Month: February 2008

Fish Fry

Neighbors,

For the second consecutive week, the BACA’s Youth Services Committee is sponsoring a Fish Fry tomorrow at Ebenezer Baptist Church, 46 Q Street, N.W., from 11:00 a.m. until they sell out of food. The proceeds from this event will assist in the implementation of a schedule of a series of activities that they intend to produce for youths in our community this summer.

If at all possible, please support this activity. Flyers have been circulated around the community, but I am trying to boost their promotional efforts via this electronic appeal to you.

If you have any questions or would like to place an order, please use the telephone numbers below.

We thank you in advance for your support!

Best,

Jim Berry
Bates Area Civic Association, Inc.

Youth Services Committee of the Bates Area Civic Association, Inc.

-Is Having A –
Date: Friday, February 22 , 2008
11:00 a.m. until Sold Out
-At-
Ebenezer Baptist Church

46 Q Street, NW

Washington , DC 20001
Phone Orders to:
(202) 265-5344 OR (202) 679-3422

__ Fried Chicken Leg/Breast $6.00

__Grilled Spare Ribs $9.00
__ Trout $7.00
___Filet Whiting Fish $7.00
(COMES WITH 2 SIDES))(WHITE or WHEAT BREAD)

Potato Salad; Corn Pudding; Candid Yams;

String Bean; Cabbage
___Trout or Whiting Fish ___ $5.00
__Chicken $4.00
__Spare Ribs $7.00
Cakes & Pies
Soft Drinks
“TAKE OUT OR STAY FOR LUNCH”

Poptops & Additions

1802 11th StWandering around Monday, I took a lot of pictures of houses, looking for 3rd story additions, some that can be called poptops and other additions that possibly could have been added some time after the structure was initially built. That being, say a house was built in 1899, in 1930 maybe an addition was thrown on. As a disclaimer for several of the buildings I’ve labeled poptop in flickr, I don’t know for sure if they all are additions. What I am focusing on is the difference in height between their neighbors, and how well or not they blend in.
When I first saw the house at 435 S Street NW going up, I really didn’t think anything nice looking would appear. Half right, half wrong. I was walking back from Thai X-ing walking down New Jersey Avenue at night, when I caught a glimpse of the rear of 435 with the lights burning through the large windows. I gasped at the beauty of it. It looked lovely. But the loveliness is limited to the back. The front, not as nice looking with the pedestrian looking vinyl siding and Home Depot door. Nothing that can’t be later improved with stucco or brick tiles (or tiles) and a clear glass door.
Typically, when these additions are reported they tend to be the ugliest of ugly. I don’t believe they have to be that way. Third floor additions can be quite nice. My favorite add-on is near the corner of R & 5th, and it is the only one where I’ve been inside to take a look. As I remember, the designer/homeowner was an engineer by trade and German. The top floor was a bedroom with a bathroom in a box, in front of a small landing that led out to the deck, that overlooks 5th St. The bathroom in the box was novel, in that it did not go all the way to the ceiling letting the outside light go over it and in it.
We have to acknowledge that people want/need more space. One way to get more space is to move out to the ‘burbs. Yet, this other way, adding on to the homes we already have, can be done well, and keeps people in the city. We should encourage good design, instead of dismissing ALL 3rd floor additions because too many lack the vision to do them well.
Cabin on TopLastly, I leave you with this image spotted on the blog Desire to Inspire in their post about AJS Design in New York City. It’s a little rooftop cabin. I think it is adorable.

Scanning History


ShawborderNCPCltr.jpg
Originally uploaded by In Shaw

I’m trying to bring some order to my history collection. Somethings I’m holding on to because I wanted to share them with others, like this letter. But knowing that it is the responsibility of the Federal Government to keep the blasted thing, then there is no real reason for me to hold on to it, and I may as well chuck the copy I have.
I also updated my DC Maps on Flickr, so there are some 1887 parts of the Truxton Circle ‘hood.
Anyway, I’m guess the letter is difficult to read from my blog page. It is from the April 7, 1966 Open session of the NCPC on the topic of the Shaw School Urban Renewal Area’s boundaries. My fav part of the letter reads “WHEREAS, it appears that conditions of slum, blight, and deterioration exist in this area which are detrimental to health, safety, and welfare of the inhabitants and occupants of the area of the District of Columbia….”

Urban Renewal: So what were you thinking?

I’ve been meaning to getting around to talking about a lovely record group at the National Archives. If you go to their OPAC called ARC and throw in the phrase “National Capitol Planning Commission” you will find a slew of series that pertain to the history and development of the District of Columbia. Records Relating to Urban Renewal (ARC ID# 784266) do contain a lot of info about Shaw and other areas that got ‘renewed’ in the middle of the 20th Century. Another series I want to focus on in this post are the Transcripts of Proceedings and Minutes of Meetings, 01/1924 – 12/02/1999 (ARC ID# 1571319).
At the 1962 September Open Session Meeting of the Commission (9/13/1962), when speaking about the Northeast No. 1 Urban Renewal Project, Brig. General F.J. Clarke made the statement:

Urban Renewal, as presently thought of, may be separated into 2 principal categories: First, being those actions which are concerned with preventing future slums, namely improved planning, improved codes, etc.; and, 2nd, the elimination of existing slum or blighted areas.
In this category of eliminating existing slums, the primary purpose of urban renewal is the elimination of slum or blighted areas by various means: acquisition and demolition of structures; the rehabilitation of existing structures; installation of public facilities, and other measures.
Secondarily in purpose but not in importance is the prevention of the recurrence of slum and blighted conditions again in the redeveloped or renewed area.

There’s more, but I don’t feel like transcribing it right now. It points a bit to the thinking of the ‘why’. It’s getting to the what, that makes things interesting.