headcand.gif (1946 bytes)
hruler04.gif (5511 bytes)
DCWatch home  Archives home

Back to Anthony Williams’ main page

An Open Memorandum to District Residents

THE WARD SEVEN STORY, Part III Neighborhoods

Kevin P. Chavous, Councilmember., 1992 — Present

As we enter the final phase of the 1998 Campaign for Mayor, it is mandatory that we review carefully and critically the conditions of our neighborhoods. Since it is commonly acknowledged that neighborhoods are the crux of a city as they reflect the very quality of life of the citizenry it is most important that we elect a Mayor who will give time and attention to them. Therefore, the Ward 7 Ad Hoc Committee determined that 'The Ward 7 Story" must include an analysis of the current status of specific areas of our community.

II. Process

During the first week of August, 1998, various ANC Commissioners, Civic Association Presidents, Representatives of Organizations, and long term residents of areas were contacted and asked to answer three questions:

  1. What is the condition of your neighborhood?
  2. What has Mr. Chavous done to improve conditions in your neighborhood?
  3. What are specific areas/issues of concern in your neighborhood?

This report outlines the collected unedited responses. Neighborhoods covered are: River Terrace, Greenway, ANC 7D03, Mayfair, Paradise, Eastland Gardens, Deanwood, Burrville, ANC 7D03, Northeast Boundary, Capitol View, Benning Ridge, Dupont Park, Fort Davis, ANC 7B Neighborhoods.

III. Respondents’ Reports

Roathy Williams
Community Worker, Resident, 35 years
Mary Ruff
Community Worker, Resident 48 years

River Terrace

  1. "We have vacant houses, potholes in streets and alleys; we have talked with Mr. Chavous on many occasions and this does not include the youngsters selling drugs, leaving trash, and vandalizing vacant houses. Councilmember. Chavous is aware of all of this. This takes place in River Terrace."
  2. "As stated above, Mr. Chavous has not responded to our concerns."
  3. All trees in River terrace are in need of pruning. Potholes (locations): 36th Street Alley (4), 36th Street (2), 3400 block of Clay St., rear of Varick Church (Anacostia Avenue and Clay Street 33rd and Clay Streets, 300 block of 34th Street, (has been patched periodically since water line break over a year ago)., Alley between 34th Place and 34th Street.
    Abandoned Cars in River Terrace: 34th Street and Baker Street Alley
    Vacant Houses/Buildings: Anacostia Avenue, Clay Street, 34th Place
    Need for stump removal on Eads Street
    Overgrown Areas/Uncollected Trash: 36th Street is a total mess, under mural near Briggs; Benning Road (between 34th and 36th Street, NE

Question: What is the plan for the proposed "Kiddie Lot'' (36th and Eads Street, NE)?

Herman Greene
Commissioner ANC 7D05, Resident 50 + years, Ward 7

  1. The condition of the neighborhood is "fair" There are overgrown areas, inattention to service delivery, lack of information to citizens from Public Works and the Councilmember. with no communication or return of calls or other response to attempts to seek information.
  2. Mr. Chavous has done nothing to improve the neighborhood.
  3. The long-standing problem of the traffic flow at NH Burroughs and Minnesota Avenue (with feeding from 1 295). The deteriorated bridge at NHBurroughs and Minnesota Avenue. Lack of respect to the neighborhoods in relation to activities in Kenilworth Park. No attempt by Councilmember. to establish a cooperative relationship among SMD (single member districts) of 7D. lack of any assistance, interest, or attention in the development of Parkside.

Samuel F. Bost
President, Far Northeast/Southeast Council, Inc.
Resident 18 years, Ward 7

  1. "Run-down; many dilapidated houses and overgrown lots that have become eyesores in the neighborhood".
  2. "Nothing; in fact my neighborhood has continued a steady downhill course, getting worse and worse, especially over the past seven years."
  3. Specific concerns are housing in the neighborhood, extreme concern about drug activity in the neighborhood and overgrown lots.

Comment: "We have been promised each year of Mr. Chavous' "so-called service " as Councilmember. a comprehensive plan to establish regular days of service; this has never materialized".

Everett Lyles
ANC Commissioner 7C03, Long-term resident, Ward 7

  1. My area needs work on the "good old-boy" drug network. Housing needs work or demolition.
  2. Not a thing; this includes not being involved at Christmas when the neighborhood tried to provide Christmas boxes for the needy.
  3. No concern to the Drug Treatment Center at NH Burroughs and Division Avenues. General lack of economic development. Lack of housing rehabilitation.

