Public Safety Draws Interest
We had a nice crowd and some new faces at our September meeting. Not only were we impressed with the bench-strength that accompanied our Chief of Police to our meeting, but we had At-large Councilmember Phil Mendelson and three Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners (Commissioners Doris Brooks, Mark Dixon, and Charley Docter.) This was at least the third time Councilmember Mendelson has joined us, so we invited him to return next month to be our discussion leader.
Chief of Police Cathy L. Lanier
Our meeting had a full agenda with Chief Lanier and Commander Kamperin updating us on citywide and neighborhood activities. While teens on 7th street continue to be a challenge, the cooperation between MPD, Metro Transit Police, off-duty police and security personnel employed by the Theater, McDonald’s, and Gallery Place helped keep the neighborhood quieter this summer than it was in 2008. One critical change this year was the Chinatown Initiative that started in May. This put Sergeant Peter Sheldon and ten volunteers on the street at night. This group focussed on youth crime and challenges in Chinatown between 5th and 8th Streets, and F and I Streets though they made many adult arrests. Since the inception of the Chinatown unit made over 800 arrests and seized four guns.
There were a host of questions concerning robberies, bicycle and Segway usage, and noise. Overall it was a powerful briefing and discussion.
October Meeting
Our October meeting will be held at the District Chophouse instead of Calvary Baptist Church. Our two discussion leaders will be Attorney General Peter Nickels and At-Large Councilmember Phil Mendelson. Refreshments will be available.
Miles E. Groves
Downtown Neighborhood Association
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Downtown Establishment Night Noise
Balancing Act to Reduce Noise
An application or renewal of a liquor license in our neighborhood triggers questions on whether DNA should pursue a Voluntary Agreement. The process is time consuming requiring a formal protest so we do not pursue it lightly. We consider the proximity to a residential building, any neighborhood complaints, police Call-For-Service 251 reports, any Alcoholic Beverage Regulatory Administration (ABRA) complaints, and the type of application. Existing licenses are easier than new licenses because they have a track record while new licenses come with promises of the applicant. These are all considered by the Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) responsible for the geography where the applicant resides. As a civic association, DNA is required to hold a public hearing with at least ten days public notice so all neighborhood residents have the opportunity to discuss any concerns or present their support for the license holder. After that hearing, the DNA Board votes on whether to submit a formal protest of the application or renewal. It is through this protest that we gain standing before the Alcohol Beverage Commission Board (ABC) to pursue a Voluntary Agreement.
Why Do We Protest?
There is no question that living downtown in any major city brings with it the a level of excitement, public interaction, entertainment and noise that one does not find in less urban environments. Our own research shows that most residents moved downtown because of the cultural and entertainment venues along with access to several metro entrances, buses, trains, and quick access out of town via 395.
We love our restaurants, bars, theater, and the many venues at the Verizon Center. Still, no one buys or rents a downtown residence expecting that they will be living in an environment comparable to the Las Vegas Strip, New Orleans French Quarter, or Fells Point in Baltimore. That is not the history of our neighborhood, though many like to compare it to New York City’s Times Square. However, as someone who worked at The New York Times for a decade, we are no Times Square. Here, we focused on downtown living, attracting thousands of residents into the core of our city. Times Square, though, is not host to thousands of residents. And unlike our great city, they have beefed up their noise regulations and enforcement. Washington, DC, has regulations that are rarely enforced and we deserve a major overhaul of noise regulation.
Noise is a major concern for residents seeking sleep whether it comes from garbage trucks, over-served crowds, nighttime construction, or the local restaurant lounge or nightclub.
Who Pays the External Costs?
Noise is the most pervasive pollutants today. Noise from traffic, garbage trucks, fire trucks, construction equipment, protesters, car stereos, nightclub/tavern operations are among the audible litter that are routinely broadcast into the air. Noise negatively affects human health and well-being. Problems related to noise include hearing loss, stress, high blood pressure, sleep loss, distraction and lost productivity, and a general reduction in the quality of life.
The air into which second-hand noise is emitted and on which it travels is a public good that belongs to all of us. It belongs to no one person or group, but to everyone. People, businesses, and organizations do no have unlimited rights to broadcast noise as they please, as if the effects of noise were limited only to their private property. Instead, this is an externality resulting from their private actions for which we pay for through lower quality of life and are harmed by the problems that noise creates.
This concept of external costs is not new concept. Still, there are some ANC commissioners, agency professionals, and many club owners who do not understand that the community has a higher right to reduced externalities than does the creator of the externalities. In short, mixed downtown residential/retail/commercial areas are not “free zones” where those who create noise have greater rights than those who suffer with the noise. This is one of the reasons that active ANC’s and neighborhood civic associations work to create Voluntary Agreements with establishments seeking to reduce the external costs that result from their operations.
Voluntary Agreements Reduce Externalities
The Downtown Neighborhood Association works with neighborhood establishments to develop agreements that reduce these externalities. The key issues that we approach include noise, crowds, operating hours, and public safety. Our efforts target establishments that are near residential buildings and whose operations will disrupt the lives of local residents who we believe have a higher right to peace and quiet than an establishment that seeks to profit by disrupting that peace and quiet. Any noise reduction involves either a change in their operations, investment in noise containment technologies, or both. Sadly, city regulations are a poor mediator for this conflict.
