NEWSLETTER OF THE CRESTWOOD CITIZENS ASSOCIATION

crestwooddc.org info@crestwooddc.org

May 2019

Washington, DC

In This Issue

Upcoming Events

5.21.2019 - Annual Meeting, 7pm,Grace Lutheran Church, 4300 16thStreet NW 7.4.2019 - 4th of July Parade, 1810Shepherd St, 10am 7.14.2019 - Crestwood's 300th Yearand Carter Barron Party, 2pm,tickets required

Many of you may not realize thatthe Crestwood CitizensAssociation's "year" runs from Mayto May. That means that every Maywe get together for our AnnualMeeting where we elect a newBoard for the upcoming year.  This year, there are plenty ofopportunities for neighbors thatwant to get more involved inkeeping Crestwood safe and fun. If you are interested in learningmore please emailpresident@crestwooddc.org.  The Annual Meeting will be onTuesday, May 21 at 7pm at GraceLutheran Church, 4300 16th StreetNW.

Grace Lutheran Church RainGarden, Trees, Games, SummerCamp, and More!Your Home For CASA CrestwoodCalling Crestwood Gardeners!Crestwood Aging-In-Place TeamCarter Barron Project & PartyCrestwood Dog StationsCrime StatisticsANC 4A08 UpdateCrestwood and the 2020 Census

Annual MeetingTuesday, May 21 - 7pm

Councilmember Todd's officewill present an updateWe have also invited JordanHaferbier and Russ Clark ofUptown Main Street to come andspeak with us about UMS andthe 14th Street Bus BarnredevelopmentWashington Gas will also bediscussing disruptionsassociated with a constructionproject taking place on andaround Nicholson Street, NWWe'll vote on a bylaw change tohave all memberships cost thesame amount - $25We'll update on planning forPeirce Mill Tennis Center andCarter Barron

I hope to see you there!                 - Pavan Khoobchandani                   CCA President

Blagden AvenueSidewalks UpdateIn 2016, DDOT recommended that asidewalk be installed on BlagdenAvenue between Allison andMathewson. Since that time, therehas been A LOT of back and forth.Last we heard (May 2019), DDOT wasstill coordinating with utilities as partof the design development. Once adesign is developed, there will be a 30day comment period.

The Crest · May 2019Crestwood Citizens Association

Grace Lutheran Church Rain Garden, Trees,Games, Summer Camp, and More!

Everyone is invited to come to Grace to see our new raingarden and 5 lovely trees planted just north of the raingarden. Saturday June 29 1:00pm-3:00pm, at GraceLutheran Church (16 th and Varnum St. NW). The rain garden and trees are efforts to slow down thestorm water running into Rock Creek and beyond. Comeand learn about how you can get a rain garden in youryard, enjoy some refreshments, play some games andsay hello to your neighbors! We’d love to show you the church, too. There might evenbe a weed or two to pull! The cost of the raingarden/trees and the installation were provided by aRiverSmart Grant through DOEE and the AnacostiaWatershed Committee. Thank you to the Crestwood Green Team and others forbeing an encouraging source of support in applying forthis project which benefits Crestwood and all of creation. We hope to see you on June 29!

Do you have kids K-6th grade and want a local option for camp the week of June 17-21, from 8am -5pm? Gracewill be offering a camp for a limited number of kids this year. The theme of the week is - Love Everybody! We

will do some activities at the church, visit museums, Rock Creek, do a service project and more. 

Cost will be $25 per child. 2 or more kids = $40 total. Scholarships available. Please let Pastor Wendy know if you are interested! gracepastorwendym@gmail.com.

Grace’s ‘Love Everybody’ Summer Camp

Your Home For CASA CrestwoodEach Fall, the Crestwood Tour of Homes featuressome of the diverse homes in Crestwood - andit is a way to combat homelessness by supportingThrive DC!

If you are interested in having your home featuredon the tour, please contact Denise Woodsat woodsassoc@gmail.com.

The Crest · May 2019Crestwood Citizens Association

Calling Crestwood Gardeners!We are so fortunate to live in Crestwood for so manyreasons, and one of them is the number of beautifulgardens! The Crestwood Green Team would like to organize agarden tour this June to highlight some of thesegardens and those who lovingly cultivate them. We are open to all, but particularly interested infeaturing yards and gardens with green features, likenative trees and plants, edibles, rain gardens orrainbarrels. But we need your help to identify those willing tohave neighbors walk through gardens and answertheir questions.

We did a garden tour, led by Deb Chaconas, about 4years ago, and it was a great success and a lot of fun. We concentrated on several gardens in thesouthwest end of Crestwood around Quincy,Randolph, Shepherd and Taylor, so it would be greatto feature gardens in another area of theneighborhood. Please let us know if you would like to considervolunteering your garden or know of a neighbor witha wonderful garden or green space whom we couldcontact. We can’t do this without you! Please emaileither Susan Plaeger at susan2249@verizon.net orthe Green Team lead Doug Barker atgreenteam@crestwooddc.org.

