Parking Bill Would Change Ward 1 Rules

Greater Greater Washington provides an update and analysis on a pair of DC parking bills, one of which would apply to Ward 1 parkers:

Parking on one side of every residential street in DC's Wards 1 and 6 could be reserved for residents only, at all times of the day, under a pair of bills introduced by Jim Graham and Tommy Wells, the Councilmembers for those two wards. Tomorrow, the Council will hold a hearing on both bills, the Residential Parking Protection Pilot Act of 2009 and the Ward 6 Residential Parking Protection Pilot Act of 2009. In addition, one or both bills would provide visitor parking passes to residents, expand RPP sticker eligibility, and adjust RPP fees.

The first covers Adams Morgan, Mount Pleasant, Columbia Heights and U Street, while the second would encompass Capitol Hill, Southwest Waterfront, Near Southeast, and Mount Vernon Triangle. Both would reserve one side of every block with Residential Permit Parking (RPP) for residents of the individual wards. Households would each get one visitor pass to hand to daytime domestic workers or out-of-town visitors, entitling that visitor to park in a residential space. The Ward 1 bill also specifies that every household in the ward can receive a sticker for their car. Currently, residents of some apartment buildings facing commercial streets, or people who live on non-RPP zoned streets, are not eligible for the stickers, and thus receive no RPP privileges at all.

According to William Jordan (aka BroNat), Council Member Graham's staff said nothing will move forward until a public meeting happens in Columbia Heights. Greater Greater Washington has some reservations about the plan, asking if it will be bad for business, but I think ArtBart likes the sound of it (hey ArtBart, is that true?). What do you think?

Photos from the Highland Park vs. Allegro apartment showdown

Councilmember Graham on 1300 Block of Columbia Shooting

From Councilmember Jim Graham:

Dear Friends, I have just returned from 14th and Columbia, where a short time ago shots were fired on the 1300 block of Columbia. An innocent bystander was sitting in her car, which was about to be parked, when a bullet penetrated the chassis and struck her in the leg.

The 1300 block of Columbia has been heavily patrolled with a squad car and a light tower present since Paul Jones was shot in January. (His alleged, barely 18 year old murderer was with this and another murder and is now in jail.)

Indeed, just last night, I attended a community meeting with MPD on the violence at 1300 block of Columbia.

However, another tragedy tonight--a fatal stabbing at Gresham and Georgia--led to the officer on the 1300 block being pulled to the location of that homicide. (There are very good leads, I am told in thta case.)

In the brief time thta followed--when the police were not there, and the light tower was still dark--shots were fired and the person was wounded.

This has all the earmarks of more gang violence.

More information will be revealed as it becomes available.

Sincerely, Councilmember Jim Graham

"Solidarity" Event with Jim Graham at 14th & Girard

From Councilmember Jim Graham:

Dear Friends, Monday night's shooting at the Columbia Heights Community Center was a tragic and despicable act. The shattered glass remains and will soon be replaced. However, the shooting has not shattered our commitment and determination to support young people and to end gang and crew violence.

Please join me on Friday, January 16, 11:30 AM, at the Columbia Heights Community Center to take a stand for Peace and Solidarity in Ward One. Joining me will be Gail Oliver of the Columbia Heights Youth Club, directors of numerous other community based organizations in Ward One, principals, ministers and community residents in an action of solidarity and determination to work together to end gang and crew violence in Ward One.

Please join in. Contact Calvin Woodland or John De Taeye in my office for more information at 724.8181.

Circulator Bus Stop Coming to the Neighborhood?

The Examiner has a small article about Metro and Councilman Jim Graham’s proposal to eliminate the 98 bus that runs from Woodley Park to U Street. Its replacement would be a Circulator bus—similar to what runs along K Street between Union Station and Georgetown—that would connect Woodley Park and McPherson Square. According to the article, the route would have stops in Adams Morgan, Columbia Heights, and the U Street Corridor. DCist has a few thoughts on it, too.

When I lived in Adams Morgan, I was a fan of the 98 bus because it cost only $.25 however oftentimes it was easier just to walk to U Street because traffic was so bad on 18th Street. While there is no final decision on the Circulator route or start date, below are my ideas for where the bus should provide service.


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Park Triangle Dust Bowl to Continue for at least Another Year

On Wednesday, Mayor Adrian Fenty held a press conference in gravel pitch in front of the Park Triangle apartment building announcing the start of the Columbia Heights Public Realm Plan. This plan has been in the works for quite some time and is a frequently topic of debate on the neighborhood listservs.

While it is great to hear that a planning process has finally been implemented, and the vision for the project sounds great. Are we ready for another round of construction and road work at an already busy intersection? For the dust bowl that is the triangle of land in front of Rita’s, Julia’s Empanadas, ect. to be that way for another year is ridiculous. Same goes for the road work involved in the project. New sidewalks for Park Road, overall improvements for 14th between Columbia Rd. and Newton St., among others will be not be seen until mid-2010.

No matter what field you are in, large-scale projects take time to plan, but is this a sensible time line? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Listserv Post of the Day

In addition to this blog, the various Columbia Heights listservs are a must read in knowing what is going on in the community on all fronts. This new feature highlights a listserv message of the day, even though we might not post one every day. Today's comes from Ward One Councilmember Jim Graham on the Columbia Heights Yahoo Group:

CORRECTION: shooting, 700 NOT 1200 block of Irving

Posted by: "Jim Graham" grahamwone@gmail.com grahamwone2000
Fri Apr 25, 2008 6:32 am (PDT)

Sorry about that, I was providing information given to me by MPD. The shooting in fact occurred on the 700 block of Irving.

Councilman Jim Graham - NoVa Hater?

Could it be that our city councilmember feels the same way we do about the suburban black hole that is Northern Virginia?

In an email to the Columbia Heights listserv on the topic of the new Target, fearless leader Jim Graham said:

What we believed has proven true, there is a great pent up interest in shopping in DC rather than having to go outside our boundaries. And that is good news for local prosperity!

Good news for local prosperity, sure... but bad news for the big box abyss just across the Potomac! RIP NoVa.