Leaders of a prominent African-American church in Northwest Washington say the construction of a protected bike lane near the house of worship is a veiled bid to kick them out of the area.
United House of Prayer for All People, located just east of the Washington Convention Center, has argued in a strongly worded seven-page letter to city officials that proposed bike lanes on 6th Street NW, alongside the church, would interfere with church services and parking.
The church charges through its lawyer that the District is "targeting historically African-American churches" in rapidly gentrifying areas, in a policy that has "forced" some churches to move.
No one from the church responded to News4's inquiries.
ANC commissioner Alexander Padro said the church must recognize the area is changing.
"I think it's an exaggeration on the part of the United House of Prayer. No one is out to get them. No one is out to try to push them out of the city," he said.
Martin Moulton, a 20-year resident of the neighborhood and local bike association member, said the bike lane is needed and will help keep cyclists safe.
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"We have a lot more cyclists coming through the neighborhood to get to work, to get to school, to get to church," he said.
DDOT officials said the lane is still in the proposal phase, in response to the need for more north-south bike lanes in the area.
"We're really trying to make things safe and easy for everybody, no matter how they're choosing to get around, no matter where they're choosing to go," Sam Zimbabwe of DDOT said.
The full letter from lawyers for United House of Prayer can be found on the website of Greater Greater Washington, which reported on the issue.
A community meeting on the matter will be held Thursday, Oct. 22 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Library, at 1630 7th St. NW.
