17th Street NW trees are being protected during construction. (Luis Gomez Photos)
Last Saturday ANC 2B/Dupont Circle held a rally and walk down 17th Street with city officials to review initial tree removal plans that were part of the 17th Streetscape project. Work began November 30.
The city’s initial plans called for the removal of almost all of the 35 trees between P and Riggs Streets NW on 17th. However, after the 17th Street walk, plans have been revised so that only about 10 trees will be removed from this stretch of the street.
Following is a detailed report on the Saturday walk and the city’s revised tree plans for 17th Street from Commissioner Jack Jacobson, ANC 2B-04.
(more…)
ANC 2B/Dupont Circle is one of the largest in the city, with nine single-member districts. (Map: ANC 2B Web site.)
The monthly meeting of ANC 2B/Dupont is this Wednesday the 14th at 7 p.m. Note that the location is now the Brookings Institution, 1775 Massachusetts Avenue NW (between 17th and 18th Streets), 1st Floor, Falk Auditorium.
Clark Ray opened his campaign Saturday for an At-Large Council seat in 2010. (Photo: Luis Gomez)
Lupe gave Clark Ray a big kiss at his campaign kickoff in front of Java House. (Photo: Luis Gomez)
We headed over to Java House at 17th & Q NW Saturday morning for Clark Ray’s campaign kickoff for at At-Large DC Council seat next year.
There was a nice turnout for Ray, with about 50 supporters, including community and political activists as well as ANC 2B-Dupont commissioners.
I counted four of the nine ANC 2B commissioners this morning and Vice Chair Will Stephens gave an introductory speech for Ray, as did LGBT and neighborhood activist Peter Rosenstein. My volunteer experience over the years tells me that this was a good sign for Ray–these are the kind of people you need to run a campaign and win an election.
ANC 2B/Dupont Circle is one of the largest in the city, with nine single-member districts. (Map: ANC 2B Web site.)
The August meeting of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 2B/Dupont Circle is Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the D.C. Jewish Community Center at 16th and Q Streets NW (entrance on Q Street). The agenda is here (PDF).
Starting with the September meeting, ANC 2B will meet at the Brookings Institution, 1775 Massachusetts Avenue NW.
ANC 2B/Dupont Circle is one of the largest in the city, with nine single-member districts. (Map: ANC 2B Web site.)
The July meeting of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 2B / Dupont Circle is this coming Wednesday, July 8, at 7 p.m. at the D.C. Jewish Community Center at 16th and Q NW (entrance on Q Street).
Item of note on the agenda is the liquor license application for the new establishment planned for 1832 14th Street NW, “Local 14.” For some background information, please see the posting on Local 14 over at 14th & You blog: “Plans for ‘Local 14’ Take Shape.”
Remember that West Borderstan (west of 15th Street) is part of ANC 2B while East Borderstan is part of ANC 2F/Logan Circle.The Borderstan commissioners on ANC 2B are Victor Wexler-District 5 and Jack Jacobson-District 4.
Agenda follows (plus a link to the PDF here).
Let’s take a break from The Real World: DC and DC Council crime bills… and head over to the blog, 14th & You. The folks there had a posting Tuesday (“Partner of ANC Commissioner Attempts to Scuttle Saint-Ex Agreement; Goes After Policy Employees”) about the brouhaha over Cafe Saint-Ex, Bar Pilar and Policy on 14th Street NW, and the role of ANC 2B-09 Commissioner Ramon Estrada and his partner. (For background, it helps to first read the blog’s postings from June 6 and April 24.)
This story, as reported by 14th & You, is actually about more than just these three establishments on 14th Street NW. It is about our local Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, city government, regulation of local businesses, liquor licenses, voluntary agreements and privacy issues–and how our city treats small business owners in general.
The story raises questions about all these issues, and they warrant discussion in our neighborhood and our city. It is a discussion that is long past due. Borderstan.com welcomes comments (even some guest postings) from ANC commissioners (including Mr. Estrada), community groups, city officials and residents of the Dupont–Logan area.
From 14th & You: “Partner of ANC Commissioner Attempts to Scuttle Saint-Ex Agreement; Goes After Policy Employees” —
1841 16th Street NW. (Photo: flickr.)
A group of DC preservationists and Dupont-area residents are holding a protest at 7 p.m. Monday in front of 1841 16th Street NW. They are hoping to stop the city from approving the demolition of the house.
