October 19, 2015

Heights Community Soup looking to fund neighborhood projects

October 19, 2015/ Drew

There's a new program that is slowly getting more attention up in north Petworth called Heights Community Soup. It's a community potluck dinner where neighbors gather, share dinner and ideas to help the neighborhood, and then vote to fund one of four proposals presented that night. Past Soups have raised in the $600-700 range for the chosen community project.

The organizers, the Community Alliance For Upper Fourteenth Street (CAUFS), based their program on the "Detroit Soup" model, through which residents have gathered and voted to micro-fund many creative projects across the city.

CAUFS is looking for people to come out and join their fellow neighbors with a dinner and idea session. If you have an idea for a community activity, mural or something else to fill a gap or lift up the community, please share your idea. Please email any questions and suggestions for ideas by Friday, October 23rd to info.heightscommunitysoup@gmail.com.

They're looking for proposals that benefit communities surrounding the upper 14th St area bounded by Georgia Avenue (East), Rock Creek Park (West), Spring Road (South) and Missouri Avenue (North).

The next Soup is Tuesday, October 27th from 6:30-8:30pm at 4411 14th St.

Doors open at 6pm, presentations start at 6:30 and dinner around 7:30pm. They'll announce the winner of the funding by 8:30.

> View the Heights Community Soup PDF for more info.

October 19, 2015

ANC 4D draft agenda for October 20th

October 19, 2015/ Drew

Not sure how I missed this in my email, but I overlooked posting the draft agenda for the Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 4D. Their October meeting is Tuesday, October 20 at 7pm at Truesdell Education Campus, 800 Ingraham St. NW

See the draft agenda, after the break:

October 19, 2015

Park View follow-up on parking issue at 3701 New Hampshire

October 19, 2015/ Drew

ANC 1A Chair and Park View blogger Kent Boese wrote a follow-up article about the parking issues around 3701 New Hampshire Avenue. I think it's a good explanation of the current parking situation. Kent walked around the area looking at where people are parking and what options were available.

The article is a good in-depth look at the issue. Ultimately, residents along 7th, Quincy, Rock Creek Church and other nearby streets will feel the stress from any new development, be it a restaurant or an apartment building.

Read more >

October 18, 2015

Thoughts on ANC 4C issues; facts & opinions

October 18, 2015/ Drew

I've heard from many readers about the events from the October 14th ANC 4C meeting, detailed in the article "This is what dysfunction looks like: Notes from ANC 4C October meeting." The article has been read by more than 2,000 people so far, and there are over 20 comments on the Petworth News Facebook page, and a few here on the blog article. (I always get more comments on FB than on the blog.)

The level of concern among residents is pretty high. People are concerned about belligerence, about arrogance, and about a lack of attention to the issues residents care about. There's confusion as to why there was so much anger at the meeting, and what it means for the effectiveness of the commission.

I thought I'd take some time to go over what happened and why (as best as I can tell), and give the commissioners a chance to weigh in, officially and off the record.

Read more about the events >

October 18, 2015

Quick update on plans for Ruta del Vino

October 18, 2015/ Drew

The Riyad is set to close in a month, and coming up is a wine bar to replace it. I sat down with Justin Logan for coffee the other day to chat about Ruta del Vino, the wine bar coming to 800 Upshur St NW.

Read more about the new restaurant >

October 16, 2015

This is what dysfunction looks like: Notes from ANC 4C October meeting

October 16, 2015/ Drew

When I attend an ANC meeting and write up my notes, I try to be objective and capture what I can from the night. As this is my blog, I might throw some opinion in here or there, add a useful link or two and offer photos of those who spoke so readers can get a clearer idea of the meeting. After all, if you live in the ANC, you should care about what happens.

I’ve been watching ANC 4C slowly deteriorate over the past 10 months under the chairmanship of Vann-Di Galloway. Wednesday night was just a culmination of all the problems hitting at once.

Read the notes. They're long but there's a lot to say...

October 15, 2015

Holiday crime prevention advice from MPD

October 15, 2015/ Drew

I told MPD that I would help get the word out about crime tips where possible either here on the blog or on the Petworth News Facebook page (you do follow the Facebook page, right?) So without further ado, crime prevention tips for the holiday season from the Metropolitan Police Department (h/t Lt. DK Augustine, PSA 409).

As the holidays are coming up MPD anticipates more valuables being left in cars, more packages being delivered and sitting on porches and people traveling. Read MPD's tips...

October 14, 2015

Uniting with DC SCORES on childhood development and being awesome

October 14, 2015/ Drew

One of the benefits of writing a blog that reaches thousands of readers is getting invited to work with organizations on some truly worthwhile causes. I'm really excited to say that Petworth News is partnering with DC SCORES, a non-profit that runs after-school programs at public schools around the city (and here in Petworth). It's going to be a great partnership -- and it benefits you, too!

Read more about DC SCORES >

October 11, 2015

Guest post: "Clean to the curb" can keep Petworth beautiful

October 11, 2015/ Drew

Local Petworth neighbor Carrie Johnson-Clark contacted me recently about “Clean to the Curb,” an initiative that encourages people to keep the area around their houses clean. Carrie asked if I’d publish something to get the word out. I offered one better — I offered to publish an article that she wrote. And here it is. I’m happy to offer an article from a Petworth neighbor who cares about how we can all do our part, even a little bit, to help keep the community looking beautiful.

October 11, 2015

DC Treasure preview party & gumbo contest

October 11, 2015/ Drew

DC Treasure store owner Noah David is having an early "preview" party for the store on Monday, Oct 12th. The new antique store at 205 Upshur St NW is next to the Slash Run restaurant and was previously the Louisiana Gumbo Express restaurant

Read more about the preview party >

October 09, 2015

Fighting to clean up vacant properties, one house at a time

October 09, 2015/ Drew

Walk around Petworth and you'll see houses being renovated on block after block, dumpsters parked on the street with duct-taped "no parking" signs on the trees. Inside you'll hear tools and men's voices as walls go up, floors are redone, new landscaping put in.

Walk around Petworth, and you'll see many examples of houses that are sitting untouched and empty, slowly falling apart with trash strewn yards and a construction permit on the window -- with no signs of construction.

Neighbors are fed up with developers buying properties and leaving them to rot while waiting for housing prices to rise. The city loses out on taxes, and everyone loses out when those properties attract rats and illegal activity.

But KSDA and ANC 4D Commissioner David Sheon are working to fix it.

October 07, 2015

Pepco Exelon merger one step closer to reality

October 07, 2015/ Drew

It looks like Exelon is one step closer in its bid to merge with Pepco and take over the DC energy market. This has been a topic that has been frustrating many local residents who are opposed to the merger. Multiple ANCs have offered their opposition to the plans, yet it looks like the Office of the People's Counsel (OPC) have come to an agreement regarding the merger.

Read more about the settlement agreement >

October 07, 2015

Draft agenda for ANC 4C October meeting

October 07, 2015/ Drew

The agenda for the October meeting of ANC 4C is below. It looks like a rather short meeting, compared to previous. Of interesting note, the ANC is hoping to establish a committee of residents and commissioners to address zoning variance issues in 4C.

See full agenda after the break: