[Mintwood-place] New Archeological Evidence of the Playing Field Cover-Up at Kalorama Park!

Wed Mar 28 11:04:26 EDT 2012

Folks:

I am responding to this email in the context of Eddie Becker's email last week, which was never responded to by DPR, at least publicly, about the liabilities of the contractors for the failures of lawn establishment at Kalorama Park (the playing field) and the soccer field at Walter Pierce Park.

In reference to Kalorama Park, the liabilities of the most recent contractors are complicated by the facts that:

(1) DPR never really inspects any contract work adequately before invoices are submitted and paid, which means, amongst other matter,s that DPR has foregone most legal remedies because, if work was invoiced and paid, that means DPR "signed off" on it as adequate, so it's hard to claim later it wasn't.

(2) Further, the most recent contractors are not responsible for the substrate they attempted to grow a lawn on.  The original Kalorama Park playing field scandal was caused by the sleazy contractor (C & E Services of DC, Inc. although their name has probably changed by now to protect the guilty) bringing in illegal construction spoils to build up the playing field in the first place. These spoils actually included filled plastic garbage bags as well as bright orange-red construction spoils from Mitchell Park, which are quite visible in the attached photograph taken Sept. 27, 2009.  These same spoils re-emerged in the unwitting "archeological excavations" of the later contractors when they dug into the construction fill layers to make footings for the terrace walls on the lower end of the playing field right above the basketball court. The plastic bags are still clearly visible in my photo of May 31, 2011.  Requiring the present contractor to try to
 establish a lawn on this same substrate will be equally futile.  DPR might as well spray paint the dirt green-- that's as close as they will get to a lawn on this site in its present state.

This will not be the last I have to say on this matter but it's getting close.  Folks: the original photo with the plastic bags was taken in 2009!  It's now 2012, I did what I could on these issues, and I'm moving on. I'm too busy trying to make a living any more.  

If the constituency of Kalorama Park doesn't really make positive changes happen, then they deserve the park they get.  In all these years, the Kalorama Citizens Association has never once even put the park scandals on their meeting agenda.  The ANC-1C has been worthless, and in fact they helped bring on the scandal.  At a critical meeting on-site in early May, 2009 with then-Acting Director Dr. Ximena Hartsock, after it was clear the project was already going "off the rails" Dr. Hartsock offered to stop the project cold and repair the damage already done, if there was community support for it.  I supported her plan, but the following ANC-1C commissioners present at the meeting didn't support it: Bryan Weaver, Mindy Minetti, Wilson Reynolds, Chris Otten.  So the bulldozers rolled, and the park was damaged as it was, and remains. Since 2009, the ANC-1C has done little to solve the evolving scandal they contributed to.  The Friends of Kalorama Park
 originated the original crazy plan for the playing field in the first place, and as far as I can tell they are doing nothing to get the illegal construction debris removed.  Councilman Graham played very positive rolls early on in various aspects of the scandal (specifically, the shift from Geoblock2 (TM) parking lot surfacing to the geotextile fabric matrix plan-- although the latter was never actually done-- and getting the illegal contractor storage container removed from the park, thereby foiling the plans of the Rats of Kaloratma Park for their Xmas Nativity Tableau with the Three Wise Rats, etc. ) but recently, the Councilman has been otherwise occupied.

But as they say, that was then, and this is now.  If the Kalorama Park Kommunity is cool with going into a FOURTH summer with a bare dirt "playing field" after half a million dollars in public funds was spent on it, well then dirt is what you get, and maybe dirt is what you deserve.

