5/14/02:
See "P Street Revitalization on Track; Planning by
Mayor's Office Underway,"
http://www.intowner.com/fr/issue/stories/story2.htm
Next meeting is tonight at 7pm; see calendar below.
See status of "Persistent Problem Area Work Plan for
Improvements on 17th Street," [1] below, which reviews
traffic, parking, safety, sanitation, and public works
concerns on 17th St between T St and Mass Ave.
The UK's The Independent wrote a profile of Dupont's
chess players. See "Stealth and violence as chess
masters duel,"
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=293867
NYT "Sophisticated Traveler" section drops in on DC,
mentioning several Dupont haunts: Teaism, the 18th St
Lounge, Go Mama Go!, and Hotel Rouge & Bar Rouge. See
"Washington: An Insider's Address Book,"
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/12/magazine/magazinespecial/12WASH.html
WBJ writes about strip bar at 1819 M St which is
seeking to more than double in size. See "Maximum
exposure: Downtown strip club owner cites economic
impact as he seeks more space for taking it off,"
http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2002/05/13/story5.html
See also "A sexy proposition: Legitimate business
should be allowed to expand,"
http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2002/05/13/editorial1.html
WBJ writes about opening of 11-story University of
California Washington Center at 1608 RI Ave, with
classrooms, an auditorium and 290 residences. See "In
D.C., a college campus has nowhere to go but up,"
http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2002/05/13/focus3.html
See also http://www.ucdc.edu/UCDC/location.cfm
Paul Kafka Gibbon's novel "Dupont Circle" is now in
paperback. (And I'd be happy to autograph page 248!)
Forever-vacant building at NW corner of 15th & U is
being renovated. Heard owner plans to put condos on
3rd and 4th floors, architect office on the 2nd, and a
cafe on the 1st, possibly run by CakeLove.
Jim Graham writes about status of long-empty building
at 14th & U. See [2] below.
WT looks at developments along U St. See "U-turn for
the better,"
http://www.washtimes.com/businesstimes/20020506-6353016.htm
See "14th & U Wins Main Street Designation,"
http://www.ustreet.com/ubac/index.php?mode=inside&content_id=108
There is a Yahoo group for the 14th & U corridor:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DCMainStreets_14th_and_U/
DCCA reported news of a drug bust at the 14th St
Market, 14th & Corcoran. See [3] below.
Groundbreaking for Ellington Plaza at 13th & U has
been delayed to May 30th, at 10:30am. Retail and
residential tenants will move in fall 2003. See
http://www.dkdevelopment.com/history.html#ellington
ANC 1C08 Commissioner Dan Brody wrote to Adams Morgan
Digest status of Kilimanjaro. See [4] below.
WP reviews Adams Morgan's The Reef, in the old Star of
Siam space. Ground floor will open in late June with a
jungle theme, with a waterfall and an Olmec head. See
"Gone Fishing,"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A59721-2002May9.html
WBJ has more info on "potential spending power" report
on Columbia Heights/Petworth and Anacostia. See "D.C.
officials shopping new study to retail developers,"
http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2002/05/13/focus2.html
See "Development Corp. of Columbia Heights Nonprofit
Fined; Sold D.C. Houses To an Investor,"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24209-2002May2.html
Agreement has finally been reached for Giant expansion
at Wisc Ave & Newark, which will now include multiple
entryways along Wisc Ave. See "Giant, Neighbors Reach
Deal on Renovations: Chain Agrees to Make Cleveland
Park Store's Facade Blend With Surroundings,"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A43091-2002May6.html
See "D.C. may get two convention hotels,"
http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2002/05/13/story3.html
Rumor has it that the two dilapidated apartment
towers south of 7th & O (north of new convention
center) will become a Best Western hotel next May.
WBJ reports on potential tennants for Woodies
building. See "NEA/NEH to Woodies?,"
http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2002/05/06/story1.html
Metro will add bike racks to its bus fleet starting in
August. Thanks to WABA for pushing this!
WP offers sage advice on urban planting schemes. See
"Something to Sneeze At,"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A30591-2002May4.html
Tuesday, May 14: P St Revitalization Meeting - The
Dupont Circle ANC and DDOT host meeting on streetscape
revitalization program for the P St corridor between P
St Bridge and Dupont Circle. 7:00pm, Barceló Hotel.
E-mail chris.shaheen@dc.gov for more info.
Saturday, May 18: Sidewalk sale at 16th & R, by the
Wetskins, our gay water polo team, 8 am to 3 pm.
