The Department of Transportation (DDOT) has announced that the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the South Capitol Street corridor is now available for public review and comment. The comment period closes on March 31, 2008. The DEIS evaluates two different Build Alternatives, as well as the alternative to not build. You can read A LOT lot more about the South Capitol Street project by clicking here.

There will be two upcoming public hearings:

Tuesday, March 4, 2008
6:30 - 8:30 PM
Birney Elementary School
2501 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave SE
(near Anacostia Metro)

Wednesday, March 5, 2008
6:30 - 8:30 PM
Amidon Elementary School
401 Eye Street SW
(near Waterfront-SEU Metro)

Both meetings have the same agenda and will provide you with an opportunity to receive information and submit official comments concerning the South Capitol Street DEIS.

You can review the figures from the two build alternatives by clicking below:

Alternative 1: http://www.southcapitoleis.com/pdfs/figure_build_alternative_1.pdf
Alternative 2: http://www.southcapitoleis.com/pdfs/figure_build_alternative_2.pdf

Written by Rich Lukas & Eric Schwalb

For those who may recall our August entry, Eric Schwalb and I – both residents of 13th Street, SE – have been helping to create a park and garden at the corner of 13th and C Street, SE, which is currently the site of an empty lot owned by the D.C. Housing Authority (DCHA).
 
The 13th Street Community Park & Garden organization, now incorporated as a D.C. nonprofit, has been working vigilantly to solicit community opinion about the future potential for this location.  On January 12th, leaders from DCHA, Councilmember Wells, and the nonprofit’s Design Committee held a community charrette, which gathered over 50 people from throughout the community – including garden enthusiasts, Kentucky Courts residents, Casey Trees, and a documentarian who has begun filming the evolution of this would-be park and garden.

After listening to the wonderful concepts and ideas brought forward through the charrette, the Design Committee – led by the professional expertise of Colleen Garibaldi, Liz Guthrie, and Heather Deutsch – has synthesized the concepts into tentative designs that will soon be presented to DCHA and the public.

While we await the groundbreaking of the site, we look forward to hosting several events to continue the amazing community momentum behind this initiative.  Although DCHA has agreed to pay for the construction costs, it will be up to the 13th St. Community Park & Garden organization to maintain the park and garden.  Consequently, a Fundraising Committee, spearheaded by Christy Schwalb, Courtney Mabeus, and Jeffrey Seltzer, has quickly been put to task in order to track and raise finances.

To maintain the park and garden, and to offset initial startup costs and filing fees, we need your help to raise funds. We invite you to our first fundraiser:

WHAT: A Neighborhood Happy Hour – mingle with your neighbors and find out the latest plans for the site.  Food & drink provided!

WHEN: Saturday, February 23rd from 4 to 6 p.m.

WHERE: 307 13th Street, SE

COST: $20 per adult; $40 per household (kids welcome!)

Checks may be made out to the "13th Street Community Park and Garden, Inc." Receipts also will be available for cash payments.

Once again we are enthralled to have such enlightened community leaders and so much citizen support behind this project.  As a reminder, the 13th St. Community Park & Garden organization and its committees are always open to anyone who is interested in joining.  More information, news of upcoming events, and how you can contribute to this project can all be found on our Official Website.  

We hope that you can join us on February 23rd! 

Richard Lukas                        Eric Schwalb
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Today's Washington Post has a great article about the community garden efforts going on in Ward 6. One of the newest is the Kingman Park-Rosedale Community Garden where the efforts are described as a "quiet revolution in urban agriculture." Tommy's been a big supporter of these urban gardens sprouting out of the ground. For residents around Kentucky Courts, check out this effort if you're not a part of it already. For neighbors around Rosedale and Kingman Park, we're told plots are available. You can get more information by clicking here.

Photo Credit: Washington Post

Just a friendly reminder about the next Southwest Community Office Hours.

By now, many of you have received a flyer in the mail announcing that the monthly SW Community Office hours will take place this Thursday, February 14, 2008, from 8:00 – 9:30 am., at the Channel Inn, 650 Water Street, SW 20024. What better way to kick off your Valentine's Day!

On the second Thursday of every month, Councilmember Wells and members of his staff will arrive at the Channel Inn at 8:00 am to make the Council office more accessible to residents living in Southwest DC. Representatives from his constituent services staff will also be on hand to help handle requests from residents. Councilmember Wells uses these events to spend time one-on-one with constituents to hear their concerns, issues and ideas - and assign staff for follow-up to resolve problems.

Mr. Wells hosts similar Community Office Hours on H Street, NE on the fourth Thursday morning of every month.  If you have any questions about the Community Office Hours please contact our office at 202-724-8072.

Special Note:

We have been asked whether Councilmember Wells would host Community Office Hours in the evening. Given the large number of community meetings and events that Tommy attends in the evenings, it’s difficult to find a regular evening for these events. We anticipate that there will be a SW evening office hours event for the month of March.  We will announce details very soon.