REMINDER TO DEPUTY MAYOR - Community's Voice Has Been Established: Parcel 42 Must Include Commercial Component

November 3, 2007

Mr. Neil Albert
Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development
John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 317
Washington, DC 20004


RE: Parcel 42 and Mixed-Use Requirement Per Duke Plan -- Community's Past Voice and Call/Input Must be Considered

Dear Mr. Albert:

Since the NCRC was abandoned and its duties now assigned to your office, I ask that you remember that the Duke Plan (see links below) has mapped the future use for Parcel 42 as a mixed-use project.

On behalf of my own household as well as other residents in this Shaw neighborhood, to develop Parcel 42 – that is expected to be largely affordable housing -- into a single residential-use scope will not only be contrary to prior neighborhood planning but also do a disservice to this neighborhood for generations to come. The future of this neighborhood a viable center for future growth requires the contribution of mixed use development and this parcel is the place to do it.Your decision to support a commercial component as a part of the final design for this project will reflect that the Mayor is responsive the voice of the community that has already spoken on this issue.

Sincerely,
Square394 Watcher


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

REMINDER OF MIXED USE REQUIREMENTS FOR PARCEL 42:
DUKE: Framework for a Cultural Destination for Greater Shaw/U Street
>>> http://planning.dc.gov/planning/cwp/view,a,1285,q,619216.asp >>> See page 24, specifically, of Duke Plan, regarding Parcel 42 http://planning.dc.gov/planning/lib/planning/project/udd/d-uptowndraftfinal-public-22-27.pdf




---------------------------------------
Publication Location
[where: 20001]
[where: Washington, DC 20001]

PARCEL 42 MUST BE ABOUT NEW-WAYS OF CONDUCTING PUBLIC HOUSING

In Shaw recently asked the long-overdo and quite appropos question regarding Parcel 42: [paraphrasing] "Isn't adding MORE low-income housing (Parcel 42 proposal) in an area with such extremely high-concentration of existing low-income housing, not such a good idea?" How will our community leaders and elected officials rise to the mandate that Parcel 42 MUST be different than those that came before?

In Shaw says recently, affably:

" ... Parcel 42 [...] presenters were suggesting 100% affordable housing. Doesn't the Susan Reitig House of Prayer building that's up have affordable housing aspects? And then across 7th St there is a post-riot affordable housing building, which across 8th from that building another affordable housing structure, and across R Street from that a public housing. Then across R/Rhode Island from Parcel 42 is senior affordable housing. So short of the 7-11 that intersection would be a concentrated area of affordable housing if this plan was chosen. I'm no city planner, but isn't this almost like concentrating poverty? And despite being structured to have retail or some commercial space on the first level the building on 7th and R (Lincoln-Westmoreland? Name escapes me now), there is little for profit business that I see. So something is wrong if pre-existing space is underperforming. ... "

How about some new responses to the issue of gun-fire and affordable housing? How about some substantive changes to the dangerous and ineffective ways in which public housing has been operated/executed in the past?

I solicit from DC elected leaders, including Councilmember Graham, Councilmember Evans, Mayor Fenty, the Chief of Police, and community leaders, starting with Mr. Padro, what ideas he and they intend to support to ensure that Parcel 42 does not become the gun-shot-haven that is the Westmoreland. I look forward to these leaders' offering of NEW THINKING AND DOING on this issue with substantive ideas to do parcel 42, right: NOT more of the same poor, public housing offerings that is much too-much a problem unto itself and others; and though my disposition on this issue is already vividly apparent, I'll say it again: often a gun-shot wound/death unto itself and unto others.

More Work Required to Reduce Affordable Housing Gun-Fire/Crime

Today I read (in Off Seventh Street) about an October 11, 2007, gun-fire incident alleged to have been associated with the Lincoln Westmoreland Section 8 housing project.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH ON THIS CRIME-INFESTED PROPERTY, THE LINCOLN WESTMORELAND -- I BELIEVE I AM REFERRING TO THE "II" PROJECT. IT IS TIME THAT A FEW ISSUES ARE TAKEN UP BY THE LEADERSHIP IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL AS BY THE POLICE AND DC COUNCIL AS FOLLOWS:

1.INSTALL SHOT SPOTTERS -
This technology should be deployed immediately around the Lincoln Westmoreland. There are all too-frequent reported and unreported gun-shots coming from this property - I HEAR THEM. As a near-by homeowner I demand that the community leaders in this neighborhood and City take note: Install this technology (Shotspotter) to contribute to gun violence deterrence/detection in our area.

2. REQUIRE “RESIDENT ASSISTANT” (RA) PROGRAM IN THE WESTOMORELAND AND ALL PUBLIC HOUSING –
It is a more than apparent that the “crime haven” of the Westmoreland is out of control; the security guard program is a band-aid solution. Instituting – by DC Council law/statute -- a real authority (perhaps some policeman or policeman like-authority) to be required to live in each and every housing project, to learn and know the community, its members: the good and detrimental. This community dweller, living at the community and paid to strengthen the community social fabric and problem solving and deter (and have evicted) the “un” –social element.

3. REQUIRE “RA” PROGRAM IN PARCEL 42 –
I do not know how the Lincoln Westmoreland got to the despicable condition it is in, but, the pending proposal for Parcel 42 should include an RA program and/or some other creative thinking that prevents the creation of another Westmoreland.

What are your thoughts about additional measures that can be taken on this important public health issue?