________________________________
 From: "ahhjlh at verizon.net" <ahhjlh at verizon.net>
To: John Cloud <john.cloud666 at yahoo.com>; "maryjbelcher at comcast.net" <maryjbelcher at comcast.net> 
Cc: "Jim at grahamwone.com" <Jim at grahamwone.com>; "dcgreenstyler at gmail.com" <dcgreenstyler at gmail.com>; "sandrareischel at yahoo.com" <sandrareischel at yahoo.com>; Jesus (DPR)Aguirre <jesus.aguirre at dc.gov>; "mintwood-place at lists.mutualaid.org" <mintwood-place at lists.mutualaid.org>; "lloydmetroinc at aol.com" <lloydmetroinc at aol.com>; Ruth (OP)Trocolli <Ruth.Trocolli at dc.gov>; John P. (DDOT)Thomas <john.pthomas at dc.gov>; "bcr at archetypestudio.net" <bcr at archetypestudio.net>; Mark (MPD)Jackson <mark.jackson at dc.gov>; Robert (COUNCIL)Hawkins <RHawkins at DCCOUNCIL.US>; Bridget (DPR)Stesney <Bridget.Stesney at dc.gov>; Derek (DPR)Schultz <derek.schultz at dc.gov>; "intowner at intowner.com" <intowner at intowner.com>; Benjamin (COUNCIL)Young <BYoung at DCCOUNCIL.US>; "dcvirginia at hotmail.com" <dcvirginia at hotmail.com>; "tedguthrie3 at gmail.com" <tedguthrie3 at gmail.com> 
Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2012 9:32 AM
Subject: Re: [Mintwood-place] New Archeological Evidence of the Playing Field Cover-Up at Kalorama Park!

Mary and John--this is an important house site in terms of the development of the area as well as an underground railroad site, and its form should be protected with at least posted picture stands and boundary markers.  Ann

