COMMUNIT-E
March 25, 2004
 
 
 
COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
 
**** CATS NEED EMERGENCY HOME
From: Anonymous
Urgent: If anyone is looking for nice pets we are looking for a temporary
foster or permanent home for 2 beautiful female tabby cats, spayed and
with all shots etc. They are declawed and are 1 ½ year old sisters. The
woman's husband is throwing them out. Urgent, very sweet and great with
kids and dogs. Would like to keep them together if possible. Please call
Nedra at 301-983-5279 (H) or 703-850-1654 ©)
I also need a home for two beautiful himalayan female cats. They are 3
years old spayed and with all shots. These are wonderful pets .
 
**** From: Bird, Melissa <mbird@louisberger.com>
LOST CAT
Cat was lost while moving out of house on the 4200 Block of Jenifer
Street, Saturday March 20th. Max is gray with white paws & white
chest/neck and weighs around 12 lbs. He is not wearing tags or a collar.
Very sweet and house trained, may or may not answer to his name. If
found or seen in the neighborhood, please contact Jeremy Miller at 301
471-9069. Thanks!
 
**** PASTA FOR PETS
From: Donnelly, Carolyn <Carolyn.Donnelly@mail.house.gov>
Spaghetti Dinner provided by Buca di Beppo
and Bingo Night to benefit the
Washington Animal l Rescue League.
Celebrity Bingo Caller: Chilli Amar from MIX 107.3FM
Tickets: $15 each or $50 for Family 4-pack
Saturday, March 27, 6–9 pm
Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church
3401 Nebraska Avenue, NW (across from American University)
Tickets available at the door. For more information call 202.726.2556 ext.
223. We welcome donations of blankets, towels and pet toys.
 
**** From: Bachman, Janet <jbachman@aiadc.org>
HOOSIER FOR SALE. I have a very old kitchen hoosier for sale. A
hoosier is a piece of furniture that folks used to use for counter space
and to store flour, spices, etc. It's in excellent condition, though
it's been refinished and has therefore lost some of its antique value.
Need to sell it and have it moved out before April 10 when my floors are
being refinished. Best offer. Janet Bachman: ofc - 202/828-7154 or
home - 202/244-1231.
 
**** From: equiknox@juno.com
HOUSECLEANER WANTED
Generall y tidy Chevy Chevy house needs cleaning twice a month by
thorough, detailed oriented and totally trustworthy person(s). Must be
willing to make bed, change sheets and light laundry, lave the place
tidied up, as well as the occasional crud work--like scrubbing edges of
kitchen floor.. Kindly respond to: Equiknox@juno.com
 
**** From: "Shelley R. Feist" <sfeist@fmi.org>
TENLEYTOWN.
Share beautifully furnished house with front and back porches on Warren St.
Furnish your own sunny bdrm w./ view of cathedral spires or let me furnish
it with delightful antique bed for you. 3 blks metro, library, whole foods,
movies, restaurants! Available May 1, $1100/mth + 1/2 utilities. Call
Shelley daytime 202-220-0651.
 
 
 
 
 
 
DEAD TREE REMOVAL SUCCESS STORY
From: Lowell Weiss <lowellw@gatesfoundation.org>
I wrote in several weeks ago asking for advice on how to get the city to
take down a dead, threatening tree on our street. We had been reporting
the problem for more than a year and a half with no response. I have
good news to report: Through this newsletter, I contacted Elizabeth
Berry, the mayor's senior advisor for environmental affairs, and she
immediately took ownership of the problem. Within two weeks city
contractors came and removed the tree. I am grateful to Kathy Smith and
Elizabeth Berry for all your help!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
45TH/ FESSENDEN/ RIVER ROAD INTERSECTION
From: Chapman Todd <chapmantodd@yahoo.com>
 
Regarding the previous inquiry about the dangerous
intersection at 45th, Fessenden, and River, I wanted
to follow up. There's a lot of history regarding
past recommendations for this intersection, and I'm
sure that some who have lived here longer than my 8 years
will know much more.
 
At any rate, during the past year the District's
Department of Transportation (DDOT) looked at this
intersection as part of a Traffic Study they did of
the Friendship Heights area. I did post information about
this study throughout the year on the various
neighborhood listservs, and the DDOT staff and their
consultants presented their study at a few ANC 3E
meetings. Their recommendation for this intersection
came relatively late in the process, but ultimately
DDOT recommended the installation of a barrier that
would prevent through traffic on 45th and Fessenden
(basically, if you came south on 45th to River, you'd
have to either turn left onto Fessenden, or right onto
River - if you came south on 45th, you'd have to turn
right onto River, etc.)
 
