Tag Archives: richard steacy
Fate of Cleveland Park Farmers Market in DDOT’s Hands
It seems as if the fate of the Cleveland Park farmers market has been sealed. The ANC voted last night 4-2 not to support the market (see voting record below). Brookville Market made the argument that the farmers market would actually put them out of business and this seemed to scare enough commissioners away from supporting the market. Susie Taylor, who spent months organizing the market summed up how most of the neighborhood feels. “Hard to imagine that 4 hours of two produce stands and one orchard stand would negatively impact their bottom line to the extent that they would be forced out of business.” DDOT could still technically approve the market, but most people we’ve talked to, including Taylor herself, do not believe that they will.
Many thanks to ANC commissioner Richard Steacy who left a blog comment that explains the way he voted. “Based on listserve [sic] responses, much of the Farmer’s Market support came from west of Conn. I represent a part of CP (east of Conn.) that is pretty dependent on our local stores- Lots of seniors & young professionals in condos and apartments.” We think that the senior citizen point is a good one, but don’t see the evidence that young professionals east of Connecticut did not support the market, we actually think that they would overwhelmingly support it.
You may be interested in how your ANC commissioner voted. The vote record is below.
Voting no (4):
Leila Afzal (SMD05)
Richard Steacy (SMD04)
Lee Brian Reba (SMD01)
Bill Kummings (SMD02)
Voting yes (2)
Carl A. Roller (SMD06)
Chair Victor Silveira (SMD07)
Cleveland Park Farmers Market: Business Killer or Neighborhood Enhancer?
Could a fear of competition keep these smiling faces from Cleveland Park?
As we’ve posted, the proposed Cleveland Park Farmers Market will go before the ANC Board at its next meeting. Based on a posting from Richard Steacy (ANC3C-04), it seems as if debate will center on the market competing with existing local businesses.
As he posted, “Question: Would you support a Farmers Market if it was in direct competition with a local merchant?”
Some of the immediate responses on Twitter and Facebook included:
“I don’t think it would be. A farmers’ market brings more foot traffic to the neighborhood–something that CP could definitely use.”
“I don’t see a biz in CP that would get hurt. They are mostly restaurants or non-food shops who would/could benefit.”
“a stand competing with a local vendor for 5 hours on a Saturday morning doesn’t have me particularly worried that we’ll lose local businesses”
“if anything I will be more likely to stop at Brookville or Yes! since the market probably won’t have everything”
“Existing businesses? That Giant they wouldn’t allow to be renovated? So you’re left with Brookeville and YES! Market?”
And our favorite…
“@CleveParker #AnnoyingYuppieProblems”
The farmers market as planned would look something like this:
* Every Saturday from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm
* Located on the west Connecticut Avenue sidewalk between the Four Fields and USPS year round
* Starting later this month if permitted
* 10 vendors and 2 tables to showcase local organizations and/or existing local shops
Bus Stop Parking Tickets
Last week, we got a series of emails from Porter St about the new bus stop in front of 2501. It seems that during the construction of the new crosswalks on Porter, the bus stop sign was moved into areas where residents usually park. This seems to have been done without the proper signage to mark off a new bus stop area. Worse still, the signs from the old bus stop area remain in place, preventing parking in that space as well. Sadly, the bus cannot use this old space because of the newly installed crosswalks.
ANC3C Commissioner Richard Steacy informed us that DDOT is aware of the problem, yet will not have anything fixed for 10-15 business days. This seems ridiculous since this is an easy fix that should have been completed immediately upon movement of the stop, AND a 311 request regarding the stop seems to have been made on March 6.
For those of you who received tickets, we apologize… that sucks. Steacy says, “I would certainly urge them to challenge the tickets. With photos of the signs in relation to the bus stop.”
Best of luck, and please let us know the outcome. Despite the inconsistency in sign placement, the parking code does seem to have two different bus stop violations. DCMR subsection 2409.3 orders a $100 violation for obstructing a bus zone delineated with signs and 2409.8 is a $50 violations for parking within 20 feet of a bus zone that is not marked by signs.
Poor Porter St. Not only do they have to contend with walking up the hill, but they also have the speed cameras, terrible road conditions, and unfair parking tickets galore.
The new bus stop with one person parked in it
As you can see, the sign indicates the stop is to the right of this vehicle (as it used to be)
A view of the old stop, with the new crosswalk in the middle of it
Reader Question: What’s Going on at Connecticut and Ordway?
A reader writes into us
Hey Cleveland Parker- do you know what is going on at Connecticut and Ordway? There has been construction there for some time and it seems pretty dangerous, especially at night.
I walked by there yesterday and noticed that the crosswalks and pedestrian pathways though this intersection are much more open than earlier in the week. I am not sure if people just took them down or what. I decided to reach out to Richard Steacy ANC3C04 Commissioner to see if he knew about the project.
The word from DDOT is that this is part of a larger project of sidewalk, curb & gutter improvements between Macomb St and Porter St. The entire project is to have taken 20-25 days, although there have been delays due to the weather. I have just walked by the intersection- it appears that the southeast corner (by Dino’s) is finished. The northeast side appears to be finishing up.
Problems at this intersection have been noted for some time. The following comes from the Connecticut Avenue Pedestrian Action (CAPA) group in May 2011.
The intersection of Connecticut Avenue, Ordway Street and the service lane is confusing to drivers and pedestrians. Pedestrian crossing signals are misaligned, the two different signals for the split phase crossing is extremely confusing, drivers turning from Connecticut Avenue are unaware that there is a pedestrian crosswalk on the east side of Ordway Street, street signage is poorly placed and not visible to drivers, pedestrians often travel outside of the crosswalks, the south side Connecticut Avenue crosswalk does not align with the median, and drivers exiting the service lane and the parking lot don’t understand which traffic signal applies to them. All this results in dangerous conditions.
As for Steacy,
Two thoughts that I have are 1. putting a fence barrier at the northeast corner to prevent pedestrians from jaywalking across the no man’s land area. Basically forcing them to use the crosswalk. 2. I have been impressed with the number of visually impaired citizens in our neighborhood- It would probably be a good idea to have installed a sound mechanism to alert the visually impaired when the light is in their favor.
Kudos and thanks to Steacy for a quick turn around on this for us all.
