Jury Duty

by KimFromTheK

As residents of the District of Columbia we are eligible for Jury Duty every 24 months. And DC certainly takes advantage of this...

I got called to report to Jury Duty in August, after previously serving as recently as June 2007.

DC has a rule: one day or one trial. The last time I was called I only had to serve one day--I actually sat in the jury waiting room starting at 8am until they released us at about 4. My juror number was never called and I wound up thinking of it as not much of a hassle. But this time my juror number was called in for a panel around 11 am.

I was 12th on the list of about 80 or so candidates. We were escorted to the courtroom and the first 14 of us were seated in the juror box with the rest of the group. The basic circumstances of the case were shared (a man was being tried for possession with intent to distribute over 1/2 pound of marijuana in SE DC) and the voir dire process began. By the end of the day I knew I was chosen to sit on the trial.

The H. Carl Moultrie I Courthouse, seen from 6th & C NW by flickr user M.V. Jantzen

No need to go into all the details of the trial, but I actually found it to be a great learning experience, and I truly felt proud to be serving my civic duty. Of course the trial only lasted a day and a half, and deliberation was about another full day, so fortunately I didn't have to miss too much work. And while it's not ideal to be sitting in a room without windows for several days in a row, I learned about my fellow jurors' unique backgrounds during all the downtime we had--we were 9 women and 3 men, including the proprietor of some local restaurants, a former National Geographic editor, a student at UDC (who missed her first day of classes due to the trial!), a hill staffer, an attorney, and a nurse. I was impressed with the caliber of people who were chosen for the jury.

The most interesting part of the experience was post-trial, when both the prosecutor and public defender debriefed us. They told us some details they weren't permitted to share during the trial for one reason or another, and also wanted feedback on their work--almost as if we were critiquing a performance! While I say it was an interesting experience, I'm certainly content waiting another 2 years before participating again.

New Weekly Farmers Market at Mount Vernon Square

A new farmers market has been started on the grounds of Mount Vernon Square. The market will run weekly on Tuesdays from 2:30 to 6:30 pm.

Diverse Markets Management (DMM) is behind this new addition to the DC marketplace. DMM is best known for running the Sunday Flea Market at Eastern Market and the Downtown Holiday Market each December.


There were 6 vendors and one musician this Tuesday (9/29) -- a small start, but sustainable for the amount of foot traffic presently on Mount Vernon Square.

Downtown Park and Open Space User Survey

The DC Office of Planning has a new online survey (link) regarding Downtown Parks and Open Spaces:

The DC Office of Planning is beginning a study to examine access, availability, and programming for park and open spaces in DC's Downtown and the emerging high density neighborhoods north of Massachusetts Avenue. The study will focus on what improvements are needed to better serve Downtown's workers and growing residential population. As part of this examination, we will look at both how we can better use existing parks such as Franklin Square and the many triangle parks, such as Gompers Park, but also plan for new parks and open spaces in areas where they are needed.

By completing this survey you will help us better understand how to plan for these parks to better serve area residents and workers. If you would like more information on this effort, please contact Thor Nelson at (202) 741-5241 or by email at thor.nelson@dc.gov or Emily Yates at (202) 442-7704 or by email at emily.yates@dc.gov

Making Mount Vernon Square a People Magnet

The Mount Vernon Square District Project, which will have a Public Open House on Thursday October 1st, has a central theme among its goals to transform the square into a people magnet.

Below I've included a few slides from the June 16th presentation the Office of Planning delivered to key stakeholders that aim to aid this goal for the Square.

The DC Convention Center could be doing more to interact with Mount Vernon Square. Adding retail uses to the edges may be the best opportunity.


To learn more about the concepts being discussed for Mount Vernon Square and provide feedback to Office of Planning attend the open house forum on October 1st.

Mount Vernon Square District Project

The DC Office of Planning is hosting an open forum on the Mount Vernon Square District Project this Thursday October 1st.



Office of Planning shares the following information on the project:

Objective
This project is designed to generate implementation‐driven solutions for specific transportation, public realm and real estate challenges and opportunities in the blocks, streets, and reservations surrounding Mount Vernon Square.

Project Goals

• Create a distinctive and sustainable place.
  
• Solve traffic and circulation issues to create a multi-modal hub and appealing pedestrian environment.
  
