Grace Nardei - ��Ӱ��

Shaw Holiday Art Market returns for in-person shopping

Grace Nardei — Tue, 14 Dec 2021 18:05:46 +0000

The Shaw Holiday Art Market returns to in-person shopping this holiday season, leaving artists and organizers optimistic about increased sales for the current holiday season.

Organized in tandem with , an organization that empowers local artists, and Shaw Main Streets, an organization supporting local Shaw businesses, the art market will return for its final day on Dec. 18 at 625 T St. NW.

The market is an off shoot of Art All Night D.C., an art festival that celebrates visual and performing arts throughout the District.

Stop by to see and shop. 625 T Street, NW (across from ). Open 11 AM-5PM, every Saturday and Sunday through 12/19/21.

— Shaw Main Streets (@shawmainstreets)

Tia Kane, a member of Artbox DC and organizer of the event, is looking forward to providing a return to norm with COVID vaccines now readily available and people more open to in-person events.

“In the winter months we’re not out as much, so I’m really happy that we’re able to provide an experience at the close of the year that will provide a dynamic experience for the Shaw community,” Kane said.

Kane said Artbox D.C. has had trouble securing artists for some weekends this year, forcing a cancellation of the market on Dec. 11. But Kane expects there will be a plethora of artists at the final weekend, this Saturday, with shoppers eager to get those last-minute gifts.

Alex Padro, head member of Shaw Main Streets, said the local market has been ongoing since 2014, allowing neighbors to stop by and purchase one-of-a-kind pieces from local artists as holiday gifts.

When the pandemic struck, the market went virtual in 2020. Artists were still able to sell their work, but not as much as they would have liked.

With the market returning to in-person shopping, local artist Heda Rose, an expressionist painter, is excited not only for the economic opportunity, but also to engage with her customers directly.

“I missed the interactions, the discussions, seeing the effect that the art has on people,” Rose said.

/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Heda-Rose.m4a

Heda Rose finds engaging with others in-person over her art to be a more wholesome experience because she can observe the reactions and thoughts of people who view her art.

Heda Rose primarily paints abstract expressionist art. Rose said selling her pieces in-person allows her to engage with her customers about her art. (Courtesy of Heda Rose)

Calisma Asafor Atowo, another local artist, is also looking forward to the market for a similar reason. Atowo believes the market creates an opportunity for people to get to know and meet the artist and experience their work.

“It speaks more to people when they can be a part of something physically. It’s that feeling of just seeing someone and saying, ‘wow I love what you’re doing, and I want to support you,’” Atowo said.

Though artists are optimistic, they’ve also faced stocking issues. Kane said group artists that create murals have struggled to get paint for their projects.

To meet consumer demand in the wake of supply shortages, Rose has shifted to creating apparel and merchandise for her artwork. Though Rose continues to paint, the low cost and availability of apparel makes selling wearable art a more favorable option.

To meet high demand against short supply stocks, Heda Rose has shifted to putting her art on apparel. (Courtesy of Heda Rose)

“People also like art they can wear,” Rose said.

Overall, Padro believes the market, which he expects will be bustling this weekend, will create a great opportunity for artists and customers alike.

“Neighborhood businesses always like things that bring in additional foot traffic to their blocks. Folks also always enjoy finding unique one-of-a-kind gifts for their family and friends,” Padro said.

“This is one of those opportunities to find something they can’t get anywhere else.”

The post Shaw Holiday Art Market returns for in-person shopping first appeared on ��Ӱ��.

Labor shortages, high prices maintain grip on Logan Circle businesses through the pandemic

Grace Nardei — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 18:45:29 +0000

During the early stages of the pandemic, many businesses had to reduce their staff and shift to delivery to adapt. Now, more than a year later, they’re struggling to find employees, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and D.C. business managers.

Michelle Molotsky, manager of the business improvement nonprofit District Bridges, said the food industry in particular has suffered from a labor shortage.

“The big issue for businesses is there’s been a real shift in the labor force. They call it ‘The Great Resignation.’ A lot of people in the food service industry have quit to do other things,” Molotsky said.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the number of people leaving private industries was at a in September, with the food industry representing the highest departure percentage: 6.6% compared to the total average of 3.4%.

