New DC Loft Gallery Opens

I attended the grand opening of the new DC Loft Gallery at 1926 14th Street on Friday evening. Among the artists featured in the current show is Swann Street neighbor Charlie Gaynor. He is showing his latest work using a canvas printing process that transfers his photos on to a canvas. Please drop by and welcome Joseph Teshome, the owner, to our neighborhood. We wish him much success! It's great to see another art venue on 14th Street in the Arts District!

Arts District Banners Ready for Review

After several months of community input and design modifications, the Arts District banners are ready for final review. On Monday, Nov. 8, the Branding Project leaders unveiled 3 finalists for the banners. Here is a sample of what was presented to the Dupont Circle ANC on Wednesday evening, Nov. 10. The ANC approved posting of the banners along 16th, 15th and 14th Streets. The banners will also be posted in the rest of the arts district. The banners will be installed in early December just in time for the holidays. For more information, please visit the Branding Project's website.

Thank you for your Support!

I would like to take a moment to thank you, my constituents, for re-electing me as your ANC Commissioner for another term. I would like to keep improving our neighborhood and our quality of life here. So keep letting me know what you think of any issues or opportunities there may be to do this...and keep coming back to my website where I will contnue to post the latest information about upcoming matters.

Re-election Campaign Kicks Off at ANC Meeting

My constituents have been contacting me to encourage me to run again...so I have decided to run for another term. I presented my accomplishments to the community at the ANC meeting on Wednesday, October 13, and again at the U Street Neighborhood Association on Thursday evening. It has been a privilege to serve as Commissioner of SMD 2B09 for the past eight years. During that time I have worked to improve our neighborhood and I have listed some of the improvements below:

1. moving the Center for Community Change from Georgetown to 16th and U
2. encouraging restaurants like JoJo's, Policy, Chidogo, Local 14 and DC Noodles
3. supporting first class retail like Room and Board
4. shaping residential developments like Utopia and Whitman Walker projects with over 400 apartments
5. downzoning our neighborhood to protect our historic townhouses
6. paving streets, replacing sidewalks, putting in bike lanes, and planting trees
7. arranging for foot patrols to protect our residents, businesses and visitors
8. making sure that DC government built the dog park and updated the park at 17th and T
9. saving the Source Theatre
10. preserving the historic house at the corner of 16th and T

I have served as the Secretary, Vice Chair, and Chair of the Commission for two terms. My colleagues have honored me with the title of Chairman Emeritus.

We have a 14th Streetscape and a U Streetscape on the books and so I ask you for your vote to monitor these projects to make sure that the community gets what has been promised...and of course, to continue improving our quality of life.

14th Streetscape Plans Unveiled

The DDOT staff and project team revealed the streetscape designs to the community on Wednesday, Sept. 29. I have displayed the furniture and lamp post designs in the graphic above. The designers are asking for community feedback so please visit the DDOT website to view the designs and email your comments to muhammed.khalid@dc.gov. Final design presentations will be made in November based on comments that are submitted. The project will begin in Spring of 2011 provided that funding is finalized by the District Government. We look forward to this exciting improvement in our neighborhood.

Celebrations Enliven Our Neighborhood

Two celebrations took place in our neighborhood this month enlivening our community...the Labor Day Pig Roast at Cafe Saint Ex and the 17th Street Festival. We live in the heart of the City and these events give us an opportunity to celebrate our diverse neighborhoods.

I hope you took advantage and participated in them!

Good food, good music and good friends and neighbors...

JBG to Begin Construction of Whitman Walker Condos

Later this month the JBG Companies will begin demolition of the buildings along 14th Street at the site of the former Whitman Walker Clinic at the corner of 14th and S Streets, according to James Nozar, Project Manager. The original anchor building, the former Hudson apartments, will remain and will be renovated (seen at the lower left in the drawing above). The plans for the JBG project were approved about two years ago that include spaces for a major restaurant and retail shops on the ground floor which will span the entire block up to Swann Street. The 125 units will be smaller in size than conventional condominiums, offering purchasers an opportunity to buy a condo in the neighborhood at a slightly lower price. There will be underground parking on two levels for residents and shops.

When the Historic Preservation Review Board approved the project, they asked that a memorial be created and placed in the lobby of the anchor building to commemorate the former Whitman Walker Clinic at this location.