Archive for the 'Life on RIA' Category

10
May
12

Why I Voted For…

By rhodeislandinsider 1 Comment
Categories: Life on RIA
Tags: , , ,

editorial by: Greg Roberts

When Ward 5 lost its Councilmember earlier this year, as owner of The Insider, I made a preemptive decision that we were not going to endorse any candidate that would run for the seat. We know that we will have to work with whoever won the special election to keepRhode Island Ave NEmoving in the right direction.

Given the huge strides that organizations like Friends of Rhode Island Ave, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and other groups have made recently to bring attention and activism to redeveloping the Avenue, I can no longer sit on the sidelines hoping that the next Councilmember will ensure this enthusiasm and progress continues to move forward.

This is why I want to tell you why I decided to vote for Kenyan McDuffie yesterday.

Enter the disclaimer: This is my personal view and does not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any organization or the contributors of this blog.

The Insider sent all of the candidates (who listed their contact information on the Board of Elections website) a quick survey to get their views ofRhode Island Ave NE and how they would help move it forward. Several of the candidates responded and we posted their responses in our Special Election section of the website. We were very happy to see so much interest in RIA from the candidates and are encouraged that if any of them won, we wouldn’t be forgotten as a community and potential economic force in the District. But Kenyan’s responses, and subsequent conversations confirmed, that he has a better command of knowledge regarding RIA and the issues it is facing. Kenyan also demonstrated a real concern of what local residents really wanted for the Avenue and how they can get engaged to make a difference.

One of the key items that we felt was key to Rhode Island Ave NE redevelopment is connectivity of the Main Streetarea of the Avenue (from 18th to 24th Streets) and the RIA-Brentwood Metro station. Kenyan highlighted this needs as one of the keys to bringing viable retail options. In addition, he was able to tie in something that is not often thought of, which some may think as a small, insignificant detail, when discussing redevelopment: extending parking meter hour limits from one hour to two. Something as simple as that could help attract restaurants, who’s patrons will need more than the one hour currently allotted. Restaurateurs consider that when looking for locations.

Kenyan understands that redevelopment cannot happen only from City government, it will take the activism of a coalition of residents, ANC, and others to make it happen. Kenyan has showed his commitment to working with community stakeholders and putting his words to action for the Avenue. Team McDuffie showed up to the last FoRIA Avenue Clean-Up and helped pick up trash (editor’s note: I also commend the other candidates who have shown up as well).

Without going on and on regarding my reasons for endorsing Kenyan, we’ll just say that I was quite impressed with Kenyan McDuffie overall, as well. He’s are really genuine guy. More on his economic development platform can be found at his website.

Although I am encouraged by all of the candidates’ running and their commitment to RIA revitalization, I was most encouraged by Kenyan McDuffie. Again, I am proud to support his candidacy for Ward 5 Councilmember.

The election is to be held on Tuesday, May 15 but you can vote now! Here is some information on where to vote or go to the DC BOEE website:

Early voting using a paper ballot:
Old Council Chambers
One Judiciary Square
441 4th Street, N.W., Suite 250 North
Saturday, May 5 and Monday, May 7 – Saturday, May 12
8:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Early voting using a touch screen ballot:
Turkey Thicket Recreation Center
1100 Michigan Avenue, NE
Saturday, May 5 and Monday, May 7 – Saturday, May 12
8:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

At the polls:
Only the 18 precincts in Ward 5 will be open. You can look up your assigned polling place here.
Polls open on May 15 from 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

15
Apr
12

Benefits of Living Along RIA NE

By rhodeislandinsider 10 Comments
Categories: Life on RIA
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

by Greg Roberts

Yesterday, members of the DC Bicycle Advisory Group met up with local neighbors to ride along RIA from Logan Circle to Eastern Avenue to record the conditions for bicyclists along the Avenue. More to come on this from Kyle Todd, FoRIA member and part of the group that surveyed the Avenue, but as he stated, “the goal of the ride was to look at ways to improve the cycling infrastructure along RIA to make it safer for cyclists, pedestrians, AND cars”.  In addition, last month, Chairman Kwame Brown announced that he was directing Capital Bike Share to install a Bike Share station at the Woodridge Library. We also have the option to use the Metropolitan Branch Trail that cuts right behind the Brentwood Shopping Center and RIA Metro station. All of this is great news for those that like to hit the road or trails on two wheels or run or take a nice walk.

