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The magic of the Petworth Library isn't just about books... on Tuesday, it's also reptiles!
On Tuesday, August 4 at 4:00, meet reptiles from all over the world in this wild, educational show featuring a giant snake, alligator, tortoise, monitor lizard and other amazing reptiles. This program is for ages 5 and up.
Petworth Neighborhood Library
4200 Kansas Ave NW
Image courtesy of UrbanTurf
If you were wondering what was going to happen to the Sweet Mango Cafe after it closed earlier this year, wonder no more. Looks like it's going to be torn down to build a 21-unit apartment building at 3701 New Hampshire Ave.
According to DC UrbanTurf, "the 65-foot, five-story residential development will have one and two-bedroom residential units on floors two through five and there will be retail on the ground floor."
And of course, the developer wants to get a variance to reduce the amount of required parking spots down from the 13 the zoning laws call for (not sure what the final desired number is). The developer will need to go before ANC 4C and ask for a letter of support, and then the DC Zoning Board will have to approve their request for the variance.
Considering it'll be an apartment building with 1-2 bedroom units located across the street from the Petworth metro and a block from Safeway, etc, I would image that they'll get that variance approved.
7/31 Update: For those lamenting the loss of Sweet Mangos Cafe, bear in mind that the restaurant closed in March 2015 due to financial troubles (the building went into foreclosure). It was subsequently purchased by Rooney Properties for $2,430,000. There had been rumors of a new restaurant, but since the lot is zoned for residential as well, it's not a surprise that it's being redeveloped into a larger building. This redevelopment into a new mixed-use building is not the cause of Sweet Mango's demise.
According to a Park View blog post from April:
"The property is zoned GA/C-3-A. C-3-A permits matter-of-right medium density development, with a density incentive for residential development within a general pattern of mixed-use development to a maximum lot occupancy of 75% for residential use and 100% for all other uses and a maximum height of sixty-five (65) feet. Additionally, the Georgia Avenue (GA) overlay stipulates that the ground floor level of each building shall have a uniform minimum clear floor-to-ceiling height of 14 ft. To accommodate this, buildings permitted an additional five feet of building height over that permitted as a matter-of-right in the underlying zone, meaning that any new development on the site could be up to seventy (70) feet."
Chuck Brown mural on the side of the former Sweet Mango Cafe
It will be a shame to lose that awesome mural, though. The mural was put up in 2012 to honor iconic DC musician Chuck Brown (the mural was drawn from a 1992 photo taken by Washington City Paper) who passed away that year (here's his Washington Post obit). Sounds like a great opportunity for ANC Commissioner Timothy Jones (4C08) to reach out to the developer and work with them to get a new mural created at that location.
There's been some lively discussion on this topic on the Petworth News Facebook page. Feel free to add your thoughts on FB or below.
One resident posted this option on the Petworth News Facebook page:
Courtesy Mike Henry
Sources: DC.UrbanTurf, ParkViewDC
Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon Todd held a meeting at the Fourth District Headquarters last Thursday night, July 23rd. The meeting was an opportunity for residents to get a quick update on crime in the Fourth District and asks questions of Chief Lanier and 4D Commander Manlapaz.
Brandon opened the meeting by thanking everyone and mentioned that he was now 60 days into his term as councilmember. He called the Public Safety Meeting to make sure residents were able to share their concerns and to discuss the recent uptick in break-ins and robberies in the area.
Read my full notes and see pictures after the break:
Read MoreThe wilderness that is the Petworth Spray Park
I got a bee in my bonnet about the condition of Petworth Park. Talk about long grass! Petworth Park is in dire need of a hair cut.
I've been emailing the Department of Parks & Recreation (DPR) about the spray park signage since end of May, trying to get the sign replaced. The sign was ripped down and tossed on the ground at the back of the spray park (slowly being swallowed up by the untended grass). After getting tagged with a few choice vulgarities and three months of emails from me to the Aquatics Director, DPR finally removed the sign yesterday and has committed to getting a new sign with updated information (like the correct hours of operation) as soon as possible. According to John Stokes, the deputy director of DPR, it should be installed by mid next week.
