Penn Branch Citizens Civic Association (PBCCA) Blog: March 2010

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

11th Street Bridge Project - Traffic Advisory Update March 22 to April 2 2010


	*TRAFFIC ADVISORY-UPDATE* Off-Peak Travel Hour Lane Closures Possible from March 22 to April 2 On 11^th Street Bridge, Adjacent Portions of DC 295/I-295 and Local Streets One lane may be closed on up to two block portions of M, N, O and S Street SE and Good Hope Road WASHINGTON, DC – Weekdays from Monday, March 22 to Friday, April 2, contractors for the District of Columbia Department of Transportation (DDOT) will conduct a variety of work for the 11^th Street Bridge Project requiring off-peak-hour lane closures on the 11^th Street Bridge, DC 295/I-295 and adjacent portions of some local streets where parking will be temporarily restricted. From 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday closures include: · One lane of the outbound 11^th Street Bridge. · The left lane of the inbound 11^th Street Bridge. · One lane and the shoulder in each direction of DC295/I-295 between Pennsylvania Avenue and Howard Road. · The right lane westbound on M and N Street SE between 12^th and 11^th Street. · The right lane eastbound on O Street SE between 11^th and 12^th Street with parking restricted. · The right lane westbound/northbound on Good Hope Road between the 295 overpass and Anacostia Drive. From 7:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Monday through Friday: · One lane and the shoulder in each direction of DC295/I-295 between Pennsylvania Avenue and Howard Road will be closed. During the closures, contractors will conduct drainage inspection and cleaning, barrier installation, line striping, equipment relocation, sign work and various other construction activities. Closures may be subject to change due to weather or other unforeseen conditions. For more information about the 11th Street Bridge Project, please contact Public Information Manager Bryon Johnston at 202-484-2330, ext. 137 or visit www. theanacostiawaterfront.com/11thstreet.jsp. #### Bryon Johnston Public Information Manager 11th Street Bridge Project 202-484-2330, ext. 137 410-924-2850

Monday, March 15, 2010

Skyland Town Center Development Update and meeting announcement

Attention Penn-Branch Neighbors!!!

The Skyland Town Center Development is coming!!

400 housing units

300,000 sq. ft. of retail space

Community benefits from the developer could include--

· Job training

· Student financial aid

· Support for the Francis Gregory Library

· Support for neighborhood schools

We need your support and your voice to get a fair deal for our community. Please come and engage the developer, the Rappaport Companies.

When: ANC 7B Meeting

7 p.m. Thursday, March 18, 2010

Ryland Epworth Church

3200 S Street SE (near Branch & PA aves.)

This project goes back to the Zoning Commission on April 21, 2010. The hearing begins at 6:30 p.m. at 441 4^th St., NW. Please plan to attend .

For more information, call ANC Commissioner Robert Richards, 7B07, 583-3524, or Gilbert Bussey begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting, President, Penn-Branch Citizens/Civic Association, 584-6165.

Monday, March 1, 2010

2011 Property Assessments in Penn Branch: How do they compare with the rest of the DC?

Most folks in Penn Branch just received their 2011 Property Tax Assessments and if you're like most of us, you had to have been shocked, in most cases, by major decreases in assessed values for our homes. We all understand that the assessed value is based on fair market value. You hear about home values in the area declining by double digits. However, when you see valuation decreases in the range of 20% to 25% in one year, that should trigger a red flag!

It also begs the question, how do Penn Branch assessments compare to assessments in other parts of town? If one were to review the assessments in other neighborhoods, would one see the steep declines, in say, Berkley, American University Park, Cleveland Park or Forest Hills? Probably not. Why? Also, why does the value of the "land" component of the assessment decrease? How would the assessor know to decrease the "home improvement" component of the assessment, especially when no one has actually inspected the premises? And, finally, why would the assessed tax, after all of the aforementioned declines, increase?

Surely, someone can answer these questions. Otherwise, there is a 900 lb. gorilla in the room.

Penn Branch Citizens Civic Association: From the Beginning

The Penn-Branch Citizens / Civic Association was formed over 40 years ago by members in the community. The need for an association stemmed from specific neighborhood concerns such as water and sewer problems; the lack of sidewalks and curbs on some blocks; no posted traffic signs; and issues arising from the many District and Federal Parks that surround or are located within Penn-Branch.

The boundaries of the community served by the association extend from 38^th Street East to Branch Avenue West, and from Pennsylvania Avenue South to Pope Branch Park North. Within these boundaries are approximately 550 houses on tree lined streets covering rolling hills with easy access to the many wonderful features of the greater Washington metropolitan area. The Penn-Branch community is a touch of the suburbs in an urban setting providing the best of both worlds.

The Penn-Branch Citizens Association, as it was called until 1989, began through the formation of a number of committees, the responsibilities included working with the District and Federal Governments on varying problems. The most active committees over the years have been the Legislative and Public Works Committees, and the Neighborhood Security Patrol. Security Patrol members have contributed countless hours to assuring the security of the Penn-Branch residents. The work of the residents who have served on the PBC/CA’s many other committees have brought about many desirable improvements, and protected the community from unwanted change. The association maintains a pocket park at the corner of Carpenter and O streets, the gateway to Penn-Branch. A major project in recent year was the petitioning of the city to rebuild the crumbling O Street retaining wall. The association working with Dupont Park neighbors, defeated a proposal to erect a cellular monopole at the Penn-Branch shopping center that would have defeated our vistas. We host two major social events during the year, a Christmas Potluck and Carols on the second Tuesday in December (free – just bring a dish to serve at least four or more) and a Spring Dinner Dance, a proven fund-raiser and a reliable good time.

The Annual Membership drive runs from September to December. Through the year, the association welcomes the volunteer efforts of all Penn-Branch residents in carrying out its programs. While its leadership has changed hands many times over the years, the association continues as a stable, cohesive force owing to the time and services freely given by residents.

The PBC/CA is incorporated as a non-profit organization, and is a member of the D.C. Federation of Civic Associations. The By-laws of the association have changed from time-to-time; one significant change allows two votes per household if a two-member household exists.

In 1989, the membership voted unanimously to change the name from the Penn Branch Citizens Association to the Penn Branch Citizens/Civic Association to acknowledge a more diverse tradition of community organization.

The Penn-Branch Citizens / Civic Association, Inc. is “A Community Committed to Excellence” with the goal to create a safe and desirable community in which to live.

Officers- a president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer- are elected to one-year terms. A nominating committee appointed by the president solicits a slate of candidates during April, which is presented to the membership and voted on at the May meeting. Nominations may be made from the floor. Newly elected officers are sworn in at the June meeting, and begin serving in September. The president appoints committee chairs. A grass-root network of block captains serves as conduit through which concerns and information are shared between the association and its members. The association also publishes a monthly newsletter.

Our success in accomplishing the association’s goals can only be achieved to the extent that all the neighbors in Penn-Branch participate to ensure that the community we chose to live in remains a community we want to live in.