When the materials get posted on the web we can have a free-for-all :-)
RE: H St. even though I live near the far east end of H in Trinidad I'm psyched to see the Great Streets stuff happen at the west end just to have a sense of what it's all going to look like. I hope the city makes it clear that any damage to the new improvements by construction at the Abdo site, next to it betw 3rd & 4th and then the site @ 6th street later has to be repaired or paid for. It would suck to have nice sidewalks, etc. trashed by the construction.
On a somewhat related matter, signs and retaining fences have begun sprouting along 2nd Street NE from Massachusetts to K Street in preparation of the total reconstruction of Second from Mass to Florida.
Rob, Believe me, there will be some tanned hides (by me, ANC 6C, and I imagine, Councilmember Wells) if the new work is damaged and not fully replaced! Abdo project should be done by the time any portion of H Street project is done--they're scheduled to begin delivery of units in June/July (I suspect August).
Alan: Were you able to make sure DPW uses brick for sidewalks, granite curbs and other appropriate materials for the 2nd Street work? And going forward is there any way to make sure DPW uniformly uses brick for sidewalks and granite for curbs? Even in the 'official' Capitol Hill historic area they sometimes let crews get away with not doing this even though there are actually regulations specifying they use brick and such, so I'm betting that in the H Street residential area they'll routinely go with the cheapest thing available unless forced to do otherwise...
I'm pretty sure that there is no "regulations specifying they use brick and such" in a historic area. Can you cite your source? However, there is a specific DOT budget for the H street renovation. They have made it very clear from day 1, that there would not be brick sidewalks on H Street.
The material for the sidewalks will not be brick. The material will be the same pebble/stone composite used on the National Mall. This material is more historically correct than brick, lasts longer, easier to clean and safer (to the extent brick sidewalks separate over time). Here is our ANC letter on the subject:
http://anc6a.org/HstSidewalkMat.pdf
In anticipation of the construction schedule, we also sent the following letter that highlights some concerns that need to be accommodated in the contract regarding construction worker parking, phasing of the project and the potential use of extending the working hours if it will shorten the construction schedule. Here is the link to our letter sent earlier this year:
http://anc6a.org/HstConstrucRecom0207.pdf
Finally, we will have the Director of DDOT at our May 10 ANC meeting which will start at 7:00pm at Miner. The number one topic for the Director will be an update on the H Street project and timeline.
Yes, H Street is being redone using the surface material you mention, as referenced in the letter you cite. But I was asking about 2nd St and, by extension, other residential streets in the greater H Street area..... although technically 2nd Street is a mix of residential and light use commercial...
This subject and the Florida Market come up again and again....we need a FAQ to point people to for all the pertinent info. Any volunteers? (please don't volunteer me :-)
I'm in exams starting today and running for one more week, so I'm a little too busy to stick a formal faq up there, but people can check out the Capital City Market blog for some good back ground info on the Market & New Town.
Some neighborhood characters, who use wheels to get around, must do it in the street because they can't navigate the bad brick sidewalk (some of which is not old at all). The neighborhood opinion leaders' defense of installing more of the same bad brick sidewalk is easily explained: they hope that these characters will get run down by a car, removing blight from the neighborhood. As an occasional member, myself, of the wheeled class, I am of two minds about this.
Anonymous: So those in favor of brick sidewalks wish for those in wheelchairs to die? Come on now, that sort of thing does nothing to improve discourse on these blogs. So stop it already. If you are going to be unnecessarily incendiary, at least be funny. That wasn't even funny.
Forget the wheeled set,the uneven walk surface is a trip hazard for walking too. In the winter, they are super slick to walk on when it's snowy, or icey. Brick sidewalks maybe cutsy poosy and olde, but are not really historically correct.
Isn't the issue that they don't maintain the bricks so they get unsafe over the years? There are cracked and unsafe sidewalks of other material in the area nearby as well.
Interesting point about the brick, anon. You are completely wrong, but it was interesting. Do they have brick in the rest of the city?
When I think of brick sidewalks, I tend to think of the touristy suburb, that is Old Town Alexandria.
We all know that the City isn't going to maintain the brick sidewalks so why bother. They have them in a section of 13th NE and the sidewalk is barely walkable at this point.
Oh...you really think it is only brick sidewalks that are not maintained and are unsafe. There are examples of non-brick sidewalk surfaces that are "unsafe" all over the city. For example, I saw a woman trip and fall yesterday because of an uneven crack in a concrete sidewalk.
I agree that brick is high maintenance...but if that is what is part of a neighborhood's original character, then the city needs to stick with that and maintain it. The city replaced many of the brick sidewalks in central Capitol Hill with new bricks, and it looks great and works well.
The link will work--there is a delay on the download. Below the grey "upload a file" box, in line with the left edge of the box is a heading "Downloading a file". Below that, you will see a countdown for the file, after which you can get the file via the link that replaces the countdown.
Sorry for the ads and inconvenience--it's free service, but I didn't realize how ridiculous it was in pushing ads. I'll try to find a cheap alternative with no ads.
