Keeping Tabs: More Bikes!

Giant grocery CaBi station

Big Red Bikes: Obtaining a Capital Bikeshare bike in Mount Pleasant may become easier, and soon. DDOT and Capital Bikeshare have decided where they'll be expanding the system this fall. There are 32 new stations scattered around the city. Mount Pleasant isn't getting a new station. However, we will benefit from one expanded station in the neighborhood and several nearby. The station at Lamont Park is slated for expansion; as are the stations at 16th and Harvard NW and at Giant grocery in Columbia Heights (Park Rd & Holmead Pl NW). Great news! 

Old Church, New Condos?: DC Mud updated us recently on the plight of Meridian Hill Baptist Church. It was heavily damaged in 2008 in the 3145 Mt Pleasant St fire. The church is located at 3146 16th Street NW, directly behind the aprtment building which caught fire (and destroyed).

Apparently, the structure will not become a church after renovation; it will become housing. Specifically, condos. According to DC Mud, 55-60 condos are slated to fill the structure which is nearly 100 years old, but has been vacant since the fire. The church's insurance and cash on hand weren't enough to fully rebuild over the years. Pretty sad. No word if any former 3145 residents will be able to secure housing in the Meridian Hill Church project. That would be just fantastic. More updates as they come. Have a great weekend folks. Be safe.

Meridian Hill Baptist Church hours after March 2008 fire.

Lost Angeles

One occurrence that did not come to pass while I was in LA last week was me getting lost. Another was was me driving a car. Nor was I late to dinner dates or denied a visit to any destination because of inaccessibility.

Later this week: how LA transit surprised me, delivered me to spots all over the county (and beyond) and how it stacks up to DC's Metro.

LA Metro bus arriving in Theater District

Photo Week: 16th and Columbia NW

Photo Week: Yards Park and DOT

Photo Week: Archives Snapshot

Photo Week: In the 9th

Photo Week: Kalorama Road NW

Photo Week: Bus Stop, Route 42

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Photo Week: Judiciary Square

Friday Fun Post: California Love

In honor of a much needed vacation, here's a sweet desintation: California, by Phantom Planet. All next week is photo week, enjoy.

National Portrait Gallery

Wow. Yards Park: Photos

This won't be one of DC's best kept secrets forever. Yards Park is a gem in Southeast DC. It is a few blocks from Nationals Park and about a 5 minutes' walk from the Navy Yard Metro station. Yards Park gives any DC park a run for its money including two of my favorites Meridian Hill and Georgetown Waterfront. The rest of the neighborhood development, also named "The Yards," is slowly taking shape, but the park stands mostly alone for now for public attractions in near SE. 

Here are a few photos that don't really do the park --developed through a public/private partnership-- much justice at all. The landscaping, seating, views and amenities help create several distinct "neighborhoods" including a wading pool & waterfall, terraced lawn, forested lounge area, shaded Anacostia River overlook, and boardwalk. It is also part of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail (PDF). This place is ready and waiting for the crowds, retail and special events. Really amazing. Get down there before summer is over and before the rest of the metro area catches on to this great addition to DC's public spaces.

Photos: Clownzzz

Children's Hospital is a satirical comedy show on the Cartoon Network. I've never seen it. But, I did see this: a creepy clown ad for the show in Adams Morgan. Next to Amsterdam Falafelshop. 

Clowns are creepy. Always have been. They are not nice, or fun, or entertaining. Just creepy. I mean, did you see "IT?" Yeah, enough said. I'm scared. Don't look at this photo or you'll be scared, too. Have a safe weekend and try to avoid looking at this photo. Or worse, the real thing. Scary.

Mount Pleasant Vigil for Jean Louis; Killed in Police Standoff

At some point a three weeks ago, during a daytime standoff in Mount Pleasant, Jean Louis was shot and killed by DC Metro Police. That marked the end of a chain of events that aren't all clear to me, but involved the closing of Mount Pleasant Street, deployment of special operations police teams and rooftop sharpshooters. All in the pursuit of one person who never left the building he was found in, and as far as I know was never lost track of, period. 

But, lost in all the details I don't know is that a real live person and resident of the neighborhood died, and I'm left to wonder why and how.

I don't know much about Jean Louis, except that he was male, and was middle aged at the time of his death. But others do and they are graciously coming forward to hold a vigil for him in Mount Pleasant next week. 

