Manor Park News You Can Use

Vacant Property

I have been notified that the vacant and blighted property at 205 Oglethorpe Street NW was not accepted by the Board of Condemnation and Insanitary Conditions.  The property was inspected and cited for two infractions but because it was not found to be insanitary, they did not accept the case.  I am working with Councilmember Lewis George's office on other ways to resolve this situation, before the property deteriorates further.

245 Peabody Street NW - Former Mennonite Church

The former Mennonite Church at 245 Peabody Street NW, in ANC 4B07, has submitted an application with the Board of Zoning and Adjustments (BZA) to become a child development center.  Commissioner Cohen, 4B07 has provided the below information in his most recent newsletter:

On February 20th, Councilmember Cohen held a special SMD meeting to discuss this proposed location.  The video can be found here.  If you need assistance accessing the video, please contact Commissioner Cohen at 4b06@anc.dc.gov.

In addition to the BZA application, Commissioner Cohen has also sent a letter outlining areas of concern, some of which were discussed during the February 20th meeting.  I will be working with the Commissioner on this issue as any proposal will affect the residents of ANC 4B06 as well as 4B07.  

Commissioner Cohen has compiled a list of questions from his February 20th meeting into a Google Doc.  He also created a short survey that I'm hoping everyone can complete. I'd like to try and get a better understanding of how neighbor concerns line up based on where they live in proximity to the property. 

On March 15, 2024, Commissioner Cohen and I sent a letter to the Office of Planning regarding our concerns in the hope they will investigate and include them in their report to the BZA.  We are awaiting a response.  

BZA Application 21101, requests a new child development center at 245 Peabody Street, NW. The Zoning Regulations require that the proposed use be evaluated as a special exception pursuant to Subtitle U § 203.1(h) https://online.encodeplus.com/regs/washington-dc/doc-viewer.aspx#secid-4556 and Subtitle X § 901.2(a) https://online.encodeplus.com/regs/washington-dc/doc-viewer.aspx#secid-5080.aspx.

The OP Report will be an evaluation of how the proposal meets these requirements.

A Child development Center (also referred to as a Daytime Care) is one of the non-residential uses that is deemed to be compatible with residential uses and are permitted to operate in residential zones, if they meet the standards outlined in the sections referenced above.  Since the proposal includes an addition to the building, it would also need to demonstrate that the building meets the development standards for that zone such as height, minimum lot area and lot width, floor area ratio (FAR), rear and side setbacks.

The application has also been referred to the Department of Transportation (DDOT) and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) for review.  DDOT will review for traffic impacts on the adjacent and area streets due to parking and pick-up and drop-off operations, while OSSE will review the need for this facility and how many children can be accommodated in the building.  Both departments will provide a report to the BZA on their findings.

DPW Service Level

The Special Waste Collection Events will be conducted twice quarterly.

Here are the dates for the future special waste collection events:

• Thursday, June 27^th from 10am to 2pm @ Anacostia Skate Park 1500 Anacostia Drive SE)
• Saturday, June 29^th from 8am to 2pm @ Cater Barron Tennis Center 1698 Kennedy St NW
• Thursday, September 19^th from 10am to 2pm @ Anacostia Skate Park
• Saturday, September 21^st from 8am to 2pm @ Carter Barron Tennis Center

The Department of Energy and Environment will still have E-cycling events. Visit https://doee.dc.gov/ecycle for more information.

Join the Mayor's Office of the Clean City at their "Roll-Off Days." Roll-off days rotate to different wards on Saturdays each month and allow residents to responsibly dispose of bulk trash, debris, and electronics to E-Cycle! For additional information visit Cleancity.dc.gov

Here's the schedule: 

Spring Services

Street cleaning, alley cleaning, mowing/grounds maintenance, and graffiti removal spring services resume April 1^st. Please contact 311 to request an alley cleaning or street cleaning.  For more information regarding DPW spring services visit dpw.dc.gov/page/spring-operations

Assigned Mechanical Street Sweeping resumed Monday, March 4^th. Parking enforcement issued warning tickets to vehicles parked during Street Sweeping hours for the first week. The warning period was from March 1 – March 10^th. On Monday, March 11^th parking enforcement began issuing $45 tickets and $100 relocation fines for vehicles parked on Assigned Mechanical Street Sweeping streets during sweeping hours. If your street is missed, please contact 311 to submit a Signed Street Sweeping Missed service request.

Unified Communication Center UCC

DPW is committed to delivering efficient and effective services to our residents and quickly resolving issues. As our partner in providing streamlined and effective resolutions, we wanted to share the best channels for residents to utilize.

