Category Archives: Uncategorized
A Change In Direction
For most of the past 8 years the Trinidad Neighborhood Association (TNA) has held monthly community meetings. The meetings were an opportunity for neighbors to meeting and receive information from the Metropolitan Police Department, elected officials, and special guests. While the meetings were a great opportunity for community engagement, Trinidad is well served by three dynamic ANC Commissioners that also hold regular meetings. Upon reflection TNA has determined that our regular monthly meetings were becoming increasingly duplicative, and have decided to end our regular community meetings. This change will allow TNA to focus more on being a conduit for community based grassroots project initiatives. That includes projects that range from community cleanups to history trails to little library projects, and social events like brunches, teas, tours, outings and happy hours. In a sense the sky’s the limit, but it all requires community engagement and involvement.
TNA is a volunteer driven community organization. TNA is a 501c(3) Non-Profit Corporation, a charity, focused squarely on improving the quality of life in the Trinidad Neighborhood. There is no staff. TNA is made up of neighbors just like you.
If you want to organize a community event we can help spread the word online, we could serve as a fiscal agent for grants (pending board approval), and we are the official Friends of Organization for the Trinidad Recreation Center (we can hold fundraisers to support programming for that recreation center). The bottom line is we need you, your ideas, your energy, and your passion. Together we can continue to improve the quality of life in our neighborhood.
Join your neighbors Saturday morning for a community clean-up
Let’s make Trinidad look nicer by picking up trash along our streets and in our parks. Meet at Joe Cole recreation center on Neal Street this Saturday October 8 at 10am to get trash bags and break out into teams. How much of the neighborhood we can cover and which areas get priority depends on who comes out to help. So please join us. Plus it is a great way to get to know your neighbors. 
Monthly Community Meeting – August 23rd
Everything you ever wanted to know about water in DC!
TNA’s Monthly Community Meeting
Tuesday August 23rd
7pm
Trinidad Recreation Center
1310 Childress St NE
We’ll have a number of different representatives of DC Water at this month’s meeting to answer questions about water quality, water conservation, the impacts of large-scale construction projects and our aging plumbing systems.
Plus other community updates.
Trinidad Day: August 6, 2016
On Saturday August 6, 2016, ANC Commissioner Keisha Shropshire along with DC Metropolitan Police Department and DC Department of Parks and Recreation will be hosting a Trinidad Day for the vibrant, eclectic community.
“This annual celebration is back again after a four year hiatus and with an added punch! Instead of just giving the constituents what they want, they will also get what they need, jobs! A hiring event with on the spot hiring will be part of the festivities. Some of the areas most engaging local musical acts will touch stage, in addition to activities for seniors to children. This is an event supported by neighborhood businesses. The best things in life are free -Join us!”
-Commissioner Keisha Shropshire
If you would like to donate, please click here.
For more information or to volunteer please contact Commissioner Keisha Shropshire @ 404-245-6772 or email: 5D02@ANC.DC.GOV
June TNA Meeting (6/28 at 7 pm)
The June Trinidad Neighborhood Association will be held at the Trinidad Recreation Center on Tuesday, June 28th. The meeting starts at 7:oo pm.
Items on the agenda include:
- A representative of the Northeast Boundary Tunnel Project, the project that will be going under Mount Olivet Road
- Litter prevention programs
- Updates from the Mayor’s office, Councilmember’s office, and the Police Department
Meeting are free and open to the public.
It’s Almost Here!
There will be a second Saturday of the month neighborhood wide community clean-up this coming Saturday, June 11th.
Time: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. If you can’t make the whole time, that’s fine. Every little bit helps and you can check in the meeting point at any time during the two hours to collect trash bags.
Meeting point: Joe Cole Rec Center (Neal Street side)
Trash bags will be provided; consider bringing your own garden gloves. Dress for the weather but hopefully we will have a break from rains!
Please use the sign up registration on the Sign Up Genius page or check the Facebook page. That helps us plan for the event and a pizza party afterwards. It also sends email reminders prior to the event.
See you on Saturday!
Trinidad Neighborhood Clean-Up on May 14th
Sign up reminder!
There will be a second Saturday of the month neighborhood wide community clean-up this coming Saturday, May 14th.
