09
Feb
10

CM Thomas’ Reaction to Safeway Closing

By rhodeislandinsider 2 Comments
Categories: Redevelopment

With the sudden announcement that the Safeway will be closing on March 6th, CM Thomas gives us his reaction.

Dear Ward 5 Residents,

Safeway did not inform me in advance of the community regarding its decision to close its store in Edgewood; I received a phone call about the planned closure at the same time residents were informed.

Once I found out about the planned closure, I sought input from the Edgewood Civic Association at its monthly meeting. I also sought input from the Ward 5 community leaders who attended my January 30th leadership roundtable. Right now, I am organizing an outreach effort about which I will update the Ward 5 community later this week.

Furthermore, I am angered by the decision and am committed to working with residents to fight to keep Safeway in the Edgewood community–with necessary store upgrades that we deserve. To date, my staff and I have been in contact with Vanguard Realty, the leasing agent for the shopping center, to discuss incentives to get Safeway to stay. I am also reviewing legislative remedies, such as creating additional tax abatements as well as revoking Safeway’s property tax abatements for future stores it plans to open in the city if maintains its resolve to turn its back on the Edgewood community.

Please know that I remain steadfast in my support of the Edgewood community and bringing positive change, and building on the improvements we have made thus far: renovation of the Edgewood Recreation Center, creation of the Rhode Island Avenue Green Team, expansion of the Great Streets initiative to include Rhode Island Avenue, and bringing new businesses to the corridor like Forman Mills.

In Service I Remain,

Harry “Tommy” Thomas, Jr.

Ward 5 Councilmember

28
Jan
10

RIA Draft Plan *Early Release*

By rhodeislandinsider 1 Comment
Categories: Redevelopment
Tags: , ,

Here is an advance copy of the Rhode Island Ave NE redevelopment plan. I have not read through it in its entirety, but once I do, I look forward to sharing some details and analysis.

In the meantime, enjoy.

DRAFT RI Ave Plan – Jan 27 2010-AltC2_CLR-Release-opt

27
Jan
10

Meeting: “Diamond of the District”

By rhodeislandinsider Leave a Comment
Categories: Redevelopment
Tags: , , ,

It appears there is a public meeting regarding Rhode Island Ave NE redevelopment. Come back on Jan 29th…as there will be a final plan presented and I will post it here.

Note the deadline to sign up to speak at this public meeting: Given the considerable interesting in this planning effort to date, stakeholders are encouraged to call 202.727.6365 to sign up to testify no later than 2 PM on Thursday, February 25, 2010. Up to three minutes of testimony will be allowed per stakeholder. Written testimony should be emailed to derrick.woody@dc.gov or sent to:

ATTN: RIA PLAN
c/o Coordinator – Great Street Initiative
Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Suite 317
Washington, DC 20004

FAX: 202.727.6703

Please bring a written copy of testimony if you plan to testify.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Monday, March 1, 2010

6:00 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Woodridge Neighborhood Library

1801 Hamlin Street, NE
Washington, DC 20018

The District of Columbia’s Office of Planning and Economic Development (“the District”) will conduct a public hearing to receive public comments on “RHODE ISLAND AVENUE: Diamond of the District” (“the RIA Plan”). The document represents the conclusion of a community, economic development planning process which outlines specific redevelopment and use targets for Rhode Island Avenue NE between 3rd Street NE and Eastern Avenue NE. Over 200 community, business and institutional stakeholders provided input during the series of community meetings which led to this document.

Historically and to this date, Rhode Island Avenue NE has been one of the District’s prominent corridors, but it is now characterized by used car lots, auto repair and tire shops, vacant structures, redundant uses, cross-town trucks, commuter traffic, and suburban style development and densities around a prominent Metro station. Implementation of the plan aims to transform the land uses along the corridor into a series of well-defined, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood centers while preserving and enhancing the quality of life of the diverse, existing neighborhoods abutting it. The RIA Plan is to be implemented over a twenty year horizon, but puts forth an emphasis on achieving visible progress sooner rather than later.

The RIA Plan presents a wide range of private and public investment opportunities for existing and new retail businesses, office services, housing providers and cultural entrepreneurs while conveying preferences and concerns shared by area stakeholders and the District for the appropriate redevelopment of under-utilized, private commercial and industrial properties along this three-mile corridor.

