ANC2C02 Forum

UPDATE from DHCD today, May 15:

1504 6th Street is one of the properties included in the Home Again 11th RFP. Award of development rights to the property should occur this month, with construction projected for early 2009. Given the current situation, that construction projection will be revisited to hasten commencement.

In the meantime, I have asked our property maintenance contractor to make recommendations on remedial action that can be taken now.

Rotting meat created quite a stink on the 1500 block of 6th St for several days Photo taken May 10, 2008.

Back in the summer last year, I included some images of a vacant property on 6th Street NW with a collapsed roof in my quarterly newsletter. That problem has yet to be addressed by this now apparently District-owned property even though it has been documented reported to by neighbors to the Mayor's City wide call center and the Mayor's office directly. For the last couple of weeks, this same property at 1504 6th St NW was again the site for illegal dumping. Apparently some one left a large garbage bin filled with rotting poultry that for more than a week had created a foul odor that could be detected from quite a distance. DPW was expected to remove the garbage and smell from the site several weeks after being notified. But a flurry of direct calls and emails and photos sent to the Mayor's Ward 2 Services Coordinators got the problem solved in only two days. There may be a lesson there somewhere.

May 13, 2008. The Mayor's Ward 2 Service Coordinators are Mark Bjorge and Abby Petersen.

But how long will it take the District to own up to actually fixing the dilapidated property which is making neighboring property owners increasingly concerned that 1504 6th continued deterioration might be destroying the integrity of their own homes? Without a roof recent and continued rain will certainly cause continued damage.

Caved roof at 1504 6th St NW. May 10, 2008.

May 10, 2008.

The condition of the roof in the summer 2007.

1504 6th Street's structural problem have posed a threat to its immediate neighbors for years. The latest illegal dumping problem will likely occur again as it has for years. The District owned property falls directly into the appropriate description for being insanitary and a nuisance. If the property were privately owned, the city would supposedly fix the problem and charge the owner for the expenses. But how long does it take to fix a property once the District has take ownership?

“[Insanitary:]... unhealthy conditions, especially the lack of freedom from infective, deleterious influences, including non-water-tight roofs, walls, floors, doors, windows; improper grading, drainage; open plumbing/sewer lines; defective electrical systems; fire danger; presence of or conditions which encourage breeding of rats, rodents, or disease-carrying insects; and general, filthy conditions.”