, its riders and the flowers, I propose to stand outside the four foot tall concrete wall that encircles the station and water the flowers from the flat sidewalk that everyone walks on. A local vendor has volunteered to share his truck which can deliver 400 gallons of water at a time.

I have received assistance and moral support from many individuals and organizations. People I don’t know have offered heartfelt thanks, notes of appreciation and offers of assistance. A Swiss Embassy official thinks I should “get an award”. Someone at the National Gallery of Art understands. The Downtown Cluster of Congregations, the Israeli Embassy, GlobalWaterDances.org, Marylee Hardenbergh, an employee at Razoo.org, Mike Barnes, David Catania’s staff, Bob Halligan, Joanne Newhouse, Dan Oran, Leon Wieseltier, Barry Louis Polisar (the person who wrote the theme song to the movie “Juno”), Jackson Carnes of the Dupont Historic Main Street organization, and even a Hollywood Producer so far.

In light of this spontaneous groundswell of support I intend to actively gather support with a petition.

I hope you’ll accept a win win solution and allow me watering rights. I do not wish my flowers to die when the inevitable heat returns to Washington.

I am willing to work with you to explore long term solutions to making the Dupont North Station entrance more attractive.

Sincerely,
Henry Docter

The world is not as bad as it is often portrayed in the news. This is an opportunity for all of us to make something beautiful.

You can see the Change.org petition here.

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Dear PoPville – Neighborhood Nuisance or Something More?

By Prince Of Petworth

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Dear PoPville,

I am wondering whether blocking a parking spot as seen below is legal. Everyday they block their parking spot! [in Ledroit Park] Would the cops do anything and what would someone report as the problem? Any thoughts on what if anything can be done?

Ed. Note: We’ve previously spoken about parking spot savers in the winter (back when we used to get snow and folks would shovel out a spot) but I’ve never heard of folks saving spots like this in other times of year.

DC Public Pools Opening for Memorial Day Weekend, Though Full Hours Will Start June 24

By Prince Of Petworth

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Banneker Pool; 2500 Georgia Avenue, NW

Sorta great news for swim fans. Most outdoor pools will open this memorial day weekend. Banneker hours will be:

Mon – Fri 1:00pm – 8:00pm; Lap Swim Mon – Fri 8:00am – 10:00am; Sat – Sun 12:00pm – 6:00pm. Closed Thursdays.

Opening for weekend operations only starting May 25, 2013. Open Monday May 27, 2013 for Memorial Day. Full operational hours starting Monday June 24, 2013

You can find a list of all DPR pools here.

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Residents of the Dorchester House Want Pile Driving Pushed from 7am to 8:30am – Reasonable?

By Prince Of Petworth


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Part of a letter from The Dorchester Residents Alliance to Borger Management:

Residents of the Dorchester House Apartments received notice on May 10, 2013 that the pile driving phase of the expansion project would, after a short delay, begin today. The notice stated that “there will be a significant amount of loud noise” starting at 7:00 a.m. and lasting approximately three to four weeks. The notice also invites residents to contact Borger Management regarding concerns that pertain to the expansion project.

To further minimize the impacts of noise on residents and the community, we respectfully request that the Dorchester House and Clark Construction delay the start of pile driving until 8:30 a.m. on weekdays. In past construction projects, the Dorchester House and Borger Management have observed a policy of delaying start times of construction inside the building until 8:30 a.m. on weekdays. The purpose of this policy was to limit disruptions caused by construction noise occurring within close proximity of residents’ homes.

Although pile driving is a necessary part of the construction process that provides foundation support for future buildings, the noise created through this process is disruptive to the residential community near the expansion project. Given the close proximity of the expansion project to our homes, delaying the pile driving to 8:30 a.m. would be a reasonable accommodation—consistent with past practices— that the Dorchester House and Clark Construction should take to minimize the impact on
hundreds of residents affected by expansion project.

Do you think requesting the start time from 7am to 8:30am is reasonable?

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