>________________________________
> From: John Cloud <john.cloud666 at yahoo.com>
>To: "maryjbelcher at comcast.net" <maryjbelcher at comcast.net> 
>Cc: "Jim at grahamwone.com" <Jim at grahamwone.com>; "dcgreenstyler at gmail.com" <dcgreenstyler at gmail.com>; "sandrareischel at yahoo.com" <sandrareischel at yahoo.com>; Jesus (DPR)Aguirre <jesus.aguirre at dc.gov>; "mintwood-place at lists.mutualaid.org" <mintwood-place at lists.mutualaid.org>; "lloydmetroinc at aol.com" <lloydmetroinc at aol.com>; Ruth (OP)Trocolli <Ruth.Trocolli at dc.gov>; John P. (DDOT)Thomas <john.pthomas at dc.gov>; "bcr at archetypestudio.net" <bcr at archetypestudio.net>; Mark (MPD)Jackson <mark.jackson at dc.gov>; Robert (COUNCIL)Hawkins <RHawkins at DCCOUNCIL.US>; Bridget (DPR)Stesney <Bridget.Stesney at dc.gov>; Derek (DPR)Schultz <derek.schultz at dc.gov>; "intowner at intowner.com" <intowner at intowner.com>; Benjamin (COUNCIL)Young <BYoung at DCCOUNCIL.US>; "dcvirginia at hotmail.com" <dcvirginia at hotmail.com>; "tedguthrie3 at gmail.com" <tedguthrie3 at gmail.com> 
>Sent: Wednesday, June 1, 2011 11:15 AM
>Subject: Re: [Mintwood-place] New Archeological Evidence of the Playing Field Cover-Up at Kalorama Park!
> 
>
>Mary:
>
>I had never seen any of the excavation photos before. The brick fragment I found and photographed in situ looks very similar in color to the vertical stack of bricks in your photos 2 and 4.  And there appears to be a part of an iron pipe protruding near them.  I would suggest you contact the appropriate historic preservation people about this matter ASAP--the tendency of DPR and the contractors is to throw a layer of brown dirt over everything and
 pretent nothing ever happened.  
>
>
>
>________________________________
>From: "maryjbelcher at comcast.net" <maryjbelcher at comcast.net>
>To: John Cloud <john.cloud666 at yahoo.com>
>Cc: Jim at grahamwone.com; Ruth (OP)Trocolli <Ruth.Trocolli at dc.gov>; bcr at archetypestudio.net; dcgreenstyler at gmail.com; intowner at intowner.com; sandrareischel at yahoo.com; John P. (DDOT)Thomas <john.pthomas at dc.gov>; mintwood-place at lists.mutualaid.org; lloydmetroinc at aol.com; Derek (DPR)Schultz <derek.schultz at dc.gov>; Robert (COUNCIL)Hawkins <RHawkins at DCCOUNCIL.US>; Benjamin (COUNCIL)Young <BYoung at DCCOUNCIL.US>; dcvirginia at hotmail.com; tedguthrie3 at gmail.com; Mark (MPD)Jackson <mark.jackson at dc.gov>; Bridget (DPR)Stesney <Bridget.Stesney at dc.gov>; Jesus (DPR)Aguirre <jesus.aguirre at dc.gov>; denisjames at verizon.net; Olivier Kamanda <kamanda at gmail.com>; wreynolds at dccouncil.us; Eddie Becker <eddie_becker at yahoo.com>; Cynthia Pols <polscm at aol.com>; Adam Eidinger <enrages at verizon.net>; Chris Version II.O <chrisotten2 at yahoo.com>
>Sent: Wednesday, June 1, 2011 10:49 AM
>Subject: Re: New Archeological Evidence of the Playing Field Cover-Up at Kalorama Park!
>
>
>Hi John and all:  
> 
>Yes.  When I looked last night (May 31, 2011) at the newly installed terracing, it appeared that the lumber has been inserted well into the archaeological area.  But without markers at the site, I have only my memory of the location to rely on.  Attached are my photos of the archaeological site uncovered from the summer of 2009.
> 
>(PS:  It was 150 years ago this spring that 20-year-old Hortense Prout tried to escape enslavement on John Little's farm at Kalorama Park.  Her escape attempt is honored by the designation of Kalorama Park as a National Underground Railroad site.  The brick walls uncovered by the earlier messed-up soil-erosion project might have been part of the house where she, her parents, sisters and brother lived.  Again, my two cents are that the walls should be carefully uncovered again and protected with a clear covering to make this important history tangible to the public.)
> 
>-- Mary Belcher
> 
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "John Cloud" <john.cloud666 at yahoo.com>
>To: maryjbelcher at comcast.net, "Chris Version II.O" <chrisotten2 at yahoo.com>
>Cc: Jim at grahamwone.com, "Ruth (OP)Trocolli" <Ruth.Trocolli at dc.gov>, bcr at archetypestudio.net, dcgreenstyler at gmail.com, intowner at intowner.com, sandrareischel at yahoo.com, "John P. (DDOT)Thomas" <john.pthomas at dc.gov>, mintwood-place at lists.mutualaid.org, lloydmetroinc at aol.com, "Derek (DPR)Schultz" <derek.schultz at dc.gov>, "Robert (COUNCIL)Hawkins" <RHawkins at DCCOUNCIL.US>, "Benjamin (COUNCIL)Young" <BYoung at DCCOUNCIL.US>, dcvirginia at hotmail.com, tedguthrie3 at gmail.com, "Mark (MPD)Jackson" <mark.jackson at dc.gov>, "Bridget (DPR)Stesney" <Bridget.Stesney at dc.gov>, "Jesus (DPR)Aguirre" <jesus.aguirre at dc.gov>, denisjames at verizon.net, "Olivier Kamanda" <kamanda at gmail.com>, wreynolds at dccouncil.us, "Eddie Becker" <eddie_becker at yahoo.com>,
