I am working with AOL to fix the problem that caused some of my past two
newsletters to be cut off. Please let me know if you did not get a whole
newsletter this time. I have placed  "-- End--" at the bottom so you will
know if you received all of it.  Thank you.  Kathy Smith

Incidentally, if you're on AOL and planning to upgrade to 6.0,  you might
want to keep 5.0 for a while. I just "upgraded" and found it so annoying that
I switched back to 5.0.
 

KITTY RESCUED:
From:   Lmohrefbg@aol.com
Thanks to those who e-mailed suggestions and concern to us--we located
Sunshine when we called the DC Animal Shelter and learned they had picked her
up on Saturday, right on our block.  They wouldn't say how they happened to
be in the neighborhood, but I suspect that rather than responding to call
about a stray cat they were probably looking for the fox neighbors have
reported seeing in the area.  Anyway, the cat's back home--and none too
pleased with us, apparently for letting her spend 4 days in a cage.  However,
FYI, I'd like to pass along what I learned from the shelter employee: it
wouldn't have mattered if the cat had been wearing her collar and tags--the
animal control officer will pick up ANY dog or cat seen on the street that's
not on a leash.

 
REGARDING THE CHRONIC CAR ALARM
From:   MPDC2DCMDR@aol.com (Commander Peter Newsham)
In the case of  a chronic car alarm, I would advise calling the police.  The
police could run the tag, and visit the owner, suggesting that he have the
alarm repaired.  We would certainly send someone under those circumstances.
 

MYRNA SISLEN CONCERT
From:   Ricebill@aol.com
HI All-
Great news. My wife, classical guitarist Myrna Sislen, will be performing in
concert Friday,  Feb. 23rd at The Women's Club of Chevy Chase, 7931 Conn.
Ave. Chevy Chase, Maryland (just north of East-West Highway), as part of the
Marlow Guitar Series. Myrna will perform Platero y Yo. Op. 190 for narrator
and guitar with acclaimed Washington actor Alan Wade.
Call 301/654-6874 for tickets or check the web site: www.marlowguitar.org.

Congratulations to our very talented neighbor -- KS
 

COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
Some of these items appeared in the last COMMUNIT-E, but this section was cut
off for many recipients. I have added a few new items in this issue.

Neighborhood Watch
From:   gators1@erols.com (Michelle & René LeRouzes)
We had a purse snatching just last week at the 4400 block of Garrison (down
the block from Rodman's). I was wondering if we had any kind of "Neighborhood
Watch" program in the district, similar to those types of programs in the
Virginia suburbs.  I think it would help combat crime and be a worthwhile
effort if we had
neighborhood "blocks" joining forces and forming some kind of Neighborhood
watch whereby each neighbor would respectfully notify the police if anything
unusual was going on...This , along with a sign at the beginning and end of
the block.  Could this happen here in the district?

Heating / Air Conditioning
**** From: BUNNYRBTT (Carol Barth)
 Do you have any recommendations for Heating/Air Conditioning contractors? I
didn't notice any listed on the compiled list. Thank you so much.

**** From: Esmfriend@aol.com (Dawn Quattlebaum)
Friendship Terrace Retirement Community has used Noyes Air Conditioning --
(301) 670-6300 - - for over 13 years for our air conditioning and heating
needs. I have been very pleased with their service and technicians.

**** From: ldc1@netkonnect.net (L. Carter)
I have a heating and air-conditioning recommendation.  As a landlord, I
have used a number of different furnace and air conditioning repair
companies, until settling on Beltsville Heating and Air Conditioning.
They have replaced a forced-air furnace, a central a/c, and have
repaired both gas and oil-fueled boilers for me, and have usually been
able to come within a day of calling, sometimes on the same day.  I've
had no complaints about any of their work.
 

Crows
**** From: Anonymous
At the risk of inciting some people, I wonder it anyone knows of something
that could be done to induce the crows that have moved into the neighborhood
to move on? They have driven out most of the small birds that lived in the
area when I moved in 10 years ago (and which provide good control for yard
and garden insects) while making a terrific racket and damaging gutters,
etc. I haven't a clue how to get this done but there must be some process.

Bike Repair
**** From: Sgtwear1 (Sgt. Mike Wear)
I have just a quick addition to your bike repair list. The Pro Shop on M.
Street, near Key Bridge) has an excellent mechanic -- Courtney. One of the
best mechanics in the area, he does most of the instructors repairs that we
cannot do in MPD. Another shop - Revolutions, just a few doors down, has
excellent service, has always been helpful.  There are other shops in DC but
these are in 2D.

