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:
- What is the condition of your neighborhood?
- What has Mr. Chavous done to improve conditions in your neighborhood?
- 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
- "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."
- "As stated above, Mr. Chavous has not responded to our concerns."
- 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
- 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.
- Mr. Chavous has done nothing to improve the neighborhood.
- 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
- "Run-down; many dilapidated houses and overgrown lots that have become eyesores in
the neighborhood".
- "Nothing; in fact my neighborhood has continued a steady downhill course, getting
worse and worse, especially over the past seven years."
- 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
- My area needs work on the "good old-boy" drug network. Housing needs work or
demolition.
- Not a thing; this includes not being involved at Christmas when the neighborhood tried
to provide Christmas boxes for the needy.
- 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
- 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.
- Chavous is unresponsive to community needs. I have never seen him in my neighborhood
other than to get votes.
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
- 1 am not aware of any specific action (proactive) that he has taken to help with the
problems we face at the grassroots level.
- 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
- Poor to fair; below average
- He has done nothing that I know of directly.
- 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
- 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
- Absolutely nothing; there is no evidence that he is even aware of the problems.
- 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
- It is not like it used to be. Frankly, speaking, it is much worse; even the
"kids" recognize the difference".
- Nothing; we are not getting help at all.
- 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
- 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.
- He hasn't done anything. He came out when he was running for office and we haven't seen
him since.
- 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
- 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.
- Promises, promises with no action.
- 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
- Mr. Chavous has not had a prominent presence in the Ward 7 community.
- He has not provided active support to the needs of the Ward 7 community.
- 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
- 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.
- 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 |