Crestwood Aging-In-Place Team

In February, the Aging In Place Communitysponsored a luncheon at Clyde’s in Chevy Chase.  Eighteen Crestwood neighbors attended and hada wonderful time.  We intend to hold similar events throughout theyear.  For our next event we will sponsor an outing tothe Hillwood Museum off Tilden Street NW,sometime in June.  More information to follow.  Also, sometime in the fall we will repeat aseminar on estate and financial planning. 

Starting in May, The Washington Hospital Centerwill be sponsoring a health initiative:  Walk WithThe Docs.  It is held on the first Saturday of everymonth at 9 AM at the National Arboretum 3501New York Avenue, NE.  Dr. Patricia Davidson (VaughnCooke}, acardiologist, is one of the co-leaders of theinitiative, and is also our neighbor and one of themembers of the Crestwood Aging-In-PlaceCommittee.  The Committee seeks suggestionsfor future outings, for example afternoon teas,movie and theater outings, visits to museums.    Please contact us: olderadults@crestwooddc.org.

DC Department of Aging and Community Living Brain Games

Brain Games is a trivia event (similar toJeopardy) for DC Seniors promotingbrain health! In order to participate, allparticipates must be 60 years or betterand DC residents. Each team must have 4team members (3 and 1 alternate).

This event has two phases ofcompetition.  Phase One at July 9th at 10:30am andPhase Two August 28th at UDC.

If you are interested, please email Whitney.swain@udc.edu.

The Crest · May 2019Crestwood Citizens Association

Since it was built in 1950, the Carter BarronAmphitheatre has been a cultural touchstone forthe DC area. The beloved open-air stagesurrounded by trees in the middle of Rock CreekPark has hosted performances from Shakespeareto Stevie Wonder. In the summer of 2017, the National Park Serviceclosed the amphitheatre for necessary repairs.Please join Rock Creek Conservancy in support ofthe Carter Barron Amphitheatre rehabilitation. Right now, the rehabilitation efforts are in theplanning stage. The National Park Service wants to take thisopportunity to rehabilitate the belovedamphitheatre and as an official partner to thepark, Rock Creek Conservancy wants to makesure your voices are heard during the process. 

The Conservancy is collecting stories andopinions from the DC area and will create acommunity report that will be shared with theNational Park Service as they finalize theirdecisions. The Conservancy will also share those stories onits website to celebrate the deep history andcultural significance of this unique venue. When Rock Creek Conservancy started asking theDC area about Carter Barron, one thing was clear:you love this space. Do you have a memory from the Carter BarronAmphitheatre? Did you grow up going to showsand concerts? Did you learn to drive in theparking lot? Do you picnic there all summer? Please visit the Rock Creek Conservancy websiteto view these stories and share your own! Head tohttp://bit.ly/carterbarronproject for moreinformation.

This unique, family-friendly event will celebratethe Crestwood neighborhood’s 300th birthdayand raise funds for Rock Creek Conservancy’srestoration and engagement work within RockCreek Park including the upcoming Carter BarronAmphitheatre rehabilitation efforts Throughout the event, there will be music,performances, delicious food and drink (for adultstoo), and fun activities for children and adults!Plus, you’ll get the opportunity to mix and minglewith an amazing community full of people wholove Rock Creek Park as much as you do! You won’t want to miss out on this summercelebration in the park we all love and work sohard to protect. To join the guest list and getdetails as they emerge, visitbit.ly/carterbarronparty. You may also emailinfo@rockcreekconservancy.org with anyinquiries.

Join Rock Creek Conservancy and the CrestwoodCitizens Association on July 14, 2019 for afundraiser party in the park like no other! Ticketswill be $50 per adult, and $25 per child over 8. Carter Barron may be closed for repairs, but thissummer, you will have the opportunity to getinside the gates of this important DC landmarkwith the Carter Barron community.

The Crest · May 2019Crestwood Citizens Association

Our neighborhood remains on the cutting edge of dogclean-up, thanks to the volunteers who monitor the 8

dog stations. 

Six stations have bags that require emptying once eachweek with the preferred routine being on Wednesday

prior to Thursday trash collection. 

All stations require a complement of small bags.  Thereare 200 bags per roll, with three rolls in each station. 

Sounds like a lot, however, the stations are depleted on aregular basis and require refills. 

The Crestwood dog station program, more than a

decade old, using biodegradable bags is an example forthe rest of the city; consequently the ANC pays for thebags not the CCA.  No small matter as the annual tab isaround $1200. (We seek volunteers, please call George

202 255-3717)

Crestwood Dog Stations

Thank you to our volunteers!

