At the Advisory Neighborhood Commission meeting tonight, both DCRA and OTR officials will be in the house to discuss their roles in addressing local vacant and blighted properties. At Large Councilmember Phil Mendelson is working on a letter to encourage OTR to move 509 O St toward a tax sale in the hope that someone with better intentions and means to improve the property and return it to habitable condition will buy it and turn it into a home for responsible neighbors instead of the vagrants who have clearly been breaking in and using it for temporary shelter and/or to leave their trash.

This is a view of 509 O Street NW today (graffiti and all):

When properties look neglected they create opportunities for graffitist's.

Trash builds up again in this neglected property.

The owner of the property, Beverly Bakeir, is apparently President of
Valley Trust Mortgage Corp
1444 N Street NW # 100
Washington, DC 20005-2803
Phone: (202) 797-9185

On Wednesday, Feburary 1, Councilmember Jack Evans will hold a vote in his Committee on Finance and Revenue on a bill to repeal DC's i-Gambling law.

Councilmember Jack Evans Chair, Committee on Finance and Revenue
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 1:00 p.m.
Room 120, John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

I. Call to Order.
II. Determination of a Quorum.
III. Consideration and Markup of Legislation:
• Bill 19-474 “Lottery Amendment Repeal Act of 2012”
IV. Announcements.
V. Adjournment.

Many issues have already raised about the larger lottery contract. Here's what came out of the Council's public hearing on i-Gambling held last Thursday:

1. Under questioning from David Catania and Tommy Wells, Dr. Gandhi's general counsel stated very clearly that the Council will have no say about which hotel, nightclub or restaurant will house a gambling operation ('hot spot') nor what additional gambling offerings may be added to the mix. That will be left soley to the Lottery Director, a Maryland resident.

2. The Lottery Director, Dr. Gandhi and Councilmember Michael Brown, who introduced the gambling law, stated that i-Gambling is aimed at bringing in revenue from well-heeled out of town patrons and tourists. These gambling hot spots are most likely to be located in the downtown hotel corridor and in commercial areas where people congregate to eat and drink. Penn Quarter/Convention Center is anticipated to be a focal point of that activity.

3. Nine ANCs across the city voted in support of repealing internet gambling including every Ward Six ANC, the Dupont Circle ANC, Adams Morgan ANC, and one each in Ward Four, Ward One and Ward Eight. Several major civic associations as well as the Downtown Cluster of Congregations also voted to support repeal. They all have recognized how i-Gambling will impact their neighborhoods.

4. These lobbying groups did not testify publicly before Council on this issue: DC Chamber of Commerce, DC Hotel Association, DC Restaurant Association, DC Nightlife Association and the Washington Convention and Sports Authority. They may have had their opportunity to lobby behind closed doors.

5. DC residents can lobby their Councilmembers now. We need a law that provides legislative protection for consumers and neighborhood residents alike. The best way to do that is to repeal the current i-Gambling law and introduce more precisely written legislation. If the District is to legalize gambling, we have to do it right. Councilmembers who sit on this committee are Jack Evans (Chairman), David Catania, Michael Brown, Muriel Bowser and Marion Barry. Let them know your thoughts.

At Large Councilmember Catania made an excellent case for DC voting rights and statehood last Friday before the NH House of Representatives who considered HR 26. Hopefully, Mr Catania's full written testimony, and that of other District elected officials, submitted to the NH State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs Committee will soon be readily available on the web for all to read and appreciate. My testimony was also submitted to the committee.

An old sign will soon be replaced to indicate that dogs will at least be permitted to enjoy this section of the field at Bundy Park.

KIPP DC has put everything in place and has begun the development of new FieldTurf dog exercise area at Bundy Park adjacent to its new lacrosse, soccer and softball fields that are all due to be completed by the end of February (weather permitting). The new facility will surely accomodate other fitness needs of local residents (and pets) — yoga, running, walking, flag football, and nearly endless possibilities should make this one of the most exciting facilities to break ground in ShawEast this winter and serve 2nd NW Coop, Shaw, Mt Vernon Sq and Bates Area residents in Ward 5.

The "DEA", though much longer than wide, should provide plenty of space for dogs to get their workout in each day in a safely enclosed area. The FieldTurf will proved exceptional drainage. The Friends of Bundy Park are partnering with KIPP DC and recruiting the services of DoodyCalls to help provide bag/trash facilities and cleanup service for the field. It's been a long journey for the Friends of Bundy, but their determination and boundless energy and commitment demonstrate that when there is a will, there is always a way. The group appreciates the leadership of ANC2C Commissioner Chapple, ANC2C, and #ShawWard6 Councilmember Tommy Wells and his staff for shepherding this project to completion.

The girls' softball program planned by DPR may no longer exist, but girls, boys and anyone else who wants to will soon be able to enjoy the new softball portion of the field.

Graffiti on the Springfield Baptist Church on the 500 block of P Street NW.