 "Cynthia Pols" <polscm at aol.com>, "John cloud666" <John.cloud666 at yahoo.com>, "Adam Eidinger" <enrages at verizon.net>
>Sent: Wednesday, June 1, 2011 10:11:52 AM
>Subject: Re: New Archeological Evidence of the Playing Field Cover-Up at Kalorama Park!
>
>
>Mary, et al:
>
>
>      My investigations yesterday morning were limited to photographs at a distance through the chain fence.  Yesterday late afternoon, I returned to the Kalorama Park "playing field" terrace excavations and examined them closely.  I believe you are correct, Mary-- the excavations have revealed historic archeological artifacts dating back historically at the lower and northern end, and modern and disgusting at the upper and southern end.
>
>
>Lower levels, historic finds:
>
>
>
>Photograph A shows the general context of the terraces.  They run the entire length of the basketball court, have a vertical range of 6-8 feet, and run longitudinally from previously undisturbed subsoil adjacent to the basketball court knee wall, to areas well within the playing field work area, where the previous contractor deposited 4-5 feet of compacted construction debris as "soil".
>
>
>Photograph B shows a closeup of the the brick fragment photographed at a distance before.  I now believe it lies below the playing field area and is an archeological artifact.
>
>
>Photographs C, D, and E show an iron pipe in the soil matrix, a piece of it broken off in the excavation, and a closeup of the piece.
>
>
>Photographs F, G, and H show a piece of glazed clay, possibly from the lip of a drainage tile piece or a pot, as found in the excavation in situ, and in closeup after cleaning the piece.  I have retained this piece for appropriate authorities.
>
>
>Upper levels, disgusting finds:
>
>
>The highest terrace cuts on the southern end cut down into the supposedly "undisturbed soil" of all the DPR diagrams and specs, which is in fact the 4-5 feet of construction debris and compacted illegal spoils from Mitchell park, etc. deposited by the previous contractor.
>
>
>Photograph I shows a massive piece of sidewalk from Mitchell Park.
>
>
>Photographs J and K show closeups of what I had identified, at a distance, as asphalt fragments.  They are, instead, a layer of disgusting plastic bags and plastic erosion fencing material which were compacted into the playing field.  Note that they lie more than a foot below the level of the "playing field" surface as defined and planted in grass by the contractor last year.DPR calls all this "undisturbed soil" and proposes to put the geo-fabric matrix over these disgusting plastic bags and the rest of the construction debris!
>
>
>Councilman Graham, ANC-1C Commissioners, staff of the District Council Committee on Parks, Libraries and Recreation, Historic Preservation officers and Kalorama Citizens: please bring a halt to this illegal desecration of a historic archeological site which has been overlaid with an equally illegal mass of construction debris and illegal spoils including A COMPACTED LAYER OF DISGUSTING PLASTIC BAGS! This massive fraudulent contract has gone on far too long, wasted too much money, and done too much damage.  
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>________________________________
> From: "maryjbelcher at comcast.net" <maryjbelcher at comcast.net>
>To: Chris Version II.O <chrisotten2 at yahoo.com>
>Cc: Jim at grahamwone.com; Ruth (OP)Trocolli <Ruth.Trocolli at dc.gov>; bcr at archetypestudio.net; dcgreenstyler at gmail.com; intowner at intowner.com; sandrareischel at yahoo.com; John P. (DDOT)Thomas <john.pthomas at dc.gov>; mintwood-place at lists.mutualaid.org; lloydmetroinc at aol.com; Derek (DPR)Schultz <derek.schultz at dc.gov>; Robert (COUNCIL)Hawkins <RHawkins at DCCOUNCIL.US>; Benjamin (COUNCIL)Young <BYoung at DCCOUNCIL.US>; dcvirginia at hotmail.com; tedguthrie3 at gmail.com; Mark (MPD)Jackson <mark.jackson at dc.gov>; Bridget (DPR)Stesney <Bridget.Stesney at dc.gov>; John Cloud <john.cloud666 at yahoo.com>; Jesus (DPR)Aguirre <jesus.aguirre at dc.gov>
>Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2011 3:36 PM
>Subject: Re: [Mintwood-place] Dramatic New Evidence of the Playing Field Cover-Up at Kalorama Park!
>
>
> 
>Hi John, Chris & All:
> 
>Just a reminder:  I don't know where the brick fragments came from, but they resemble the brick wall that was determined to be an archaeological resource at the northern end of the basketball court.  I informed Jesus and Ruth last week that they were getting very close to it. -- Mary Belcher
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