A number of people did submit comments to DDOT about
the the Traffic Study. At this point, ANC 3E hasn't
yet had scheduled DDOT's return to an ANC meeting to
talk about these recommendations - since most of the
Traffic Study's recommendations were based in and
around Wisconsin Avenue, the implementation of the
entire Friendship Heights Traffic Study recommendation
has gotten tied up with ever-shifting time frame for
the District's Upper Wisconsin Avenue Corridor Study.
 
But you can look at the recommendation that is on the
table, by going to the DDOT website, ddot.dc.gov,
then click on Transportation Studies, then click on
Friendship Heights, then on Section 5 of the study.
The section about this intersection is on pages 82,83,
and 84. If you'd prefer to see a hard copy of DDOT's
study, just let me know via email or phone
)202.258.2186) and I'll make a copy of mine for you.
 
Clearly, the DDOT recommendation deserves some
consideration, and I'd be interested in any thoughts
that any of you have on this. You can also email
comments to the DDOT Ward 3 coordinator,
Colleen.Hawkinson@dc.gov.
Chapman Todd
ANC 3E
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MORE ON CALCULATING PROPERTY TAXES
(See March 12 Issue of COMMUNIT-E For Related Item.)
 
From: Jack <benoit@atlantech.net>
All that remains is to compute last years taxes on the example
property. Last year's assessment was $888,340. To compute the tax
one must "subtract the homestead deduction from your current assessed
value" which yields $888,340 - $ 38,000 = $850,340 and then divide by
100 and multiply by .96.
$850,340 divided by 100 = $8,503.40 multiplied by .96 = $8163.26. The
new tax computed by Ms. Pagano is $9,551.43 which is a $1388.17
increase over last year's tax. This computes to be the increase of
$1388.17 divided last year's tax of $8163.26 multiplied by 100 to
convert to percentage = 16.96 percent increase.
Jack Benoit
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MORE COMMENTS AND INFORMATION RE: FIREHOUSE:
 
 
WILL BETHESDA CHEVY-CHASE RESCUE SQUAD STOP SERVING DC?
**** (See ANC3E Resolution below for more on this.)
 
**** From: Alice.Thurston@usdoj.gov <Alice.Thurston@usdoj.gov>
Regarding the possible loss of volunteer ambulance squads, a colleague
who volunteers for the Bethesda Chevy Chase Rescue Squad sent me their
link. There are links on this website www.bccrs.org to sample letters in
opposition to the ambulance fee proposal, and bill 36-03 reorganizing
the mixed paid/volunteer system in Montgomery county. See banners at top
and bottom of the home page.
 
I encourage your readers to distribute this to their friends who live in
Maryland, and pass it along to other D.C. residents for similar
distribution to their Bethesda friends. Letters from D.C. residents
probably will count for little or nothing, but loss of this high caliber
volunteer group would have a big impact on those of us in D.C. who have
occasion to call on them.
 
 
 
 
 
 
CLARIFICATION OF MY ANSWER TO THE FIREHOUSE SURVEY
From: Carolyn Long <carolynlong@earthlink.net>
 
When I voted for option C, I meant a return to the compromise plan that
had been agreed upon by the fire department, with ANC approval, when the
Tenleytown Historical Society withdrew its nomination for historic
designation. This would have provided 2 1/2 bays for fire and rescue
vehicles plus spacious living quarters for the fire fighters. All of
this was described on page 1 of the Northwest Current of November 22,
2000, "ANC Votes to Keep Part of Fire Station." A "Viewpoint" piece in
the same issue was accompanied by the architect's drawing of a very
attractive building that would incorporate the facade of the original
firehouse with a much larger addition. This plan was unpopular with some
community members because it did not provide the three full bays that
would accommodate the larger vehicles they wanted. It was only later,
owing to the efforts of the Capitol Fire Museum, that the firehouse
received its historic designation, and it is this that created the
impasse with the contractor.
 