All of our agreements have clauses concerning disruptive noise that establishments agree too manage in order to get a liquor license. But, enforcement is a challenge. Much is blamed on the availability of noise measurement instruments, properly trained police officers, and the workload of DCRA measurement professionals. But these are not required at night. If a police officer agrees that the noise is loud enough that it may break the limit, a ticket can be issued without any measuring device. Even if they decide it is not worth the effort to generate a ticket, they can ask the establishment to turn the volume down and, as we have learned at our PSA meetings, can shut the establishment down if they fail to comply. So, there is no reason that noise should be a problem from dance clubs, night clubs, or Taverns if the police apply the authority they have.
Still, the permissible noise level that the city sets for downtown is high. Since Voluntary Agreements are enforceable by ABRA investigators and MPD officers, they provide an important quality of life component when they include more restrictive rules for establishment related noise. This takes an active community that works together to ensure that MPD is aware of these agreements so that they, along with ABRA, can help reduce the noise levels from these establishments.
Note: For a good source for information on the impact of noise, check out www.nonoise.org.
Miles E. Groves
An application or renewal of a liquor license in our neighborhood triggers questions on whether DNA should pursue a Voluntary Agreement. The process is time consuming requiring a formal protest so we do not pursue it lightly. We consider the proximity to a residential building, any neighborhood complaints, police Call-For-Service 251 reports, any Alcoholic Beverage Regulatory Administration (ABRA) complaints, and the type of application. Existing licenses are easier than new licenses because they have a track record while new licenses come with promises of the applicant. These are all considered by the Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) responsible for the geography where the applicant resides. As a civic association, DNA is required to hold a public hearing with at least ten days public notice so all neighborhood residents have the opportunity to discuss any concerns or present their support for the license holder. After that hearing, the DNA Board votes on whether to submit a formal protest of the application or renewal. It is through this protest that we gain standing before the Alcohol Beverage Commission Board (ABC) to pursue a Voluntary Agreement.
Why Do We Protest?
There is no question that living downtown in any major city brings with it the a level of excitement, public interaction, entertainment and noise that one does not find in less urban environments. Our own research shows that most residents moved downtown because of the cultural and entertainment venues along with access to several metro entrances, buses, trains, and quick access out of town via 395.
We love our restaurants, bars, theater, and the many venues at the Verizon Center. Still, no one buys or rents a downtown residence expecting that they will be living in an environment comparable to the Las Vegas Strip, New Orleans French Quarter, or Fells Point in Baltimore. That is not the history of our neighborhood, though many like to compare it to New York City’s Times Square. However, as someone who worked at The New York Times for a decade, we are no Times Square. Here, we focused on downtown living, attracting thousands of residents into the core of our city. Times Square, though, is not host to thousands of residents. And unlike our great city, they have beefed up their noise regulations and enforcement. Washington, DC, has regulations that are rarely enforced and we deserve a major overhaul of noise regulation.
Noise is a major concern for residents seeking sleep whether it comes from garbage trucks, over-served crowds, nighttime construction, or the local restaurant lounge or nightclub.
Who Pays the External Costs?
Noise is the most pervasive pollutants today. Noise from traffic, garbage trucks, fire trucks, construction equipment, protesters, car stereos, nightclub/tavern operations are among the audible litter that are routinely broadcast into the air. Noise negatively affects human health and well-being. Problems related to noise include hearing loss, stress, high blood pressure, sleep loss, distraction and lost productivity, and a general reduction in the quality of life.
The air into which second-hand noise is emitted and on which it travels is a public good that belongs to all of us. It belongs to no one person or group, but to everyone. People, businesses, and organizations do no have unlimited rights to broadcast noise as they please, as if the effects of noise were limited only to their private property. Instead, this is an externality resulting from their private actions for which we pay for through lower quality of life and are harmed by the problems that noise creates.
This concept of external costs is not new concept. Still, there are some ANC commissioners, agency professionals, and many club owners who do not understand that the community has a higher right to reduced externalities than does the creator of the externalities. In short, mixed downtown residential/retail/commercial areas are not “free zones” where those who create noise have greater rights than those who suffer with the noise. This is one of the reasons that active ANC’s and neighborhood civic associations work to create Voluntary Agreements with establishments seeking to reduce the external costs that result from their operations.
Voluntary Agreements Reduce Externalities
The Downtown Neighborhood Association works with neighborhood establishments to develop agreements that reduce these externalities. The key issues that we approach include noise, crowds, operating hours, and public safety. Our efforts target establishments that are near residential buildings and whose operations will disrupt the lives of local residents who we believe have a higher right to peace and quiet than an establishment that seeks to profit by disrupting that peace and quiet. Any noise reduction involves either a change in their operations, investment in noise containment technologies, or both. Sadly, city regulations are a poor mediator for this conflict.
