CSX Holding up Pedestrian Bridge in Edgewood

CSX is holding up the building of the pedestrian bridge in Edgewood from the Met Branch Trail to the Rhode Island Avenue metro station.  Last year I wrote about the planned bridge to improve safety and access to the metro station from Edgewood.  Here is a link that shows the plans for the bridge and all the reasons that it is desperately needed!  I wrote about the number of people that would dangerously cross the railroad tracks and get stuck in the barbwire cutting themselves.  I have written multiple times about how the narrow sidewalks under the bridge and the decrepit staircase to the metro are dangerous for pedestrians. 

The major hurdles such as designing the bridge, WMATA easements and funding are already accomplished leaving CSX as the last hurdle before DDOT can move the project forward.  CSX must grant DC air rights to the space above their railroad tracks in order for the bridge to be built.  CSX was very quick to erect prison-style chainlink and barbwire fencing around the tracks after the completion of the Met Branch Trail in Edgewood.  Why now when there is a safer, more attractive alternative to crossing the tracks are they dragging their feet?

We must put pressure on them to move the project forward!!  I have been emailing Harry Thomas Jr. and his staff about this for years now and have decided to move on to Tommy Wells to try and get this accomplished.  Please email, tweet and call them both until something is done.  The more voices and reminders the better!

Here is the contact information that you will need:

Harry Thomas, Jr., Ward 5
Office: 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 107, NW Washington, DC 20004
Tel: (202) 724-8028
Fax: (202) 724-8076
Email: hthomas@dccouncil.us

Key Staff

Ayawna Chase
Chief of Staff
(202)724-8024
achase@dccouncil.us

James Pittman
Legislative Counsel
(202) 724-8114
jpittman@dccouncil.us

Victoria Leonard - Chambers
Director, Policy and Strategic Communication
(202) 727-8204
Vleonard@dccouncil.us

Neil Rodgers
Committee Clerk
(202) 724-8155
nrodgers@dccouncil.us

Marjorie Barnes
Administrative Assistant
(202) 724-8028
mbarnes@dccouncil.us

Monique Smith
Specialist/Scheduler
(202) 724-8918
msmith@dccouncil.us



Tommy Wells, Ward 6
Office: 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 408, NW Washington, DC 20004
Tel: (202) 724-8072
Fax: (202) 724-8054
Email: twells@dccouncil.us

Key Staff

Charles Allen
Chief of Staff
callen@dccouncil.us

Myisha Atchison
Administrative Assistant / Scheduler
matchison@dccouncil.us

Linda O’Brien
Deputy Chief of Staff
lobrien@dccouncil.us

Daniel Connor
Policy Specialist
dconnor@dccouncil.us

Bonnie Cain
Policy Advisor for Education
(202) 724-8072
bcain@dccouncil.us

Tawanna Shuford
Director of Constituent Services
(202) 724-8072
tshuford@dccouncil.us

Naomi Mitchell
Community Liaison
nmitchell@dccouncil.us

Pat Joseph
Constituent Services Specialist
pjoseph@dccouncil.us

Jonathon Kass
Committee Director
jkass@dccouncil.us

Brian Davidson
Intern, Policy and Legislation
bdavidson@dccouncil.us

Anne Phelps
Committee Counsel
aphelps@dccouncil.us

Vivian McCarter
Constituent Services Specialist
vmccarter@dccouncil.us

Big Lots Coming to Edgewood

I have been told that the Safeway space at the Rhode Island Avenue Shopping Center will be filled by a Big Lots this October.  I tweeted this yesterday when I first found out and wondered if this meant we might have a chance at getting a Farmer's Market in Edgewood. 

Edgewood Civic Associatio​n Comunity Parade & Festival Saturday, June 18, 2011

The Edgewood Civic Association invites you to join us as we celebrate the accomplishments, growth and togetherness of the Edgewood and Eckington communities. We have planned a fun filled day for the whole family starting with a community parade. Above is a flyer for the event.