Comment: "How can Mr. Chavous be a mayor for all communities when he has not been a Councilmember. for his own community?"

Earlene Butler
Community Worker since 1964, Deanwood resident since 1962

  1. Excessive rodents, pollution, lack of tree trimming, badly cared for hydrants, scores of pot holes, manholes need attention, inspection of areas after new homes are built is needed, drugs, abandoned cars, old tires, defacing of empty buildings, poor street lighting, need for better policing of vacant school areas.
  2. Chavous is unresponsive to community needs. I have never seen him in my neighborhood other than to get votes.
  3. What happened to growth of small businesses since he has taken office? The current growth was prior to his coming into office.

The improper encroachment of questionable businesses along the Minnesota Avenue/Sheriff Road corridor, i.e. Duval Auto business, trailer curbside businesses (sales-on-wheels) on Sheriff near 44th Street..

Alice Chandler
Former ANC Commissioner ANC 7C0 3; Resident 49 years; family since June, 1946

  1. Environmental and business concerns head my list of concerns in my area. The services rendered on this side of the ward are deplorable. My alley looks like a war torn zone in comparison to the well paved alleys in other parts of the city. Businesses which are incompatible to the surrounding community are allowed to prevail. The community which was the mainstay of the black community East of the River has been allowed to be the doormat of those things which are not wanted elsewhere. A drug center and a recycling center which have outgrown their locations.
  2. He has helped to keep the community in its deplorable condition through lack of action, lack of follow through, and lack of knowledge of the ward.
  3. Division Avenue and Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue, NE Drug treatment center, food store which needs to change old refrigeration coils, abandoned buildings, decaying home, and a trash transfer station within three hundred feet of R2 housing, a food store, and a five story nursing facility Other places throughout the community suffer from inadequate alleys and other residential concerns.

Catherine Woods
ANC Commissioner 7D03; Lifelong resident, Ward 7

  1. In a word, "seedy." We have an abundance of deteriorating and/or deserted properties and it is often difficult to discern whether the property has been abandoned or simply neglected by the residents. Places of business are in the same state. Our area had been a little garden spot not too long ago; a middle-lower middle class working neighborhood in which everyone took a great deal of pride in their personal property and the community, as well. With time, this attitude has eroded - older residents (homeowners) have moved, become disabled or died. In their place we have an influx of apparently transient persons who obviously take no interest in their habitats. It is my view that the lack of attention given this community by local officials is a major contributor to the steady demise of the area. All of the public properties in this area - whether it be the precinct house, the firehouse, the schools, and schoolyards, the areas around bus stops, or "pocket parks" — are also in a deteriorating state. We have the most unattractive public facilities and public spaces one could imagine.
    Couple this shortcoming with a general lack of public services, i.e. trash pick up, litter abatement and control, cutting of grass, weeds, trees and undergrowth on public space, whether curbside or schoolyard, maintenance of streets and alleys, and others, and you have a scene generally referred to as "urban blight." We need the full cooperation of public officials if we have any hope of stemming the tide of deterioration. Instead, they have turned a deaf ear to our requests, i.e. pleas, for service and assistance. As an example, I had an appointment this very morning with a representative of the DPW to tour the neighborhood to pinpoint problem areas for which we are seeking assistance and/or redress. After waiting at the prearranged meeting site for 30 minutes, I gave up in despair - just another example of a disinterested public official who not only was a "no-show" but did not even have the courtesy to contact me to change the appointment and/or to apologize. I was not, however, shocked and dismayed. After nearly 8 years as ANC for 7D03, I have become inured to this treatment. It is the rule rather than the exception. Pardon us, if we expect more form our government.
    We would like government to lend a hand, to take an active interest in our community, to share our concern and reflect that interest and concern by responding appropriately to our calls for help.
  2. 1 am not aware of any specific action (proactive) that he has taken to help with the problems we face at the grassroots level.
  3. See the response to number 1, above, for some specifics. In addition, I would note the continuing lack of police presence (as previously promised — many times) in our neighborhood. What ever happened to out "beat" patrolmen? I saw them once or twice — several years ago. In that connection, we have a major problems with traffic violations, which endanger the residents, particularly children. I would cite such things as excessive speed through residential corridors, failure to stop at signs; jumping signs and signals; etc.
    And repeating, we need a responsive government to help us with the problems we identify. We are willing to do what we can to foster community pride and, in turn, community initiated efforts to stem the deterioration we are experiencing but we do need help from the public sector to make things happen.

