Sandy

I live in DC. But I grew up at the Jersey Shore. And my heart goes out to everyone there, including much of my family.
My mom is currently waiting in line for gas .... a commodity in short supply because of the continued power outages. And she is starting to get scared. After speaking with her moments ago, my younger brother, in Florida for law school wrote to NJ101.5 (and they read it on air):

I'm a law student down in FL, but my entire family is back home in various parts of the shore. Right now my Mom is up in Edison on Rt. 27 and Vineyard by the Costco and Walmart trying to get gas. She is on line for gas. The line is several miles long. No electricity, so no stop lights. Courteous people are stopping at intersections, so as not to block the way. Others are taking advantage and trying to cut the line in front of those who stop at intersections. People are getting verbally aggressive. Some are honking horns incessantly. Others are cutting through parking lots trying to jump ahead. No police presence as far as my Mom can see. She's afraid the situation will escalate soon. She has tried several times to get through to you guys through phone and email without much success. Cell service is spotty. She was able to get a brief call to me, and asked for me to let you guys know.  Absolute mayhem, hysteria, confusion. Things are looking desperate. 

For all the press about how responsive the govt and utilities have been, there is no appreciation for how society is devolving. I'm to the point where I'm going to rent a car and drive supplies north.

The future of Tenleytown

Tenleytown is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the District of Columbia. The neighborhood is largely residential and fairly walkable (rated a 92/100 on WalkScore). It is bisected by Wisconsin Avenue, a 4-plus lane wide commercial avenue. The neighborhood is well-served by transit, with multiple bus routes and the subway via Metro’s Tenleytown-AU station. There are restaurants, specialty retailers, grocers, and cafés.

The neighborhood is very family focused: single family houses, a library, public and private schools, churches, parks, and recreation centers. The public library was just rebuilt and Janney Elementary was expanded. There were plans to combine the developments, but those were defeated due to community opposition. The combined development would have included a few dozen affordable housing units—something that is lacking in the neighborhood.

Other developments include Cityline DC, a mixed use development completed in 2003 at the Tenelytown Metro station, which includes condominiums and specialty retail stores (Best Buy, The Container Store, and Ace Hardware).

A few neighborhood shops have closed over the past decade, including a comic book store and a CD/game exchange. Within the past couple of years, a few new restaurants have opened, but there has been no new retail, housing, or office space.

However, when walking along Wisconsin Avenue (what the 2006 DC Comprehensive Plan calls “Main Street”), there are seemingly random changes to density, with an office building and restaurant on one block followed by a car dealer or suburban-style CVS on the next. Further, there are architectural and design contrasts that make the neighborhood seem disorganized.

All of the density, setback, and height changes can create disunity and represent a missed opportunity to achieve one of the goals of the 2006 DC Comprehensive Plan: make neighborhoods healthier and more livable. That could include bringing jobs, housing, and leisure together via mixed-use/planned-unit-development (PUD). In fact, the Comprehensive Plan says:

“The low density commercial area on the eastside of Wisconsin between Albemarle and Brandywine would specifically benefitfrom streetscaping and façade improvements. The Metro station entrance locatedon the east side of Wisconsin Avenue at Albemarle Street is poorly designed anduninviting. Improving the public realm in this location would contribute to thevibrancy of the block as a whole and improve pedestrian safety and comfort.”

Additionally, a 2004 University of Maryland Planning Studio found: “The commercial area’s redevelopment is partially hindered, however, by a lack of a clear and distinct identity.” And, “The commercial buildings of Tenleytown also fail to consistently mirror the polish and uniform maintenance of surrounding business districts.”

The District Department of Transportation analyzed the Wisconsin Avenue Corridor in a 2005 study. This report focused on improving pedestrian safety, congestion, and noise pollution.

Additionally, the study analyzed the impact of further developing the corridor. In one scenario, the number of residential units climbs from 290 units today to 4,875 units. This would cause the level of service for Wisconsin Avenue to drop to “F” along all segments.