But there is also some nearby hidden gems right up the street (albeit, on the other side of the border with MD) that makes for a beautiful bike ride, walk, or jog during the day. This morning, my partner and I biked the NE Branch Trail (seen to the right) and we love the quiet of the morning ride and the scenery, especially around Lake Artemesia (which is next to the University of Maryland). This trail runs next to the brooks and through the woods, up next to a baseball fields, and the trail also boasts some workout equipment if you are feeling extra spunky on a Sunday morning (I decided I would pass on the equipment so early). The path also gives you opportunities to rest along it at places like the Denis Wolf Rest Stop. Now, the trail we took this morning isn’t the only one and the good thing about all of these trails is that they are interconnected for the most part so you can get around pretty easily. More information about this and the other trails is available at Bike Washington.

Another thing that you can do just north of us if you like to skate board or have children that do, is visit the newly constructed skate board park located at Melrose Park along Rhode Island Avenue.

So, get out there and enjoy the fact that we live so close to so many things like the Anacostia Tributary Trails.

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05
Apr
12

Why We Do What We Do

By rhodeislandinsider 3 Comments
Categories: Life on RIA and Redevelopment
Tags: , , , , ,

by Greg Roberts

I started this blog over four years ago as a means to show the rest of the world why I chose to move to a neighborhood off of Rhode Island Avenue. I saw the potential of a DC street that sees over 30,000 car trips daily in and out of the District, wide sidewalks along Main Street type of corridors, and wonderful people. Over the last year, the Insider grew to include more contributors who wanted to share their experiences and insight in this area. In addition, the readers of this blog used it as a means to connect and form a community group called Friends of RIA (FoRIA) to take our neighborhood to another level. None of us get paid for what we do…heck, we barely have time given our full time lives. So why do we do it?

The answer to that is in the email below that I received to a new RIA resident and neighbor:

Greg,

Hi- I have to thank you so much for your awesome blog.  My friends (future roommates) and I have been in DC for a few years.  I lived on H Street for two years and currently live on the Hill, the other two attended Catholic in undergrad and now live in NoVA (No!  terrible! haha) but none of us ever considered Rhode Island Ave.  We stumbled across the Rhode Island Row apartments, really loved the proximity to the metro and also the individual units, but we were concerned about the neighborhood.  Honestly, after reading your blog we were completely sold on the area.  It’s obvious that so many people care and are trying to make it better all the time.  I really just wanted to compliment you on the high quality of the blog, it’s clearly a labor of love on the part of all your talented contributors and that’s unique.  There are other good neighborhood blogs (PoP obviously) but more often than not they’re all posts clamoring for a LuLuLemon or something equally obnoxious. I like that you’re as focused on what the neighbors can do to improve their neighborhood as you are “when are we getting a Starbucks?”  Anyway, keep up the good work- we’re really enjoying all the info!

We’ll be moving in during May.

Thanks to all of our readers, those who comment, and those that volunteer your time… the message is for all of you. We all make a difference.

 

02
Apr
12

Drinks, Food, and Neighbors

By rhodeislandinsider 1 Comment
Categories: Life on RIA
Tags: , , , , , ,

Although the Insider will not be posting notices like this constantly, we did want to make sure that all of our readers knew that Jennifer Parker does a really good job putting together these monthly Happy Hours and since this one is at a local business on RIA, we thought we would share it. These events are usually a great time and you get to meet your neighbors. To stay up to date on when the Happy Hours and other Ward 5 events are, go to the Ward 5 Calendar. 

