Posts by Veronica Davis — Contributor
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GGW discusses: Displacement versus gentrification
Yesterday, Erik Weber, David Garber, and Eric Fidler reacted to the NPR story about two people who chose not to live in Anacostia. In our discussion, other contributors had some broader thoughts about displacement, gentrification, and the difference between the two. Alex Baca writes: There is no stable definition of gentrification. Ask anyone—your neighbor,… Keep reading…
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Why is Capital Bikeshare usage low east of the river?
A map of Capital Bikeshare usage patterns makes it obvious that stations east of the Anacostia River get relatively little usage. However, the map does not tell us why ridership is low. The discussion here over the map triggered some knee-jerk reactions to abandon the program East of the River. Others argued that the stations are not used much, but they are being used. … Keep reading…
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Walmart shows conceptual renderings for Ward 7 store
Following Walmart’s announcement that they will build four stores in the District of Columbia, few details were available about the Capitol View location, until recently. Walmart’s Keith Morris presented at a forum held by Ward 7 Councilmember Yvette Alexander on December 18. While most of the community concerns centered on living wage jobs and contracting… Keep reading…
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East of the River won’t be changing so fast, so soon
Ward 7 and Ward 8 will not be the next U Street. But at the same time, East of the River will not stay “Mayberry,” as some residents have referred to it. I remember being told not to go past 14th Street NW when I was an intern working on U Street NW in 2001. Now less than a decade later, U Street is a bustling center that embodies the “live, work, play” motto. … Keep reading…
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Residents, DDOT work on livability, mobility east of the river
The District Department of Transportation’s plans for several major streets in Southeast could improve livability and mobility in several East of the River neighborhoods. As a part of the Far Southeast Livability Study, DDOT has identified 6 corridors for further study. They held the second of 3 public meetings on Monday. Keep reading…
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Proposed Circulator will connect Ward 7 to the rest of DC
Earlier this month the District Department of Transportation released its plan to expand the Circulator. A group of residents has proposed a similar but slightly different route. Two of the proposed routes would connect Wards 7 and 8 with Barracks Row. These routes could help solve the problem of poor connectivity east of the river. The proposed Eastern Market-Minnesota… Keep reading…
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Gentrification east of the river, pt. 3: Role of the community
In Part 2 of this series we discussed what happens to the people without boats when the rising tide of economic development comes. Some commenters offered education and job training as the only solution. If people are educated or have training in a skill then they will have access to living wage jobs that will allow them to benefit from the economic tide. My group at… Keep reading…
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Gentrification east of the river, pt. 2: Economic development
Yesterday’s post on gentrification stirred up some great conversations. Between that and other conversations I had yesterday, a few points have become clear. First, no one knows what the heck “gentrification” means. I had six different conversations yesterday, and each conversation led to a different conclusion. Second, historically in this country,… Keep reading…
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Gentrification east of the river, pt. 1: Organic and inorganic
At the East of the River Community Forum on Sustainability last week, old residents, new residents, black people, white people, middle class people, lower class people, students, professionals, retirees, childless, parents, grandparents, pastors, community leaders, and more discussed the theme, “Gentrification east of the river.” “Gentrification”… Keep reading…
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Ward 7 needs better bus service
To many living in DC, Ward 7 is that nebulous place somewhere East of the Anacostia River. What many people do not realize is that Ward 7 is a collection of distinct neighborhoods, commercial areas ripe for redevelopment, and large areas of open space. Despite all that Ward 7 has to offer, we only have three Metrorail stops, making the bus system our transportation lifeline. If you… Keep reading…