Now, restaurant owners like Seth Hajbi are working overtime and are struggling to meet labor quotas. Hajbi runs DC Shawarma, a Lebanese restaurant that he opened on 6th Street NW just before the pandemic hit.

“The major challenge has been labor. You have to have adequate staffing in order to operate. What I’m doing is suicidal with a staff of two,” Hajbi said.

When one of his chefs caught COVID-19, Hajbi had to close his business and reduce his staff at his restaurant. Many of the remaining employees left D.C. for other cities like Baltimore or Chicago to find work while the restaurant was closed. After reopening his business, he’s been unable to find people who are willing to work.

Finding new retail workers to replace those who have quit has also been challenging. A report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the rate of retail employees quitting was 4.4% in September.

Pixie Windsor is owner of Miss Pixie’s, a 14th Street business specializing in antique furniture and goods. For her, labor has also been a huge issue.

“It’s very hard to get staff, I could use more people. They’re just not out there, or they’re not coming here,” Windsor said.

Beyond labor shortages, she said, the unpredictability and reduction of product stocks as well as increased costs have also placed pressure on businesses.

Reese Edmonds, manager of Stoney’s, a local dive bar, said costs have increased drastically for the food she serves at her dive bar, challenging her to keep prices low.

“Pre-COVID we were paying less than $100 for a case of chicken wings. Now we’re paying $160,” Edmonds said.

The same has been true for Hajbi’s restaurant DC Shawarma.

“Our costs are out of the roof. A can of soy oil that was $17 is now $50 wholesale,” Hajbi said.

Rising costs and unpredictable food stocks have forced Edmonds and Hajbi to make drastic changes to their businesses. Hajbi went from serving Indian food to Lebanese food, because the spices he needed for the cooking were unpredictable in their availability or outright unavailable.

Additionally, Edmonds shifted to paper menus because costs and availability have forced her to constantly change what she can sell to customers.

Stock availability at suppliers like Restaurant Depot has become limited and unpredictable, forcing store owners to limit what they put on the menu or change their menu entirely. (Courtesy of Seth Hajbi)

Pricing and stock availability have become more of a challenge post-COVID. Reese Edmonds, manager of Stoney’s, a local dive bar, is constantly changing the menu because of pricing and stock shortages. (Grace Nardei/��Ӱ��)

“Whenever I place a food order, I never know what’s coming. This month we might be able to afford crab cakes, next month we might not be able to afford crab,” Edmonds said.

For Windsor, stock shortages have actually worked to her advantage. Compared to mainstream furniture places that sold contemporary furniture, her store never experienced a shortage of antiques. Windsor believes that the nature of her business and people’s rediscovery of antique furniture made her business struggle less compared to others.

One of the main reasons Pixie Windsor’s business, Miss Pixie’s on 14th Street, has fared well during the pandemic is because her store sells home furniture, something many people considered buying when they were stuck at home. (Grace Nardei/��Ӱ��)

While home furniture stores like Pixie’s have fared relatively well, the additional challenges restaurants are facing are leaving the owners worried about survival. Despite utilizing other methods such as delivery, Instagram and streateries, owners like Edmonds and Hajbi are worried about whether enough people will come back to their business.

Edmonds is worried about whether she’ll stay in business. She’s concerned people are still sticking to D.C.’s curfew habits and aren’t eating out.

“We thrived off of being packed at a bar before the pandemic. Every Friday night you couldn’t walk in this place,” Edmonds said. “We’ll see what happens. It’s scary, but I think we’ll be okay,” Edmonds said.

While Edmonds is optimistic, Hajbi is resigned to the fact that his business will be closing.

Seeing that D.C. and other cities during the pandemic, he feels that business has slowed to a point at which he will not be able to recover.

“This food industry the way I see it is going the way of the taxi business. These new entrants, the ghost kitchens of the world, will inherit this business,” Hajbi said.

“The mom-and-pop shop will not be able to survive no matter what they try.”

The post Labor shortages, high prices maintain grip on Logan Circle businesses through the pandemic first appeared on ��Ӱ��.

Howard University protest ends with students, university reaching agreement

Grace Nardei — Tue, 16 Nov 2021 17:51:51 +0000

Student protesters reached an agreement with Howard University officials Monday, ending the month-long protest over housing conditions.

Rushing to meet a 5 p.m. deadline to vacate the Blackburn building, students tore down the tents they had inhabited for over a month while protesting the of the university’s dorms.