--------------------
 
From: Carolyn Long <carolynlong@earthlink.net>
I agree that something needs to be done to move construction of the
firehouse along. I do wish that Kathy's survey gave full details about
option A. Your readers will have forgotten, as I have, exactly what
option A will provide--I think it's two and a half bays. They might
think it means rebuild the firehouse exactly as it was originally, with
no added facilities. I guess I would answer C--"other," meaning a
compromise between these two options, but I would have to read back over
all that was written about it in the past to formulate a truly educated
opinion. I wonder how many people will bother to do that, or if they
have even saved all the e-mails and newspaper articles?
 
 
 
 
 
 
TWO AND A HALF VERSUS THREE FULL BAYS
From: Amy B. McVey <amybmcvey@msn.com>
The plans (as they are now) call for 2 full bays and the half bay they
often refer to is actually less than half- more like a 1/3 bay but the
problem is still that the doors are not wide enough to get modern
equipment into them and by taking away the rest of the 3rd bay, our
community will never get the equipment that it needs. When Chief
Thompson came to our ANC meeting he was directly asked if we would be
getting back all of the original equipment and his answer was "no, it
won't fit." They have instead purchased some sort of hybrid lite rescue
vehicle that was supposed to double as an ambulance. It would be sent on
missions such as auto wrecks, elevators stuck and minor traffic
accidents, etc. There were several problems with that vehicle detailed
in an internal memo signed off on by 4 officers. All of them stated that
this vehicle could in no way transport patients as the fumes from the
tools were a health hazard. In addition, while this lite vehicle is out
on a rescue mission, where would our ambulance be? Additionally, there
are labor problems with the vehicle in that paramedics and firefighters
are in different unions and while some paramedics ride fire engines,
they are not trained as rescue techs, which means that every time the
lite rescue went on an auto accident, a fire truck would have to go in
tandem and then we tie up an additional vehicle. Even the firefighter's
union sent the Chief a letter saying that our community should in no way
be given a piece of equipment that would provide inferior service.
 
I appreciate the position of those who oppose the idea of razing and
building new - I love my old home and have surrounded myself with family
antiques [bought in Tenleytown in the 30's] and stories and photographs
of the neighborhood. I even commissioned a painter to paint a picture of
the Tenley Firehouse long before the question of replacement was
debated. But there is one question that I think I have never had
answered; perhaps I have never asked. If we know that the fire
department asked for a larger firehouse so as to give us at least one
more ambulance which we were in need of in 1999 (which is in writing),
how can the preservation of a building be more important than getting
all of the life saving equipment?
 
 
 
 
 
 
ANC3E RESOLUTION ON FIREHOUSE
From: amybmcvey@msn.com (Chair of ANC3E)
 
ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION 3E
TENLEYTOWN AMERICAN UNIVERSITY PARK FRIENDSHIP HEIGHTS
PO Box 9953 Friendship Station Washington DC 20016 202-244-0800
 
RESOLUTION :
URGING KATHY PATTERSON TO INTRODUCE EMERGENCY LEGISLATION OVERTURNING
HISTORIC LANDMARK STATUS OF TENLEYTOWN FIREHOUSE
 
WHEREAS: On February 8, 2002, Ward 3 Councilmember and Chair of the
Judiciary Committee Kathy Patterson, wrote to Mayor Williams telling him
that he needed to ensure that "there is no delay in rebuilding this
critical firehouse [Tenley]." She went on, "please be advised that I am
likely to pursue a legislative remedy on March 5 that will permit the
Tenleytown Firehouse project to move forward expeditiously and, perhaps,
provide a public safety exemption from historic preservation rules in
extraordinary circumstances. My own view is that the firefighter legacy
that most needs preservation is the ability to fight fires and save
lives - and all other issues are ancillary at best.", and;
 
WHEREAS: The situation with the Tenleytown Firehouse should be
considered to be "extraordinary circumstances", and;
 
WHEREAS: Office of Planning has failed to order the proper
infrastructure studies that should have been part of the Upper Wisconsin
Avenue Corridor Study including a public safety study and the effects of
increased density on the fire and medical services. Growth and increased
density are already occurring making the need for a firehouse with more
floor space for emergency vehicles imperative, and;
 
WHEREAS: Montgomery County has just introduced legislation which would
allow the county to bill for all ambulance transports effectively
preventing Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad (BCCRS) from coming into
DC. Payment would be required for the services of BCCRS, the
fund-raising capabilities will be diminished and DC will no longer be
served, and;
 
