In Shaw (an historically gentrified blog)

More Mondie

I got a couple of e-mail Wednesday regarding the ANC meeting and Mr. Wilbur Mondie. I was told the meeting was going long and Mondie and his lawyer were like #18 on the docket and there were "more professional" developers ahead of him who were getting grilled by the ANC. It is reported that at the ANC meeting Mondie withdrew his petition and will probably come back at it at some later date.
However, there is still the December 13th Mondie hearing on the DC Office of Zoning website and found this:

17404 - Application of Wilbur Mondie, pursuant to 11 DCMR § 3103.2, for a variance from the lot width and lot area requirements under section 401.3, to allow the construction of four flats (two-family dwellings) in the R-4 District at premises 410, 412, 414 and 416 Richardson Place, N.W. (Square 507, Lots 810, 812, 814 and 816).

Um, is this the same thing he presented to BACA? Don't think so. Anyway, we need to figure out how to get recognized at the BZA hearing if it is still on.
Mondie also seems to have problems with the DC Office of Planning. Apparently he lacks details and is non-conforming. So he's not going to get support from them.
I've got nothing against Mondie personally. I would like to see a building or a set of buildings set on that plot of land at the end of Richardson. However, I wish he did his homework and made a better effort respecting and establishing trust with the residents of Square 507 (NJ, RI, FL, Richardson & 4th). I don't care if he is or isn't going to live in the buildings he's planning on building. I just wish he didn't make such a statement that comes off as untrue. I wish he paid a little bit more attention to the architecture of the current area. Really, I think he needs to take a breather, go off and get a cuppa tea with his attorney and try over. Spend a few hours boning up on federalist type buildings, walk around the western end of Shaw and look at the new construction and what people have done with older housing stock that is small. Also he needs to figure out how a person with a large car/ minivan/ SUV is supposed to realistically park behind all of his proposed buildings.
I would like to thank Toby, John and Karl for keeping me in the loop, you guys are great.

posted by Mari @ 18.11.05