Where Reno Road and 36th and Warren Streets intersect. (2014 Google StreetView image)
What do you see in this photo? Some of its neighbors see potential.
A couple of years ago, a few residents of 36th Street approached ANC 3F Chair Malachy Nugent about this triangle of land where Reno Road intersects with 36th and Warren Streets, NW. He approached DDOT and the DC Department of Energy and the Environment about whether it could be turned into a park. It’s National Park Service property, they said. There’s nothing we can do.
“What about the street next to it?” Nugent asked. Now that might be possible, DDOT said.
What if 36th Street between Warren and Reno could be closed to northbound Reno Road drivers who currently use it as a high-speed slip lane, its impermeable pavement dug up and planted, and the area of green expanded into a larger park? What about fencing part of it for a dog park? Partnering with the nearby embassies on a public art installation?
But first, the community would need to weigh in with pros and cons and ideas, and DDOT would need to reach out to NPS and study the technical aspects of such a project. ANC 3F is voting at its June 20th meeting on a resolution requesting that DDOT begin inquiries and report back to the community.
A mix of your standard street grid, diagonal streets and traffic circles creates many of these little pockets of land throughout the District.
“DC is trying to be creative and make use of these unused spaces,” Nugent tells Forest Hills Connection. “Here’s an unused space.”
Here are two examples of creative uses: The District developed parks for dogs and people at two neighboring pocket parks at New Hampshire Avenue and S Street. And in Dupont Circle last fall, the District installed special pavers in a pocket park just south of the circle that doesn’t look much like a park at all. The pavers generate electricity when stepped on – and illuminate nearby lights.
Another item on ANC 3F’s June 20th agenda is a presentation on plans for building housing on part a portion of the property at 3101 Albemarle Street.
As we wrote in February, 3101’s new owner “intends to preserve the historic residence and the property in front of it, and build eight aging-friendly townhouses on the western side while maintaining as many of the mature trees as possible and addressing stormwater management issues….”
Here is the meeting notice:
ANC 3F will hold its next public meeting on June 20, 2017 at 7:30 pm at the University of the District of Columbia, Building 44, Room A03 (map).
The meeting agenda is below and copies of agenda items will be posted on our the Issues page of our website, anc3f.com, as they become available.
Please note that due to technical issues this meeting will NOT be streamed live or posted online. We will make detailed minutes available after the meeting and, of course, feel free to reach out to me or any of the commissioners with questions.
Malachy Nugent
Chairman, ANC 3F
[email protected]
anc3f.com
(202) 810-3674
Subscribe to the 3F06 mailing list.
PUBLIC MEETING
June 20, 2017, 7:30 pm
University of the District of Columbia (Bldg 44, Rm A03)
AGENDA
1. Call to Order
2. Approval of Agenda (05 mins)
Consent Agenda
None
Regular Agenda
3. Commissioner Updates / Announcements (20 min)
4. Committee Reports (10 min)
5. Community Open Forum (20 min)
6. Resolution Regarding a Mini-Park at 36th St & Reno Rd (10 min)
7. Presentation on Sheridan School Playground Renovation (15 min)
8. Presentation on Planned Unit Development at 3101 Albemarle Street (15 min)
9. Discussion of LED Streetlight Use in the District (15 min)
10. Other Business (05 minutes)
11. Adjournment
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Laura Scandurra says
Can more trees be planted on the west side of Connecticut Ave in the 4400 block? There are few trees there now in the strip between the road and the sidewalk.