PAGE ONE

 

“Reopen 4^th St.” Idea Moves Ahead

  Support is growing for recommendations of a 1998 study that would open up the center part of Waterside Mall – the mini-mall at Waterfront Metro Station – and replace it with shops and commercial space to better serve the neighborhood.  Mayor Anthony Williams will be briefed at a public meeting at 7 pm, Wed., Sep. 24 in the corridor inside Waterside Mall, 401 M St. S.W.

  When EPA announced it would move its 4,500 employees out of Waterside Mall, the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly, civic association for Near Southwest, D.C., (Zip Code 20024), raised over $100,000 from business, government and citizen sources to contract for a study by the Urban Land Institute, (ULI), a D.C. based non-profit. Over 150 Southwest residents and businesses were interviewed by a ULI panel of architects and experts for local suggestions.

  Reuniting two halves of 4^th St. S.W. between I (Eye) St. and M St.was a key recommendation of ULI. Their report states:

  “Most significant among the panel’s recommendations is the transformation of Waterside Mall from a federal office center above an enclosed shopping mall into a mixed-use center that would serve and be supported by the Southwest neighborhood.  To accomplish this, the central section of Waterside Mall would be demolished, allowing for the reconnection of Fourth Street as part of the original street grid pattern…Fourth Street would bend around the Metro station…” (ULI Report p. 47). The 59-page report is available free at the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly Office (554-8560) or at the SWNA monthly meeting at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, 222, M St. S.W., 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22.

(See p. 4 of this issue of The Southwester for more information).

 

(Caption)

HOW WATERSIDE MALL MIGHT BE REDESIGNED, WITH 4^TH St. RUNNING THROUGH BETWEEN I (EYE) ST. AND M ST.

Looking North from M St. S.W. toward a new “Waterfront Mall” or “Town Center” with 4^th St. running through and bending around the Metro station, shown in the middle of the drawing. (p. 44, the ULI report)

  Shops, restaurants and services would face each way to Fourth St., along M St., and include the second and third floors of each of the two buildings. Not shown are the two office towers to the far right and far left.

 

“Clean City” At SWNA Oct. 22

  Vince Spaulding, director of “Clean City Initiative will explain the program at the monthly meeting of SWNA, Mon. Oct. 22, at 7:30 pm at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, 222 M St. S.W.

Tommy Wells, At SWNA Oct 22

  Southwest will be part of Ward 6 starting January 1, 2002.  That means Tommy Wells, who was elected to that post last spring, will represent us on the D.C. School Board.

  Mr. Wells will attend the Oct. 22 meeting of the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly at 7:30 p.m. at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, 222 M St. S.W.

  After the terrorist attack of Sep. 11, Mr. Wells visited Ketcham Elementary School in Anacostia and Backus Middle School in Northeast, schools, which had lost students and teachers who had been on the airliner that crashed into the Pentagon. 

 

Hogate’s Closes Its Doors

  This sign appeared on the door at Hogate’s Restaurant at 800 Water St. S.W. one day, and the doors were locked.

 

Inside

Community Calendar                       p. 2

UPO Will Move From SW            p. 2

Jean Stapleton At The Kreeger            p. 3

Arena Stage Auction/Dinner            p. 3

ULI Plan for Waterside Mall            p. 4

Cruise on Anacostia for $35       p. 4

Sharon Ambrose at Police Mtg.            p. 4

Council Election Campaign             p. 4

Halloween Safety Tips                   p. 4

Profile of Pastor Franklin            p. 5

Future of Public Housing            p. 5

Anacostia River Plan Nov. 8            p. 7

Halloween Safety Tips                   p. 7

SW ANC Includes Navy Yard     p. 8

 

 

 

 

 

 

PAGE TWO

 

 

 

Community Calendar

November 2001

Fri. Nov 2 S.W. Project performance at Old Vat Room of Arena Stage – 8 pm $5

Sat.      Nov. 3            PSA 110 Walkathon with police. 11 am 240 M St. S.W.

 Sat. Nov. 3 Komen Toastmasters Club   10 am S.W. Branch Library 920 Wesley Pl SW

Sat. Nov. 3 S.W. Project performance at Old Vat Room of Arena Stage 8 pm $50

Mon.    Nov. 5 SWNA Board, Waterside Mall 7 pm

Tues.    Nov. 6 CAC, Police Hdqtrs, 415 4^th St. S.W. 7 pm

Wed. Nov. 7 WWCA meeting at Harbor Patrol, 6^th &Water St.

