quality of life

Dear PoPville – Check Out This Letter

By Prince Of Petworth


Click to enlarge

Dear PoPville,

My boyfriend and I biked home to my place Saturday night around 10 pm. We both had headlights and tail lights on our bicycles. An older lady in a white sedan and a younger lady in the passenger seat pulled up in front of m yhouse (in the bike lane no less) and asked, “Ma’am, can I have a word with you?”

I asked her what the problem was, and she told me she almost hit me because I had no front light. I pointed to my headlight which was still on, and told her I DO have a front light. She repeated that I needed to get a front light because she couldn’t see me, and only saw me at the last instant because of the gentleman’s light. My boyfriend and I both said, “I/she have/has a light” and pointed to the light on my bike, which was still on and blinking, because we had literally just gotten to my front door. She responded, “Well, you need to get a light, because you didn’t have one.”

Truly bizzare. After we told her again that I have a light, she again said I needed to get a light because she couldn’t see me. So I said, “Well, I don’t know what to tell ya; maybe get some glasses?” We then just went inside.

By 9:30 am, we found this letter (attached) taped to our front door. She had apparently rooted through my mail to find first names (and didn’t find mine, by the way), went home to type up this letter, and came BACK to post it on my door.

Dear PoPville – How Do We File A Complaint?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user ep_jhu

Dear PoPville,

How does a neighbor or small group of neighbors go about filing a complaint regarding a local business located in that said community and get results?

There is a particular daytime business (not a restaurant or bar) that is often open early mornings 5-6am and many times doesn’t close up until 10 or 11pm at night -even on the weekends. The issue isn’t the hours of operation as much as the noise that is created at the odd hours by trucks, workers, and trash compactors. Are businesses subject to certain operating hours according to their nature and if so how can we find out what this place’s is?

The second problem with this place is the absurd amount of trash that it leaves on the premises on eventually blows into the neighborhood. This has been addressed before and a half-hearted effort has been made to clean it, but days later it is back to its original state of filth. The largest concern is a significant pile of rubbish accumulating behind the trash compactor which now attracts a a lot of rats.

I understand that any person who moved into the neighborhood should understand the designation of zones for commercial/residential and I fully respect that, but this is more of a struggle of how to live in harmony with a business that doesn’t seem to be operating with respect to the neighborhood and possibly in violation of the law (clearly with the trash portion).

Any advise on how to resolve this without direct contact with the company (since we’ve already attempted that with no success) would be appreciated.

Dear PoPville – Disgusting Bus Stop

By Prince Of Petworth

Dear PoPville,

This was the scene at the bus stop on 14th across from Target in Columbia Heights this morning. It’s not at all unusual to see that stop trashed. The photo doesn’t capture the smell of urine. (Really? People will pee at a bus stop at a busy intersection in plain view of everyone?) I used to live near Nationals Park, and the Capitol Riverfront folks did a good job keeping public spaces tidy and the atmosphere around the Metro stops friendly. Maybe Target, Best Buy, Chipotle, the banks, and other businesses in Columbia Heights should pony up for something similar. ‘Cause scenes like this sure don’t make me want to live, do business, or wait for the bus in the neighborhood.

Saga of Hank’s Oyster Bar’s Outdoor Seating Continues

By Prince Of Petworth


1624 Q Street, NW

From a press release on June 9th:

Popular and award-winning Dupont Circle restaurant Hank’s Oyster Bar was informed by Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) investigators on Friday evening, June 8, that the establishment would be required to shut down operation of half of its outdoor dining patio pending review of a prior ABC Board decision approving termination of a “Voluntary Agreement” with six area residents.

The sudden and unexpected order came without prior notification and in advance of an ABC Board hearing on the matter scheduled for Wednesday, June 13. The visit by agency investigators came in response to complaints by the small group of original licensing objectors.

The ABC Board’s decision in November 2010 to terminate certain operating restrictions imposed as a result of lengthy negotiations by the business with a small group of six alcohol-licensing opponents had been legally challenged by the protestors. The establishment, located near the corner of 17th and Q streets, N.W., has encountered multiple licensing protests by the ad hoc group since opening in 2005 despite operating without violation of city regulations and being supported by the overwhelming majority of neighborhood residents.

