Evans Celebrates District's First LEED Certified Supermarket

 Evans with Safeway representatives at the celebration.

Councilmember Evans recently joined representatives from Safeway, Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E, the Hardy Middle School marching band, and area residents to celebrate the Georgetown Safeway's one year anniversary and recent LEED certification.

Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that a building was designed and built using strategies intended to improve performance in metrics such as energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources.

The Wisconsin Avenue Safeway at 1855 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, commonly known as the "Social Safeway," is the first LEED certified supermarket in the District. 

"I congratulate Safeway on a tremendous accomplishment not only in achieving LEED certification, but also in building a completely new store from the ground up in just one year," said Evans.

For more information on the store's LEED certification and environmental efforts, please click here.

Ruth Werner is Evans' Georgetown liaison.  

Artist rendering of the new park.    

Councilmember Evans recently announced that work will soon be underway at the 7th and N Park in Shaw, located on N Street, between 6th and 7th Streets, NW.

The District's Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) will begin work on the park in June, with a ribbon cutting tentatively scheduled for October.  In addition, at the request of the Councilmember and several residents, DPR has been working to address lighting issues in the park, which requires establishing new electric service to the entire park.

"I am pleased that DPR will begin work next month on the 7th and N Park," said Evans.  "What has long been an eye sore for the community will soon be transformed into a neighborhood asset that everyone can use and enjoy."

Additional information on the 7th and N Park will soon be made available at DPR's website here.

Windy Abdul-Rahim is Evans' Shaw liaison. 

Bike to Work Day 

Returns on May 20 

 

The Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) and Commuter Connections invite you to join thousands of area commuters for a celebration of bicycling as a clean, fun, and healthy way to get to work.  Over 10,000 people will be biking to work on May 20 as part of this year's event.

Bike to Work Day is free and open to all area commuters.  There will be a raffle prizes, food, drink, and more at pit stops throughout the region.  Interested individuals can register for the event here.

"I encourage everyone to ditch their car and participate in Bike to Work Day on May 20," said Evans.  "It's a great way to get some exercise and support alternative transportation in the District."

Registering for the event will automatically enter you in to regional and local raffles for great prizes.  Those who are among the first 8,500 to register will also receive a free Bike to Work Day t-shirt.

There are several resources on the WABA website for route planning, as well as information on joining a commuter convoy from your neighborhood.

While planning your route, be sure to stop by pit stops for snacks, water, and fun!

On Tuesday, May 17, Councilmember Evans will address seniors from around the Ward at Emmaus Senior Services' celebration of Older Americans month.   The event will take place from 10:00am-2:00pm at the Kennedy Recreation Center (1401 7th Street, NW).

The event will include the "Young at Art" art show, as well as a senior show of performance, poetry, paintings, and more.  The 60-minute program will begin at 11:00am. 

"I hope everyone will join me as we celebrate and appreciate our Ward 2 seniors," said Evans.  "Their resourcefulness, creativity, and incredible energy will be on display for all to see."

For more information on the Older Americans month celebration, please contact Connie Samuels or Dipal Panara at 202-745-1200.

Amorde Brabham is Evans' senior citizen liaison. 

DC Economic Partnership

Announces 2011 

Small Business Competition 

The Washington, DC Economic Partnership (WDCEP) recently announced its annual Business Plan Competition, intended to promote entrepreneurship and the development of early stage companies in the District of Columbia.  The goal of the competition is to fund original business concepts that will lead to the continued development of new enterprise and further job creation within the District.

The winner of the competition is awarded a $100,000 investment prize and $27,500 worth of in-kind services. The competition is open to existing as well as start up businesses.

"The DC Economic Partnership continues to support our local businesses through this competition," said Evans.  "It offers a great opportunity for existing businesses and start-ups alike and I hope that many will take advantage of it."

For more information on the competition, including deadlines and eligibility criteria, please click here.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has announced a series of six public hearings regarding proposed adjustments to Metrorail weekend frequency and Metrobus service.

