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.

Cleaning Up an Eyesore

This is the scene at the vacant lot at 14th and R streets next door to Miss Pixie's, otherwise known as the future home of a condo building being developed by Loford, LLC and Habte Sequar of Sequar Development. The space will eventually hold over 30,000 sf of residential and retail development.

While it is waiting to become home to yet another high-end condo building however, the lot is currently home to a disgustingly large amount of filth, garbage and rodents.

In case you're wondering, it is indeed Mr. Sequar's responsibility to keep the lot cleaned up, which--from the looks of the lot--is not a priority for him.

For those interested in dealing with such situations, your first step should be to do as I did, and submit a request through the Mayor's Call Center. Should the city receive enough complaints about the condition of the lot, DCRA and the Department of Health can send out a team to clean the lot and bill the owner. The Department of health also maintains a Rodent Control and Enforcement staff to deal with rodent problems throughout the city.

At any rate, it would be nice to be able to walk down 14th Street and not have to encounter scenes such as this: