Residents of the Wesley Heights neighborhood say that, beginning in February 2024, there has been a persistent water leak just outside the entrance to Sutton Towers, a condominium complex not far from the American University campus.

According to building managers at Sutton Towers, located at 3101 New Mexico Ave NW, residents reported the issue to DC Water and DC Water confirmed that the leak was within their jurisdiction. Even with the confirmation, DC Water has not fixed the leak, the managers said.

The water leak is along the sidewalk on New Mexico Ave, part of a large mud pile with water then pouring onto the street. The leak is located between two crosswalks across the avenue.

With colder months approaching, residents voiced their concerns at a September Advisory Neighborhood Committee 3B meeting. The meeting minutes said that Commissioner Rob Rodriguez has reached out to a project manager and tried to get timeline on fixing the leak, but that has not been resolved.

Sutton Towers Building Manager Angela Apel said the leak is dangerous and causes many issues during the cold months. The water freezes and causes trucks to drive on the sidewalk to avoid the ice, which not only is dangerous for drivers but also pedestrians walking on the sidewalk, Apel said.

Apel said that the trucks have destroyed the sidewalk, but that damage was repaired, unlike the water leak.

Jeanette Stavely, Sutton Towers assistant building manager, said that many families and people walk on this sidewalk, including children walking to school. The leak causes icy and muddy conditions that are dangerous to those who are walking on the sidewalk, Stavely said.

“The Sutton Towers management would love to see this leak investigated and repaired by DC Water to ensure the safety of our residents and those in the neighborhood,” Stavely said.

Stavely said residents have reached out to both DC Water and the District government to report the water leak in hopes of it being resolved.

Matthew Frumin, the councilmember for Ward 3 which includes Wesley Heights, did not respond to a request for comment.

Apel said on several occasions DC Water has alerted the complex that the water would be shut off. Apel said they would ask if DC Water would fix the leak, but  were told it was unrelated. DC Water then said they would return but would not follow through, according to Apel.

DC Water did not return requests for comment.

Julia Khoury, who frequently walks her dog Lucy on this sidewalk, said the leak is unpleasant. Khoury said the leak is worrisome as the colder months approach due to ice possibly forming.

Khoury said the ice will cause problems for the people who walk to school.

“I feel like a lot of D.C.’s infrastructure is lacking these days,” she said.

Khoury said that she hopes for the issue to be resolved but does not have high hopes.

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As tariffs threaten to drive up prices on everything from bananas to backpacks, and fears of a recession loom, many Americans wonder how they’ll continue to afford necessities.

ajor retailers are already warning that shoppers will see emptier shelves and higher prices, especially for essentials like clothing and school supplies.  that items such as laptops, toys and coffee could see price hikes.

But amid this economic uncertainty, a different system is quietly taking root—one built not on profit but on cooperation.

Since the start of the pandemic, many communities in Washington, D.C. have embraced what’s known as the solidarity economy: a network of grassroots efforts centered on meeting people’s needs.

“The solidarity economy is a name for economic practices that prioritize people and planet over profit,” said Dr. Stephen Healy, a professor at Western Sydney University and co-author of Solidarity Cities: Confronting Racial Capitalism, Mapping Transformation. “Democratic inclusion, cooperation, and sustainability are kind of the guiding commitments.”

This growing movement can be seen across Washington, from community gardens donating fresh produce to mutual aid hubs like Remora House DC, where volunteers provide cash, supplies and emotional support to those most in need.

“It’s a very simple gesture but incredibly powerful,” said Healy.

“And it’s kind of insisting that actually we can arrange to take care of one another and meet one another’s needs on a basis of voluntary cooperation.”

As the cost of living climbs and economic support systems falter, organizers say this way of living—rooted in mutual aid and connection—matters now more than ever.

“We’re going to need to figure out how to show up for one another and be sure people are fed and getting access to the medical care they need,” said Shannon Clark, co-founder of Remora House DC.

A Garden That Gives Back

At Newark Street Community Garden, nestled in Northwest D.C., more than 200 garden plots sit side-by-side, each tended by community members. While the garden offers people a chance to try their hand at growing vegetables, it’s also a hub of giving and connection.

Ryan Fitzgerald, president of the garden, said hundreds are on the waitlist for a plot. “We want a lot of people in the city to have the opportunity to try gardening,” he said.

But the garden is about more than just trying a new hobby. Members volunteer their time and donate their harvests to So Others Might Eat (SOME), a nonprofit that provides food and services for people experiencing poverty. The garden even has a dedicated donation plot, but many gardeners give away their best produce from their beds.

