Monthly Archives: May 2016

View of part of Eastern Market’s South Hall from Barry Margeson’s Market Manager’s Office

And another.

The Week Ahead….And Two Views of Eastern Market’s South Hall You’ve Never Seen

by Larry Janezich

Monday, May 30

Memorial Day.  No trash or recycling pickup.  Pickups will occur the day following the regular scheduled pickup for the balance of the week.

Tuesday, June 2

ANC6B’s Executive Committee meets at 7:00pm in Hill Center to set the agenda for the June 14 meeting of the full ANC.

Thursday, June 2

Democratic At Large Council Candidates Debate at 6:30pm at Tyler Elementary School, 10^th and G Streets, SE.  Candidates are:  Vincent Orange (incumbent), Robert White, and David Garber.  Denise Rolark-Barnes of The Washington Informer and Mark Seagraves of NBC4 will moderate.

Friday, June 3

1. ANC6B Planning and Zoning PUD Subcommittee meets at 7:00pm at Hill Center to review the PUD process for the Bowies/Signature PUD by Insight Property Group and to consider a draft Memorandum of Understanding.
2. East City Bookshop’ first book talk. Alan Furst, bestselling author of historical spy thrillers, will be interviewed by Talk of the Hill’s Bill Press on Furst’s new novel: A Hero of France.  7:00pm, 645 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE

The New York Times has called Furst “America’s preeminent spy novelist” and his new book, A Hero of France (Random House, May 31, 2016) about the French Resistance, is his first book in a long time set during the war years, rather than the eve of World War II. In A Hero of France, a Resistance leader in Nazi-occupied France attempts to keep the line of escape open.

RSVP: http://hillcenterdc.org/home/programs/2884

Saturday, June 4

Free Dental Screenings, 11:00am – 2:00pm, Liberty Baptist Church, 527 Kentucky Avenue, SE, Pastor Anthony Owens.  Event is being hosted by the American Dental Group, Inc.

The Brig Beer Garden at 8th and L Streets, SE. From outward appearances, the only thing standing in the way of cries of zum Wohl! and Prost! is warmer weather.

The Week Ahead….Eastern Market Committee Drills Down Into New Business Plan

And DC SafetyNet Launches Good Neighbor Campaign

by Larry Janezich

Monday, May 23

CANCELLED ANC6A Community Outreach Committee will meet at 7:00pm at Maury Elementary School, Multi-purpose room, 1250 Constitution Avenue, NE.  (Enter from 13^th Street.)

Among items on the agenda:

Community Presentations:

Events DC

KaBoom Playground (21st/C Streets) Update

Installation of Batting Cages on 19th & C

Community Walk with DDOT, DPW & Events DC to survey parking signage in

residential neighborhoods.

Volunteers Needed for June 6th 5:30pm Anacostia Riverwalk Clean-up

GRID Alternatives: Non-profit Solar Panel Company

Tuesday, May 24

DDOT meeting re 17^th Street, NE & 19^th Street, NE, Redesign.  6:30pm at Rosedale Community Center, 1700 Gales Street, NE.

See 17^th & 19^th Streets Redesign Plans here: http://bit.ly/1NFI365

Thursday, May 26

Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee (EMCAC).  The May meeting of EMCAC has been cancelled.  EMCAC’s Market Operations Committee chaired by Tom Kuchenberg will meet at 6:30pm in the upstairs conference room at Eastern Market.  The purpose of the meeting is to review EMCAC minutes of the presentation of Forest Hayes of the Department of General Services regarding a 5-year business plan for Eastern Market.  EMCAC will consider the report of the Market Operations Committee at its June meeting.

Hayes sent a letter to EMCAC which reads, in part:  “The Department of General Services (DGS) looks forward to working with your Committee, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, the Office of Councilmember Charles Allen, and the Market Row Association to develop a Scope of Work for an external contractor with expertise in facilitation and planning to engage the public in a series of sessions to:

1. Evaluate present and future opportunities and challenges;
2. Capitalize on these opportunities and identify potential solutions to the challenges;
3. Incorporate the opportunities, challenges, and solutions into a strategy;
4. Prioritize actions to be taken.

The end result of this public engagement process will be a Five-year Plan for Eastern Market that will inform the direction of the Market.”

Ed. Note:  DC SafetyNet launches Kind Cool Connected Campaign (KC3) to promote better relations between neighbors in communities, city wide. 

DC SaftyNet says of the new KC3 campaign: 

“While in the near term we may not be able to cure the cultural, sociological, environmental, or societal issues that underlie our disagreements, today we have the power to lessen their impact.

If we all agree to work together to change one small behavior for the good of our community and each other, we will make a difference. That behavior is the act of pleasantly greeting one another.

Addressing this – and encouraging everyone to greet each other in a friendly way – is a simple beginning that holds the promise of deeper connection, more intimacy, more trust, more of a foundation for addressing the bigger issues that challenge us. This is the vision of KC3.”