My other concern is that grass! It's overgrown throughout the park, and insanely high in the spray park, which presents more concerns. The tall, wet grass inside the spray is a haven for mosquitos. Toddlers and blood-sucking, welt-forming insects are not a good match.
I'm pleased to say that according to emails this morning from Donny Gonzalez from the Department of General Services (DGS), the mowing of the grass is going to be expedited and should be done by tomorrow.
I hope so -- public parks should be a haven for happy kids, not mosquitos.
Updated 9pm 7/28/15: The park has been mowed and all the grass is pretty short.
The next Petworth Jazz Project is this Saturday, July 25th at the Petworth Park (8th & Taylor St NW). This ongoing series is a gem in our local cultural crown. Each month it gets more crowded with people enjoying some of the best musicians in DC, starting with kids' music at 6pm and award-winning jazz performers at 7pm.
This upcoming Saturday is no different. The evening starts with "Planet Swagg" (a teen hip hop duo!). This artist duo is comprised of brothers Rasaan (aka Rasaan Tha Don) who's 15 years old and Master (aka Master Roc) who's 13 years old.
Courtesy of Mark Meadows
Grown-up music starts at 7pm, featuring the Mark Meadows Quartet. Recently named both “Artist of the Year” and “Composer of the Year” of 2014 by the Washington City Paper, Mark Meadows is a jazz pianist, vocalist, composer and jazz educator. He performs throughout the Washington-Baltimore region and across the US. He's an exciting modern jazz pianist and composer whose versatile musical background allows him to interconnect every walk of life.
It's sure to be a really fun evening. Plus, the Orange Cow Ice Cream Truck will be on site. (Summer = the right time for ice cream trucks.) They serve great ice cream by the scoop, ice cream sandwiches, sundaes, floats, and frozen banana on a stick coated with Belgian chocolate, heath bar crunch and coarse sea salt. Yowza.
While at a community event this evening, I met and spoke with DDOT Director Leif Dormsjo about some resident concerns that I've heard recently, as well as the issue of how DDOT conducts traffic safety analyses.
You may not know this, but Leif Dormjso is new to the job. He's been the Director of the DC Department of Transportation for only six months and already has a full schedule of work and changes identified. "There's a lot to do fix the department and make it more effective than it has been," he said. "I think it's a 2-year process for DDOT to improve."
I brought up the concern outlined in my article that DDOT may not be using the most complete set of traffic collision data possible. Mr Dormjso told me he read the article, "I agree with you," he said. "I don't think we're getting all the information we should be. It's something that I'm working to fix."
Read my full impromptu interview with DDOT's Director:
Read MoreWhen you see a problem in your community, the way it gets fixed is when you do something about it. Speaking up and getting heard is the only way to ensure the community's needs are met, especially when dealing with a city bureaucracy.
Residents who live near the Quincy Street and Kansas Avenue NW intersection have been frustrated for years with the danger that intersection represented every day for pedestrians and vehicles. They watched near misses and collisions...
Read about the solution after the break:
Read MoreWith the Prince of Petworth no longer living in Petworth, I've been repeatedly asked by people, and a couple of DC media outlets, over the past two days if I see this as an opportunity to "take over the Petworth blogging scene." First thing I'll say, as I've always said, is that Dan and I aren't rivals, and I don't believe our blogs compete. Others may disagree.
Read my full thoughts after the break:
Read MoreYeah, in the spray park. How cool is that?
According to Dance Project organizer Sara Herrera-Kopetchny, the timeline for Saturday's (July 11th) activities featuring Light Switch Dance Theatre will be 7-7:30pm performance in the spray park, followed by Rainbow Joe doing a drum and dance party for kids from 7:30-8pm. Then the Light Switch Dance Theatre begins the second half of the show at 8:05pm.
I highly recommend coming to the Petworth Dance Project. It's a wonderful addition to our cultural activities in Petworth. (Here's my previous article about the Dance Project.)
