Georgia Ave

Dear PoPville – Protesting the De-funding of Georgia Ave Great Streets

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo of ‘Park Rd. & Georgia Ave., NW’ by PoPville flickr user rockcreek

“Dear PoPville,

Your readers may be interested in an effort to reverse Mayor Gray’s decision to remove the remaining $1.44M from the Georgia Avenue Great Streets Project. This is an area, which includes the storefronts around Howard University that has receive countless unfulfilled promises for development and assistance over the years.

The Great Streets Project has a history of recouping costs through increased tax revenues in just a short number of years. To me, it just seems like another example of poor judgment from the Mayor’s office. There is an opportunity to change course, though. As the Washington Business Journal reports, “D.C. Council members Jim Graham, D-Ward 1, and Muriel Bowser, D-Ward 4, …issued a joint disapproval, delaying the funding move until after the council’s summer recess”.

What is Georgia Avenue Great Streets? Great Streets funds were set aside to improve the streetscape of Georgia Avenue including lighting, trees, bicycle lanes, traffic control, and sidewalks. The Lower Georgia Avenue segment, from Otis Place to Florida Avenue was never implemented and funding for this area has been moved to projects in other parts of the city. Mayor Gray has just proposed moving the remaining $1.44 million to a project in NE.

What does the resolution I’m signing say? The resolution issues a strong and formal protest of the Mayor’s actions and requests a meeting with the Mayor’s office and the DC Department of Transportation to discuss projects that will benefit the residents and small businesses of Lower Georgia Avenue.

You can sign the petition online here.”

Dear PoP – Jam Down Cafe Possibly Closing at 3303 Georgia Ave, NW in September

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I only recently discovered Jam Down Cafe on Georgia Ave & Lamont. It’s a Jamaican restaurant/juicebar that serves the greatest juice in the world (mango+guanabana+ginger anyone?) and the couple who own and run it, Mika and Phil, are incredibly friendly and hardworking. Unfortunately, they might have to close soon due to the economic troubles plaguing just about everybody, but they’re trying to make it to September. They’ve put so much love and time into the place, and the food is seriously delicious. Wanted to alert your readers to this great spot to see if we can try to convince them to stick around, they’re part of what makes the neighborhood great!”

Jam Down opened up back in Aug. ’09. You can see their menu here.

Caribbean Carnival Community Meeting Today, July 27th at 6pm

By Prince Of Petworth

Thanks to all the readers who forwarded this email:

Caribbean Carnival, a cultural festival that has been happening annually for 19 years, was enjoyed by many thousands this year, but was also the subject of much debate. The shortened route, financial issues, and aggressive police tactics sent mixed messages to Carnival organizers and the community. Several fights that occurred raised safety concerns from the community. Councilmember Graham, Councilmember Bowser, the MPD and the Mayor’s office have publicly expressed their desire to see the Carnival continue and the full route restored but there are serious issues that must be overcome.

The Georgia Avenue Community Development Task Force has invited Councilmember Jim Graham (on travel but sending a representative), Councilmember Bowser (unconfirmed), MPD Chief Lanier (confirmed), and DC Caribbean Carnival Director Loughton Sargeant (confirmed) to our next meeting on Wednesday July 27th at 6:00pm at the G II Restaurant and Lounge at 2632 Georgia Avenue (corner of Georgia and Fairmont) to discuss the issues that occurred at this event and ways the community can be more involved in its planning and execution.

For background on some of the issues regarding this year’s Carnival, you can listen to a Town Hall meeting on the Carnival conducted Saturday July 16th broadcast live on WPFW. The archived show can be heard by going here and scrolling down to “Caribbeana” broadcast on Saturday, July 16, 2011 7:00 pm. The Town Hall was hosted by WPFW’s Gloria Minott, with panelists Paul Quander, Deputy Mayor of Public Safety and Justice, Councilmember Bowser, Councilmember Graham, MPD Assistant Chief Lamar Green, Claude Barrington of the DC Caribbean Carnival and others.