The District plans to submit the RIA Plan to the DC Council for adoption as a “small area plan.” Upon approval as a small area plan, the RIA Plan will then provide guidance in public policy decision-making along Rhode Island Avenue. Guidance will be provided to District agencies, commissions, and the broader public about affordable and mixed income housing, local business development, quality design and development, public art, zoning and local resident participation.

19
Jan
10

On the Attack…

By rhodeislandinsider Leave a Comment
Categories: Redevelopment
Tags: , , ,

An anonymous poster that commented under the “New Rules” post has seem to struck a nerve with the King Solomon Temple. As you can read under the “New Rules” post, the anon poster claimed that members of the Temple had swine flu and there was money exchanges going on with the Temple and Damien Ministries.

This struck such a nerve that William Mends-Cole wrote:

I am The Chairman of the Board, I know Bro. Guy Mitchell, and interact with him almost everyday. At no time has he been sick with the swine flu. I preside over every board meeting, therefore I need to know when and where was this meeting.

As his question was for the Anon poster, I wanted to know what the Temple has done to work with the community about their establishment that was such an issue this past summer with local residents. Mr. Mends-Cole has yet to let us know. I have to assume (actually, knowing the people who live around the Temple, I know) that the Temple has done ZERO to reach out to them.

Tim Westford continued his constant barrage of comments on the post about the accusations that the anon poster….he assumed I know what the anon poster was thinking when (s)he wrote it. Mr. Westford wrote this:

Your effortless abilities to resolve this issue does not amaze me. Websites such as this only entertain those whom enjoy gossiping and creating false accusations for his/her own personal gains. Be careful of what you post … it’s not what goes in your mouth that counts … it’s what come out that makes a lasting impression. From a 100 star rating website …. I give you a -5.

I guess Mr. Westford doesn’t understand how I would resolve the issue when (1) it’s his issue, not mine, and, (2) the poster is anonymous. It is his/her discretion whether or not to respond. Also, I have to assume that Mr. Westford, who refused to say what his connection is to the Temple, that he is in fact a member of the Temple. Until he answers that question, I have chose not to entertain him on this blog any longer.

I wanted to thank Mr. Mends-Cole and Mr. Westford for helping increase my viewership for the blog and the comments. This helps with search engine referrals to my site AND it has reminded me that we all need to stay vigilant on making sure that the King Solomon Temple does NOT get their liquor license or public hall license reinstated.

18
Jan
10

St. Bourbon’s Closed?

By rhodeislandinsider Leave a Comment
Categories: Redevelopment

From Woodie:

On passing by Saint Bourbon’s on Hamlin Street and Rhode Island (across from the Woodridge Library) I recently noticed a big “For Sale/For Lease” sign. Does anyone know why it’s being sold? Saint Bourbon’s was closed the entire month of December. I heard at that time it might be closing. Details appreciated from RhodeIslandAveNE bloggers!

15
Dec
09

Street Cars Arrive in DC

By rhodeislandinsider 5 Comments
Categories: Redevelopment
Tags: , , , ,

WTOP recently reported that the street cars that I posted about several weeks ago have started to arrive in the US from the Czech Republic.

Exciting! Rhode Island Ave NE is part of the second phase of development for this street car program. Benning Road/H Street and Anacostia will be the first to have the tracks laid and begin using the cars no later than 2012 (although as the article says, they are trying to accelerate that timeline).

Adding street cars to the Rhode Island Ave NE corridor will bring badly needed accessibility and transportation needs to our area of the City. I hope that they can accelerate the timeline and help bring it sooner! We will need it with a new Target and Costco coming to the area!

10
Dec
09

Costco and Target coming to the area

By rhodeislandinsider 5 Comments
Categories: Redevelopment
Tags: , , , ,

That’s right! According to the Washington Business Journal article Costco is moving forward with plans to build a store at the corner of New York Ave and South Dakota Ave NE.

It isn’t on Rhode Island Ave NE, but the commercial development is ideal to promote better and bigger development near all of us!

I think this is good news, but let’s see if Target will follow them up here!

08
Dec
09

Is our ANC really on our side?