Thurs. Nov. 8 Anacostia Waterfront meeting at Building Museum 7:30 pm

Mon. Nov. 12 Advisory Neighborhood Comm. 2D Meeting 7 pm, Place to be announced.

Wed. Nov. 14 Fil-Am Toastmasters Club 6:45 pm S.W. Branch Library, 920 Wesley Pl

Wed. Nov. 14 Chamber Music 7:30 pm. St. Augustine’s Church, 6^th and Maine Ave. SW

Thurs. Nov. 15 NARFE Lunch at 12:30, meeting at 1 pm S.W. Branch Library

Thurs Nov. 15 PSA 110 Partnership with police 7 pm Westminster Church, 4001 I (Eye) St. S.W.

Wed. Nov. 21 AARP luncheon meeting 12 noon St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, 222 M St. SW

Thurs. Nov. 22 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

Mon. Nov. 26 Southwest Neighborhood Assembly public meeting, 7:30 pm St. Matthews Lutheran Church, 222 M St. S.W.

Wed. Nov. 28 Fil-Am Toastmasters, 6:45pm S.W. Branch Library

Please submit calendar items for the next issue by Wed. Nov. 7 to C.W. Hargrave 554-8284.

 

UPO Moves To Rhode Island Ave. Next May

  The headquarters office of the United Planning Organization (UPO) that has is using space in Waterside Mall, 401 M St. S.W., will be moving into new quarters on Rhode Island Ave. N.W., the former site of a Safeway store at 3^rd and Rhode Island N.W.

 

 

 

S.W. Residents At Summit II

By Dale MacIver

  Mayor Anthony Williams gave several speeches to a capacity crowd in the D.C. Convention Center at his second Neighborhood Action Summit Oct. 6.

  Although he said he did not know whether D.C. voters will “renew his contract” next fall at the 2002 elections, he clearly sounded as if he thought he deserved reelection, as he cited accomplishments of his term in office.

 

PAGE THREE

 

(Caption)

Charter school students at Waterside Mall drill under the direction of a man in Army fatigues

 

Jean Stapleton Brings Eleanor Roosevelt To Life

  By Dale MacIver

  On stage at Kreeger Theatre, Jean Stapelton becomes Eleanor Roosevelt remembering her life – especially during World War I and after – when in her early 30s, she volunteered at the Red Cross canteen at Union Station and later visited the deserted battlefields in France in 1919.

  Painful scenes show Mrs. Roosevelt’s developing sense of compassion and determination to fight for peace. She talks to the widows on the streets of Paris “in black rags and broken teeth”, sees the miles of trenches where “some soldiers hadn’t been shot, but simply drowned in the mud” – 7,000 a day dying in the trenches.

  Several domestic scenes are portrayed, in which Franklin Roosevelt – Assistant Secretary of the Navy at that time – and Eleanor reveal the fragility of their marriage, his infidelity being the main stumbling block.

  A poignant scene shows Eleanor embarrassed by the attention of an Army Sergeant at the canteen. He calls her “Lady,” and loosens the tortoise clip from her hair, dropping it over her shoulders. When later, a returning soldier comes to the canteen looking for “Lady” to give her a bloodstained bible, Eleanor knows it is the one she gave the Sergeant, but won’t admit it.

  Brief scenes at the beginning and end of the play show Eleanor in 1945, a new widow, at first rejecting and later accepting President Harry Truman’s invitation to represent the United States at the new United Nations, where she then chaired the UN commission that fashioned the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

  The play is based on “Eleanor, A Novel,” by Rhoda Lerman. The novel and Arena’s “Performance Journals,” are on sale at the theatre.

  The Nov. 3 performance of “Eleanor” is a special benefit performance at regular rates with proceeds going to the Survivors Fund of the National Capital Region. Tickets are at the regular box office number, 202-488-3300.

  Eleanor: Her Secret Journey – through Nov. 18, 2001 in the Kreeger

 

(Caption)

Jean Stapleton as Eleanor Roosevelt at the Kreeger Theatre of Arena Stage.

 

Jazz Vespers Sun. Nov. 4 at 5

  Vincent Smith III & Friends will be featured at a 5 pm Jazz Vespers Sun., Nov. 4, at Christ United Methodist Church, 4^th and “I” St. S.W.

  Also on the program will be Bonnie Harris and Dick Smith. Rev. Wendy Shenk-Evans will officiate.

  The reception following the annual event is known far and wide as being worth the $15 price of admission. (Children 12 and under $5).

  For more information call Mildred Twitty (202) 488-0698

Arena Stage Fund-raising Auction Nov. 10

  One-third of the annual budget of Arena Stage comes from special fund-raising events, like the huge auction, reception and dinner set in the grand Hall of The Americas at 17^th and Constitution Ave. N.W. on Sat., Nov. 10, 2001.