All of our agreements have clauses concerning disruptive noise that establishments agree too manage in order to get a liquor license. But, enforcement is a challenge. Much is blamed on the availability of noise measurement instruments, properly trained police officers, and the workload of DCRA measurement professionals. But these are not required at night. If a police officer agrees that the noise is loud enough that it may break the limit, a ticket can be issued without any measuring device. Even if they decide it is not worth the effort to generate a ticket, they can ask the establishment to turn the volume down and, as we have learned at our PSA meetings, can shut the establishment down if they fail to comply. So, there is no reason that noise should be a problem from dance clubs, night clubs, or Taverns if the police apply the authority they have.
Still, the permissible noise level that the city sets for downtown is high. Since Voluntary Agreements are enforceable by ABRA investigators and MPD officers, they provide an important quality of life component when they include more restrictive rules for establishment related noise. This takes an active community that works together to ensure that MPD is aware of these agreements so that they, along with ABRA, can help reduce the noise levels from these establishments.
Note: For a good source for information on the impact of noise, check out www.nonoise.org.
Miles E. Groves
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Playgrounds for Children
Panel to Kickoff Family Amenity Effort
The DNA Family Amenity Panel was the primary focus of the July meeting. Four district agencies along with the Downtown Business Improvement District were represented. The panel moderator and co-chair of the DNA Family Amenity Committee and resident of the Ventana Condominium, Giles Beeker, led the discussion. The participants included Geraldine Gardner, Associate Director for Neighborhood Planning with the Office of Planning, Jeff Hinkle, Community Planner with the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), Nithya Joseph with the District Parks and Recreation Transition Team, Rick Reinhard, Deputy Executive Director for Planning and Development with the Downtown Business Improvement District, and Jose Sousa, a Project Manager with the office of the Deputy Mayor of Planning and Economic Development.
Giles Beaker started the panel with commentary on the importance of finding ways to keep families downtown rather than losing them to the suburbs. He posed a question to the panel asking whether there was a plan for families downtown; whether existing plans factored in the growth of this segment of the neighborhood. Garner explained that families, diversity, open space, and recreation were all part of the city’s Comprehensive Plan and the Center City Action Agenda. Hinkle added that part of the concern of the NCPC was not only a good working environment for federal employees, but a great civic life, too. The maintenance, programming, accessibility, and overall quality of the federal parks that exist in our community is the focus of the Capital Space project that includes NCPC, District, and the National Park Service. Joseph noted that there were plans for a playground in nearby Shaw that residents could use, though the location on the corner of 7th and N Streets, NW are not within a reasonable walking distance of most downtown residential buildings. Sousa suggested that there may be opportunities to identify pilot projects collaborating with the District and our neighborhood collaborating with the National Park Service. Lt. Royal recommended that any actions taken to bring playground programming to the neighborhood involve the police department to ensure systems were in place to provide a safe environment. Reinhard suggested that there may be opportunities to gain family programming in one of the 34 national parks located downtown through temporary installations of playgrounds. He offered, though, that that neighborhood needs were a subset of a larger problem of the lack of investment in Downtown Parks by both the District and the Federal Government. He noted that the 34 parks covered 22 acres requiring $15 to $20 million in capital improvements and $1.5 to $2 million annually in programing dollars.
All agreed that a critical factor was that someone needed to take leadership of this issue if we are to make any headway in improving the quality of life for Downtown residents. While there appears to be a commitment for help, none of the panelists were prepared to take the challenge and accept responsibility for bringing family programming and playgrounds into our neighborhood. However, the meeting was a good first step to assessing neighborhood concerns and discussing alternatives.
Next Steps
The leadership needs to come from downtown residents. As Giles Bleeker suggested, resources should not be a problem given who the breadth of downtown stakeholders we can seek funding from. Downtown residents need to work with the city agencies to identify opportunities that will address our family amenity needs and then seek ways to make it happen. We have been successful in pursuing other challenges to improve our neighborhood with the help of District Agencies, our activist ANC6C, and support from our councilmembers. This may be the most challenging project yet and it may well be the critical measure of our success as a neighborhood association. So, if you are concerned about greenspace, flowers, playgrounds, and nice places for quiet contemplation then this is the project for you to step up to.
If interested in being part of this effort, contact Miles Groves at miles@dcdna.org or Giles Beeker at beekerg@itcdc.com.
Miles E. Groves
Downtown Neighborhood Association
The DNA Family Amenity Panel was the primary focus of the July meeting. Four district agencies along with the Downtown Business Improvement District were represented. The panel moderator and co-chair of the DNA Family Amenity Committee and resident of the Ventana Condominium, Giles Beeker, led the discussion. The participants included Geraldine Gardner, Associate Director for Neighborhood Planning with the Office of Planning, Jeff Hinkle, Community Planner with the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), Nithya Joseph with the District Parks and Recreation Transition Team, Rick Reinhard, Deputy Executive Director for Planning and Development with the Downtown Business Improvement District, and Jose Sousa, a Project Manager with the office of the Deputy Mayor of Planning and Economic Development.
