Per a DC Press release:
(Washington, DC) Three development teams responded to a District-issued solicitation to redevelop the 3.6 acre Tenley-Friendship/Janney Elementary school site in Northwest Washington.
“The Tenley site is a great opportunity to achieve some of our most important public policy goals: Building better schools, creating affordable housing and encouraging development at transit stations and along major transportation corridors,” said Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Neil O. Albert. “We are excited about the responses to this solicitation as we are just beginning to take a closer look at the proposals.
The proposals were submitted by development teams led by:
LCOR
Roadside Development & Smoot Construction
See Forever Foundation, partnered with UniDev, LLC
The development site, at the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and Albemarle Street, includes the former 15,000-square-foot Tenley library, which has been demolished, and the Janney School, which is slated for expansion.
The solicitation asked bidders to provide their vision for the site as well as explain how they would work with school and library officials to incorporate the respective uses.
While the deputy mayor’s office is still reviewing the proposals, the bidders generally offered proposals that focused on housing—ranging from about 120 to 170 units. Respondent teams also offered plans for incorporating the new library and for expanding and improving the elementary school.
The District anticipates inviting teams to present at a public meeting to be scheduled in February, at which time the teams would present their proposals to the community. The District anticipates selecting a development partner by the end of February.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Cheh responds to Pedestrian Saftey Discussion
As posted on the Cleveland Park and other neighborhood forums, Councilmember Cheh has called for a community meeting on Pedestrian Safety.
I would like to thank the listserv participants for this ongoing discussion about pedestrian safety. Many important and interesting ideas have been expressed, and I have carefully read what you have said. As you know I recently introduced legislation to raise substantially the fine for failure to stop for pedestrians lawfully in a crosswalk. However, more can and must be done. Given the importance of this issue, I am planning to hold a community town hall forum on pedestrian safety on January 19, 2008 at the Second District Police Station. I plan to bring together the Department of Transportation, the Metropolitan Police Department, and outside pedestrian safety experts to provide the community an opportunity to continue this important dialogue. I will provide more details as they become available. In the meantime, please be safe.
This is a great step to help educate the public on these important safety issues, and more importantly, give DDOT and MPD the message that Pedestrian Safety is paramount to making our community and city a better place to live. It will be interesting to see what outside experts are brought in to discuss this issue.
I would like to thank the listserv participants for this ongoing discussion about pedestrian safety. Many important and interesting ideas have been expressed, and I have carefully read what you have said. As you know I recently introduced legislation to raise substantially the fine for failure to stop for pedestrians lawfully in a crosswalk. However, more can and must be done. Given the importance of this issue, I am planning to hold a community town hall forum on pedestrian safety on January 19, 2008 at the Second District Police Station. I plan to bring together the Department of Transportation, the Metropolitan Police Department, and outside pedestrian safety experts to provide the community an opportunity to continue this important dialogue. I will provide more details as they become available. In the meantime, please be safe.
This is a great step to help educate the public on these important safety issues, and more importantly, give DDOT and MPD the message that Pedestrian Safety is paramount to making our community and city a better place to live. It will be interesting to see what outside experts are brought in to discuss this issue.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Palisades Park: An Update
A post on the Palisades Listserv reports the following with respect to the Palisades Park and Playground:
As we move into a new phase for the Palisades Park, Mary Cheh got the District government to appropriate $400,000 for park improvements to the park entrance, in this year's money. This is great news and hopefully can avoid another decade or so of not taking action -- and very heads up on our councilmember's part. (She also appropriated funding for the Palisades stormwater management study, as well as seed funding for Palisades Village -- two more excellent pieces of news for the neighborhood.)
At any rate, Cheh and Parks and Rec Director Clark Ray will be at the Palisades Citizens Association general meeting that will take place on the first Tuesday of February to talk about improvements to the park entrance and collect ideas and input from all comers. This is for February 5, 2008 at 7:30 pm, as always at the Rec Center.
The idea is to make this process as transparent as possible. As this email string illustrates, there are many different ideas and points of view, and the meeting can and should be a forum for civilized, polite discussion, and allow for this issue to perhaps be addressed more comprehensively than your friendly neighborhood listserve. I should also mention that as part of the park's bigger renovation, there were two detailed concepts/options developed for the park entrance lo these many years ago that were temporarily shelved when the save-the-house issue came to the fore. These have also been revived and will be discussed at the PCA meeting.