McMillan issues meeting - Thursday, 06/16/2011

Just a crosspost from the Bloomingdale list:


James Fournier, John Salatti and Hugh Youngblood Holding a Joint SMD Meeting to Discuss the Development of the McMillan Sand Filtration Site -- Thursday, 06/16/2011

See this 06/11/2011 message:

ANC 5C Commissioners James Fournier, John Salatti and Hugh Youngblood will be holding a joint Singe Member District (SMD) meeting to discuss issues pertaining to McMillan this Thursday, June 16th at All-Nations Baptist Church between 7p -9p. Please the attached flyer and come on by!

Text of the flyer below:

GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 5C
Bloomingdale Single Member Districts
W. Hugh Youngblood (5C03)
anc5C03 @ gmail.com
(240) 925 - 1079

James J. Fournier (5C07)
James.Fournier9 @ verizon.net
(202) 518 - 0059
John T. Salatti (5C04)
John.Salatti @ gmail.com
(202) 986 - 2592

A Conversation with the Community About the McMillan Sand Filtration Site

We are meeting with the residents of Bloomingdale, Stronghold, Franklin Commons, and Park Place and to bring them up to date about what is going on at the McMillan Site and to get your feedback and opinions about how the ANC should address important issues regarding this major development. Because developing McMillan will change our community permanently, we want to make sure we hear your opinions about how this project should proceed. Here are just some of the issues we will discuss:

o amount of development on the site
o traffic & parking
o storm water runoff
o historic preservation
o retail development
o park space
o community benefits packages
o public facilities

The developers and the city will not be making a separate presentation, but they have presented their viewpoints at many private and community meetings. We will, however, have members from the McMillan Advisory Group present to discuss the topics and issues from their vantage point.

Location: All Nations Baptist Church
(Corner of Rhode Island & North Capitol NE)

Date: Thursday, June 16

Time: 7 pm - 9 pm

We want to see you there.

Met Branch Trail Safety Response From MPD

Dear MBT Community,


First, I apologize for the delay in responding, I've been on vacation for the last week,

Next let me apologize on behalf of MPD for the comment that an officer reportedly made advising a victim to avoid using the trail. That is neither the Department's position, nor mine, and I have been on record here encouraging people to use the trail - as I myself do - and I will continue to do so. I'm also addressing this issue with all of my officers.

I will continue to advise the members of this group of any occurrences on the trail. In analyzing the recent crimes, it is correct that in the past most issues were north of Rhode Island Ave. in the Edgewood area; however, these events in the last few weeks have been south of Rhode Island Ave.

I am attaching several maps that show robberies and assaults occurring within 200 feet of the trail, 300 feet, and in the area as a whole in the last 60 days to give some perspective on these events (these maps were pulled on June 3rd).

As far as the "address" of the trail, our dispatchers should be able to recognize the MBT and dispatch to it. Their systems have been updated and I understand they are in the process of training all operators. I believe they need a cross street for an exact location – this is the same process they use for our interstate highways that don't have a "proper" address.

We do have signs showing those streets that intersect with the trail; however, there are some portions where the trail does not physically intersect and we are working on ideas to get those areas marked properly.

The location, description, and M.O. of the assailants leads us to believe that these crimes were perpetrated by single suspect / group of suspects. We have identified some persons of interest and are currently investigating. We will also continue enhanced patrol of the trail and are working on implementing an additional action plan.

Finally let me say that I am very encouraged by the dedication to the trail that this community has shown, and I hope you continue to work proactively to improve it. Please continue to reach out to me and MPD with any ideas, suggestions, concerns, or requests.