By rhodeislandinsider 7 Comments
Categories: Redevelopment
Tags: , , , , , , ,

Since I moved to Ward 5, I have always wondered where the ANC for this area is. I had not heard from my ANC Commissioner about meetings, what is going on, etc etc, until I called her out on this blog. Then Rayseen Woodland responded to the blog posting attempting to defend her absence by claiming she never really disappeared. She was quickly refuted by several residents. Now, as one of the biggest things to happen to this area, the redevelopment of Rhode Island Ave NE, several of the ANC Commissioners have not actively participated in moving it along.

According to Councilmember Thomas’ office, the ANC as a whole said they support the redevelopment but after expressing a need for written support from each ANC member, the Councilmember’s office has only received 5 letters (with one being signed this Wednesday). From Derrick Woody, Office of the Deputy Mayor:

At present, the ANCs have indicated a willingness to advance the plan to Council, but the majority have not provided written support to CM Thomas’ office.

At present, the office of Councilmember Harry Thomas, Jr. has NOT received written support to help with approving funding for Rhode Island Ave NE redevelopment from:

ANC 5A Chair Angel Alston
5C Chair Anita Bonds
5B04 Rayseen Woodland
5B10 Phil Blair

Again, this goes to show that our ANC is constantly denying their responsibilities and taking their roles seriously.

07
Dec
09

The money is coming…

By rhodeislandinsider 10 Comments
Categories: Redevelopment
Tags: , , , ,

…by means of tax increment financing (TIF). Before the Council is a proposed revision of the 2004 Retail Incentive Act which will designate Rhode Island Avenue NE, along with various other areas in the City, as Priority Retail Areas.

YES! Rhode Island Avenue is part of this. It is slated to get no more than $15 million in TIF monies to aid in redevelopment. The Act is in its 3rd reading before the Council. Here is the Wikipedia definition of TIF:

Tax Increment Financing, or TIF, is a public financing method which has been used for redevelopment and community improvement projects in many countries including the United States for more than 50 years. With federal and state sources for redevelopment generally less available, TIF has become an often-used financing mechanism for municipalities. Similar or related approaches are used elsewhere in the world.

Here are the areas mapped out that will receive the funding for Rhode Island Avenue NE.

08
Nov
09

New Rules

By rhodeislandinsider 15 Comments
Categories: Redevelopment

As most of us know who were around this past summer, the King Solomon’s Temple at the corner of Rhode new_rules_021508Island Ave NE and Thayer Street (next to the Family Dollar) was renting out their public hall to a night club promoter. According to residents in the area, this promoter was selling alcohol and having parties until all hours of the night on the weekends, and the result were kids getting shot, patrons urinating on neighbor’s yards, loud music, loud patrons walking through neighborhoods, etc, etc, etc. It became so contentious, the Mayor, Police Chief, and DCRA Chief held a press conference to revoke/suspend the public hall license for the Temple. As well, the alcohol license was revoked for the establishment as well.

Now, it seems that the DCRA is finally trying to get ahead of the ball in regards to how organizations apply, obtain, retain, and lose their Public Hall licenses.

1600. PUBLIC HALL LICENSES
1600.1 No person shall operate a public hall without obtaining from the Director of the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (“Director”) a basic business license with an Entertainment (Public Hall) endorsement unless:
(a) The establishment has a capacity of four hundred (400) or fewer occupants; and
(b) Has a class C or D license issued pursuant to the District of Columbia Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, D.C. Official Code §§ 25-101 et seq.
1600.2 For purposes of this chapter, a “public hall” means any building in which a ball, dance, exhibition, lecture, concert, or convention is conducted for profit or gain.
1600.3 Any license issued under this chapter shall be renewed every two (2) years and shall be subject to the restrictions on the presence of minors at the licensee’s premises in accordance with D.C. Official Code § 47-2820(c).

I am interested in the exception portion at the end of the proposed new regulation but as long as we stay vigilant, we can ensure that places like King Solomon’s Temple NEVER gets its public hall license again.

1607. EXCEPTIONS
1607.1 A licensed applicant who holds a valid class C or D license issued pursuant to the District of Columbia Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, D.C. Official Code § 25-101 et seq., shall be exempt from the notice and hearing provisions of this chapter.

See attached for the full report. DCRAPublicHallRulemaking

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