Advisory Neighborhood Commission 8F (ANC 8F) met on Feb. 13. Commissioners Nic Wilson (treasurer, 8F01), Rick Murphree (vice chair, 8F02), Brian Strege (secretary, 8F03) and Edward Daniels (chair, 8F04) and . Clayton Rosenberg (8F05) were in attendance.
The commission awaited representatives from DDOT to discuss a wide variety of issues. In particular, the commissioners were hoping to question the agency about its Traffic Operations and Parking Plan (TOPP) for Nationals and DC United Stadia. With the baseball season just weeks away, the window for substantive community comment is rapidly closing.
Commissioners expressed concerns that there would be time for any community input into the TOPP. DDOT has yet to furnish them with its 2024 plan.
DDOT representatives did not appear at the meeting.
Petalpalooza
The organizers of Petalpalooza (nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/event/petalpalooza), scheduled for April 6, as part of the citywide Cherry Blos-som Festival briefed commissioners on the plans for their event. The festival runs from 1 to 9 p.m. A fireworks show is scheduled from 8:30 to 8:45 p.m. There will be live performances in stages at Yards and Diamond Teague parks.
Road closures and parking restrictions will begin the night before around Yards Park. No vehicles will be permitted south of Tingley Street SE. Residents will be given special placards to allow them to access their vehicles parked in underground garages.
Commissioner Murphree expressed his concerns about traffic management, given a scheduled 4 p.m. Nationals game. The commission voted unanimously to the event.
Other Matters
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Lieutenant Kenneth Taylor briefed the commission on public safety. In general, crime is keeping pace with last year, he stated. Of the five robberies in the last 30 days, two have been closed with arrests, Taylor reported. Secretary Strege expressed his concern about the incidents of juvenile vandalism plaguing Capitol Quarter. Kids are kicking garage doors and throwing bricks in the alleys, he reported. The perpetrators have been caught on homeowner’s cameras, but there have been no arrests, Taylor replied.
“It’s going to be summer soon and kids will be roaming around in groups again,” Taylor said. “If you know juveniles in your neighborhood, I would recommend getting to know them and their parents,” he advised. “It’s going to be a long summer.”
Commission voted to the Fifth Annual (Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) run on May 19, 2024.
Representatives from Whitlow on the Water briefed the commission on their plans for the 48-person enger boat they intend to operate on weekends at Yards Marina. They requested the commission a stipulated liquor license for the vessel in advance of their application for permanent approval. Due to the timing of the application process and the Cherry Blossom Festival, the commission voted to their stipulated application.
ANC 8F’ s next meeting is scheduled for March 19 at DDOT Headquarters at 250 M St. SE at 7 p.m. For more information, visit anc8f.org.
