Eastland Gardens Civic Association

AND THE WINNERS ARE:

PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

Mayor Adrian Fenty attended the Eastland Gardens Civic Association meeting in October 2008 - his second visit since he took office in 2007. He addressed a standing-room only crowd of residents and government employees on his goals for 2009 and how Eastland Gardens fits into the District's strategic plan. Residents asked questions, offered accolades and voiced concerns as the Department of Public Works, Parks and Recreation, Metropolitan Police and local developers were in attendance. ANC Commissioner and Ward Councilor Sharita Slayton and Yvette Alexander were also in attendance.

 "We are now committed and energized," said Mayor Fenty. "We are ready to move forward!"

Other areas of community concern included class size at local Kenilworth Elementary School, the SmartBike program and abandoned vehicles in the neighborhood.

The mayor's efforts were applauded for the Department of Transportation's implementation of more than a dozen new speed humps, newly painted crosswalks and traffic signs on Anacostia Ave. NE.

 The Eastland Gardens Civic Association thanks Mayor Fenty for his continued dedication!

Learn more about the $2.2 billion plan to control pollution in the Potomac and Anacostia rivers and Rock Creek.

The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (WASA) and its
customers are spending more than $2 billion to reduce 96 percent of
the combined sewer overflows (CSOs) in our waterways. Please attend
one of these community meetings to learn more about this water
pollution control program, to share your views and to find out how
you can help reduce pollution in our area creeks and rivers.

Thursday, October 16 7-8 pm
Anacostia UPO
1649 Good Hope Rd., SE

Monday, November 10 7-8 pm
Francis Gregory Neighborhood Library
3660 Alabama Ave., SE

Wednesday, November 12 7-8 pm
NE Neighborhood Library
330 7th St., NE at Maryland Ave., NE

Monday, November 17 7 pm
St. George's Episcopal Church
160 U St., NW (enter through rear)

Wednesday, November 19 7-8 pm
Southwest Neighborhood Library
900 Wesley Pl., SW

For more information or if your group or organization would like to
request this update, call the Office of Public Affairs @ 202-787-
2200.

The husband of active resident and Eastland Gardens Flower CLub resident Geraldyne Jackson has passed away. Memorial services are scheduled for Monday at 9am at St. Luke's Catholic Church located at 4925  East Capital Street, SE. To contact Ms. Jackson, call  202-399-1254. The EGCA sends their condolences during this time of bereavement.

Zion Baptist Church of Eastland Gardnes located at 1234 Kenilworth Ave. NE celebrates its 100th church anniversary, and the 2nd pastoral anniversary of Pastor Keith Kitchen. Services begin Sunday September 28 at 11am featuring guest minister Dr. James T. Murphy from Greter Little Zion Baptist Church. the annual banquet will be held at 4pm at The Camelot located at 13091 Central Ave. Upper Marlboro, MD. Donation is $60. Nightly servies will be held Monday Sept. 29 through Friday Octo. 3 at 7pm. Souvenir booklet ads are being sold to send your messages to the church. Email sharon.durbin@earthlink.net for more information. Click here to view the entire announcement.

In a note addressed to ANC Commissioner Sharita Slayton, Matthew Jahhns, Senior Construction Manager of Jacobs Engineering offered an update on the construction efforts. Commissioner Slayton has offered the correspondence letter for her constituents:

Eastland Gardens community is on the map! Thanks to Javier Barker, Regina King and Zerline Hughes Jennings, Eastland Gardens has been chosen as one of Washington, D.C.'s official African American Historic Trails under the Cultural Tourism D.C. designation. Due to Eastland Gardens' many homes having been built by African-American architects, the community will be featured on the Historic Trails database, brochure and Web site. For more information click here and go to culturaltourismdc.org. 

