Awesome.
quality of life
Johnna Rowe is the author of the great food blog Johnna Knows Good Food.
Living in DC for over 10 years now, I thought I knew everything there was to know about each and every neighborhood. Funny, but I found out just a little over a year ago how little I really know about this town. Having spent many of my years on Connecticut Avenue in the upper Northwest neighborhood of Vann Ness/UDC, I had developed the kind of comfort level that made me never want to leave that area. Quiet, young professionals everywhere and a few Metro stops from work…why would I ever leave?? That was my mindset until I began the house hunt in the District of Columbia.
For a little over a year, I visited every neighborhood in the District looking for my dream home. My journey began with my upper Northwest neighborhood but I soon got a tip to branch out my search to the Southwest quadrant of D.C. My reluctance stepped in because Southwest is still in the transition phases of becoming a more vibrant neighborhood. The minute I stepped in my new place, all of that reluctance went right out the window. Besides the bang for your buck, the neighborhood is close to practically every major destination in the city. The National Mall, The Wharf, Arena Stage and Eastern Market lie right at your fingertips.
There were so many pluses to living on Connecticut Avenue, but I soon found out Southwest has its own handful of wonderful new experiences in store. Offering a quiet, serene vibe where you are literally minutes away from the bustle of Downtown DC, the neighborhood has attracted residents from all cultures and ethnicities. Apparently, someone else sees my vision for this neighborhood because there is a massive renovation plan set in place for the Southwest waterfront in 2013.
At this point, I know I sound like a cheerleader flaunting the SW letters but I am truly in love with this quadrant. Perhaps it’s the nights I am walking from Downtown DC and look up to find The Capitol standing on my left hand side and the Washington Monument on my right. Perhaps it’s the tingly feeling I get when I realize I can walk to a Nats game and avoid the parking or Metro crowds. It could be a host of reasons, but one thing is for sure: I made the right decision.
If you’d like to share some love of your neighborhood – send an email to princeofpetworth(at)gmail with the ‘neighborhood love’ in the subject line.
From the Adams Morgan listserv:
Has anyone dealt with the issue of homeless folks straying onto their property, loitering, and otherwise taking care of their personal business. We live in a 24-unit building. My poor neighbor has had to resort to shoveling excrement to keep it from getting under our cars and our feet. It’s disgusting and it’s got to stop…
We’ve tried to talk to them, and most times they listen. But two of them sometimes get belligerent, and they almost all keep coming BACK!!
What are our legal options here? Would a restraining order work? Are there other legal things we could do?
Are there other things we can do at the back of the property to dissuade homeless (and for that matter drunk people) from using the area around our trash and recycling bins as public bathrooms? Does signage about monitoring or fines work?
We are at our wit’s end.
HELP!
Photo by PoPville reader Wayan
Dear PoPville,
Thank you Mr. Demolition Man for clearing out the rot and debris of 409 Varnum Street NW. An eyesore for a decade, then vacant for a year, you are a welcome sight to neighbors and the city at large. Sad will be the rodents and dealers, evicted from their squat as the community cheers. Pay no mind to those who bemoan change, it’s the only constant in the city, and you are the beneficial agent.
Photo by PoPville flickr user gc-dc
Dear PoPville,
A notice/reminder that this upcoming Saturday, September 22, 2012, there is an Aryan Nation march and protest that is organizing and starting at Lincoln Park.
Needless to say, this is troubling to have in our community but apparently free speech is free speech.
The organizers have a website which, along with terms associated with racism and bigotry, has info for attendees:
The plans are to gather at RFK stadium located at 2400 E Capitol St NE, Washington, DC 20003 at 11AM Saturday September 22nd. Cars will be parked at RFK Stadium and watched over by D.C. Metro Police. Aryan Nations is providing a passenger bus escort to and from the gathering at Lincoln Park and Union Square Reflecting Pool for all who care to attend and march with us this day. Be there and stand up for our kinsmen in South Africa.
No word on counter-protests.
Ugh.
A counter-protest has been organized called STAY AWAKE IN FRIENDSHIP:
Calling on neighbors of all colors, creeds, kinds…
STAY AWAKE IN FRIENDSHIP, September 22, 2012Dispel ugliness with friendship
WITHOUT IMPEDING ANYONE in exercise of rights.Dispel outside, divisive forces
with the power of our own community!****This project IS NOT MEANT TO IMPEDE anyone, however hateful, from exercising their legal rights to gather and march.****
“The Church of Jesus Christ Christian”/Aryan Nations — long recognized as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-files/groups/aryan-nations — is “Calling on White America to a Day of Awakening.” THEIR EVENT is organized for Sep. 22, beginning at noon, with activities in Lincoln Park and a march to the Capital. STAY AWAKE IN FRIENDSHIP IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THESE HATE GROUPS.
INSTEAD, neighbors and friends of Lincoln Park CALL ON ALL
to do two things:1) Make use of the park as usual, or make a special visit….
Lincoln Park, 11th & East Capital Streets, Washington, DC
Gather, beginning at 10 a.m.
ENJOY THE PARK AND THE COMPANY2) Remember the children’s song: “Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver. The other gold.”?
