{"id":3163,"date":"2023-03-06T15:57:19","date_gmt":"2023-03-06T15:57:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dcfeedback.com\/fit2print\/?p=3163"},"modified":"2023-03-06T16:02:20","modified_gmt":"2023-03-06T16:02:20","slug":"adams-morgan-plaza-supporters-ask-mayor-to-propel-public-safety-end-the-blight-at-1800-columbia-road","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.dcfeedback.com\/fit2print\/dc\/3163","title":{"rendered":"Adams Morgan Plaza Supporters Ask Mayor to Propel Public Safety & End the Blight at 1800 Columbia Road"},"content":{"rendered":"
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<press alert> Adams Morgan for Reasonable Development 202-810-2768<\/div>\n
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Adams Morgan residents ask the Mayor to earmark funding to restore the Plaza, propel public safety, and end the “blight”<\/b><\/font><\/div>\n
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Ward One, Washington, DC — Today, Adams Morgan residents intend to deliver a budget earmarking request to Mayor Bowser seeking $8 – $10 million to purchase the Adams Morgan Plaza and former Suntrust building and property.<\/div>\n
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The Suntrust\/Truist site\u2019s current vacancy and its blighted condition are contributing factors to the rise of violent crime in the near vicinity, are not in the interests of the public or the community, and likely are not in the interests of the bank.<\/span><\/i><\/font><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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Letter to Mayor Bowser attached below.<\/b><\/div>\n
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Honorable Mayor Muriel Bowser
Executive at the John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W
Washington, DC 20001<\/p>\n

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March 6, 2023<\/p>\n

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Dear Mayor Bowser:<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n

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December 22, 2022, marked a critical turning point in the community\u2019s efforts to preserve and renew Adams Morgan Plaza. On that date, the District\u2019s highest court determined<\/u><\/font><\/a> that community organizations may enforce public easements and that the determination of a public easement at this special corner of our neighborhood should be made by our peers through a jury trial. <\/p>\n

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And, our community has since unearthed a large, undeniable body of historical evidence about the key role this corner and the community agreement to allow construction of the bank branch has played in national history. But Suntrust\/Truist has limitless funding to appeal and keep appealing adverse decisions. <\/p>\n

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Your direct assistance this budget season will finally end the legal controversy and will allow us to quickly revitalize the plaza and repurpose the bank building to propel public safety resources at what can be a central neighborhood activity hub.<\/p>\n

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We urge you to earmark $8 to $10 million (about 1% of the District\u2019s budget surplus from FY 2022 of $834 million or just .05% of the overall $20 billion budget for FY 2024) to purchase the entire parcel at 1800 Columbia Road NW (the plaza and bank building) so that we can end the longstanding legal controversy and ensure full public control of this vital site as soon as possible.<\/b>1<\/b><\/sup><\/p>\n

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If we do not act to end the legal controversy, the biggest losers in the continued delay would be our community and the residents of Ward One. <\/p>\n

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The Suntrust\/Truist site\u2019s current vacancy and its blighted condition are contributing factors to the rise of violent crime in the near vicinity, are not in the interests of the public or the community, and likely are not in the interests of the bank.<\/font><\/p>\n

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This important corner at 18th and Columbia Road can retain its public plaza and also contain other public facilities to fill social service gaps and meet vital community needs. If the District purchases the site, you and the Ward One community will be able to undertake a broad-based collaboration to identify the best public uses for the space and shape the future of this site.<\/p>\n

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We, along with the community strongly believe this site at the very heart of our community should be put back into public use as quickly as possible after being reimagined and given new life.2<\/sup> <\/p>\n

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The undersigned respectfully request that you take the first step in ensuring the sooner-than-later revitalization of public use of this centrally located site in Adams Morgan by including funds in the District's budget for FY 2024 (estimated to be $8 to $10 million). <\/p>\n

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These funds will be used to purchase the property in toto<\/i> and thus end the legal controversy. And then, with the help of the community, we can promptly undertake a broad-based community effort to reimagine and repurpose this parcel to ensure that the site is developed in a way that provides public space and facilities that meet identified community needs.<\/p>\n

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For the above reasons, we would greatly appreciate your leadership this budget season in ensuring that this sacred space is preserved for public use and revitalized in a way that best meets community needs determined by the community with your help. <\/p>\n

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We look forward to helping you and the city\u2019s planners deliver on this proposal and would welcome further discussions and feedback from you and your team as to how to proceed. <\/p>\n

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Signers (letter signed shared with CM Nadeau):<\/i><\/p>\n