Neil O. Albert, outgoing deputy mayor for planning and economic development, is not happy with some of the D.C. Council's budget proposals. He dispatched a letter [PDF] today to councilmembers taking issue with several proposals contained in budget legislation scheduled for a second and final vote on Tuesday.

Two of the issues involve the fates of onetime public schools. For one thing, the council is proposing that the Grimke School, across Vermont Avenue NW from the east entrance of the U Street Metro stop and current home of the Fire and Emergency Medical Services department headquarters, to be reserved for the African-American Civil War Museum. That's a project headed and championed by former Ward 1 Councilmember Frank Smith. The problem, Albert writes, is that several developers have entered into a bidding process on the property, incurring "significant expense" to do so. He asks that the council allow the bidding process to continue.

Another point of contention regards the recently closed Bertie Backus Middle School, on South Dakota Avenue NE close to the Fort Totten Metro station.

Read More "Deputy Mayor Not Happy With Council Budget Moves" »

Yesterday, the Washington Post printed some very obvious news to anyone who's been on South Cap. Street in the past year: Nationals Park hasn't sparked much revitalizing in Southwest. The city spent $1 billion in infrastructure upgrades and developers have made huge holes in the ground and left a lot of buildings still vacant.

As the article states, District residents weren't just sold a new stadium paid for with public dollars. No. As an old story noted, they were sold the "Stadium District"--a full-service community of new retail and new museums and new parks. The city hasn't come close to a Stadium District. Last week, Fisher wrote about the missing neighborhood as well.

What spilled forth in Sunday's A1 article was a lot of excuse making on the part of city officials and developers.

My favorite:

"It just so happens that implementation is occurring during the worst economic downturn in recent history. So things are going to struggle a little bit," said Neil O. Albert, the District's deputy mayor for economic development.

Really? This effort had been planned for years--long before the recession and banking collapse. The reasons Nationals Park hasn't revitalized the neighborhood are too numerous. But let me try.

Read More "Nationals Park: No Revival Yet. Here Are A Few Reasons Why" »

From the desk of Shaw ANC Commissioner Alex Padro: Shiloh Baptist Church is back to making promises about its vacant properties stinking up around the Convention Center and its surrounding blocks. The church has announced "that they will present their current plans for all the vacant properties," Padro writes in an e-mail, at ANC 2C's meeting today at 6:30 p.m. at the Kennedy Recreation Center (1401 7th Street NW).

Before anyone gets their hopes up, the church has a long history of making promises and community presentations about its vacants. The promises have been going on for years. At different points, church leaders formed a community development corporation to deal with the properties. Among its proposals: a skyway connecting some of its buildings. Can anyone imagine a skyway on 9th Street?

Read More "Shiloh Baptist To Present Plans For Its Vacant Properties" »

14th & You has an update on the proposed hotel on U Street. The hotel looks massive and would dominate the block: "Designed in a style meant to emulate 'traditional' DC architecture, the hotel will top out at ten stories and include something in the neighborhood of 250 guest rooms." Ground floor would include retail (of course) which means the awesome Rite-Aid gets to stick around.

Bloomingdale (for now) has an update on the debate over the streetscape proposal around the Howard Theater.

The 42 reports that Park Road between 16th and Mount Pleasant Streets is getting its sidewalks back: "And they are much wider now than before. I'd say a good two feet wider. That formerly narrow stretch of sidewalk is much trafficked and was due for an upgrade any year now. Enjoy it."

D.C. Foodies tries out pulled pork from their slow cooker.

Frozen Tropics has a hot environmental tip: "Is this Washington, DC AAMCO station (1001 Bladensburg Rd NE) dumping transmission fluid down the sewer? At the least, it's spilled all over the ground. The fluid is still on the sidewalk..." The post includes pictures.

Our own Black Plastic Bag reports that Frodus is getting back together! The band is playing a show at Murky Coffee on Wednesday.

For the last two days, I've had the pleasure of driving around Ward 7---specifically in and out of the Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue NE corridor.

I had spent a ton of time there four years ago for a story about a father who got burned out of his house after he started fighting the local hoodlums. The hoodlums had great nicknames and a terrible alibi. The father had amazing kids, an antique shop on 14th Street NW (that's no more), and a failed dream to turn that home into a real home (it had a pool in the backyard).

Without a huge investment in development, it was interesting to see what has survived, what is boarded up, and what has overcome serious obstacles.

Read More "Winners And Losers Along Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue NE" »

DCmud reports that an Adams Morgan mixed-use development project has hit a roadblock---the tanking economy. The new residential has been nixed. The Popeyes has beaten death.

Borderstan warns 'Beware Roof Top Burglars in Borderstan." In other Borderstan news, the Borderstan name suddenly has some respectable converts in the media.

Free In DC highlights a show this Wednesday: "Community Sing with Ysaye Barnwell of Sweet Honey in the Rock will be this WED, Dec 17th at 7:00pm at the Levine School Campus at 2801 Upton St, NW. This is a wonderful opportunity to see, hear and sing along with Ysaye and the others in attendance. All are welcome, no musical training required." Sounds like there is gonna be some audience participation. Yikes.

One Photograph A Day posts an awesome photo of a window display featuring Obama, some bikini-clad ladies, and the Virgin Mary.

Congress Heights On The Rise has the details on tonight's Ward 8 Holiday Party. Hot and cold refreshments will be served.

The Vinyl District is posting MP3s of some great Beatles Christmas Fanclub records.

*photo courtesy of One Photograph a Day.

Prince of Petworth spotted some more storefront closings in Columbia Heights: Carvel and Cinnabon have closed. The two shops were located in the Tivoli. Isn't that now three storefronts that have failed in the renovated theater space?

Is Target to blame? Or is this simply that both shops were just sucky? They always seemed to have long lines but maybe this was because the service wasn't all that great. Is the great Columbia Heights renaissance over?

I feel foolish for even posing that question. I'm sure it isn't.