Meet Your Neighbors – Support Local

Share a Few Laughs – Why Not?

Thursday, April 5

6:00 – 8:00 p.m. (ish)

Lace on the Avenue

2214 Rhode Island Avenue NE

(202) 832-3888

The chef is cooking up some special foods for us!

Happy Hour drink specials!

We love to support this place and they love us!

Hope to see you there!

30
Mar
12

We Grow It But Let’s Not Dispense It

By rhodeislandinsider 4 Comments
Categories: Life on RIA
Tags: , , , , , ,

The outcry from Ward 5 residents must not have accomplished or gotten their point across to City leaders. According to the Washington Post, Ward 5 will be home to six cultivation centers for medical marijuana, with four of them located in Langdon. Below is an excerpt of their locations:

Williams’s cultivation center, Abatin Wellness Center, has been approved for the 2100 block of Queens Chapel Road in Langdon, according to a city list obtained by The Washington Post.

The department also selected Montana Apothecary dba Alternative Solutions in the 2100 block of 24th Place NE in Langdon; District Growers in the 2400 block of Evarts Street NE in Langdon; Holistic Remedies in 1800 block of Fenwick Street NE in Ivy City; Phyto Management in the 3700 block of Benning Road NE in Benning; and Venture Forth dba Center City in the 2200 block of Channing Street NE in Langdon.

One of the approved centers will be in Ward 7 but because of successful legislating by that Ward’s Councilmember, the center will not be able to stay in that location.

Thanks to the DCist for putting together a map of the locations in Ward 5.

Should residents be concerned about cultivation centers? Residents were told that security will be high and from the outside, no one should be able to tell if a building is a cultivation center.

Mohammad N. Akhter, director of the Health Department, said he and a task force evaluated dozens of bidders before selecting the six applicants. Akhter said they were chosen based on their ability to grow “quality” marijuana “in a safe environment” that includes heavy security.

I think the bigger concern for residents is the actual marijuana distribution centers. There are 17 applications for the five licenses to operate a dispensary and if residents in Ward 5 want to ensure that they truly are not the recipients of all of these dispensaries, I would suggest taking your lobbying and public angst to the next level. Decisions on the five licenses will be handed out this summer. The dispensaries should be allocated to where the residents who need medical marijuana are, not clustered in one area.

Councilmember Orange passed legislation recently that would limit the amount of cultivation centers could be in Ward 5 to six (which is odd since this was very close to the total number of licenses being handed out anyway). Perhaps Mr. Orange could limit the amount of dispensaries in Ward 5 to say….maybe one? Patients of medical marijunia live across the City and the dispensaries should reflect that. If we want to make this about the patients, as Montel Williams wanted, we should make the access of these centers easy.

Ward 5 may grow it but we don’t need to be the ones to dispense it.

18
Mar
12

FoRIA Cleans Up The Avenue!

By rhodeislandinsider 5 Comments
Categories: Life on RIA
Tags: , , ,

FoRIA's Members and others conduct a clean up of RIA NE.

The Friends of RIA (FoRIA) spent the morning of St. Patrick’s Day going into action to show that they care on not only redeveloping Rhode Island Ave NE but also that they want it to be somewhere they are proud of. Thanks to FoRIA’s Streetscape Committee, Kyle Todd, for leading this initiative and pulling off a very successful event. See Todd’s recap below and photos!

We had over 40 people show up!  I lost count of how many bags we filled; we used all of DPW’s yellow bags, plus we used many large bags contributed by other people.

Candidates were out in force: Tim Day, Drew Hubbard, Peter Shapiro, Frank Wilds, and Kenyan McDuffie. Council Chair, Kwame Brown, not only sent several folks from his campaign, but sent a crew from Career Path DC (not included in the count).  The McDuffie campaign brought bottled water, bananas, and chips for the volunteers, in addition to extra bags and disposable gloves.

There was agreement on all fronts that doing this once a month as a standing commitment is a good thing.

Great job, FoRIA!! Keep up the great work!

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