Giles Beaker started the panel with commentary on the importance of finding ways to keep families downtown rather than losing them to the suburbs. He posed a question to the panel asking whether there was a plan for families downtown; whether existing plans factored in the growth of this segment of the neighborhood. Garner explained that families, diversity, open space, and recreation were all part of the city’s Comprehensive Plan and the Center City Action Agenda. Hinkle added that part of the concern of the NCPC was not only a good working environment for federal employees, but a great civic life, too. The maintenance, programming, accessibility, and overall quality of the federal parks that exist in our community is the focus of the Capital Space project that includes NCPC, District, and the National Park Service. Joseph noted that there were plans for a playground in nearby Shaw that residents could use, though the location on the corner of 7th and N Streets, NW are not within a reasonable walking distance of most downtown residential buildings. Sousa suggested that there may be opportunities to identify pilot projects collaborating with the District and our neighborhood collaborating with the National Park Service. Lt. Royal recommended that any actions taken to bring playground programming to the neighborhood involve the police department to ensure systems were in place to provide a safe environment. Reinhard suggested that there may be opportunities to gain family programming in one of the 34 national parks located downtown through temporary installations of playgrounds. He offered, though, that that neighborhood needs were a subset of a larger problem of the lack of investment in Downtown Parks by both the District and the Federal Government. He noted that the 34 parks covered 22 acres requiring $15 to $20 million in capital improvements and $1.5 to $2 million annually in programing dollars.
All agreed that a critical factor was that someone needed to take leadership of this issue if we are to make any headway in improving the quality of life for Downtown residents. While there appears to be a commitment for help, none of the panelists were prepared to take the challenge and accept responsibility for bringing family programming and playgrounds into our neighborhood. However, the meeting was a good first step to assessing neighborhood concerns and discussing alternatives.
Next Steps
The leadership needs to come from downtown residents. As Giles Bleeker suggested, resources should not be a problem given who the breadth of downtown stakeholders we can seek funding from. Downtown residents need to work with the city agencies to identify opportunities that will address our family amenity needs and then seek ways to make it happen. We have been successful in pursuing other challenges to improve our neighborhood with the help of District Agencies, our activist ANC6C, and support from our councilmembers. This may be the most challenging project yet and it may well be the critical measure of our success as a neighborhood association. So, if you are concerned about greenspace, flowers, playgrounds, and nice places for quiet contemplation then this is the project for you to step up to.
If interested in being part of this effort, contact Miles Groves at miles@dcdna.org or Giles Beeker at beekerg@itcdc.com.
Miles E. Groves
Downtown Neighborhood Association
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Downtown Neighborhood Association June Meeting Notes
It Was a Dark and Stormy Night .. .
The regular second Tuesday June meeting attendance was hampered by heavy rains and lightning. However, with Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Lt. Craig Royal, Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans, and District Consumer Regulatory Agency (DCRA) Director Linda Argo, those who attended were served a spirited discussion on noise measurement, noise regulations, and their enforcement. There was a second public meeting held on Thursday, June 18 to consider the liquor license applications from the owners of Muse Lounge, located at 717 6th Street NW and Levels, located at 315 H Street NW.
Patrol Service Area 101W
The meeting started with a discussion of the Chinatown Initiative that First District Commander Kamperin introduced in May. A team of volunteers including ten police offers and sergeant Sheldon who provided an update of the program. This team has been working nights in and near the Chinatown section of downtown focussing on youth-crime along with a host of quality of life crimes that are not always addressed in our neighborhood. There has been greater enforcement of parking violations, public alcohol consumption laws, public urination, curfew violations. The initiative will continue to provide focus on the neighborhood for at least a year.
We learned that DCRA has started training of MPD officers on how to measure noise with calibrated decibel reading instruments. Their plan is to provide instruments and trained personnel throughout the District to enable better response to noise complaints by providing tools and police qualified to determine whether a noise source is within the legal range.
Discussion Leaders
Councilmember Evans provided an update on the state of city finances and discussed the emergency crime bill that was coming before the council. Then, with Director Argo, Councilmember Evans, and Lt. Royal a discussion ensued on noise violations determination and measurement. There appeared to be confusion over the need to measure noise levels after 9:00PM and a MPD officers ability to use a “reasonable persons” determination that the noise was too loud. Evans noted that the police already have the authority at night to ask the source of loud noise to reduce or turn it off. He shared that if a nightclub was producing loud noise that a reasonable person would believe was above the legal range that they could ask them to turn it down or shut the club down. Director Argo agreed. However, Lt. Royal was concerned with the ambiguity of this and the potential liability it presented. He also noted that there was a problem with the process since tickets written for noise violations were routinely thrown out by the court so officers were resistant to issuing tickets for noise violations. We learned that since there were no formal “noise violation tickets” or a court the focused on these type of quality of live crimes that issuing tickets was a waste of time. This perplexed Evans and many of the neighborhood residents attending the meeting. It was clear that despite efforts to draw up rules concerning noise, the enforcement process fell short of the council intent and needed further legislation.
