A Couple of Hundred Capitol Hill Residents Turned Out for the Lighting of the Holiday Tree on Eastern Market Metro Plaza Saturday Night. A Menorah Will Be Lit on the Plaza December 16.
Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton Officiated
Councilmember Tommy Wells Was Also in Attendance
The Main Attraction, Celebrated by a Community Choir
The Week Ahead…Update on 7-11 at Remington’s & ANC Committee Considers Popup Policy
Also….Photos From Eastern Market Metro Holiday Tree Lighting
by Larry Janezich
Update on 7-11 at Remington’s
The manager of the Barracks Row 7-11 told CHC that the Barracks Row 7-11 will remain open after the 7-11 scheduled to move into the former Remington’s becomes operational. Formerly, he said, 7-11’s company policy was that no 7-11 could open within a five block radius of a 7-11 in operation. The manager said that a recent change in company policy allows a 7-11 to open up “next door” to an operating 7-11. The announced intention to open a nearby second 7-11 on Pennsylvania Avenue has met with considerable community opposition. Commissioner Ivan Frishberg has announced that he will ask ANC6B – at its monthly meeting on December 9 – to consider a letter to the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) asking them to allow community/ANC review of the new Sprint and 7-11 stores going in on the 600 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.
7-11 plans to open the new store in the former Remington’s as a “matter of right” meaning that it intends to conform to existing zoning regulations and that the community will have no say regarding the opening. The one caveat is that any change to the structure or façade of the building may be reviewed by HPRB providing an opportunity for the community and the ANC to weigh in on the store’s public face. Frishberg’s proposed letter seems aimed at alerting HPRB to the Commission’s interest in any proposed change.
EMCAC SNAFU Leads to New Election for Officers/Community Representative
After failure to give timely public notice of the election of officers and Community Representative of the Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee, last month’s election was declared invalid and public notice was given in late November for a new election which will take place on January 28, 2015. Election is by simple majority of the standing EMCAC members.
In October, the election of officers and Community Representative took place but questions were raised by vendor Joe Snyder and others regarding whether appropriate public notice had been given as is required by city regulations. The internal affairs of the Committee have been in disarray for some time as evidenced by the Committee’s inability to produce a current version of the body’s bylaws. Despite public assurances given that one need only ask for a copy of the bylaws, an up to date version of those bylaws appears to be unavailable, and it is uncertain whether an accurate copy of the current bylaws exists.
Only current EMCAC member representatives are eligible to serve as officers and according to a notice distributed by Vice Chair Chuck Burger, “it is requested that all nominations be received by January 7, 2015.”
EMCAC is the District’s legislatively established body entrusted with advisory and oversight responsibilities for the operations, management and renovation of Eastern Market. Current members include representatives from ANC6B, Capitol Hill Restoration Society, Capitol Hill Association of Merchants, Eastern Market Preservation and Development Corporation, Stanton Park Neighborhood Association, a community representative, Ward 6 Council Office, the Mayor and representatives from the South Hall, Farmer’s Line and non-food merchants at the Market. Please call for information or questions: Chuck Burger, Vice Chair at 202-258-5316 or email at cburger@cbmove.com.
Steve Cymrot, Prime Mover Behind Hill Center/Capitol Hill Community Foundation Dies
Steve Cymrot succumbed on Saturday to injuries sustained when he was hit by an truck at 4th and East Capitol at about 9:00am a week before Thanksgiving. For more on the story see The Hill Rag here: http://bit.ly/1pDdkKy and The Hill Is Home here: http://bit.ly/1vYSNTE
Update, December 1, from MPD:
The Week Ahead….
Monday, December 1
CHRS Historic Preservation Committee, Kirby House, 420 10th Street, SE.
Tuesday, December 2
ANC6B Planning and Zoning Committee meets at 7:00pm at St. Coletta of Greater Washington, 1901 Independence Avenue SE.
Among items on the agenda:
Public Space permit for The Ugly Mug at 723 8th Street SE
Letter to Department of General Services Regarding Initiation of Environmental Assessment of Eastern Market Metro Plaza Redesign Plan
Office of Planning Text Amendment regarding Popups, ahead of a Zoning Commission Hearing scheduled for Thursday, January 15, 2015. For more, see WaPo article here: http://wapo.st/1y1lRF4
Wednesday, December 3
The National Park Service will hold a second scoping meeting on the proposal to locate a memorial to Francis Marion – aka “The Swamp Fox” from 6:30pm until 8:30pm in Southeast Library.
