WAMU 88.5 Is Moving to Now-Vacant Building Opposite UDC, Across from Calvert Woodley

We are so used to thinking of WAMU 88.5, the DC home of NPR, as "coming to you from American University" that it's sometimes hard to remember that the station's offices are not actually on campus but are located about a mile away, at 4400 Brandywine Street NW, and have been since 1993.

Now American University has announced that the station, which it has operated since 1961, will move to 4401 Connecticut Avenue, across the street from the University of the District of Columbia. The building is largely vacant; after a redesign, occupancy is expected to take place in the first quarter of 2013, with WAMU taking up about half of the 96,102 square footage available . The station is currently using about 23,00 square feet in its Brandywine Street location.

Ward 3 Council Member Mary Cheh hailed the move, saying, "I'm delighted that WAMU is to fill that space and bring the station to Connecticut Avenue—a vibrant Ward 3 corridor. I trust the station will become even more involved with the community and provide opportunities to see and experience radio operations close up."

The new location allows WAMU to have a first-floor, street level visibility, as well as expand to meet its current and future needs.

DC Residents: Keep DDOT and DC Planning Heads in Gray Administration

Cleveland Park Metro photo by Bill Adler
This is the iconic photo of the Cleveland Park Listserv.

While the question, "Would Michelle Rhee stay on a DC School Chancellor in the new Vincent Gray administration?" loomed large, other key figures in DC have yet to have their futures determined. And what happens to these other Adrian Fenty administration employees, including Transportation chief Gabe Klein and Office of Planning Director Harriet Tregoning, may shape the District's future in significant ways. Gabe Klein has been the force behind many of DC's transportation innovations over the past four years, including streetcars, bike share and solar powered parking meters -- not mention keeping DC's aging transportation infrastructure humming. Harriet Tregoning has spent time and energy on revising DC's zoning codes to help preserve and greenify urban neighborhoods.

There's an effort to keep both Gabe Klein and Harriet Tregoning in their current positions in the new Gray administration. Here's a post that appeared on the Cleveland Park Listserv by Herb Caudill on that subject:

The "Committee of 100" has asked mayor-elect Gray to fire Harriet Tregoning and Gabe Klein, who have been at the forefront of DC's recent progress towards smarter growth and transportation policy. You can read their full letter here:

David Alpert of Greater Greater Washington argues that the Committee's leadership is:

"...nostalgic for the days when the Committee of 100, Federation of Citizens' Associations, ward Democratic committees, and other traditional groups had the only a real voice to 'speak for' the residents of DC, even if they never really asked those residents their opinions. Today, residents can speak for themselves, and they are speaking: in favor of OP's and DDOT's work, and in favor of Harriet Tregoning and Gabe Klein."

I hope Gray keeps Tregoning and Klein. They've both done so much to make this city more livable and to make DC government more transparent, responsive, and accountable. If you agree, please sign the petition here.