Voted 2009 and 2004 OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER by the Washington Federation of Civic Associations 2010 Burleith Fall Cleanup October 2010 Saturday, October 23, 9:00 am - 12 noon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·VWLPHIRUWKHDQQXDO7RW/RWWRGR THE BURLEI EDITORIAL President’s Message This is an important and busy month in Burleith. University, is scheduled for October 23th. This year, the BCA begins Our annual community meeting commences at a new cleanup program where neighbors focus on their block and Duke Ellington High School on Thursday, Oct. 28th, coordinate with the BCA for pickup. Please get together with your at 7 pm. We have important information that you neighbors and plan a strategy now on how you will clean up your will want to know. Presumptive mayor-elect Vincent block. A big thank-you to Mark Gisler and Ray Danieli from GU for all Gray and councilmember Jack Evans are tentatively their hard work. Please see page 5 for more info. I hope to see many of scheduled to speak and hear your concerns. ANC our neighbors cleaning their streets and alleys on cleanup day. commissioner Ed Solomon will discuss a pilot parking program, Many thanks to Marjorie Wolfe and all the neighbors who pitched which will have ripple effects in Burleith. The Friends of Ellington Field in to make this year’s Burleith Flea Market so successful. It takes a group will discuss the ongoing major renovation of Ellington Field. lot of work to pull this off every year and Marjorie keeps meeting the Representatives from the Metropolitan Police Dept. will give an update challenge with enthusiasm and joy. on security issues that the community faces. Representatives from the District will discuss rat and trash abatement issues.There will be a Please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments or limited question-answer period. Also, the BCA’s annual board elections concerns. See you around the neighborhood. will take place. Lenore Rubino GU has yet to file its campus plan with the Zoning Commission, 202.262.1261 or [email protected] but must do so by December 31, 2010. Meanwhile, based on the “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens proposed plan, the Citizens Association of Georgetown (CAG) and the can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever does.” Burleith Citizens Association (BCA) have been working on preparing — Margaret Mead our case in opposition to the plan. We have hired experts to help us gather data and are continuing to raise funds via CAG's "Save the Neighborhood Fund" and the BCA's "Burleith Community Fund." The ANC, CAG and the BCA have begun discussions with representatives 927($77+($118$/ from GU to address core issues of concern. The first meeting focused %XUOHLWK&LWL]HQV$VVRFLDWLRQ on student housing. We trust continued dialogue will be productive and lead to solutions that will address the numerous adverse impacts &RPPXQLW\0HHWLQJ that the current draft plan imposes on the community. We are 7KXUVGD\2FWREHUWKDWSP seeking a collaborative effort with university administrators. For more information on the CAG's and the BCA's position on the campus plan Burleith Citizens Association 2010 Board Slate — and to donate — please visit cagtown.org and burleith.org. President: Lenore Rubino Treasurer: Nan Bell A great way to connect with other Burleith families is at the BCA- Vice-President: Walter Hillabrandt Secretary: May Vaughan sponsored Halloween Tot Lot Party, which receives love and support Members-at-large from Marjorie Wolfe as well as from other neighbors and community Pat Davies – Newsletter Kay Twomey - Events businesses. Carrie Dunsmore has stepped down as chair of this event Sheila Hegy – GU Relations Matthew Yabroudy - Infrastructure and Karen Landes has taken over. Many thanks to Carrie for last year's Jennifer Jarratt – Membership Candith Pallandre - Trash and Rat Halloween fun — and to Karen for jumping in. See page 10 to find out Gerri Solomon - Internet Abatement more . and get BOOed!! Ed Solomon - ANC Issues A joint fall cleanup, sponsored by the BCA and Georgetown BURLEITH CITIZENS ASSOCIATION Board of Directors Membership President Lenore Rubino 262-1261 Membership Jennifer Jarratt 270-0903 Vice President Walter Hillabrant 338-6519 Membership Database Linda Brooks 333-2826 Treasurer Nan Bell 338-2831 Volunteer Coordinator Marjorie Wolfe 965-1699 Secretary May Vaughan 333-1280 Newsletter Members at Large Editor Pat Davies 337-0991 Newsletter Pat Davies 337-0991 Editor Lenore Rubino 262-1261 GU relations committee Sheila Hegy 248-9448 Editorial advisor Michael Farquhar 338-2921 ANC liaison & past president Ed Solomon 337-2030 Advertising Karen Landes 