This message brings to your attention a safety concern in our neighborhood of Woodley Park.
The 2900 Connecticut Ave. apartment building is now undergoing a major renovation by the Snead Construction company. There is a driveway behind the construction site that ends at Cathedral Avenue. Renovation includes the erecting of a roughly nine foot high fence along this driveway. The fence ends when it reaches the sidewalk on Cathedral Ave. Unfortunately, the termination of the fence there, and not some 8-10 feet back from it, makes it impossible to see cars and pedestrians on Cathedral Ave. until the front of your car is on the sidewalk. In my view, this presents a significant safety hazard, and is an accident waiting to happen.
As you are probably aware, there are many cars parked on this street, considerable traffic during rush hour, and car and pedestrian zoo-centered traffic, especially on weekends. If the fence ended eight or ten feet back from the sidewalk, this would much improve the situation. The area gives the appearance of being quiet and residential. It has these qualities, but the presence of the National Zoo also makes it a major tourist destination. Given the limited parking at the Zoo many visitors with small children must park their cars on these unfamiliar streets some distance from the Zoo and walk several blocks to its entrance on Connecticut Avenue. They do not expect cars leaving the parking lot behind 2900 needing to pull onto the sidewalk on Cathedral Ave. before being able to view approaching pedestrians
Several weeks ago I spoke with Mr. Chris Heisey, the co-founder Snead Construction, about this. He suggested the placing of mirrors on each side at the end of the driveway. I’m not sure that mirrors would provide enough vision to eliminate the safety hazard. At any rate, nothing has happened, and I was sure to leave my contact info with him. I have also contacted Councilwoman Cheh and the Advisory Neighborhood Commission with the same result.
I wanted to let the Association know about this in hopes that you might be more effective in improving things than I was.
Tom Munzer
3100 Conncticut Ave.