By the way, we are planning our trip to Indianapolis, Indiana for the Police
and Fire World Olympics in June.  We are planning on sending a team of about
10 cyclists.  It looks to be a very good representation of MPD.

Painter
**** From:  SidBooth1@aol.com (Sid Booth)
From: themail@dcwatch.com
Mike Johnson, a local painter whose name I found in themail a year or so
ago, has lived up to his strong recommendations. He painted our main
floor rooms and halls last summer and, now that the winter weather has
warmed, is working on the outdoor trim. He made good suggestions on how
we should paint and was considerate of ways to avoid excessive costs.
Mike can be reached at mhcj1@yahoo.com.

Y2K Revisited
**** From: pbogdonoff@igc.org (Philip Bogdonoff)
A year and some months after 01/01/2000... "Y2K"... Does it even
register any more?  Well, some of us are thinking about the possibility of
holding a
small meeting or conference to discuss Y2K from the point of view
of "What did we learn that we can apply to future problems?"
If you have any thoughts on this question and / or who should be
invited to such a meeting, I would be pleased to hear them. Please send them
directly to me at  pbogdonoff@igc.org. Thanks in advance. -- Philip
 
 

LAST OF THE COMMENTS RE: HECHINGER / SEARS BUILDING
These are a few more comments that came in. They are the last; I won't be
publishing any that come in after this unless they contain information that
has not been previously given.  Thank you to Joanne Capper for  posing the
question and to everyone who shared their views on this subject. -- KS

**** From: Abbott1229@erols.com (Richard Abbott)
Regarding the idea of de-listing the Sears/Hechinger building, it seems that
this would be extremely difficult.  I am involved in historic preservation
through the Committee of 100 for the Federal City and the following is what
I've been able to learn:

The Historic Preservation Review Board makes the landmark designation and
only they can de-list it.  An application for de-listing can be filed with
the Board, and is then the subject of a public hearing in which the
applicant must demonstrate that the qualities of significance are no longer
present due to a loss of integrity.  I understand that this has been done
only once before, in the case of the President Monroe Apt building on Mass
Ave., and this was because  almost total loss of integrity of the
structure could be shown.  It doesn't appear possible to prove this in the
case of the Sears/Hechinger building.  Another possible basis for de-listing
is economic hardship, which also appears not to apply in this case.

Those familiar with this situation tell me that the present owner paid a
substantial sum for the building and that the only way he can recoup his
investment is to substantially modify it or tear it down and put up a larger
structure.  Given the fact that de-listing looks practically impossible, a
better course for the owner would be to work with what is there, and to seek
tax credits from D.C. for renovation of the interior of the structure to
suit a tenant or tenants.  I understand that this is what was done to entice
Hechingers to go into the building, and it could be done again.

**** From: admcrae@erols.com (Alec McRae)
Albemarle and Wisconsin is already a dangerous bottleneck.  Two schools with
no offstreet parking, Metro with no offstreet parking, Senior Center with no
offstreet parking, library, stores and restaurants all with no offstreet
parking.  Let's keep the Sears building historic landmark status and not
rush to judgement until we, as a community,  get a better, guaranteed offer
that will improve our traffic flow and lives and not make them worse.  Just
imagine what it would be like for the next two, three or even four years, if
a monstrous high rise building was going up on that site.  Sidewalks gone or
fenced off, dump trucks and heavy equipment everywhere, access to Metro
interrupted, noise, dirt and danger all around, 24 hours a day.  Remember
the recent state of Albemarle Street, for many months, when utility lines
were being laid, and how difficult it difficult it was to get  any relief.

**** From: dr.j@erols.com (Janet Solomon)
I respectfully disagree with the majority of the comments.  While I agree
the old Sears/Hechinger building is no beauty, it is far more pleasing to
the eye than the garbage that is being built in Friendship Heights -
uniform big boxes with no visual appeal.

BUT - why do so many people think that tearing the building down will provide
us
with a new hardware store?  Besides creating more traffic congestion and
yes, more crime, parking and higher taxes, it is more likely to be replaced
by an office building with retail space on the lower levels.  Now I'd
prefer an apartment building at that location, but there is certainly no
guarantee that Home Depot or Lowe's or any other hardware store will rush
in to build a new mega store.

And as someone else noted, developers' promises are not worth much.  Don't
believe me?  Check out the 4 ugly monster townhouses in the 3700 block of
Alton Place.  We were promised smaller buildings with the red brick
character of the existing homes.  What we got is stucco type nightmares
which took 1.5 years to build and the new tenants are having more than
their share of problems before the ink is dry on their contracts!
Another long term resident who is sad to see the neighborhood changing.