You may remember that in June of last year that the residents of the house had to be evacuated when an interior wall collapsed. In fact, residents of adjoining houses had to temporarily evacuate because it was feared the structure would collapse and take neighboring properties with it.
The protest group is concerned that the owner of the building will be allowed to simply demolish it–after years of neglect–instead of repairing the historic structure. Details are below the fold.
A few thoughts about such properties and how we deal with them:
- How many other apartment buildings and group houses in Dupont-Logan are in similarly bad shape and pose a threat to residents and neighboring houses? We live in a condo that is in a converted row house. This makes us very familiar with the problems of adjoining houses that are not up to code and have the potentital to severely damage other properties and put human safety at risk. (Remember that we are talking about roofs and walls touching-adjoining.) Moreover, the DC laws on the books are inadequate to protect the rest of us from these slumlords. We have learned this the hard way over the years.
- Why don’t our local Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, ANC 2B and 2F, make this issue a priority? I believe this is an issue that is not well addressed by our local officials–and they ought to be spending more time on this issue as opposed to mirco-managing small businesses. We hear so much about “businesses need to be good neighbors.” True, but the problems we have on our street are related to slumlords and it’s pasttime that the ANCs used some of their time and effort to go after them with the same zeal they pursue small businesses. Collapsing buildings, back yards full of trash and fire hazards are real dangers to our neighborhoods. (more…)
The cast of “The Real World: Cancun.” (Photo: MTV Web site.)
Got your attention with the silliness headline and oh-so-unposed photo above? Good. Here are some guidelines for what to expect at Borderstan.com on all things “Real World: DC” –
- I haven’t watched the show in years, other than an occasional gawk while channel surfing. But I plan to watch a bit of RW: Cancun, just to get in the proper-informed-blogger frame of mind.
- I thought the early years of RW were good… interesting… reality TV was new.
- I think it’s rather nice and amusing that RW is coming to Washington. We can always use some levity in a town that is very serious–and bless all the serious people who come here with good intentions of doing good things.
- I will be posting news and comments and opinions and rants from all sides… supporters, non-supporters and the merely amused and curious (see new map at Washingtonian.com’s Capital Comment Blog).
- Put me in the amused-curious category. As much as anything, I am amused and interested in how people in my neighborhood react to all the hub-bub of RWDC coming to town. (more…)
1840 14th St. NW, Borderstan. (Photo: Luis Gomez.)
The Washington Business Journal reports today that Room & Board, a small retail furniture chain, has finally reached a deal to occupy the corner space at 14th & T Streets NW. There is more information about it here. Also… Borderstanians remember some earlier deals that didn’t go through.
Now for the local wonks who read this blog. This piece of property is in the Dupont Circle ANC: ANC 2B/Dupont Circle and the commissioner for the district, Ramon Estrada (ANC 2B-09). But, you ask: When did Dupont Circle extend to 14th Street NW? It does not, but the ANC does.
This is why does ANC 2B–and not ANC 2F/Logan Circle–represents this stretch of 14th Street; there is a panhandle that stretches east to 14th and runs from the south side of U Street down to the north side of S Street NW. This panhandle is in single-member district 09 in ANC 2B. Otherwise, the eastern boundary of ANC 2B is 15th Street NW, with a small exception in the very southern part of the ANC. See map.
Here are earlier postings about this property:
- February 26: 14th & T NW: Furniture Store Deal Falls Apart
- March 28: Is 14th & T Deal for Diner, Comedy Club Dead?
The setting of “The Real World: DC” is 2000 S Street NW. Production begins June 20. (Photo: Luis Gomez, Luis Gomez Photos.)
We went to the ANC 2B/Dupont Circle monthly meeting last night at JCC. Unfortunately, we arrived around 7:15-ish after the discussion of The Real World: DC (RWDC) was already underway. Overall, discussion was calm and generic on all sides.
First, a reminder that the June meeting of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 2B/Dupont Circle is tomorrow night, June 10. Same time, same place: 7 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center at 16th & Q NW.
Second, it is my understanding that a representative of the mayor’s office will be on hand to address concerns about MTV setting up shop to produce “The Real World: DC” in a house at 2000 S Street NW. Will there be an MTV rep or lawyer on hand as well? Don’t know.
Third–as a tax-paying resident of ANC 2B, thank you, very much–I would like to offer six pieces of unsolicited advice for ANC 2B:
- Please do pressure MTV to be a good neighbor during the production of Real World: DC. If I lived in the vicinity of 2000 S, I would demand it, too.