Sgt. J. Dorrough, MPD, 5th District, PSA 501
Jonathan.Dorrough@dc.gov

ICYMI: Rhode Island Station is now Rhode Island Row

In case you missed it I have been meaning to post that Rhode Island Station has been re-branded as Rhode Island Row.  I preferred the old name, but I heard they thought it was confusing with the metro station.  The website has changed to www.rhodeislandrow.com and it is not as detailed as the previous website.  The website says that they are opening this summer and the default date on the residency inquiry is June 16th.  I don't think they will be done by then although the metro parking garage is looking very close to completion.

Art Enables: Call for Local Artists

Art Enables (http://www.art-enables.org/) is looking for artists who live or work along the Rhode Island Ave. NE Corridor. They recently moved to the Woodridge neighborhood (from their previous location on NY Ave)


With the move came more space....a lot more space. They now have a roughly 1200 sq. foot space that they're calling the “Off Rhode Gallery”. It’s the first/ground/basement level of their space- but street level to the alley outback and easily accessible from 22nd st.
 

I would love to go see the space when it is filled with local artists' work.  It is a really cool idea and I am looking forward to visiting the gallery.

Update: August Completion Date for 329 Rhode Island Ave NE

Across Rhode Island Avenue in Eckington there are new timelines for the completion of the condos at 329 Rhode Island Avenue NE.

Eckington Condo Project On Track for Summer Delivery


May 4, 20111 Comment

by UrbanTurf Staff

[http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/eckington_condo_project_on_track_for_summer_delivery/3440]

A renovated condo project in Eckington is on track to deliver 21 units by the end of the summer. UrbanTurf spoke with PERS Development president Ramin Bassam, who said that his company`s project Mint Condominium located at 4th and Rhode Island NE (map) will be ready for move-in by late August, and that sales will likely start a month prior, in July. Sales and marketing will be handled by Urban Pace.

The project is a few blocks west of the Rhode Island Avenue-Brentwood Metro station on the Red Line, where a large mixed-use development with retail and over 250 apartments is currently under construction. Units at Mint will be a mix of one and two-bedrooms with prices ranging from the mid $200s to low $300s.

Eckington residents will likely welcome renovation of the building, which suffered a fire in 2009 and had been designated blight by the city. On the other hand, the condos will be higher end than much of the inventory currently available in the neighborhood, so a successful sell-out could be a harbinger of neighborhood change in years to come.

Edgewood Farmer's Market

This year Edgewood is getting a Farmer's Market at the Rhode Island Avenue Shopping Center in the parking lot between the CVS and the Met Branch Trail. While there has been discussion that this is not the most attractive location it is definitely an accessible one. It is located off of the trail, near the metro and there is plenty of parking. The plan is for market to be on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and to start the first weekend in April. There are still negotiations ongoing with the shopping center, so a firm date cannot be announced yet. I know that when I talked to the center about what would be replacing the Safeway they stated that it would impact if there could or could not be a farmer's market. I am wondering if this means that a discount grocer or a non-food store will soon be filling that space.

Here is the press release:

Premier Community Development Corporation


MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release: Contact: Hazel Bland Thomas
February 24, 2011 (202) 491-9245


Premier Community Development Corporation (PCDC) annouced today that PCDC members anticipate opening the PCDC Edgewood/Woodridge Farmer's Market at 4th & Rhode Island Avenue Shopping Center starting inApril 2011. The Saturday market will seek to provide Edgewood residents and, especially senior citizens, with an option to buy fresh, local produce. The community unfortunately lost its Safeway last year at the very time that Georgetown had a champagne re-opening of its long-celebrated "Social Safeway."

PCDC has been working with community leaders, elected officials and the property management to establish aFarmers Market opposite the CVS in the shopping center - to at a minimum- provide residents with a source of fresh fruits, vegetables and bakery items.

For more information about the PCDC Edgewood/Woodridge Farmers Market, Premier CDC or to volunteer, please contact Hazel Thomas at (202) 491-9245 or Michael Byfield at (202) 679-2712.