Proposed changes include:

Bus Service  

1)  The elimination of the E6, K1 and N8 routes;   

2)  A restructuring of the M4 to extend the route to Knollwood Retirement Home to partially replace the E6 service;  

3)  Shortening Routes 70 and 71 to operate between Silver Spring and Archives at all times and reduce peak period frequency.  Establishing a new Route 74 to operate between Fort McNair/Buzzard Point and Gallery Place - Chinatown on weekdays between 5:00am and 8:00pm.  Restructuring Route V8 to operate via Fort McNair and extend to Gallery Place - Chinatown evenings and weekends.  Discontinuing Route V7 after 8:00pm on weekdays.  

4)  Elimination of the Anacostia special fare which will increase the fare from $1.00 to $1.50 for SmarTrip and to $1.70 for cash on routes 94, A2, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, M8, M9, W2, W3, W6, and W8, as well as for stops at or south of Good Hope Road for routes 90, B2, P1, P2, P6, and U2.  

5)  Increasing the bus-to-rail and rail-to-bus transfer value from $0.50 to $1.00 for those customers transferring to or from routes 94, A2, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, M8, M9, W2, W3, W6, and W8.

Rail Service  

1)  Widening Saturday headways from 12 minutes to 18 minutes until 9:30pm and to 25 minutes after 9:30pm until closing; and   

2)  Widening Sunday headways from 15 minutes to 20 minutes until 9:30pm and to 25 minutes after 9:30pm until closing.

"These hearings offer a great opportunity for residents to directly voice their concerns to the WMATA Board," said Evans.  "I encourage everyone to take the chance to do so."  

Please click here for additional information on the hearings and their locations, as well as information on how to register to speak or submit a written statement.

Legislative Update 

The Committee on Finance and Revenue met this week to mark-up the Fiscal Year 2012 proposed budget for the agencies under the Committee's purview and provide comments and recommendations to a number of Budget Support Act Subtitles.  The full council is expected to vote on the Fiscal Year 2012 budget on May 26. 

The Committee will be holding a hearing on five measures on Thursday, May 19 at 12:00pm in Room 120 of the Wilson Building.  Bills on the agenda include:

Bill 19-27, the "Community Council for the Homeless at Friendship Place Equitable Real Property Tax Relief Act of 2011"

This bill would provide equitable real property tax relief to Community Council for the Homeless at Friendship Place, a tax-exempt nonprofit organization.

Bill 19-95, the "Howard Theatre Redevelopment Project Great Streets Initiative Tax Increment Financing Amendment Act of 2011"

This bill would amend the Howard Theatre Redevelopment Project Great Streets Initiative Tax Increment Financing Act of 2010 to authorize the inclusion of real property possessory interest tax in the tax increment to be used to support the bonds to be issued to finance the Howard Theatre redevelopment project.

Bill 19-193, the "Income Tax Secured Bond Authorization Amendment Act of 2011"

This bill would amend Chapter 3 of Title 47 of the District of Columbia Official Code to authorize the issuance of additional revenue bonds of the District of Columbia, payable from and secured by individual income tax and business franchise tax revenues, for the purposes of financing capital projects of the District government and to provide certain clarifications applicable to such revenue bonds consistent with current laws applicable to the general obligation bonds.

Bill 19-208, the "Vault Tax Clarification Act of 2011"

This bill would amend Chapter 11 of Title 10 of the District of Columbia Official Code to clarify the exemption of any vault that in whole or in part is serving real property exempt from taxation under section 47-1002(19) of the District of Columbia Code.

Bill 19-227, the "Tax Revision Commission Reestablishment Act of 2011"

This bill would amend Chapter 4 of Title 47 of the District of Columbia Official Code to reestablish the Tax Revision Commission ("Commission"), to clarify the purpose and duties of the Commission, and to improve the focus and composition of the Commission.

The Committee will also be holding a public oversight roundtable on the matter of iGaming on Thursday, May 19 at 1:00pm in Room 123 of the Wilson Building.  The iGaming measure was included in Title VII, Subtitle G.  "Lottery Modernization Act" of Bill 18-1100, the "Fiscal Year 2011 Supplemental Budget Support Act of 2010," which is now Law 18-370.   This public oversight roundtable gives an opportunity for the DC Lottery and Charitable Games Control Board to provide an update on the implementation efforts of iGaming in the District of Columbia.

To sign up to testify, please contact Sarina Loy.

Ruth Werner is Evans' Committee Director.