The Eastland Gardens community celebrated Meet, Greet & Eat - a community-wide summer celebration and cookout for the entire family from 6 to 9pm Friday August 1st with hand dancing, family swimming, poolside entertainment and grilled snacks at the Rec. The Eastland Gardens community. Residents and their family and friends participated in the fun as volunteers cooked, decorated and planned a fun summer evening. A special thanks for Frito-Lay for donating chips for the event.

Eastland Gardens residents Regina King, Javier Barker and Zerline Hughes Jennings recently submitted an application to Cultural Tourism D.C. for the neighborhood to be considered and listed in its African American Heritage Trail database. Click here to view their application and the rich history of our homes  that were built by African -American architects.

DCPR and Bell Architects have May 2008 updated plans and cost estimates that fit the project's budget and resource goals and community's needs and requests. Contact Rochelle Frazier Gray (rochelle.fraziergray@longandfoster.com) and Greg Rhett (202.388.1532 / jrhett3009@aol.com) to hear and see the latest or go to the Rec Center to view renderings posters. Keep up to date on this important Eastland Gardens project by returning here for updates and notices and attend the May 20 General Meeting.  Click here to get draft renderings and budgets to be discussed

Congratulations to the Eastland Gardens Flower Club for being awarded a Parks & People beautification grant. The grant helped supply plants, sitting areas and shrubs to three areas in our neighborhood. Residents are needed and encouraged to volunteer their time, garden tools, pick up trucks and donations to clean up and plant throughout our Eastland Gardens community. Contact Eastland Gardens Flower Club President Javier Barker at 202.388.1108. Click here to view pictures of the Club's first beautification project in May.

Click here to see a new, comprehensive calendar of the various groups that meet on behalf of Ward 7, like the ANC meetings, Ward 7 Arts Collaborative, the police advisory councils and more! The list was compiled by Julius Ware of the Ward 7 Business Professional Association.

In a May 2008 note addressed to ANC Commissioner Sharita Slayton, Matthew Jahhns, Senior Construction Manager of Jacobs Engineering offered an update on the reconstruction of Keniloworth Ave. NE Commissioner Slayton has offered the correspondence for her constituents: As a prelude, Ms. Slayton writes: "Please understand how the weather and this being a swap area can cause delays and I appreciate the efficiency in which the contractor is addressing the problems correctly instead of rushing the process.  Corrective measures to the flooding, traffic calming measures and beautification is what this community will have to live with for a long time, so we must understand the inconvenience for a moment to receive the rewards for longevity. "

From Mr. Jahns:

At your request and for your use and information I am providing this information to share with your community members with respect to the ongoing construction activities on Kenilworth Avenue.  The project is now nearly 40% complete.  The primary focus of work activities include; 1.) The bridge carrying Kenilworth Ave over Burroughs Ave, 2.) The bridge carrying northbound Kenilworth Ave exit to Burroughs over Watts Branch Creek and 3.) The Lee Street connector to Burroughs Ave at the entrance to Kenilworth Park.  Specifics for each item are as follow:

1.) The Contractor is currently in the process of placing the concrete deck on the bridge carrying Kenilworth Ave over Burroughs Ave.  Once the deck is completed the approach slabs will be done and the asphalt roadway to the bridge approaches will be completed.  Looking forward in the next couple of weeks the Contractor will be moving to focus efforts on the bridge carrying Kenilworth Ave over Watts Branch Creek.  Once this bridge deck is completed and the re-aligned roadway on southbound Kenilworth Ave is completed (concurrently with bridge construction) the goal is to switch the traffic on Kenilworth Ave to the new bridges so the remaining portion of the old bridges (the northbound side) will be demolished for reconstruction.

2.)  Kenilworth Ave is being widened within the limits of this construction project, accordingly the parallel service roads on the east side of Kenilworth Ave (North bound direction) are being relocated.  This includes the demolition of the existing bridge at the exit carrying northbound traffic to Burroughs Ave.  The ongoing work includes the sub-structure work in cofferdams built in the creek bed to build spread footings and abutment walls for the new bridge.  The next step will be to install the beams and concrete deck for the new roadway.  Once this phase is completed the new bridge will be opened to traffic and the remaining old bridge will be demolished with the concurrent work to demolish and rebuild the new Kenilworth Ave retaining walls and bridge on the northbound side.