At any rate, now that there is funding another major obstacle has been overcome, and -- please come to the February meeting! And feel free to thank Mary Cheh for the wonderful news on all three programs for the Palisades.
As we move into a new phase for the Palisades Park, Mary Cheh got the District government to appropriate $400,000 for park improvements to the park entrance, in this year's money. This is great news and hopefully can avoid another decade or so of not taking action -- and very heads up on our councilmember's part. (She also appropriated funding for the Palisades stormwater management study, as well as seed funding for Palisades Village -- two more excellent pieces of news for the neighborhood.)
At any rate, Cheh and Parks and Rec Director Clark Ray will be at the Palisades Citizens Association general meeting that will take place on the first Tuesday of February to talk about improvements to the park entrance and collect ideas and input from all comers. This is for February 5, 2008 at 7:30 pm, as always at the Rec Center.
The idea is to make this process as transparent as possible. As this email string illustrates, there are many different ideas and points of view, and the meeting can and should be a forum for civilized, polite discussion, and allow for this issue to perhaps be addressed more comprehensively than your friendly neighborhood listserve. I should also mention that as part of the park's bigger renovation, there were two detailed concepts/options developed for the park entrance lo these many years ago that were temporarily shelved when the save-the-house issue came to the fore. These have also been revived and will be discussed at the PCA meeting.
At any rate, now that there is funding another major obstacle has been overcome, and -- please come to the February meeting! And feel free to thank Mary Cheh for the wonderful news on all three programs for the Palisades.
PPP Delayed to January 4th.
DC Metro Urban Diary reports that the Tenley-Friendship PPP RFP has been delayed to January 4th, 2008.
It is a good read!
It is a good read!
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Another Pedestrian -------- Struck
The horrific news was posted on the Cleveland Park listserv that for the third time in recent months, a pedestrian was struck and killed in the Ward. I believe this is number 27 for the City -- an unacceptable condition.
(EDIT: Pedestrian was struck, treated and released from the hospital)
To help address the issue, Councilmember Mary Cheh recently announced legislation to beef up fines for drivers failing to yield to pedestrians:
My office is preparing a bill for the next legislative session that will amend the current laws and substantially increase these fines. In particular, failure to stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk, currently a $50 dollar fine, will carry a $500 penalty..
This is all fine and good, but an increased fine doesn't help change the behavior or activity of drivers, and is surely no comfort to those who have lost loved ones in such a tragic way. DDOT recently unveiled a draft of their Master Pedestrian Plan. In Ward 3, the study looked at Wisconsin Avenue from the Cathedral to Western Avenue. The study suggests no fewer than 4 "Pedestrian Signals" along the corridor. I am not sure how this hardware is defined, but DDOT is testing a signal at Morrison and Connecticut which has proven successful in making an intersection safe for pedestrian crossings. At a recent ANC 3/4G Meeting, DDOT indicated that the signal has shown to be successful in that there have not been any pedestrian incidents since the signals implementation in March, 2007.
The ANC (of which 2 Commissioners live on an adjoining street) have been adament that the signal be transformed to a regular red-yellow-green light because of "confusion" at the intersection (nevermind that the signal was requested by the ANC under the banner of Pedestrian Safety). DDOT however seems to feel that for now, the testing should continue, albeit with some potential adjustments.
Given the risk that pedestrians are facing in city streets, it is probably high time to ensure that signals like this are implemented city wide poste-haste.
(EDIT: Pedestrian was struck, treated and released from the hospital)
To help address the issue, Councilmember Mary Cheh recently announced legislation to beef up fines for drivers failing to yield to pedestrians:
My office is preparing a bill for the next legislative session that will amend the current laws and substantially increase these fines. In particular, failure to stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk, currently a $50 dollar fine, will carry a $500 penalty..
This is all fine and good, but an increased fine doesn't help change the behavior or activity of drivers, and is surely no comfort to those who have lost loved ones in such a tragic way. DDOT recently unveiled a draft of their Master Pedestrian Plan. In Ward 3, the study looked at Wisconsin Avenue from the Cathedral to Western Avenue. The study suggests no fewer than 4 "Pedestrian Signals" along the corridor. I am not sure how this hardware is defined, but DDOT is testing a signal at Morrison and Connecticut which has proven successful in making an intersection safe for pedestrian crossings. At a recent ANC 3/4G Meeting, DDOT indicated that the signal has shown to be successful in that there have not been any pedestrian incidents since the signals implementation in March, 2007.