In order to improve our customer service and our internal tracking mechanisms, DPW launched the Unified Communication Center (UCC) in November 2023 aimed at decreasing our response and resolution times. Through the UCC, we have consolidated our call centers and phone numbers into one accessible line. In February 2024, our average hold time was under 2 minutes, affirming our swift assistance for all callers. We also consolidated our emails into one central address. Each contact, whether by phone or email, is provided a Service Request (SR) if they don’t already have one. For a service inquiry, our representatives offer service information and pass along Service Level Agreement (SLA) benchmarks. In instances where an SR is past our SLA benchmarks, our operational escalation team intervenes to quickly resolve the outstanding request.  

To ensure smooth communication for everyone, as a first step, we kindly request you share the contact details of the UCC with all members in your office and constituents who reach out to you. This will make the service resolution process quicker for residents and raise awareness about DPW's new communication center. DPW’s leadership team is here to address continual issues or problems that have not been addressed satisfactorily by the UCC.  

The UCC is still new, and staff are still learning. If you have used the UCC, please share feedback on what’s working well and what needs improvement. We’d love to hear from you so we can continue to improve!  

UCC Phone: (202) 673-6833 (Mon – Fri) 8:30 am – 4:30 pm  

Central Email: dpw@dc.gov. 

In response to requests for additional time, we have decided to extend the deadline for submitting questions and concerns regarding DPW services. The new deadline is Tuesday, April 2nd, by 11:59 PM. We hope this extension provides ample opportunity for everyone to share their thoughts and inquiries effectively.

To facilitate this process, we have created a Microsoft Forms link where constituents can submit their questions and concerns. 

All submissions should be made by the specified deadline, as the form will close promptly on Tuesday, April 2nd, at 11:59 PM.

We kindly request that clear, concise, and detailed information be provided when completing the form, particularly regarding DPW services you would like addressed. It has come to our attention that some submissions have been brief, consisting only of "Yes" or "No" responses. Detailed input enables us to better understand your needs and concerns, thus allowing us to serve you more effectively.

Thank you for your cooperation. We look forward to receiving valuable input and addressing your constituent's questions and concerns during our upcoming 2^nd Quarterly Community Conversation.

Should you have any questions or require further assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Project Update - Manor Park

Week of March 25

Rittenhouse Street NW

• Monday, March 25 – Friday, March 29

• Throughout this week, we are performing water service reconnections to individual properties on Rittenhouse Street

Week of April

Rittenhouse Street NW

• Monday, April 1 – Friday, April 5

• Throughout next week, we will continue with water service reconnections to properties along Rittenhouse Street

5^th Street NW

• Wednesday, April 3 – Friday, April 5

• Next week, we will also be performing water service reconnections to properties along 5^th Street

Please keep in mind that these construction activities are highly dependent upon favorable weather conditions.

DC Budget Release

As was the case last week, we are still on the edge of our seats awaiting a budget release for the Council to review, and I hope to have more updates for you very soon. Once the Mayor’s budget is sent to the Council, we’ll begin to hold oversight hearings, including for the committee I chair, the Committee on Facilities and Family Services. Below, you can see our expected schedule for the Committee’s hearings. Click here to sign up to testify at our April 5, April 25, or May 2 hearing dates! Please keep in mind that it is possible we could still see slight changes in the exact dates. We expect the budget to be sent to the Council on April 3rd. However, we also know this is going to an extremely tight and complicated budget so we are preparing for any more last-minute changes that may come.

On Tuesday, we learned that DCPS will be forced to cut 200 school staff in the Mayor’s proposed budget. These cuts would take a toll on staff throughout our public schools, including our social-emotional educators, who play an integral role in making sure our students receive the educational support they need. I will continue to do everything in my power to protect our DCPS staff and encourage you to voice your support as well. If you’d like to attend next week’s hearing of the Committee of the Whole to give your testimony as the Council begins to review the budget, you can sign up using this link. The experience and testimony of our Ward 4 community members is one of the most important actions that can be taken to make sure our collective voices are heard and taken into account.

Ward 4 MOCR Community Update

During last week's ANC 4B meeting, our Ward 4 Mayor's Office of Community Relations Liaison, Sophia Sekola, referenced the below update from Mayor Bowser:

March Madness

Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) hosted the tenth annual March Madness, the District’s yearly business showcase of new real estate, housing, and workforce support initiatives. This year, March Madness highlighted new and ongoing opportunities to provide more quality affordable housing; programs to attract, retain, and support businesses; and other resources for District residents.

1. Upshur Recreation Center – 4300 Arkansas Ave NW, Ward 4

Budget: $19 million

Whittier Elementary School Modernization – 6201 5th Street NW, Ward 4

Budget: $65 million

211

D.C. was chosen by the Doris Duke Foundation’s Opportunities for Prevention and Transformation initiative, also known as Opt-in for Families to receive money to support new ways of helping families connect with resources, such as financial or mental health help.