Rhode Island Station Update

The timeline for completion for Rhode Island Station keeps getting moved up which I love to hear. I have stated in the comments that they decided to work all on the buildings and the parking garage at once instead of in phases. The parking garage is supposed to be completed by June 2011 and now they are stating the retail is supposed to be completed in November 2011 which is much earlier than the June 2012 date we were told in the beginning. Of course everyone wants to know what retail and restaurants are coming to those 19 spaces in the development, but they are not releasing any names. Announcements will be coming closer to the time when they are opening up. I suggested sit-down restaurants and bars, a bike shop, a pet store/groomer and that they talk to Taylor Gourmet with all the interest that is currently going on and their building of a bakery further down Rhode Island Ave.

Edgewood Development Update

I am closing in on my one year anniversary of this blog and wanted to do an update on the developments coming to the Edgewood neighborhood that I posted about back in March 2010.

Chancellor's Row (3015 4th Street NE) - 10-acre residential development on St. Paul's campus which began construction Fall 2010 as promised and is scheduled to have its first residents move in March 2011. A couple of weeks ago I was told that they have sold 34 houses so far and only have 10 left to sell for occupancy this year. They are building a total of 237 new townhouses in this development and the speed at which they build will depend on sales. At the current rate of sale I imagine they will be building pretty fast, especially since there is usually a jump in sales after the first houses are finished.

CUA South Campus Development (7th Street and Michigan Ave NE) - mixed use development will include approximately 765 housing units and a public square with a college main street with 83,000 square feet of street-level retail, 15,000 square feet of artists' studio space and 850 below-grade parking spaces. They started demolition on the CUA buildings last year and plan for a groundbreaking in Fall 2011.

Brookland Artspace Lofts (3225 Eighth Street NE) - 41 live/work rental units directly adjacent to Dance Place's HQ and studio space for qualified DC artists making 60% or less of the area median income construction began Spring 2010 and is expected to be completed in June 2011.

Last year was a good one for development in the Edgewood neighborhood as all projects in our boundaries broke ground as scheduled and are moving along. The only sad thing is that they are all mislabeled as being in the Brookland neighborhood. Brookland has so many cool things of its own that I hope we can start to get recognition for all the projects that are in Edgewood.

History Lesson: Rhode Island Ave/Brentwood Metro Station Used to be a Cemetery

File this under things I learned on Twitter (h/t @fuzzface01) the Rhode Island Ave/Brentwood Metro Station used to be a cemetery. Apparently it was moved to build the metro station and a DDOT impound lot. Here is the information on the historical marker which I am going to grab a picture of next time I am up there. Here is another article about it.

Streetcars and Rhode Island Ave

As the construction of the H Street Streetcar infrastructure (tracks, pole foundations, conduits) is finishing up with a projected completion date of October 2011 and the Anacostia Streetcar line is starting with public meetings I was interested to see where Rhode Island Ave stands in the plans. DDOT has launched a website for the DC Streetcars.

What I learned is that the Rhode Island Ave Streetcar segment is part of Phase II and DDOT is still working on the initial segments which are not scheduled to be operational until March 2012. Once the initial segments are done then they will be doing Phase I and then us. So, it seems that we have quite awhile before we see the streetcars in our area. They have posted the full plan and proposed map which is exciting to look at even though realistically it will be awhile especially with our current budget situation. The Rhode Island Ave line will run from Eastern Ave all the way down Rhode Island Ave to Florida Ave where it will connect with the Florida Ave line. Proposed stops on Rhode Island Ave are at Eastern Ave NE, South Dakota Ave NE, 18th Street NE, 13th Street NE, Rhode Island Ave/Brentwood Metro Station, 3rd Street NE, North Capitol, and Florida Ave. For now we can be excited that come March 2012 we can take the Met Branch Trail from Edgewood down to Union Station and ride the streetcar down H Street.

