Petula Dvorak: A sign of how little a D.C. area has changed

And in that city block where the boy died are the District's most prominent Latino community organizations, a church, tenant-owned buildings, two well-regarded charter schools, a wonderful youth center, a health center, counselors, social workers, a mural with the planet Earth that reads "He's got the whole world in his hands" and a display of Chinese brush paintings by kids.

It looks like the very cradle of nurturing, activism, social services and faith.

"It's beautiful, like a little international city, with all the different kinds of people, different kinds of shopping," said Adrienne Edwards, 43, who has lived on this block for 15 years.

The playground near that church?

Empty.

"What everyone forgets is that all this business isn't getting rid of crime," said Edwards, whose 4-year-old son bounced along the sidewalk and pondered climbing a fence. He never strayed more than 10 feet from her side, though, as if an invisible leash bound him to her. "It actually attracts the criminals."

According to D.C. police statistics, thefts, shootings and homicides jumped during the past year in the neighborhood.

As a police reporter, I'd visited the neighborhood frequently for various tragedies, which were typically accompanied by tears and vigils. Among the victims: Donte Manning, 9; Terry Cutchin, 13; Edwin Ventura, 18.

In the past year, I'd begun to visit more and more -- an Italian water-ice date with my boys, the fried chicken they love, a quick run for a garden hose and socks, a new computer cord.

"People are coming here with cash to shop. Most of the immigrants here carry cash, and the criminals come to rob them," said Edwards, who managed to shield her 20-year-old daughter from crime and now wonders what growing up in the neighborhood will be like for her young son.

"I waited a long time for all this," she said, pointing to the stores and restaurants. "I'm not going to be moving now. But I was hoping things would change."

Edwards made sure her daughter was home, inside, close to her for much of her young life. Her son walks by her side when they shop, but they don't feel very safe on the playgrounds, so he spends much of his free time inside.

Tattoo girl, who has tween siblings, said they're always inside. "Just like me. They don't go out. We just keep inside. That's what we do."

On Thursday, as Oscar's family was preparing his funeral arrangements and kids stayed away from the playground, the Prince of Petworth blog posted a reader's complaints about the neighborhood. The reader, who has lived in Columbia Heights since 2002, was devastated by the lackluster service at the sleek new coffee bar half a block from the building where Oscar was killed.

"I ordered latté and it was a disaster. The latté smelled and [tasted] so bad I only had one sip and that was it," he complained. He was also frustrated that there was never room to sit in the little shop.

There's plenty of room to sit at the playground.

E-mail me at dvorakp@washpost.com.