Saturday, May 18: Sidewalk sale at Foundry Methodist
Church, 16th & P, 10:00 - 3:00, for WW Food Bank.
Sunday, May 19: There will be an informal ride on the
Mall to gather ideas on how to make the Mall pathways,
intersections and roads more bike-friendly, in order
to include the Mall in the East Coast Greenway. 11am.
Contact rpatten@sprinkleconsulting.com for more info.
Wednesday, May 22: Whitman-Walker Clinic Spring Gala.
See http://www.wwc.org/82499/html/gala.html
May 25-26: Dragon Boat Races on the Potomac.
Saturday, June 8: Gay pride parade begins at 5:30pm.
See "Pride parade marches at later time, on different
route: Saturday night event to begin and end in Dupont
Circle area,"
http://www.washblade.com/local/020503a.htm
See also http://www.capitalpride.org/
Best regards,
Michael
------------------------------------------------------
[1] - [edited] [from clark.ray@dc.gov]
Wednesday, May 8, 2002
17TH STREET ACTION PLAN - UPDATE
COMPLETED ACTION ITEMS
DCRA-Housing:
* Completed task of identifying all Multi-Family
dwellings along the 17th Street corridor.
* General Inspection of Common Areas underway - on
schedule to be completed by June 15.
DDOT:
Completed Sign Repairs at the following Locations:
* 1725 17th St., NW
* 1724 17th St., NW
* 1712 17th St., NW
* 1711 17th St., NW
* 17th & R St., NW - SW Corner
* 1636 17th St., NW
* 1627 17th St., NW
* 1619 17th St., NW
* 1602 17th St., NW
* 1540 17th St., NW
* 1526 17th St., NW
* 1517 17th St., NW
* 1509 17th St., NW
* 1413 17th St., NW
* 17th & O St., NW
Street/Alley Light Inspections: DDOT has inspected
the following street/alley light locations. It has
been determined that these lights did not need
upgrading as they already posses the highest wattage
bulb in use by the district.
* 1400 Blk of 17th St., NW
* 1500 Blk of 17th St., NW
* 1600 Blk of 17th St., NW
* 1700 Blk of 17th St., NW
* 1700 Blk of Corcoran St., NW
* 1700 Blk of Q St., NW
* 1700 Blk of Church St., NW
* 1700 Blk of P St., NW
Tree Trimming:
* All trees have been trimmed along the 17th St.
Corridor
MPD:
4-Way Stop Sign at 17th & Corcoran St., NW:
January 2002 75 Citations Issued
February 2002 54 Citations Issued
March 2002 79 Citations Issued
April 2002 69 Citations Issued
No Trucks Sign from Q & CT Ave to Q & 14th St, NW:
January 2002 10 Citations Issued
February 2002 6 Citations Issued
March 2002 18 Citations Issued
April 2002 12 Citations Issued
DOH:
R0DENT CONTROL - NOI/ABATEMENT NOTICES/BAITING
March 2002
* 1637 P St., (CVS) - overflowing dumpster
* 1509 17th St., - rats in front of property
* 1511 17th St., - rats and debris in the rear of
property
* 1503 17th St., - open trash containers in the rear
* 17th & P St., - baited near the bus stop for rats
in tree box
* 1636 R St., - trash in the rear of the restaurant
April 2002
* 1612 Riggs Pl., - baited for rats
* 1614 S St., - baited for rats
* 1636 R St., - Abatement Notice / Chicken outside
* 1633 Q - NOI - debris in rear of property
* 1704 R St., - NOI - debris in rear of property
* 1608 17th St., - NOI -debris in rear of property
* 1708 R St., - NOI - debris in rear of property
* 1620 Q St., - baited for rats
* 1700 Q St., - baited for rats
May 2002
* 17th & P St., - baited the tree box space for rats
* 1509 17th St., - NOI
* 1511 17th St., - NOI
* 1513 17th St., - Abatement Notice
* 1744 Q St., - Abatement Notice
* 1526 17th St., - Abatement Notice
FOOD SAFETY:
Has submitted 36 inspection reports requested via
the action plan. One report is outstanding.
FEMS:
Has submitted fire safety inspection reports
requested via the action plan.
DCRA-Business Compliance:
Is in the process of conducting courtesy business
compliance checks - a written document will be
prepared and submitted.
DPW-SWEEP:
Has confirmed verbally that they have requested new
trash containers for the corridor - have not
confirmed if we are going to receive any per our
Action Plan request. Has confirmed verbally that
they have communicated with Parking Services to ask
for an increase in parking enforcement action to be
taken on days of street sweeping.