Students started protesting on Oct.12 after university officials failed to meet with student representatives over their concerns. Busted pipes and breathing problems caused by mold growth in dorms were among the complaints students had.

Students were also frustrated over the removal of student and alumni representatives from the board of trustees.

Kylie Davis, spokesperson for the #BlackburnTakeover, said it was a long-fought battle that will still require work in the months ahead.

“The work is not over and we not only accept that, but we accept it as our responsibility,” Davis said.

Logan Miller, vice president of the university’s chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America, said on Sunday students took a vote to leave Blackburn after student leaders of the protest conveyed that most of their demands had been met.

According to Miller, the university agreed to convening a town hall between Howard University President Wayne Frederick and students, academic immunity for student protesters and a housing plan that will address the living conditions in dorms.

��Ӱ�� was not able to confirm the specifics of the agreement due to the nature of the agreement between the university and the student protesters. One other student protestor who wished to remain anonymous also corroborated the specifics of the agreement.

“Although many students are not happy with that housing plan, it is a housing plan nonetheless,” Miller said.

Miller added that students will address the housing plan with Frederick in a town hall scheduled for March 2022.

Frederick released a video statement night commenting on the end of the Blackburn occupation and the university’s agreements with student protesters.

“The health and wellbeing of students is the most important art of my job as president. We will continue to remain vigilant in our pledge to maintain safe and best-in-class housing,” Frederick said in the video.

The Live Movement, an focused on the advancement of education for Black students, posted their own covering the end of the protest, thanking Rev. Jesse Jackson and others for their support.

While the university has agreed to most of the students’ demands, Miller said it has not agreed to the reinstatement of student, alumni and faculty representatives on the university’s board of trustees.

The university made the decision to transition students, faculty and alumni out from the board of trustees in, which became a point of contention for many students.

Eja Richardson, a Howard freshman and protester, said while she and many other students are satisfied with the overall outcome, the university’s refusal of the board reinstatement is still an important loss.

“The trustees make a lot of decisions on what happens at the university. I feel that students should be heard,” Richardson said.

Richardson said she’s glad the university is finally responding and being held accountable, but added that the cumbersome response left her frustrated.

“We got the administration to listen to us, but it took way too long,” Richardson said. “Only if students take action as big as this will the administration start to listen.”

The post Howard University protest ends with students, university reaching agreement first appeared on ��Ӱ��.

Shaw will likely return to Ward 2 after redistricting. Here’s what that means.

Grace Nardei — Tue, 09 Nov 2021 19:23:49 +0000

Conversations are heating up over redistricting, as D.C. councilmembers and citizens debate where the lines should be drawn. While other neighborhoods are reluctant to leave the overpopulated Ward 6, Shaw’s likely departure from the ward would benefit the neighborhood in terms of reunification.

The 2021 redistricting process has been ongoing this fall, with redistricting subcommittee chair Elissa Silverman holding several roundtable discussions with community members from across the District. Much of the discussion has centered around Ward 6 losing population and Wards 8 and 7 gaining population as the wards are rebalanced, but there has also been a focus on Shaw.

Three released on Nov. 1 show that three Shaw census tracts originally moved from Ward 2 to Ward 6 in 2011 would likely rejoin Ward 2 and the remainder of the neighborhood after redistricting.

One of the three draft maps made available to the public by the 2021 redistricting committee shows a complete reunification of Shaw within Ward 2. (Courtesy of D.C. Office of Planning.)

Sam Rosen-Amy, chief of staff for Silverman, said redistricting Shaw into Ward 2 would align with the principles that D.C. Council is following for redistricting — cohesion and compactness. Cohesion would mean keeping census tracts together within ward boundaries and compactness would mean creating wards that don’t look gerrymandered.

The current ward map from the 2011 redistricting. The “stovepipe” of Shaw (which consists of tracts 48.01, 48.02 and 49.01) was separated from the remaining part of the neighborhood (tract 49.02). (Courtesy of D.C. office of planning.)

Rosen-Amy said redistricting the Ward 6 “stovepipe” would fulfill the principle of cohesion, as part of the Shaw neighborhood still remains in Ward 2. The stovepipe is a colloquial term used to describe the portion of the Shaw neighborhood moved to Ward 6 in 2011.