In 2002, the DC Office of Planning authorized the Upper Wisconsin Avenue Corridor Study (UWACS); a revised version was adopted in 2005. The key items that the Office of Planning wanted to address include: add affordable housing; enhance the “vitality of street life”; make building frontages consistent; improve pedestrian access and flow; add green space and parks; better utilize historic features; and better enforce traffic and parking regulations. The community has voiced opposition to many proposals in the past, and is generally weary of the impact of new development on schools, safety, and traffic. The study suggests that there is “market potential” for significant growth over the next 10 years with up to 400 new residential units in Tenleytown.

Since 2005, however, there has been little movement in redeveloping Tenleytown. American University students, neighborhood residents, and the strong DC-area economy continue to show the need for a unified, well-studied, and well-articulated small-area plan.

In 2011, the Office of Zoning (mapped by the Office of Planning) proposed some changes to the zoning along Wisconsin Avenue immediately surrounding the Metro stop, including more mixed-use development.

Currently, there are two projects just outside, and two within, the study area. To the south, at Wisconsin Avenue and Newark Street, Giant Food and The Bozzuto Group received final approval and are set to begin construction on a PUD, named Cathedral Commons, to include mixed residential, retail, and office space. To the north, at Wisconsin Avenue and 42^nd Street, Safeway and Clark Realty Capital have proposed replacing the existinggrocery store and adding town-house style residential.

Just north of the Tenleytown Metro, at Wisconsin Avenue and Brandywine Street, Douglas Development Corporation submitted a PUD proposal to develop two properties. The plan calls for retail on the ground floor and up to 5 floors of residential above. According to this filing, the last proposal for development of the same lots was in 2005. American University plans to remodel or newly construct several buildings at Tenley Circle as part of its Campus Plan.

Consider the following:

What if other vacant or under utilized lots were redeveloped as well? Should the developments be mixed-use, commercial, or residential? Would redevelopment allow the neighborhood to become a leader in rainwater capture or solar energy production? Could and should Tenleytown fulfill the potential for 400 new residential units, as proposed in the UWACS? What demographic should developers target? Are there adequate public facilities? Is there transportation capacity along Wisconsin Avenue, or would the level of service fall to “F” as the Wisconsin Avenue Transportation Study suggests?

If the study area remains unchanged or little changed over the next 10 years, and as neighboring areas promote growth and revitalization, would Tenleytown become economically depressed? Would population growth reverse?

Tenleytown could be a unified, well adjusted, and walkable neighborhood with recreation, retail, and restaurants. Residents and the District of Columbia have recognized the need to redevelop parts of Tenleytown for at least 10 years. There has been little movement over that time. Intersections still pose hazards to drivers and pedestrians alike. Different setbacks and store façades continue to make the neighborhood look disorganized. There are still undeveloped and underdeveloped lots along Wisconsin Avenue. Rainwater management issues also persist.

Stakeholders could continue to resist development, but instead, they should take a more active role and help better define the neighborhood. Residents, students, and business owners alike should organize and provide a vision for the neighborhood. No matter what, Tenleytown should live up to the 2006 Comprehensive Plan and be a healthier, more livable neighborhood. 

If the government shuts down ...

What if? Or is a matter of when and for how long? Don't worry, there will be plenty to do, even if you are out of work. Unfortunately, most free attractions will be closed. Oh, and Metro might even reduce train and bus service, so prepare for longer lead times.

-- 5 spots to visit if the government shuts down (All Smithsonian and government museums, monuments, and memorials, including the National Zoo, will be closed): Museums, including the Newseum and Corcoran Art Gallery; Religious architecture and history, including the National Cathedral and Shrine of the Immaculate Conception; Biking and hiking trails, including Rock Creek Park and the Crescent Trail; Open air markets, including Eastern Market; Sports, including Capitals playoff hockey and Nationals baseball.

And besides the Washington Post, these blogs may help you with ideas to keep from going stir crazy.

-- 5 DC blogs: DCist; Greater Greater Washington; TBD; Prince of Petworth; We Love DC

As for me, I'll still be working ... and they said I should even get paid on time. W00t!

DC DMV offices

The District has just three main service centers for license renewal and vehicle registration. And there is only one office for vehicle inspections. However, they have begun to offer some services online (license renewal, change of address, and more).