Photo by PoPville Flickr user yostinator

Four People Shot and One Stabbed at Caribbean Festival – MPD says Shooting Not Related to Festival

By Prince Of Petworth

I’m hearing multiple reports of how many people were shot but it is not clear to me how many people. It seems at least one person has died but that is not confirmed. It appears that there may have been a stabbing as well. DCfireems tweets:

“update – shootings/stabbings – EMS evaluated & transportsed total 6 inj – Ga Av from 2 locations – Ga & Gresham Pl and Ga & Bryant st NW”

This happened around 5:20pm Sat. afternoon.

Will update when more info becomes available.

UPDATE:

There was a stabbing at 430pm at Georgia Ave and W St, NW with one arrest.

4 people were shot at 515pm at Georgia Ave and Gresham St, NW (one has been pronounced)

One domestic assault with arrest at 530pm at Georgia Ave and Fairmont St, NW.

There was a big fight at Georgia and New Hampshire Ave, NW in front of the CVS with one young male knocking out another.

A reader writes about the fight and sends in video:

“ran out to the balcony and saw two groups running towards cvs. guy was being beaten by two people until he lost consciousness. i called the cops, who were in the area anyway, and it looks like the victim was ok.”

The Washington Post reports:

Assistant D.C. Police Chief Diane Groomes said the shooting had no connection to the festival or the university. Investigators think it stemmed from a neighborhood issue, she said.

Three of the four shooting victims were from outside the neighborhood, police officials said.


View Larger Map

The 5pm Post – DC Caribbean Festival Parade Sat. June 25th!

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Blinkofanaye

You can get a taste of what it will look like here.

Parade starts at Kansas Avenue at 11:00 a.m. and goes south on Georgia Avenue.

For those concerned with street closings, following is info from MPD:

The 2011 Caribbean Festival and Parade

(Washington, DC)-The Metropolitan Police Department would like to inform the public that the 2011 Caribbean Festival and Parade are scheduled to be held on Saturday, June 25, 2011. In order to facilitate this event, there will be areas closed to vehicular traffic.

The following street closings will begin at 6:00 am and are expected to reopen at approximately 4:00 pm.

Parade Staging area:
Upshur Street NW from Georgia Avenue, NW to 13th Street
Iowa Avenue NW from Georgia Ave to Allison Street NW
Georgia Avenue NW from Kansas Ave to Allison Street NW

Parade Route:
Georgia Avenue NW from Kansas Avenue to Florida Avenue, NW

Festival Perimeter area:
The following street closings will begin at 6:00 am and are expected to reopen at approximately 9:00 pm

9th Street NW from Florida Avenue northbound to end of circle
(By the Sherman tower dorms of Howard University)
8th Street NW from V St to Barry Place
Barry Place NW from Georgia Avenue to Sherman Avenue

Georgia Ave News: GII Restaurant and Lounge is Dead. Long Live GII/The Proof Restaurant and Lounge + New Breakfast All Day Option at Ma Ma’s

By Prince Of Petworth

Back in very early March a reader noted that GII had been closed for a while at 2632 Georgia Ave NW. I just saw some new menus and a new alcohol application has gone up on their window:

The alcohol application says:

” Neighborhood restaurant, offering American style cuisine, Entertainment to include
occasional acoustic Jazz bands, karaoke, open mike and DJ. Capacity 86 Total load 100″

I feel like I’ve been burned a few times with this place but I’m cautiously optimistic that some “acoustic Jazz bands” could be pretty cool.

And quick side note: in other Georgia Ave, NW news – Ma Ma’s Southern Cuisine located at 3118 Georgia Ave, NW is now serving Breakfast all day. Sadly they were closed at 11am on Sat. when I would’ve enjoyed some breakfast… But seriously, I’m a huge fan of breakfast all day options – I look forward to trying them out.

Former Pharmacy then Campaign Office to Become a Liquor Store on Georgia Ave

By Prince Of Petworth

Georgia Liquors is looking to open up at 2917 Georgia Avenue NW (at Columbia Rd). This is the space most recently used as a campaign office for Jacque Patterson’s unsuccessful campaign for an at large city council seat. Prior to that I think it was a pharmacy.

I have to admit I’m a little disappointed because there are already a bunch of liquor stores on Georgia Ave. I was hoping this sweet corner space would become a restaurant.

I guess if it looks like the new Sherry’s in Woodley Park it won’t be so bad…

View More Stories