Rethinking Ward Circle

GreaterGreater Washington has an interesting blog entry that analyzes Ward Circle in its current condition and suggests alternatives.

Kick-Off for Tenleytown Safeway

Here is City Paper coverage of the Clark Construction kick-off neighborhood meeting for the Tenleytown Safeway.

Safeway Community Meeting

From the Tenleytown Yahoo Group:

Clark Realty Capital is working with Safeway to design and deliver an exciting new mixed-use development at the location of the existing Safeway store in the Tenleytown neighborhood. The development will include rental apartments atop a new and improved Safeway grocery store. As we begin the planning process, we invite you to join us for a brief discussion to meet our team, learn about the development issues, and share your thoughts and concerns.

Tenleytown Safeway Development
Community Workshop
Thursday October 27, 2011
7:30 PM – 9:00 PM
St. Mary's Church Community Hall
42nd and Fessenden Streets, NW

Housing Complex: YIMBYs Are Back

A write-up in the City Paper about one organization trying to make a difference in the Ward.

Ward 3 Redistricting Questions

In a recent issue of The Mail from DC Watch, one resident aired some issues related to the recent Ward 3 redistricting effort:


Ward 3 ANC Redistricting has been a distressing affair. I was horrified by the lack of democracy and the lack of concern for Ward 3 citizens, as ANC lines were redrawn with little or no consideration for residents. A coup by ANC 3E, which retained its small five-person commission, resulted in the ANC’s taking over all the issues in Tenleytown, leaving more than half of Tenleytown’s citizens in ANC 3F.

The five commissioners of ANC 3E now have jurisdiction over every business and institution in Tenleytown (including DC Public Schools Janney, Wilson, and Deal and countless private schools) and all businesses on Wisconsin Avenue between the District line and Veazey Street, while being accountable mostly to citizens in American University Park and Friendship Heights. Yes, there are a few of us in Tenleytown east of Wisconsin who are now in ANC 3E, but not enough of us to be a political force or to have our own SMD. My new single member district will be populated mostly by people who live on the opposite side of Wisconsin Avenue, mostly residents of AU Park. Unlike most of my neighbors, my home was pulled into ANC 3E because of a last minute deal that puts local ANC boundaries on small, non-arterial residential streets. Most of my neighbors, whose lives are centered on Wisconsin Avenue and Tenleytown institutions, will be represented by ANC 3F (whose commissioners resisted the coup) that must now focus on Connecticut Avenue issues, far to the west of where they live.

It was a situation where the majority of the Task Force representatives were responsible to no one but themselves and/or their employers. Most who voted against the residents did not feel compelled to answer our letters and still fewer gave reasons for their votes. But there was code: “the reunification of Tenleytown” was how several ANC 3E commissioners repeatedly characterized their stick of dynamite.

Safeway Un-Postponed

Nearby residents to the Tenleytown Safeway have received notice of a "community workshop" at St. Mary's Armenian Church on Thursday Oct. 27 at 7:30 PM. This after the project was put on hold after complaints about the original design of the space.

Clark Construction appears to be the redevelopment partner for Safeway.

Tenleytown Redevelopment - The Discussion Continues

In light of the Babe's site at Wisconsin and Brandywine being revisited, discussion on the Tenleytown Listserv has intensified. This post by former ANC Commissioner Beth Kravitz, in response to a question regarding the most sensible place to house some of the expected 2 Million new residents in the region, is self-explanatory:

How about putting them in OTHER parts of the city that are also near the subway and public transportation and are desperately looking for quality development that new residents would bring, such as east of the Anacostia and the new North of Union Station? Not all development and high density residential has to be in Tenley. Many of us worked very hard to keep Tenleytown from becoming like Cleveland Park and Friendship Heights. Growth, even "smart growth" (whatever THAT is) is not necessarily a good thing. Sometimes status quo is actually best. For those who want a Manhattan/Ballston/Friendship Heights style of living, I say, go there. Leave Tenleytown the small town oasis that it is.

I think the idea is to fully realize the regional investment in Metro. It shouldn't be an 'either/or' proposition. There should be new, transit oriented development in other parts of the city, and, there should be new transit oriented development in Friendship Heights and Tenleytown. One can see the walkability, sustainability and tax benefits realized by Montgomery County (Bethesda and Friendship Heights) and Arlington (the Orange Line corridor). These are models (if not necessarily the scale) for the kinds of positive changes that can take place along a transit corridor without negatively impacting the existing residential experience.

A close examination of the parking and traffic impacts to these close-in neighborhoods demonstrate that new residents can be introduced into existing neighborhoods without the negative impacts often claimed by those opposed to new development.

Ward 3 Redistricting Complete

According to accounts on Twitter, the Ward 3 Redistricting Task Force has generally concluded its business. Sources indicate few substantial changes from the 2001 effort.

Among them are

-the consolidation of students into Single Member Districts in ANC 3D, and the expansion of 3D to 10 Commissioners, to include the Department of Homeland Security; and

-the consolidation of ANC 3E around Wisconsin Avenue from Van Ness Street to Western Avenue.

Other changes generally moved Single Member District lines to conform to the 2000 population (+/-5%).

ANC 3/4 G remains split between the two Wards.