McDuffie Asks Mayor to Move the Car Barn

Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie has written a letter asking the Mayor to consider relocating the proposed trolley car barn that is to be constructed adjacent to Spingarn HS. McDuffie's letter is a response to the concern of some Ward 5 residents that the location is inappropriate, and potentially unsafe. There were also issues raised regarding DDOT's failure to engage the community before selecting the site. You can read the complete text after the jump.

June 29, 2012

The Honorable Mayor Vincent C. Gray

Executive Office of the Mayor

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, DC 20004 

Dear Mayor Gray,

I facilitated an emergency community meeting on Monday, June 25 to address my constituents’ discontent with the District Department of Transportation’s (DDOT) proposal to build the H Street/Benning Road streetcar maintenance facility, also known as a “car barn,” on the campus of Spingarn Senior High School.  An outpouring of community members attended the meeting to raise their concerns and objections to the placement of the car barn.  Also in attendance were ANC 5B Chair Jacqueline Manning and Commissioner Bernice Blacknell, who represent the residents of the affected area. Both commissioners voiced their disapproval of the proposed car bar location.

DDOT Director Terry Bellamy and his Chief Engineer, Nick Nicholson, gave presentations at the beginning of the meeting to explain the factors that ultimately led to the decision made by DDOT to place the car barn at Spingarn over one of the other proposed sites.  Many residents have indicated that they found the justification for the Spingarn site to be one of expedience, rather than necessity. 

           

Indeed, residents of Ward 5 expressed anger and frustration because they perceive that the decision to locate the car barn on the front yard of Spingarn High School was made without sufficient community input.  While DDOT participated in 16 community meetings to discuss the H Street/Benning Road streetcar project, only three meetings were held in Ward 5.  As such, many residents in the Ward 5 community feel that their input has been minimized.  They are dismayed that a major decision affecting our ward was made without the benefit of a Councilmember at the table to represent the community’s interests.  More broadly, many residents believe that the city uses Ward 5 as a “dumping ground” for undesirable facilities, the car barn being another example of such a practice. In short, many Ward 5 residents feel disrespected.

The residents present at the June 25 meeting made it abundantly clear that they are vehemently opposed to building the car barn on the grounds of one of our high schools.  In addition to the location of the car barn, the major and overlapping concerns we heard from numerous residents are:

·         Lack of material benefits to the Carver Langston neighborhood;

·         Safety of students during and after the construction phase;

·         Environmental impact;

·         Level of noise from repairs and maintenance;

·         Resources and job opportunities available at the training center for Spingarn students and Ward 5 residents.

Mr. Mayor, I support the streetcar program.  However, I request that you reconsider the decision to place the car barn at Spingarn Senior High School and that you offer an alternative site.  I, along with the residents of Ward 5, look for your leadership on this issue.  Thank you.

Sincerely,

Kenyan R. McDuffie

Councilmember, Ward 5

John A. Wilson Building

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, DC 20004