"This is the first site specific performance of the season, with the first half of the show performed in the Petworth Spray Park. You do not want to miss this beautiful and thought-provoking performance," said Sara.
Light Switch Dance Theatre (established in 2012) is a sites-specific project based contemporary dance company dedicated to multi-disciplinary performances in non-traditional spaces. Sandra Atkinson, MA (Artistic Director) creates work in a collaborative manner inspired by the human condition, social justice, matters for science & technology and art of all mediums. LSDT strives to provide performances to the general public making any place a performance space.
The Girl Child Project: Private/Water & Traffic
Sextet: 25 minutes
Private/Water focuses on the lack of water, indoor plumbing, and privacy for women and children in certain parts of India. These elements have been sited a reason for the rise in sexual assault of women and children.
Water/Shed
Produced from research on the sustainability of the Patuxent River and the community this body of water serves in Maryland
"I hope you will join us for this performance! It's outdoors! It's FREE! It's dance! What's not to love!"
OK, Petworth News readers, this one is for you. What advice do you have to share on owning a bad flip?
I got an email from a reader who lives in Petworth. About a year ago, she and her husband bought a newly flipped / renovated house and now... problems, lots and lots of problems. Unfortunately, this isn't a unique story, but maybe one of you smart peeps have good advice (and the name of an attorney) that you can share to help this couple find a way to resolve the issues.
The reader's email:
Thank you for all your Petworth news - my husband and I follow your news religiously! I have a question, we are new to Petworth, one year, and think we may have been scammed.
We feel like schmucks and bought a flipped house and we are having many many problems with our home. We still have holes in our ceiling, the skylights and basement leak, there has been water leaking into our electrical panel and the sub-flooring in our kitchen is unfinished...anyways, we are looking for some recourse against the seller.
Do you know any real estate attorneys that have been a part of litigation against these LLCs that flip houses? We are desperate for consult and help.
Please comment below or send me an email and I'll pass along your response to the reader. You can also comment on Facebook.
I'm really happy to say that the Washington Post has extended an offer to publish articles from Petworth News on their website in the All Opinions Are Local section.
I accepted (obviously) and signed an agreement with them a week or so ago. This is pretty cool, and means greater exposure for our neighborhood and the blog. I mentioned this agreement in the podcast I just did, so I figured it was time to announce it here too. Read more about the agreement and an FAQ after the break:
Read MoreMy friends at 4Site Studios, a web and video firm in Columbia Heights, invited me to a casual conversation over beer and recorded a podcast about neighborhood blogging and what it takes to build a "digital community" in their Digital Engagement 4Cast series.
If you're interested in learning a bit more about me, hearing how Petworth News came about, my obsession with metrics, what I think about when I write and more, you can find the podcast on iTunes (it's 4Cast #8).
Courtesy of Corey Wallace
Update: Tonight's Jazz Project is cancelled due to the rain. Next month!
I highly recommend you go to the Petworth Jazz Project at the Petworth Park (8th & Taylor St NW) on Saturday, June 27th from 6-9pm if you:
a) like jazz
b) have kids
c) like good pizza
d) wanna hang with neighbors
e) all the above
Courtesy of Baba Ras D
Baba Ras D will perform at 6pm for kids (if you don't know Baba, he's like the Bob Marley for 3 and 4 year olds, they love / are obsessed with him). He's also an incredibly nice guy.
The Corey Wallace DUBtet will perform at 7pm for everyone, and should offer a great show. From listening to some of Corey's music, we're in for a treat.
And lastly, Timber Pizza Co will be onhand with their portable brick-oven and will be making outstanding pizzas.
Here's hoping the weather cooperates!
Petworth News, a neighborhood blog on local news, information & events about the Petworth area in Washington DC.
Petworth News is a news site about Petworth area neighborhoods in Washington DC, written by Drew Schneider and other amazing contributing writers. It features facts and objective reporting, as well as an occasional subjective point of view and opinion.
Volunteer with the Friends of the Soldier's Home!