Special Public Liquor Application Meeting
As required by the Alcoholic Beverage Regulatory Administration, ten days notice for this meeting was provided with all neighborhood residents invited as well as the owners of the clubs making application. The meeting was held in the lobby of Madrigal Lofts with over 50 people attending. There is an excellent report on the meeting on the Mount Vernon Triangle blog, “The Triangle” at http://mvtriangle.blogspot.com/ that details the discussion that occurred at the meeting. Several were concerned by the comments of Dimitri Mallios, the attorney for both establishments, that the neighborhood residents meeting was unnecessary and a waste of time. He argued that we should rely solely on the ANC that was already protesting the license application for Levels and that the request from Muse Lounge to stay open to 3:30AM weekdays and 4:30AM weekends didn’t impact those attending the meeting.
July Regular Second Tuesday Meeting
Mark your calendar for our Tuesday, July 14 Meeting which will be at Calvary Baptist Church starting at 6:30PM and over by 8:00PM. We are developing a panel to discuss downtown family amenities - parks, playgrounds, and other elements that our children, grandchildren, and visitors desire. The invited participants are from the National Capital Planning Council, DC office of Economic Development and Planning, Downtown Business Improvement District, the District Office of Planning, More details will be forthcoming. Refreshments will be provided.
This meeting will also include PSA 101W officers and questions.
Miles E. Groves
Email: miles@dcdna.org
The regular second Tuesday June meeting attendance was hampered by heavy rains and lightning. However, with Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Lt. Craig Royal, Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans, and District Consumer Regulatory Agency (DCRA) Director Linda Argo, those who attended were served a spirited discussion on noise measurement, noise regulations, and their enforcement. There was a second public meeting held on Thursday, June 18 to consider the liquor license applications from the owners of Muse Lounge, located at 717 6th Street NW and Levels, located at 315 H Street NW.
Patrol Service Area 101W
The meeting started with a discussion of the Chinatown Initiative that First District Commander Kamperin introduced in May. A team of volunteers including ten police offers and sergeant Sheldon who provided an update of the program. This team has been working nights in and near the Chinatown section of downtown focussing on youth-crime along with a host of quality of life crimes that are not always addressed in our neighborhood. There has been greater enforcement of parking violations, public alcohol consumption laws, public urination, curfew violations. The initiative will continue to provide focus on the neighborhood for at least a year.
We learned that DCRA has started training of MPD officers on how to measure noise with calibrated decibel reading instruments. Their plan is to provide instruments and trained personnel throughout the District to enable better response to noise complaints by providing tools and police qualified to determine whether a noise source is within the legal range.
Discussion Leaders
Councilmember Evans provided an update on the state of city finances and discussed the emergency crime bill that was coming before the council. Then, with Director Argo, Councilmember Evans, and Lt. Royal a discussion ensued on noise violations determination and measurement. There appeared to be confusion over the need to measure noise levels after 9:00PM and a MPD officers ability to use a “reasonable persons” determination that the noise was too loud. Evans noted that the police already have the authority at night to ask the source of loud noise to reduce or turn it off. He shared that if a nightclub was producing loud noise that a reasonable person would believe was above the legal range that they could ask them to turn it down or shut the club down. Director Argo agreed. However, Lt. Royal was concerned with the ambiguity of this and the potential liability it presented. He also noted that there was a problem with the process since tickets written for noise violations were routinely thrown out by the court so officers were resistant to issuing tickets for noise violations. We learned that since there were no formal “noise violation tickets” or a court the focused on these type of quality of live crimes that issuing tickets was a waste of time. This perplexed Evans and many of the neighborhood residents attending the meeting. It was clear that despite efforts to draw up rules concerning noise, the enforcement process fell short of the council intent and needed further legislation.
Special Public Liquor Application Meeting
As required by the Alcoholic Beverage Regulatory Administration, ten days notice for this meeting was provided with all neighborhood residents invited as well as the owners of the clubs making application. The meeting was held in the lobby of Madrigal Lofts with over 50 people attending. There is an excellent report on the meeting on the Mount Vernon Triangle blog, “The Triangle” at http://mvtriangle.blogspot.com/ that details the discussion that occurred at the meeting. Several were concerned by the comments of Dimitri Mallios, the attorney for both establishments, that the neighborhood residents meeting was unnecessary and a waste of time. He argued that we should rely solely on the ANC that was already protesting the license application for Levels and that the request from Muse Lounge to stay open to 3:30AM weekdays and 4:30AM weekends didn’t impact those attending the meeting.
July Regular Second Tuesday Meeting
Mark your calendar for our Tuesday, July 14 Meeting which will be at Calvary Baptist Church starting at 6:30PM and over by 8:00PM. We are developing a panel to discuss downtown family amenities - parks, playgrounds, and other elements that our children, grandchildren, and visitors desire. The invited participants are from the National Capital Planning Council, DC office of Economic Development and Planning, Downtown Business Improvement District, the District Office of Planning, More details will be forthcoming. Refreshments will be provided.
This meeting will also include PSA 101W officers and questions.
Miles E. Groves
Email: miles@dcdna.org
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Downtown Business Improvement District: Time to Join?