“It makes sense that we would look at trying to rejoin it with the rest of the Shaw community and the neighborhoods to the west, which it identifies more with,” Rosen-Amy said.

Rosen-Amy also said redistricting Shaw to Ward 2 would fulfill the principle of compactness, as the removal of the stovepipe creates an area that is less gerrymandered.

Moving most of Shaw back to Ward 2 would reunify the neighborhood, returning the neighborhood to how it once was in the 2000s. For Alex Padro, a longtime representative for the neighborhood, it would be a beneficial reunion, but would also cause some degree of disorientation.

“It would sort of be like ‘Back To The Future’,” Alex Padro said jokingly.

Alex Padro served as an advisory neighborhood council member in Shaw for 20 years and has deep ties to the neighborhood. Padro was around when Shaw was redistricted in 2011, when the neighborhood was separated and moved to Ward 6 to reduce Ward 2’s excess population.

For Padro, the neighborhood’s reunification would make things easier in that neighborhood projects could be streamlined more easily, but it could also leave other Shaw neighbors disoriented in terms of representation. Here’s what that would mean specifically.

Communication and ANC collaboration would improve

According to Padro, by bringing Shaw back to Ward 2, decision making, collaboration, community interaction and application of policies would become easier within the community.

Shaw is currently intersected by multiple wards, which Padro said has made community and local legislative processes more complicated than they need to be.

“What’s difficult about having multiple wards intersect with a single area, is that you have three different wards and three different ANC’S interacting. That makes local decision making, community interaction between government agencies, and consistency with policy application very difficult,” Padro said.

Padro provided an example of where a legislative process became difficult. For the, Padro said three council members and ANC representatives from three different wards all ended up pining on the stretch of 9th Street NW that serves as a dividing line for Wards 1, 2 and 6.

“It just becomes very cumbersome because agencies only have to deal with one council, one ANC and maybe one civic association. If you multiply that by three, that manifests problems in terms of gaining a consensus and outreach,” Padro said.

Padro said returning the neighborhood to Ward 2 would make finding a consensus on projects easier and more streamlined.

Parking would become cohesive again–but could change later on

According to Padro, many people in Shaw still have Ward 2 parking privileges despite being in Ward 6. Moving the Shaw stovepipe back to Ward 2 would align their parking designation with their Ward designation.

introduced by Councilmember Christina Henderson could change how Residential Parking Permits work though. The tentative legislation would create smaller RPP zones tied to ANC boundaries instead of wards.

Amanda Farnan, a communication representative for Henderson, said this would allow people to park long term more easily in the area where they live.

“It also incentivizes people to walk or take the metro to places outside of their ANC in their ward while also allowing residents to park anywhere for under two hours,” Farnan said.

Farnan said ward parking boundaries will freeze temporarily after redistricting. Farnan added that the legislation will likely be implemented next year after redistricting and ANC boundaries are worked out.

Representation would change

Padro said most Shaw members support the potential transition back into Ward 2, but there are still those who would be frustrated by the move.

ANC 6EO2 Representative Alex Lopez is against the potential move because it would again create a situation where Shaw residents are represented by a council member they didn’t vote for.

“It affects relationship building and constituency building within districts or wards. It will take time to reestablish a new relationship with the new councilmember.” Lopez said.

Other representatives like Farnan said the reunification would actually consolidate voting power for the neighborhood because it would be able to elect one councilmember to represent the neighborhood as a whole.

“Neighbors could consolidate their vote, collectively advocate for things specific to their neighborhood and vote for one councilmember that could represent their views. I would say that’s allowing them to utilize their collective power,” Farnan said.

Shaw would likely maintain its mercurial nature of shifting between wards

/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/SILVERMAN-5.m4a

Redistricting committee chair Elissa Silverman explains why Shaw gets moved back and forth between wards at a public hearing on Ward 6 redistricting.

The Shaw neighborhood is located where multiple wards intersect, making it more susceptible to division and relocation ward redistricting.

Samuel Rosen-Amy, Silverman’s chief of staff, said while stability is a guiding principle in redistricting, areas where ward borders meet, like the Shaw neighborhood, will end up getting shifted and divided.

“This one little part of the city is like a mixing bowl, you have Ward 6, Ward 2, Ward 1 and Ward 5 — four wards all coming in. When you have a border like that …. it unfortunately makes the neighborhood border four wards,” Rosen-Amy said.

