See this Sursum Corda library building news from Lydia DePillis:
Kiosks Finally Up For Grabs
Posted by Lydia DePillis on Jun. 11, 2012 at 3:01 pm
Sursum Corda’s kiosk needs you!
Back in 2010—almost two years ago!—the District said that it would be making available the several little library kiosks that it closed in 2008. Just recently, a request for license agreements on kiosks in Deanwood, Parkland-Turner, and near Sursum Corda on New York Avenue popped up over at the Department of General Services, so put your thinking caps on.
Not included: The R.L. Christian Library on H Street, since it’s supposed to get its own request for proposals “soon.” Which, at this rate, could mean another two years.
Bates Area Civic Association 
Sursum Corda is being torn down right this minute!!!! Thank god! Any word on what they’re putting in? I live on Kirby St and almost anything would be better than the harbor for drugs, prostitution, and criminals that it currently is.
The Sursum Corda Library Kiosk is finally gone. What does the community want to put there.
As a new ANC Commissioner for that site in January, I would like to hear from the community. One resident requested more playground equipment, another wants to build a community center,
What would the neighbors like to see at this site (Kirby and the 100 block of New York Ave.,NW).
I feel that a mini job center would be appropriate for our neighborhood residents to help them get priority referrals for job placement and training at existing and new properties in our surrounding neighborhoods. Thank you
I live on Kirby St and would probably like a corner store more than anything else… but a dog park would be great, too since the field around the corner doesn’t allow dogs. Is there an upcoming meeting on the subject? I’d be happy to participate. I’m also a 3d animator and commercial artist who might be willing to do visualizations to help improve his neighborhood.
PS,
As the person who’s stuck literally hosing away the vomit, human feces, urine puddles, condoms, and drug paraphernalia that the “locals” who were using the library tend to leave behind every day, the absolute last thing I want there is any service that would attract more bums and junkies.
a few parking spots for zip cars would be nice too, but paving the whole lot would be a tragedy. I wouldn’t mind seeing more housing go up, especially if the 1st floor was some useful retail. If a job center or other “community service center” was built, it would be nice if part of it’s role would be to keep the area streets and alleys clean. I can’t express enough how sick I am of cleaning up human waste.
Who owns the property ?
DC Government, General Services Administration
What a great news! I hated seeing a prime real estate land being abondonded for years, a playground park would be awesome.
Definitely a dog park. Or a zipcar lot, or a coffee shop. I, too, worry about offering services for the homeless, as they already defecate on the church next to my house across the street. In my dreams, a subway station or a dog park/pet supplies store.
I live on Kirby St. too, get my yard crapped in by humans from across the street, and I’m definitely fine with a dog park or an outside gym like the one in Rock Creek Park. Also, for the time being more little trees would be good. I worry that a store or a coffee shop, while awesome, would be difficult unless the whole street gets turned into residential parking, or unless it’s specifically not a car-oriented business (like Big Bear). I don’t own a car, so I don’t care, but I know that a lot of the neighbors around here will try to stop anything dead in its tracks that will impact the parking situation.
Just a thought. One problem is that there’s been a vacant area zoned for retail including restaurant about 30 yards away and nothing has moved on that. Not sure why, and if someone wanted to open a coffee shop, more power to them.
I think it would be sad to see the green space go but anything that encourages legal use of the space would be awesome. And if it’s a building it needs to not have a little back space where people can leave their feces and/or have sex with prostitutes like the SC library building did.
One other idea that would turn this into a much more welcoming space would be a demonstration rainwater runoff garden to demo technologies for city residents and businesses. It would be timely too.