[from Joe Martin]
The Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH) development team will be holding the third in a series of neighborhood meetings concerning plans to develop their property.
Tonight's meeting is scheduled for 7 pm at Sweet Mango Cafe, 3701 New Hampshire Avenue NW at Rock Creek Church Road, across the street from the Georgia Avenue/Petworth Metro stop.
The AFRH development people has no serious interest in neighborhood input. The Planning Committee provided a position for only one person from all of Petworth, consulted in a rather stealth way. Joe Ruffin of AFRH ignored ANC 4C Commissioner Joey Henson, whose Single Member District comprises the bulk of the AFRH's western, Ward 4 border, and ignored ANC 4C (recently retired) chair Karen Archer and well-known community members from a number of Petworth civic and religious organizations. Ruffin made sure his former boss, former Councilmember Frank Smith, got on the planning committee. Smith works at the African-American Civil War Memorial, three miles away on U Street.
The ARFH people announced at their first community meeting less than two weeks ago that the development phase is 50% over.
The AFRH has made it clear they have no intentions of adding a seat or two more on the Planning Committee. So much for serious, community input on the Planning Committee.
Joseph Martin
ANC 4C Acting Chair / 4C09 Commissioner
The big revelation at last nights meeting was that the lady they have been calling thier "community outreach person" actually owns Gotham Development!!!! Desa Ruffin is her name. This thing is FISHY
Posted by: Joe | November 04, 2005 at 01:53 PM