- MTV is here to make money. I know this may be offensive to some people in the neighborhood. But remember that some of our own citizens will probably make some hard-earned dollars in the process.
- The Real World is a silly show. Very silly, in fact. It is not “Frontline” on PBS, nor will Bill Moyers be involved with the production. We cannot do anything about that, much as we might like to force the producers to change their scripts.
- You will probably have to explain the concept of “voluntary agreements” to the MTV lawyers.
- Remember: We do not live in Hooterville. Moreover (and yes, I am mixing sitcoms here), we cannot make Dupont Circle into a real-world version of the village in “To the Manor Born.” (Let’s not confuse 2000 S Street with Cricket House.) Living in a densely populated, large city involves some unpleasantness and requires compromises from time to time.
- Have you looked at the crime stats for our neighborhood and our city lately? We’ve got bigger things to worry about than a reality show setting up shop in our neighborhood. If DC does not manage to lower its crime rate, we won’t have to worry about silly reality TV shows in our midst: No one will want to come here.
- YTD Borderstan Crime Up 21%; May Numbers Better
- Two Weekend Robberies, N and R Sts NW
- PSA 208: “Swarming” Assault Downtown on May 31
- Three Gun Robberies on R Street this Week
- Video: Daytime Robbery of Universal Gear, 1529 14th St NW
- DC Crime Bill Hearing… Local Coverage of Violent Crime
- Jack Evans: Pass Mayor’s Omnibus Crime Bill
- Borderstan: YTD Crime Stats, January-April
- PSA 208: YTD Crime Stats, January-April
ANC 2B/Dupont Circle is one of the largest in the city, with nine single-member districts. (Map: ANC 2B Web site.)
The June meeting of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 2B / Dupont Circle is this coming Wednesday, June 10, at 7 p.m. at the D.C. Jewish Community Center. Remember that West Borderstan (west of 15th Street) is part of ANC 2B while East Borderstan is part of ANC 2F/Logan Circle.
Note that the commissioner for District 2 resigned and the seat will be filled at this meeting; this district is mostly northwest of Dupont Circle and also southeast of the circle. Election details are below the fold.
The Borderstan commissioners on ANC 2B are Victor Wexler-District 5 and Jack Jacobson-District 4.
Agenda follows.
The Trashcan Gods have bestowed a second trashcan on 15th Street NW between P and U Streets. (Photo: Luis Gomez, Luis Gomez Photos.)
For the past six years, we’ve tried to get a couple of trashcans on 15th Street NW between P and U Streets. Since I moved to Borderstan more than 10 years ago, the volume of foot traffic has picked up substantially–a wonderful thing. The laws of urban living dictate that more people on the street mean more trash. Hence, the desire for a couple of trash cans on this stretch of 15th Street.
Soon after we began nagging the city, mainly Public Works, two trash cans appeared: one on the southwest corner of 15th and S NW and the other one at the northeast corner of 15th and R by the Presbyterian Church. Well, the one by the church was taken away after about two days. Over the years we worked with our ANC reps in ANC 2B, reps from the mayor’s office, filled out forms online… and so forth.
ANC 2B/Dupont Circle is one of the largest in the city, with nine single-member districts. (Map: ANC 2B Web site.)
The May meeting of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 2B / Dupont Circle is this coming Wednesday, May 13, at 7 p.m. at the D.C. Jewish Community Center. Remember that West Borderstan (west of 15th Street) is part of ANC 2B while East Borderstan is part of ANC 2F/Logan Circle.
Note that the commissioner for District 2 resigned and the seat will be filled in the near future; this district is mostly northwest of Dupont Circle and also southeast of the circle. The Borderstan commissioners on ANC 2B are Victor Wexler-District 5 and Jack Jacobson-District 4.
Agenda follows (plus a link to the PDF here).
Join the ANC 2B/Dupont Circle team for the Greater DC Cares Servathon 2009. (Image: Greater DC Cares Web site.)
From Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 2B/Dupont Circle:
Hello, Dupont neighbors: Please join the Dupont Circle ANC for a day of community service in and around our neighborhood on Saturday, May 2. We have created a Dupont Circle Neighborhood team for the 2009 Servathon, hosted by Greater DC Cares. Through the Servathon, Greater DC Cares connects willing volunteers to much-needed community projects around the city and metro area. Please join our Servathon team by following this online link.
(more…)