Looking Back
When we moved into Penn Quarter in 1995, with the exception of the nightclubs a few blocks away on E and F Streets, our neighborhood was relatively quiet. We had noise issues with the use of Pennsylvania Avenue for what seemed to be an endless series of events, but while that may have been an inconvenience, these were not late night venues. Our problems were related to street-people, skateboarders, drugs and prostitution on C street, rats and trash. The city did not seem to have a grip on any of these issues. At least, that was the perception that I recall. There were not many of us then - probably less than 1,500 residents while now we surpass 8,000 residents.
There was an organization led by Charley Docter named Downtown Housing Now. I was on its board because the Pennsylvania Condominium Association was a member and I was board president. This group worked hard to lobby the city council and mayors office to honor and promote the downtown residential commitment rather than let developers swap residential investments due our neighborhood with other neighborhoods. We also had developers who understood the importance of downtown residents to open the neighborhood into the thriving potential we enjoy today.
Two Changes
There were two seminal events that helped our development. First, we had the development of the MCI center which helped make downtown an entertainment destination center. Second, in 1997, we had the development of the Downtown Business Improvement District (DBID). As a downtown resident, we experienced an improvement in services without a corresponding increase in taxes. Instead of relying on city services to deal with rats, trash, street-people and club noise, the DBID became the central organizing group to respond. The DBID members were the commercial property owners and we benefited by being in mixed-use neighborhoods served by this organization. There were not many residential buildings so the additional cost to serve our streets was small; we enjoyed a free ride. The DBID took over many of the city responsibilities and the commercial buildings were happy to have cleaner streets and the corresponding army of SAMS to have a presence and to help the growing bounty of tourists who came for the host of cultural and entertainment venues that fill our neighborhood. In addition, the DBID works closely with downtown stakeholders and city agencies to keep focus on our neighborhood streetscape, safety, and parking concerns.
Should Residential Buildings Join?
In 2007 and 2008 we collaborated with the Downtown Business Improvement District, the Penn Quarter Neighborhood Association, and the Downtowner Newspaper to produce a survey to help us better understand the profile and needs of downtown residents. In both years, the survey found that over 80 percent of downtown residents would support joining the DBID if residential membership was offered. Our member buildings in the Mount Vernon Triangle section of our neighborhood belong to a Community Improvement DIstrict (CID) that provides some of the services of the DBID. It was set up to ensure that the neighborhood would have resources to be clean and safe. This CID has been instrumental with bringing more trees into the neighborhood as well as park improvements and funding off-duty police officers to improve safety. Residents pay $10 per month for these services.
In the past, I have heard presentation about the value of residential buildings joining the DBID. It has usually been couched in terms of beefing up the number of SAMS and later hours to provide a better street presence. In my personal view (not an official DNA view) it makes sense for all neighborhood beneficiaries to be a member of the DBID. However, I do not see it in terms of more SAMS on our streets or in terms of funding the existing level of services. I think we should join, but only if the DBID can “step up” their efforts for a clean downtown to a beautiful downtown with a defining theme of flowers, trees and greenery throughout our neighborhood. I would like to see their collaboration with the National Park Service to expand to provide us with cleaner, safer parks that can be destination places for neighbors to meet along with playgrounds so that our children, grandchildren, and young visitors have fun urban amenities.
In short, the Downtown Business Improvement District is a resource that we benefit from. The time has come to define our relationship in a way that further improves the quality of life in our neighborhood and gives us a voice in the future of the DBID.
What do you think?
Comments are encouraged, especially concerning whether the Downtown Neighborhood Association should take an active position on this question.
Miles E. Groves
When we moved into Penn Quarter in 1995, with the exception of the nightclubs a few blocks away on E and F Streets, our neighborhood was relatively quiet. We had noise issues with the use of Pennsylvania Avenue for what seemed to be an endless series of events, but while that may have been an inconvenience, these were not late night venues. Our problems were related to street-people, skateboarders, drugs and prostitution on C street, rats and trash. The city did not seem to have a grip on any of these issues. At least, that was the perception that I recall. There were not many of us then - probably less than 1,500 residents while now we surpass 8,000 residents.
There was an organization led by Charley Docter named Downtown Housing Now. I was on its board because the Pennsylvania Condominium Association was a member and I was board president. This group worked hard to lobby the city council and mayors office to honor and promote the downtown residential commitment rather than let developers swap residential investments due our neighborhood with other neighborhoods. We also had developers who understood the importance of downtown residents to open the neighborhood into the thriving potential we enjoy today.
Two Changes
There were two seminal events that helped our development. First, we had the development of the MCI center which helped make downtown an entertainment destination center. Second, in 1997, we had the development of the Downtown Business Improvement District (DBID). As a downtown resident, we experienced an improvement in services without a corresponding increase in taxes. Instead of relying on city services to deal with rats, trash, street-people and club noise, the DBID became the central organizing group to respond. The DBID members were the commercial property owners and we benefited by being in mixed-use neighborhoods served by this organization. There were not many residential buildings so the additional cost to serve our streets was small; we enjoyed a free ride. The DBID took over many of the city responsibilities and the commercial buildings were happy to have cleaner streets and the corresponding army of SAMS to have a presence and to help the growing bounty of tourists who came for the host of cultural and entertainment venues that fill our neighborhood. In addition, the DBID works closely with downtown stakeholders and city agencies to keep focus on our neighborhood streetscape, safety, and parking concerns.
