Georgia Avenue Thrive has organized a costume drive for children living at Park Morton. Park Morton has 50+ kids and have a Halloween party scheduled at the Salvation Army at the end of October. Many of the kids do not have Halloween costumes so Georgia Avenue Thrive has undertaken a drive for new/gently used Halloween costumes for kids aged 1 to 12. See flyer below.
Annie’s ACE Hardware is participating for a third year in a row in the collection of old bicycles and sewing machines on June 10th for Bikes for the World. Both Annie’s Petworth and Brookland locations are participating. Below are the details from Annie’s.
Annies ACE Hardware is hosting a bike collection for Bikes for the World (BFTW) and is offering a free $20 gift card for each adult bike donated.
BFTW is a DC-based organization that has collected and distributed 125,000 bikes to 20 countries in the past 10 years. BFTW’s mission is to make quality used bicycles and parts affordable and available to lower income people and select institutions in developing countries, to enhance their lives and livelihoods through better transport. It also works to generate skilled employment in bicycle repair and maintenance overseas, and to provide satisfying environmental and humanitarian community service opportunities for volunteers in the United States.
This year Annies ACE will host BFTW collections June 10 at both of their DC stores (see below) What we will collect:
- Any serviceable complete (or nearly-complete) bicycle, adult or children’s, accompanied by a suggested $10 per bike donation to help defray a share of the costs in getting bikes to quality programs overseas and get information back for donors and the public. Flat tires or a missing seat or pedal is ok. (No rust-buckets or big wheels please.
- Usable bicycle SPARE PARTS and components, including tubes, tires, wheels, chains, pedals, saddles, cables, and mountain bike handlebars·
- We also collect good-quality metal portable sewing machines in working order, or close to it.
Annie’s locations, dates, and times:
Annie’s ACE Hardware-Petworth
Address: 1240 Upshur St NW, Washington DC 20011
Date & Time: June 10, 10am – 2pm
Contact: Harvey: ollis2010(at)gmail(dot)com or 240-418-8791Annie’s ACE Hardware-Brookland
Address: 3405 8th St NE, Washington DC 20017
Date & Time: June 10, 9am – 12pm
Contact: Harvey: ollis2010(at)gmail(dot)com or 240-418-8791Also check out BikesForTheWorld.org http://bikesftworld.blogspot.com/
Map showing the area elements of the Comprehensive Plan.
Last week, it was announced on several listservs that the District had extended the Comprehensive Plan Amendment Period from May 26th to June 23rd. This provides more time to anyone reviewing the Comprehensive Plan to read it and suggest where it can be improved to meet the needs and goals of our growing city.
I’ve been able to read several chapters and submit amendments already, and while I find the online process a tad clunky, it isn’t difficult to register and submit a proposed amendment.
My suggestion to anyone who may fine the Comprehensive Plan daunting is to focus on the things that matter to you and prioritize those parts of the document first. For example, my initial focus was on the Mid-City Element and the chapters focusing on Land Use, Parks Recreation and Open Space, Historic Preservation, and Arts and Culture. Now with more time, I can on to Infrastructure, Transportation, Housing, and Urban Design.
The full text of the extension announcement is below:
District Extends Comprehensive Plan Amendment Period
Office of Planning will accept public amendment proposals through June 23
(WASHINGTON, DC) – During the “Open Call” period of the past two months, the DC Office of Planning has received hundreds of Comprehensive Plan amendment proposals from stakeholders across the city. Based on conversations with a variety of stakeholders, we expect hundreds more amendments will be submitted before the original deadline of May 26. In response to requests from Advisory Neighborhood Commissions and other community groups, the District will extend the Open Call for almost a full month, through June 23.
For more than a year, Mayor Muriel Bowser, the DC Office of Planning (OP), and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development have engaged the public in a conversation about how Washington is growing and the role of the Comprehensive Plan in shaping future development.
“Community members have not only been attending our events and office hours for technical assistance, but have recently sponsored their own activities and done their own organizing,” said OP Director Eric Shaw. “We wish to support this community-led planning and give a little more time to ensure this energy and thought can be captured during the formal amendment period.”
The Comprehensive Plan is the 20-year plan the District government uses to guide future development within Washington, D.C. It contains the maps and policies that influence the neighborhoods in which residents live, work, shop, and play, as well as the investments the city makes in its services and infrastructure. Most importantly, it is the primary tool that helps the District to manage change in a way that embraces progress while protecting the qualities that make DC a special place.
Stakeholders interested in making an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan can find useful materials under the “Propose an Amendment” tab on the [PLAN]DC website, including:
- an Amendment Submission Form;
- a How-to Guide for submitting an amendment;
- a “Roadmap” of planning references;
- a set of Frequently Asked Questions;
- an Engagement Calendar; and
- an Evaluation Framework, which OP will use to screen amendment proposals
During the extended period, the [PLAN]DC project team will be available to provide assistance in drafting and submitting amendments. OP has also created the “meeting in a box,” a kit containing all the materials a community representative would need to lead a conversation with constituents about the Comp Plan amendment process.
