Brookland Small Area Plan - Saturday, April 26

Since 2006, the D.C. Office of Planning has been working on a Brookland Small Area Plan. For those that haven't been following the conversations, a Decking Feasibility Plan was just released April 8th, 2008. The feasibility plan explores possible ideas for decking over the tracks at the metro station. When reading the decking study, you will see visions of open plazas, farmers markets, connectivity from Michigan Ave to 10th Street, new residential development and deck parking. It's a grand vision of what the metro area of Brookland could become, but there is a lot of work (and a few reality checks) between us and anything close to the neighborhood portrayed in colorful sketches in the document.

If you want to know more or get involved, there is a meeting coming up. The DC Office of Planning invites you to attend a public meeting about the Brookland/CUA Metro Station Area Plan. All are invited to share comments and questions.

When: Saturday, April 26, 2008
9:30-10:00 a.m., Open House
10 a.m.-noon, Presentation

Where: Noyes Elementary School, 2725 10th St NE The meeting will be in the school auditorium; enter from Franklin Street.

For more information please contact: Deborah Crain, Ward 5 Planner, DC Office of Planning, 801 North Capitol Street, NE, Suite 4000
Phone: 202-442-7615 Fax: 202-442-7638
E-mail: Deborah.Crain@dc.gov
Or visit the DC Office of Planning online.

Please RSVP: 202-610-0005 or rsvp@jsallc.com

First Annual Community Open House at Bunker Hill Elementary - Saturday, August 25th

From Bunker Hill ES Principal Amanda Alexander:

What: Come and tour our stunning schoolhouse, meet our outstanding teachers and staff, and enjoy free barbecue! If you haven't been in a DC public school in a while and are just a concerned citizen, please come see this wonderful neighborhood asset. If you're still deciding where to send your child to school, or if you have already enrolled your child in an area charter school, you owe it to your child to see what we have to offer. Invited guests include Chancellor Michelle Rhee, School Board Member Lisa Raymond, and Councilman Harry Thomas!

When: Saturday, August 25th, 2007, 3-5pm

Where: Bunker Hill Elementary School, 1401 Michigan Avenue, NE

Etc.: Please RSVP at amanda.alexander@k12.dc.us

Brookland in Print

Brookland is the featured neighborhood in the Real Estate section of today's Examiner. You can view the pdf of "Brookland: Washington's urban oasis" here (in the drop-down menus choose May 11th, 2007 and pages 64-65). Yours truly is briefly - and for the most part accurately - quoted, but, for the record, I had nothing to do with the incorrect spelling of Sureia.

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On May 4th, 2007 Washington Business Journal reported on CUA's upcoming development south of Michigan Avenue near the Metro (subscription needed to view entire article):

The Catholic University of America has shortlisted four bidders to develop an 8-acre parcel into a mixed-use complex that would revitalize the area around the Brookland Metro station.

Abdo Development, EYA, Monument Realty and Trammell Crow have been shortlisted as potential developers.

My vote is for Abdo, but that's just my bias based on a presentation given by Jim Abdo this evening for my DC Neighborhood College class. He impressed me so much, I honestly had the urge to hug him.

Brookland Multi-Modal Transportation & Streetscape Study Final Community Meeting - Tuesday, April 24th

What: The Final Community Meeting for the Brookland Multi-Modal Transportation and Streetscape Study (not to be confused with the ongoing Brookland/CUA Metro Small Area Plan)

When: Tuesday, April 24th, 2007, 6:30-8:30pm

Where: Saint Anthony's Church cafeteria, 3400 12th Street NE (between Lawrence and Monroe Streets)

Etc.:
Study Goals and Objectives
· Enhance transit connectivity, pedestrian and bicyclist safety, accessibility, and efficiency.
· Reduce traffic congestion at key intersections.
· Reduce impact of truck traffic on residential neighborhoods.
· Lay the groundwork for future transportation investments.
· Reinforce a sense of place through creative and sustainable urban design, and create a safe, inviting, and interesting public realm that supports diversity of use and activities.

