The latest edition of the Crestwood Newsletter, the Crest, is here! Please click here to download a copy or you may view it online here. This edition will not be delivered to homes unfortunately.

Inside read about: 

• Grace Lutheran Church Rain Garden, Trees, Games, Summer Camp, and More!
• Your Home For CASA Crestwood
• Calling Crestwood Gardeners!
• Crestwood Aging-In-Place Team
• Carter Barron Project & Party
• Crestwood Dog Stations
• Crime Statistics
• ANC 4A08 Update
• Crestwood and the 2020 Census

Thank you for making the 2018 Crestwood Turkey Trot the most successful yet! It was amazing to see so many of you begin Thanksgiving by exercising for a good cause! In all, we had 215 people register for the Trot.

Thanks to your efforts, we raised around $3,000 for our friends at Rock Creek Conservancy, a nonprofit that works to restore Rock Creek and its parklands, and is at the center of the effort to make sure Crestwood residents have a voice in the Carter Barron rehab project. 

Congratulations to Winston Bauer-Wolfe for running the fastest 1 mile recorded (6:51). And to Matt Hoelle for running the fastest 5K recorded (18:28). The finish times as self-recorded for the 1 mile and 5k can be found here (1 mile) and here (5k) - apologies for any misspellings.

The DC Council is currently considering the Clean Energy DC Omnibus Act of 2018 which, if enacted, would make substantial changes to energy policy in the District.  Over the past few months, some Crestwood residents have advocated for the CCA to pass a resolution in support of the bill. 

Before considering a resolution, we held a special meeting on November 13 to learn more about the proposed legislation and provide neighbors an opportunity to ask questions. Our guest was Barbara Briggs, a long time human rights and environmental campaign organizer.  

After the special meeting, the CCA voted to adopt a resolution in support of the bill. Because this issue is complex, I've written up some of the information we learned at the meeting and shared it on the CCA website.  You can find the information here.

I want to emphasize that I am not an energy expert and this is definitely not a comprehensive analysis of the bill.  If you spot any errors or omissions, feel free to let me know.

Currently, the bill has been separately and unanimously advanced out of both the Committee on Transportation and the Environment and the Committee on Business and Economic Development.   The next step is a vote before the full DC Council.

Until then, if you have strong views on the bill and want to take action, a few things to keep in mind:

- DC Council: Our councilmember Brandon Todd is supporting the bill, but I don't believe he has taken a position on the Pepco amendment which was recently discussed on the listserv (and reported by the Post here).  Share your thoughts with CM Todd at BTodd@dccouncil.us and let him know you're a Ward 4 constituent from Crestwood.

- ANC: Attend our next ANC meeting and share your views.  (I'm not sure if a date has been set for a December meeting but if you're interested in attending, please write me at issues@crestwooddc.org and I'll keep you in the loop.)

- PSC: There is a hearing on Mayor Bowser's appointments to the Public Service Commission (which regulates Pepco) this Monday, November 26th at 10am in the Wilson Building, Room 120.  E-mail cautrey@dccouncil.us if you'd like to testify.

Best regards,
Peter Richman
CCA Issues Team Lead

RiverSmart Program Comes to Grace Lutheran Church
By Danielle M. Reyes

Grace Lutheran Church, located at 16^th and Varnum Streets, has been selected as one of six houses of worship throughout the District to participate in DOEE’s RiverSmart Communities 2018 grant program. 

Launched in 2009, RiverSmart programs help to reduce stormwater runoff that harms the District’s waterways and the Chesapeake Bay. Many Crestwod residents have participated in RiverSmart programs, which provide financial incentives to help District property owners install green infrastructure best management practices (BMPs), such as rain barrels, green roofs, rain gardens, permeable pavement, shade trees, and more. These practices allow rainwater to stay on site and soak into the ground, where natural processes help remove pollutants. ​ BMPs play an essential role in protecting, preserving and restoring our watershed and provide tremendous benefits for our communities, neighborhoods and individual property owners. Every municipality in the watershed is encouraging BMPs.