Big, Ugly Empty Lot on 4th Street NE

Last year I wrote about the development of the Rhode Island Avenue Shopping Center and its future. While writing that piece I was informed that the big, ugly fenced off empty lot on 4th Street is not part of the shopping center. I thought that was great news because the shopping center will not be redeveloped for 8-10 more years due to leases. Here is a large empty lot close to the metro station on 4th Street NE near Rhode Island Ave that is just waiting for a transformation.

From there I have spent many hours trying to figure out who owns the lot and what they are going to be doing with it. Finding out who owns it was easy with a few google searches and looking in the DC property database I had more than enough information. From the property database I learned that the address is 2321 4th Street NE and it is owned by the H Street Community Development Corporation. I thought that was weird since all their projects are in the H Street area and Edgewood is a bit out of their range. Also, when I first looked at their website the land was listed, but now it is not. Then if you look at the property record the sales price is not listed and the recordation date is 2/10/2004. The group has owned the land for almost seven years now and if you look at the amount of taxes paid each year it is an extremely different number from a couple thousand to a couple hundred thousand. I am not an expert on these matters so anyone who can help me make sense of it please do!

Now getting the property owners to talk to me was another issue. I was told that they would only talk to the ANC. So, I waited out the election and contacted the new ANC for that area, Jioni Palmer. He had to contact them multiple times before getting a response. He was told by the director that they are considering the site for ground floor retail and either offices or residences above them, but they have been having a hard time getting financing. He promised to send a formal letter to Jioni. Jioni stated that he will be setting up meeting about the property with the owner after he receives the letter. I am hoping with our new Edgewood ANC and the new attention the community gives to this empty lot we can fill it with something great for the community.

The Future of the Rhode Island Avenue Shopping Center

The Rhode Island Avenue Shopping Center at the edge of Edgewood is an homage to suburban shopping centers in the city and was built in the late 1980s. I met part of the Vanguard Realty Group at the DCBIA Met Branch Trail project volunteering and thanks to my favorite DDOT employee I was able to talk to him in length about the shopping center and the changes that are coming to it and the community. I was surprised to learn that while most of the attention has been about Safeway leaving and the center needing a new grocery store, especially from the seniors, the rest of the center is fully leased. Here is the listing for the empty Safeway space.

Here are the current tenants of the center:

Forman Mills
Key Kiosk
Judy's Beauty Supply
Rainbow
H&R Block
Cricket
Rent-A-Center
Susan Fashion
Subway
Popeyes
Ashley Stewart
Payless ShoeSource
CVS/Pharmacy
Neighborhood Legal Services Program
New Vision Photography Program, Inc.
Zipcar

The truth is that Safeway left our neighborhood with a year left on their lease. I would like people to take that in, as well as, the condition of the store and conclude that Safeway was not going to invest in the Edgewood community. When people were protesting Safeway leaving and wanting the City Council to intervene I was very confused. I shopped there occasionally because it was quick to walk to, but besides the location the only thing it had going for it was a few really great employees.

What's next for that space? The Vanguard Realty Group is actively trying to lease the space and was in talks with a discount grocery store and a discount retail store last time I checked. I have put in a call to see if there are any updates and will let you know as soon as I do. I was told that whatever moves in it will not happen until Spring 2011. They are looking for a store that will sign a 10 year lease and that is complicating matters. Most of the stores in that center have about 8-10 years left on their leases except for Forman Mills which has about 12 years.

You may be wondering why the length of the leases matters so much and that is because all of this is background to my questions about the future of the center. If you attended any of the Rhode Island Avenue Great Streets meetings you would know that the plan suggested extending roads into this shopping center and making it more urban and pedestrian friendly. Given the current lease terms it looks like the development of this shopping center will not happen for another 8-12 years. While I am sad to report this I will say I do feel more positive about the shopping center and their plan for growth. The owners of the shopping center and the leasing agent have been very active in the community. They have allowed for the creation of community murals, an entrance to the Met Branch Trail, volunteered with DCBIA community improvement day on the trail, been supportive of hosting an Edgewood Farmer's Market, and are excited about the pedestrian bridge from their center to the metro. They have also stated that they would be open to developing the center one half at a time if Forman Mills is the only one left with a lease.