“People are pretty good about it, they know where it’s going,” said Fitzgerald. “They’re not digging up a bunch of random junk and giving it. I have noticed people will have nice lettuce, salad things, things that can be cooked.”

The connection with SOME helps gardeners be more intentional about what they grow and give, ensuring their donations become nutritious meals.

And beyond food, the garden itself is a space for building community. Interest in community gardens grew during and after the pandemic, in Urban Forest & Greenery.

“I think people were a little more focused on their home neighborhoods, their communities, being closer to home and being outdoors,” said Fitzgerald.

       Applications reported by 28 garden coordinators, by year. Source: ScienceDirect

Even those without plots stop by to walk through, admire the plants, or chat with gardeners.

“It’s interesting, you can walk through the garden and see hundreds of different plants,” said Fitzgerald. “There’s tons of birds, birds love this place.”

And for those who do have plots, the space has become a social hub.

“It’s a great place to just hang out,” Fitzgerald added. “I spend way less time on my plot than I do just walking around, helping people out or just seeing what people are up to.”

Mutual Aid, Built on Trust

Remora House DC began with just a sewing machine and a few packs of sanitizing wipes during the early months of the pandemic. Clark, a grad student at American University, co-founded the mutual aid group to help unhoused neighbors survive the crisis.

“Starting from sewing masks and handing out sanitizing wipes, it’s really, really grown over the years,” Clark said. “We’ve just kind of responded to the needs as they’ve been brought up to us.”

Today, the group provides everything from moving help during encampment sweeps to emergency rent support. At the start of each month, they distribute $150 to 15 people—no strings attached.

“Whereas a lot of people doing that direct cash aid would be like, ‘well it has to go to food’ or ‘it has to go to medication,’ we don’t set those parameters around it,” Clark said. “That’s just our way of giving people that autonomy over determining their own needs.”

What sets Remora House apart is its long-term commitment. The organizers work to build genuine, lasting relationships with the people they support.

“We see at the core of what we’re doing is the relationships,” Clark said. “We prioritize continuing on that kind of support even when folks do get moved into housing.”

Clark sees mutual aid as more than charity or a response to immediate needs. It’s a push against the isolation and inequality embedded in capitalist systems.

“It’s not just making sure people have hand warmers when it’s cold out,” Clark said. “To us, it’s a revolutionary act to build that kind of community and connection with people in a world that’s intentionally built to break down those kinds of connections.”

She believes that collective care isn’t just helpful—it’s necessary.

“Because you’re going to need that help one day,” she said. “Mutual aid is all about how we all need each other. We’re paying into building a community that can be there for us when we need it.”

A Growing Movement

The solidarity economy continues to grow in large and small ways — from food co-ops to tenant unions to neighborhood gardens. In Solidarity Cities, Healy and his co-authors explore examples of these networks in New York City, Philadelphia and Worcester.

     Source: Solidarity Cities: Confronting Racial Capitalism, Mapping Transformation

While his research documented more formal mutual aid networks and cooperatives, Healy said many acts of solidarity happen informally every day, often in ways that can’t be tracked.

“How would you put them on the map? They’re everywhere,” he said. “They are coextensive with the space in every human community. The metaphor we’ve used is that these are the fruiting bodies and that the mycelial network of solidarity is everywhere and beneath the soil.”

To Healy, these everyday gestures and relationships point toward a future not built on the collapse of capitalism but on intentional transformation.

“And so rather than imagining that we need to wait for capitalism to implode under the weight of its own contradictions,” Healy said, “we can bring to practice a post-capitalist politics now.”

Healy believes this shift will only become more necessary and visible in the years ahead.

“As things become more socially and ecologically precarious, my suspicion is that practices of cooperation and mutuality will become more significant,” he said. “And every time that happens, it’s a space for people to learn that it is actually possible.”

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Samantha Decenord, an Adams Morgan resident, stood at the Wisconsin Ave. and Woodley Road bus stop waiting for bus 33. She said the bus times online rarely coincide with the actual pick-up time.

“The buses have been kind of running weird lately,” Decenord said. “Google Maps will say a certain time, then it’ll come early or really late. I have trouble figuring out the times, so I just go and wait at the stop.”

She said she noticed the road paving on Wisconsin Avenue but did not know it could cause significant delays. She said the 96 line from East to Capitol Heights Station is the most delayed bus she takes.

91����ington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority issued an alert around 10 a.m. Tuesday for the 96 line.

Jordan Pascale, a media relations manager for WMATA, said traffic along the route is causing significant delays.