• Maintain a deep sense of history and local meaning.
  
• Create clear links in all directions to other key destinations.
  
• Maximize the draw of this area as a local destination.
  
• Improve and activate open spaces.

Process
The Office of Planning (OP) and District Department of Transportation (DDOT) are working with an urban design, planning, real estate, and transportation team to provide consultant services that include technical analysis and the development of designs, solutions and concepts for the mix of uses, programming and identity, transportation and traffic, sustainability and public realm solutions for the Mount Vernon Square District. The team will also calculate the financial benefit associated with making public and private investment in this area considering the District budget, total area of corridor retail and commercial property, property values and tax revenue, estimated sales tax revenues, number of residential units, and benefits from tourism.

The project was initiated in May, 2009 and will include a 28 week long planning process. It will build on ongoing projects like the K Street Transit Way and previous studies like the Mount Vernon Square Design Workbook, Mount Vernon Triangle Action Agenda and Center City Action Agenda, including the Convention Center Area Strategic Development Plan. In the Center City Action Agenda, the project was recommended as a way to coordinate public and private investment in order to support Mount Vernon Square as a great destination in the city. To date, the project team has conducted one‐on‐one interviews, reviewed past planning and transportation studies, compiled critical information, and conducted preliminary analysis. Once complete, the project will be used to guide District agencies, property owners, developers, and other stakeholders in creating synergies among proposed developments and land uses, in making public and private investments and undertaking implementation, and in design, programming, and promotional activities.

Renderings for 400 K Street NW

The new Mount Vernon Place Master Plan outlines more specific details on the proposed office buildings along K Street.

Rendering of 400 K Street; Click to enlarge.

The specifications for 400 K Street conform closely with those of 300 K Street. The building will have 11'6" ceiling heights slab to slab with floor to ceiling glass.

First floor plate for 400 K Street; Click to enlarge.

A notable difference is that the building is dual core and can be built in two phases of approximately 210,839 rentable SF each. Separate lobby entrances and service facilities will exist for each section. Spanning the entire project, approximately 23,165 rentable SF ground floor will be available for retail space.

Renderings courtesy of www.mountvernonplace.com

Renderings for 300 K Street NW

The new Mount Vernon Place Master Plan outlines more specific details on the proposed office buildings along K Street. The most drastic shift in the new master plan is the facade change for the 300 K Street from a office building. Originally depicted with masonry that complemented the styles of the adjacent condominiums of the new plans show a floor-to-ceiling glass look.

New rendering of 300 K Street; Click to enlarge.

Original rendering of 300 K Street; Click to enlarge.

The building will have approximately 10,141 SF of ground floor retail space with 11'6" ceiling heights slab to slab.

First floor plate for 300 K Street; Click to enlarge.

As you can see from the drawing above a lobby entrance is planned at the center of the K Street frontage with retail space on either side flowing back along the 3rd and 4th street frontages.

Up Next: A closer look at 400 K Street

Renderings courtesy of www.mountvernonplace.com

Mount Vernon Place rendering update

News regarding future phases of Mount Vernon Place, a master planned mixed-use development totaling over two million square feet within the Triangle, has been few and far between. Construction on the project has ceased since the Mitchell Mayer building and the Sonata and Madrigal Lofts condominiums delivered over 2 years ago.

This past August, according to the Washington Business Journal, Mount Vernon Place developer Sandy Wilkes tested the waters in the sweepstakes for a proposed MSG theatre. Such a concept was a long shot for this site. Given the creation of a September 2009 update of the Mount Vernon Place Master Plan focus appears to have been restored to building 12 story LEED certified Class A office space along K Street.

New Mount Vernon Place masterplan rendering; Click to enlarge.

In the above rendering the color blue represents office space while the creamsicle/tan color represents residential buildings.

Interesting is that the U-Shaped blue massing below 300 K Street (#1) was not labeled with a number nor assigned a name in this new masterplan. This suggests that the developer still has not decided the future for this parcel which was also the case in the original master plan published years ago. The rendering does continue to indicate a plan to build over the edges of the alley that will run from 3rd Street to 4th Street. If that is the intention then the rear frontage of 300 K office building would have ghastly blank walls much like the west edge of the Mitchell Mayer building.

