For Release: Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021
Contact: Nick DelleDonne,
703 929 6656
A Rationale for Greater Dupont Circle
Dupont Circle is known around the world and is sought after as a desirable place to live. There is an ever-growing demand here for housing because people want to live here. Every ten years following the census, the city realigns its Ward boundaries to accommodate shifts in population. This time the census shows that Ward 1 is way over its assigned number and Dupont Circle is short of its quota. Yet, inexplicably on Friday, November 5, at a hearing of the DC Council Subcommittee on Redistricting chaired by Elissa Silverman, the city proposed three alternative changes to the boundary between Wards 1 and 2, each of which would make Dupont Circle smaller. It makes no sense.
Rather than make the community smaller, ways should be found to increase Dupont Circle’s size geographically and numerically. And there seems to be a way to do that. At the hearing, there was some discussion of the natural boundary between the Wards as being U, S or T Streets. But they overlook the natural boundary defined by the L’Enfant’s Plan as defining the Old City limits, Boundary Road – the Wicomico-Sunderland Escarpment, the line marks the sudden rise in elevation between the swamp land below, and Adams Morgan and Columbia Heights above. The Wicomico-Sunderland Escarpment is part of the Atlantic Seaboard fall line. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FloridaAvenue. Today we call the line Florida Avenue, the northern boundary of Census Tract 43.
That would be a way to reunite the several historic districts like Strivers’ Section Historic District, provide their residents with better city services. and enhance civic cohesion around issues relating to the Circle neighborhoods. The three proposed divisions would fragment the neighborhood and impede community engagement and civic action, to our detriment.
While to our credit, a great many leaders in Dupont Circle spoke in unison for retaining the status quo, at least one from 15th Street north of U Street voiced the option we find most beneficial for the good of the city and promotion of civic life, and that is to expand the Circle limits to Florida Ave.
To our puzzlement, ANC 1C03 Commissioner Peter Wood, just north of the current U Street border line, alone spoke in favor of enlarging Ward 1 and balkanizing Dupont Circle. Yet, he never said why. Instead, he offered an odd compromise at T Street rather than S Street. We wonder what is behind this naked land grab, if it is not reason. Who has something to gain by the partition of the community of Dupont Circle?
When the city operates to confound our vested interests, it is time to take note and fight back. Written statements should be submitted by email to redistricting@dccouncil.us Additionally, the public may provide testimony by voice mail by calling (202) 350-1521, stating and spelling the witness’s name, stating any organizational affiliation, and speaking slowly to provide a statement to be transcribed and included in the record. The record will close at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, November 12, 2021.
- Mid-November 2021: Subcommittee mark-up of the ward redistricting bill
- December 7, 2021: First vote by the full Council on the ward redistricting bill
- December 21, 2021: Second vote on the ward redistricting bill
- December 2021: Ward Task Forces (which provide recommendations on ANC redistricting) start meeting
- February 2022: Ward Task Forces report out recommendations
- May 2022: Subcommittee mark-up of the ANC redistricting bill
- June 2022: Council votes on the ANC redistricting bill
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11/11/21, 07:16:04 AM |
