As another cherry blossom season transpires, a brief reflection seems timely. We celebrate the phenomenon in spectacular fashion with the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Taking place in our front yard, the Festival has been recognized as one of the top three in the world. Each year it attracts over 1.5 […]
SW Small Area Plan: An Open Letter to the Office of Planning
The Office of Planning (OP) invited leaders of Southwest residential and community organizations to serve as an advisory committee toward the preparation of a Southwest Small Area Plan. This spring, OP has been soliciting the members’ support of its preliminary recommendations. However committee members have a range of significant […]
Developing a Growing Community
Last month Southwest community leaders came to an agreement with Telesis, the developers of the Randall School. For those not familiar with the development plan, over half of the existing structure will be demolished and a much larger, 130-foot building will rise in its place. The new complex will include […]
A Letter from SWNA to DCOP Regarding SW SAP, and Their Response
Dear Mrs. Bird The Southwest Neighborhood Assembly appreciates your efforts on behalf of the Office of Planning to develop a Small Area Plan for the heart of Southwest’s residential community. We were grateful to be part of September 11’s public kick-off meeting. After reviewing the residents’ feedback, we have a number of comments. […]
Save Southwest’s Open Spaces!
Southwest is a locus of development interest, from the waterfront to L’Enfant Plaza, from the Randall Rec Center to the Buzzard Point Soccer Stadium, not to mention our town center. This development brings energy and opportunity, whether it’s cash for recreational programming, added retail, or new tax revenue. Yet as […]
Scenes from the Early Days of Washington’s Pound
–An Unhappy Dog-Owner Eliza Jenkins charged John Wells and two other colored men employed by Poundmaster Einstein as dog-catchers with using profane language toward her. The men pursued dogs in the Division and she had come to the window and told them to let the dogs alone, when they began […]
The District Dog Pound Nominated as a Historic Landmark
The Southwest Neighborhood Assembly recently submitted to the city’s Historic Preservation Review Board a nomination to give protection to the southeastern portion of the Randall Rec Center. Now used for recreation purposes, the red brick building on the corner of South Capitol and I St SW, which sits across the […]