Up Next: A closer look at 300 K Street

Renderings courtesy of www.mountvernonplace.com

Convention Center reveals its artistic side

The Washington Convention Center will unveil Windows into DC, a new art exhibit featuring solely homegrown DC artists, in a ribbon cutting ceremony at 5:00pm on Tuesday September 29th.

Mayor Fenty and other Council members are expect to attend the event which will take place at 7th & M Streets outside of the Mt Vernon Sq/7th St-Convention Center Metro entrance.


The exhibit is sponsored by the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities.

The artists featured are: Beth Baldwin, Jason Clark, Tim Conlon, Liani Foster, Amber Robles-Gordon, Eve Hennessa, Michael Dax Iacovone, Anne Marchand, Cory Oberndorfer, Michael Platt & Carol A. Beane, Kelly Towles, Aneikan Udofia, Colin Winterbottom and The New Community for Children.

425 Eye Retail floorplate

The Paramount Property Group has posted floor plates on to their corporate website for each level of it's 425 Eye renovation project.

Image from Paramount Group; Click to enlarge

Over 29,000 SF of retail is split across 7 bays. Bays A thru C are west of the lobby entrance on Eye street and represent nearly 13,000 SF of contiguous space. East of the lobby Bays D through G follow along Eye Street then wrap around to span the building's entire Fourth Street frontage.

Seems there are a large number of columns tenants will need to design around. I'm not certain of ceiling height but I would guess 12 feet. If so I think potential restaurant tenants would most likely be fast casual concepts. In past retail discussions many of our females readers have lobbied for a nice spa/nails place. Could this building eventually fill that need?

Sneak peak inside 5th & K Taylor Deli

I have a few details and photos to share with regards to the much anticipated new Taylor Gourmet Deli opening soon at 485 K Street NW.



From owner Casey Patten:

Our new store will be located at 485 K Street NW in the City Vista complex. We have incorporated the same look and feel as the location in H Street NE but with a few new twists. The garage door will be 16 feet wide and will open up to sidewalk patio seating. We have taken 55 gallon oil drums and turned them into accent lighting fixtures, these oil drums are suspended from the ceiling with industrial chains.

The down lighting when you enter the restaurant is nine 5 gallon drywall buckets with lighting fixtures inside to create a clean glowing feel. In addition we have created a 6x6 communal table from scratch using scrap steel left over from the hand fabrication of our counter tops and signage. The table top will be reclaimed floor joists from a recent renovation David and I completed.

Very exciting that Taylor will be arriving soon. I've been making the pilgrimages to H Street NE to order the Callowhill Street - the best meatball sub I've had since I was 12.

Chinatown Arch Restoration

Martin Moulton, president of the CCCA, scribed a posting on Monday's ribbon cutting event for the restored Chinatown Arch.

That reminded me of an email that arrived in my inbox last week while I was traveling. A business owner in Chinatown feels the workmanship on the restoration of the arch was lacking and contacted the DC Fine Arts commission with highly detailed photos.

I've posted a few of them below. Click on any of the images to enlarge.






Seams and notches are clearly visible on the arch. Is that to be expected or could the restoration have been done with more care? Was this maintenance adequate to ensure the arch continues to have a long life ahead of it? I'm a little out of my element on this topic and don't have a firm opinion... but I thought if the proprietor of a Chinatown business was concerned enough to press into action it merited some public discussion.

Latest signs of progress in the neighborhood

A quick posting on the latest signs of progress in the neighborhood:

• Taylor Deli buildout continues to zoom along
  
• Brown paper has been put up inside the windows of Kushi Izakaya - this usually means buildout is about to begin.
  
• Ideal Realty Group classifies the DuMont as "under agreement". I've learned this only applies to the 370 unit building at 425 Mass Ave.

Photo of brown paper in windows of Kushi courtesy of John Thompson

September MVSNA meeting

This month's MVSNA membership meeting will be held on Tuesday September 22nd at 7:30pm in the community room of the Yale Loft condominiums (437 New York Ave NW).


The September edition of the MVSNA newsletter is available online [here].

Heart of DC Picnic tomorrow - Sep 19th

A final reminder for the Heart of DC Picnic on the grounds of the the Carnegie Library (aka Mount Vernon Square) from 11am to 5pm on Saturday September 19th.