Time: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. If you can’t make the whole time, that’s fine. Every little bit helps and you can check in the meeting point at any time during the two hours to collect trash bags.
Meeting point: Joe Cole Rec Center (Neal Street side)
Trash bags will be provided; consider bringing your own garden gloves. Dress for the weather but hopefully we will have a break from rains!
We will have some mulch for tree boxes and will also need volunteers to help distribute that to designated tree boxes.
Please use the sign up registration on the Sign Up Genius page. That helps us plan for the event and a pizza party afterwards. It also sends email reminders prior to the event.
See you on Saturday!
BZA Case Update: 1264 Holbrook Terrace
On April 19th the developer of the property at 1264 Holbrook Terrace, ANC Commissioner 5D02 Keisha Shropshire, and concerned neighbors and citizens representing the Holbrook Terrace Alliance appeared before the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) for a hearing on the proposed development under review (BZA Case 19173). There have been several community meetings about the proposed project and extensive negotiations between the developer and immediate neighbors. The hearing can be viewed on-line at the BZA website. There are two sections to the video. The first is prior to the late arrival of the party status group. The second lengthy section (over two hours) covers the discussion on the project.
(Photo from the BZA website documents)
The project has been significantly revised since it was first proposed and discussed with the neighborhood. After feedback from the Office of Planning and discussions with the community, the developer no longer seeks an 8-unit building but to subdivide the lot into lower density row developments that reflects the character of the street. There are two lots that would then be developed as matter of right development under the R-4 regulations (under 35 ft in height is one of the regulations, for example) and one lot requires relief to have a three-unit building (2,700 sq ft lot).
One item of note in the changes is that in the previous plans for an 8-unit building there would have been 3 inclusionary zoning units, or affordable housing units. With the new plans presented to the BZA on April 19th there will not be inclusionary zoning units as there will be fewer overall units and the developer is looking at three separate buildings instead of one larger building.
Some items requested at the end of the hearing are noted here along with new dates for a continued hearing.
Items requested by the BZA:
- The developer will submit a revised shadow study from the same angle.
- The developer is also to present clearer design plans to show that the project is a conversion to a multi unit dwelling and not a new building.
- They are also to present by right plans so that the community and BZA board can have all information for a clearer understanding of the project and its implications on neighbors. The BZA board noted that the community cannot get everything they want and if a matter of right building is constructed on the space there will likely be greater adverse impact on the community and immediate neighbors. They also noted that the neighbors will not be involved in the process nor consulted if a by right construction happens.
- Side elevations of the existing property and proposed building was also requested.
- The neighbors have been asked as a community to list and prioritize what the top priorities are for the development and to work with the developer to come up with a scenario that all can agree with or live with going forward. This list is to be shared with the developer and the BZA Board.
- Photographs that can be uploaded onto the website to show neighborhood character and existing buildings was also requested.
New dates for the continued hearing are:
May 5: The community priorities would need to be submitted to the BZA
May 10: Materials from the developer in response to the priorities would need to be submitted to the BZA
May 13: Any community responses on the new drawings would need to be submitted to the BZA
May 17: The continued hearing before the BZA
TNA will post news we have of any additional meetings leading up to the next hearing date. We hope that everyone keeps informed and stays involved in developments in our community.
Trinidad Neighborhood Association Meeting Tonight (4/26)
There will be a TNA meeting tonight at 7 pm at the Trinidad Recreation Center (1310 Childress St NE).
Hope to see you there!
Rain Delay – Community Clean Up Moved to Tomorrow
We had a great turn out this morning for the community clean up. Unfortunately the colder, heavier rain arrived at the same time so we agreed to meet tomorrow, Sunday, April 10. The start time will again be 10:00 am at the Joe Cole Recreation Center. Please join us for a drier community clean up and a pizza party hosted by 405 Yoga.
This morning the Department of Public Works (DPW) turned out as well to thank volunteers for efforts to have a trash free Trinidad and presented the Trinidad Neighborhood Association with a Community Good Steward Award. Check our twitter feed for photos and info.
DPW Tweet: “Great turn out @TNAdc for their monthly community clean up! #helpinghands #joecolerec. pic.twitter.com/rtrDKUeGY8”
Thank you to everyone that came out in the rain and we will see you tomorrow at 10:00 am!
Trinidad Neighborhood Association 