The triangle park at 14th & Oak streets was renovated and reopened recently, with funding I allocated in the budget. There are new tables, chairs and benches, and landscaping, creating a much more welcoming space for everyone. Vendors were also involved in the planning with the Department of Parks and Recreation, resulting in a designated vending area. I am so thrilled to see this park!

Hello Neighbors:

The Council is on recess until September 15, but my team and I are not! Recess means I get to spend even more time in the ward. Please remember to invite me to your building or block meetings and events! Reach out if you need help with constituent services, have suggestions for legislation or want to comment on Council action. Find our contact information at the bottom of this newsletter or visit brianneknadeau.com. And in the meantime, we’re already working on a fall legislative agenda and continuing our oversight work.

Rezoning for 1617 U Street is (Mostly) Great News

Earlier this month, the Zoning Commission approved a proposal to change zoning and allow an increase in density on a major parcel of city-owned land at 1617 U St., NW – the site of a police and fire station. This property can be used for police and fire and a lot more.

This Zoning Commission decision creates the opportunity for hundreds of new units of housing and affordable housing in an area that desperately needs both, as well as new open space.

Unfortunately, the project will have about 175 fewer units overall and at least 52 fewer affordable units after the Office of Planning scaled back its zoning change request from its original proposal, which was aligned with the 2021 Comprehensive Plan. The change limits the District government’s own ability to implement the Comprehensive Plan.

Still, this presents a great opportunity to revitalize this end of the U St. Corridor and bring much needed housing and affordable housing. It is important to know that no project has been proposed yet. 

Read my full statement following the Zoning Commission’s decision.

Better Bus Network redesign

At the close of the public comment period on WMATA’s proposed Better Bus Network redesign, I wrote to WMATA to share feedback from Ward 1 constituents and feedback and resolutions from ANC commissioners. I echoed that feedback and encouraged WMATA to give those resolutions the appropriate great weight.

Among my comments, I:

• Expressed concern about plans to remove the 59 express route on 14th Street, noting that buses there are regularly crowded.
• Lent support to connecting more of the neighborhood west of Rock Creek to the Mount Pleasant busses and recommended extending them to Tenleytown to provide access to Jackson-Reed High School and Deal Middle School.
• Called for continuing the C53 service to the Adams Morgan-Woodley Park WMATA station, rather than ending at Ellington Bridge.
• Addressed the gap in access between LeDroit Park and Georgetown and encouraged enhancing service to connect Park View and Pleasant Plains with Adams Morgan, Dupont, and Foggy Bottom.

You can read the full letter on our website.

Mopeds Bill Moves Forward

I support the use of mopeds for food and other deliveries – they are smaller and lighter, better for the environment, and better for traffic safety and curbside management. But with the large increase over the past year, too many are operating that clearly should be registered and are not. It makes it difficult to hold drivers accountable and enforce the rules of the road.

In the final days before Council recess, the Council’s Committee on Transportation and the Environment held a hearing on my bill that would make companies that sell and rent mopeds responsible for registration requirements, like the experience of buying or renting a car. I look forward to my bill coming to the full Council for a vote after we return from recess in mid-September.

In addition to this bill, in my role as chair of the Public Works & Operations Committee, I’m working to expand oversight by the Department of For-Hire Vehicles over delivery services. I think that DFHV will be an essential piece of the oversight & enforcement puzzle.

Public safety takes many forms. One of them is traffic safety. This is a chance to better manage the operation of vehicles to help entrepreneurs earn a living & make our streets safer. I look forward to working with Councilmember Allen & my Council colleagues to advance these policies.

View a longer Twitter thread on this topic.

A Full Science Advisory Board

The Science Advisory Board, which reviews the science undertaken at D.C.’s Department of Forensic Sciences and the crime lab, is critically important to our work to improve public safety. The Council approved the nominations of five new members this month, making for a full board. For several years the lab had no accreditation, making it harder and more expensive to prosecute cases, as the U.S. Attorney’s Office had to job out evidence analysis to private labs. Late last year, the lab received accreditation for two of its five units – forensic biology, which handles serology and DNA testing, and forensic chemistry, which tests for controlled substances, including drugs. We need them to move swiftly to achieve accreditation for the remaining three units: fingerprinting, digital evidence, and ballistics.

Meet Brianne, on Your Block

On Tuesday, July 30, at 6-8 pm, Councilmember Nadeau will meet one-on-one with residents at Judy Restaurant: 2212 14th St NW. Request help with a specific issue or share your ideas. Registration is encouraged, but not required.

Take Advantage of the Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Hotline

Residents can use the Department of For-Hire Vehicles’ new Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) pilot program for better accessibility for passengers. Dial 202-977-4WAV, and you will be connected to DFHV’s automated system, which will use your location to provide you with information on the closest available WAV.

You will then have the option to connect directly with the taxi company to arrange for a pickup. These vehicles are equipped with the necessary features to ensure a comfortable and seamless journey.

Electronic Equipment Recycling Event in the Ward

On Saturday, August 10, 10 am – 2 pm, a collection vehicle will be stationed on Columbia Rd NW between Champlain St NW and Ontario Rd NW (near Unity Park) to collect computers, tablets, e-readers, VCR’s and a bunch of other electronic devices. Learn more about what will be accepted at the event.

Time for DPW Feedback

There’s still time to give feedback to the Department of Public Works ahead of their 3rd Quarterly Community Conversation online on Wednesday, Aug. 21 at 6:30 pm.

Submit your questions here by July 30.

Register for the meeting here.

Brianne on Your Block

Tuesday, July 30, 6-8 pm | Judy Restaurant, 2212 14th St NW
Meet one-on-one with Councilmember Nadeau

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1B meeting

Thursday, August 1, 6:30-9:30 pm | online

Note: ANC’s 1A, 1C, 1D, and 1E will not be holding general meetings in August.

Brianne K. Nadeau | Councilmember | [email protected]

Ariel Ardura | Committee Director | [email protected]

Abigail Boshart | Legislative Aide | [email protected]

Amanda Chulick | Legislative Analyst | [email protected]

Jerry Clark | Constituent Services Specialist | [email protected]

David Connerty-Marin | Communications Director | [email protected]

Kara Dunford | Communications Specialist | [email protected]

Estelle McKinney | Constituent Services Specialist | [email protected]

David Meni | Deputy Chief of Staff & Legislative Director | [email protected]

Maricela Nava | Deputy Chief of Staff & Scheduler | [email protected]

Sabrin Qadi | Legislative Assistant | [email protected]

Niccole Rivero | Chief of Staff | [email protected]