**** From: jemammen@bellatlantic.net (Jean Mammen)
Beware of what you wish for!  Unless you, yourself are going to develop the
site,
you have little influence over what will go on that site if the Sears building
were to have its historic designation removed. The controversy over the Giant
site on Wisconsin is a case in point.

And, for the person who said they don't think Friendship Heights, Md is so
bad...
It used to be single family homes.  Now it is huge apartment complexes with
nary a
house in sight. When I bought in AU Park 26 years ago, yes, I bought to be
near metro. And I also congratulated myself in living in a near-city
neighborhood that had been leaped over by development (i.e. Friendship
Heights, MD) and would be left in peace.

Surely the example of the attempt to characterize as neighborhood friendly the
proposal to build twenty or so row houses just off Tenley Circle, gives an
indicator of what a developer would propose to sit on top of a metro exit.

**** From: gjhy@starpower.net (Grace and John Hyslop)
Two more votes for the de-historification of the Hechinger building!

**** From: ldc1@netkonnect.net (L)
"The market will give you a voice, empower you to do whatever you want
to do--and if you have any doubts about that, then the market will crush
you and everything you've ever known."  --Thomas Frank, One Market Under God:
Extreme Capitalism, Market Populism, and the End of Economic Democracy

**** From: vwheeler@erols.com (John & Valerie Wheeler)
I don't think the choice is between a hardware store and historical
preservation.  Commercial zoning does not specify the particular type of
commercial operation.  It could become a super mattress store!  Then
everyone would know when they need a mattress they should go to
Tenleytown.  Residents don't have much choice about what type of
commercial development goes into a site.  Until about 5 years ago I
lived at Dupont Circle where we were always fighting to keep commercial
development from encroaching upon residential areas (e.g., the art
studio on Q St., just around the corner from 17th Street, a commercial
strip, wanted to turn into an ice cream store.  Many people thought that
was wonderful.  But what would prevent the ice cream store from becoming
a fast food store?  Nothing.) And we had to fight even harder to keep a
diverse commercial community.  The only thing that has kept that area
from become a restaurant mono-culture is a liquor license moratorium.  A
hardware store in our neighborhood would be nice, but there's no
guarantee that the Hechinger building, if torn down would be a hardware
store.  I think it would more likely become either a residential high
rise or combination office and commercial building.  How about a super
bar?  There's enough space there to build a bar that would be famous
throughout the U.S.  At least I assume the current zoning or liquor laws
would make that somewhat difficult, but not impossible.  Be careful what
you wish for, you may get it.

**** From: chase-healy@erols.com (Anne Chase)
Hell, yes, de-historize Hechinger's. It's ugly, and we need a business there.

**** From: hpolmer@mindspring.com (Henry Polmer)
Re: Sears/Hechinger's Building.  The issues are fascinating.  Preservation
of our history, even when it isn't beautiful, has value.  It reminds us of
who we were and gives context to our neighborhood.  Bringing to our
neighborhood amenities that we and others need, like a hardware store, is
also important, as is restoring this important space to active use.  As for
abandoning the building in hopes of getting something more attractive, put
me on the side of the skeptics.  I would favor a creative use of the site
that incorporated enough of the existing building to be a reminder of its
past without thwarting the economics for reasonable business development.
That would probably mean permitting a multi-story building.  I favor
concentrated development along Wisconsin Avenue.  It is the essence of urban
living.  By the same token, I oppose razing half a block of small buildings
to put up characterless K Street office blocks.  But we already have one
huge site at the Hechinger building, so a taller development doesn't trouble
me.  As for traffic, it comes with the territory.  I walk, bicycle and use
Metro whenever possible.  A final thought:  Neighborhoods need to be very
careful about micro-managing development.  Just speak to the residents of
the neighborhood surrounding the Giant further down Wisconsin Ave.  In the
end, everyone is apparently getting what no one wanted.

**** From: WeLiveInDC (Brian Kraft)
There is some talk along the lines of preserving the character and appearance
of Tenleytown. I live on Van Ness Street and I approach Tenleytown by passing
a McDonald's (the source of most of our sidewalk trash), a Popeye's, a 7-11,
and several boarded up storefronts. This our low-rise, low-density destiny.
Forgive me for not wanting to preserve it.
I know many despise 4000 Wisconsin, but the truth is that it might be the
best retail and entertainment spot south of Jenifer Street.
I am a tour guide and, naturally, a preservationist. I was disappointed and
upset to hear that the Sears/Hechinger site was listed merely to thwart
development. We should not fear buildings, traffic, or people. We should be
rid of the architectural and trash which pollutes our neighborhood and
replace it with something resembling a city.

--END--