https://bloomingdalecivicassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Bloomingdale-Civic-Association-meeting-minutes-2018-09-17.docx
Monday, 09/17/2018
Bloomingdale Civic Association meeting
St. George’s Episcopal Church, 160 U Street NW
Officers present: Teri Janine Quinn, Robert Brannum, Angela Prentice, Bertha Holliday, Scott Roberts
Approximately 30 people attended.
The meeting started at 7:05 pm.
Public safety
5D Sergeant Mark Lakomec, who is filling in for Sergeant Brown, provided recent crime stats and reported on the current K2 issue in the general area. It was noted that a bad batch of K2 is around. BCA President Quinn asked that 5D Lieutenant Frenzel come to the BCA meeting.
Government representatives #1
Ward 5 Councilmember McDuffie spoke about K2 and the potential repeal of the Initiative 77 on tipped wages. He supports the initiative repeal. He spoke about the issues of the closing of the acute care services at Providence Hospital.
A neighbor asked about the church building at 150 S Street NW, which is now partially demolished. CM McDuffie said that DCRA has asked the developer to go back to the DC Historic Preservation Office. CM McDuffie agreed to meet with the abutting neighbors to discuss the issue.
A neighbor advised that DC Water has not addressed all of the property damages from the DC Water 1st Street Tunnel project.
A neighbor asked about the DPW trash collection leaving broken glass and other trash in the alley after collection.
New Ward 5 MOCRs
The two new Ward 5 MOCRs introduced themselves, who are replacing Hakeem Rogers and Lionel Gaines. The new Ward 5 MOCR is Dominique Chestnut. His Email address is Dominique.chestnut@dc.gov. His phone number is (202)-349-4399. The other Ward 5 MOCR is Malik Miller. His phone number is (202) 727-2822. Ms. Quinn said that Mr. Chestnut is assigned to Bloomingdale.
BCA Nominations Committee
Ms. Quinn asked for paid BCA members to volunteer to serve on the BCA Nominating Committee that creates a slate for the BCA elections. Seven people offered to serve:
Jennifer McCann, Sherryl Taylor, Robert Brannum, Zach Sherif, Jean-Christophe Deverines, Elizabeth Wilson, Joe Levesque and Solomon Beyene.
A motion to accept the set of Nominations Committee volunteers was made. The motion was unanimously passed with 14 votes.
Decking over North Capitol Street
Ms. Quinn provided an introduction to the idea of decking over North Capitol Street.
A firm has offered to do some legwork pro bono, but one needs to apply for it.
Thaddeus Thaler provided these notes:
North Capitol St. is a major artery in DC, running North South providing key access to Union Station and the Capitol Building. Like many arteries in DC, North Capitol St fell victim to 1960s and 1970s urban planning, creating sever scars along the landscape as portions of the streets were suppressed below the ground plane to surpass east and west connectors. This left a neighborhood with unfriendly pedestrian access through service roads, minimized sidewalk widths, and unattractive disruptive views to the Capitol. This led to many parts of the corridor being, not only, neglected but segregated from the overall cities vision of public space and connectivity.
The neglect and segregation has resulted in racial divides over the past few decades affecting zoning and business development. While specific areas within the BCA jurisdiction have experienced intense gentrification, the goal is to promote stable growth while creating an identity that does not threaten the existing residents. The Overdeck project aligns to the BCA’s goals to create “stable, inclusive, multi-racial/multi-cultural neighborhood, and build community identity and sense of place through civic engagement, neighborhood history, and design.”
This specific project will concentrate on the concept of the over deck park between V St and Seaton Pl as a catalyst for the overall vision, resulting in an approximately 3-block long decked park. The North Capitol decking and park project is the major long-term (10-year) recommendation of the BVS Architecture & Design Recommendations report. This park or plaza will reclaim a much needed area for residents to not only enjoy, but to assemble and organize, bringing definition to the community. The goal of this project is to help the civic organizations present to council and other agencies to garner support. This includes consultation, programming and visualization of the community’s goals.
We have contacted the international firm ZGF Architects, a firm that is currently working with Dupont Circle on its deck over project (between Dupont Circle and Q St NW on Connecticut Ave https://ctavestreetscapeplaza.com/). One of the architects lives on Crisps Attucks Park. We have provided information to allow them to submit a proposal to their management to provide pro bono services, which would entail architectural design services and capital planning assistance to help us gain buy-in from stakeholders. Once they gain approval, we will present the information to the BCA membership, presumably at the October BCA meeting to seek support.
Renovations at the Park at LeDroit
Autumn Saxton-Ross provided a summary of the project. Ahmed Tabana of the DC Department of General Services (DGS) advised that a contract proposal should be announced within a week. The budget is approximately $750,000. The project scope would level the hilly area and provide shading & benches. DC Department of Parks and Recreation’s Brent Sisco will be the DPR contact.
Mr. Tabana said that the project could perhaps start in January 2091 and end in April 2019. Kristin Taddei from Casey Trees advised that she is following this project.
75 Florida Avenue NW development project
No one from 75 Florida Avenue NW was in attendance of the meeting. Dr. Holliday explained that the next-door neighbor opposes the proposed two additional floors and pop-back. It was noted that the property is zoned MU-4 (commercially zoned.)
Government representatives #2
ANC5E07 Commissioner Holliday spoke about an ANC5E resolution vote on affordable housing
Bloomingdale Civic Association 2018 election
Ms. Quinn announced that the BCA election will be held at the November BCA meeting.
Other
Ms. Quinn said that perhaps ANC5E commissioner candidates in contested races can speak at the October BCA meeting or at some other special forum.
DC Office of Emergency Management
Mr. Brannum distributed DC OEM bags of info on emergency management.
The meeting ended at 8:30 pm.
Motion summary
| Motion # | Motion | Results of motion |
| 1 | To accept the set of BCA Nominations Committee volunteers — Jennifer McCann, Sherryl Taylor, Robert Brannum, Zach Sherif, Jean-Christophe Deverines, Elizabeth Wilson, Joe Levesque and Solomon Beyene | Motion passes |