The ANC (of which 2 Commissioners live on an adjoining street) have been adament that the signal be transformed to a regular red-yellow-green light because of "confusion" at the intersection (nevermind that the signal was requested by the ANC under the banner of Pedestrian Safety). DDOT however seems to feel that for now, the testing should continue, albeit with some potential adjustments.
Given the risk that pedestrians are facing in city streets, it is probably high time to ensure that signals like this are implemented city wide poste-haste.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
City Paper: Palisades Opposes Density
Erik Wemple of the City Paper reports on the recent ANC 3D meeting where developers received community input on a townhouse development proposal on MacArthur Boulevard. Writes Wemple:
The Palisades and Foxhall neighborhoods are lovely places. They’re in the city, but not really in the city at the same time. A bus takes them downtown without transferring (city amenity). They have nice yards (not-city amenity). There are restaurants and shops within spitting distance (city). Trees are everywhere (not-city). They live in bungalows and Tudor-style residences (not sure how to classify that one.)
Well, anyhow, residents of these high-priced hoods are flexing their non-city civic muscles these days, in opposition to a plan to locate 41 new town houses on a large property on MacArthur Boulevard...
If not a city, then where?
The Palisades and Foxhall neighborhoods are lovely places. They’re in the city, but not really in the city at the same time. A bus takes them downtown without transferring (city amenity). They have nice yards (not-city amenity). There are restaurants and shops within spitting distance (city). Trees are everywhere (not-city). They live in bungalows and Tudor-style residences (not sure how to classify that one.)
Well, anyhow, residents of these high-priced hoods are flexing their non-city civic muscles these days, in opposition to a plan to locate 41 new town houses on a large property on MacArthur Boulevard...
If not a city, then where?
Monday, December 10, 2007
Cheh to introduce new Pedestrian Safety Law
According to local blog DCist, Ward 3 Councilmember Mary Cheh will be submitting legislation to stiffen penalities for failure to yield to pedestrians.
Council member Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3) is hoping to change that. Cheh's office has announced that tomorrow she will introduce legislation that would mandate a ten-fold increase in fines for failing to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. The legislation would also include installing better signage at District crosswalks stating that pedestrians have the right of way and listing the potential fine, which would be $500.
This is a great first step to a coordinated pedestrian safety plan for the city, but there is so much more to do.
Council member Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3) is hoping to change that. Cheh's office has announced that tomorrow she will introduce legislation that would mandate a ten-fold increase in fines for failing to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. The legislation would also include installing better signage at District crosswalks stating that pedestrians have the right of way and listing the potential fine, which would be $500.
This is a great first step to a coordinated pedestrian safety plan for the city, but there is so much more to do.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Wash Post: BZA Approves Mass Ave Buddhist center
Per the Washington Post:
The D.C. Board of Zoning Adjustment agreed yesterday that a two-story building being constructed by a U.S. Buddhist association on Massachusetts Avenue NW is a place of worship.
A group of residents who live near the Naval Observatory asked the city to appeal a decision this year by the zoning administrator that Soka Gakkai International-USA could build there as a "matter of right." The residents argued that the meetings held by the Buddhists were community meetings, not religious gatherings.
Under District zoning laws, a religious organization can build a place of worship in a residential area without asking for an exemption, which would be needed for a community center. Neighbors had contended that the building would create traffic and noise in the neighborhood several days a week.
The D.C. Board of Zoning Adjustment agreed yesterday that a two-story building being constructed by a U.S. Buddhist association on Massachusetts Avenue NW is a place of worship.
A group of residents who live near the Naval Observatory asked the city to appeal a decision this year by the zoning administrator that Soka Gakkai International-USA could build there as a "matter of right." The residents argued that the meetings held by the Buddhists were community meetings, not religious gatherings.
Under District zoning laws, a religious organization can build a place of worship in a residential area without asking for an exemption, which would be needed for a community center. Neighbors had contended that the building would create traffic and noise in the neighborhood several days a week.
Monday, December 03, 2007
CPCA hosts Grey and Cheh
Vincent Gray, DC Council Chairman, and Mary Cheh, Ward 3 Councilmember, will be the featured speakers at the Tuesday, December 4 meeting of the Cleveland Park Citizens Association. The subject is "One Year Later." A year ago, shortly after election, these same speakers spoke to the association about plans for the year ahead.
