Concerning youth rehabilitation facility near Powell Elementary School

[Anonymous]

If all this ugly activity is going on next to a school, and presumably the school is a safe zone, it seems there might be safety in numbers--one more positive space to counteract the crime in the immediate area.

[Anonymous]

Unless you're actively engaged in welcoming centers for troubled youth and homeless shelters onto your own block or next to your own child's school, then you're really just talking out of your arse.

The sulfuric stench of your hypocrisy could choke a donkey.

[Anonymous]

I think people are just tired of the same things being dumped in the same neighborhoods over and over. Why isn't nuisance use being built in upper NW? Where are the low income properties in AU etc? And yes the city could build them. Most people don't realize that the Tenly library was designed and constructed that in the future 5 stories of could be added on top. Why isn't the city building a residential facility there? Oh wait, too many rich white voters. The Chevy Chase rec center is going to be reconstructed. Why not build 4 stories of super lo income housing on top? Oh wait, more super rich white voters. I think I see the pattern here. Ok, lets put another shitty facility in our neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear Neighbors:
I'm writing with concern that a residential youth drug rehabilitation facility is being placed at 1345 Taylor St, NW, on the same block as Powell Elementary School. We, as neighbors, were not notified in advance of the property owner's intent to transition his property into this type of facility, and we are working to block it from occurring through the change.org petition in addition to letters to DC officials.
Sincerely,
Elisa Waske

Elisa,
What you are proposing is known as "Not In My Backyard Syndrome". But you have chosen to live in a huge city, and huge cities are going to have drug rehab facilities and liquor stores along with organic groceries and museums.

If you want to live in a place that does not have drug rehabs nearby, then consider moving to a suburban bedroom community with strict zoning that separates residences from other uses. Lots of those communities exist.

But understand that most of us CHOOSE to live in the big city because we LIKE that there are lots of things going on, we enjoy not owning a car, and appreciate having a diverse mix of people in the neighborhood. No, we don't like petty crime. But we deal with the negative aspects of city life in ways other than trying to control what everyone does with every property on the block. You'd go crazy trying to control the neighbors like that. But of course people try.

And I'm curious -- where do you think the "right" neighborhood for a drug rehab would be? I suppose in any neighborhood except your own...

I think it is really cowardly and ungracious to attack someone by name on an anonymous forum. Really bad form. Try to be a civil person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unless you're actively engaged in welcoming centers for troubled youth and homeless shelters onto your own block or next to your own child's school, then you're really just talking out of your arse.

The sulfuric stench of your hypocrisy could choke a donkey.

My child goes to school next to a parole office, and only a block from where this rehabilitation center is proposed for. (And we live less than half a mile away, anyway.) Does that give me the right to say I don't think it's likely to pose a problem, in part because it's going to be watched extremely closely by Powell officials, parents of Powell kids, and neighbors nearby?