Doug Barker & Sam KilpatrickJacqueline Jackson

Rachel HomerDavid Summers

Carla Ferris of WaggamuffinRosie Hepner

Gale Black

And to our backups!

Joe Sill & Jenny SchuetzElizabeth and Ivan Bryan

Dave HeinmanJohn Favazzo

And a special thank you to the neighbor that

coordinates it all: George Chaconas!!

Thank you to John & Beverly Ostenso for compiling the crime statistics every month!They are available at crestwooddc.org/crime-stats.

The Crest · May 2019Crestwood Citizens Association

ANC SMD 4A08Commissioner Black

For purposes of accountability and tracking,here is our tickler list of the issues and / orconcerns for Crestwood, ANC SMD 4A08:

Crime,   break-ins, thefts from cars and thefts ofpackages from porches;PEPCO power outages - FIXEDSink Hole across from 1755 Crestwood Drive inRock Creek Park - FIXED;Transportation Options for the installation ofthe Blagden Avenue sidewalk – still awaiting therevised DDOT Notice of Intent;Notice of Intent regarding traffic safetyinstallation at 16th and Buchanan;Hazardous road conditions and overdue repairsfor Broad Branch Road;Storm water run-off & Street repairs andpotholes; (New cracks forming in streets andalleys)Request for closing of alley access near 18th andAllison Street – due to safety concerns and ourrequest for a camera, if feasible;Carter Barron storm water issues andrestoration issues;Dangerous intersection, (overgrown Cypresstrees, blocking visibility, and potential threat toyoung children at play) at the intersection ofShepherd and Upshur Streets; (PARTIALLYFIXED)Continued request for a four-way stop at 17thand Varnum Streets, NW;

No action on request for consistent parkingrestrictions along 18th Street;Unlawful construction without the appropriatepermits and pop-up;Seniors, Aging-in-Place initiative for an age-friendly neighborhood (working with CCA andvolunteer team for older residents/ tax &foreclosure issues);Invasive plants, like on the 1900 block ofShepherd, clearing them;Raised a concern about stop sign fines (Blagdenand Allison) (FIXED);Questioned use of credit cards for jurorpayments;Noted the upsurge in graffiti in Rock Creek Parkunder the bridges;ANC 4A resolution re Air BNB issues – zoningenforcement;Rehabilitation of 16th Street Bridge over PineyBranch Parkway ;Preserving access to  the neighborhood-servingschools currently serving 4A08 families, alongwith other preferred charters /DCPS schools;Beginning discussions on issues regardingzoning, redistricting, and Foreign MissionCenter /Chanceries;Plans for a tot lot for SMD 4A08;Bike Share  recommendation for ShepherdStreet; andPreserving our public health, welfare andneighborhood character.

WHAT'S AN ANC?

An ANC is a nonpartisan, neighborhood body made up of locally elected representatives called Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners. They are a unique feature of the District's Home Rule Charter.The ANCs' main job is to be their neighborhood's official voice in advising the District government (and Federal age

ncies) on things that affect their neighborhoods.

Although they are not required to follow the ANCs' advice, District agencies are required to give the ANCs' recommendations "great weight." Moreover, District law says that agencies cannot take any action that 

will significantly affect a neighborhood unless they give the affected ANCs 30 days advance notice.

ANC Single Member District (SMD) 4A08 covers all of Crestwood and is the equivalent of census tract 26.The SMD 4A08 commissioner is Gale Black.

Crestwood and the 2020 Census

A few weeks ago, the US Census came out with its latestestimates of the District of Columbia’s population as of2017-2018. The estimated figures show that there were702,455 individuals residing within the city boundaries– up from an official 2010 count of 601,723. With thenext census count coming next year, it is reasonable tosay that the future totals will be somewhat differentthan the latest information, but not so much that itenables one to reasonably project the outcome of the2020 Census.   There is something very new about the 2017-2018figures. On the surface, it may seem that people aremoving into the District at the same torrid pace duringthe Obama years. However, the U.S. Department ofCommerce stated that most of the new growth is notrelated to relocation. Rather, the increase is largely dueto “natural increase” that is, far more births thandeaths. Something new. The newborns are children of residents who movedinto DC during the recent past. In the I-shapedCrestwood enclave centered around theBlagdens/Colorado between 17th and 18th Streets. Irecall 6 children under 21 in 2010. As of this publicationdate, the count is 17 youngsters of college age andyounger.  The total of new residents relocating in DCfrom elsewhere, after factoring departures, increasedby 2200 citywide. As always, the primary impact of the expected finalpopulation figure is adjusting the boundaries of the 8Wards and 40 ANCs in time for the 2022 elections. Ifthe current trends hold, the city should have almost720,000 people which means that eight Wards shouldexpect to average almost 90,000 people, up from anofficial 75,215 in 2010.  The new average of the 40 ANCswill be 18,000. Currently, the new estimated population of theindividual wards are: Ward 1 –  83K, Ward 2 – 77K (theonly ward to lose people), Ward 3 – 84K, Ward 4 – 84K,Ward 5 – 86K, Ward 6 – 91K, Ward 7 – 80K, Ward 8 –85K. It should not be surprising that Ward 6 grew somuch since Mass Avenue, North Capital and thebaseball stadium had the most new residentialdevelopment in the city.