In that spirit, we ask everyone — individuals, merchants, houses of worship — across Washington, DC to WEAR OR DISPLAY GOLD AND SILVER as a sign of friendship and unity.3) Sep. 22 is also Shabbat Shuva — a day set aside in the Jewish calendar to help prepare for the upcoming Day of Atonement. All interested in this observance are invited to pray and learn — in the park or elsewhere — with special attention to combating bigotry and hatred.
“Calling on White America to a Day of Awakening” is being organized by the “Church of Jesus Christ Christian”/Aryan Nations (http://southafricaproject.info/)
Stay Awake in Friendship IS NOT ASSOCIATED with these hate groups. Stay Awake in Friendship IS NOT ASSOCIATED with those who are trying to impede the hate group.
Photo by PoPville flickr user slightlyworn
Dear PoPville,
When do you/the readers call the police on neighborhood activity, and when do you just chalk it up to living in a “transitional” neighborhood? I’ve lived in my house for about five years, and have heard loud arguments/hooliganism/crazy people on my corner almost weekly. Tonight started with a heated and prolonged domestic dispute. I looked out of the window when it sounded like the woman was being hit, and while I couldn’t see that couple, I did see two (unrelated?) men come bolting out of an alley, then stop in the street and hurl rocks at someone/something on the other side. I’m hesitant to bother the police unless someone’s clearly being hurt, but erred on the side of caution and called 911.
The dispatcher was appreciative and two squad cars arrived in under 10 minutes…which is probably a reasonable response rate, but long enough that everyone had disappeared. I felt a little silly for having wasted their time. Do you think the police appreciate this kind of heads up, or is it better to just let it work itself out? I don’t believe anything has escalated to shootings/stabbings/extensive property damage, so maybe I’m just overreacting?
Dear PoPville,
Second time this week that somebody has cut off the heads of our sunflowers on 14th Street, NW. Saturday’s theft was one that was just starting to bloom. Last night is was a large head that was drying out. Really sucks that you can’t have a garden in a public space that doesn’t get vandalized. So many people have enjoyed these flowers. It’s really disheartening.
Very frustrating. This garden was featured as garden of the day back in June.
Photo by PoPville flickr user pablo.raw
From DDOT:
The District of Columbia has been designated as a Gold Walk Friendly Community (WFC) by the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center. The Gold designation puts the District in select company with the most pedestrian friendly cities in the nation.
“We have an extra bounce in our step today as we celebrate our Gold status,” said Mayor Vincent C. Gray. “It validates the work we have already done to promote walking and other clean modes of transportation, and it shows we’re on the right path to creating a more Sustainable DC.”
One of the goals of the Mayor’s Sustainable DC Vision Plan is for at least 75% of all trips originating in the city to be by walking, biking, transit or other clean transportation alternative by the year 2032.
In recognizing the District as a Walk Friendly Community, the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC) said “the walking and transit mode share are extraordinary and some of the best in the nation.”
The PBIC also praised the District’s Pedestrian Master Plan, sidewalk design standards and Public Realm Design Manual; said the city’s traffic signals “show a high level of sophistication and awareness for all road users”; recognized DDOT for having a full-time pedestrian coordinator and for its commitment to public input; and singled out the Great Streets Initiative, Livability Studies, and the 11th Street Bridge project as model programs and projects. In addition, DDOT was applauded for providing training on pedestrian issues to planning and design staff and even police officers and transit operators. Recognition was also given to MPD for its pedestrian safety enforcement efforts, in particular those conducted in conjunction with the regional Street Smart safety awareness campaign.
“The combined efforts of our pedestrian and bicycle programs are paying off,” said DDOT Director Terry Bellamy. “We’ve seen a remarkable drop in the number of fatal crashes involving pedestrians over the past 2 years, and we will continue to make improvements so that our streets are even safer for walkers and all users.”
The District is one of nine communities recognized today, and the only one designated as a Gold-level Walk Friendly Community. The Walk Friendly Community designation, awarded from bronze to platinum, is given to applicant communities that have demonstrated a commitment to improving and sustaining walkability and pedestrian safety through comprehensive programs, plans and policies. To date, 33 communities in the U.S. have been designated as Walk Friendly Communities, and only one, Seattle, Washington, has earned the Platinum-level designation.
Photo by PoPville flickr user Rukasu1
Hope everyone has a great 3-day weekend!
And don’t forget tonight is your last chance to enjoy Jazz in the Sculpture Garden with Dixie Power Trio (zydeco, Cajun and Louisiana funk) August 31 from 5:00 to 8:30.
And don’t forget to go swimming too!
See all of tonight’s and the weekend’s events here. To add your event, click the events tab up top and then click “add an event”. You can add concerts, museum/gallery exhibits, fundraisers, sporting events, bike rides etc. You can add anything you think will be of interest to PoPville.
Click image to enlarge
Dear PoPville,
For a few years now, the Dorchester House (at 16th and Kalorama) has been undergoing renovations and policy changes. Most recently, the building and it’s management company decided that residents who were entering or exiting the building with their bicycles were required to use only the basement or side entrance and were prohibited from using the main lobby entrance. Their reasoning is that bicycles are allegedly messing up their new carpet (even though many, many more dirty feet come trekking through that lobby).
They have also indicated that anyone caught violating this policy would first receive a written warning, followed by a $200 fine and (on a third offense) eviction.
My question: Is this a legal, “reasonable policy” change and has anyone else ever experienced this type of restriction on residents with bicycles?