For the NPS press release and to comment on the proposal on line, see here: http://1.usa.gov/1v8gZ3Q
Wednesday, December 3
ANC 6C Planning, Zoning, and Environment Committee meets at 7:00pm at Capitol Hill Medical Center/Kaiser Permanente, 700 Second St. NE (2nd & G NE).
Among items on the agenda:
Revised PUD application for massive development at Union Market, 1270 4th St. NE. The related Map Amendment proposes to rezone the site (approx. 51,000sf) from C-M-1 to C-3-C. In total, approximately 420 to 520 residential units (containing approximately 368,400 gross square feet of residential space) with approximately 39,600 gross square feet of retail will be created as a result of this project. The project will contain approximately 8.0 FAR, for a total of approximately 408,000 gross square feet, and have a height of 110 feet
Application for variances and special exception for 646-654 H St. NE as follows:
- a variance from the parking requirements under § 2101.1,
- a variance from the parking space size requirements under § 2115.2,
- a variance from the loading requirements under § 2201.1, and
- a special exception from the HS Overlay requirements under to allow an addition that increases the gross floor area of an existing building by more than 50% on a lot that has 6,000 square feet or more of land area in the District
Application of Planned Unit Development for 1309-1329 5th St. NE for a first-stage and a consolidated Planned Unit Development and related map amendment for the property. The Applicant proposes a development comprising two buildings on the property, to be constructed in two phases if approved by the Zoning Commission. In total, up to approximately 541,400 gross square feet, or up to approximately 6.30 FAR, is proposed for the entire project.
For the first phase, the consolidated PUD, the Applicant proposes to construct a new structure above The Market building at Union Market, an existing two-story building on the south portion of the property. The new structure will include an approximately 38,000-42,000 gross square foot theater above the existing Market building, and an approximately 104,000-112,000 gross square foot, four-story office component atop the theater. Once complete, this building will have a total floor area of approximately 204,400-216,400 gross square feet and a building height of approximately 120 feet.
For the second phase, the first-stage PUD, the Applicant proposes to construct a new building containing between approximately 25,000-35,000 gross square feet of retail use and approximately 260,000-290,000 gross square feet of office or residential use on the north portion of the property. This building will have a total floor area of approximately 285,000-325,000 gross square feet and a building height of approximately 120 feet. This building will contain approximately 300-475 parking spaces below grade.
Proposed zoning regulation amendment to Zoning Regulations regarding Pop Ups.
Wednesday, December 3
ANC6B Transportation Committee meets at 7:00pm, Hill Center
On the agenda:
Letter to DDOT requesting that 800 blocks of Virginia Avenue & L Street SE & 1000 & 1100 blocks of 9th Street SE be converted from one way to two way streets
Thursday, December 4
Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6B’s Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) Committee meeting on Thursday, December 4, 2014, at 7:00 PM, is cancelled.
Friday, December 5
Capitol Hill Village holds seminar on Saving on Your Utilities, 10:00am – 12:00noon, at Northeast Library, 330 7th Street, NE.
Saturday, December 6
The Fridge Presents: David Molesky – RIOT – Through January 14.
Opening Reception: Saturday, December 6, 7-11 pm, 516 8th Street SE, Rear alley
CAPITOL HILL CORNER 
The more puzzling aspect of the EMCAC snafu was not the failure to advertise the election for the position of Independent Community Member, but, to my hearing and to the hearing of others in the room, they did not vote on the Independent Community Member, yet announced the reelection of Tom Kuchenberg in the minutes meeting the following month. Could so many of us have missed it? We heard the election of officers by acclamation, but nothing about the Independent Community Member seat. Mr. Kuchenberg has been perennially reelected to the position by the other EMCAC members. May I add that a few years ago the repeal of EMCAC term limits was sought on the consent agenda at City Council and granted, leaving some EMCAC members with a virtual life time seat.
Along with the by-laws debacle and a list of other oddities including a failure to comply with DC Code Open Meeting Law on numerous points, I can only conclude that a much loved and valued public asset like Eastern Market should never be assigned to a sequestered group of the politically favored, as might have resulted in the proposed and failed Eastern Market Trust Legislation of 2012.
Even in the best of company, (and the members of EMCAC are that) human nature dictates rigorous checks and balances.