WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Construction cranes rise above the neighborhoods near the Washington Nationals’ new ballpark as the community continues it radical conversion from industrial to mixed-use.

The change is striking, at least on the southeast side of South Capitol Street, where commercial and residential high-rises are proliferating.

But with all the change has come some chaos. And, with all the change, some area problems persist.

Andre Tobe, a community liaison with the Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District, directs passengers from the Navy Yard Metro station to the stadium, or to a growing number of businesses along and off M Street. For the moment, those walks are an obstacle course of construction equipment and covered walkways (track them all at www.jdland.com).

“I don’t know about Opening Day, but when they’re finished, I’m sure they’ll clean it up,” Tobe said. “It’s going to take a while.”

And a chronic crime problem in the area is not expected to disappear overnight, especially in Southwest. The police department’s 1st District will shift 10 officers to crime and vending patrol during games, officials said.

There were 23 violent crimes reported through March 13 within 1,500 feet of M Street SW and Half Street SW, including one homicide, one armed robbery and 10 robberies without a gun. Another 28 property crimes were reported, among them 11 thefts, eight thefts from auto and seven stolen cars.

In Southeast, 1,500 feet from New Jersey Avenue and K Street, there were zero violent crimes and 12 property crimes reported through March 13, both down significantly from 2007, according to police statistics.

Mary Williams, a longtime Southwest activist who lives a half block from the ballpark, said the neighborhood has improved in recent years but most crimes still go unreported, especially those committed in and around the area’s three public housing projects. She points to the dark alleys where she fears stadium-goers will be easy prey for robberies, and to the crumbling warehouses that serve as hangouts for drug users — all a stone’s throw from the $611 million stadium.

“See how they did Southeast?” Williams said. “Why aren’t they doing that here?”

mneibauer@dcexaminer.com

Comments from Examiner Readers

2:18 AM MST on Tue., Mar. 18, 2008 re: "No easy access near ballpark for disabled"

Examiner Reader said:
Now how did "progressive, caring" DC happen to forget about the Americans with Disabilities Act which requires that public facility projects consider access for the disabled?

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11:32 AM MST on Sat., Mar. 15, 2008 re: "Shuttle service, beer sales among issues still to work out before Opening Day"

Examiner Reader said:
"The most extreme example might be June 29, when United faces off against David Beckham and the L.A. Galaxy as 12:30 p.m., and the Nationals play the Baltimore Orioles an hour later." well that was some brilliant scheduling there....lets stuff 100,000 people into the area over a two hour span

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11:34 AM MST on Mon., Mar. 10, 2008 re: "Police: Nearly $2M owed for security at Nats games"

Examiner Reader said:
Considering where the new stadium is, you can bet that the cost of security will skyrocket!!!

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8:58 AM MST on Mon., Mar. 10, 2008 re: "Police: Nearly $2M owed for security at Nats games"

Examiner Reader said:
If DC knew that they couldn't afford to pay the police department they shouldn't have never opened up the Stadium. You have so many poor people living in the DC area and all the taxes we citizens have to pay could have been going into better use. we have to pay all this money and we are not going to see where the money is going. Who cares, right.

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7:47 AM MST on Mon., Mar. 10, 2008 re: "Police: Nearly $2M owed for security at Nats games"

Mike Licht said:
Re:$2M owed for security at Nats games -- Since the "quasi-governmental" D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission won't pay the $2 million it owes the Metropolitan Police Department for security at Nats games, why not get those "quasi" Commission members and paid staff out directing traffic on game days? At $55 an hour, it should only take them 36,364 person-hours to work off their debt.

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7:06 AM MST on Mon., Mar. 10, 2008 re: "Police: Nearly $2M owed for security at Nats games"

Examiner Reader said:
"Whether the [commission] is paying it or MPD is paying it, it comes out of the same pot,� Mayor Adrian Fenty�s spokeswoman Carrie Brooks said in a statement. WHAT? Good grief, no wonder the city is in so much trouble. Everyone is aware the budget process means nothing in D.C., and that is why money is misspent and missing everywhere, but to come out an officially admit it, wow - good work Brooks.

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6:23 AM MST on Mon., Mar. 10, 2008 re: "Police: Nearly $2M owed for security at Nats games"

Examiner Reader said:
The city charges baseball $55.00 per hour, the officers are paid their regular hourly rate. For most officers that about $32.00 per hour. What is the city doing with the difference?

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9:01 PM MST on Mon., May. 28, 2007 re: "Nationals� stadium art project at a standstill"

Mike Licht said:
miqcie: Art is good. The DC government should make sure that it is part of the environment throughout our city, and encourage the community cultural groups and gifted DC artists who create it. The stadium is private property, owned by the Lerner family, who can well afford to buy their own art.

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4:10 PM MST on Mon., May. 28, 2007 re: "Nationals� stadium art project at a standstill"

miqcie said:
I'm hopeful that this funding will be restored and is appropriate use of financing for public art. As a denizen of this city, I'd don't mind a part of my tax dollars going to projects like this that are truly community goods.

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12:17 PM MST on Mon., May. 28, 2007 re: "Nationals� stadium art project at a standstill"

Mike Licht said:
The Commission claimed the site-specific art for the private baseball stadium was just being "loaned" to the stadium but still owned by the commission. That is like saying your dental work is on loan from someone else. Public art projects like this are normally paid for by the developer, and the public arts agency gives technical assistance in the project's execution. This poor judgment by the Commission has cost the DC arts community $850,000 in much-needed capital funds.

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5:46 AM MST on Tue., May. 22, 2007 re: "Deal should clear the way for stadium art"

Mike Licht said:
Update: The deal is now for a $206,000+ site-specific sculpture to be "loaned" to the stadium by the DC Arts Commission. That is like saying that you "borrow" your dental work, an obvious falsehood. Shame.

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