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D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty, Ward 1 Council member Jim Graham (right), and DDOT Director Gabe Klein (left) were among those on hand to dedicate the new Columbia Heights Plaza on Monday morning.
The plaza's artistic touches, including the "Resonance" fountain in the center of the public square, were designed by artist Jann Rosen-Queralt, incorporating the theme of textile designs from cultures that are heavily represented in the Columbia Heights neighborhood.
"This was just a mess of rock and dirt, but now it's one of the best plazas anywhere," D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty told the crowd.
The completion of the plaza is a welcome respite for Columbia Heights residents, who have seemingly dealt with construction along this corridor for the better part of a decade. Fenty, Ward 1 Council member Jim Graham and DDOT director Gabe Klein all commented on how dramatically this part of Columbia Heights has changed over the last several years, with massive retail and luxury condo developments going in where dark, forbidding empty lots used to be.
Apart from the plaza, the first phase of the Columbia Heights Public Realm Project has also included sidewalk and road work on Park Road between 14th and 16th Streets NW. The second phase of the project, which has already begun and is expected to be completed in spring of 2010, includes sidewalk work along 14th Street south of Kenyon, more road work on 14th between Columbia Road and Newton Street, and the reconstruction of Irving Street between 14th and 16th Streets NW.
The elephant in the plaza this morning was the ongoing FBI investigation of Ted Loza, the chief of staff to Graham. Loza was arrested last week on bribery charges, and this morning WUSA9 reported that Graham was also a target of the investigation. When asked about the allegations, Graham said he still needed to read the WUSA9 story before he could comment.
Video of the "Resonance" fountain in action is below -- it's low quality, but you can at least get an idea of how it runs when it's turned on.
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Fenty is awesome. Installing public showers for the homeless like that.
Just kidding. I think it is kind of neat.
WHAT?! The artist who designed the mosaic in the middle isn't a D.C. artist?! Born in Detroit and now lives in Baltimore?! Oh the HORROR!!! THE HORROR!!!!! (pointedly directed at all the folks who were horrified that a non-D.C. artist was chosen for the NOW DEFUNCT project in Adams Morgan).
...and Jim Graham made the international sign of "not it" after smelling a fart.
WHERE ARE THE BIKE RACKS?!?!?!
across 14th street...
You mean I have to cross 14th Street to use the goddamned bike rack!?! That $h!t's dangerous!
Finally a place to wash my kids off before the walk home from Ritas.
That's what passes for a fountain these days? Dare I say it but it reminds me of those fountains in Landover Mall which, until now, I thought were unassailable in terms of their hideous 70's kitchy glory. What next? Avocado and Burnt Orange will once again become the appliance color of choice?
Y'know, I was just thinking the one thing that space really needs is an Orange Julius, a Hickory Farms, and a tobbaconist. Actually, that's three things, but a rich layer of suburban kitsch is definitely needed here to distract from the hideous "art," the homeless using the "fountain" to wash their diseased feet, and Jim Graham "picking a winner."
it's not bad and all, and better than a gravel pit, but it sure would have been nice to let all the trees that were there actually grow up, you know, and shade the area.
because it's going to be hellishly hot there next summer, with it being nothing but acres of paved surfaces in every direction...
I agree. If anything, the ruffians will have to find another cache of ammunition.
Dedicating a public work in Columbia Heights without throwing a rock is like a baseball game without a ceremonial first pitch. C'mon Fenty, show us that arm!
The most awkward moment was the part where Jim Graham had Ted Loza jumping around in the fountain, demonstrating how the interactive water features work.
Was this before or after the refugees from Bumfest up the street at used the fountain as an al fresco urinal?
The most awkward moment was the part where Jim Graham had Ted Loza jumping around in the fountain, demonstrating how the interactive water features work.
The most awkward moment was the part where Jim Graham had Ted Loza jumping around in the fountain, demonstrating how the interactive water features work.
It's the Belagio--Columbia Heights style!!!
As of 8:00 last night, this thing was already partially clogged up with discarded chicken bones and . 44 Magnum cartridges.
good thing the marginally-racially-tinged speech isn't limited to barack obama these days!
ugh. these fountains are gross and germy. and honestly a terrible idea for columbia heights. as if it wasn't loud enough out those windows for people at the park plaza.