While prior RiverSmart Communities grant programs focused primarily on effective stormwater treatment, this year’s program emphasizes community engagement and outreach activities that will accompany the installation of stormwater projects.

“We are grateful to be a recipient of the RiverSmart Project Grant which helps us to expand our efforts to restore the environment. The environment is a precious and fragile gift. We look forward to sharing more about the project with our Crestwood neighbors” says pastor Wendy Moen, who is also a participant on Crestwood’s Green Team.

To learn more about the RiverSmart program visit https://doee.dc.gov/riversmart or to learn about installing BMP’s on your property, contact the Anacostia Watershed Society at www.anacostia.org.

CCA Advocates for Redevelopment of the Peirce Mill Tennis Center

Peter Richman, Issues Team Lead (issues@crestwooddc.org)

As you head south on Beach Drive or east on Park Road, you may notice road signs pointing to a tennis facility.  But follow those directions and you won’t find a spot for your next match.  Instead, the signs lead to a set of neglected clay courts overgrown with weeds and strewn with debris.

The site, known as the Peirce Mill Tennis Center, is owned by Rock Creek Park and sits off of Park Road by the southwestern corner of Crestwood.  The National Park Service, which administers Rock Creek Park, previously maintained the courts through the same contractor who manages the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center at 16th and Kennedy Streets NW.  However, the service was discontinued several years ago and the courts have since fallen into a state of disrepair.

A number of Crestwood residents recently took an interest in the site due to its proximity to the neighborhood.  At the October meeting of the Crestwood Citizens Association (CCA), neighbors approved a general resolution to support redevelopment of the facility.  Julia Washburn, Superintendent of Rock Creek Park, also attended the meeting and shared her enthusiasm for the rehabilitation of the center.

The CCA is currently working to develop a more specific redevelopment proposal to present to Superintendent Washburn and the National Park Service.  At the October meeting, neighbors expressed support for a picnic grove with a pavilion, picnic benches, grills, outdoor fitness equipment, and a grassy field.  Another proposal under consideration is the rehabilitation of the tennis courts – either as clay courts or by conversion to hard courts.  The CCA proposal will also include suggestions for safe access to the facility, such as a pedestrian crosswalk over Park Road, better linkage to the Meadowlink Trail, improved lighting, and removal of the site’s parking lot.  Superintendent Washburn shared a number of parameters that must be considered in development of the site, such as budget, ongoing maintenance requirements, and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The CCA invites all neighbors to share their ideas for the Peirce Mill Tennis Center with Issues Team Lead Peter Richman by e-mail at issues@crestwooddc.org.

CCA Advocates for Redevelopment of the Peirce Mill Tennis Center, by Peter Richman, Issues Team Lead (issues@crestwooddc.org)

As you head south on Beach Drive or east on Park Road, you may notice road signs pointing to a tennis facility. But follow those directions and you won’t find a spot for your next match. Instead, the signs lead to a set of neglected clay courts overgrown with weeds and strewn with debris.

The site, known as the Peirce Mill Tennis Center, is owned by Rock Creek Park and sits off of Park Road by the southwestern corner of Crestwood. The National Park Service, which administers Rock Creek Park, previously maintained the courts through the same contractor who manages the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center at 16th and Kennedy Streets NW. However, the service was discontinued several years ago and the courts have since fallen into a state of disrepair.

A number of Crestwood residents recently took an interest in the site due to its proximity to the neighborhood. At the October meeting of the Crestwood Citizens Association (CCA), neighbors approved a general resolution to support redevelopment of the facility. Julia Washburn, Superintendent of Rock Creek Park, also attended the meeting and shared her enthusiasm for the rehabilitation of the center.

The CCA is currently working to develop a more specific redevelopment proposal to present to Superintendent Washburn and the National Park Service. At the October meeting, neighbors expressed support for a picnic grove with a pavilion, picnic benches, grills, outdoor fitness equipment, and a grassy field.