NCJC to Picket Bozzuto, Metro Project on RI Ave. in NE

NCJC to Picket Bozzuto, Metro Project on RI Ave. in NE

Washington, DC, October 26, 2010: The National Capital Jobs Coalition (NCJC) will launch a public job action against the Bozzuto Construction Company and the METRO development project on Rhode Island Ave. Metro Station in NE Washington, DC on Thursday morning, October 28th at 8:30 AM. Linwood Martinez-Bentley, a longtime DC activist and co-director of the group, said that, “… Bozzuto and others like them have ignored DC Law long enough. Mayor Fenty has failed to enforce this law. We urge Vincent Gray to make this a high priority.”

First Source Legislation requires outside businesses that come into this city and take city dollars must hire 51% of their workforce from citizens of The District. “In this economy, with record deficits, we cannot afford to let hundreds of thousands of dollars in potential revenue to our city simply drive out the beltway,” said Bentley. “We need our tax dollars to create jobs for our citizens. First Source is a partial remedy that must be enforced and reinforced.” Also, Bentley continued, “ …many companies are not paying the required wages. This is also against the law. The City is not enforcing this law and since these projects are being funded, in part by our tax dollars, we, the citizens of DC, want to know if these multi-million dollar job sites are in compliance.”

The presumptive new Mayor Vincent Gray commented during a recent Town Hall meeting that, if city funded projects do not hire the number of city residents required by First Source legislation that they, “… should be shut down.” NCJC agrees totally with those sentiments, as do key members of The City Council. We have had expressions of support from other Councilmen including the following sitting council members: CM Michael Brown and the presumptive Council Chairperson Kwame Brown. We also have support from At-Large Candidate David Schwartzman. Given such widespread encouragement, NCJC intends to strike the first blow in support of more aggressive and direct citizen involvement.

Jerome Peloquin, First Source Program Manager for NCJC commented that, “This is just the beginning. We plan to launch these job actions on a regular basis and to ratchet up the level of visibility. This will be a non-violent protest, but it will not be a quiet one. Our intention is to link with other community activist organizations including a number of drum circles that will participate on behalf of the people of DC who are suffering record unemployment. Carpetbagging companies from outside-of-DC need to take notice … the free lunch is over. It’s time to pay your fair share of the bill here in Washington, DC.”

For further information contact Jerry Peloquin on his cell at 410.227.0498 or by email at jpeloquin@microventuresupport.org

Bus Bays Temporarily Relocated at Rhode Island Station

For those of you that have been using the Rhode Island Metro station and bus bays please take note of the upcoming relocation during the ongoing construction. The good news that I gained from this message is that the parking garage is looking to be completed by June 2011 and the rest down by summer of 2012.

Bus bays at Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood Metrorail station temporarily relocated
For immediate release: October 21, 2010

Ongoing construction of new Metro parking garage, commercial project shifts bays
The bus bays at the Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood Metrorail station will temporarily shift for five months starting on Monday, Oct. 25, as construction continues on a new parking garage, ground transportation service area, and a housing and retail joint-development project adjacent to the station.

Customers will have to board buses and use Kiss & Ride at their new, temporary locations across the parking lot that is near the station entrance. The Kiss & Ride area will continue to accommodate parking, car-sharing, taxis, and passenger pick-up and drop-off during the construction.

The construction, which began in April, is expected to be finished on the parking garage in June 2011 and by the summer of 2012 on the other projects.

News release issued at 11:36 am, October 21, 2010.

