Residents of the Ivy City neighborhood who fought to prevent the District from building a tour bus parking lot on the former grounds of the Crummell School, have gained favor a judge who recently issued a preliminary injunction barring the lot until violations of District laws, surrounding involvement of the 5B Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner and assurance of an environmental assessment, are brought into compliance. D.C. Mayor Vincent and Union Station Redevelopment Corporation are named as defendants in the matter.
"Consideration of the record and the factors determining issuance of a preliminary injunction weigh in favor of Plaintiffs," Judge Judith Macaluso wrote in her Dec. 10 ruling. "The court will enjoin use of the Crummell School grounds as a bus parking lot pending completion of the statutory requirements discussed above. The injunction will not forbid construction activities (which are virtually complete) or maintenance. The prejudice Plaintiffs assert does not flow from improvement of the lot, which was formerly in disrepair, but from use of the grounds for diesel bus parking."
Crummel is located at Kendall and Gallaudet streets in Northeast. While the District can forge ahead with completion of the lot, it can't put it to use until it meets approval of the ANC and passes the environmental screening.
While the city plans to examine reasons for an appeal, Johnny Barnes, the attorney who represented the residents, said in an interview that judge's decision represents "a resounding victory, not just for Ivy City but the entire city."
