A Downtown Champion

Release Date: Tuesday, March 9th 2010

Miles Groves, president of the Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA), died on Sunday, March 7. The Downtown BID sends condolences to his family and community for the loss of a loved one and a tireless and outspoken advocate for Downtown DC.
 
Upon moving to Downtown in 1995, Groves became involved in the neighborhood as a resident of The Pennsylvania (601 Pennsylvania Avenue) condominium development, where he served on the Board of Directors and as president, for many years. He later moved to the new Cosmopolitan condominium (715 6th Street), where he served as Board president and, more recently, treasurer. He worked collaboratively with many organizations, including the Downtown BID, the Penn Quarter Neighborhood Association and the Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC), and helped to develop a balance between the wishes of Downtown residents, business owners, workers, tourists and cultural and entertainment organizations.  Groves helped establish DNA in 2006.
 
Over the years, DNA partnered with the BID to develop an annual neighborhood survey to help attract new and better retail to Downtown. Under Groves’ leadership, the organization also has worked with the BID, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and others to establish a 10-officer patrol near Gallery Place (7th and H Streets) and the Verizon Center (601 F Street). Recently, he helped launch the Downtown Citizen, a neighborhood publication.
 
In January, the Downtown BID honored Groves with its new Downtown BID VISion Award, which recognizes individuals in Downtown who contribute significantly to community building, social interaction and creating a more vibrant Downtown environment for residents, workers and visitors. The award showcases individual excellence in leadership as demonstrated by outstanding initiative, impact of work and inspiration to others.
 
The DNA will pay tribute to Groves at a rescheduled bi-monthly meeting at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, March 24, at Calvary Baptist Church (755 8th Street).
 
For more information, visit www.dcdna.org.