River East Emerging Leaders (R.E.E.L) hosting "Demystifying Development"

The River East Emerging Leaders (R.E.E.L) organization is hosting a community event titled "Demystifying Development".  I've blogged about a few of the development projects going on in our neighborhood and this is a great way to get first-hand information on the projects and how they will effect our community.  The details are below.  Please visit reeldc.org for more information.


When: Tuesday August 27, 2013

Time: 7 PM

Where: Department of Employment Services
4058 Minnesota Ave. NE
(Orange Line: Minnesota Ave Metro Stop)

MODERATOR:
Aaron Weiner - Washington City Paper

INVITED PANELISTS:
Harriet Tregoning - Director Office of Planning
Catherine Buell - Exec Director St Elizabeths East Campus
Mustafa Abdul Salaam - Ward 8 Workforce Development Council
Stan Voudrie - Four Points
Michael Stevens - Capitol Riverfront BID
Ron Harris - DC Community Organizer
Sandra "SS" Seegars - Ward 8 Community Organizer
RSVP: info@reeldc.org

Let's Play Ball!

 

Baseball is coming to Ward 7 and not just any ole' baseball, baseball with "Natitude".  The Washington Nationals in partnership with the DC Government and other generous donors are in the process of completing the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy Educational and Athletic center.  Per the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation's website the center will be "a year-round educational and athletic facility designed to provide high-quality after-school and summer learning programs for boys and girls in Washington, D.C., neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River."  

The center will be next to the Fort Dupont Ice Rink on Ely Place SE.

 Capitalcommunitynews.com reports that

the $15 million facility will house three types of baseball fields: regulation-size, youth, and softball. Additionally the academy will feature a two-story academic facility with classrooms, a “teaching kitchen,” and an indoor training area with batting cages. 

Here are a few pictures of the what's going on at the site now!

They have everything cleared out! By next Spring Ward 7 will have serious "Natitude"

Park 7 Project

My first official post was about the Park 7 development being built on the corner of Benning Rd and Minnesota Ave NE.  The $80 million development will hold over 300 housing units, (some affordable rentals and some market-rate condos), 23,000 square feet of retail space and underground parking.  This is located right beside the fairly new DC Government building, which is right beside the Minnesota Ave Metro station.  Hopefully the project will revitalize the retail options in the area and bring a much needed renewal to the community.

Here are a few pics of the progress

Rock and Roll Marathon Closures

Hello Minnies,

If you plan on getting around the city this Saturday, March 16th plan very carefully, many roads will be closed as early as 6am for the Rock and Roll Marathon.  According to the marathon's website closures begin at 7am but last year many major roads were closed by 6am.  The road closure grid says Minnesota Ave (from L'Enfant Square) will be closed from 9am to 1pm, but keep in mind the roads reopen as the last runners clear the area so it could be much later than 1pm.  Read the excerpt from their website below...

Most road closures and detours will be in effect between the hours of 7:00 am and 2:00 pm. The race begins at 7:30 am, and streets will reopen on a rolling basis as soon as the last participant has passed and all course support materials have been removed. Streets along the earlier miles of the route will open earlier than roads along the end of the route. Please review the road closure grid and course map for more information.  Residents and businesses located near the race course are urged to plan ahead and to be aware of road closure schedules and alternate access routes.

Visit the marathon's website for details and to see the course and a complete list of road closures http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/usa/road-closures.

On the bright side there will be a bandstand right on Minnesota Ave by Ft. Dupont Park so if you are stuck at least you can enjoy some music and watch the runners!

DCPS Finalized School Consolidation Plan Announced

Today, DCPS School Chancellor, Kaya Henderson revealed the much debated school consolidation plan.  Four schools in Ward 7 are on the final list of schools to be (closed) consolidated. The original proposal had five school in Ward 7 slated to be consolidated.  Smothers ES was spared. Here's the link to the DCPS website where you can read the plan in its entirety.

Here's another link to a graph on Washington Post's website.  Its shows the original proposal, the final decision and the justification.

http://apps.washingtonpost.com/g/page/local/dc-public-schools-closure-list-january-2013/25/