Another proposal under consideration is the rehabilitation of the tennis courts – either as clay courts or by conversion to hard courts. The CCA proposal will also include suggestions for safe access to the facility, such as a pedestrian crosswalk over Park Road, better linkage to the Meadowlink Trail, improved lighting, and removal of the site’s parking lot. Superintendent Washburn shared a number of parameters that must be considered in development of the site, such as budget, ongoing maintenance requirements, and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The CCA invites all neighbors to share their ideas for the Peirce Mill Tennis Center with Issues Team Lead Peter Richman by e-mail at issues@crestwooddc.org.

Kids came out in their scariest and funnest costumes for

Crestwood's Annual Halloween Party at The Point this past Sunday.

Check out the gallery here but don't be scared!

On Sunday, October 28, 2018, almost 200 neighbors and friends came out on a glorious afternoon and toured six Crestwood homes and an incredible Crestwood church, all to help combat homelessness. The event raised over $8500 for Thrive DC.
 
A special thank you to Denise Woods who orchestrated the event, as well as to the event's Neighborhood Sponsors, John Mahshie & Jay Fazio (TTR Sotheby's International Realty). 

Thank you also to Curb Appeal Sponsors Mark Meyerdick (Urban Brokers Real Estate), Equinox Restaurant, and Living Legacy, as well as Thrive DC, MGM volunteers, and  the homeowners: Christian Salinas and Brandon Green, Pastor Wendy Moen, Claude Burcky and David Summers, Rita Nobles and Vernon Kelley,  Adam Kushner and Maria Simon, Janice Sterling, and Mark O'Neill and Ian Herbert. 

Thanks also to the CASA Crestwood Planning Committee: Deb Saxon, John Favazzo, Kathleen Eder, Lauren Amos, Bernice Brunson, and Jude Landis.

Are you interested in doing your part to fight against homelessness by opening your home for next year's home tour? If so or if you just want to learn more about the process, please contact Denise Woods at woodsassoc@gmail.com.

Dear Neighbors, Thank you to everyone that came out this past Tuesday for the Joint ANC SMD 4A08/Crestwood Citizens Association Meeting! We talked about a wide range of issues, from clean air regulation to tennis courts, Rock Creek Park and Rock Creek Conservancy, and, of course, our furry friends.  A special thank you to Julia Washburn, Rock Creek Park Superintendent, who was our guest and spoke about a variety of issues relating to our neighbor Rock Creek Park. If you are interested in being on Rock Creek Park's email distribution list (which includes a schedule of events), click here.  Below is a summary of some of the topics we discussed.  Pavan Khoobchandani President, Crestwood Citizens Association   Dog Waste Stations Thanks to the generosity of a network of neighbors and sponsors, we now have eight neighborhood dog waste stations! Two of them dispense bags for neighbors and dog walkers to use in picking up dog waste, and six of them have both doggie bags and trash cans to dispense with used bags. Please use them! Please remember that cleaning up after your pet is the law. Pet waste contains harmful bacteria and parasites that make people and pets sick. When it is left outside, pet waste can be tracked into homes and cars or washed into our streams and rivers. Learn more here.  Below is a list of the stations and the generous people that have agreed to maintain them - meaning empty out the waste bin every week - a stinky job! A special thank you goes to Commissioner Gale Black for supporting funding for these stations and the bags to fill them from the ANC. Thanks also to Doug Barker for his Green Team leadership, George Chaconas for keeping the doggie bags filled for 10 YEARS and for monitoring all of the stations, and Carla Ferris from Waggamuffin Pet Care who purchased AND has agreed to maintain the new station at Blagden/Decatur/17th St.

Locations of Dog Stations - stations with doggie bags and trash cans are shown in blue and stations that only dispense bags are in green.

Carter Barron Reconstruction   Rock Creek Conservancy Board Member Ethan Landis and Rock Creek Park Superintendent Julia Washburn discussed the plans for a restoration of the Carter Barron Amphitheatre. Julia noted that the project is in the planning stages and that there are a lot of options that are being evaluated including Ethan's suggestion of a cover/roof over the seating area, the development of space below the stage, and other betterments to the venue. Current estimates put project completion in 2021. Learn more about the Carter Barron Project.

