Neighbors,

I received a call from Ward Five Council Member VIncent Orange’s office

today, informing me that Council Member Jim Graham is going to hold a

public

hearing regarding the “Disposition of Square 553, Lot 844, also know as

the

Armstrong Adult Educaton Center, Approval Resolution of 2003.” As it

was

explained to me, the purpose of the hearing is to receive guidance as

to

whether Armstrong should be declared a surplus property in the

District’s

inventory. If it is declared a surplus property, then the District of

Columbia Government would be free to sell it, presumably, to the

highest

bidder or to dispose of it in some other way.

I am told that the hearing will take place on Tuesday, March 9, 2004,

in

Room 123 of the John WIlson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.,

commencing at 1:00 p.m. If you would like to sign up to testify at the

hearing or would like to submit a written statement concerning your

point of

view on the matter, the contact person for making those arrangements is

Steven Hernández, Legislative Counsel Sub-Committee on Human Rights,

Asian-PI and Latino Affairs, and Property Management; Office of Ward

One

Councilmember Jim Graham, 202-724-8107.

Although the specific issue before the Sub-Committee concerns the

determination as to whether the city should give Armstrong a surplus

designation, I am certain that Mr. Graham would also be interested in

hearing the many different opinions that neighborhood residents have

with

respect to its next use, i.e., from luxury condos to charter school to

community center.

Best,

Jim Berry

ANC 5C