By B.K. Lunde
On March 12, the Commission heard a presentation by Cecille Chen, head of SWNA’s SW Heritage project on plans to install a Public Information Display near the Waterfront Metro Station, by the door of Safeway. It will show when the next trains are coming and have information about the attractions in our neighborhood, such as the plays at Arena Stage and the cruises on the river. The ANC voted to send a letter to the DC Department of Transportation supporting the development of the display.
Bridget Gonzales of the group, PAWS of Southwest reported on their proposal to create a dog park, as a place for dogs to socialize and get exercise, off leach. The ANC agreed to write a letter to the DC Department of Parks and Recreation recognizing the PAWS of Southwest and supporting its work for a dog park. They have identified Lansburgh Park is a suitable location. Two hundred and sixteen people have signed a petition for the park.
Gene Solon pointed out that the developers of the proposed Wharf project have not yet presented an Environmental Impact Statement for the development, and that the National Marine Fisheries Service has questioned the five piers that The Wharf propose building into the Washington Channel in their $1.5 billion project.
The Cherry Blossom Festival will go on from March 20-April 17. Saturday, April 7, will be the special time for Southwest Washington. From 1-9 PM, Water Street is expected to attract 30,000 people for various events from the U.S. Army Band to Nen Daiko Japanese Drummers. Thirty minutes of fireworks, brought over from Japan, will start at 8:30.
Barbara Ehrlich, a prominent Southwester, is the Secretary of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. She reported that the Washington Examiner will have a huge guide to the entire festival and a 96 page booklet will be distributed at events. Jay Nickerson, chair of the Washington Waterfront Association announced 25 art projects to be unveiled at the Cherry Blossom Festival, including a very large xylophone to be installed in front of Arena Stage. People will be allowed to play it with provided hammers. Also, a floating pentagon, eleven feet across, is coming to the Washington Channel. It will play songs from World War 1 through the Washington DC protests of the 1960’s, but not late at night.
The ANC Commissioners passed a Resolution of Appreciation for Dr. Coralie Farlee in recognition of her devoted service for six years as the first Chairman of the ANC’s Alcohol Beverage Control Committee. They said she “brought focus to a process that was previously handled in less than a tidy manner and has solidly established a reputation for our Southwest and near SE neighborhood as one which handles our alcohol beverage control issues with business like precision so that applicants know where they stand and what they need to do to expedite the regulatory process – all the while protecting the greater interests of our neighborhood residents” Dr. Coralie Farlee resigned, and the board appointed Christopher Thiemann as the Chairman of the Alcohol Beverage Control Committee.
The next regular business meeting of ANC 6D is scheduled for Monday, April 9 at 7 p.m., in the District Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) Hearing Room, 1100 Fourth St. SW, 2nd Floor. For additional information or a meeting agenda, visit www.acn6d.org.