This will be a progress report as well as a look at the future agenda of the council and the city. The meeting takes place at the Cleveland Park Library, and begins at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome.
This will be a progress report as well as a look at the future agenda of the council and the city. The meeting takes place at the Cleveland Park Library, and begins at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Palisades House is Demolished
The Jesse Baltimore House in Palisades was taken down yesterday. The 1925 Sears kit house was symbolic of the expansion of the District residential expansion beyond the downtown core. Palisades was built on one of the of the original streetcar lines, the house was right next to the designated stop in the neighborhood. The house was in government hands since the 1950's where it fell into major disrepair. Many neighborhood residents wanted to see the blighted house removed to make the entry way to the Palisades Park more inviting. It was the focus of debate and rancor for several years.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
City Paper covers local Listserv incident
Friday, November 16, 2007
Cheh on Wash Post Chat
Councilmember Mary Cheh is appeared on the Washington Post Live Discussion on Friday, November 16th. The subject: Fraud at the Office of Tax and Revenue.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Wash Post: Cheh helps Rethink eMail Policy
According to Yolanda Woodley, Councilmember Mary Cheh helped the District executive branch re-think the previous stated policy to delete emails after 6 months. According to the article,
Council member Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3), a law professor, called the mayor's six-month deletion policy "unreasonable."
Cheh recently met with City Administrator Dan Tangherlini and offered to help establish a policy that would not archive every e-mail.
"Just like we used to rely on regular mail to uncover misdeeds, now we have to rely on e-mails," she said. "People have to have confidence that we're not hiding things."
Council member Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3), a law professor, called the mayor's six-month deletion policy "unreasonable."
Cheh recently met with City Administrator Dan Tangherlini and offered to help establish a policy that would not archive every e-mail.
"Just like we used to rely on regular mail to uncover misdeeds, now we have to rely on e-mails," she said. "People have to have confidence that we're not hiding things."
Monday, November 05, 2007
Connecticut Avenue Alert for Wednesday, Nov 7
DDOT advises motorists that use of one southbound (inbound) lane of Connecticut
Avenue, NW between Macomb Street and Ordway Street will be temporarily restricted from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, November 7, 2007.
The lane restriction is due to an event at the Uptown Theater at 3426 Connecticut Avenue, NW.
The District's Office of Motion Picture & Television Development, the Metropolitan Police Department and DDOT are coordinating the changes, and "Emergency No Parking" signs have been posted in the area.
Parking will be restricted on the west side of Connecticut Avenue, NW between Macomb Street and Ordway Street from 6:30 p.m. until 10 p.m.
Avenue, NW between Macomb Street and Ordway Street will be temporarily restricted from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, November 7, 2007.
The lane restriction is due to an event at the Uptown Theater at 3426 Connecticut Avenue, NW.
The District's Office of Motion Picture & Television Development, the Metropolitan Police Department and DDOT are coordinating the changes, and "Emergency No Parking" signs have been posted in the area.
Parking will be restricted on the west side of Connecticut Avenue, NW between Macomb Street and Ordway Street from 6:30 p.m. until 10 p.m.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Cleveland Park House Tour
Sunday, November 4th, 1-4 PM in Cleveland Park.
Whether you buy your tickets in advance, (a savings of $5 per ticket) or purchase them at the Cleveland Park Club (3433 33rd Place, NW) on Sunday, don't miss the opportunity to visit eight wonderful, fascinating and diverse homes in the Cleveland Park Historic District. Tickets for members of CPHS are $25.00, for non-members $30.00 when purchased on Sunday.
Whether you buy your tickets in advance, (a savings of $5 per ticket) or purchase them at the Cleveland Park Club (3433 33rd Place, NW) on Sunday, don't miss the opportunity to visit eight wonderful, fascinating and diverse homes in the Cleveland Park Historic District. Tickets for members of CPHS are $25.00, for non-members $30.00 when purchased on Sunday.
DC MUD on the Tenley PPP
The DC Metro Urban Diary has a recent entry on the release of the Tenley-Janney PPP RFP.
Friday, October 26, 2007
McLean Bible Church to the Uptown: Update
Jacqueline Salmon provides an update in the Washington Post to the issue of a large, suburban church's desire to use the Uptown Theater in Cleveland Park for Sunday morning services.