Interested parties may contact the [PLAN]DC project team at plandc(at)dc(dot)gov to ask questions or request resources. Those who do not wish to propose a specific amendment, but instead would like to share a general idea for consideration may also write the project team at plandc(at)dc(dot)gov.
As a continuation of the SEE/CHANGE project that was along Georgia Avenue in November, Walls of Books will be hosting Salon Contra: “An Open, Honest Conversation about Diversity” of February 21st. As this may be of interest to many in the community, I’ve posted the flyer below so that people have plenty of time to RSVP.
National Night Out is an annual event held on the first Tuesday in August — this year that is August 2nd — that involves a collaboration of police departments around the nation and local community members. Various law enforcement, government agencies, non-profit organization, and community stakeholders will be present to share strategies for problem solving while social service providers share information; all while having good family fun. It is a night to celebrate community pride, unity, and most importantly public safety partnerships.
In the Park View area, the nearest event will be held at Bruce Monroe Park which is in the Third District. The Fourth District event is scheduled for the Roosevelt High school Football Field (at 4301 13th Street, NW) and will run from 5-9 p.m. Park Road separates the Third and Fourth police districts in our community.
More than 100 community members from both Ward 1 and Ward 4 attended the second OurRFP meeting on June 2nd and indicated strong preferences for the site to be developed with significant affordable housing, sustainable public spaces, and density maximized through a Planned Unit Development (PUD) process.
(DMPED’s Tsega Bekele addressing the community at the start of the meeting.)
The meeting began at Raymond Recreation Center with an introduction from Deputy Mayor Brian Kenner and included a few words from Ward 1 Councilmember Briannne Nadeau. Afterward, DMPED’s Tsega Bekele provided an overview of some of the priorities that came out of the first OurRFP meeting — such as support for affordable housing, housing for families and seniors, and units that are ADA accessible. Bekele also informed the group on some of the next steps in the process. These included issuing the formal RFP in late June, followed by a pre-response conference and developer submissions.
It was noted that some of the priorities expressed in either of the OurRFP meetings would have their own process and opportunities for community engagement outside of the RFP process. Examples mentioned were the BZA process should the development seek fewer parking spaces than required by Zoning, the Zoning process should the property be developed as a PUD, and a review by the Historic Preservation Review Board for elements that involve the historic Hebrew Home building.
After the presentation, community members were allowed to post dots on three boards to indicate their highest priorities. It is important to note that all of the options on the boards were considered priorities identified during the first meeting. Each resident was given six dots, two of each of the three colors, with which to vote.
(Neighbors visiting the three topic boards and placing stickers on their priorities at Raymond Recreation Center.)
The outcome of the voting broke down in the following ways.
Housing Priorities
The highest priorities identified were affordable housing and housing for seniors.
Public Space & Sustainability
The highest priority identified was Sustainable public space
Design and Density
The highest priorities identified were maximizing density and incorporating elements of the historic building into the design.
In closing and reporting out the results of the exercise, Bekele noted that all of the items on the boards are considered priorities to some extent as they all came out of the first OurRFP workshop. The purpose of the exercise during the second workshop was to help DMPED rank the priorities based on the community’s input. This, in turn, will help DMPED to review the forthcoming RFP submissions and make decisions with the community priorities in mind.
Materials from the workshop will eventually be posted on the DMPED page devoted to 1125 Spring Road.
(DMPED’s Tsega Bekele sharing the results of the priority boards and closing the meeting.)
(Setting up at the beginning of the day.)
By all accounts, the 1st Annual Georgia Avenue Winter Fest was a success. Roughly 1,200 attended the event. While the idea and initial drive to organize this event began with the Georgia-Lamont Avenue Task Force with the help of the Luray – Warder Neighborhood Association, in the end this was a real grass roots effort with too many individuals and organizations to name. In the holiday spirit, it was a community coming together that made this event possible. Even so, the holiday trees were made possible with the help of Annie’s Ace Hardware, the Park Morton Residential Council were instrumental in assisting with the donation of a Christmas tree to the Park Morton community, and Zuckerman Gravely Properties provided use of the building (See Facebook page).
I stopped by at the beginning of day as things were getting started and I’m told it only got busier. I was particularly happy to see some of our locale food vendors there as well. I noted both Eatsplace and Kangaroo Boxing Club were there and wouldn’t be surprised if there were others I missed.
The Police’s Third District also sent out the following announcement later in the day:
On Saturday December 5 at the old Murry’s grocery store 3400 Georgia Ave NW, members of the community came together to organize the Georgia Ave Winterfest. One of the organizers Jennifer Kuiper invited MPD to bring the Horse Mounted Unit and meet and greet residents. Lt. Mark Hodge of PSA 302 made arrangements for Officer Robin Szewczyk of the Horse Mounted Unit to attend. In attendance were CM Nadeau, Gabriel Rojo from the Mayor’s Office, Rashida Brown ANC, Audra Grant of Luray Warder, Sylvia Robinson of the ECAC, and John DeTaye of CSC.