Julius Ware
Former ANC Commissioner, Greenway; Worker 8 years, Ward 7

  1. Poor to fair; below average
  2. He has done nothing that I know of directly.
  3. Trees are growing up through pavement in streets and alleys, alleys and streets are not clean, neighborhood has fear-feelings of insecurity; no economic development that the community wants or needs, proliferation of liquor stores, and missing and discontinued sidewalks.

Lorraine H. Whitlock
First Vice President, FNESE Council, Inc. Resident 48 years, Northeast Boundary Civic Area

  1. Deplorable; the victim of shameful neglect and lack of concern. Watts Branch is a disgrace and the problems this engenders are overwhelming. It is long past time for new leadership if there is to be assistance to neighborhoods
  2. Absolutely nothing; there is no evidence that he is even aware of the problems.
  3. Watts branch, particularly Foote Street between 47th Street, and 48 Place, NE is like a jungle with attendant problems — crime, drug-dealing, dumping, abandoned, stolen autos (often torched and left on the street for indefinite periods.) (Ex. a stolen semi stayed on Foote Street for the entire month of May), health safety, and security problems. Streets with discontinued or no sidewalks, streets and sidewalks broken, numerous large and small potholes, overgrown lots, boarded-up houses, need for rebuilding/revitalization — NH Burroughs corridor 49th Street to Eastern Avenue and Dix Street corridor 58th Street to Eastern Avenue (both were targeted by Councilmember. in 1993), unswept median strips and small parks, lack of maintenance of Watts Recreation Center grounds, environmental problems related to the closure of Richardson Elementary and Kelly Miller Junior High Schools — overgrowth, abandoned cars, torching cars, tire-storage, trash and debris — you name it — eye sores and blights on the residential community.

Duke Simpson
Community Worker, Long term resident, Capitol View, Ward 7

  1. It is not like it used to be. Frankly, speaking, it is much worse; even the "kids" recognize the difference".
  2. Nothing; we are not getting help at all.
  3. The Condition of the East Capitol Dwellings. Thankfully, the problems of filth and drug-dealing at Central and Southern Avenues has been cleared up with the Metropolitan and Maryland police working together.

Linda Jo Smith
President, Benning Ridge Civic Association, Resident 21 years, Ward 7

  1. Very poor, because of the state of boarded up houses and apartments, lack of adequate police service, numerous potholes, the condition of the streets and delayed repairs, lack of response from the Councilman and his staff.
  2. He hasn't done anything. He came out when he was running for office and we haven't seen him since.
  3. 5000 block of Benning Road, crime in the area, boarded-up houses on Hillside Road, lack of maintenance and follow-through of the "Clean Up" of Woodlawn Cemetery

Question: What role did Mr. Chavous play in the "Clean Up" of Benning Terrace?

Lillian Chatmon
Past President, Fort Davis Civic Association Resident 37 years, Ward 7

  1. Since Kevin Chavous has been Councilmember. conditions have remained the same in the Fort Davis area, despite efforts by concerned citizens to get his help. The following issues have not been addressed even after specific requests for assistance.
    The Fort Davis Shopping Center, apartment building at 1800 Fort Davis Street, SE, personnel and programs at the Fort Davis Community Center, environmental problems such as tree trimming, streets in need of paving and repair.
  2. Promises, promises with no action.
  3. In addition to the above-mentioned; need for additional police officers, areas of "open-air" drug dealing, stolen cars, and traffic infringements.

Doris Cooper
Treasurer, DuPont Park Civic Association; Resident 35 years, Ward 7

  1. Mr. Chavous has not had a prominent presence in the Ward 7 community.
  2. He has not provided active support to the needs of the Ward 7 community.
  3. Specific areas of concern are conditions of streets, O Street Wall (no focus on repair or support for repair); promise to introduce legislation against proliferation of group homes has not been fulfilled, lack of focus on ensuring that adequate resources are directed to improving our education system.

Comment: "Chavous has done little to ensure that teachers have textbooks, training aids and supplies to effectively teach our children."