3.) The work at the Lee Street connector at the entrance to Kenilworth Park continues.  The Contractor is currently working to complete the second of five phases of construction which will in the end provide much improved traffic flow through the intersection at Kenilworth Terrace and Burroughs Ave.  The current phase 2 ongoing at this location will complete the second half of the reconstruction of Lee Street.  The remaining work includes the asphalt pavement in the area now open in the construction area, then the removal of the barrier walls separating the current work area from the one way into the neighborhood.  Once the barriers are move the roadway will be opened in two directions and no longer be limited to the one way.  The most current information from the Contractor this morning is to have the asphalt work completed this week and switch the barriers to allow traffic flow in both directions during the week of May 26th.  The Contractor is aware of the complaints and problems experienced during this particular construction activity with the one way traffic.  They will be working to complete and then keep the traffic flow with minimal disruptions once this phase is completed.  Please remember though that although the roadway will be opened in both directions the crews will continue working on this section of roadway for the remaining three phases which will include the reconstruction of the existing intersection of Kenilworth Terrace and the brand new intersection at Burroughs Ave from exiting traffic off of southbound Kenilworth Ave.

In previous discussions with Ms. Slayton there have been a couple of complaints brought to the Field Management personnel regarding the new construction.  Additionally Ms. Slayton wrote Mr. Ali Shakeri, DDOT Program Manager, of the complaints including the barrier wall at the new exit ramp from southbound Kenilworth Ave and the merge ramp to Kenilworth Terrace at this same location.  I am aware that DDOT is looking into these situations to see what alternatives may be considered.

The field management personnel continue to work in a manner that serves to provide DDOT with the best quality construction while being respectful and causing the least impact to the neighboring communities.  As always I appreciate your interest in this project and your voices as representatives for the community.  Feel free to give me a call at any time if you have any specific questions or concerns after reading this updated information.

Respectfully,

Matthew Jahns, CPC, CPE

Senior Construction Manager / Jacobs Engineering

Reconstruction of Kenilworth Ave, NE

900 Kenilworth Terrace, NE at Burroughs Ave, Washington, DC 20019

(p) 202-399-0626; (f) 202-399-0627; (m) 202-497-5318

Anita Grooms (mother of Doris Grooms, also known as Ms. D) departed in March. Send condolences to Ms. Doris Grooms (Ms. D), Recreation Specialist Kenilworth,108 Irvington St, S.W. #103, Washington, D.C. 20032

Robert Lee Glover (brother of Gregory Glover aka Koogaloo departed March 1, 2008)

Washington Metropolitan Police Department Officer Bobick (recovering from surgery following on-duty incident) 

Justina Wilkins (departed September 12, 2007)

Michelle Winter (departed September 23, 2007) 

Allen Davis (father of Owen Davis departed October 7, 2007)

At the January EGCA meeting, President Gregory Rhett submitted a letter in opposition to the District's new rule mandating the HPV vaccination for young girls. Ward 7 Councilmember  Yvette Alexander who has been rallying for the repeal of this legislation happily accepted the letter and has promised EGCA members and residents that she will not give up on this fight. Download EGCA's letter here.

We live in a vibrant, beautiful community filled with our beloved seniors as well as a growing mix of  young families and professionals. Not everyone uses or has access to the Internet and email. So, we need block captains to help spread the word about what’s happening in the community. Block captains’ responsibilities include: 

• Soliciting participation in the civic association;
• Monitoring group homes on your block(s);
• Collecting the annual EGCA dues ($5 per member); and
• Informing neighbors of upcoming/future activities and events.

Contact Thelma Jackson, Chair of our Block Captains, at 202.396.7581.

“Service is the rent we pay to be living.  It is the very purpose of life and not something you do in your spare time.” — Marian Wright Edelman