There were food, drink, information tables, DJ, and other services being offered ranging from DC Government to non profit agencies.
Congratulations to everyone who organized the event and pitched in to make it a success!
(Photo from MPD-3D Yahoo Group)
Post updated 8:01 am
A graffiti removal event is being held this Saturday for residents who want to pitch in to help to remove graffiti from Georgia Avenue. The announcement is below (PDF version here).
Lower Georgia Ave Community Graffiti Removal EventWhat: Come clean up Georgia Avenue! (Between Kansas Ave and Florida Ave)When: Saturday, August 15, from 10:00am to 1:00pmWhere: Meet at Torrie’s Restaurant at 700 V St NW for Supplies and TrainingWhy: Georgia Ave is Littered with Graffiti and You Can Help Make a DifferenceThe Problem: Graffiti on Lower Georgia AvenueGraffiti is a major problem for business owners along Lower Georgia Avenue. If not removed, graffiti can cause blight, increase criminal activity in the surrounding neighborhoods, reduce property values, and give the impression that Georgia Avenue is not a clean and safe environment for residents and visitors. As part of the Lower Georgia Avenue Main Street Feasibility Study, a community graffiti removal project is being organized by local stakeholder groups and city agencies. We will cover the area between Kansas Ave and Upshur St to the North all the way down to Florida Ave to the South.The Solution: Let’s Empower Neighborhood Volunteers to Fight the Graffiti OurselvesA community graffiti removal event will be hosted on Saturday, August 15th (at 10am at Torrie’s Restaurant). Here, community volunteers will learn the appropriate way to remove graffiti and then spread out along Georgia Avenue and address problem areas on previously-identified sites. The community is developing a list of partner businesses and property owners that have given the community the right to address graffiti on their properties. The graffiti removal event on August 15th will help address many of the most problematic graffiti currently on Georgia Ave. However, this is not the end. Volunteers will be able to use donated equipment and continue to address graffiti whenever they see fit for properties in which permission has been obtained. This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference.Please join us on August 15th and help clean up Lower Georgia Ave.We’re looking forward to seeing you there!
The Georgia Avenue Community Development Task Force is hosting its third community-wide review of development along lower Georgia Avenue this Saturday (tomorrow) beginning at 9 a.m. This is an excellent opportunity to meet your neighbors and discuss how you would like to see the community develop. The full details are below.
From the announcement:
Don’t miss the Lower Georgia Avenue Community Review coming up this Saturday!
WHEN: Saturday August 9th from 9-4
WHERE: The Howard University School of Architecture at 6th and Howard Place NW
DIRECTIONS: From Georgia Avenue traveling south make a left on Howard Place. The School of Architecture is on the right at the next intersection.
PARKING: There is a lot on the side of the building. The parking lot entrance is just south of Howard Place on Georgia Avenue.
WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY: Available from the parking lot entrance
Who is this Review for?
This review is for residents, business owners, property owners and other stakeholders of Lower Georgia Avenue. We especially want the residents to see what’s happening in the community and bring fresh ideas.
What will happen?
In the morning participants can attend small group sessions focusing on three important issues affecting the Lower Georgia Avenue corridor:
- The Park Morton Redevelopment Project: Four development teams have submitted proposals to redevelop the Park Morton site. The extent to which the community will be engaged in the process is still unclear. Representatives from DCHA have been invited to to discuss this and other related issues. All stakeholders in the Park Morton community should attend this session.
- The Bruce Monroe Site: As a community we need to gather our thoughts on the long term use of the site. Should it stay a park? Should it include a public facility? Development? This session is the start of a longer process to determine what we want.
- Community Benefit Packages: Developers often include community benefits as part of their projects, but the stakeholders are not often asked for their preferences. This session will be a guide to the realities of community benefits, with a list of our priorities.
A free lunch will be provided by the Georgia Avenue Businesses, followed by a large group session which will include:
- A presentation from the Youth Ambassadors
- Session summaries and further dialog
- Statements from Mayoral and Ward 1 candidates in attendance
The schedule will be:
9:00 Continental breakfast
9:15 Orientation
9:30 First session – participants select one of three sessions
11:15 Second Session – participants select one of three sessions
1:00 Free lunch provided by the Georgia Avenue businesses
2:00 Large group session – Reports and further dialog
It’s the time of year again where MPD and the surrounding communities gather to celebrate National Night Out or NNO, which is a large block party where neighbors come out to support each other and the community they live in. This is a time to come out and meet people, exchange ideas, support new ones and generally get to know everyone in the community better.
NNO is tonight, Tuesday, August 5, 2014. The closest venue in the Park View community is the Third District event that will fun from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Bruce Monroe Park, 3000 Georgia Ave., NW. The flyer below shows the locations of all the NNO events tonight.
"The territory comprising Park View extends from Gresham Street north to Rock Creek Church Road, and from Georgia Avenue to the Soldiers' Home grounds, including the triangle bounded by Park Road, Georgia Avenue, and New Hampshire Avenue" (from Directory and History of Park View, 1921.)
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Park View, D.C. 