Should Residential Buildings Join?
In 2007 and 2008 we collaborated with the Downtown Business Improvement District, the Penn Quarter Neighborhood Association, and the Downtowner Newspaper to produce a survey to help us better understand the profile and needs of downtown residents. In both years, the survey found that over 80 percent of downtown residents would support joining the DBID if residential membership was offered. Our member buildings in the Mount Vernon Triangle section of our neighborhood belong to a Community Improvement DIstrict (CID) that provides some of the services of the DBID. It was set up to ensure that the neighborhood would have resources to be clean and safe. This CID has been instrumental with bringing more trees into the neighborhood as well as park improvements and funding off-duty police officers to improve safety. Residents pay $10 per month for these services.
In the past, I have heard presentation about the value of residential buildings joining the DBID. It has usually been couched in terms of beefing up the number of SAMS and later hours to provide a better street presence. In my personal view (not an official DNA view) it makes sense for all neighborhood beneficiaries to be a member of the DBID. However, I do not see it in terms of more SAMS on our streets or in terms of funding the existing level of services. I think we should join, but only if the DBID can “step up” their efforts for a clean downtown to a beautiful downtown with a defining theme of flowers, trees and greenery throughout our neighborhood. I would like to see their collaboration with the National Park Service to expand to provide us with cleaner, safer parks that can be destination places for neighbors to meet along with playgrounds so that our children, grandchildren, and young visitors have fun urban amenities.
In short, the Downtown Business Improvement District is a resource that we benefit from. The time has come to define our relationship in a way that further improves the quality of life in our neighborhood and gives us a voice in the future of the DBID.
What do you think?
Comments are encouraged, especially concerning whether the Downtown Neighborhood Association should take an active position on this question.
Miles E. Groves
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Trash Collection Noise Abatements Act
Most Common Complaint
The most common complaint we receive relate to noise from events, dance clubs and taverns, and early morning trash haulers. Apparently, at least in terms of trash haulers, the council passed legislation that provides some protection. DCRA is working the Office of the Attorney General to create the regulations and process by which the law will be enforced. We have no clue of when these regulation will be ready or what kind of neighborhood training will be developed. However, you can now file a complaint by going to www.dcra.dc.gov site and selecting the Trash Truck Noise option.
Guidance from DCRA Director Linda Argo
Last year the Council enacted the Trash Collection Noise Abatements Act (DC Law 17-259, effective November 19, 2008), whereby residents fill out a complaint form and attach photographic evidence of after-hours trash collections. DCRA will review the complaints and evidence, and then could issue a citation to the alleged violator without the need for a DCRA inspector to witness the violation. DCRA is working with the Office of the Attorney General on the regulations and forms for implementing the law. Once the law is implemented, DCRA will conduct an education campaign to let residents know the procedures for filing a complaint.
The relevant trash collection regulation (20 DCMR 2806) prohibits noise from trash collections between the hours of 9 pm and 7 am, Monday through Saturday (with the exception of holidays) in residential, special purpose, or waterfront zones, or within 300 feet of any of these zones. Violators can be issued citations by a DCRA inspector or an MPD officer.
DCRA Actions
Because DCRA has received several complaints of noise from after-hours trash collections, they are taking the following actions:
First, if they receive complaints that identify the trash collection company, DCRA will check their business records to see if the company is licensed to operate in the District. If it is, then a letter will be sent to their corporate address notifying them of their legal obligation to comply with the trash collection provisions of the D.C. Municipal Regulations. If they are not licensed, then we will send a letter to their corporate address notifying them of their legal obligation to properly license their company and their trucks if they are doing business in the District, and the amount of fines they can be issued for failure to comply.
Second, where complaints of after-hour trash collections regularly occurring at certain times in a particular location, DCRA can send out an investigator to visit that area. If the investigator finds any unlicensed trash operators or any after-hours trash collections, he or she can issue citations.
Third, DCRA will be sending a letter to all licensed trash collection companies operating in the District notifying them that we have received complaints about after-hours trash collections, that such collections violate DC noise control laws, and that the company risks a fine for any future violations.
Will This Work?
It is great to see legislation addressing a problem that plagues us throughout our Downtown Neighborhood. The critical challenge will be responsiveness and enforcement. DCRA Director Linda Argo will be at our June 9th meeting and we hope she can address the enforcement process fully, then. If you are having problems, check out their web site and file a complaint. You can also send me a note that you have filed a complaint and together, we can track the result.
Miles E. Groves
Email: miles@dcdna.org
The most common complaint we receive relate to noise from events, dance clubs and taverns, and early morning trash haulers. Apparently, at least in terms of trash haulers, the council passed legislation that provides some protection. DCRA is working the Office of the Attorney General to create the regulations and process by which the law will be enforced. We have no clue of when these regulation will be ready or what kind of neighborhood training will be developed. However, you can now file a complaint by going to www.dcra.dc.gov site and selecting the Trash Truck Noise option.