So, regardless of whether parts of the neighborhood stay in Ward 6 or are moved to Ward 2 this cycle, Shaw will likely continue to be divided and disoriented by future redistricting. Whether the neighborhood is defined by division or relocation is dependent upon the D.C. council’s final vote taking place this December.

The post Shaw will likely return to Ward 2 after redistricting. Here’s what that means. first appeared on ��Ӱ��.

Howard University students continue protest over ‘unlivable’ housing conditions

Grace Nardei — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 16:32:52 +0000

Students are camping out for a third week in over a dozen tents to protest what they say are unlivable of Howard University’s dorms.

Student protesters said they have experienced health conditions such as asthma from mold and fungal growth in the university’s dorms.

“Students have been in the hospital with strep throat and asthma they’ve never had before that’s been caused by the mold in the dorms,” said one freshman protester, who preferred to remain anonymous out of fear of getting expelled from the University.

Vice President of Student Affairs Cynthia Evers wrote in an email to students that they could face academic expulsion if they continue to occupy the university’s space, according to . Students also fear police aggression.

View this post on Instagram

The HU freshman added that students have been coughing up blood from the conditions and that there are rats and roaches in university buildings.

The students are demanding three actions from the university: An in-person town hall with President Wayne Frederick, a reinstatement of students and alumni on the board of trustees and a meeting between the president, the chairman of the board and student representatives to discuss housing conditions.

Student protesters said they won’t leave the Blackburn University Center until all of their demands have been met.

The board of trustees voted back in to transition out current students, alumni and faculty representatives from the board so that it can “expand mechanisms across the university to provide broad input from key university stakeholders,” according to the university’s website.

Students are now also asking for academic immunity because of the threats of expulsion they have received. According to the, the campus paper, Frederick said he did not have the power to grant exemptions to those occupying the Blackburn Center.

Frederick agreed to the third demand regarding the meeting over housing. The Hilltop also reported that there was a town hall on Oct. 25 with the Student Life Committee Board that discussed the affiliate positions of the board.

Frank Tramble, vice president of communications for the university, said the university is working to address the housing issues students are facing with Corvias, the university’s partner that manages its property.

“We are going door to door and ensuring that maintenance happens. We are also following up with our third-party partner Corvias to make sure that they are doing their work,” Tramble said.

Tramble added in an email that the university has 38 reports of concerns related to discoloration or suspected fungal growth across more than 5,050 beds. He said students have been placed in temporary housing as the university works to address the issues.

Tramble said the university is at 94% occupancy and has hundreds of beds available in response to student claims of homelessness.

But student protesters don’t agree. Protesters said the remaining housing for underclassmen is either used for COVID-19 quarantine space or is unlivable because of mold.

Public figures are also supporting the protest over housing. Janeese Lewis George, Ward 4 council member, visited student protesters last Wednesday supporting their grievances of gentrification and quality of housing.

“The students’ struggle for proper housing parallels the issues of displacement and gentrification that black families face across D.C.” spokesperson for George said.

Tramble said via email the university encourages any student experiencing housing issues to the office of residence life and university housing for assistance. Tramble added university officials will assist with securing housing and make their food pantry on campus available for students who are food insecure.

Students say they will continue to protest until all of their demands have been met. They say the protest is not just for themselves, but also for future students.

“How many more years of this before people stop coming to Howard U?,” said another student, who also wished to remain anonymous. “We want things to be better for future bison.”

The post Howard University students continue protest over ‘unlivable’ housing conditions first appeared on ��Ӱ��.

Shaw Dog Park reopens with concerns over park access and cleanliness

Grace Nardei — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 16:49:59 +0000

Residents in Shaw have expressed frustration over accessing Shaw Dog Park during operating hours since it reopened Oct. 2, despite the Department of Parks and Recreation’s promise to maintain the posted hours.

The park’s reopening is part of the completion of the development for the new Banneker High School. The park was originally closed in April 2020 and was developed along with the high school.

Prior to its closure, residents were used to the Shaw Dog Park Association unlocking the park at 7 or 8 a.m. each morning. Since its reopening, DPR rangers have been tasked with unlocking the park, but residents say they are still waiting past 9 a.m. for access.

. , can someone open the Shaw Dog Park please? Still locked as of 9:25 on Sunday morning.