The foundation is funding the program with $33 million, which will be split among the jurisdictions over three years. D.C. will use its almost $9 million to fund its 211 warmline, which connects families with social services.

E-bike

The District E-Bike Incentive Program is designed to help D.C. residents — especially those with low incomes — buy an e-bike using a voucher worth as much as $2,000, according to the D.C. Department of Transportation.

The first window for applications is only open to what DDOT called “Preferred Applicants,” from April 1 through April 15.

Secure DC

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser signed into law the new Secure D.C. Omnibus Amendment Act of 2024. It's a comprehensive piece of legislation designed to combat the crime crisis impacting lives across the city. The Secure D.C. Bill was a roughly 100-page piece of legislation passed by the DC Council earlier this month.

OSSE

Dr. Christina Grant, who has served as D.C.'s state superintendent of education since 2021, said Monday that she is stepping down at the end of this school year to lead a research center at Harvard University.

Mayor Bowser Announces New Investments in High-Impact Tutoring and Reimagining High School: At the summit, Mayor Bowser shared the following FY25 investments:

• $4.8 million to continue high-impact tutoring
• $5 million to support the reimagination of high school, including programming at the existing Advanced Technical Center in Ward 5, dual enrollment expansion, and the Advanced Internship Program and Career Ready Internships
• $17 million to open a new health clinic, in partnership with Children’s National Hospital, to provide health care services and training for students at the existing Advanced Technical Center in Ward 5
• $600,000 to open a new Advanced Technical Center at the Whitman-Walker Max Robinson Center in Ward 8

Returning Citizens: The READY Center was opened by Mayor Bowser in 2019 to serve as a one-stop-shop where returning citizens can access a wide range of essential post-release services from District agencies and community-based organizations. So far in FY24, over 3,100 individuals released from federal and local custody have received a variety of pre- or post-release services from the READY Center.

 Services offered at the READY Center include:

• Streamlined Access to Identification/Vital Documents
• Public Benefit Application Assistance (TANF, SNAP, Medicaid)
• Subsidized and Unsubsidized Employment and Skills Training
• Education and Vocational Training Resources
• Referrals for Behavioral Health Services
• Financial Literacy Services
• Referrals for Substance Use Intervention
• Reentry Case Management and Support Groups
• Clothing and Essential Resources

DC Futures:

The DC Futures program provides tuition, coaching and financial supports to DC residents pursuing their first associate or bachelor’s degree in high-demand career fields, including information technology, health science, and education. Funds remain available for the fall 2024 semester only.

DC Futures participants take classes at the University of the District of Columbia, the University of the District of Columbia Community College, and Trinity Washington University and receive up to $4,000 in tuition support.

DCTAG:

DCTAG is a federally funded program that pays the difference between in state and out-of-state tuition at schools attended by District students. Students are eligible to receive up to $10,000 towards tuition annually at public colleges nationwide and up to $2,500 towards tuition at private colleges in DC and private HBCUs. Interested students can apply for the DC Tuition Assistance Grant through the DC OneApp at dconeapp.dc.gov/.

Mayor’s Scholars Undergraduate Program:

The Mayor’s Scholars Undergraduate Program is a locally funded program that provides need-based assistance for eligible students earning their first associate or bachelor’s degree. Both incoming and current college students are eligible for this award program.

Students must apply to each program annually, so all 2023-24 applicants and awardees must reapply to be considered for 2024-25 awards. Applicants should follow each program’s application instructions and document requirements to ensure their application is complete.

Community Grants

Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) announced that applications are now being accepted for Rec for ALL Community Grants to support programs, activities, and events for District youth. The grants empower community-based organizations to engage youth ages 6-18 through recreation with an emphasis on those with barriers to access. The $3 million investment is expected to support at least 100 grants that will reach over 27,000 youth.

This year, the Rec for ALL Grants available for organizations include:

• Support Grants – Up to $5,000 that can be used to purchase equipment, supplies, or materials for existing programs. 
• Engagement Grants – Up to $10,000 to support field trips and other enrichment activities. 
• Event and Travel Grants – Up to $10,000 to provide travel to athletic competitions for youth groups. 
• Programming Grants – Up to $100,000 in funding geared toward established organizations to fund the expansion of new or existing recurring programs.  

Mayor Bowser Launches Applications for 2024 Robust Retail Grant Program

• Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) announced that applications are open for the 2024 Robust Retail Grant Program. Managed by DSLBD, the Robust Retail Grant Program supports retail businesses based in DC by offering $10,000 in small business grant funding. This year, 48 businesses will be awarded funding through a lottery selection process. The program is accepting applications from local businesses through Monday, April 15.

Various existing and new grant programs and procurement opportunities for DC businesses will be available through the DMPED cluster in fiscal year 2024.

Go to https://www.obviouslydc.com/fy24-business-funding-opportunities for more information.