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WASHINGTON - The D.C. government unveiled a new plaza in Columbia Heights Monday, part of an extensive streetscape project.

Many residents say they're happy to see progress, but for some their patience is wearing thin after months of headaches, detours and delays for drivers and pedestrians.

Many applauded the new fountain, but some criticized DDOT for too many changes along 14th Street during the construction, and not enough communication.

Columbia Heights resident Michelle Thomas had trouble catching the bus because of the construction.

"Yeah, because I thought the bus stop was down here, and it's down there now," Thomas said. "Terrible."

She's unhappy overall with how the project was handled.

"Not as far as safety, no," Thomas said. "I've been so disappointed by CVS because I can't get the baby across the street."

Community activist Dorothy Brazile took her criticism directly to DDOT.

"They did not maintain sidewalks," Brazile said. "They'd move the bus stop, you'd have to come hunt the bus stop on a daily basis, and they took lanes of traffic."

Brazile recalls recently watching a blind woman wander down 14th street.

"And she was literally walking in a lane of traffic and someone ran out and grabbed her," she said.

DDOT Director Gabe Klein says he's sympathetic to pedestrians in Columbia Heights.

"To be honest, there's a certain amount of pain you have to go through," Klein admitted. "Now our job is to mitigate that pain and make sure we do provide access."

Klein says DDOT employed traffic control officers and repainted crosswalks as they changed throughout the construction project.

"Our safety team is working on that going forward, making sure we always provide right away for pedestrians first," Klein said.

Other residents applaud the changes, saying they're happy to see DDOT improving the streetscape in Columbia Heights, including Pete Schneck.

"And that's wonderful, it makes it feel like home," he said.

But the project is only halfway complete.

"I mean, it's been absolutely phenomenal what's happened here," said Ward 1 Councilman Jim Graham, one of the D.C. leaders who gathered Monday for the ribbon cutting in front of the new fountain at the 14th and Park plaza.

"These are not just great sculptures," said Mayor Adrian Fenty, pointing out new solar-powered lightning that towers above the public fountain and grassy patches. "It's the icing on the cake or the cherry on the sundae or whatever you want to call it."

The artist calls the sculpture a cultural kaleidoscope, reflecting the neighborhood's diverse community.

DDOT officials say phase two of the project -- including new storm drains and more road reconstruction -- should be finished in the spring.

For more information about the project, residents can visit the project's Web site, CLICK HERE.

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