Over the past several months there has been a small blogging renaissance in Shaw. Any discussion of the Shaw blogosphere has to start with the the long-running (almost 4 years) and thoughtful In Shaw. However, the recent renaissance seemed to start some time last summer when Life in Mount Vernon Square (which, despite the name […]
Shiloh Baptist Church Properties
Shiloh Baptist Church is often mentioned in discussions of the problem of vacant structures in Shaw. Using public city sources I created the map above illustrating the properties owned by the church in the Shaw neighborhood. The church owns seven vacant rowhomes and two parking lots in addition to three occupied church buildings. I have […]
The New Puritainism: The Politics of Alcohol in DC
Since 2001, the regulation of the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages in the District has been controlled by the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration, a seven-member regulatory body of city government. ABRA issues licenses to all types of sellers of alcohol in the city, monitors compliance with city law, and has the power to issue […]
Do You Live in ANC 2C02?
In Washington, D.C. the lowest level of elected government are the city’s Advisory Neighborhood Commissions. Created in the 1970s, they were designed to connect the city’s neighborhoods to city government. These bodies are notorious for their NIMBY tendances and colorful personalities. I’ve long wondered why it seemed like the ANC in my neighborhood never seemed […]
D.C. Gentrification and Section 8 Subsidized Housing
This post is second in a series on gentrification in the District of Columbia. Part 1 – D.C. Gentrification and Section 8 Subsidized Housing Part 2 – ‘Gentrification’: The Birth of a Word in D.C. Part 3 – Metro Growth and ‘Gentrification’ Use Part 4 – Neighborhood Revitalization and Displacement I dislike the term “gentrification” […]
Shaw Restaurant Update
Long story short: two new, locally-owned restaurants in my neighborhood (Vegetate and Queen of Sheba) have been unable to get a liquor license due to the activism of a neighborhood church with a mostly suburban congregation. Now at urging of Vegetate owners Dominic and Jennifer Redd, a city council member has introduced a bill which […]
Memo to City: Plan Ahead
I was pleased to see my post about the redevelopment of the DC convention center received links from DCist and DCBlogs. As I expected it appears I am thoroughly out of the loop on the matter, however, and the developers held two public meetings in the past year to solicit public feedback on the redevelopment […]