Check the project website to view and download the final report (March 2007, 166 page PDF).

For questions and special accommodations, please contact Sharlene Reed, Ward 5 Transportation Planner (Sharlene.Reed@dc.gov; 202.671.0493), or William Carlson (wcarlson@volkert.com; 703.642.8100).

MPD Releases Photo of Shawn Burrell, Escaped NE Robbery Suspect

Previous posts here and here.

To Wonkette readers - thanks for stopping in....I'm guessing this isn't as exciting as you may have hoped, but, by all means, give the DC police a ring at 202.727.9099 or 1.800.673.2777 if you've seen Shawn.

Emergency Meeting in Response to Escaped Suspect - TONIGHT

What: At the request of residents, ANC 5A-07 Commissioner William Boston has coordinated an emergency meeting with MPD-5D Commander Jennifer Greene and Ward 5 Councilmember-elect Harry Thomas, Jr. to discuss the circumstances surrounding escaped armed robbery suspect Shawn Ryan Burrell.

When: TONIGHT, Wednesday, December 6th, 2006 at 5:30pm

Where: Kelly's Ellis Island, 3908 12th Street, NE

Escaped NE Robbery Suspect Sought

In reverse chronological order, from MPD:

Escaped Robbery Suspect Sought

On Friday, December 1, 2006, police arrested 19-year-old Shawn Ryan Burrell and a 15-year-old male juvenile in connection with the armed robbery of a nail salon [see press release below].

At approximately 1:10 am on Saturday, December 2, 2006, Shawn Burrell was taken to the Howard University Hospital and admitted after complaining of illness.

At approximately 1:00 this afternoon, Monday, December 4, 2006, while under police guard, Shawn Burrell requested to use the bathroom. When he failed to exit the bathroom, officers checked and discovered that he had made good his escape. He was last seen wearing only blue jeans and tennis shoes. He was last seen possibly entering a black or dark colored vehicle near Georgia Avenue and V Street, NW.

He is described as a 19-year-old black male, 6’ tall, approximately 160 to 170 pounds with a medium brown complexion.

Anyone with information as to his whereabouts or sees him should take no direct action but call police at (202) 727-9099 or the department’s Crime Solvers Unit at 1-800-673-2777. All calls to Crime Solvers are confidential and if a caller provides information that leads to his arrest, he/she will be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

There is no available photograph of the escaped subject. See photo here.

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Suspects Arrested in Robbery of Northeast Nail Salon

Detectives assigned to the Metropolitan Police Department's Special Investigations Branch, assisted by officers assigned to the Fifth District and members of the Emergency Response Team (ERT), arrested two suspects wanted in connection with the armed robbery of a nail salon located in the 1900 block of Michigan Avenue, NE, at about 1:15 pm on Friday, December 1, 2006. They were arrested later that same afternoon, one in the 1500 block of Newton Street, NE, and the other in the 1400 block of Lawrence Street, NE.

The first suspect, identified as 19-year-old Shawn Ryan Burrell, of the 1400 block of Lawrence Street, NE, ran from his apartment building while detectives, Fifth District officers and ERT personnel were searching for the suspect based on reports that he was somewhere in that building. He was apprehended at about 2:18 pm in the 1500 block of Newton Street, NE, after a brief foot pursuit. The second suspect, who is a juvenile, was arrested sometime later in the 1400 block of Lawrence Street, NE.

The investigation indicates that Burrell allegedly robbed the business establishment on Michigan Avenue, NE, while an accomplice waited in the getaway car. The other suspect is a 15-year-old male resident of the District of Columbia. His identity is being withheld because he is a juvenile. Both have been charged with Robbery Holdup, Gun. They are scheduled to be arraigned on Saturday in DC Superior Court. The investigation is continuing.