Dear Neighbors,

You are cordially invited to attend a benefit party and fundraiser in support of Martin Moulton on July 15 from 6-9pm at the home of Charles Walker, 1518 Fifth Street NW. 

As many of you know, Martin has worked hard to make our community safe and improve the quality of life for all of its residents, new and old. 

Perversely, Martin’s leadership has made him the target of an unfounded lawsuit filed by a former ANC commissioner who was defeated in 2006 (and again in 2008) with Martin’s help.  After losing at the ballot box, this person has now turned to the courts, suing Martin and demanding $20 million in damages.

We are confident that Martin will prevail, and just this week a judge ordered the Plaintiff to respond to a detailed set of questions that will require him to disclose what evidence — if any — he has to substantiate the claims in the suit.

The Plaintiff’s lawyer was admonished by the DC Bar in another case “for filing a frivolous action and engaging in conduct that seriously interfered with the administration of justice.” Unfortunately, even frivolous lawsuits take time and money to defend, and Martin has incurred more than $25,000 in legal fees so far.

Martin has been there for our community — let’s be there for him.  We are aiming to raise at least $15,000 for his legal defense fund. Suggested donation is $100.  

If you can’t make it on the 15th, please simply send contributions directly to his law firm at:
Harmon, Curran, Spielberg + Eisenberg LLP 
1726 M St. NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036 
(202) 328-3500 | www.HarmonCurran.com

For more on Martin, go to: 
www.CCCA-online.org/CCCAPrezBio

For background on the case, go to: 
Cary Silverman’s The Other 35 Percent blog:    
www.tinyurl.com/243qxg9

DC Examiner, Chris Hammond article:
www.tinyurl.com/yjc6ulx

Gibson Plaza Groundbreaking July 28, Glimmer of Hope for Kelsey Gardens?

The future Gibson Plaza.

In the last few months, it’s seemed that the ice floes have started to crack and shift for development in Shaw: Project after project has broken financing deadlocks and will see shovels in the ground this year. Add another to the list: Gibson Plaza, the 10-story public housing behemoth on 7th and O Street NW, which will be getting a massive gut retrofit to upgrade its 217 affordable units, starting June 28th. The improvements, paid for by the federal department of Housing and Urban Development, cover a complete facade upgrade, all new green appliances, plumbing and electrical systems, new windows, and “cultured marble vanity tops” in bathrooms.

ANC 6C Planning, Zoning, and Environment Committee
Draft Agenda

July 7, 2010, 7:00 pm
 NPR – Board Room West
635 Massachusetts Avenue, NW

1.     219 M Street, Primal Fitness Center [BZA Application 18105 - reapplication of BZA 17798], Variance) pursuant to 11 DCMR § 3103.2, for a variance from the use provisions to operate a fitness center under subsection 330.5, in the R-4 District at premises 219 M Street, N.W. (Square 555, Lot 805). Fitness Center, Hours 6 am to 8 pm M-F; Sat 9 am to 4 pm, Representative: Ray Valentine, Owner; Hearing Date: 09/2010. [ANC 6C02]

2.     601 East Capitol Street NE, Library of Congress, Little Scholars Day Care building (day care for Library employees' children), Renovation to accommodate visiting scholars Representative: Geraldine Otremba, Library of Congress; Non-voting item; informational presentation [ANC 6B]

Our meetings are open to the public and residents are encouraged to attend.

there was a post on the Triangle blog about a 100-year old tree slated to be removed at 4th and Eye. The Paramount Development group behind the 425 Eye Street project is the entity aiming to cut the tree down. The developer has been renovating the office building for the last year and is now upgrading the sidewalks on Eye Street: http://www.mvtriangleblog.com/?p=1814

When I contacted Commissioner Keith Silver for more information, he said that he'd been coordinating with Casey Trees and that he's arranged the following event. Commissioner Silver urges all concern citizens in favor of “Saving this Historic Tree” or those in favor of “Cutting it Down” located at 425 Eye Street NW to contact him at silverk1@ymail.com within the next Ten (10) Days to determine what should be done.

Dear Friend and Supporter of "Save the Historic Tree at 4th and Eye Sts. N.W"

If anyone would like to give a home to two kittens please let me know. They are 6-7 weeks old and adorable. They were found under a car on Ridge St. If anyone knows of a rescue service that will take them and find a home I could use that information also.

As you may know, last Friday our neighborhood experienced a construction accident that ended up impacting three houses on Morgan Street NW. Because of construction being done to dig out the basement of 216 Morgan Street NW, the floors of 216 Morgan Street collapsed down on one another as well as causing severe damage to the common "party" wall with 218 Morgan Street NW. Luckily, the workers of 216 Morgan Street and the families living at 218 Morgan Street were able to escape the collapsing structures and no one was gravely injured. DCRA was on site through the weekend securing the properties and re-opening the street for the other residents.

Unfortunately now, DCRA wants to demolish both buildings and have them re-built and many of us believe that the facades of the two properties in our historic-designated neighborhood should be saved.

But they (DCRA) needs to hear from the residents of the area that the facades should be retained and not destroyed. And they need to hear from us the residents that we want them to take action to preserve them.

And we need to do it NOW because they are planning to demolish the buildings on this coming Monday.

If you think that they should be preserved, please send an email today to the following individuals telling them that the facades must be preserved for their historic nature and for the benefit of the community. Your emails needs to be sent to:

Linda Argo linda.argo@dc.gov

Tommy Wells twells@dccouncil.us

Don Masoero don.masoero@dc.gov

Thank you!

Rob

Heads Up all you Chimney Dwellers!

On Saturday May 15, 2010 from 7am-7pm the DC Department of Parks & Recreation and the 100 Black Men of Greater Washington will be hosting the 2^nd Annual Tommie Smith Youth Track Meet at Dunbar Senior High School. They will have about 900+ athletes and spectators inside the venue, and about 200+ community members enjoying the mobile health units, basketball activities, and food outside the venue on the New York Ave Basketball Courts & Field. 

It's not it Mt Vernon Sq, but if you use the nifty bike lane up 5th St, or any other means of transportation, Toque Café sits on the corner of 6th & Q (in the former Chain Reaction Bike Shop) on the very popular R Street bike lane which is the best way to cross town going west on a bike. (Both streets also support cars and avoid the traffic circles and buses on other busy throughfares.) You foiks have tons of development in MVS, send some love to your friends and neighbors to the North, why don't you.

Please support Toque Café's application for outdoor seating

SIGN THE PETITION  |  www.CCCA-online.org/SupportToqueCafe

The Convention Center Community Association (CCCA-online.org) supports the application for outdoor seating submitted by the Toque Café located at 1701 6th Street NW, Washington DC 20001. We believe that outdoor seating will not only enhance the restaurant’s business operations but will likely become a popular neighborhood amenity. We also urge DCRA Director Argo to facilitate the proper and timely approval of permits and licenses for the restaurant to open and begin operations.