On the issue of brick sidewalks, concrete will break and become uneaven just as easily as brick from encroaching tree roots (biggest culprit behind uneaven sidewalks. The brick sidewalks laid on part of 2nd Street and on Parker Street 5 years ago look as good and as level as when they were installed.
Anonymous 10:16: You need to take your meds and chill out. There are elderly people in these neighborhoods who have lived here a hell of a lot longer than you have. Why don't you go door to door and explain your final solution: it's time to move to Arlington? I'm sure they'd have a few choice words for you. When people (who probably like the bricks) politely point out that they nonetheless have drawbacks your rants and insults add zero to the conversation.
Part of the reason you see uneven brick sidewalks in DC is because back in the Barry years they allowed the installing contractors to just slap anything down, often literally going over uneven dirt mounds, tree roots, etc. When installed like that of course brick becomes uneven.
Yes, this is the beginning of the H Street NE Streetscape project, which includes installing the light rail (plus completely renovating the street, sidewalks, treeboxes, etc).
Work is in three phases, and will not be completed for 2.5 years.
I posted a summary a while ago on my blog: http://anc6c05.blogspot.com/2007/02/update-on-h-street-ne-streetscape.html
I should have clarified. The current work is preliminary utilities work that needs to be done prior to DDOT commencing work on the actual Streetscape project. So, the "official" start is July--this is just the "pre-game warmup".
so, will the sidewalks be un-walk-able in the blocks covered during each respective phase when sidewalk reconstruction gets underway? or is my understanding of the term "streetscape" skewed?
Alan, I don't think it will be quite that bad. I assume they will closed one side of the sidewalk at a time, and probably only bit by bit as needed. They are trying to accomodate the businesses.
30 comments:
Is this prep work for the rails already?
So are you going to give us your take on the market public meeting or what? Making us wait....:)
When the materials get posted on the web we can have a free-for-all :-)
RE: H St. even though I live near the far east end of H in Trinidad I'm psyched to see the Great Streets stuff happen at the west end just to have a sense of what it's all going to look like.
I hope the city makes it clear that any damage to the new improvements by construction at the Abdo site, next to it betw 3rd & 4th and then the site @ 6th street later has to be repaired or paid for. It would suck to have nice sidewalks, etc. trashed by the construction.
On a somewhat related matter, signs and retaining fences have begun sprouting along 2nd Street NE from Massachusetts to K Street in preparation of the total reconstruction of Second from Mass to Florida.
Rob,
Believe me, there will be some tanned hides (by me, ANC 6C, and I imagine, Councilmember Wells) if the new work is damaged and not fully replaced! Abdo project should be done by the time any portion of H Street project is done--they're scheduled to begin delivery of units in June/July (I suspect August).
Best,
Alan Kimber
ANC Commissioner, 6C05
Alan: Were you able to make sure DPW uses brick for sidewalks, granite curbs and other appropriate materials for the 2nd Street work? And going forward is there any way to make sure DPW uniformly uses brick for sidewalks and granite for curbs? Even in the 'official' Capitol Hill historic area they sometimes let crews get away with not doing this even though there are actually regulations specifying they use brick and such, so I'm betting that in the H Street residential area they'll routinely go with the cheapest thing available unless forced to do otherwise...
I'm pretty sure that there is no "regulations specifying they use brick and such" in a historic area. Can you cite your source?
However, there is a specific DOT budget for the H street renovation. They have made it very clear from day 1, that there would not be brick sidewalks on H Street.
Been there.
Early morning greetings:
The material for the sidewalks will not be brick. The material will be the same pebble/stone composite used on the National Mall. This material is more historically correct than brick, lasts longer, easier to clean and safer (to the extent brick sidewalks separate over time). Here is our ANC letter on the subject:
http://anc6a.org/HstSidewalkMat.pdf
In anticipation of the construction schedule, we also sent the following letter that highlights some concerns that need to be accommodated in the contract regarding construction worker parking, phasing of the project and the potential use of extending the working hours if it will shorten the construction schedule. Here is the link to our letter sent earlier this year:
http://anc6a.org/HstConstrucRecom0207.pdf
Finally, we will have the Director of DDOT at our May 10 ANC meeting which will start at 7:00pm at Miner. The number one topic for the Director will be an update on the H Street project and timeline.
Anonymous:
Since you asked, here's the brick regulation...
http://www.ddot.dc.gov/ddot/frames.asp?doc=/ddot/lib/ddot/information/design/ch31.pdf
Joseph:
Yes, H Street is being redone using the surface material you mention, as referenced in the letter you cite. But I was asking about 2nd St and, by extension, other residential streets in the greater H Street area..... although technically 2nd Street is a mix of residential and light use commercial...
This subject and the Florida Market come up again and again....we need a FAQ to point people to for all the pertinent info. Any volunteers? (please don't volunteer me :-)
I'm in exams starting today and running for one more week, so I'm a little too busy to stick a formal faq up there, but people can check out the Capital City Market blog for some good back ground info on the Market & New Town.
the side streets (sidewalks) off of H are brick.
the sidewalks along 2nd are brick.
they should remain that way.
