CPCA Meeting, Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - What Happened?

“Where’s the Outrage?” local political reporter, Mark Plotkin asked Cleveland Parkers. Featured speaker at the Cleveland Park Citizens Association last Tuesday, WTOP Radio pundit Plotkin wondered why Washingtonians were so docile in the face of their “colonial,” non-voting status. Tracing the history of the DC Voting Rights issue, Plotkin harkened back to the unsuccessful and “cynical, sure-to-fail” attempt in 1973 to amend the Constitution, and described various other options such as retrocession (joining MD or VA) and statehood. He deplored the fact that Democratic Party leaders had recently allowed DC’s early primary to be snubbed by most of the candidates, thus adding to the perception that the city isn’t ready for prime time. Plotkin, who failed to win a seat on the City Council some years ago, then turned to journalism. For many years the anchor on WAMU’s “DC Politics Hour,” he later moved to a similar Friday morning show on WTOP. The Council’s loss was broadcasting’s gain,” said CPCA President, George Idelson, referring to the speaker’s hard-hitting and humorous style.

“If a child gets killed, it won’t be the first time,” said Barbara Beelar, updating the meeting on the chaotic traffic situation that takes place twice daily on 37th Street below Upton, when Sidwell and Hearst students arrive and depart from school. Beelar, chairman of CPCA’s Education and Recreation Committee spearheaded a meeting of leaders of both schools as well as parents and a city traffic official in an effort to find a solution to the problem. A possible solution would be to limit offloading to single, well marked lanes, flashing yellow 15 mph lights, and “No U-Turn” signs on both sides of the street. She noted that the situation was likely to get worse with a major expansion planned for Sidwell including an increase in enrollment, coupled with future growth for Hearst. The latter would add 4th and 5th grades, as well as a library, gym and cafeteria, thus tripling the footprint of the school.

Tregaron again. Bonnie LePard, who chairs the Friends of Tregaron, updated the CPCA meeting on the latest efforts to develop parts of the landmarked, environmentally sensitive Tregaron estate between Macomb Street and Klingle Road. The property, which is foreign-owned, would nestle 15 houses in the woods off Klingle, 2 houses off the road itself, and one house off Macomb. Cars would be garaged underground. LePard described a meeting with the neighbors the previous week that erupted when it was announced that concept approval by the Historic Preservation Board would be sought as soon as January. Because of the protected nature of the property, each of the custom built houses would have to demonstrate some added benefit to the community in a public hearing. The eighteen acre property is open to visitors who use it for walking, birding, sledding and other recreational purposes. Six acres atop the hill are owned by the Washington International School, which also plans to build two large buildings above ground and an underground theatre and performance center.

CPCA’s new website, ClevelandParkIsUs.org was shown in a brief presentation by webmaster Bob Andrew. From its “Broadway” font logo evoking an Art Deco look to its frequently appearing cast of characters, the site is meant to make the point that CPCA is about “putting people first.” Visitors to the site will find one-stop shopping for news about the neighborhood and CPCA, with a calendar of meetings, minutes, officers, resolutions and meeting notices. Links to essential city services and officials are available, as is a new neighborhood map with links to all the major institutions, including complete Metro and transit guides. A Google search engine for the site and the Internet are also available.

CPCA's membership called on the City Council to reduce the cap on sequential year property tax increases from 25% to 10% . The Council is due to take up the issue early in January. After floor discussion of alternative ways to provide a broader form of tax relief for homeowners, CPCA members chose to ratify a simple resolution passed earlier by the executive committee.