The 96 line moves from Tenleytown along Wisconsin Avenue NW to the Capitol Heights Station along E Capitol Street SE.

“Anything that’s going through a high congestion area, usually there’s going to be some traffic along there,” Pascale said. “They usually clear up pretty fast.” 

96 Alert: Traffic delays Route 96 in both directions. Check where your bus is at

— Metrobus Info (@Metrobusinfo)

Decenord said she understands traffic and construction can delay the buses, but she wants more accurate timing online.

Parts of Wisconsin Avenue NW near Cathedral Heights seem easier to pass through for motorists, but strips of the road near Tenleytown are down to one lane on each side. Traffic near the road work on Tuesday morning caused some bus delays. 

Fiona Goe, a student at American University, said she’s seen a lot of bus delays and buses not in service. 

Goe said she waited “for a while” for her bus to campus Tuesday morning. 

“I feel like it’s been 30 minutes,” Goe said. “It’s horrible; it makes me late to school all the time.”

The District Department of Transportation announced in November “ on Wisconsin Avenue NW from Upton Street NW to Warren Street NW, from Monday, November 27, 2023, to Friday, January 5, 2024.”

The paved Wisconsin Avenue NW in parts, with some working on roads near Newark Street NW and others on the ground near Van Ness Street NW.

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The Advisory Neighborhood Commissions 3A and 3E co-hosted a presentation last Thursday from the D.C. Office of Planning about the draft , a set of recommendations highlighting new zoning and housing capacity on the mixed-use corridor. 

Erkin Ozberk, a senior neighborhood planner at the Office of Planning, said Wisconsin Avenue is part of the corridors the administration considers an “opportunity-rich” area, as it has amenities such as proximity to the Metro, green areas, and retail spaces. 

“This [is] a place that is desirable to live and work at,” Ozberk said. “We want to ensure that a broader range of people are able to live here and experience these amenities.” 

The effort is part of the broader , which was released back in 2019 when Mayor Muriel Bowser set the goal of producing 36,000 citywide by 2025. 

According to the project’s , the framework applies to over 100 development sites along a 1.5-mile segment, between Western Avenue and Rodman Street, along Wisconsin Avenue, envisioning equitable, mixed-use development to support the need for housing at various income levels. 

Ozberk said residents have been receptive to the recommendations since they recognize there’s a need for housing and development across the region. 

“I think people understand the challenges the District is facing in terms of housing and the role the city needs to play to make progressive changes to achieve future goals,” he said. 

The framework highlights a highly competitive retail and commercial environment evolving in the District, putting Wisconsin Avenue at a disadvantage in maintaining its position as a retail destination, becoming primarily a neighborhood-serving corridor. 

However, the administration also points out that the changing conditions present opportunities for growth in multi-family, residential buildings that can be accomplished through redevelopment. 

Thaddeus Bradley-Lewis, the chair of ANC 3A, said residents understand that development needs to occur in Ward 3, recognizing Wisconsin Avenue is one of the corridors where it might happen. 

“Most people understand we need development, we need more housing,” Bradley-Lewis said. “In order to attain those goals, they recognize development needs to happen along our corridors.” 

Bradley-Lewis has lived in the District for 20 years, moving to McLean Gardens back in 2019. When he moved to the area, he said development was occurring in neighboring Cathedral Heights, with luxury apartments opening among retail space.

In McLean Gardens, Bradley-Lewis said similar developments, and , are being integrated into the community.

“[Cathedral Commons] opened shortly before we moved into the neighborhood. Now, we have these two developments in process,” he said. “They bring a lot of landmass, a lot of housing. Especially for Ward 3.” 

During last week’s , neighbors raised concerns about what impact the proposed zoning changes might have on those who currently live in the area. Many wondered what the city would do to ensure school capacity for new and current residents, address potential traffic issues, and ensure that safety in the neighborhood is kept to standards. 

Bradley-Lewis said residents understand the city has goals to tackle the issue of housing, but they also want to have confidence the administration is putting the community’s needs first. 

“Our residents want to know that this process is being done in a holistic way,” he said. “It’s tough to have a conversation about increasing density without thinking about whether or not the city is doing ample planning of the impacts.” 

Back in September, the Historic Preservation Review Board voted to allow its members to consider the Bowser administration’s design guidelines for Connecticut Avenue in Cleveland Park, raising concerns among residents in the area over whether to accept change in the historic district. 

Mary Eugenia Perdomo, a new Cathedral Heights resident, said there needs to be an understanding between the Bowser administration and Ward 3 residents to reach realistic goals. 

