It has been well over a month since the above photo was taken of the dog park at 17th & S. Since then, a small tractor was moved inside the fence giving people hope that construction would finally begin, but was then removed about a week ago. Dog park patrons have still been utilizing a small opening in the fence to let their dogs run around, but yesterday a lock was installed to keep people out. If they’re not going to do any construction, why keep people out?
Mayor Fenty said that the park would be completed by Memorial Day. I’m hoping he meant 2009.
Welcome to construction in DC!
First you have to apply for permit to drive over the sidewalk to do the work, and then you have an assortment of Dept of Environment officials to study the dangers of dog poop and approve the grass seed. Then you have to pay to close the streets and meters, but you can only work certain hours. Then you have an assortment of DC inspectors from different agencies coming by and stopping work because they didn’t get the memo. Usually there are about 3 – 6 different permits that you have to apply for; the app process can last two months. Finally the construction company pays for all these fee’s, studies, and permits, for DC using DC money with a 20% mark-up, making construction start late and end late causing DC to spend more money.
It sounds completely screwed up, but its true.
Geb, but why have a ground breaking ceremony if none of the wheels are even in motion yet? Why keep people out of the park if there’s no work being done?
I hear ya though. Nothing in DC is easy.
Max, I’ve had ground breaking ceremonies after a foundation was put in. Who knows what cluster**ck lies in the way. Once it is a construction site it has to be off-limits to the public regardless if nothing is being done. Even the construction fence has to be inspected….
You mean the construction fence that was blown down by the wind and crashed into some parked cars?
Thanks for the interesting insight, Geb.
hahaha…. exactly.
that made my day.