DCEN LUNCHEON REPORT: Green Development

by Chris Weiss, Director, DC Environmental Network

On July 29th the DC Environmental Network held a brown-bag luncheon on “How Green is the District’s Development Future.”  Speakers made presentations on the state of development in the District and focused on specific proposals, past and present, that demonstrate potential problems for the health of our neighborhoods.

Our speakers included:

• Jim Dougherty, Conservation Chair, Sierra Club ( DC Chapter) – Jim spoke about 70 years of unjust land use along the Anacostia River.
• Dottie Yunger, Anacostia Riverkeeper – Dottie discussed plans to develop a shopping center in Ft. Lincoln that could destroy many acres of wetland and forest.
• Tony Norman, McMillan Park Committee – Tony discussed the latest efforts by the membership of the McMillan Park Committee to protect the historic McMillan Reservoir property from unsustainable development.

We had a good turnout of about 37 including 7 on the phone.  Organizations represented included the Environmental Health Group, Global Green USA, Defenders of Potomac River Parkland, Urban Solar Solutions, Surfrider Foundation, Anacostia Watershed Society, Just Economics LLC, DC Statehood Green Party, Friends of the Earth, University of Maryland, Casey Trees, Sierra Club, McMillan Park Committee, Anacostia Riverkeeper, League of Women Voters, Restore Mass Avenue and Ecolocity.

To learn more and watch the presentations CLICK HERE!