  The bidding catalog, which will be mailed to each person paying $250 and up to attend, will contain more than 100 items for the silent auction and live auction, which will go on during the evening.

  You can bid on dinner at an ambassador’s residence or at leading restaurants in the Washington area, sea cruises, trips to Seattle, New York or London. Tickets to sporting events, golf packages, artwork or invitations to Open Nights at Arena are typical of dozens and dozens of bid items.

  Rare and fine wines make up such a large section of the auctions that the event is billed as “The Best of Bacchus II”, after the Greek God of wine.

  The evening starts with a reception from 5:30 pm to 7 pm during which both the silent auction and a “mini-live auction” will go on. The live auction and dinner are from “7 to 10ish”, according Arena Stage.

  Eight chefs from eight Washington area restaurants will prepare the reception and “five-star gourmet dinner”.

  The Hall of the Americas is in the Organization of American States (OAS) building, built in 1910 and featuring Mayan, Aztec and other Latin American features in the floor tiles and architecture.

 

 

PAGE FOUR

Excerpts from the Urban Land Institute Plan

  “…[T] he panel recommends completely reconfiguring the mall to upgrade and update this facility to today’s standards.  The panel recommends a plan that will reintroduce the traditional street grid to the neighborhood by reconnecting Fourth Street.  The central portion of Waterside Mall would be demolished, allowing the street to continue through while splitting the massive, enclosed mall into two, more manageable structures lining both sides of the newly opened Fourth Street.

  “…[T] he enclosed mall can be reconstructed as a new “Main Street” – oriented retail center with over 50 percent more leas-able retail space than it has now.

  “…New retail tenants might include small restaurants and cafes, a bakery, bookstore, office supply store, bank, copy center, and additional services.  The two upper levels would be likely sites for health services, a fitness center, daycare, and other non-retail services. (ULI Plan p. 14, 15.)

 

ULI Suggests 50% More Rentable Space

  Dividing the central building of Waterside Mall into two three-story buildings with shops facing on 4^th St. and along the M St. side would result in 50% more rentable retail space that it has now. These two tables from the report suggest what could result:

Figure 2

CURRENT WATERSIDE MALL TENANTS

TYPE OF TENANT            SQ. FT

Banking, financial            5,680

Restaurants            3,215

                        1,426

                        6,579

                        1,452

                                    12,672

Grocery, food                35,019

Drug, variety                 13,713

Clothing, dry cleaners,

            Alterations         8,248

Electronics, video      2,907

Books, records, cards      5,275

Hair, Nails                      1,693

Liquor                             2,591

Accessories                       275

            Total                 88,073

 

Figure 3

ILLUSTRATIVE TENANTS FOR RENOVATED WATERSIDE MALL

TYPE OF TENANT            SQ. FT.

Merchandise:

  Grocery                      45,000

  Hardware                     5,000

  General Store                5,000

  Restaurants, Cafes     8,000

  Bakery                           500

  Electronics, Video     5,000

  Office Supplies              2,500

  Books, Records              8,000

  Cleaners                       2,000

  Salon, Nails, Access.              4,000

  Shoes                           2,000

  Dresses                        5,000

  Other Retail                  5,000

            Subtotal 107,000

Services:

  Copy Center               5,000

  Banks, financial            8,000

  Optician                      1,000

  Health services            3,000

  Other services             3,500

            Subtotal 20,500

GRAND TOTAL 127,500

Council Election Campaign Starts

  Candidates are starting their fund raising activities and seeking support for the primary and general elections in September and November 2002.

  Ward 6 Council Member Sharon Ambrose has notified the Board of Elections and Ethics that she will be seeking reelection.

  Keith Perry may seek to unseat Ms. Ambrose. He has formed an “exploratory committee” to “test the waters to represent this diverse and troubled ward.”

  Council members who run city-wide and are seeking re-election in 2002 are:

Council Chair Linda W. Cropp

David A. Catania

Phil Mendelson

 

Your Grocery Purchases Help Local Schools

  The annual campaign to get expensive equipment for schools by making purchases at grocery stores is underway.

  A shopper who has, or signs up at the store for, a Safeway Club Card or a Giant Food Bonus Bucks card can designate a school – or more than one school - to receive credit for purchases made from that card.  Jefferson Jr. is being advertised by Washington Post Columnist Bob Levey as his recommendation for 2001-02 because of it’s improvement in average daily attendance – more than any other junior high in the D.C. public school system.

