Ward 3: DC’s plans to bring modern streetcars were on display at Stoddert ES yestday. The most frequent question to asked regarding LRT in Ward 3 was “Why are there no plans for streetcars in Ward 3?” The planners were all pretty helpful, and the event seemed to go well. There was a lot of interest in getting streetcars up MacArthur Boulevard and Connecticut Avenue, but nothing real. The most telling discussion I had was from a consultant on the project, who explained the lack of routes from an economic development perspective. He pointed out that the ability of the lines to spur economic development guided their location; Northwest, he said, is as developed as it can be. Such an assertion is absurd on its face, a condition upheld only because of the disproportionate effect of neighbors on sensible zoning.
Friendship Heights: National Realty and Development continues on with their project to fill in the home-plate lot behind Mazza Gallerie. More on that in another post.
Tenleytown: Last week, some Tenleytown residents began receiving postcards from someone representing Safeway. Apparently, the cards ask homeowners to sign the card in support of Safeway’s plans. The details are fuzzy and Safeway is equivocating in its responses. I get that the Tenleytown crowd can be a little hysterical at times, but this strategy is sneaky at best and otherwise disrespectful of the community. No pictures of the cards yet, but if you get one, I’d really appreciate a forwarded scan.
Also, the TD BankNorth BankBuilding will be having an OpeningParty on November 14. They are so enthusiastic about talking to the community that they sent me a PressRelease. Maybe they really want to have a sincere talk about their love for trees – so ask them about that. Only Tenleytown residents laughed there. Meanwhile, they’ve installed a floor-to-ceiling blow-up of a historical picture from the brick water tower (at right). It dates to 1935, so it shows buildings in Fort Reno Park, and – gasp – the Negroes who occupied them. That should make for a great conversation piece. “Say, Madison, where are those houses now? The Chevy Chase Land Company had the city clear them in the 1930s? Oh, you don’t say…”
ANC 3E: The agenda for the November ANC 3E meeting at 7PM on Thursday the 5th reflects the above issues. In addition to a discussion of the Safeway expansion project, the Tenleytown Historical Society will be talking about plans to landmark the Jesse Reno School, which is one of the few surviving structures of Reno City and a unique artifact (see above picture).
There is still much, much more
Hawthorne: Ain’t too much happening ‘round these parts but the fall wheat is a-lookin’ mighty thick.
Tobago: You may have heard, but Ben W. Murch ES received the James Oberstar award for Safe Routes to School. This is no small beans, so I congratulations to the faculty, parents, and student for taking the personal initiative to make DC more sustainable. I used to walk to Much back in the day, so the nostalgia is practically killing me. Oddly, the award was actually presented by Congressman Jim Oberstar who, in spite of all his good work in the House, should not have an award named after him while he still breathes. Still, go Mustangs.
Politics and Prose will not be hosting any urbanism authors over the next two months, but they will be hosting some other interesting authors. On the 8th, Kati Marton will talk about her parents’ persecution under Fascism and Communism. Brad Leithauser, a local author, will be presenting his new book at P&P on November 22nd. Finally, Jonathan Safran Foer, who grew up in North Cleveland Park and went to GDS, will be speaking about his book on vegetarianism at the 6th & I Historic Synagogue on December 1st.
AU Park, North Cleveland Park, Forest Hills & Van Ness: There are two separate greening and weatherization programs appearing in time for furnace season. The first is tomorrow, at the same time as the ANC 3E meeting but at the 2nd District Police Station, and is sponsored by Weatherize DC. The other event is on November 14th at UDC. This is part of the Neighborhood Sustainability Indicators Pilot Project, a favorite of Mary Cheh. The program is trying to make DC neighborhoods more energy efficient and less wasteful through relatively simple means and community cooperation. I strongly recommend the UDC session if you live in those neighborhoods. We need people to come out to support density as one way of making DC greener.