Performance Parking Revenue Brings New Amenities

A new community-oriented Public Information Display System (PIDS) will soon make its way to the entrance of the Waterfront Station Safeway. The PIDS will be a community information kiosk giving real-time information such as when the next train or bus will arrive, number of Capital Bikeshare bikes available in the area, the performance schedule for Arena Stage, and other important information. DDOT is funding this project through its Ward 6 Performance Parking Zone program, which adjusts the cost of parking depending on demand, but is the brainchild of SW resident Cecille Chen, who heads up SWNA’s Southwest DC Heritage Project. The SW PIDS will be the first in a citywide rollout of this technology and will also be accessible to residents via DC’s free WiFi network. Total cost for the project will be $75,000 and is scheduled to be up and running by January 2013.

Other improvements potentially coming to the neighborhood thanks to Performance Parking revenue include some public art. The Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW) will receive $35,000 to install a statue or sign representing all of the lettered streets in the Southeast (and potentially Southwest) parts of the city. The program is designed to help children learn the alphabet.

Update: As Commissioner Craycraft mentioned in the comments section, Damon Harvey from DDOT also committed to funding the restoration of the underwater lighting at the SW Duck Pond during last week's ANC meeting, which was supposed to be done earlier in 2012.

Planning for a Complete Street on M Street

(This post is an abbreviated version of the South by West article that will appear in December's Hill Rag).

Over the past several months, DDOT has been working on a transportation planning study of the M Street, SE/SW corridor.  The study area includes most of ANC 6D, which includes everything south of the Southeast/Southwest Freeway to the Washington Channel and Anacostia River. The study began in early 2012 and after three community meetings and months of study by DDOT and their consultant CH2MHILL, three alternatives were developed for the corridor and surrounding streets. Each of the alternatives are distinct, although some aspects of each alternative are common.

The first alternative would remake M Street as a “Main Street” which would accommodate more transit service. Under this alternative, there would be a median of variable width, including a center turn lane on the Southwest portion of M Street, two travel lanes on each side of the street, and the outer lanes would be an exclusive transit lane for streetcars, Metrobus, and commuter buses. Street parking that currently exists on M Street would be removed under this scenario since the parking lane would be taken up by the transit lane. Right turns would be restricted to certain intersections throughout the corridor so the transit vehicles are able to travel more quickly on the street. In order to compensate for the removal of a traffic lane on M Street, a second travel lane would be added to each side of I Street by removing on-street parking. The bike lane configuration currently on I Street would change to include a mixed travel and bike lane in each direction. In addition, P Street would be widened from one travel lane to two travel lanes between 4th Street and South Capitol Street during peak hours. One-way traffic on some streets would be converted to two-way streets.  

Under the second alternative, or the “Balanced Linkages” scenario, M Street would accommodate cars, transit, and bike lanes. The typical cross-section of M Street west of South Capitol Street would have an eight-foot cycle track, an eight-foot parking lane, a 12-foot shared travel lane for general purpose and transit vehicles, and an 11-foot travel/turn lane in each direction.  This scenario reduces the number of travel lanes from three currently to two lanes in each direction on M Street. Streetcar service would be placed along I Street, where the parking lane would be removed and replaced with a shared vehicle/transit lane. The streetcar line would connect to 7th Street on the western side. On-street parking on P Street would be removed as well, replaced with a shared travel/transit lane that would serve the DC Circulator (assuming service is restored to Southwest). No Southwest streets would be converted to two-way streets under the second alternative.

Alternative number three, or the “Mobility Arterial” scenario would make M Street three travel lanes in each direction with the outer lane serving as a shared travel/transit lane. Streetcars would run on this shared lane.  No parking would be provided on M Street under this scenario. However, the middle travel lane would be shared with bicycles. The current configuration of I Street would not change under this scenario. Similar to alternative number two, no Southwest streets would be converted to two-way streets under the third alternative.

The full report can be found here.  Comments will be accepted by DDOT until Friday, November 30 at 5pm. Comments should be emailed to ddot.awi@dc.gov, mailed to Colleen Hawkinson, District Department of Transportation, Suite 500, 55 M Street SE, Washington DC 20003 or faxed to her attention at 202-671-0617.

20th Annual Parade of Lighted Boats - December 1

The 20th annual parade of lighted boats will be this Saturday at 7th Street Landing with festivities beginning at 5pm.  This year’s parade will start from the Alexandria waterfront and will make its way north to the Washington Channel. Events include the lighting of The Wharf Christmas Tree at 5:30pm, pictures with Santa, music from the Earl Wilson Quintet, and the lighted boat contest. In addition, there will be s’more-making and marshmallow roasting by the bonfire and holiday cookie decorating. “Snow” will fall during the event, although the forecast temperature is supposed to be in the mid-50s during the day on Saturday.  