  Local schools, such as Amidon, Bowen, or Van Ness Elementary, are eager to have your designation and hope you shop often.

 

Cruise The Anacostia For $35 Oct. 20

  A fund-raiser box-lunch cruise to benefit the SWNA History Task Force boards at  Gangplank Marina , 600 Water St. S.W. at 10:45 am Sat. Oct. 20.

  The yacht Finished Business holds 50 and makes for a smooth trip past the Washington Navy Yard, along the tree-lined shores of the Anacostia, back across to see the Alexandria Waterfront development and return by 2 pm.

  Call Margaret Feldman 202-554-0242 for your reservation.

Ambrose At Police Council Meeting

  Sixth Ward Council Member Sharon Ambrose spoke at the September meeting of the First District Citizens Advisory Council. She expressed concern that Congress is not approving the council’s request to increase the authorized strength of the Metropolitan Police Department to 3,800.

  She also is opposing money in the President’s budget to renovate a building at General Hospital for a court services program.

  She distributed a letter she had written to Police Chief Charles Ramsey asking him about the creation of Civilian Defense Units (CDUs) using officers already responsible for police protection in the neighborhood Police Patrol Areas (PSAs).

  The Chief may have given a partial reply in his testimony before the Council on October 5, saying:

  “Unfortunately…personnel who staff our CDU units must be pulled from their regular assignments on our PSAs and other field units…[W] e need to find the additional resources, and organize and deploy them in the most efficient manner, so that our PSAs are not impacted as they have been in recent weeks.”

 

Halloween Safety Tips For Kids

COSTUME SAFETY

Wear clothing that can be seen in the dark by cars

Don’t wear floppy hats that can slide over the eyes.

WALK SAFELY

Use flashlights and stay on sidewalks

Cross at corners, not between parked cars.

TRICK OR TREAT SAFETY

Don’t enter people’s homes

Don’t talk to strangers or get in their cars

Pin name and phone number on costumes

Bring home all treats to be inspected by adults before eating.

Adults throw away all unwrapped candy

PUMPKIN SAFETY

Pumpkin carving can be dangerous. Candles in pumpkins can cause fires.

(Adapted from tips by D C Action For Children)

 

 

 

PAGE FIVE

Profile of Pastor Franklin

            By Maurice Boyd

  The Rev. H. Joseph Franklin, D.D., is the pastor of the robust Second Baptist Church, located at the corner of Canal and M Sts. S.W., and has served there since May 1974, after having been introduced to the congregation in late ’73. He lives in Glendale, MD, with his wife, the former Neila V. Williams, of St. Louis. They have one son, H. Joseph Franklin, Jr., who lives with them.

  Rev. Franklin grew up in Morgan City, LA, in the famous bayou country, south of Baton Rouge and west of New Orleans.  His father and kinfolk made their living harvesting timber from the swamps, mostly.

  He attended the segregated schools, which obtained in those days, was drafted into the military in 1951 and sent as a chaplain’s assistant to Ft. Lee.  Upon discharge, he enrolled at the American Baptist Theological Seminary, in Nashville, gaining his A.B.  From there he traveled to Louisville, where in the major Zion Baptist Church, he served a Director of Christian Education, under the notable Rev. D.E. King.  Mrs. Franklin there worked with youth programs and ushering.

  They left in ’58 to serve at the Chicago Tabernacle Missionary Baptist in the training of lay ministers, and taught at the Chicago Baptist Institute.

  Dr. Franklin then transferred to Paducah, KY, to take charge of the Washington Street Mission Baptist Church, the oldest black church in western Kentucky.  He also taught at the Hopkinsville School of Religion, as well as teaching English at Lincoln High.  His church was the first black church to be accepted into the Progressive National Baptist Convention.

  After 14 years in Paducah, he came to Washington to work with the Progressive National Baptist Convention Annuity Program, where he stayed until his current call.

  The Rev. does keep plenty busy.  Besides overseeing a full church program he is president of the Nannie Helen Burroughs Scholarship Fund, board member of the Progressive National Baptist Convention, board member of the Baptist Ministers Conference of DC and Vicinity, and board member of the Baptist Convention of DC.

  His son H. Joseph Franklin, Jr., attended Prince George’s Community College, and received his B.A. at U of Maryland, College Park, majoring in sociology.  He serves as a Job Corps counselor in Laurel, is single, and active in the Second Baptist Church.

  Rev. Franklin may be thinking of retiring from his full service to his faith, but he’s not saying yet. I imagine that he will pray over it awhile.