Service centers:
Georgetown (Lower level of the Georgetown Park Mall at M St NW and Wisconsin Ave NW)
Southwest (95 M St SW, between the Waterfront and Navy Yard Metro stops)
Southeast (Pennsylvania Ave SE and Branch Ave SE

Vehicle Inspection (Adjacent to the Southwest Service Center at 1001 Half St SW)

Plan to visit the offices during off-peak hours (approx. 10-11:30am, 2-3:30pm). Alternatively, if you arrive just before the office opens in the morning, you can begin to queue for entry and relatively fast processing. This is especially helpful information when going to the office on Saturday morning.

Before visiting the DMV, check their website or give them a call to confirm hours and services provided. You may be able to avoid a trip altogether!
(dmv.dc.gov;  (202) 737-4404)

Interviewing

A timeless topic, the art of interviewing, can be made into more of a science with these suggestions:

1. Keep a copy of the original job posting. This will allow for you to follow up on any specifics mentioned in the posting but not during the interview.
2. Know what your resume says. Some employers will quiz you on specific details of your resume to ensure that you haven't exaggerated your experience.
3. Make a separate list of your accomplishments, considering all identifiable keywords in the original job posting.
4. When the employer asks, "Where do you see yourself in 'x' years?", be sure to identify some of your ambitions, but focus your development on the job for which you are interviewing. They really want to know what you can do for them and why you are the best candidate.
5. Answer each question asked. Take notes and ask the employer to repeat the questions if you have to. It is crucial to address each question asked--this is how the employer will judge your ability to listen and accomplish specific tasks.

Finally, send a thank-you note. If the job is in the government or a place where mail delivery can be delayed, it is ok to send an email, with a follow-up note via snail-mail.

Break a leg!

Greek Yogurt

The Waterfront Safeway recently expanded its selection of greek yogurt, so I decided to taste every brand offered. First, here's an alphabetical list of offered brands: Athenos; Chobani; Dannon; Fage; Lucerne; Oikos (Stonyfield); Open Nature (Lucerne); and Yoplait.

I have been enjoying Chobani yogurt for a couple of years now, thanks to their push into the Van Ness Giant. I didn't think there was another yogurt that could beat the taste, nutrition, and simple ingredients. I mean, my favorite flavor of Chobani, Strawberry, has 14g of protein and 19g of sugar (though I never mix the entire "fruit on the bottom" into the yogurt).

The test: purchase each brand of yogurt (thanks for the introductory pricing Safeway) and sample one per day.

The results:
Best tasting: Oikos
Most protein and least sugar: Open Nature
Least sugar: Athenos
Thickest: Fage
Most artificial tasting: Dannon (tie); Lucerne (tie); Yoplait (tie)

Ranking:
1. Oikos (strawberry)
2. Open Nature (honey)
3. Chobani (strawberry or pomegranate)
4. Fage (blueberry acai)
5. Athenos (strawberry)

Not worth ever purchasing: Dannon; Lucerne; or Yoplait. That is, unless you like additives and artificial flavors and tastes.

D'oh! of the week/Let's move forward

Stupid stuff is said and done all the time. We are human after all, and mistakes happen. Here's my number one D'oh! of the week.

"Let me just clarify: You're telling me that the separation of church and state is found in the First Amendment?" ~ Republican Senatorial candidate Christine O'Donnell on October 19, 2010.

Let me be frank: Just because you think that most, if not all, politicians are dirty doesn't mean that you should nominate any random person for elective office. Don't get me wrong, I don't like either major political party and would love for a quick-witted, honest, and open candidate to run as a third-party option. The problem is that most people with those characteristics are too smart to get swooped into politics, at least at the national level. So, on election day, it becomes a choice between the lesser of two evils.

This year is all about getting even, finding someone to blame for the economic mess. Some of the CEOs and executives at financial institutions, and some of the government bureaucrats, need to be held accountable for their action (or inaction). We have changed the laws and regulations, and hopefully we'll be better equipped to prevent this type of exuberance in the future. (It is debatable whether we will actually learn any lessons.)

But we really need to move on--focus on rebuilding the country as a way to emerge from the recession. Yes, bridges and roads need repair, but what about reemerging as a global leader in innovations--both design and implementation? (That means opening our borders to the best and brightest from all over the world. It also means that the government needs to stop spending money on wars/conflicts/weapons and instead invest it in technological developments.)