Benning Post Office Proposal

Here are key elements in the U.S. Postal Service’s “discontinuance” proposal regarding the post office at East River Park, 3937-1/2 Benning Road, NE:

Revenue Losses

This post office location has experienced a decline in revenue, from roughly $507,000 in 2007 to $381,000 in 2011.

Closing of Downtown Ward 7 Post Office Proposed

Community meeting, held at Height/Benning Library, 11/10/11

At a community meeting last night, Nov. 10, the United States Postal Service (USPS) announced its proposal to close the Post Office located at 3937-1/2 Benning Road, NE. This proposal is part of a national plan to downsize USPS due to falling revenues. This announcement follows a “feasibility study” period by the USPS. A 60-day comment period is NOW UNDERWAY. For the full story, including updates, look for December’s East of the River.

Key elements in the proposal, still under study, are:

• The Post Office in East River Park would close, sometime after the first of the 2012;
• Post office boxes currently offered at East River Park would relocate to Northeast Post Office, 1563 Maryland, NE (Hechinger Mall), about 2 miles away, at the same size and same fees;
• Street delivery functions would be relocated to 3621 Benning Road, NE. This is not a customer facility;
• Customers would need to conduct retail functions — stamp purchases, e.g. — at Northeast or another location.

Stamps are currently available for purchase at many locations — CVS, Safeway, Giant, banks — as well as on-line, by phone and through the mail. The nearest additional full service Post Offices are as follows:

• Randle, 2341 Pennsylvania, SE (2.3 miles)
• Fort Davis, 3843 Pennsylvania, SE (2.5 miles)
• Capitol Heights, 6089 Central Avenue, Capitol Heights (2.6 miles)
• Frederick Douglas, 2833 Alabama Avenue, SE (3.0 miles).

Following the 60-day comment period, there will be a “determination.” If closing is recommended at that time, a “closeout” period will begin.

The USPS encourages customers to submit impact statements at this time: How and how often do you use the Post Office at East River Park? How would closing affect your regular routine? Would it pose a hardship for you or your neighbors? Do you envision other impacts for the neighborhood?

Comments may be sent to:

Donalda E. Moss
District Discontinuance Coordinator
900 Brentwood, NE
Washington, DC 20066-7300

A number of local leaders are working on this issue. Check back here and at East of the River for updates. A copy of the proposal will be posted here as soon as it’s available.

UPDATE: here are the proposal basics. A copy of the proposal, as promised at the November 10 meeting, was still no made available to citizens as of November 23, although one copy is pinned to a bulletin board at the post office, 3937-1/2 Benning Road, NE.

Phase II Donatelli Update

On Wednesday, May 12, the office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development hosted an update meeting for the Great Streets project and other changes planned for the intersection of Minnesota Avenue and Benning Road.

Here is some of the updated information provided. (More will be posted as time permits; the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, which parallels the Christian holiday of Pentecost, begins tonight at sundown.)

Retail Reduced; Community Space, Incubator Gone

In 2008 materials, the Donatelli/Blue Skye project included 40,000 square feet of retail space, which included a 5,000 square-foot business incubator and 2,500 square feet of “community space.”

The update shows only 23,000 square feet of retail space, and the business incubator and community space are no longer listed. Queried by Wanda Aikens of the Ward 7 Arts Collaborative at the meeting, developer Chris Donatelli said that community groups were welcome to pay market-rate for retail space.

Melvin Deal’s African Heritage Drummers and Dancers center, once prominent on Minnesota Avenue — see “meeting unmet needs”/4018 Minnesota photo here — was forced to move as part of a District land acquisition for an office project that was later abandoned. No provision for the return of this Ward 7 treasure has been part of this project; no other support of Ward 7 arts was part of the May 2010 presentation.

Update Meeting Announced

The notice below was received, and disseminated to the community by email, on the afternoon of May 7 (three business days prior to the meeting):

You are Invited to Attend:

Minnesota – Benning Intersection Project Community Update from the following Agencies:

Department of Real Estate Services

DC Department of Transportation

Deputy Mayor’s Office for Planning & Economic Development

When: Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Time: 6:30 – 8:00pm

Where: Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington Metropolitan Police Clubhouses Richard England Clubhouse #144103
Benning Road, NE Washington, DC 20019

Although this notice does not mention developers, Latisha Atkins, Ward 7 Outreach and Services Specialist in the Executive Office of the Mayor, reported earlier that Donatelli/Blue Skye will be present. Please see May’s East of the River newspaper.

The Executive Office of the Mayor can be reached at
(202) 442-8150 Main
(202) 340-8248 Mobile
(202) 727-5931 Fax
www.DC.Gov

__._,_.___

Phase II Property, April 2010

Near the Minnesota Avenue Metro, the Dept. of Employment Services (DOES) headquarters — “Phase I” of a two-part development to help create the “New Downtown Ward 7″ — is currently under construction. Adjacent to the DOES building, “Phase II” property was awarded to Donatelli Development by the District executive last year. The DC Council approved the Land Disposition Agreement in the fall.

Community requests for information about final construction plans have so far yielded no response from developer, Chris Donatelli. DC’s office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development promised a community update meeting in late February or early March. No such meeting had been scheduled as of April 15. Below are pictures of the site — showing the unsecured conditions which have been on-going — additional photos on Flickr.

4018 Minnesota Avenue, NE, April 15, 2010

Your Input Sought — “Phase II” Timeline

Your input is sought regarding the future of the northwest corner of Minnesota and Benning. The “Phase II” development — a residential project with street-level retail, adjacent to the DOES headquarters under construction now — is scheduled to break ground next year. (For more information, click on the “Phase II” tag in the right-hand column.) ANC 7D and a CBA (Community Benefits Agreement) Team are working to collect suggestions and craft a CBA which will be proposed to the developers, Donatelli/Blue Skye.

Minnesota-Benning Intersection Reconsidered

Will the Phase II project at Minnesota-Benning serve the new Downtown Ward 7 in the best way possible? This will depend on many factors. Among key factors is traffic management for this “gateway” intersection. This issue took center stage when the DC Council recently considered the Land Disposition Agreement for this land.

Phase II Design — Highest Use?

Developers Donatelli/Blue Skye were awarded the “Phase II” land, at the corner of Minnesota and Benning, in October 2008. The team has had little contact with the community between their presentations to ANC 7D in November of 2008 and in July 2009. The newest information I’ve been able to find on the website of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development — the office in charge of this project and of communicating with the public about it — is the 18-month old RFP

ANC 7D Opposes Pollin Loan

At a special meeting on July 31, ANC 7D voted unanimously to oppose the loan of nearly $8 million to the Pollin Memorial project, slated to replace Parkside Additions. See second page of this month’s Neighborhood News for details.

River Terrace Kidumentaries

Fifth Graders Write, Direct and Produce!