— Shaw Dog Park (@ShawDogPark)

a neighbor tells me the shaw dog park didn’t open on time today. can you clarify operating hours and ensure rangers open the gates at the posted times?

— Michael Eichler – 6E01 (@Eichler4DC)

Beth White, president of the Shaw Dog Park Association, said she is concerned about DPR’s current management of the park.

“That was part of the promise, that DPR rangers would open it and we would close it, but people are standing outside the park and it’s not open,” White said.

White said the association is in the midst of finding volunteers to open the park as DPR transfers the logistical process to the community.

DPR Director Delano Hunter said in an email the park previously operated outside its regular hours of operation because of involvement from the SDPA. Hunter also confirmed that the association is in the process of recruiting volunteers to help open the park early.

“In the meantime, DPR Park Rangers will open the new Shaw Dog Park in the morning and close in the evening,” Hunter said.

For White, there continues to be a lack of communication from the DPR. Past show how DPR did not immediately inform the community that the park was going to be closed as part of the development project for the new Banneker High School.

Even when it came to the park’s reopening, there was a lack of communication, according to ANC representative Michael Eichler.

“There was really no transparency about the opening date and everyone just assumed that it would open up in August with the school,” Eichler said.

Today, we have a soft opening for our new Shaw Skate Park, Dog Park and Basketball Courts during the Banneker High School Celebration w/ at 11:30am. Join us!

— DC Parks &Rec #WhereFunHappens Safely (@DCDPR)

Eichler said DPR would look into creating a channel within the D.C. government’s 311 where the community could voice their requests and concerns about the park. Currently, there is no phone line available. (Hunter said constituents can contact the DPR Customer Care Center at (202) 673-7647 or send an email to dprcustomercare@dc.gov.)

White, the park association president, said she is also concerned about the park’s new gravel terrain and that it wasn’t properly installed or prepared. She said there has been an excess amount of dust from the gravel covering park benches and visitors.

White worries that the “dust bowl” could create unclean conditions for visitors and their dogs.

“It’s aesthetics, its health, its cleanliness, it’s everything,” White said.

Local park-goer Will Arliss found the amount of dust to be unusual.

“That was a big annoyance I experienced when I left the park. I was wearing black shoes and I had to wipe a large amount off with a wet paper towel,” Arliss said.

Arliss visits multiple dog parks with his dog and said he hasn’t had a similar experience at Francis Dog Park, which uses a similar kind of gravel.

While the concern over the gravel and cleanliness may be warranted, the problem may also be temporary.

Nick Muoio, a civil superintendent at Resource Industries, a company that supplies aggregate materials for the D.C. area, said newly installed gravel will kick up excess dust at first but will dissipate over time.

“Usually with rain, the problem can go away,” Muoio said.

Hunter, the director of DPR, said in an email that the stone surface at Shaw Dog Park is the same surface that has been installed at the majority of DPR dog parks. Hunter added that the DC Department of General Services is responsible for maintenance of the dog park surfacing.

Hunter said DPR works closely with the Department of General services and their contractors to update the public quickly with information.

White said the community had raised issues about the terrain with the DPR early on during the planning and development process.

“We would give suggestions, we would have conversations about the surface and then they would tell us why they couldn’t do something we asked them instead of having the community be part of a design,” White said.

White also said the association had offered to pay for certain amenities like new benches and shade, but DPR declined.

White said DPR’s lack of engagement and follow through has left her and other community members frustrated.

White said DPR did pay attention, however, to the amount of space needed for the park. Original plans from 2019 showed a greatly reduced dog park and skate park as part of the Banneker development. Updated plans from 2020 showed the parks would maintain their original size.

Previous plans showed that the park’s space would have been greatly diminished. DPR later decided to keep the park’s original space.

New plans show DPR later decided to keep the park’s original space. (Images Courtesy of National Capital Planning Commission)

According to White, the amount of space and preservation of trees has left most users of the park satisfied. Additionally, many are just happy the park is open again.

For Maya Siegel and her dog Rider, they’re excited to check out the reopened space.

“Rider loves the dog park. We usually go to the same one so it’s fun to take him to a new one,” Siegel said.

The post Shaw Dog Park reopens with concerns over park access and cleanliness first appeared on ��Ӱ��.

