CRESTWOOD CITIZENS ASSOCIATION

Crestwood Citizens Association Shepherds (and Taylors, Upshurs, Varnums) the Environment 

    Green issues dominated the January Association meeting.
    Along with an update on the Crestwood Tree Project, we heard from the President of the Mt. Pleasant Solar Co-op and learned the facts about recycling.
    Our Precious Tree Canopy
    The Association is pushing forward in its ten-year project to inventory all of Crestwood's trees and plant new ones to restore and enhance the neighborhood's tree canopy. For those of you in the blocks already inventoried and planted, please remember to water the new trees--the first two years are critical for fresh plantings. Tree bags are available. For those of you who would like to get your blocks on the schedule, please talk to your neighbors and contact Project Coordinators Doug Barker and Frank Samuel. Many thanks to the neighborhood volunteers and our partners at Casey Trees.
    The Association's Green Team is already planning for our next park cleanup on April 9th--so mark your calendars.
    Recycling
    Russell Klein from the DC Department of Public Works addressed the meeting and cleared up some misconceptions about recycling. Mr. Klein, Community Environmental Education Specialist from the DPW Office of Recycling, assured us that recyclables are, indeed, picked up separately from the trash. The trash and recycling trucks may look the same in order to hold down costs, he explained. But the recyclables are taken for sorting either to Capitol Heights or Elkridge, MD.
    We learned that what is recyclable in one jurisdiction may not be recyclable in another. For example, DC homeowners cannot recycle those plastic containers used for blueberries, strawberries and take-out lunches. Other no-nos include Styrofoam meat trays and foam packaging (including packing peanuts).* Compact fluorescent bulbs need to be recycled with your hazardous waste. Although the schedule used to be more frequent, hazardous waste will be accepted only the first Saturday of each month at the Fort Totten Transfer Station from 8 am to 3 pm. Those days you can also bring documents for shredding and e-cycle computers and other electronics. Mr. Klein also recommended Earth911.org as a good program for the re-use of your unwanted shoes and other items.
    Solar Co-Ops
    Anya Schoolman, President of the Mt. Pleasant Solar Co-op, explained how DC now has a dozen solar co-ops--and they have been responsible for 70 solar installations. She had good news and bad news. On the one hand, the number of companies who can provide solar panels has increased to as many as 12 or 15. However, government rebates and grants have been eliminated or cut back--so we cannot take advantage of the significant financial assistance that has been available in the past.
    Because we are a tree-shaded community, Ms. Schoolman told us that solar hot water might be a better choice for many Crestwood homes. But she also encouraged us to support her push for what is called "virtual net metering." Under such a program, instead of installing solar panels on our individual homes, we would band together and install panels on a school, church or other building that receives ample sunlight. Then we would be able to get credits on our individual power bills from the electricity generated by the panels. Ms. Schoolman encouraged us to get behind the effort to legalize such arrangements by supporting a Community Solar Gardens Bill before the City Council.
    To get on her organizations email list, write to solarcoop@yahoo.com.

    Our Next Meeting
    Mark your calendars for our next Association meeting, April 19th at 1950 Upshur Street. The prospective topic is Aging-In-Place. We may also investigate a cooperative effort to collectively de-clutter our homes.
    The annual election meeting comes Tuesday, May 17th at Grace Lutheran Church. If you are interested in a leadership role in the community--or can recommend a neighbor--nominations will be taken in March for positions as officers and board members. We'll have more details on the agenda and our special guests.
    The Association hopes you have noticed some of the new amenities around the neighborhood. The doggie bag stations were funded by ANC 4A. The National Park Service delivered the picnic tables that are now available at the Point at 18th and Shepherd--and the Association purchased benches. As the warmer weather approaches, take advantage of them!
    Bird lovers are also noting the number of species spotted recently in Crestwood--and are asking you to make your yard a bird-friendly habitat. Among the birds noted by one careful observer: downy woodpecker, northern cardinal, red-bellied woodpecker, nuthatch, house sparrow, blue jay, northern mockingbird and mourning dove.