Several groups and individuals will hold an evening vigil next Thursday July 14, one month after his death. The location will be 1630 Irving Street NW and begins at 9:00pm.

From the organizers:

"On Thursday, July 14th at 9 pm there will be a vigil in front of the apartment building at 1630 Irving Street, N.W. where long time Mt. Pleasant resident Jean Louis was killed after an hours long standoff with police who had been called to assist in efforts by mental health workers to have him hospitalized for mental health treatment. Community groups have called for a full and complete investigation of the circumstances surrounding his death and the use of deadly force in the incident.

"Neighbors are gathering to recognize his life and the tragic circumstances surrounding his death", says Jose Sueiro, long time Mt. Pleasant resident and Director of Metro Diversity. "He was well known in the community and by those service providers involved in caring for the mentally ill".

Terry Lynch, a long time Mt. Pleasant resident and Executive Director of the Downtown Cluster of Congregations, has called on the police to release their report and for the City Council to consider holding hearings on how police assist in events such as these. "It is not clear at all that police and city mental health workers are using best practices......let's make sure that is the case and a tragedy like this does not happen again", he says. 

Clergy from Sacred Heart Church which has a large Haitian community will lead the vigil in prayer. The vigil is being organized by local business owners, the Downtown Cluster of Congregations, and DC Latinos United, a group dealing with immigrant rights and the defense of civil liberties."

Charlottesville Pedestrian Mall Could Be Model

Downtown pedestrian mall.

On a recent trip to the Virginia city of Charlottesville, VA I had a chance to enjoy its pedestrian mall. Initially it looks as if it could have been an organic, original part of the downtown, but it was constructed fairly recently, 1976. 

C'ville is small  --population 43,000-- but it has a defined downtown area with offices, shops and other city amenities. The pedestrian mall is a major presence there. It is about 8 blocks long and as wide as any other street downtown. One end is anchored by a 3,500 seat outdoor performance pavilion and a new green transit center. The pedestrian walkway of the mall is divided into three sections: two 15 foot wide walking areas adjacent to the shops on each side and a 30 foot wide median/plaza area with public art, seating, lighting and outdoor dining areas for the many restaurants on the strip. 

The city claims over 120 businesses on the mall. I saw a great mix: a museum, at least two really awesome indie coffee shops, multiple restaurants, art galleries, a cupcakery (of course!), a real theatre, a newer Regal movie theatre, sports bars, a hotel and much more. Also, City Hall! So, as far as retail options go, there was a decent mix. No residential buildings (that I saw), but institutional, open space, industrial, and commercial sectors were all represented. That's mixed-use by definition. My favorite aspect was outdoor seating for the restaurants. Made the whole 8 block expanse feel alive.

The only downside was that a few of the cross streets allowed automobile traffic. And drivers on those side streets often sped through with at least one in particular not respecting the fact that I was in the road and the fact that he had a stop sign. At only 8 blocks, I would have liked to see traffic forced around the whole pedestrian area. There is plenty of parking, including a massive surface lot (next to additional garages) only one block form the pedestrian mall. Pretty cool when the farmer's market is on the lot, but pretty unattractive at other times.

I'm wondering if the C'ville mall could be a model for a small scale similar set up in DC. We have residents in Cleveland Park asking for automobile controlled space to be turned back over to pedestrians. Adams Morgan is currently getting more sidewalk space for its patrons. And one of the largest downtown development projects in the nation is taking shape at City Center. Southeast DC has two decent examples of this with Eastern Market and surrounding streets closed off on the weekends as well as Half Street's closure during Nationals games. 

Where else could we incorporate a permanent pedestrian mall? 8th St NW b/t D and F? F St NW b/t 6th and 7th? M St in Georgetown (could you imagine?). Adams Morgan? Tweet me ideas @The42BusDC with #dcpedmall. Meanwhile, go Charlottesville. I was very impressed.

Cross-posted on Greater Greater Washington.

Transit center

Dining outside.

Friday Fun Post: Richmond Edition

Yay, one of my favorite bands and long time friends, Strike Anywhere. They're from my hometown, Richmond VA. This is "Infrared" from Exit English. Have a greeeeeaaaattt holiday weekend. Be Safe!