My Fair Doggie Tomorrow!

Randall Playground Planning Meeting Tomorrow

DPR will host a meeting tomorrow on plans to renovate the playground at Randall Recreation Center on South Capitol and I Streets.  Randall is one of 32 playgrounds that the city will be renovating during this fiscal year as a part of the “Play DC” project. During the meeting, members of the community will have a chance to provide input on details such as design and amenities at the Randall playground. The meeting will be held at Randall Recreation Center from 6pm – 7:30pm.

Long Bridge Study Underway

DDOT (with cooperation with the Federal Railroad Administration) is conducting a study of the Long Bridge, a two-track railroad bridge that crosses the Potomac River and carries Amtrak, VRE, and CSX trains.  According to the project website, the purpose of this project is to complete a comprehensive study of the Long Bridge to include identification of short-term needs and long-term capacity improvements, identify and analyze alternatives that meet the short-term and long-term multi-modal needs, and identify, collect, and evaluate data in support of the recommended improvements. Multi-modal needs includes analyzing future operating requirements of high-speed and intercity passenger rail, commuter rail, transit, bike and pedestrian, and freight services.

There will be a public meeting today from 4pm - 6pm at Westminster Church. The purpose of the meeting is to introduce the project to the public and receive feedback and input on access and mobility needs.  Comments can be provided at the meeting, mailed or submitted electronically to info@longbridgeproject.com. There will be more meetings before the plan is finalized in the summer of 2013.

Catching Up on a Few Quick Items: Micro-Units, Constitution Center, DC United, Green Bike Lanes, Retail, Early Voting

- Micro-units are planned for a portion of one of the rental apartment buildings in phase one of The Wharf, according to DCmud.  The micro-units are planned for parcel 2, which also includes the Wharf Center performance space and the co-gen plant. These units will range from 330 - 380 square feet and will have space-saving features such as built-in furniture and cabinets, Murphy beds, and small appliances. Large windows will offer views of the Washington Channel and some units will have small French balconies. The theory behind having smaller units is that the lifestyle of people in cities has changed - many renters spend less time in their living space and more time at restaurants, bars and other entertainment venues, which will all be present at The Wharf.  Smaller units are also more affordable for renters (and more profitable for developers).

Rendering courtesy of Hoffman-Madison Waterfront

- Constitution Center, the massive office building on top of the L'Enfant Plaza Metro station at 400 7th Street, will be occupied by the Federal Trade Commission, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Humanities, according to an article in the Washington Business Journal. These tenants will fill the 1.4 million square-foot complex since the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Housing Finance Agency already committed to the bulk of the space after the SEC backed out of their lease in 2010.

- Ward 2 Council member Jack Evans mentioned in an interview with The Washington Post earlier this month that he hopes a framework of a deal for DC United to build a stadium at Buzzard Point will be in place by the end of the year.  From the article:

United would cover the costs of constructing the stadium but also seek to keep a share of the tax revenue. The D.C. Council would have to approve such a request. The city would also pay for infrastructure improvements at Buzzard Point, an undeveloped area next to Fort McNair near the confluence of the Potomac and Anacostia rivers. 

- More green bikes lanes have started to pop-up – the latest has appeared at the intersection of 4th and I Streets. Earlier this month, lanes were painted green at the intersection of South Capitol and I Streets. At the 4th & I intersection, the green bike lane was painted on 4th Street southbound leading to the intersection. In addition, a green bike box was painted at the intersection, a buffer area where cars are not supposed to cross when stopped at the intersection.

- A Caseys Coffee is coming to 355 E Street, the Phase 3 building of Patriots Plaza, according to DCmud. Construction of the 2,245 SF space is supposed to begin in November. The downtown location on L Street, NW is open Monday - Friday from 6:30am - 4:30 pm, so the new SW location will probably have similar hours. They serve coffee, soups, sandwiches, and salads.

- Early voting began this week at One Judiciary Square, but starting tomorrow, each ward will have a polling place open for early voting. The Ward 6 polling station is King Greenleaf Recreation Center at 201 N Street. The polls will be open each day (except Sunday) from October 27 - November 4 from 8:30am - 7pm.

ANC Reconsiders Vote on Waterfront Station PUD

At last week's ANC 6D meeting, the developers of Waterfront Station came back before the commissioners to get their support for extending their PUD until April 2014 for the southwest and northeast parcels. At last month’s meeting, the ANC voted to not support the extension, due to several pending issues that the commissioners wanted resolved with regard to the two vacant parcels.  Since the October meeting, the developers and DMPED (who controls the northeast parcel) have addressed most of those issues.