The Clean Energy DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2018 We discussed a proposed ANC Resolution In Support Of The Clean Energy DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2018, which calls for, among other things, a switch from an "opt-in" to purchasing electricity from renewable sources for Pepco customers to an "opt-out" model, as well as for 100% of DC's electricity to come from renewable sources by 2032.  There was general agreement that it was a very complex issue, perhaps deserving its own meeting with experts before we can take action as a neighborhood. One neighbor noted that there are people that can come and speak with us for more clarity, including what the financial implications of the proposal are. Please contact Issues Team Peter Richman at issues@crestwooddc.org if you have any comments or questions.

Peirce Mill Tennis Center Issue Team Lead Peter Richman proposed a resolution, which passed and has been issued, calling for Crestwood to support the redevelopment of the Peirce Mill Tennis Center site, which is currently closed.  Julia Washburn, Rock Creek Park Superintendent, discussed some of the parameters and issues surrounding any development of the site. Peter has been collecting ideas for potential uses for the site (such as keeping tennis courts, making it into a pavillion, etc.). We'll send a separate update with more details soon.  If you would like to have any input please contact Peter at issues@crestwooddc.org.

ANC SMD 4A08 Commissioner Black   Commissioner Black presented her October 2018 ANC SMD 4A08 report as well as discussed recent legislation including those relating to required homeowner replacement of lead water pipes coming into their homes, the proposal to close Providence Hospital, the "Airbnb Bill," and roll out of small cell technology in the District.   You can check to see whether you have lead pipes coming into your home here: https://www.dcwater.com/servicemap

Crestwood's Partnership with Rock Creek Conservancy Crestwood has long worked closely with Rock Creek Conservancy for the benefit of Rock Creek Park, and we continue that partnership with our encouragement to attend the annual Rock Creek Gala on December 8, 2018.  Also, the proceeds from this year's Crestwood Turkey Trot will go to benefit the Conservancy, and we're planning some really cool things for 2019. Stay tuned!

CASA Crestwood Is Just Over A Week Away! In just over a week, on Sunday, October 28 at 2pm, see inside six Crestwood homes and a church, all the while supporting Thrive DC.  Click here to see some sneak peeks at the homes being featured and click here to register today!

Upcoming Events Annual Halloween Party, Sun, October 28, 2018 11:30 AM    CASA Crestwood - Tour of Homes to End Homelessness, Sun, October 28, 2018 2:00 PM    Estate Planning Seminar, Sat, November 03, 2018 1:00 PM    2018 Crestwood Turkey Trot, Thu, November 22, 2018 9:00 AM    2018 Crestwood Holiday Party, Sat, December 15, 2018 4:00 PM

The Crest - Be On The Lookout!   The November edition of The Crest, Crestwood's quarterly newsletter, will be coming to your doorsteps in November. Thank you to Max Nacheman, George Chaconas, Patricia Vaughn-Cooke, Nicole Skinner, and Gale Harman who are serving as a network of block contacts to help hand-deliver the newsletter. We need more help! If you can spare some time each quarter to help deliver to your block or more please email newsletter@crestwooddc.org. It's a great way to get some exercise and meet neighbors!

This upcoming Tuesday, October 16 at 7pm we will be having a joint SMD 4A08/Crestwood Citizens Association Meeting. The location is TBD.

We will be discussing: 

• Whether we want to support a proposed ANC Resolution In Support Of The Clean Energy DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2018
   
• A proposal to issue a resolution calling for the redevelopment and re-opening of the Peirce Mill Tennis Center.
   
• The Carter Barron Reconstruction project 
   
• Upcoming CCA events including the CASA Crestwood Home Tour on October 28 and Annual Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning
   
• Any other issues that neighbors would like to discuss.

We hope you can make it to the meeting to learn and comment on these important issues!

If you can't make it but would like to voice your opinion in advance, please contact Issues Team Lead Peter Richman at issues@crestwooddc.org.