Vincent Spaulding
ANC Commissioner 7B05, Chairman, Skyland Revitalization Task Force
Ward 7 Neighborhood Report for ANC 7B Neighborhoods

  1. The ANC 7B neighborhoods are in need of more police officers on the streets, better schools, economic development, and improved delivery of public services. The PSA form of policing is making improvements in the quality of services, however, the police are in dire need of additional squad cars and equipment. The public schools are in need of better qualified teachers and modern facilities/equipment for educating our children. The citizens of our neighborhoods want to spend their dollars in the District of Columbia, however, there are insufficient commercial centers that are safe, attractive and inviting for shopping. Shopping centers in ANC 7B provide a "poor" offering of goods and services, therefore, most citizens spend their dollars outside of the District of Columbia. Overall, the conditions of our neighborhoods are suffering from a need of better services and improved management from the District of Columbia Government.
  2. During the mayoral campaign Councilmember. Chavous has promoted himself as being pro-neighborhood within his own Ward. Within ANC 7B, the citizens have essentially done for themselves with little or no assistance from the Councilmember's office. Councilmember. Kevin Chavous has failed the citizens of Ward 7 in terms of providing proactive out front leadership and political influence in support of neighborhood needs. A specific example of a missed opportunity in the area of economic development follows:

Economic Development
Neighborhood Restaurant Within Ward 7: Opportunity Missed

During the planning and development of the Good Hope Market Place Shopping Center within Ward 7 on Alabama Avenue, SE, the citizens who live in the surrounding neighborhoods expressed a strong desire for the shopping center to include a full service "sit down" restaurant. The Safeway Corporation and the Developer for the project agreed to try to get a national chain such as Shoney's, Perkins, or Denny's to open a restaurant within the Good Hope Market Place. The Skyland Revitalization Task Force (SARTF) which consists of representatives from ANC 7B, area civic organizations, local clergy, 7D/6D Police Department, area schools, DPW, business merchants and local community residents, led the push to get a "sit down" restaurant in the Good Hope Market Place. Councilmember. Kevin Chavous was aware of the community's strong desire for a "sit down" restaurant, but provided no proactive out front leadership or commitment in support of the community achieving this goal. Opportunities, such as working with a local restaurant to get funding were not pursued. The Good Hope Market Place officially opened February, 1998 without a "sit down" restaurant. The only food service included in the shopping center is a Pizza Hut pick up and delivery store. If Councilmember. Chavous had been willing to put the full influence and political muscle of his office behind this project a restaurant in the Good Hope Market would be a reality today. Talking the talk, but not being willing to walk the walk in terms of working to accomplish needed community based quality of life services is Am; not political leadership. POC: Vincent Spaulding, Commissioner ANC 7BO5, Chairman SARTF.

3. On Saturday, January 18, 1997 ANC 7B and Councilmember. Kevin Chavous joined together to identify the ten most important issues and needs facing the far S.E. section of Ward 7 and to implement a plan of action (POA) to develop solutions. The top ten issues /needs facing ANC 7B broken down by priority during the meeting are:

1. Public Safety
2. Education/Recreation
3. Economic Development
4. Public Service
5. Environment
6. Community Based/Residential Facilities
7. Public Transportation
8. Senior Citizens
9. Health Services
10. Government Accountability

These ten priority issues/needs were arrived at after consultation with the civic associations and ANC 7B community leaders. Subsequent to the above meeting there for has been no leadership from the office of Councilmember. Chavous oriented specifically towards addressing the foregoing issues/needs. To the extent that action has been taken to address these matters, the leadership has come from various members of the ANC 7B community.

IV. Conclusion

Neighborhoods in Ward 7 are in a miserable, pathetic state. Councilmember. Chavous has been totally ineffective in providing any assistance for their improvement. Thus, serious outstanding areas of extreme concern continue to lead to corrosion of the ''quality of life" in Ward 7.

An article in The Washington Post, August 16, 1998 states that another Councilmember. "whacks" candidate Kevin P. Chavous with "My man, Mr. Chavous, is the man for neighborhoods, but he hasn't done anything for neighborhoods". How true!

Given the deplorable conditions under which we are living, the question is, "Where has the Councilman been; what has he been doing for the past five and one half years?"

Take a long, hard look at your neighborhood. Ward 7 is an accident waiting to happen!

PAID FOR BY INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS OF WARD 7


Send mail with questions or comments to webmaster@dcwatch.com
Web site copyright ©DCWatch (ISSN 1546-4296)