Tuesday, April 27, 2010

How to Clean a Lot

A couple of weeks ago, I put up a post about the decrepit state of a vacant lot at 14th and R streets, noting the tremendous amount of trash, debris and rats that had been allowed to accumulate there.

I was contacted by Christine Noel Kidwell, the Ward 2 Outreach & Service Specialist from the Office of the Mayor, who indicated that she would make arrangements to have the lot cleaned "soon". Lo and behold, as I am walking by the vacant lot yesterday evening, I spot this:



Those that subscribe to the "broken windows" theory of crime reduction should be pleased by this; as for me, I'm simply happy that such a neighborhood eyesore has been cleaned up. Now, how long it will stay that way is another matter, but many thanks to Ms. Kidwell and her team for being so responsive.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm not sure why you think it's a vacant lot. That parking lot I believe is used by AYT auto to store cars they're working on, but also share the lot with the Verizon building across the street :)

Anonymous said...

That's nice responsiveness. I noticed recently that across the street there is a police surveillance camera... I believe there are interests to build condo units on that corner, which probably explains the attention.

Anonymous said...

That's great! Now, if only she would pay attention to what's going on along 14th just south of Florida. It's the only stretch on my regular walk that makes me feel less than safe sometimes... no doubt because of all the vacancy on that block. Another empty lot, alas...

Anonymous said...

And then they can turn to the garbage on the 13th block of S, which seems to endlessly accumulate.

Unknown said...

You can post these on www.seeclickfix.com, too. I know the DC local government tracks issues on the site pretty closely.

Anonymous said...

I lived on that block for 10 years. It will be strewn with trash again soon enough.