(photo behind the "EFN bar" stable in Naylor Court)
Isn't it sad that there is a persisting mentality in much of Washington D.C. that the sole purpose of alleys is for trash, vehicular access, drugs, robberies and prostitution.? Alley trash is just like graffiti. It sends a message about the neighborhood - not a good one. Some alleys in the city may be beyond salvage but the National Register Historic alleys of Blagden and Naylor Court are in their early days of restoration and desperately need protection. NPO, HPRB, DCRA, BZA, ANC's and the community - step up it up a notch! We're talk'n trash here. Community anger is rising about how badly these alleys are being treated. Don't you think that it is beyond time to leave the past of horse manure and corruption and move into a more civilized era of people and places? Let's stop trashing this place.
6 comments:
Maybe you should contact the own of the lounge directly. He is a great guy. I stopped by the alley today and it was very clean back there. Perhaps you should build a relationship with business owners rather than causing drama.
The alley trash occupies "public use space" and there are better ways to deal with trash like this today. The owners of the lounge have been aware of the problem for a long time. The editor is not "causing drama" but is reporting it. It's unclear how a relationship with the lounge owners will somehow magically improve the slum appearance of the alley garbage. The new residents of "the NINE" (condo/lofts) will be the ones who will be living with the garbage. They will need to work with the lounge owners next door to solve the problem.
Keeping the area "clean" is certainly appreciated. And, sure, the trash bags were certainly stacked nicely in the bin this morning, but that does not make the practice acceptable. What's more, is it legal? - 10th St/Naylor Ct. resident
The legal question hinges on the concept that the alley is considered to be "public space" - just like a road. There are legal limitations on how that space is used. Some of the community concern is based on not only appearance but safety. A prominent citizen was robbed at gunpoint in this alley last week, cars are being broken into and a burglary attempt was foiled beside this building last week.
Neither refuse or recyclables should be stored in a public space. One doesn't leave trash ion bins or not lingering out in the sidewalk until collection day/time. The alley is the public space and its cleanliness should be kept at all times. The club should have an interior space dedicated to the storage of refuse and recyclables, and it should be taken out by their thrash contractors. It's not drama, it's a health issue.
There also needs to be some education about what sustains a rat population. I think if people and restaurant owners fully understood how poor garbage practices contribute to rat populations, stuff like that dumpster wouldn't be such a problem.
It's a possibility that the garbage bags in the photo were from a neighbor as well. I live at 6th and T, just off of Florida and I've seen out of towners loop into our neighborhood just to dump trash and bulk items.
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