You have the right connections, or so it appear. A very disappointing update from the Mayor’s Office regarding the illegal building of a 144 parking space lot. I encourage all citizens concern with the message being sent by the Mayor’s Office (Executive Office oversees DDOE and DCRA) to email the Mayor’s Office and Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie (better yet, come to the Walk with the Councilmember on Saturday and tell him in person).
Mayor’s Office Email Contacts: Steve.Glaude@dc.gov and Marchim.Williams@dc.gov
Councilmember: jmandel@DCCOUNCIL.US and kmcduffie@DCCOUNCIL.US
Email from Marc Williams, Mayor’s Office:
From: Geovani A Bonilla [mailto:gbonilla@hospicemanagement.com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 01, 2013 7:45 PM
To: ‘Padilla, Olivia’; ‘Williams, Marchim (EOM)’
Cc: ‘Fimbres, Francisco (EOM)’; ‘Fuller, Yohance (DDOE)’; ‘b-ashton-thomas@verizon.net’; ‘ibrahim.bullo@dc.gov’; ‘Anderson, Keith (DDOE) (keith.anderson@dc.gov)’
Subject: RE: Parking lot at 1400 First St NW
Thank you March for this disappointing update, I know you’re only delivering the message.
It appears that the DC Government is allowing a large construction company and for a large political donor as Mr. Kent Amos to build a massive project illegally and for the city to endorse it with a minor slap on the wrist. Had a tax payer in our block build something of a small scale without the permits required, DC Government would have issued stop work orders, order the project to be demolished and for the proper process to be followed.
Geovani A. Bonilla
Bates Area Civic Association
Email: gbonilla@hospicemanagement.com
From: Padilla, Olivia [mailto:opadilla@air.org]
Sent: Tuesday, October 01, 2013 11:52 AM
To: Williams, Marchim (EOM)
Cc: Fimbres, Francisco (EOM); Fuller, Yohance (DDOE); gbonilla@hospicemanagement.com; b-ashton-thomas@verizon.net; ibrahim.bullo@dc.gov; Anderson, Keith (DDOE) (keith.anderson@dc.gov)
Subject: RE: Parking lot at 1400 First St NW
Thanks for the update, Mr. Williams.
It is important for us to be informed of what the stormwater management plans entail – and also how the DDOE plans to follow up and measure the impact the plan has on the flooding in our neighborhood. Right now, since that parking lot went in, all the runoff is flooding P Street and 1st.
Additionally, Mr. Williams, you told us at the BACA meeting that there would be a $4000/day fine applied to the CAPCS owners. We want to make sure that this has been collected; I’m sure our tax dollars are being spent quite rapidly by all the city workers addressing this issue – and the violators should have to pay for all the costs they are causing taxpayers to incur. I’ve opened up a FOIA request on this matter, and I am hoping that we can see the cashed checks from CAPCS that prove that the $4000/day penalties have been paid in full. We would also like to see the documentation that all applicable fines and fees have been paid in full by CAPCS.
Olivia Padilla
DC Taxpayer living at P Street NW
From: Williams, Marchim (EOM) [mailto:Marchim.Williams@dc.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, October 01, 2013 11:40 AM
To: Padilla, Olivia
Cc: Fimbres, Francisco (EOM); Fuller, Yohance (DDOE)
Subject: Parking lot at 1400 First St NW
Ms Padilla,
This is the latest update from DDOE regarding the parking lot at 1400 First St NE. DDOE believes it is in their best interest to work with the school to implement the proper erosion control and storm water management plans at this privately owned site. Particularly, given the flooding issues in the neighborhood. They are diligently working with the school and the school’s contractor to get them into compliance. As any updates come about, I will keep you posted and thank you very much for your concern and patience.
Thanks.
On Friday, 09/27/13, DDOE received a set of erosion and sediment control and stormwater management plans from the contractor who built the parking lot. However, some of the text on the plans are too tiny to read. DDOE has therefore requested the design engineer to provide full size plans that show more legible text. DDOE will start the review once the full size plans are delivered.
Marchim Williams
Ward 5 Liaison
Office of Community Affairs
Executive Office of the Mayor
JohnA.WilsonBuilding
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Suite 327
Washington, DC20004
(202) 340-7141
Bates Area Civic Association 
Thanks to the various agencies for working with the stakeholder to resolve this issue. Your assistance in this matter is greatly appreciated. Many of my neighbors respect your decision, so that this community can continue ongoing positive community building efforts in this community.
ANC 5E05 Joyce Robinson-Paul
Thanks for the update on this issue. Very disappointing news that neither the contractor or Mr. Amos is being held accountable for their illegal actions. I wrote an email to Mr. Glaude and cced Councilmember McDuffie about my disappointment on the way this is being handled. I’m also wondering what happens if the CAPCS Amos campus shuts down if it does not meet the public charter school standards (which I understand is very possible). I don’t know Mr. Amos, but I know parents who used have students enrolled in the now closed CAPCS Butler campus– they did not have good things to say about his management of that campus closure. The whole situation is very disheartening…
I’m not sure what Ms. Padilla and Mr. Bonilla are trying to achieve here. Is it that you don’t want the school in the neighborhood? Is it that you want to tell the school to build on their private property? I dont see what we accomplish by imposing a daily fine on a charter school that serves the children that reside in our community. The best thing to do in my opinion, is to fix the problem so that it doesn’t contribute to flooding in the neighborhood.
The fact that Ms. Padilla is requesting to see storm water plans especially since this is private property exhibits that’s she is just reaching. And when she doesn’t get her way, she accuses the District of some clandestine plan.
This approach is not productive and should have been better thought out and executed. You catch more flies with honey…
Mr. Douglas,
I’m sorry. You are wrong. You are aware of the laws in the District? All public and private spaces in our area are required by law to submit stormwater management plans if they are going to black top over acres of land. http://ddoe.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/ddoe/page_content/attachments/FinalGuidebook_changes%20accepted_Chapters%201-7_07_29_2013_compressed.pdf.
What I am trying to achieve is to make sure that my tax dollars (that are being spent to develop laws that protect the environment) are used properly.
Please show me, Mr. Douglas where I’ve accused anyone of a clandestine plan. And please feel free to come to my house and speak to me about this in person.
Olivia