Day: January 27, 2006

Urban design & DC Housing Conference

1) WRN Urban Design Forum Reminder – January 30
2) DC Housing Conference – February 3
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1) WRN Forum on January 30th

Designing D.C.’s Future:
Shaping Buildings and Public Spaces to Enhance Community Identity and
Protect the Environment

with
Dhiru Thadani, Urban Designer, Ayers/Saint/Gross, Inc.
Paul Morris, Urban Designer, PB Placemaking

Monday, January 30, 2006
6:00 pm Refreshments; 6:30 pm Program
National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC)
401 9th Street, NW – North Lobby, Suite 500*

New residents, buildings and businesses are filling in vacant lots and
renovating buildings. Leading urban designers discuss how D.C. can guide new
development so that new buildings enhance neighborhoods, reclaim
auto-oriented commercial strips, restore neglected parks and public spaces,
make transit stations vibrant village centers, and build greener.

RSVP (attendance only): WRN, 202-244-1105, or e–mail:
staff@washingtonregion.net. This event is free of charge. For more about
WRN, see: www.washingtonregion.net

*NCPC is located on 9th St between E & D St; Metro Stations: Gallery Place,
Metro Center, Archives, Federal Triangle. Doors close at 7 pm; and bring
photo ID.

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2) Housing Conference: Shaping the Future of Housing in Our City, Feb. 3rd

Please join the Fannie Mae Foundation and the Coalition for Nonprofit
Housing and Economic Development (CHSTF)

Speakers include:
Rafael Cestero, Deputy Commissioner,
New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development
Margery Austin Turner, Urban Institute, co-author of Housing in the Nation’s
Capital 2005
Alice Rivlin and Adrian Washington, co-chairs of the D.C. Comprehensive
Housing Strategy Task Force

Friday, February 3, 2006
8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (registration begins at 8 a.m.)
Continental Breakfast and Lunch will be provided
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
1615 H Street, NW, Washington, D.C.

Registration is free, but RSVP at dchousing@fanniemaefoundation.org, or call
202-274-8145
For Further Information, go to www.cnhed.org
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Slow slow renovation

When I looked back at my 2005 January and February entries I noticed I have been complaining about the house across the alley from me for about a year. Which means the house has been under reconstruction for over a year or two. I can tell you why it has taken so long. The fat man who took over after the crew that tore off the whole rear of the house (and rebuilt it with cinder block), has been doing work off and on. A dedicated crew would have finished the darned thing months ago.
I noticed around this neighborhood that some houses are forever under construction. As long as I can remember I don’t think anyone has lived at the house on the corner of 5th and P. It has been worked on FOREVER. There have been other houses rehabbed and sold in the time that this house has been under construction. There is a house on NJ Ave, same thing. As far as I know, no one has lived there and the only folks I’ve seen coming out are workmen.
Some buildings and rehabbed houses seem to get done overnight while others just sit. And sit. They are sort of like a vacant houses, but prettier. But still vacant, and still not bringing a new face to the neighborhood. And there is nothing anyone can do about it.