Take Action: Rhode Island Avenue Safety Improvements Needed

A few weeks ago I wrote about the need for improvements to the sidewalks along Rhode Island Avenue, as well as, the access to the Rhode Island Ave metro station. Greater Greater Washington followed up with a great article on the issue. Those of us that regularly ride the bus or metro out of that station know how dangerous it can be to get to get there. The sidewalks are narrow and close to the busy traffic and the staircase is steep and narrow with steps crumbling. With millions of dollars being invested in redeveloping the parking lot into new retail and apartments you would think that an upgrade to the outdated sidewalks and stairs would be a natural progression. However, it has not been included in the plans!!!

We can change this by letting DDOT Director Gabe Klein and our Councilmember Harry Thomas, Jr., know that we need these changes to happen now while the area is being redeveloped. I wrote CM Thomas and received a response that they would forward my concerns to the project team and I have not heard anything back since then. Everyone knows that there is power in numbers and the squeaky wheel gets the grease. I am asking everyone to spread the word about this issue.

The Coalition for Smarter Growth has begun a petition to DDOT Director Gabe Klein and Ward 5 Council member Harry Thomas, Jr., that states the need we residents have to get these items fixed. Please sign the petition now and forward the link on to get as many people as possible to send the message that this is not an issue that we will let fade away!

Rhode Island Metro Station Sidewalks and Staircase Improvements Needed

Recently it was brought to my attention that with the construction of the Rhode Island Station development there are no plans to improve the sidewalks and staircase to the metro station from Rhode Island Ave. I thought with such a large-scale construction project they would be improving the public space as well especially since they would be using them.

Below is my letter to Councilmember Thomas and I am encouraging everyone to write or call him in order to bring attention to this issue.

Here is his email address: hthomas@dccouncil.us
Here is his phone number: 202-439-5103

Dear Councilmember Thomas,

I wanted to write to you about a concern that I have regarding the current sidewalks and staircase that led to the Rhode Island Metro Station with relation to pedestrian safety. These sidewalks are very narrow and the staircase is narrow and in need of repair as well.

While I am excited about the construction that is going on for the Rhode Island Station development I feel that as part of this project we should be fixing the sidewalks and stairs. We are missing an opportunity to repair items for the betterment and safety of the whole community if we do not get this done as part of the current construction. The new development will increase the traffic to that metro station and site, so if the narrow sidewalk and stairs are not adequate and safe under current use it will even be worse with increased use.

I know that the new pedestrian bridge is scheduled to be built from the Metropolitan Branch Trail to the metro station and that will help pedestrians and I encourage you to help move that project as long as well. But that bridge will not help people coming from the other direction to the metro or the new retail/apartments.

Please consider using your influence and helping to correct the problems with the stairs and sidewalks as a part of the current scope of construction that is taking place.

Edgewood Civic Association Meeting September 27th

Here is the agenda for the upcoming Edgewood Civic Association meeting:

THE EDGEWOOD CIVIC ASSOCIATION COMMUNITY MEETING
Monday, September 27, 2010
7:00 PM
The Edgewood View Senior Apartments – Crawford Hall, 8th floor
635 Edgewood Street NE, Washington, DC

Agenda
I. Call to Order

II. Roll Call

III. Approval of Last Meeting’s Minutes

IV. President’s Report
a. Board Membership Status
b. Election of Nomination Committee for 2011 Board Election

V. Invited Guests
a. MPD – Safety Report
b. DCBIA – Danielle Melus – Metropolitan Branch Trail Arts Project
c. Presenter re. Rhode Island Avenue Shopping Center Farmer’s Market

VI. Community Updates & Discussion
a. Status of Safeway Replacement
b. Status of St. Martin’s Apartments – “The Summit”
c. Rhode Island Metro Development – Bozzuto Project & Other

VII. New Business
a. Capital Bike Share
b. Edgewood Civic Association Partnership Tree Planting
c. Upcoming events
i. DC Federation of Civic Associations 2010 Banquet
ii. Ward 5 Civic Associations Summit
d. Other new business

VIII. 2010-11 Calendar

IX. Adjournment