OUTSTANDING ITEMS
DDOT
* Filling empty tree box space along the corridor
* Stump removal
* Sidewalk Repair
* Curb Repair
* Alley Repaving
* Dupont Circle Parking Task Force Sign
Implementation
* Crosswalk Painting
* Rumble Strip Installation (17th & R)
DPW
* Trash Cans Replacement - New Metal Cans
* Public Space Enforcement Issues
DCRA-HOUSING
* Inspect Common Areas of all Multi-Family
Residential Units
DCRA-COMPLIANCE
* Completion of Courtesy Business Compliance Checks
* Master Business License Seminar
FEMS
* Smoke Detector Give-away to all single-family
residential dwellings
CORE TEAM
* City/Agency Informational Fair
------------------------------------------------------
[2]
Date: Wed, 8 May 2002
From: GrahamWOne@aol.com
Subject: 2001 14th Street Progress
Dear Friends: First let me say, how much I appreciate
the advocacy and hard work of Dan Brown, Ron Renchard,
Scott Pomeroy and others on the problem of the
Northeast corner of 14th and U (2001 14th Street NW).
This has been an eyesore in the neighborhood for
years, and various efforts to have those responsible
do something have not produced the results we need.
The history of this building is a tormented one.
Suffice it so say, that the present lessee (who owns
the adjacent empty lot) has 24 years remaining in a
30 year lease. Each month he has faithfully paid the
$7,000, and done nothing else. (Why he has done this
year after year puzzles me.) Originally there was an
idea of a Burger King. But that was abandoned for
various reasons not relating really to community
reaction.
Anyway, thanks to community activism, the building
is to come before the Board o Condemnation on May 22.
Not for demolition, but for cleanup by the city.
After various attempts, I reached the owner and, in
turn, the lessee earlier this week. I expressed in no
uncertain terms the frustration with the appearance
and nonuse of this building on this important corner.
The lessee, Mr. Blant (or was it Bland?), promised
to take "immediate steps" to clean up the property.
Thereafter, I agree to sponsor a meeting with our
community leaders to work with the lessee who is eager
to put this property back into productive use.
Hopefully we can find that common ground.
Please stay in touch. Bests Jim Graham, Ward One
Councilmember
------------------------------------------------------
[3] [from DCCANEWS@aol.com]
Drug Bust: Lt. Groomes reports the following:
DRUG BUST at 14th Street Market (14th & Corcoran) 1616
14th Street
On May 10, 2002, MPD observed over thirty subjects in
the back room of the mini market. When MPD went to
investigate what they were doing in the back, the
subjects fled out of the building. Recovered was a
massive quantity of "quat," opium-based plants that
they were cutting up and smoking; pipes and tools also
were recovered.
Four persons will be charged, pending test results.
The store was closed.
------------------------------------------------------
[4]
Date: Thu, 9 May 2002
From: danbrody@aol.com
Subject: Kilimanjaro
Hi there! I am replying regarding the old Kilimanjaro,
because, along with Councilmember Graham, I have been
deeply involved in trying to get rid of the current
owner. I ran for the ANC with my number one priority
being the overhaul of Kilimanjaro, perhaps as an art
space, or at least with some sort of art component,
that would be beneficial to the neighborhood. I met
with Councilmember Graham on this issue last year, and
he suggested we get representatives from all of the DC
gov't. together (DCRA, OCC, OTR, etc.) to see what we
could do. We met last fall, and again in March.
Without getting into the extremely long history of the
place, let's just say there were innumerable problems.
Some of these problems were addressed, e.g., public
space issues, but unfortunately, many of these
problems could not be resolved; so it was left to the
new owner to sue for eviction. He has won his suit for
the second floor, and is in the process of trying to
evict the old owner from the first floor. This could
take anywhere from a year to two years to wind its way
through court. In the meantime, the new owner is doing
demolition work on the second floor. He is planning on
developing the site, with an as yet undetermined
tenant. The new owner is a very nice guy, and I am
sure that if the neighbors are interested, he would be
happy to meet, perhaps at the June ANC meeting, and
explain the situation in more detail. I want to
applaud Jim Graham and his staff for their efforts in
this matter, they have worked very hard in a very
difficult and complicated situation. Also, I am
hopeful that the eviction process will be resolved as
soon as possible, but on that we will have to let the
matter wind its way through court. If anyone has any
questions regarding the more arcane issues involving
Kilimanjaro, please feel free to email me at
danbrody@aol.com.
Thank you.
Dan Brody
Commissioner
ANC1C08
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