The comments in the follow-up to the article, as well as on the Cleveland Park
Listserv are pretty divergent and amazing.
The comments in the follow-up to the article, as well as on the Cleveland Park
Listserv are pretty divergent and amazing.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Washington Post on Sears House
Sylvia Moreno reports on the Jesse Baltimore Sears house in Palisades.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Sibley Expansion Discussion Continues
From ANC 3D:
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3D will hold a special/emergency meeting on Thursday, Oct. 25th at 7:00 p.m. in order to hear a presentation by Sibley Memorial Hospital on its plan revisions for a Medical Office Building and multi-story parking garage. The meeting will be held at Ernst Auditorium on the Sibley campus. No other ANC business will be conducted.
The special meeting must be held on short notice in order for the ANC to comply with a deadline imposed on the proceeding (Case 05-42), by the Zoning Commission. When the Zoning Commission met to vote on Sibley's proposal last spring, they decided neither to grant the hospital's application nor deny it, instead sending the hospital back to the drawing board to, among other things, reduce the size of the building. Zoning Commission chairman Carol Mitten left the door open for Sibley to re-file when it was ready, and specified that once the hospital filed revised plans the parties would have one week in which to file written comments. Sibley on Tuesday evening informed the ANC that it plans to make its filing this Monday, Oct. 19th.
The special meeting date of Thursday, Oct. 25th was chosen so that the commission may hear from the hospital and members of the public; determine how the revised proposal stacks up against the ANC's vote last December to approve a smaller MOB with a series of conditions; and file its comments by Monday, Oct. 29th. According to Sharon Schellin, secretary of the Zoning Commission, the case file is closed except for written responses from the parties. Sibley Neighbors for Responsible Growth, also a party to the case, has opposed the MOB entirely.
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3D will hold a special/emergency meeting on Thursday, Oct. 25th at 7:00 p.m. in order to hear a presentation by Sibley Memorial Hospital on its plan revisions for a Medical Office Building and multi-story parking garage. The meeting will be held at Ernst Auditorium on the Sibley campus. No other ANC business will be conducted.
The special meeting must be held on short notice in order for the ANC to comply with a deadline imposed on the proceeding (Case 05-42), by the Zoning Commission. When the Zoning Commission met to vote on Sibley's proposal last spring, they decided neither to grant the hospital's application nor deny it, instead sending the hospital back to the drawing board to, among other things, reduce the size of the building. Zoning Commission chairman Carol Mitten left the door open for Sibley to re-file when it was ready, and specified that once the hospital filed revised plans the parties would have one week in which to file written comments. Sibley on Tuesday evening informed the ANC that it plans to make its filing this Monday, Oct. 19th.
The special meeting date of Thursday, Oct. 25th was chosen so that the commission may hear from the hospital and members of the public; determine how the revised proposal stacks up against the ANC's vote last December to approve a smaller MOB with a series of conditions; and file its comments by Monday, Oct. 29th. According to Sharon Schellin, secretary of the Zoning Commission, the case file is closed except for written responses from the parties. Sibley Neighbors for Responsible Growth, also a party to the case, has opposed the MOB entirely.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Woodley Park Day, October 20
Saturday October 20, Noon to 4pm.
The spot light is on the upcoming Woodley Park Day.
The newly formed Woodley Park Business Association (WPBA) is hosting and sponsoring the first annual Woodley Park Day, a fabulous day for celebration and entertainment.
Live music with the acclaimed Trio Caliente, delectable international foods from Woodley Park restaurants, a scrumptious buffet hosted by the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, diverse performances and demonstrations: creations of gigantic bubbles, mounted police, tour of the historic Perle Mesta suite, the famous K-9 dog demos, art exhibit, Moon Bounce for the youngsters, superb door prizes, and many more.
The spot light is on the upcoming Woodley Park Day.
The newly formed Woodley Park Business Association (WPBA) is hosting and sponsoring the first annual Woodley Park Day, a fabulous day for celebration and entertainment.
Live music with the acclaimed Trio Caliente, delectable international foods from Woodley Park restaurants, a scrumptious buffet hosted by the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, diverse performances and demonstrations: creations of gigantic bubbles, mounted police, tour of the historic Perle Mesta suite, the famous K-9 dog demos, art exhibit, Moon Bounce for the youngsters, superb door prizes, and many more.
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