On May 17 the District Court of Appeals directed the ABC Board to review its decision to ensure that all requirements of the termination process had been met, noting that the regulatory language specifying termination standards was poorly written and difficult to understand. Although the appeals court had issued the ruling over three weeks ago, no directive had been issued by either the court or the city requiring any action by the restaurant pending city agency review.

“Having our popular outdoor dining area suddenly shut down without advance warning and as a result of a spurious complaint by the small group of only six objectors who have been harassing the business since we opened seven years ago is shocking,” said Leeds, who was on-site at the time of the surprise visit by city inspectors. “We haven’t even had our ABC Board hearing on this ongoing nuisance protest,” she continued, “and to be told as the summer season begins that we have to eliminate half of our patio seating is unwarranted and unfair.”

Although the matter had been previously scheduled to come before the ABC Board at a meeting next week, resolution of the licensing issue may take a number of weeks or months.

“Quite frankly,” Leeds added, “it is long overdue for the city government to decide whether it is going to continue to allow small gangs of disgruntled residents opposing every liquor license application to delay and destroy progress by the small business community in providing the social amenities desired by local residents in our neighborhoods.”

In a statement to the neighborhood released on Saturday, Leeds indicated “the right of a group of five residents to hold up a license application should be eliminated from the law. Otherwise the situation I find myself in will undoubtedly occur again.”

The prominent and respected local businesswoman and chef, owner of Hank’s Oyster Bar locations in both Dupont Circle and Old Town Alexandria (Va.), plans to open a third location this summer on Capitol Hill at 633 Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E.

Leeds released an open letter to the Dupont Circle community over the weekend.

Full letter after the jump. (more…)

Friday Question of the Day – Do You Agree With Old City Green?

By Prince Of Petworth

Old City Green is located on the southwest corner of 9th and N St, NW.

Dear PoPville,

We here at OLD CITY green wanted to let you know about some recent developments in our journey as a small business and community gathering space. As you may have heard, we were recently informed that we are losing our lease on this space at the end of August. We had been verbally told in the winter that we had two years on the lot, but a month later that was changed to just a five month lease.

Although our landlord (Douglas Development) has been very kind over the years and has gone out of their way to help us stay afloat, this short notice has a negative impact on our survival as a business and community green space. Douglas Development and CAS Riegler are joining forces to start developing a 5 story condo/mixed use building on our spot beginning fall of this year.

We have been essentially left out of the conversation, unable to compete with the multi-million dollar project slated to take place. Moving plants and beehives in the middle of summer takes its toll. Ideally, a green business would relocate in the off season to minimize loss. Having to move before Christmas, means 30% of our yearly revenue is at stake. We very much want to stay in the neighborhood as we feel that we have become a community space that is more than just a retail store. However, we are struggling to find an affordable place to buy or rent.

OLD CITY green has been called the green beating heart of the community, and as of yet our green heart has no place to go. OLD CITY green has not only provided product, but has become an educational and neighborhood gathering space as well.

Here are a few examples of how we have been a part of the community over the years:

-“Best New Shaw Business” 2009 Shaw Main Streets
-Washington City Paper’s “Best Garden Store” of 2011
-“Shaw Community Partner Award” 2011 Shaw Main Streets
-Approx. 4,000 flower bulbs over a period of 4 years planted in Shaw tree boxes during our annual “Tulip Planting” event
-4 Easter egg hunts, 8 movie nights, and a Halloween haunted garden event for neighborhood kids
-Employing teens from the neighborhood
-Teaching nutritional health and local food education in DC high school
-Teaching 12 gardening and nutrition workshops for clients at Bread for the City
-Hiring local musicians to play on site for our neighbors and customers
-Educational field trips for DC schools
-Free workshops (Seed bomb making, herbal tea, fall vegetable planting, native landscaping)
-Hosting neighborhood garden tours
– A certified Butterfly Way Station
-Offered approx. $30,000 in discounts and free product to neighborhood gardeners, local businesses and DC non-profits
-Hosted a Community Supported Agriculture program for about 100 Shaw households for three years running
-Member of “Live Green” and “Think Local First”
-Worked with non profit organizations such as Bread for the City, DC Greenworks, Casey Trees, City Blossoms, and the Neighborhood Farm Initiative
-Hosted fundraisers for So Others Might Eat, N St. Village, Shaw Main Streets, DC Children First,Metro Teen Aids, and Wangari Gardens
-Supporting and working with other local small businesses such as Chatman’s Bakery, Seasonal Pantry, Longview Gallery, Wagtime, Azi’s Cafe, etc.
-Hosting volunteer teams for beautification of the neighborhood
-Donations of labor, time and product to local churches such as Shiloh Baptist Church with Seaton Green, Salem Baptist Church, and The Immaculate Conception