“I think there needs to be a collaborative effort between neighbors and the city,” Perdomo said. “If there isn’t, no one will be able to reach their goals and be happy with any change that might come.” 

Perdomo said one thing she enjoys about her new home is the proximity to retail spaces in the area. 

“I think it makes a difference to have the ability to walk to the grocery store or to grab a bite at a restaurant,” she said. “I definitely would like to see more of that in this area.” 

Jimmy Walter, who has lived in the area for almost five years, said the city’s proposal for Wisconsin Avenue lacks recommendations for what he considers important factors that make a holistic community. 

“It’s all about building high-rises and adding retail space,” Walter said. “What about green spaces? Increasing schools’ capacity? Improving the Metro system? Honestly, that’s what I liked to see.” 

Bradley-Lewis said he recognizes the city has more work to do for residents to feel less hesitant towards proposed development. 

“I hope that the District does a better job in presenting a holistic vision for our ward,” he said. “We’re strategizing ways that will address issues residents have raised, but people are going to have a hard time supporting this pursuit unless they keep hearing from the District.” 

Ozberk said the Office of Planning will review and make necessary revisions to the document after the public comment period ends on Nov. 15. The office will release official guidelines for Wisconsin Avenue early next year. 

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The windows, created by artist Kerry James Marshall and titled “Now and Forever,” depict a group of Black protesters marching while holding signs with phrases including “No Foul Play” and “Fairness.” The cathedral unveiled the windows Saturday at a service that included poetry, hymns, and prayers.  

The windows are accompanied by an original poem written by Elizabeth Alexander, the president of the, a private foundation focused on arts, culture, and humanities.

The windows replaced previous panes that honored Confederate generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson. 

“Being able to install the ‘Now and Forever’ windows helps the cathedral live into its mission of being a house of prayer for all people,” said the Rev. Leonard Hamlin Sr., the canon missioner for the cathedral.

Washington National Cathedral is the cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington.

The previous windows were a fixture of the cathedral since 1953 when the United Daughters of the Confederacy donated them to memorialize and honor Confederate leaders and soldiers. The initial call for the windows’ removal came in 2015 after the fatal  shooting of nine Black worshippers at Mother Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, according to the cathedral’s. The Confederate panes were removed following the 2017 white supremacist rally in Charleston, Virginia.

Hamlin said this is the right time to install the windows, as it allows the church to facilitate community conversations.

“It allows us to tell a richer and fuller story for those who are coming to visit us,” he said. “I believe it would bring the community together to think about our present condition.”

The ceremony on Saturday drew a crowd of almost 900 attendees on a particularly rainy day. Among the guests were clergy from D.C.’s historically Black churches, political figures, and leaders of social justice organizations. The speakers ranged from community members to lawmakers, including Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, who read excerpts from Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1963 “Letter from Birmingham Jail.”

Grayce Wiggins, a member of the church and regular attendee of its services, said she came to the event to witness what she considers a moment of inclusion for Black people.

“This is a full-circle moment where we get to reflect on the next generation and centuries beyond,” Wiggins said, as she took pictures of the windows. “This will be a perpetual memory on why justice and fairness are so important.”

Guy Molock, a member of the Beloved Community Church in Accokeek, Maryland, said the windows represent the struggle and injustice that continues for communities of color.

“I think it’s really important that these windows replaced what I considered to be an injustice,” Molock said, referring to the previous Confederate panes. “For me, it’s all about continuing to fight for justice and liberty for people of color.”

In 2021, the cathedral announced that Marshall agreed to create new racial-justice-themed stained-glass windows. Marshall is known for his paintings of Black figures, with many of his pieces exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. According to the cathedral’s, this was the first time Marshall worked with stained-glass as a medium.

During his brief remarks, Marshall said he hoped his artwork was the first step of many in continuing a growing conversation about the current political environment.

“I hope the themes that the windows propose continue to be a catalyst for the kind of transformation the cathedral and the nation stand for,” Marshall said. “I hope we all as members of this culture and society embody and bring forward ourselves.” 

The Rev. Randy Hollerith, the current dean of the cathedral, said it was a rare event to have the institution add new stained-glass windows. He considers this to be a significant moment to do so, as it brings the opportunity for racial reconciliation.

“Around the country, we’ve done a lot in taking down monuments and statues that represent Confederate messages,” Hollerith said. “We’re pleased to be among the ones that put something that tells a different story and allows a broader conversation.”

The cathedral said it is conducting a comprehensive iconography review with the goal that all art in the church reflects every member of the community and accounts for all stories told.

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