by Stephen Gorman

The Crest · May 2019

Crestwood Citizens Association

Obviously, the wards targeted for significantadjustment will be Wards 2 and 6. Ward 7 and 8 willhave make a smaller adjustment with each other. Giventhat Wards 1, 3, 4, 5, are almost identical andcontiguous, their current respective boundaries areunlikely to change. The 40 ANCs do not offer easy analysis as do the wardsbecause of varying numbers of Single Member Districts(SMDs) within an ANC and the process is far more“politics is local”. Ward 2 remains unique as havingDC’s smallest ANCs; 2C with two SMDs and 2D withthree. Why is that? The only answer is “Go ask Jack”. Moreover, in 2000, there were 37 ANCs, so it’s quitepossible given the newly created population centers inWard 6, the city will create more ANCs. WithinCrestwood’s ANC4A, the old Walter Reed campus is ourward’s biggest development, so there will be significantdiscussions about what do with the new residents andrebalancing an even number of SMDs among the fourANCs. (I do not count Ward 4 3G’s 3 SMDs of ChevyChase in this discussion.) So, is Crestwood ANC4A-08 affected? I think not at allto somewhat. 4A is Ward 4’s the second smallest ANCand creating an additional new SMD from the WalterReed area could address any ANC disparities. It is 4Dwhich is the smallest ANC with six SMDs and naturallythat grouping would be expected to get any new SMDs. So, in summary, the only genuine issue facing 4A-08 isaccommodating extra residents as all SMDs must do.  Ifin fact, the rest of Crestwood is experiencing a similarchildren boom as Blagdens/Colorado is – more toarrive - it’s with reasonable confidence that there willenough more children counted which results inANC4A-08 remaining as it is. During 2010, Stephen Gorman was instrumental inorganizing the effort that merged the Crestwood partsof ANC 4C west of 16th Street into ANC 4A-08, therebymaking Crestwood unified and whole.  You are verywelcome, SPG  Sources: US Census, ANC.dc.gov, andCensusreporter.org

You can find census data for Tract 26 (Crestwood) at crestwooddc.org/ANC-SMD-4A08.

The Crestwood Citizens Association Board of Directors  for 2018-2019 is as follows: Action Teams Leads: There are plenty of opportunities to get involved, either as an Action Team lead or on an existing ActionTeam!  For more information please contact info@crestwooddc.org or the Action Team lead.

President  - Pavan KhoobchandaniVice President/Green Team  - Doug BarkerSecretary - Pat KennedyTreasurer - John FavazzoCommunications Director - Kathleen Eder

president@crestwooddc.orggreenteam@crestwooddc.orgsecretary@crestwooddc.orgtreasurer@crestwooddc.orgcommunications@crestwooddc.org

Kids Team - Harriet WinslowGreen Team - Doug BarkerSocial Team - VACANTPublic Safety TeamNewsletter Team - VACANTIssues Team - Peter RichmanAging In Place - Yvonne Baskerville and Jackie Jackson

kids@crestwooddc.orggreenteam@crestwooddc.orgVACANTsafety@crestwooddc.orgVACANTissues@crestwooddc.orgolderadults@crestwooddc.org

The Crest · May 2019Crestwood Citizens Association

EMAIL LISTSERV - Crestwood has an active listserv where neighbors share ideas, tips, items for sale, and much

more.  The listserv is the BEST WAY to communicate online with your

neighbors. 

To join the listserv or to see archived messages, visit crestwooddc.org. 

Twitter (@Crestwood_DC)Facebook (CrestwoodDC) 

For newsletter or other sponsorship opportunities, please contact Kathleen Eder at communications@crestwooddc.org

Join the Crestwood Citizens Association!

The Crestwood Citizens Association covers over 800households in Crestwood.

We provide residents with exciting community eventslike the Easter Egg Hunt, 4th of July Parade, Summer

Picnic, CASA Crestwood Tour of Homes, HolidayParty, and Neighborhood Clean-up Day to name a few!  

The Association is open to all Crestwood residents; thecost is $25 per family, annually. Singe person household

cost is $20.

To join the CCA, please register by visitingcrestwooddc.org/join or by emailing

treasurer@crestwooddc.org.