We don’t write this to victimize ourselves, but we feel that we are an example of a bigger issue going on here. Large condos are popping up all over the place, perpetuating the “building up, not building community” problem of gentrification. If developers are going to build more condos and apartments and bring in more people, there needs to be a place for people to go to for their “green” and other specialty item needs. As local, independent businesses are pushed out of the inner city, the systemic response is to go to the big box stores (Home Depot, Costco, Target, WalMart), which take money and good paying jobs away from the local economy.

There will be a public hearing about our lot on June 26th at 9:30 in 220-S, 1 Judiciary Square, 441 4th St., NW.

It’s not easy being green,
The OLD CITY green team

Dear PoPville – How Do We Get an Organized Clean Team?

By Prince Of Petworth

Dear PoPville,

I’m constantly shocked at how dirty the U St. area between 15 st and 7 st gets with trash. It seems to be mostly caused by the foot traffic and draw of the local businesses/bars. How do we do something similar to the “golden triangle” or “waterfront” where they have greeters and people who help keep the area clean. Is that something the local residents and businesses pay for?

Dear PoPville – Sherman Circle Getting Street Lights – Should It?

By Prince Of Petworth


Sherman Circle, intersection of Illinois Avenue, Kansas Avenue, 7th Street, and Crittenden Street NW

Dear PoPville,

I just saw two workers putting little orange flags in the ground in Sherman Circle. They said they are going to install “21 street lights.” I’m not aware of any problems in Sherman Circle since the terrible homicide a couple of years ago, and I think Sherman Circle is pretty much perfect as it is, so I worry that it will look like a Christmas Tree after this is done. Does anybody know how bright the lights will be? How many other (traffic circle) parks around the city are lighted? I know there was demand for this a while back, but I spend a lot of time in Sherman Circle, and it doesn’t seem necessary anymore. I wonder what PoPville thinks?

Frightening Dog Attack on the 1100 Block of 8th St, NE

By Prince Of Petworth


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From the MPD-1D listserv:

I wanted to pass this message along not only in my capacity as PSA 104 Citizen Co-Coordinator, but also as a concerned neighbor. Tonight, my wife and I were walking with our 9-month-old son and our dog. As we rounded the corner on 8th St NE, at 8th and L, we were immediately spotted by an extremely large dog who then charged us from nearly 10 houses away. This and another dog were off leash, sitting on the porch of a house in the middle of the 1100 block of 8th St NE. The dog was white in color, probably 120 pound American Bulldog (it made our St. Bernard mix look small). Fortunately, after kicking, screaming, and (stupidly) pulling the dog off of our dog, we were able to escape the situation. A number of neighbors and passersby also rushed to assist.

It was brought to my attention by responding MPD officers that this is not an isolated incident for this address. The owners of these dogs have been cited multiple times, but unfortunately the dogs are still there (perhaps more unfortunate that the owners are still there).

So, my messages are to 1) avoid this block if you are walking your dogs or children; and 2) if you experience anything remotely like this incident, please call 911, regardless of whether you or your dog were hurt. In this case, it is very important that there are multiple incidents on file in trying to deal with a problem property and irresponsible pet owners.

Dear PoPville – What Are Effective Responses to a Litterer?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

Dear PoPville,

In light of the recent assault at 14th and W Streets by a man who had been asked to pick up his litter, I suggest you open a thread on how to address someone who has thrown trash on the ground. I simply say, “Hey, I respect you and wouldn’t throw my trash in front of where you live. Would you mind returning the same respect to me, and put that in a garbage can?” Maybe I’ve just been lucky, but this line has worked on each of three occasions when I’ve used it. It prevents what is a simple appeal to civic duty from sounding like a command.

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