What I hope is not lost today, as we debate & approve Homeward DC plan, is that we finally have more than just a desire to close DC General.
— Charles Allen (@CharlesAllenW6) May 17, 2016
The D.C. Council voted yesterday to alter Mayor Muriel Bowser’s plan to close the DC General homeless shelter and open seven smaller shelters across the District.
In the revised plan approved by the council, the city would build the new shelters on city-owned land as opposed to private land, meaning a change of location for three of the five proposed shelters.
“The initial site proposed for Ward 6 — 700 Delaware Ave. SW — cannot be opened quickly,” wrote D.C. Councilmember Charles Allen in a statement. “Those delays would ensure that this site could not meet the goal to open in 2018. The new site at 200 K St. NW is District-owned land and is already zoned for the appropriate height and density of a proposed building. This new site should allow the District to move forward more quickly.”
But there is some concern that the proposed site on K Street might not open by 2018. If that happens, as reported by WAMU, the city wouldn’t have enough housing for families as it closes DC General.
Now, we want to know: Do you support the city’s decision to move the site of the Ward 6 homeless shelter from 700 Delaware Ave. SW to 200 K St. NW? Take our poll below to weigh in and be sure to let us know how you feel in the comments.
The D.C. Streetcar is finally here, and so far, so good. . . well, unless you’re Rand Paul, that is.
We want to know: Have you hopped aboard? Take our poll to let us know. And if you’re feeling especially chatty, tell us how your ride was in the comments below.
Photo via Twitter / DDOT
The Obama administration has indicated that it’s unlikely to support the Redskins returning to property occupied by RFK Stadium, posing a challenge that may keep the football team from D.C., The Washington Post reported today.
In order for the Redskins to make their home on the RFK Stadium grounds again, the team would need approval from the National Parks Service, which owns the land. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, who oversees the agency, told Mayor Muriel Bowser earlier this year that the Obama administration isn’t inclined to let the Redskins build a new stadium on the property unless the team has a new name.
Bowser is trying to lure the Redskins from Maryland to the District.
Would you back the Redskins returning to the land beneath RFK? You can weigh in through the poll and in the comments.
Photo via Flickr/Keith Allison
Today the District Department of Transportation launched a public safety awareness campaign to remind residents of the potential dangers of adding the DC Streetcar to the traffic of H Street NE, as the city inches the public transit project toward an official launch.
DC Streetcar’s Twitter account shows a street team member on H Street NE this morning, and moving forward DDOT says it plans to continue the practice at key locations on a biweekly basis on Wednesdays during rush hour.
So how concerned are you about safety issues that might arise around the streetcar’s implementation? As always, please take your suggestions down to the comments.
The head of the District Department of Transportation made jaws drop Friday when he said he would kill the H Street streetcar project if additional reviews reveal “fatal flaws.”
Leif Dormsjo said he prefers to keep the project on track, but won’t “ask for money from the citizens of this jurisdiction, nor from this council, for something I can’t manage.”
Here’s how some Facebook users reacted to the news on Hill Now’s page:
Jeff Davenport: There are test cars running up and down that line successfully all the time. This project is at the brink of success. Abandoning it now sounds like people with a hidden agenda want to kill it. We need a comprehensive public transport system in the city that gets you everywhere and works for everyone. Streetcars have to be a part of that system.
Diane Kohn: I want my money back.
Daniel Herman: This project needs to continue. We need to make progress not keep progress from happening.
Mona Evans Butterfield:Waste of money. It is so annoying to see those empty cars driving up and down wasting time.
What do you want the city to do? You can weigh in through the poll and in the comments.
The storm is over, but the cleanup continues.
Ward 6 got an estimated 5 inches of snow yesterday, and many roads and sidewalks are still an icy mess. Hundreds of Capitol Hill, Hill East, Navy Yard and Near Northeast residents called 311 to request that snowplows clear their block, according to the District’s Snow Map.
How well-cleared are the streets and sidewalks near you? Here’s what some locals said:
Advice: if walking to work today, go the corporate route. Major businesses/bldgs have been better than homeowners at shoveling.
— H St Weather Geek (@hstreetweather) March 6, 2015
Gorgeous day in #HillEast – I mean just look at that pretty sidewalk. pic.twitter.com/NZRF7kvNdq
— Tina (@Ombresque) March 6, 2015
Only parts of my block not shoveled: 4 corner lots. All occupied/owned by > 30 able-bodied males. Kudos to ppl that did shovel. #TrinidadDC
— Karen Ramsey (@ker_dc) March 6, 2015
Based on the state of sidewalks and roads, it appears that the collective response to this March snowstorm was "eff this"
— sharrowsDC (@sharrowsDC) March 6, 2015
You can weigh in through the poll and in the comments.
Hill Now reported yesterday on a recently formed community group for locals without kids, and we got a huge response.
Like the large and oft-discussed Moms on the Hill (MOTH) group, Childfree Living on the Hill (CLOTH) is meant to bring together neighbors who might not connect otherwise, resident Lori Ward said. She started a Facebook page for the group and is coordinating a real-life get-together soon.
Commenters on our Facebook page told us these groups are an “only in D.C.” phenomenon and that they want a Dog Owners on the Hill (DOOTH) group.
Does the Hill need more community groups? Which ones? And what’s living on the Hill all about anyway?
The Capitol Hill Restoration Society has spent this month telling locals about a study they commissioned on expanding historic preservation zones in Ward 6.
Research by the architectural history firm EHT Traceries, Inc. supports the northern expansion of the Capitol Hill Historic District, plus the creation of the Capitol Hill East Historic District.
Many locals said at a community meeting Monday night that additional historic designations would cost them time and money. Supporters of the designation said it would give locals an additional tool to fight ugly pop-ups and inappropriate development.
What do you think? Take the poll and tell more in the comments. If you live in the Capitol Hill Historic District, how do you think it has helped and hurt the neighborhood?
Most Ward 6 residents who participated in a poll sponsored by Washington City Paper and “The Kojo Nnamdi Show” said they support Muriel Bowser for mayor and find the Washington Redskins’ name offensive.
Some Ward 6 data from the results released Wednesday afternoon:
Mayoral Candidate: 44 percent of respondents said they will vote for Muriel Bowser for mayor. David Catania came in with 42 percent.
Washington Redskins: 61 percent of respondents said they found the team name offensive and disparaging to Native Americans.
Marijuana Legalization: 45 percent of respondents supported the legalization of marijuana. 42 percent opposed it.
Mayor Vincent Gray: 29 percent of respondents said they thought Gray should be indicted after his term is over. 26 percent said to indict him sooner.
Homeless shelters: 40 percent of respondents said they would support a homeless shelter being opened nearby.
Olympics: 46 precent of respondents said they oppose D.C. hosting the 2024 games.
Residency: 55 percent of respondents said they’ve lived in D.C. for more than 20 years.
Nearly 600 people citywide participated in the poll conducted Oct. 22-22 by Public Policy Polling, the paper said. The margin of error is 4 percentage points, and higher for questions that received lower numbers of responses.
To see full poll results, click here.