Neighbors are upset about the new graffiti which recently appeared on the wall of the parking lot for the church. The DC.gov service request tracking number for this issue is: 12-00024864, but graffiti removal on private property will require the church to file a waiver release form.

God help the souls of the graffitists who denigrate the house of the lord.

It would be amazing and a travesty if the Historic Preservation Review Board approves Susan Reatig's ugly plans for 926NStNW, when it and the local Blagden Alley Neighborhood Association (thankfully) rejected initial plans for the 939-941MStNW plans by in favor of something much more attractive architectural plans presented by workshop t10 design studio in Shaw.

Final plans for 939-941 M Street NW.

This really was a bit too modern for the 900 b/o M Street NW when a more classic design was well within reach of the developers. That being said, there are some very attractive and stylish modernist building going up just a few blocks north of Shaw which still seem to celebrate the best new innovations in residential architecture.

After a brief tag along tour with an MPD Bike Patrol Officer in Georgetown, I'm convinced we should have more bike patrols in shaw (and all over the District). There are about 500 officers certified as bike patrols, but only less than 50 on duty on any given day for all eight wards. Bike patrols move through the city in near stealth fashion, they seem to interact with pedestrians on the street much more than officers sitting in vehicles, and yet they can be just as visible and influential in regulating traffic (despite not being able to match the speeds of motorists). This officer informed me that with his bike he's able to see and observe things that most officers in cars would never see and such patrols often lead to more first hand arrests. It's also pretty enviable that MPD bikes can be parked, sometimes, without being locked.

926 N Street NW, bird's eye view.

A little birdie sent me the bird's eye views and elevations of the new development the United House of Prayer has for the property they own at 926 N Street NW on what is currently a loading dock and warehouse. It's great that the development market has finally in$pired UHOP do cash in on what looks like market rate housing in the area. Not hating market rate housing, increased tax revenue for the city, or more neighbors with significant personal financial stake in making a new home in Shaw, but I wonder with all of the stated need for low-income housing, how many of these units will accommodate low-income residents. It would be great to see at least four low-income units.

There are two spaces designated for some street level retail that would help to activate the street. A cafe version of the UHOP cafeteria on M Street would be nice, especially if they would include some healthy fresh fruits and veggies to the menu.

926 N Street NW specs at a glance:
Three floors (no underground parking)
Gross footprint: 5,000 sq ft
Retail space 1: 2418 sq ft
Retail space 2: 804 sq ft
1 three-bedroom unit
6 two-bedroom units
5 one-bedroom units
2 efficiencies
14 total units (includes four units with lofts)

The four top units include roof top terraces, all units will have balconies.

926 N Street NW, bird's eye view.

Like their hideous white and candy-colored condos recently completed on the 600 block of M Street, Susan Reatig's plans suggest a mininmalist modernistic design that seems out of place among the fantastic historic victorian and federal style buildings around it. (Even Valor's current massing plans for the P Street Residences/condos planned for the 600 block of P Street have more imagination and vision for creating an interesting piece of design and Valor has suggested that they will attempt to give those plans further revision so the exterior reflects the style of some of the historic homes nearby.) It seems like a missed opportunity to create something that should not only generate income, house low- and hi-income residents, but all so celebrate some of the best practices in creating attractive and stylish environmentally-friendly buildings. There seem to be plenty of surface parking spaces, which seems wise, and a step in the right direction (in contrast to the doomed plans for the so called "BicycleBuilding" at 9th&N Streets which included no parking in light of the significant transit and bicycle options in the immediate area).

Floor plan indicates seven surface parking spaces. I suppose underground parking would be too expense, though it might give more room for to include some low-income residential units which might earn them some subsidy from the city.

6:30pm, 8 February, 2012
Mount Vernon Square entrance to the Convention Center

Mark your calendar for an event when six notable Shaw galleries will stay open late and the Walter E. Washington Convention will open its doors for a rare evening tour of its extensive art collection.

The Convention Center tour last approximately one hour.

Participating galleries include Civilian Art Projects (1019 7th St., NW), Contemporary Wing (1250 9th St., NW), Lamont Bishop Gallery (1314 9th St., NW), Long View Gallery (1234 9th St., NW), Maruka Gallery and Boutique (1300 9th St., NW), and Touchstone Gallery (901 New York Ave., NW). Galleries will remain open until 9 p.m. for the Shaw Art Walk. Maps and descriptions of the galleries' shows will be available at each gallery and at the conclusion of the Convention Center tour.

Following the art walk at 9 p.m., participants are encouraged to enjoy the art of the cocktail at The Passenger which is located at 1021 7th St., NW.

The inaugural Shaw Art Walk has been organized by Shaw Main Streets, Events DC,and ANC2C04 Commissioner Rachelle Nigro.

For more information and to view the press release, visit the Shaw Main Streets
website: http://www.shawmainstreets.org/events/shaw_art_walk

To RSVP to the Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/events/176021592502645/