 

 

 

 

(Caption)

Looking north from K St. S.W. near 3^rd St. at the front doors and front yards of townhouses in Greenleaf Gardens Extension in September, 2001. The Public Housing Authority has finally started removing stumps, fencing, and sodding or planting these front yards, but has a long way to go.

 

(Caption)

Some of the yards – such as this one at M St. and Delaware Ave. S.W. - were landscaped long ago.

 

Future Of Public Housing In S.W.

  The head of the D.C. Housing Authority spoke at the September meeting of the SWNA, assuring a large crowd of residents of public housing that there are no plans to remove them from their homes.

  Michael Kelly, executive director of the authority, described changes in housing in nearby Southeast as preserving housing for present tenants and making new opportunities through mixed-income housing.

  If HUD gives the multi-million dollar grant for a “HOPE 6” development near M St. S.E., he would start by constructing three new apartment houses for senior citizens to provide for every resident of Arthur Capper/Carroll Senior Apts. at 601 L St. S.E.

 

(Caption)

Michael Kelly, executive director of the D.C. Housing Authority, spoke to a meeting of the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly.

 

 

 

 

(Caption)

For years a sagging sidewalk next to 201 M St. S.W. has collected water during rains. This may be on the list for repairs at Greenleaf Gardens Extension.

 

Housing Elections Mon. Nov. 5, 9am-7pm

  Annual elections for members of the residents’ council for public housing complexes will be held Saturday, Nov. 5 from 9 am to 7 pm.

 

 

PAGE SIX

Waterfront AARP At

DC Day

 

(Caption)

Some of the S.W. AARP members at the D.C. Convention Center for AARP’s D.C. day.

 

PAGE SEVEN

 

Robinson Elected By S.W. Kiwanis

  A new Kiwanis Club has been formed in Southwest, D.C., with Willie G. Robinson its president.

  The group received its official charter from Kiwanis International service organization at a dinner at Ft. McNair in September. Forty charter members of the new club attended the dinner, together with twice that number of guests, including members of other Kiwanis clubs in the National Capitol area.

  Guest speakers included Dr. Charlene Drew-Jarvis, president of Southeastern University.

  The S.W. club meets each Monday from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm at Southeastern University, 6^th and I (Eye) St. S.W. All men and women who work, live or have an interest in S.W. can visit the club and consider becoming members. For information, call Willie G. Robinson, 202-488-3597.

 

(Caption)

Willie G. Robinson, right, as president of the S.W. Kiwanis club, receives the club charter from John Gage Tyner, II, governor of the Capitol Area District of Kiwanis International.

 

 

 

 

Anacostia Plan To Be Revealed Nov. 8

  The team of professional planners hired by D.C. will present their preliminary “vision” for the Anacostia waterfront at a public meeting in the National Building Museum Thursday evening, Nov. 8 from 6:30 to 9:00 pm.

  The planners have attended and conducted a number of public meetings over the past two years to get input from residents, businesses, agencies and others along the river. Dozens of residents of Southwest and Southeast have attended the public meetings and given their suggestions.

  The planners hope to have a final plan in March 2002.  The announcement of the Nov. 8 meeting states,

  “Key proposals regarding transportation, parks and land uses provide the backbone for the scheme’s visionary recommendations.”

  Registration for the meeting is required, by calling 202-272-2448. There is no charge.

 

(Caption)

Greg Bargeman is the new librarian at Wilson High School.  A few years ago he was on the staff at the Southwest Branch Library.

 

 

Amidon Parents Meet New Principal

  Back to school night Sep. 27, gave Amidon parents a chance to visit their children’s classrooms and to meet the new interim Principal Mrs. Patricia T. Brantley.

 

(Caption)

New Principal at Amidon Elementary School is Mrs. Patricia T. Brantley.

 

Officers of the Amidon Elementary School PTA, pose for a picture. Left to right: Dave DeJesus, Muriel Anderson, Seledia Shepard, Debra Frigon and James Jones.

 

 

 

PAGE EIGHT

 

Navy Yard And Neighbors Join S.W. In ANC

  Southwest and the residents near M St. S.E. all the way past the Navy Yard, including the Navy Yard, will be within the new boundaries drawn for Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6D, under a Sixth Ward plan suggested to the Council of the District of Columbia.

  Looking east from South Capitol St. and the South Capitol St. Bridge at the bottom, with the Southeast Freeway slanting across the top, and the Anacostia River on the right. The entire area within those boundaries will be a single member district within the new Southwest/Southeast Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6D.

  (File photo from several years ago. Copyrighted by Harold Flechnoe of Silver Spring, MD. Used with permission.)