    *Here is a list of recyclable materials from the DPW reference guide: aluminum foil and aluminum pie pans, aluminum food and beverage containers, books, brown paper bags, cardboard and paperboard boxes (including cereal boxes without liners), computer printouts, corrugated cardboard boxes, ferrous and bimetal food and beverage containers, glass containers such as jars and bottles, junk mail, magazines and catalogs, milk and juice cartons, narrow-neck plastic containers (other than for motor oil) with ID codes 1 through 7, newspapers (including all inserts), non-metallic wrapping paper, officer paper and envelopes, plastic bags (including grocery bags, newspaper bags and shopping bags--please but plastic bags into one bag...or else recycle any of them in the receptacles at grocery stores), rigid plastics including milk crates, buckets (even with metal handles), laundry baskets, lawn furniture, totes, coolers, flower pots, drinking cups, water bottles, pallets, toys and empty garbage/recycling bins, telephone books, wide-mouth containers such as those for peanut butter, margarine, yogurt, cottage cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, whipped topping, over-the-counter and prescription medicine bottles (remove the ID labels from prescription bottles). More details are available at http://dpw.dc.gov/DC/DPW/Services+on+Your+Block/Recycling

ANC Takes Up Walmart, Klingle & Other Issues

Crestwood Crime Report

Here is the most recent information on crime in our neighborhood.

CRIMES REPORTED IN PATROL SERVICE AREA 404
From January 1 through January 31, 2011

* Data include 2 crimes in December (none were in Crestwood) that MPD had not previously reported. See also the Data Note below.

Crestwood Crimes By Block:

Thefts from Auto (3):

Stolen Autos (2):

Theft (1):

Data Note – MPD now reports only “index” (i.e., major) crimes for January and future months. Crimes previously reported as “Other” now include only Sex Abuse and Arson. For Crestwood, this means primarily that Property Destruction and Property Damage are not reported.

Crestwood & Area Trends:

New Rock Creek Paths & Leadership 

    Rock Creek Park is rehabilitating its major trails in our area--and residents are encouraged to participate in the process. The proposed project would include the main multi-use trail along Beach Drive from Broad Branch Road to P Street--as well as the trail along Piney Branch Parkway from Beach Drive to Arkansas Avenue.
    The project involves the National Park Service, the Federal Highway Administration and the DC Department of Transportation.
    While it's too late to be a part of the informational meeting February 23 at the National Zoo, you can provide your written comments through the end of February at http://parkplanning.nps.gov or by mail to Austina Casey, District Department of Transportation, Planning, Policy, and Sustainability Administration, 2000 14th Street NW, 7th Floor, Washington, DC 20009.

Census Bureau Takes a Snapshot of Crestwood

    What does the population of Crestwood look like? Here is a snapshot, released at the end of last year by the U.S. Census Bureau. These are not figures from the 2010 door-to-door head count, which will be more accurate. They are based on the Bureau's American Community Survey, which sampled neighborhoods across America from the beginning of 2005 through the end of 2009. Because they rely on sampling, they are subject to a margin of error and should be considered estimates.
    The figures below are for Census Tract 26, whose boundaries mirror those of greater Crestwood --including homes from 16th Street to the Park and from Colorado Avenue to the streets overlooking Piney Branch.
    In addition to the survey figures available at http://www.census.gov, you can access a searchable map of the entire country courtesy of the New York Times at http://projects.nytimes.com/census/2010/explorer?ref=us.

Crestwood Population
  Estimated Total: 2,348
  43% Black
  43% White
  6% Hispanic
  3% Asian
  5% Other
  Percentage foreign-born: 13% (no change since 2000)

Households
  Estimated number: 971 (making for an average household size of 2.4 people)
  Income distribution:
  under $30,000   13%
  $30,000-$49,999   6%
  $50,000-$74,999   8%
  $75,000-$99,999   11%
  $100,000-$149,999   20%
  $150,000-$199,999   10%
  $200,000 and above   32%
  Median household income: $140,938 (up 28% since 2000)
  Percentage of households that include same-sex couples: 4%

Housing
  Median home value: $842,200 (up 76% since 2000)
  Median monthly rent: $1,026 (up 10% since 2000)
  Percentage of households in which mortgages consume at least 30% of income:
  27% (up 3 percentage points since 2000)

Education
  Estimated population at least 25 years old: 1,783. Of these:
  High school graduates  98%
  Bachelors degree or higher  68%
  Masters degree or higher  38%
  Estimated population of elementary school students: 232. Of these:
  Percentage in private schools: 53%