Monthly Archives: June 2012
Ivy City petition supports job training over intercity bus parking at Crummell
The Trinidad Neighborhood Association board voted this week to support the Ivy City Civic Association/Empower DC petition on Change.org calling for workforce development and recreation at historic Crummell School over the DMPED’s proposed Bolt and intercity bus rest area and lot. The text of the petition letter is below, and we encourage you to add your signature to the growing list of supporters, and to also share this with your neighbors and friends.
The Ivy City Civic Association and Empower DC call for an immediate halt to the location of 65+ Bolt Buses on the lot of historic Crummell School, which would further pollute and harm the Ivy City community in the midst of its efforts to revitalize the community and develop a workforce development and recreation center on the Crummell site for the uplift of area residents.
DC’s Mayor Vince Gray & Deputy Mayor Victor Hoskins appear to moving forward with plans – despite community opposition – to allow 65+ Bolt Buses per day to park on the lot of the historic Alexander Crummell School lot for the next 5-10 years. The proposal goes against decades of civic activism during which the community has a laid out vision for Recreation and Workforce development at Crummell and has recently identified a nonprofit partner to provide necessary services. Even the City’s own Comprehensive Plan calls for the school to be restored as a workforce and youth development center. The Bolt Buses will also contribute to pollution and traffic in this already heavily impacted neighborhood. The Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Dept of Transportation officials have repeatedly refused Ivy City’s request for a meeting about this issue, and moved forward with their plans while the community had no City Council representation due to the resignation of former Councilman Harry Thomas Jr. There is no rationale for the buses to be parked at Crummell School when, like the proposed Bus Barn at Spingarn High School, they could be located at RFK, The PEPCO site or other available sites in close proximity to Union Station.
Sincerely,
The Ivy City Civic Association
Empower DC
TNA community meeting: Tuesday, June 26
Please join us next Tuesday at the Trinidad Recreation Center!
Your testimony needed ASAP on Webb E.S. surplus property
Webb Elementary, Mt. Olivet Road, Washington, DC. Photo by rllayman on Flickr.
***UPDATE: DGS has extended the dealine for testimony to Friday, June 15, at 5:00 pm. Please send your written testimony to Brian Hanlon, Acting Director of DC Department of General Services, at my.dgs@dc.gov, cc’ing Althea O. Holford, Realty Specialist, at althea.holford@dc.gov.***
Though it appears that a good majority of the community was unaware, the Department of General Services (DGS) held another public meeting on the disposition of Webb E.S. as a surplus property.
Webb was taken off the February public meeting agenda at the last minute, and DGS conducted an analysis of the property to identify whether or not it was suitable for a District agency use. Ultimately, such a use was not identified, and DGS held another meeting on May 17 to explain why the school is being surplused, to explain what the next steps are in the disposition process, and to solicit input from the community. You can review the presentation slides from that meeting here.
TNA was not notified of the May 17 meeting – when we found out about it this week, we contacted DGS for more information. We received the presentation slides and confirmation that the public record is open until Monday, June 11. We have requested a week extension to this deadline, and will update this post if that extension is granted.
In the meantime, please submit your written testimony, which will be added to the record of the public hearing, by 5:00 pm on Monday, June 11 to Brian Hanlon, Acting Director of DC Department of General Services, at my.dgs@dc.gov, cc’ing Althea O. Holford, Realty Specialist, at althea.holford@dc.gov.
ANC-5B monthly meeting: Thursday, June 7
What: Advisory Neighborhood Commission 5B Monthly Meeting
When: Thursday, June 7, 2012, 7-9 pm
Where: MPD-5D, 1805 Bladensburg Road NE
Agenda Includes:
· Hush Restaurant and Lounge’s application for a liquor license
· Douglas Development’s request for a zoning change
· Resolution for the staff of the Woodridge Public Library
· Invited guests: Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie; D.C. Office of Planning – Representative; Douglas Development
Still no word on the outstanding elections for vacant ANC seats in 5B-05 and 5B-11.
ANC-5B generally meets the first Thursday of each month (expect July and August) at the 5th District Police Station (unless an election is being held).
Trinidad Neighborhood Association 