D.C. Council OKs $23M for Radio One HQ

Review today's Washington Business Journal coverage here on the Broadcast Center One's green light by DC Council.
(by Jonanthan O'Connell, Staff Reporter -Wednesday, January 9, 2008 - 8:30 AM EST)

Broadcast Center One: DC Council Approves Financing/Land Deal

Shaw is finally getting its Broadcast Center One. On January 8, 2008, the DC Council gave the final reading and voted to approve the financing/land package providing for the Broadcast Center One. Following Council approval of the "Disposition and Redevelopment of Lot 854 in Square 441 Approval Act of 2007", the bill was set to be approved as emergency legislation.

Councilman Jim Graham got his way on this one. During the November 2007 Council hearing on the the bill financing package, a committee sent it back the drawing board to find a way better than the "free land giveaway" financing option, and it then appeared that the development was as good as dead. However, Mr. Graham closed the hearing commenting that if there was ever a good reason to dispose of DC land, bringing back the preeminent African-American owned radio broadcasting company to the District is it.

This development will be a catalyst for changes to this 7th and S Street, NW, area that has not seen good times since many years before the riots of 1968. Square 394 and the Shaw Neighborhood will benefit from the increased foot traffic and commercial space forthcoming upon completion of this very welcome development.

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Publication Location
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[where: Washington, DC 20001]

Cardozo-Shaw Neighborhood Association Meets Thursday Night, November 8th -

Thursday night's Cardozo-Shaw Neighborhood Association meeting agenda focus will be discussion with representatives from Dupont Circle Neighborhood Advisory Commission (ANC2B) and Dupont Circle Citizen’s Association regarding issues-in common pertaining to the the western side of the CSNA area. Of course, CSNA committee reports will also be provided.

Date/Time: Thursday, November 8, 2007 - 7:00 p.m.
Location: True Reformers Hall - 1200 U Street, NW - First Floor Meeting Room




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Publication Location
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[where: Washington, DC 20001]

Dog Parks for Shaw/DC - Proposed Rules: Your Comments Must be Submitted by November 10

My two dogs sometimes can be seen at Westminster Park, sometimes at Garrison Elementary. Mostly, long walks have to suffice, as neither of these places are always dog-friendly for one reason or another.

I know that we could sure use better spaces for our dogs's enjoyment in Shaw and in
DC. I have not unfortunately had the time to review the proposed Dog Park Rules, but, if you are interested in improving the dog-friendly future for our best or second-best friends, the deadline for comment submission is fast approaching, ending on November 10, 2007.





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Publication Location
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[where: Washington, DC 20001]

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


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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




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Publication Location
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[where: Washington, DC 20001]

Shotspotter technology may assist the District in staving off $100 million lawsuit

According to today's WaPo, "Noise Sensors Back Police On Shooting Of D.C. Teen" (By Carol D. LeonnigWashington Post Staff Writer - Wednesday, October 31, 2007; A01), Shotspotter technology may save the Metropolitan Police Department's credibility upon review of the facts of the DeOnté Rawling's shooting.

An analysis of the this incident using the technology deployed in Ward 8 and the crime area by ShotSpotter, Inc, financed by the FBI, determined that the initial shots did not come from the off-duty police officer's gun first, but from the general area where the now-slain DeOnté Rawlings was shot. This technology has yet to be admitted in courts as evidence against a defendant, noted the Washington Post today, and this technology-based conclusion can not prove that Rawlings had a gun.

Aside from the eventual verdict of this particular case, Shotspotter technology, once deployed in additional DC areas of high gun-violence such as Ward 1 and Ward 2, will decrease gun violence and increase the safety and welfare of our neighborhoods. It will provide for two important features that contributute to this reduction: 1. Improve our awareness of the exact extent of our gunfire epidemic; 2. Provide a fast and accurate police response for a hopeful lock-up to gun-fire perpetrators.

Now ... The Walter E. Washington Convention Center - Renamed Building

Convention center being renamed to honor former mayor
Washington Business Journal – Monday, October 29, 2007
by Erin Killian, Staff Reporter

Locate Square 394 via Google Maps

On the map below, follow Westminster Street to the right where it ends at 9th Street, NW ...
Crossing 9th Street, you will be facing, as well as bi-secting Square 394, which is bound by S Street, NW- to the south, T St., NW- to the north, 8th St., NW- to the east, and 9th St., NW- to the west.


View Larger Map



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geo:
(38.9150537,
-77.023505)

tag: geotagged

ShotSpotter Technology: Councilman Evans Says "Yes", Graham Says "Its Needed"

So the question is: WHEN? Who wants to participate in this effort to ensure this happens?

At the Tuesday, October 23, 2007 meeting of Kevin Chapple's single-member district ANC2C02, DC Councilman Evans addressed the mostly-Shaw attendees for over an hour and a half; most of this responding to the bombarding questions on crime and the City's response. Flanking him, Metropolitan Police Department's Third District Commander McCoy described the valiant efforts of his department in combating the godless scourge (which includes gunfire violence) in the neighborhood (though, these latter words are those of this author, not of the commander).

Councilman Evans responded to my inquiry on and call for ShotSpotter technology by stating that he would sponsor legislation to purchase and install ShotSpotter technology. Cmdr. McCoy tried to explain some of the reasons that it was not already widely deployed, including the issue that the FBI was formerly the dispensor of the largesse for this program and that ShotSpotter-2.0 (as the author calls it) just recently verged on easier use.

With Evan's support, in conjunction with Councilman Graham's comments last week that "we need it", the devil is now in the details of getting from our elected leader's supportive comments, to actual, roll-up the sleeves, sponsor the legislation, fund it, and get this system installed.

Gunfire is a public health epidemic with, in my review, a few required responses: 1) The extent of the problem needs to be assessed/measured; 2) Response to each and every gunfire incident needs to be immediate and unyeilding. Shotspotter techology provides the required tools for this required response.

If you are interested in contributing to an effort supporting this installation leave a comment below or to square394@gmail.com .

Addtional Reading:
1. Review Wired's 3/2007 coverage of ShotSpotter (thanks to Off-Seventh for pointing this piece out to me).
2. Gunshot Sensors Are Giving D.C. Police Jump on Suspects
System Can Determine Location of Crime
By Allison KleinWashington Post Staff Writer, Sunday, October 22, 2006; Page A01

Kojo Nnamdi Used to live in Square 394 as well as Chair the Square 394 Civic Association

On today's The Kojo Nnamdi Show, during The DC Politics Hour, Kojo said: "I should have never have sold my house in Shaw". He used to live in our great neighborhood known as Square 394, and he is regretting having sold. I understand, through comments he also made last week on his show, he used to serve as the Chair of Square 394 Civic Association!

Broadcast Center One to Break Ground in February 2008

As reported on October 18 by DCMud (a DC real estate gossip blog), this project is finally moving forward and will transform our Square-394 neighborhood a-top of the Shaw/Howard University Metro Station, at the intersection of 7th and S Streets, NW.


This project will provide for the following real property improvements within Square 441:

• Mixed-use development - 319,917 sq/ft, above grade in $120 million total development investment
• 250 space below-grade parking garage
• 103,083 sq/ft. commercial space - Radio One returns to city
• 24,323 sq/ ft of local retail/arts space -10% will be affordable retail space
• 202 residential units - 25% will be affordable and workforce housing, in 192,511 sq/ft

Review the developer's May-2006 comments on and creative visioning regarding the thriving future of our neighborhood as a broadcasting- and artist-studio haven (from the Washington Post, by Dana Hedgpeth, Monday, May 26, 2006; D03: Developer Has the Past in Mind for Shaw).

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?