On December 13, 2011, a representative of the District’s Department of General Services (DGS) appeared before ANC5C seeking support for the request of the Community Academy Public Charter School (CAPCS) to widen the curb cut in the 100 block of P Street, N.W., to provide easier access to the parking lot (formerly a green field) adjacent to the school.
The proposal first came to my attention at an early November meeting of the ANC5C Executive Committee. At that time, I told the two individuals who appeared before the committee (representing CAPCS and Dunbar High School) that their proposal would have the greatest impact on the residents of my Single Member District and that they would need to obtain the support of the citizens of ANC5C01 if they wanted ANC5C’s approval. Subsequently, at the December 6th meeting of the Dunbar School Improvement Team (Dunbar SIT), I was told that the curb cut was necessary in order for construction of the new Dunbar school building to begin. Based on the reaction of neighbors who would be most affected by that proposal, I spoke at the December 13th ANC meeting in opposition the CAPCS’ request and the request was tabled until the residents of ANC5C01 would have a full opportunity to consider the request and its potential impact on our community.
As a follow up to the December 13th meeting, a meeting has been arranged with representatives of CAPCS, the Dunbar SIT, and DGS to discuss the curb cut request. We will also use this opportunity to discuss our unaddressed concerns around weekday and weekend use and activities on and around the CAPCS grounds. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 31, 2012, at 7 pm, at CAPCS, 1400 First Street, N.W. (enter from the P Street side).
Many of you have complained about the use of the CAPCS building by Metropolitan Baptist Church and the fact that the church’s temporary presence has apparently been extended beyond the time period we were initially told. Others have questioned the conversion of the grass field at the corner of First and P Streets to a gravel covered parking lot and the environmental impact of that conversion. Whatever your concerns, bring your comments, questions, notes and photos with you to the meeting. Based on the outcome of that meeting, I will take back to the ANC that our community either 1) supports the cub cut request unconditionally, 2) opposes the curb cut request outright, or 3) supports the curb cut request but with certain conditions or commitments from CAPCS that would benefit our neighborhood.
Please attend the meeting and let your voice be heard.
Thanks.
Bradley A. Thomas
Commissioner-ANC5C01
(202) 670-0151
Bates Area Civic Association 
Whatever happens, don’t let the CAPCS people try to hoodwink you into believing that paving that parking lot is an “amenity.” Creating permanent parking will just lead to more people driving. It’s simply a case of induced demand. Remind people that there is bus and metro service nearby.
Thanks for the comment but keep in mind, it’s not what I think, it’s what “we” think that counts. Come to the meeting and let your thoughts on this issue be known.
I would LOVE to come, but unfortunately, I have a meeting with a caterer that I’m checking out for my wedding at the same time. There are literally community meetings every day of the week (including Saturday and Sunday). It’s hard to keep up on everything in Ward 5! 🙂