Hillman and others interested in 2nd Street project:
Here is a link (short URL) to the letter that the ANC sent to DDOT about 2nd Street and the related underpass rehabilitation project.
http://s1u.net/iqit
Best,
Alan Kimber
ANC Commissioner, 6C05
Some neighborhood characters, who use wheels to get around, must do it in the street because they can't navigate the bad brick sidewalk (some of which is not old at all). The neighborhood opinion leaders' defense of installing more of the same bad brick sidewalk is easily explained: they hope that these characters will get run down by a car, removing blight from the neighborhood. As an occasional member, myself, of the wheeled class, I am of two minds about this.
Alan:
I can't get that link to work.
Anonymous: So those in favor of brick sidewalks wish for those in wheelchairs to die? Come on now, that sort of thing does nothing to improve discourse on these blogs. So stop it already. If you are going to be unnecessarily incendiary, at least be funny. That wasn't even funny.
Forget the wheeled set,the uneven walk surface is a trip hazard for walking too. In the winter, they are super slick to walk on when it's snowy, or icey. Brick sidewalks maybe cutsy poosy and olde, but are not really historically correct.
Brick is fantastic.
If you have problems with uneven terrain, put your heels back the closet.
You people move to the city from the burbs, and then demand the same amenities you're running from.
Get a life.
It's not just people with heels on that could have trouble with brick. Elderly people could also have trouble with the uneven surface.
Oh yeah, and children too.
And drunks.
And on, and on, and on.
If you don't like bricks, move to Arlington or Herndon.
Or wait until they tear down the farmer's market and cement the place over.
I seriously can't believe some of the wacky points of view expressed by folks on this blog.
Next thing you know, we'll be hearing cries for escalators and MOVING sidewalks .... for the elderly, of course.
Isn't the issue that they don't maintain the bricks so they get unsafe over the years? There are cracked and unsafe sidewalks of other material in the area nearby as well.
Interesting point about the brick, anon. You are completely wrong, but it was interesting. Do they have brick in the rest of the city?
When I think of brick sidewalks, I tend to think of the touristy suburb, that is Old Town Alexandria.
We all know that the City isn't going to maintain the brick sidewalks so why bother. They have them in a section of 13th NE and the sidewalk is barely walkable at this point.
Oh...you really think it is only brick sidewalks that are not maintained and are unsafe. There are examples of non-brick sidewalk surfaces that are "unsafe" all over the city. For example, I saw a woman trip and fall yesterday because of an uneven crack in a concrete sidewalk.
I agree that brick is high maintenance...but if that is what is part of a neighborhood's original character, then the city needs to stick with that and maintain it. The city replaced many of the brick sidewalks in central Capitol Hill with new bricks, and it looks great and works well.
Hillman,
The link will work--there is a delay on the download. Below the grey "upload a file" box, in line with the left edge of the box is a heading "Downloading a file". Below that, you will see a countdown for the file, after which you can get the file via the link that replaces the countdown.
Sorry for the ads and inconvenience--it's free service, but I didn't realize how ridiculous it was in pushing ads. I'll try to find a cheap alternative with no ads.
On the issue of brick sidewalks, concrete will break and become uneaven just as easily as brick from encroaching tree roots (biggest culprit behind uneaven sidewalks. The brick sidewalks laid on part of 2nd Street and on Parker Street 5 years ago look as good and as level as when they were installed.
Best,
Alan Kimber
Commissioner, ANC 6C05
Anonymous 10:16: You need to take your meds and chill out. There are elderly people in these neighborhoods who have lived here a hell of a lot longer than you have. Why don't you go door to door and explain your final solution: it's time to move to Arlington? I'm sure they'd have a few choice words for you.
When people (who probably like the bricks) politely point out that they nonetheless have drawbacks your rants and insults add zero to the conversation.
All sidewalk surfaces need maintenance.
Part of the reason you see uneven brick sidewalks in DC is because back in the Barry years they allowed the installing contractors to just slap anything down, often literally going over uneven dirt mounds, tree roots, etc. When installed like that of course brick becomes uneven.
so back to the original post...is the streetwork depicted here for the light rail? does anyone know? anyone know how long it will go on?
Yes, this is the beginning of the H Street NE Streetscape project, which includes installing the light rail (plus completely renovating the street, sidewalks, treeboxes, etc).
Work is in three phases, and will not be completed for 2.5 years.
I posted a summary a while ago on my blog:
http://anc6c05.blogspot.com/2007/02/update-on-h-street-ne-streetscape.html
Alan,
Your blog indicates that the streetscape project begins in July; is this an early start?
Moxie,
I should have clarified. The current work is preliminary utilities work that needs to be done prior to DDOT commencing work on the actual Streetscape project. So, the "official" start is July--this is just the "pre-game warmup".
Alan Kimber
Commissioner, ANC 6C05
so, will the sidewalks be un-walk-able in the blocks covered during each respective phase when sidewalk reconstruction gets underway? or is my understanding of the term "streetscape" skewed?
Alan, I don't think it will be quite that bad. I assume they will closed one side of the sidewalk at a time, and probably only bit by bit as needed. They are trying to accomodate the businesses.
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