Many worthwhile activities throughout the day, including the Walkingtown DC tour of Mount Vernon Triangle, which begins at noon, and the Dog show.

Open Thread

I've been traveling since Sunday and have not been keeping my usual tabs on the latest DC neighborhood news. Please feel free to initiate discussion by sharing a recent news item or getting a rant or rave about the neighborhood off your chest.

Pets of Mount Vernon Triangle: Volume 3

The third installment of our Pets of Mount Vernon Triangle feature showcases more neighborhood canines.


Shareem from the City Vista L sent in the following:
These are our mini goldendoodles Balki and Bongo. They are best friends, brothers, and littermates. :) Bongo and Balki are the sweetest dogs ever; we think of them like our family.  This pictures is after they got a bath and groomed - they weren't too happy.


Ouisey is a 2 year old Boston Terrier. She loves to play with her best canine friend, Sarkozy, and all the other dogs at the Madrigal Lofts. Other than her numerous toys, Ouisey's favorite things include cottage cheese, eating sand, playing tug of war, a warm lap, Roosevelt Island, sleeping under the covers, and chicken.

Pets of Mount Vernon Triangle: Volume 2

The second installment of our Pets of Mount Vernon Triangle feature continues with the one cat and one dog format.


Georgie was rescued off the street in 2004. He was found abandoned -declawed and only having one eye.  An animal rescue worker took Georgie out of the shelter and fostered him until he found his permanent home with Janine in 2005. Georgie lives at City Vista L with Janine and an adopted feline sister named Gracie.


Harvey, poking his head out of a sweater in the picture above, also lives at the City Vista L with Sara.

Pets of Mount Vernon Triangle: Volume 1

Today we'll kickstart our Pets of Mount Vernon Triangle feature with a cat and a dog from the 5th and Mass area of the 'hood.


Winston is a four-year-old rescue cat living in the Meridian. He loves salmon, cheese, bonito flakes, tuna water, leaky faucets, Alex Ovechkin, and sitting on stuff. He dislikes vacuum cleaners and drinking out of a bowl like a normal cat.


Above is Lola May from 555 Mass. She was quite content to sit in in the pannier bag on Brock's fiancee's bicycle as he snapped this adorable photo.

Plans for Chinatown Park

The following is from a Downtown BID document created on 9/10/2009.

Rendering from Downtown BID; Click to enlarge

Reservation 72 (Chinatown Park)

• Owned by National Park Service
  
• Bounded by 5th, 6th, Eye and Massachusetts Avenue, NW.
  
• Refurbishment plans begun by Yeni Wong and Chinatown 6-8 years ago.
  
• Downtown BID asked to intercede.
  
• Accomplishments:
  • Completed design plan
    
  • Developed project budget ($139,000)
    
  • Identified $96,000 in funding
    
  • Gained approvals of:
    • National Capital Planning Commission
      
    • U.S. Commission on Fine Arts
  • Coordinated with District Department of Transportation to complete streetscape surrounding the park (2 of 3 sides already are in Downtown BID area streetscape plan)
• Remaining tasks:
  • Raise remaining $43,000
    
  • Secure approval of National Park Service for sidewalk paving materials
    
  • Continue to urge DDOT to complete all 3 sides
• City's Chinatown Cultural Development Strategy calls for even greater improvements. The current project should be regarded as Phase One.

Heart of DC Picnic on Sept 19th

The Community Picnic I previously issued a Save the Date for is now being branded the Heart of DC Picnic.


The following is from MVSNA First Vice President Si Kailian:

Dear friends & neighbors,

Please mark your calendars for the Heart of DC Picnic at Mount Vernon Square on Saturday, September 19th from 11am-5pm. The event will be held on the grounds of the Carnegie Library, home of the Historic Society, at 801 K Street NW also know as Mount Vernon Square. We will be having many fabulous offerings besides food such as games, walking tours, music, raffle & kids activities all in an afternoon of neighborhood fun! Come on out and celebrate the downtown neighborhoods from Shaw through Mount Vernon Square & Triangle through Chinatown & Penn Quarter. And don't forget to bring the pups, we will be having a dog show!

Hope to see you all there!

Si has created a facebook event page for the Picnic.

Credits: The Heart of DC Picnic is being brought to you and everyone in the community by: the Historical Society of Washington DC, Mount Vernon Square Neighborhood Association (MVSNA), Mount Vernon Triangle Community Improvement District (MVTCID), Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA, and Convention Center Community Association (CCCA).

