The Dupont Current
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Vol. XVI, No. 21
Serving Dupont Circle, Kalorama, Adams Morgan & Logan Circle
Guy Mason may restore programs
YOU’LL FLOAT, TOO
■ Recreation: Agency faced
fury after recent abrupt cuts
By GRACE BIRD Current Staff Writer
Instructors and students at Guy Mason Recreation Center are facing confusion over whether several long-established programs can resume. Last week, the D.C. Depart-
ment of Parks and Recreation sent a four-sentence email to dozens of participants. Citing “contract procurement difficulties,” the agency told them it had terminated their programs — yoga, pottery and bridge groups as well as a Brazilian samba class — effective immediately. Some instructors found out only after arriving for their classes. But agency spokesperson Michael Tucker told The Current Tuesday evening that all affected
programs have been restored, but he had no further details or explanations. No instructors or students reached by The Current had heard about the reversal from city officials as of the newspaper’s Tuesday night production deadline. Meanwhile, the recreation department has indefinitely put off plans to close the Chevy Chase Community Center at 9 p.m. weeknights instead of 10 in the face of See Centers/Page 5
Bill proposes new office on nightlife By ZOE MORGAN Current Correspondent
Brian Kapur/The Current
“The Manor House” on W Street NW in Glover Park was a big hit among local trick-or-treaters on Tuesday evening. Neighborhoods across the District celebrated Halloween with events and spooky decorations.
A bill currently before the D.C. Council would create an office and commission of nightlife, a centralized group that would oversee the District’s afterhours scene. As proposed by Ward 4 Council member Brandon Todd, the new Office of Nightlife that would work with government agencies, businesses and the community. Meanwhile, the Commission of Nightlife would be made up of five members and would advise the mayor, council and Office of Nightlife on related issues. A hearing on the bill is scheduled for 11 a.m. Nov. 8. “Part of my inspiration for introducing this bill came from the fact that nightlife really is popping up in places where it quite frankly has been devoid, or nonexistent, for a number of years,” Todd told The Current. “And so I wanted to ensure that there was a
Brian Kapur/The Current
Club owners and community members praised the push for a centralized authority on D.C. nightlife. central point of contact for residents, advisory neighborhood commissions, community organizations, as well as businesses that participate in nightlife.” See Bill/Page 14
Rock Creek Parkway bypass study requested
City revises interim parking plan for police garage work
By GRACE BIRD
■ Transportation: On-street
Current Staff Writer
A nearly forgotten proposal to block motor vehicles from a stretch of Rock Creek Parkway near the Kennedy Center is under fresh consideration, with community leaders in Foggy Bottom and Georgetown requesting a study of the idea. First conceived in 2003, the proposal would use Interstate 66 as a bypass in order to divert most or all parkway traffic between Virginia Avenue NW and a point just south of the Roosevelt Bridge. Proponents say the change — whether implemented temporarily by using low-cost measures or permanently by altering some roadways — would create a safe, appealing area for pedestrians and bicyclists to get from Georgetown to the National Mall; free up riverfront access to and from the performing arts center; and relieve wide-
restrictions to start Nov. 13
By GRACE BIRD Brian Kapur/The Current
The proposal would restrict a stretch of Rock Creek Parkway in front of the Kennedy Center to cyclists and pedestrians, diverting cars to Interstate 66. spread traffic congestion caused by drivers who could easily take an alternate route. “I always thought it was a waste — the fact that you had all this freeway sitting behind the Kennedy Center, and you have Rock Creek Parkway being used as a commuter route,” William Kennedy Smith, a See Traffic/Page 3
Current Staff Writer
As the city prepares to begin construction of a new garage at the 2nd District Police Headquarters, officials have revised their temporary parking plan that will reserve up to 248 spaces around the community for displaced personnel starting Nov. 13. The garage will be located behind the police station at 3320 Idaho Ave. NW, and it will serve a
new emergency family shelter while also alleviating existing parking pressures. However, the construction will take over much of the station’s existing on-site parking, prompting months of community discussion about where to fit the displaced cars. The city presented the final iteration of plans at an Oct. 16 meeting of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3C (Cleveland Park, Massachusetts Avenue Heights, Woodley Park). In response to community feedback officials said they had reduced the spaces they would use along WisSee Parking/Page 14
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INDEX
Schwartz memoir
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Check out our new website, where you’ll find more of the communityoriented news, features and sports you read weekly in The Current.
Calendar/16 Classifieds/22 District Digest/2 Dupont Circle Citizen/9 In Your Neighborhood/15
Former mayoral candidate, council member publishes her lively life story / Page 6
Neighborhood launches new Main Street group to help boost retail along Wisconsin Avenue / Page 3
Opinion/6 Police Report/4 Real Estate/13 School Dispatches/8 Service Directory/21
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