Anc7c04 ODMPED Oversight Feb2011

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    ADVISORYNEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION 7C04 TOGETHERBETTER!

    Testimony of Sylvia C. Brown, ANC7C04Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic

    DevelopmentOversight HearingFebruary 24, 2011

    Mr. Chairman, my name is Sylvia Brown. I am Advisory Neighborhood

    Commissioner 7C-04. I am testifying today regarding the Office of the Deputy

    Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED). There is a lot about

    which to be excited in the ANC 7C neighborhood. The public investment from

    the District has been tremendous. From the Deanwood Community Center and

    Library to the Marvin Gaye Trail to the Nannie Helen Burroughs Great Streets tothe Watts Branch Restoration these investments are shoring up our civic

    infrastructure, which is an important part of community growth. Additionally,

    the investments demonstrate the promise and opportunity the city and Council

    see in the greater Deanwood neighborhood along with the commitment to

    working with residents and stakeholders.

    In the last week I have had the opportunity to hear from the Deputy Mayor-

    designate Victor Hoskins and I have been impressed with what I have seen and

    heard. I believe his interest in bringing business and a focus on is right where

    the developments in ANC7C need him and its agencies to be. As I mentioned in

    my Office of Planning testimony last week residents and neighbors in greater

    Deanwood completed the Deanwood Small Area Plan (DSAP) approximately two

    years ago. During the development of the DSAP, as with many plans for east of

    the river, a consistent message from community members was weve been

    studied enough; lets see some action and make sure these plans are not just put

    on a shelf. Mr. Hoskins interest in not just providing financial resources and

    using innovative financing tools but more importantly ensuring it is clear those

    dollars are yielding meaningful and clear outcomes and results is refreshing and

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    Sylvia C. Brown, ANC 7C-044651 N.H. Burroughs Avenue NE Suite 2 Washington, DC 20019

    P: 202-398-5100 E: [email protected]

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    ADVISORYNEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION 7C04 TOGETHERBETTER!

    welcome. The Lincoln Heights-Richardson Dwellings New Communities

    Initiative is the jump off, if you will, for the areas developmenthousing and

    commercial. New housing projects are well underway, a greater emphasis needs

    to be made on quality infill housing, but now the city and council must prioritize

    commercial development. I have been encouraged by Mayor Grays discussions

    with our neighbor Prince Georges County where there is an emphasis on shared

    opportunities. With recent reports on discussions regarding Walter Reed, I

    challenge the Mayor and DMPED to prioritize the regional economic approach to

    greater Deanwood and the cities of Seat Pleasant, Capitol Heights and Fairmount

    Heights in Maryland. Weve heard the phrase Theres gold in them hills! and I

    contend theres similar value in greater Deanwood when we get a holistic

    integration with the New Communities Initiative and clarity on the way forward

    to achieve the goals of the DSAP planning document. Consider this: when the

    developers of the various housing projects begin marketing the footprint of the

    Deanwood Small Area Plan how effective will the marketing plan be when they

    lead with Theres a proposed retail center for the East Capitol corridor and for

    the Burroughs and Division intersection but were not for certain when those

    plans will come online.

    Lastly, whenever I hear the arguments made for the Washington Redskins

    moving to the District this I cringe because FedEx Stadium is a direct shot

    through my neighborhood travelling Sheriff Road. The Washington Metropolitan

    Area Transit Authority is planning to develop New Carrolton Metro; DCs

    Deanwood Metro is the station before it. Consider Sheriff Road as our road to

    Damascus. Imagine the benefit the District would receive if we have a

    comprehensive community economic development vision to build up the

    residential and commercial around the Deanwood Metro, Sheriff Road and

    Addison Roads leading to FedEx Stadium. There is limited political gain with

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    Sylvia C. Brown, ANC 7C-044651 N.H. Burroughs Avenue NE Suite 2 Washington, DC 20019

    P: 202-398-5100 E: [email protected]

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    ADVISORYNEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION 7C04 TOGETHERBETTER!

    the Redskins relocation to RFK Stadium. However, there is residual political

    and capital gains with developing the District and Prince Georges County

    leading to FedEx.

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    Sylvia C. Brown, ANC 7C-044651 N.H. Burroughs Avenue NE Suite 2 Washington, DC 20019

    P: 202-398-5100 E: [email protected]