Happy Birthday City Vista Safeway!

by KimFromTheK

Can you believe that it's been one year since the Safeway at 5th and L opened?

Sure, there have been restocking issues, and I've found that the self checkouts always have at least one terminal out-of-order. The promise of a gourmet prepared foods section doesn't really live up to the hype. The nut bar faced its fair share of jokes, and there may have been some misguidance in assigning aisles (the narrow beer/dairy aisle is a complete mess!). Yelpers are split in positive and negative reviews as well.

While this location still has a few kinks to work out, anything is an improvement to the Shaw Giant, in my opinion.

By the way, we've speculated over the nickname for this Safeway outpost but I don't think we've come to a decision--will it really wind up being the Sexy Safeway? I guess only time will tell...

Editor's note: While I almost always walk to the Safeway I did drive there four times over this first calendar year despite my condo being < 2 blocks away. How many of you that live within a few short blocks confess to driving more often than walking?

NY Ave car crash flattens street lamp in front of Yale Lofts

I'm a little late with a report on this incident that occurred late last week as it took some time to obtain photos.

From a Yale resident:

There was a major traffic accident along NY Ave (on either late Sept 3rd or early AM September 4th), someone driving super-fast down New York Avenue by Yale Lofts took out the bus stop and a lamp post. The fallen lamp post is now blocking part of the Yale driveway.

From the photos below it appears the crash leveled a P6 Metrobus sign and a cobra light post.

flattened P6 Metrobus signage

The base of the leveled lamp post

Smashed up cobra head lamp

If anyone has more details or better photos feel free to share.

Watch Obama's Health Care Speech at Busboys

I honestly still need to wade through all the spin on the Healthcare proposal such as the fearmongering that Obama's plan would force senior citizens to tell the government how they want to die. I need time to evaluate the facts of what's being proposed on the Healthcare issue before I personally decide whether I am in favor or against.


What I can attest, having attended a VP debate screening at Busboys in the past, is that the 5th & K venue has a good energy for the watching speeches and debates.

Car Free Day is Sept 22nd

Car Free Day is an international event celebrated every September 22nd in which people are encouraged to get around without their car - highlighting transit, bicycling, walking and all alternative modes of transportation. By taking a fair number of cars off the roads people who live and work there are given a chance to consider how their neighborhood might look and work with a lot fewer cars.


Washington celebrated Car Free Day for the first time in 2007 with about 1,000 District residents committing to be car free for the day. Last year, Car Free Day expanded to the entire Washington Metropolitan Area, and 5,445 residents throughout the region pledged to be car free. This year the hope is even more drivers throughout the region will leave their cars at home or go “car lite” by sharing a ride to work. By taking the Car Free Challenge, participants not only help to improve air quality, save money, and reduce their carbon footprint, but also get a chance to win great prizes at the Car Free Day Celebration Event (7th & F Street, NW).

Click here to view photos from last year’s Car Free Day Celebration.

Discover Colombia Through Its Heart

With the family in town over Labor Day weekend I was a frequent visitor to Union Station. Picking up and dropping off the fam for Amtrak and taking my young niece on the DCDucks (which I knew she'd get a kick out of).

Union Station is currently the epicenter of a promotion by the Colombian Embassy called Discover Colombia Through Its Heart. The exhibit which runs from September 5th through 15th includes 47 larger than life sculptures – seven interactive 13-foot heart sculptures displayed in Washington’s Union Station, and 40 eight-foot heart sculptures.

Allicia from ReadysetDC has written a great comprehensive post on the exhibit's background and the event calendar so I won't rehash that. To be balanced I'll make you aware of an human rights group's response called No More Broken Hearts that opposes this PR campaign and the proposed Free Trade Agreement being discussed in Congress.

In front of the DC Historical Society at Mount Vernon Square

One of 7 interactive hearts inside the main hall of Union Station

Three of the hearts outside the front of Union Station

Getting past the Colombia specific politics of this particular exhibit do you enjoy or dislike these kind of temporary art installations? I know not everyone agrees but I enjoyed the Party Animals in 2002 and the Pandamania (flickr) in 2004 and generally support more of these organized citywide public art endeavors.