333-4673 Internet Gerri Solomon 494-8379 Circulation Marjorie Wolfe 965-1699 Events Kay Twomey 337-5105 Design/layout Heather Woods woods.heather39@ Infrastructure Matthew Yabroudy 390-1843 gmail.com Web site Trash and Rat Abatement Candith Pallandre 390-9737 Co-Web master Jen Perry 338-1201 BCA Committees Co-Web master Ross Schipper 333-2826 Friends of Ellington Field Rich Field 669-1986 Fall/Spring Cleanup Mark Gisler 342-1922 Write to board members and the BCA at: PO Box 32262, Calvert Street Station, Flea Market Marjorie Wolfe 965-1699 2336 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington DC 20007 | E-mail [email protected] 2 THE BURLEITH BELL www.burleith.org EDITORIAL AN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE Excerpts from a speech given by Pat Scolaro, on April 21, 2010, at a BCA special community meeting on GU’s Campus Plan I have lived in Burleith for 36 years. Many of you in this room have sophomores included) to live on campus. lived here longer than I. Many are newcomers to this Village in the A 1990 New York Times article addressed the issue of student City. Each of us had a special reason for choosing Burleith, and, once housing off-campus, and Burleith residents were quoted on the settled, the special shared aspects of living in this community are soon behavior of some residents of these off- campus student homes, and evident. Burleith has the atmosphere and ambiance of a small town, how it was affecting the quality of life of this close neighborhood. plus all the benefits of life in the big city! Essentially, two diverse groups with totally different life-styles were Within these four square blocks there are unique features. We converging on this small space. And, the University was increasing have the Green Lot for community events, games, or just enjoying the undergraduate enrollment. In this same article, a representative the outdoors. We have Ellington Field, an ideal space for walking/ said that Georgetown was committed to adding on-campus housing running dogs. The large park adjacent to our neighborhood gives us a by 1997. “We will have a bed for each undergraduate,” he said. “That bit of country. There is the Tot Lot, which was originally planned, paid is a commitment we are willing to make.” Further, freshman would for, and built by Burlieth parents, and the Georgetown Library within be required to live on campus by 1992. Sophomores followed shortly walking distance. We are conveniently located close to shopping, thereafter. transportation and a hospital, as well as great educational institutions. A dormitory was not built until 2003, six years later; but once again It was in 1923 that Shannon and Luchs started its venture to the undergraduate enrollment was increased. Still, 15% or more of the develop a middle-class family oriented community. It was easy to undergraduates currently live off campus. sell these modern homes with central heating, a bathroom and a hot An increase in enrollment over the next ten years (even though water heater for a mere $7000. Other developers followed later. It was mostly graduate students) will adversely affect this community. a viable active community then, as it is now, with residents who took Georgetown University has stated emphatically that it is not its plan pride in their homes and gardens. to build any additional on campus housing. In any city change is inevitable and this is certainly true of Burleith. In many ways having these young adults living in the community As Washington grew and evolved, Burleith’s unique location made is an asset. Some provide services to the residents, and most make it a popular destination for young professional couples and singles good neighbors. Nevertheless, the diversity of Burleith is changing who enjoyed city life and were within easy commuting distances. and the issue of any additional growth by GU requires our serious Many chose to rent homes but they too were active participants in consideration. maintaining the atmosphere of this community. Throughout the history of Burleith, there has always been one In the 1980s, the residents of Burleith included some of our older consistent group of concerned neighbors. The Burleith Citizens friends, professionals, singles and couples with young children and/or Association was founded in 1925, and through the years it has worked teenagers - it was still very much a middle class neighborhood. It was hard to address many problems that could have adversely impacted during this time that Georgetown University undergraduates began this community. Today the BCA is dealing with one of the most renting and living in the community in greater numbers. At that time serious threats of all.