Fisher on Bikes, Cars and Wisconsin Ave

From Marc Fisher in the Washington Post
....
But reaching that goal will mean beating back the vociferous opposition to
development in many residential neighborhoods, especially in more affluent
parts of town.

"In Ward 3," Cheh says, "we're pushing in the wrong direction," a
reference to residents who lobby loudly and strongly against development
in areas such as Cleveland Park, Tenleytown and Friendship Heights.

As an example, Cheh cites the planned Commerce Bank branch on Wisconsin
Avenue on the former site of the Outer Circle movie theaters. The bank is
designed with a drive-thru--a suburban model that is exactly the opposite
of the kind of retail that the District wants to encourage. "I opposed it
because it's inappropriate development," Cheh says. That was a rare case
in which the council member found herself on the same side as neighborhood
activists who fight against what they see as moves toward unacceptably
high density. "They opposed it because they oppose things."

A few blocks south, at the controversial corner of Wisconsin and Albemarle
Street, where Mayor Adrian Fenty has been pushing for a public-private
partnership to build a public library and apartments across the street
from the Tenleytown Metro station, Cheh says the opportunity to create the
density needed to support more retail and a more walkable community
appears to be dissipating.

"It's a shame," she says, but the proposal from the developer Fenty chose,
LCOR, involves too long a delay in rebuilding the library that was torn
down four years ago. "It gets a little unrealistic. By all accounts, the
deal is falling apart. And that's too bad, because the area is a dead zone
and it doesn't have to be."

Cathedral History

Cathedral History Talk: How in the world did they build it?

The creation of Washington National Cathedral
Tuesdays, September 30 and October 7, 14, 21, 28, 2008
1 pm, in Perry Auditorium, 7th floor Free and open to the public

Join us for a lecture with historic images and fascinating construction
photos which help tell the story of the creation of the only gothic
Cathedral built in the 20th century. The presentation lasts approximately
30 minutes. All are welcome!

* Visit the Dreamers and Believers: Cathedral Builders exhibit and
learn about the planning and construction of the Cathedral. In the Rare
Book Library Exhibit Room through October, 2008.

* Explore a variety of touring options at the Cathedral.

* Read about Fall 2008 lecture programs at the Cathedral.

Contested ANC Races

3B02
Alan Blevins
Jackie Blumenthal

3C01
Lee Brian Reba
Paul Poe

3C03
Anne-Marie Bairstow
Jenelle M. Dennis

3C05
Darcy Buckley
Leila J. Afzal

3D01
Elizabeth (Betsy) Sandza
Kent Slowinski

3D08
Christine M. Warnke
Lee P. Minichiello


3E03
Jonathan Bender
Joseph T. Carlson

3E04
Lucy Eldridge
Tom Quinn

3F04
Frank Winstead
Tom Whitley

3F05
Kathryn I. Hughes
Mital M. Gandhi

3F07
Daniel L. Klibanoff
Michael Curcio

3G05
David Engel
Mary Rowse

3G07
Cris Fromboluti
Earle Douglass
Henry Griffin

Triangle Lot Redux

The fate of the triangle lot in Chevy Chase, DC is still up in the air. As previously
noted a local developer bought the lot with the intention of building a house within the back portions of a number of other houses in the community. The BZA rejected the application leaving its use in the air. Now however, the daughter of the developer is seeking clients for her new dog-walking business, proposing to use the lot as a dog run. The Washington Post covered the story.

Yogiberry is Coming

According to reports, local vendor Yogiberry will soon inhabit the former Foster Brothers site in the Park 'N Shop in Cleveland Park.

Fox 5 on the Chevy Chase Historic District

Karen Grey Houston filed this report about the proposed historic district in Chevy Chase, DC.

Additional commentary is provided on the Great Greater Washington blog.

PPP Meeting covered in DC MUD

DC MUD has good coverage of the Tenley-Janney PPP Meeting from last evening.