Guidance from DCRA Director Linda Argo
Last year the Council enacted the Trash Collection Noise Abatements Act (DC Law 17-259, effective November 19, 2008), whereby residents fill out a complaint form and attach photographic evidence of after-hours trash collections. DCRA will review the complaints and evidence, and then could issue a citation to the alleged violator without the need for a DCRA inspector to witness the violation. DCRA is working with the Office of the Attorney General on the regulations and forms for implementing the law. Once the law is implemented, DCRA will conduct an education campaign to let residents know the procedures for filing a complaint.
The relevant trash collection regulation (20 DCMR 2806) prohibits noise from trash collections between the hours of 9 pm and 7 am, Monday through Saturday (with the exception of holidays) in residential, special purpose, or waterfront zones, or within 300 feet of any of these zones. Violators can be issued citations by a DCRA inspector or an MPD officer.
DCRA Actions
Because DCRA has received several complaints of noise from after-hours trash collections, they are taking the following actions:
First, if they receive complaints that identify the trash collection company, DCRA will check their business records to see if the company is licensed to operate in the District. If it is, then a letter will be sent to their corporate address notifying them of their legal obligation to comply with the trash collection provisions of the D.C. Municipal Regulations. If they are not licensed, then we will send a letter to their corporate address notifying them of their legal obligation to properly license their company and their trucks if they are doing business in the District, and the amount of fines they can be issued for failure to comply.
Second, where complaints of after-hour trash collections regularly occurring at certain times in a particular location, DCRA can send out an investigator to visit that area. If the investigator finds any unlicensed trash operators or any after-hours trash collections, he or she can issue citations.
Third, DCRA will be sending a letter to all licensed trash collection companies operating in the District notifying them that we have received complaints about after-hours trash collections, that such collections violate DC noise control laws, and that the company risks a fine for any future violations.
Will This Work?
It is great to see legislation addressing a problem that plagues us throughout our Downtown Neighborhood. The critical challenge will be responsiveness and enforcement. DCRA Director Linda Argo will be at our June 9th meeting and we hope she can address the enforcement process fully, then. If you are having problems, check out their web site and file a complaint. You can also send me a note that you have filed a complaint and together, we can track the result.
Miles E. Groves
Email: miles@dcdna.org
Monday, May 4, 2009
Deputy Mayor Neil Albert Comments
April Discussion Leader
Our primary discussion leader at our April meeting was Neil Albert, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Planning. He covered the breadth of public space development across downtown including the convention center hotel, CityCenterDC, The Arts at 5th and Eye Streets, Franklin School, and the Louis Dreyfus 395 air rights project. In short, despite the slowdown, we have a lot of development activity in the pipeline.
City Economy in Good Shape
Deputy Mayor Albert shared that our city economy is in good shape, especially when compared with neighboring Virginia and Maryland and we continue to benefit from lots of development. He discussed the mayor’s commitment to no tax increases, buttressed by efforts to reduce overhead by 15 percent and a focus on efficiencies. He noted that city government had been growing at an unsustainable rate of 8 to 11 percent over the past decade.
Development Projects
He discussed many of the projects that are currently in some phase of development in our neighborhood. Those he discussed include:
Overall, we were treated to a candid, educational, and occasionally humurous discussion and a commitment to include us in the developement process.
Our primary discussion leader at our April meeting was Neil Albert, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Planning. He covered the breadth of public space development across downtown including the convention center hotel, CityCenterDC, The Arts at 5th and Eye Streets, Franklin School, and the Louis Dreyfus 395 air rights project. In short, despite the slowdown, we have a lot of development activity in the pipeline.
City Economy in Good Shape
Deputy Mayor Albert shared that our city economy is in good shape, especially when compared with neighboring Virginia and Maryland and we continue to benefit from lots of development. He discussed the mayor’s commitment to no tax increases, buttressed by efforts to reduce overhead by 15 percent and a focus on efficiencies. He noted that city government had been growing at an unsustainable rate of 8 to 11 percent over the past decade.
Development Projects
He discussed many of the projects that are currently in some phase of development in our neighborhood. Those he discussed include:
- The Convention Center Hotel, funded by $152 million in Tax Increment Funding dollars will not be completed until 2012. In order to be competitive, our convention center must have the hotel.
- CityCenterDC is moving forward and the deputy mayor was 85 percent sure that we would have a ground breaking this year.
- The Arts at 5th & Eye negotiations continue between the developer group and the city. The deputy mayor was 99.75 percent sure that an agreement would close and that the project would go forward.
- He acknowledged our interest in the development of the Franklin School property. There will be a request for expressions of interest going out soon to help the city review possible uses for this property before any formal RFP process begins. He promised to engage downtown residents in the process as it goes forward.
- The Louis Dreyfus project puts a top on highway 395 with mixed-use development including commercial, retail, and residential uses included. They had shared at an earlier ANC meeting plans to locate the Jewish Historical building to the west lawn of The Building Museum, a plan that DNA had objected too. He shared that they would prepare the new location and that there would be no intermediate temporary location.
Overall, we were treated to a candid, educational, and occasionally humurous discussion and a commitment to include us in the developement process.
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