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Adrian M. Fenty is the closest D.C. has ever come to an imperial mayor. He refuses to answer questions about various business and personal trips. He hogs baseball tickets. He snaps his fingers and people get fired.

On April 23, the mayor appeared to be at it again. On a walk-through of Eckington, Fenty fixated on a “once beautiful, but very dangerous Victorian house,” as described in an e-mail from Alice Thompson, the mayor’s outreach coordinator for Ward 5.

The home at 1811 3rd St. NE was a dilapidated gray house with a spacious front porch, a sizable lawn, and a serious problem with squatters. According to the e-mail, it was “by far the worst property he had seen.” Read More “Fenty Orders Eckington Demolition That Was Already Ordered in 2006″ »

I noticed this puzzling e-mail on a listserv this morning:

Subject: [MPD-5D] Mayor Fenty’s has ordered the razing of the Property at 1811 3rd St NE — Wednesday, May 6th 9:00AM

Good Morning All,
Last Thursday, April 23rd, Mayor Fenty conducted a Walk-Thru in the Eckington community. Comm Wright had great concerns about a once beautiful, but very dangerous Victorian house. Mayor Fenty stated ‘this is by far the worst property he had seen’.  He told DCRA to have it razed immediately. Upon inspection, Chief Groomes determined this property was inhabited by squatters. Thank you Comm. Wright, and Michael Clark, for your determination.  This property will be razed today. Thank you DCRA and DHCE for the tough job of tearing it down!

Best,
Alice [Thompson, Ward 5 outreach coordinator for the Mayor]

What?

So, the mayor just gets to point and say “Tear it down!” and his wish will be fulfilled? I’m sure there is a larger explanation for this e-mail; But at first glance, it is very odd. Read More “Does Fenty Just Get to Demolish Buildings Willy-Nilly?” »

I’ve written quite a bit about the Eckington/Bloomingdale area since starting this blog.

Housing Complex has covered such topics as fear and anxiety over affordable housing to joy over the latest neighborhood speed bump. One article featured a man that evoked the KKK when talking about new, white, upwardly mobile residents in the area. Another piece bemoaned the possibility of more cheap chicken joints.

The area’s going through growing pains. At the McMillan meeting last week, even Councilmember Harry Thomas Jr. referred to oldies and newbies—with that phrasing exactly, if I’m remembering correctly.

But a group of civic leaders is trying to fix the divide with technology by installing a free wireless system in their area. The group includes Ted McGinn of the Eckington Civic Association, and ANC commissioners John Salatti and Stu Davenport (who is also the owner of Big Bear Cafe.)

Read More “Will a Wireless Network Bridge the Oldie/Newbie Divide in Bloomingdale, Eckington?” »

On my drive back from Saturday morning’s McMillan meeting, I found myself on a familiar street: T Street Northeast, home to the St. Martin’s Convent. Back in December, I wrote about the controversial decision to move this building downhill. Residents in the neighborhood tried to keep the convent in its current place to prevent a 178-unit, affordable housing project from being built. Racial accusations flew. Some people moved.

The project went on.

The building’s move occurred in a two-part process. The final downhill slide happened last Thursday and Friday, I’m told. So cheers to my good timing.

The structure now sits at its final destination: The corner of T Street and Summit Place N.E.

Memories of the good ‘ole days…

Read More “St. Martin’s Settles in at New Location” »

In early December, I wrote about St. Martin’s Convent, which ignited a preservation battle in Eckington. When I visited the structure, the basement was still being dug up. But thanks to a link from project superintendent Michael Blalock, I’m happy to post an update-in-images above.

Also, Eckington had its moment in the Washington Post sun this weekend. Read More “St. Martin’s Convent Slides Downhill” »