Neighborhood Notes - Foxhall: 21 March 2001
Eugene B. Casey Foundation is moving on two fronts that can
have positive impact on the Foxhall neighborhood. The most immediate is their
$50 million "DC Trees" initiative. This should really help restore our
public space trees to completeness, and encourage ongoing adoption of species
robust against disease and drought. Most people think of the obvious gaps in our
street tree system, but trees in D.C. Parks and D.C. Schools should not be
overlooked in the public planning. This initiative will involve the
National Park Service and should also challenge private institutions to be equal
partners, if the city will allow public access to the tree database and
standards.
Their other Casey Foundation initiative (a Mayoral mansion on Foxhall Rd) has
received much more publicity, unfortunately too much in a negative light. With
the workday operations of D.C. government moving to the Wilson
Building in the heart of downtown, access to the Mayor and his staff is at the
very cross-roads of our public transport system. Having a gracious place that
can accommodate receptions and galas will help cement our city
as host to the Nation's Capital.
Unfortunately, right now you cannot safely get the last few hundred yards to the
former Brady estate property on public transport. The east side of Foxhall Road
above Reservoir Road lacks a sidewalk, nor does it have any small Metro bus that
connects it to the nearest Metro station, which would be Tenleytown. Also, like
Field School, its current entrance is on a blind curve. This will be a good
opportunity to get public sidewalk all the way from Reservoir Road up to the
Field School. Mt Vernon Campus already committed to pay for the sidewalk portion
across from their campus during their Campus Plan renewal.
© Bob Andrew, Foxhall
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