WHEREAS: The Tenley Firehouse is now tied up in litigation because the
city declared the contractor to be in default for failure to perform;
the contractor claims that the city, in designating the property as
historic after he bid on the job, increased his costs and caused delays
for which the city failed to grant proper relief. The city then asked
the bonding company to step in and make good on the bond. The surety
company has made the same claim - paraphrased here; we bonded "job A",
"cardinal changes" were made and you are asking us to pay for "historic
job B" and "we won't do it." The merits of either argument will
ultimately be decided through the proper legal channels however,
Corporation Counsel is now saying that the solicitation process must
start over at the beginning, and,
 
WHEREAS: The surety company, having solicited contractor bids to
complete the project, says that it can verify the contractors claim of
increased expenses due to historical designation by comparing it to the
most recent offer of the low bidder, and,
 
WHEREAS: The estimated time to re-design the project is 2-3 months.
 
BE IT RESOLVED THAT: ANC 3E strongly urges Councilmember Kathy Patterson
to pursue her suggested course of action which is to pursue a
legislative remedy that will permit the Tenleytown Firehouse to move
forward expeditiously and introduce emergency legislation overturning
the Tenley Firehouse historic designation and direct the District of
Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services to redesign the firehouse
to include the originally called for 3 bays. We ask that Ms. Patterson,
without hesitation, move legislatively to protect our neighborhood.
 
This resolution passed by a vote of 3-0 with a quorum being present. In
attendance were Amy Hoang Wrona, Chapman J. Todd and Amy B. McVey.
______________________________________
Amy B. McVey, Chairman
3-11-04
 
 
 
 
 
 
POSSIBLE SEARCH FOR NEW SITE FOR FIREHOUSE?
From: Pagano, Penny (COUNCIL) <ppagano@dccouncil.us>
 
 
Councilmember Kathy Patterson would like residents to know that Ward 3 is in
line for a new fire station as well as a new contractor for Engine 20 in
Tenleytown. D.C. Fire chief Adrian Thompson made the commitment to Patterson
to seek funding in the capital 2006 budget for an additional Fire/EMS
facility in the upper Wisconsin Avenue corridor closer to the Maryland line.
In addition, the Fire Dept. and top city officials have started the process
to select a new contractor for Engine 20 in Tenleytown with plans for bids
to go out in April and construction expected to begin this summer. "Public
safety demands that we find a way to move ahead as quickly as possible to
get Engine 20 built," Patterson said. "The residents of Ward 3 have waited
long enough to see a new Engine 20 station instead of the few decripit walls
now standing. It's time to move ahead and get this done." Patterson is also
considering legislation to change the process so that public safety concerns
are addressed at the beginning of the process of any proposal to designate a
fire station as "historic." Engine 29 in the Palisades is the next fire
station scheduled for a hearing before the Historic Preservation Review
Board for an addition to house an EMS unit. To see Patterson's press
release, her letter to Mayor Anthony Williams and her letter to the
Tenleytown-Friendship Citizens Association, go to www.kathy.patterson.org
<http://www.kathy.patterson.org> and click on the "What's New" item for the
fire stations.
 
 
 
 
 
 
SURVEY ANSWERS
 
**** From: Muoio, Karen M. <KMUOIO@ftc.gov>
I want to change my answer from B to A. I didn't understand it the first
time. I also wonder if people are aware that a future firehouse will
probably be built a bit up Wisconsin.
 
**** From: LCRosenman@aol.com
Just for the record I meant to vote for B not C. The count should really
read 250 for B and 18 for C -
 
**** From: Wexler, Mike <Mike.Wexler@innocon.com>
The results seem significant enough to represent the community at large,
and show that more than 90% (B+C) favor an unencumbered design and fast
construction, with a possible nod to history as a bonus but not as the
main goal.
Votes for "A" – 16 ( 5.6%)
Votes for "B" – 249 (87.7%)
Votes for "C" – 19 ( 6.7%)
 
**** From: Barbara R. Bergmann <bbergman@wam.umd.edu>
My husband needed an ambulance on Dec. 8, and it took a long time to
come. The driver said he had to come from Mt. Pleasant, and that the
problem would continue indefinately because the Tenley remodeling was
not making any progress. People are suffering because the community is
dithering over the style of a minor building of zero aesthetic merit,
instead of forcefully demanding that the station be made operational on
a fast schedule.
 
 
 
– END –