Progress on Park View Murals

I took these shots last Sunday when the main artist, with some help, was working overtime to get the new murals at the Park View Rec Center further along. I’ll post some updates next week. I’m sure there will be a noticeable difference.

Fenty’s Summer Youth Gone Astray

Mayor Fenty’s Summer Youth Jobs Program strikes again. Yesterday, at the corner of Park Place and Princeton Place, NW, for no apparent reason, youth in the program cut down a crepe myrtle that was healthy and thriving in the area next to the road. That youth in the mayor’s job program are responsible is based on eye witness accounts.

This was one of two crepe myrtles that had been in this location. The other one had been snapped off at the base sometime last week, perhaps also by the same individuals.

Had the youth mistaken them for wild brush needing to be cleared, it would have been reasonable to presume that the severed branches would have been removed. As it is, its nothing short of vandalism.

Park View Postal History

The announcement yesterday that the USPS is considering closing the post office located on Georgia Avenue and Morton Street brought to mind an image of when Park View was starting out fresh and establishing services, like the post office. With village postal delivery beginning in 1912, Park View was somewhat progressive in getting an established station by 1918.

The images below are of that early station which was located in the Park View elementary school. That post office was officially dedicated on July4, 1918.

Park View UNC Meeting Tomorrow

Sorry for any confusion earlier today. The August Park View UNC newsletter was distributed, and I have a less that perfect version after the jump. Because I got an electronic version later than I should have (my error for not requesting sooner), I didn’t have time to clean it up.
That said, if you have the time and are interested in any of the topics listed, feel free to stop by the Park View Rec Center at 7 pm tomorrow.

People Before Profit

I found this near 3224 Georgia Avenue.

What, Exactly, are Park View’s Borders

Like a lot of newer residents in the District, I want to know about my neighborhood. I want to know the current ins and outs as well as the past. I want to know my neighbors. I want to build on their past contributions to the neighborhood and work with them to accomplish new goals.

The only real snag I’ve encountered is determining just where my neighborhood is. After doing some digging, I’m still not 100% certain that I have Park View’s exact boundaries correct. To that end I would like to know a few things:

• What is the southern border of Park View?
• Where is Pleasant Plains located?
• What was the area bounded by Sherman, Park Road, Georgia and Harvard originally known as?

From the 1921 Directory and History of Park View, as well as a 1917 Washington Post article describing an election in Park View, the following borders are outlined:

The area bordered by the south side of Gresham street to north side of Rock Creek Church road, on the east side of the Soldiers’ Home grounds, both sides of Georgia avenue from Gresham street to Park road, then north on the west side of New Hampshire avenue to Rock Creek Church road.
(Map taken from C.S. Hammond & Company Atlas, 1910)

Compare those borders with the ones you’ll find on Wikipedia, where the boundaries are Harvard on the south, Sherman on the west, New Hampshire and Rock Creek Church Road on the north, and Park Place on the east.
While I’ have no problem accepting these borders, I have no idea if they are accurate.

I’d like to know what other people consider the borders to be, particularly the southern border. I’d also be interested in knowing if there are any official descriptions of neighborhood borders.

Murals at Park View Rec Center Progressing

While still in the very early stages, I wanted to show that the murals at the Park View Rec Center are under way. The murals are being created by Park View youth in partnership with the Latin American Youth Center. You can read more about the murals from my earlier post.

Update on Quebec Place Homicide

On the same night as the Metro tragedy there was a violent homicide on the 600 block of Park View. The only good news was that the assailant was apprehended.

While its going to take a while for this case to work its way through the courts, I wanted to give an update to my last report on where things stood with the accused.

On July 24th, the preliminary hearing was held and probable cause was found in the case pending a Grand Jury. The accused will continue to be held without bond. The next court date is set for October 23, 2009.

New Mural Coming to Park View Rec Center

While I don’t have any images yet, I wanted to share what I know about the new mural coming to the Park View Rec Center.

Based on the preliminary plans I saw last Friday, the new mural will be located on two walls — the south wall of the pool house and the north, opposite, wall of the main structure. None of the murals along Otis Street will be impacted at this time.

The two murals will be largely composed of abstract landscapes that have words breaking forth from the soil. The words will be in English and Spanish and are meant to convey a spirit of unity.

The walls chosen have already be painted with a base coat so that the designs can be transferred. I suspect painting could start as early as today, but will definitely start this week.

Pepco Working on Northern Park Place

Pepco started work on Park Place yesterday between Quebec Place and Rock Creek Church Road. Based on the signs, they estimate the work to require about a month.

The work they are preforming is to supply a heavy up to the property on the southwest corner of Park Place and Rock Creek Church Road. The work will not impact Rock Creek Church Road.

The work will impact parking during the day, especially during alternate side enforcement on Thursdays and Fridays. Let’s hope work progresses smoothly.