For instance, signage along the vacant retail spaces on 4th Street now have the correct contact information listed for those who are interested in leasing space at Waterfront Station.  In addition, the southwest parcel has been resurfaced. This site will not be grassed over like the other vacant parcels because a one-level parking garage still exists under this parcel, which is a vestige of the old Waterside Mall.  The garage will not be excavated until redevelopment of the site occurs. A staircase leading to that garage has also been fenced off.  Even though the lot has been resurfaced, it will not serve as a parking lot, but instead will be animated with interim uses starting in 2013.  The developers are evaluating proposals made by different organizations, such as Diverse Markets Management and Washington Parks & People, among others, who will use the space. Most of the landscaping that was planted earlier this year has died due to the warmer & drier than average summer, so those plantings will be replaced next spring. The Waterfront Station website is in the process of being updated with more information about who owns which portions of the site (Waterfront Associates sold the office buildings and retail spaces to USAA last year and also sold the former EPA buildings, now known as Sky House, to Urban Atlantic, but they retain development rights to 3 out of 4 remaining sites). They will work with USAA to put up signage along 4th Street to promote the development as Southwest’s “town center” and jersey barriers on 4th Street will be removed.

On the District-owned northeast parcel, a paved pathway will be created over the next month to replace the sometimes muddy dirt path well-worn by people who traverse the lot.  In addition, DMPED is also exploring interim uses for their parcel and a date has been set for when the site will be solicited for development (although that date was not mentioned at the meeting).

Afterwards, the commissioner voted 5-2 to reconsider their vote from last month and supported the PUD extension (Commissioners Craycraft and Shockley opposed).

Review of 'One Night With Janis Joplin'

'One Night With Janis Joplin' was created, written and directed by Randy Johnson.  Mary Bridget Davies stars as Janis Joplin, who also tours internationally with Joplin’s original band Big Brother & the Holding Company.  As Janis, Davies tells the story of Joplin’s life, from growing up in Port Arthur, Texas to her move to San Francisco to join Big Brother & the Holding Company, to her breakout as a solo artist.  However, the life story only takes up a small portion of the show – most of it is dedicated to Joplin’s songs, as well as music from female trailblazers that inspired her, including Aretha Franklin, Etta James, and Bessie Smith. Sabrina Elayne Carten plays the blues singer that sings Frankin’s, James’ and Smith’s tunes.  Joplin tragically died of a heroin overdose in 1970 before the release of her second album 'Pearl.' While I was born after Joplin died, I have heard some of her songs, namely Piece of My Heart.  Davies is energetic and gives a strong performance of Joplin which seemed to get the audience more pumped up as the evening progressed.  An example of this is at the end of Set One when Janis and Aretha Franklin sing ‘Spirit in the Dark’ and involve the audience in the song.  If you are a Janis Joplin fan, or if you just like great music, I’d suggest seeing this show.

'One Night With Janis Joplin' runs September  28 - November 4 in the Kreeger Theater at Arena Stage.  For tickets to the remaining shows, check here.  Southwest Night for this show is on Wednesday, October 31, where prices are reduced for residents and/or workers in Southwest.

Photo courtesy of Arena Stage, taken by Janet Macoska

Some Upcoming Events

Here is a list of some upcoming events in the neighborhood:

• Saturday, October 20th is the second annual House Boat Tour at the Gangplank Marina from 10am – 4pm.  Check here for more information. Proceeds will benefit the SW Scholarship Fund and the PAWS of SW.

• Monday, October 22nd is SWNA’s monthly meeting which will be a candidates’ forum for ANC 6D commissioner seats.  Contested races include single-member districts 6D02 and 6D05. Incumbent Cara Shockley is running (as a write-in candidate) against Near SE residents Ed Kaminski and Damon Patton in SMD 6D02, whose borders changed with redistricting to include a portion of Near SE. Over in SMD 6D05, incumbent Roger Moffatt is running against Grace E. Daughtridge.  Donna Hopkins is running unopposed in Bob Craycraft's soon-to-be vacated 6D01 seat while incumbents Ron McBee, Andy Litsky, Rhonda Hamilton, and David Garber are all running unopposed in their respective SMDs.  The meeting will take place at Arena Stage starting at 7pm.

• Saturday, October 27th is Fall Fun Day at the Southwest Duck Pond with the Neighbors of Southwest Duck Pond and Girl Scouts Troop 4298 from King-Greenleaf Recreation Center from noon – 2pm.

• Saturday, November 17th is My Fair Doggie event at the Southwest Duck Pond, where there will be a costume contest for dogs in conjunction with Arena Stage’s run of ‘My Fair Lady’ from noon – 2pm.  Judges will include Ward 6 Council member Tommy Wells and Arena Stage’s artistic director Molly Smith.  Proceeds will benefit PAWS of SW.

• Monday, November 19th is the next ANC 6D meeting at 7pm, located at 1100 4th Street, 2nd floor.  Agenda TBA.