On U Street, a neighborhood garden springs up on borrowed time

Grace Nardei — Wed, 29 Sep 2021 00:28:56 +0000

The garden has provided a place for neighbors to grow their own produce. (Courtesy of Danielle Towers/ George Washington University)

Nestled between 12th and 13th Streets NW, and behind the U Street metro, the Temperance Alley Garden has offered nearby residents an outdoor space to gather and grow their own produce during the pandemic. But a proposed development will uproot the plot in three years’ time.

The space was started in 2020 by Benjamin Haynes, a community organizer and member of the U Street Neighborhood Association. Haynes, who walked by the area every day on his way to work, realized it would be a perfect spot to provide an outdoor space for his community during the pandemic.

After working out a contract with, the owner and developer of the property, the neighborhood association was able to lease the land and cultivate the area. As of 2021, garden has become a local spot for neighbors to grow their own produce and plants.

For Jenny Prime, president of the U Street Neighborhood Association, the garden has been a place where U Street neighbors can meet new people and engage in various activities.

“You’ll see people pick herbs, you’ll see people come and have a picnic, you’ll see people read a book, there have been many uses here,” Prime said.

The garden has also hosted various events, such as yoga, book circles and ecology classes taught by stewards of the garden.

But the garden’s lifespan, much like nature itself, is ephemeral.

Neighbors keep track of the time using an old – fashioned calendar. (Grace Nardei/��Ӱ��)

Eastbanc, a D.C. based real estate company, and current office building at 1250 U Street into a mixed-used development, including residential, retail and streetscape improvements, according to the company’s website.

History of the alley

According to local historian, a specialist on the Native American tribes of the D.C. area, the land was once the territory of the Anacostans, a Native American tribe that inhabited the greater Washington area.

Residents learn about the rich history of the alley. (Grace Nardei/��Ӱ��)

According to Haynes, who started the garden, the alley was also a place of poverty and upheaval in 1953.

He told the story of Leonor Enriquez Pablo, a sociologist from Catholic University who had interviewed residents being displaced from the alley by the Washington Housing Authorities. The authorities had condemned the housing that existed within the alley due to the unsafe conditions.

“The alley contains within it many layers of story, layers like how humans treat the Earth. But it also contains within it the story of what it means to be a family and a community,” Haynes said “I think it’s important to talk about that history, as a way of keeping it alive.”

Haynes is concerned about preserving the history of the alley and worries that the complex Eastbanc plans to build may tarnish the legacy of the people who once lived there.

Need for housing at the alley

There is a need for housing in the District, which the development by Eastbanc reflects.

D.C. is a desirable place to live and has a high. U.S. from 2020 also show that urban areas are experiencing an unprecedented amount of growth. Since 2000, housing prices have . These trends would require more housing, which the future development could satisfy.

According to ANC Commissioner Sabel Harris, the development in the alley would help provide more affordable housing, reduce the price of housing in general and provide a better utilization of the alley space.

“While I’m happy with what the association is doing, I think there’s a shortage of affordable housing that the community needs,” Harris said.

Nate Klass, development manager for Eastbanc, said though the future complex will have market rate units, there is a requirement for it to have affordable housing too. But the specific affordability in terms of the Area Median Income has yet to be determined, along with the number of affordable housing units available.

Since the development is designated as a, Harris said the ANC and community could negotiate for deeply affordable housing, which is priced for residents making no more than 30% of the AMI.

Responding to the development

Though Temperance Alley Garden will eventually be replaced by the development, stewards of the garden like Josh Morin are using the impermanent nature of the alley as a lesson.

Residents commemorate the history of the alley. Josh Morin (center) points to one of the “foundational stones” in the center. (Grace Nardei / ��Ӱ��)

“We’re always inviting people into the story of ‘what does it mean to care about something you know is going to go away eventually.’ That’s just an ethic we’ve tried to cultivate and invite people into,” Morin said.

Other residents like Gregory Keng Strasser, a local who enjoys the garden, will be sad to see the garden — and the hard work that went into it — go.

“I think this is a really great spot where community members can gather just to live and thrive,” Strasser said. “I know right now people are enjoying this space, so I just think it would be a sad, missed opportunity.”

The post On U Street, a neighborhood garden springs up on borrowed time first appeared on ��Ӱ��.

Grace Nardei - ��������Ӱ��