KCA MEETING THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2008:
SHOWING OF LOCALLY PRODUCED
DOCUMENTARY FILM, “BALLOU”

            KCA will be doing something a bit different for our Holiday Season meeting this year with the free showing of Michael Patrei’s documentary on DC’s Ballou High School marching band and its Director Darrell Watson. Produced by Casey Callister, the film is a feel-good story of the student’s struggle for achievement growing up in the gritty Congress Heights neighborhood of Southeast DC.

            We’ll have popcorn, hot chocolate and other movie-type refreshments to make your movie-going experience complete.

            KCA would like to thank the producers of Ballou for their kind cooperation in allowing this showing of their film. To learn more about the film, the students, the production team and how to purchase the film, please visit the producer’s web-site: http://www.balloumovie.com
At the web-site, there is also information on how to support the Ballou marching band, including purchasing the film directly from the Band Booster Association which will also support their activities.

            So, we’ll see you at Good Will Baptist Church on the 18th at 7:00 pm for a different kind of Holiday celebration!

-Denis James
Lanier Heights Historic Survey Volunteers Needed
KCA has been awarded a grant from the DC Historic Preservation Office to undertake the project to survey all resources in Lanier Heights.  Volunteers are needed for research and building and photographic surveys which are essential in-kind contribution under the grant.  Anyone who would like  to participate in the Lanier Heights Historic Survey work should contact  Mindy Moretti at 588-7332 or Volunteer Coordinator Nancy Huvendick at 745-3745 ext 15.
View/Download PDF of the Survey Area
DC Residents Have Highest Tax Burden in Region
The District's Chief Financial Officer recently released a report comparing the tax burden of DC residents to residents of surrounding jurisdictions.  As the CFO's report acknowledges, DC has the highest per capita burden tax burden in the nation.  The CFO study compared hypothetical families at different income levels, concluding that DC residents had the highest or second highest overall tax burden at most income levels.  However, correcting for flaws in the CFO's analysis, the burden on DC residents is even greater than the the CFO's report indicates.
To see our complete analysis, please click here.
Washington Heights Individual Property Descriptions Available
A report for each property surveyed in the Washington Heights area is available in Adobe .pdf format or printed form.  This will generally include date of construction, brief descriptive information, notes, and the names of the builder and architects from construction permits, together with photographs taken during the survey.  For a .pdf, Contact Larry Karr (and provide the desired address!), or for a printed copy, send a SASE with your address to the KCA PO Box address.
Historic Survey Report on Washington Heights Released
The intensive survey of all buildings in the Washington Heights area has been completed.  The report, produced by the Architectural History firm of EHT Traceries will be the subject of the September 15 KCA meeting with a slide show presentation by EHT Traceries staff.

This project has been funded in part by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service Historic Preservation  Fund grant funds, administered by the District of Columbia's Historic Preservation Office.
View and/or download the entire report in .PDF format
Washington Heights Historic District Approved
The DC Historic Preservation Review Board approved the creation of the Washington Heights historic district at its July, 2006 meeting.  The National Register nomination form was produced by the Architectural History firm of EHT Traceries. The nomination contains a wealth of information on the history and development of Washington Heights, a map of the historic district, and a list of the properties that contribute to the historic district.

This project has been funded in part by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service Historic Preservation  Fund grant funds, administered by the District of Columbia's Historic Preservation Office.  
View and/or download the nomination in .PDF format
Kalorama Triangle Historic District Nomination Available
The 1987 National Register of Historic Places Nomination form for the Kalorama Triangle Historic district has recently been scanned, and is full text searchable with Adobe Acrobat.  It comes in two files, one with text and the other with photographs.
Download the Text of the Nomination
DCPS Holds Hearing on Adams-Oyster Planning
Description of the June 13, 2006 meeting and planning document to follow.
Download the Planning Document
KCA and RCNA File ABC Moritorium Petition on April 20
The Kalorama Citizens Association (KCA) and the Reed-Cooke Neighborhood Association (RCNA) were instrumental in successfully petitioning the ABC Board four years ago to implement the current moratorium which expires on July 19.
    Currently, there are 71 establishments in the Adams Morgan moratorium zone, with a combined occupancy of 7,400! There are also 5 other licenses in "safekeeping" with the Board that if activated will each need a storefront inside the moratorium zone and will add to the overall occupancy figure. Besides the on-premises establishments there are 4 "A" licensees (full liquor stores) with one in "safekeeping" and 10 "B" licensees (beer and wine carry-out) within the moratorium zone.
   In the Renewal Petition, KCA and RCNA have requested provisions that would allow full-service grocery retailers to acquire a "B" license as provided by the Council in the 2001 rewrite of the ABC law, Title 25. As many of you may have heard, the Harris-Teeter grocery chain is interested in locating a store at 17th and Kalorama in the old roller skating rink building. This same provision would also allow the Safeway on Columbia Road to apply for that type of license.
   Additionally, KCA and RCNA have requested that the Board place a limit on the number of "Taverns" allowed at six(6), and to ban any further lateral expansions that would cause the further loss of storefronts that could hold neighborhood-serving retail.
   We feel that there are enough ABC establishments in our neighborhood! The high concentration of establishments has clearly had a negative impact on parking, traffic, noise, and trash. The point of the moratorium is to simply to prevent these conditions from getting worse than they already are, by prohibiting additional licenses. A side benefit is that some of our commercial space may be preserved for what we hope will be small businesses that can serve the needs of local residents. How those businesses are attracted and retained is another discussion for another day, but it is one that KCA and RCNA stand ready to participate in with open minds and constructive intent.
Click here to download the complete petition

© 2004 - 2005 Kalorama Citizens Association
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