Ground-Breaking at DOES

A ground-breaking ceremony for the new Department of Employment Services headquarters at the Minnesota Metro stop took place yesterday morning, November 6. On the program were Mayor Adrian Fenty, Forrester Construction representatives, Larry Clark of Donatelli/Blue Skye — chosen last month to develop the adjacent “Phase II” property, and newly appointed DOES director Joseph Walsh. On hand by happenstance were Wanda Aikens of the Ward 7 Arts Collaborative, Rick Tingling-Clemmons (ANC 7D05) and ANC 7D chair Dorothy Douglas — who had been attending a meeting nearby when they noticed the event tent; word of the ground-breaking was not shared with the community.

Aikens reports that Walsh spoke about his hope that DOES headquarters would be a project in which the community could take pride. But only the three accidental attendees from the Ward were present to hear how DOES is looking for community engagement to ensure that appropriate services are rendered, she said. “At this point, they are not demonstrating that they’re trying to include the community.”

Walsh, fresh from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, where he was director of policy and and planning for the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, begins work with DOES on December 1.

For a few more details on the project, visit Washington City Paper’s Housing Complex blog.