For morel, see here: http://bit.ly/1Tp0gHj

810 Potomac Avenue, SE. The Blue Castle is visible at the left.

Map showing location of proposed rehab facility. Courtesy of Google Maps.

Rehab Center Proposes 300 Bed Facility for Lower Barracks Row Neighborhood

Councilmember Charles Allen and ANC6B Voice Strong Opposition

by Larry Janezich

Councilmember Charles Allen’s office has received a letter from Core DC LLC, a resident rehabilitation center, notifying him they had submitted a response to a Bureau of Prisons request for proposals (RFP) for a halfway house with up to 300 beds to be located at 810 Potomac Avenue, SE, a stone’s throw from the “Blue Castle.”

Allen’s response was to write a letter to the Bureau of Prisons expressing his strong opposition to the project.  In part, Allen’s letter reads, “Offender reentry services are of critical importance….However, we must work to strike the right balance between supporting these individuals and finding the appropriate location….The property at 810 Potomac Avenue, SE is not the right site.”

Allen listed a host of reasons for his opposition, citing incompatibility with the neighborhood, proximity to Richard Wright Public Charter School, uncertainty whether the proposed use is allowed under zoning regulations, and lack of support resources including employment, housing, and substance abuse treatment.

Further, Allen wrote, “I have discussed this proposal with the Metropolitan Police Department Commander for this area and share his serious concerns about the potential public safety impact of placing 300 or more returning citizens at this site.”

ANC6B weighed in last Thursday, stating their “unequivocal” opposition by a vote of 8 – 0.  The commission had concerns in addition to those expressed by Allen.

“There are two condo projects underway; one of them at 818 Potomac Avenue, the other a block north (801 Virginia Avenue). These will add about 85 residential units to the area. Soon to be completed is a 190-unit DC Housing Authority mixed income apartment building a block west.”

“A tavern/nightclub that serves the area’s LGBT community is located next door and an open-air beer garden is soon to open a block away. Some leave these establishments inebriated at early hours of the morning, causing disturbances. We are concerned about the addition of the RRC’s residents in this scenario and resulting impact on both populations.”

“In addition, the owner of the building has said that CORE DC does not have site control and is actively negotiating with a major tenant.”

ANC6B Chair Kirsten Oldenburg told CHC, “This is an egregious thing to do to lower 8^th, which is transitioning from being under-developed into a residential neighborhood.”

A representative from Allen’s office expressed frustration at the lack of transparency of the Bureau of Prisons who wouldn’t share what other responses to the RFP they had received or their timeline for making a decision.

A link to the Bureau of Prison’s RFP is here:  http://1.usa.gov/1VeWJKU

Residents in the Capitol Hill Historic District would violate historic preservation regulations if they put windows like these in their homes

The North Building – with most of the affordable units – is scheduled for completion this fall

A long shot of the North Building seen from Pennsylvania Avenue

How Did Stanton/Eastbanc Get Away With Vinyl Windows In the Hine Project?

by Larry Janezich

At the end of an ANC6B meeting last week, ANC6B Chair Kirstin Oldenburg asked rhetorically, “How did they get away with putting vinyl windows in the Historic District?” – expressing surprise it had escaped the attention of “a certain member of the [Historic Preservation Review Board]”.  Another commissioner replied ironically, “Nobody cares.”

Capitol Hill Corner asked Steve Callcott, Deputy Preservation Officer, DC Office of Planning, about the vinyl windows.  Callcott replied:  “the [Historic Preservation Review] Board’s window standards for new construction are somewhat more flexible than they are for historic buildings.  Obviously a lot of design effort was put into all of the new buildings at the site, and I don’t think the compatibility of the proposal would necessarily hinge on the material of the windows.”  Asked to react to his opinion, ANC6B Commissioner Diane Hoskins in whose district the project lies said: “That’s such BS.  Residential neighbors are held to a higher standard, and it’s just not fair.”

Vinyl windows are being installed in the Hine project’s North Building, which contains most of the project’s affordable/workforce housing (34 of 46 units).   Mayor Muriel Bowser publicly expressed her disapproval of the segregation of these units in a separate building, but approved the project despite her reservations.

Buwa Binitie of Dantes Partners – who managed the Hine project’s affordable housing component – said that the reason for the segregation was that it was not feasible to combine low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) financing with conventional lending, so a stand-alone component with separate LIHTC financing was created.  One of the reasons Stanton Eastbanc was awarded the contract to develop the Hine site was that they proposed providing an amount of affordable housing far in excess of what was (then) required.  (Under today’s regulations, Stanton Eastbanc would fall short of the requirement for affordable housing in a project developed on public land).

As previously reported here on CHC, the separation of all LIHTC units into a distinct building and legal property allowed the project to qualify for the tax credits; if considered as one project, the Hine development falls short of LIHTC requirements.

The North Building is being constructed more cheaply – primarily of wood according to Type III Construction standards.  Hence the vinyl windows.  You won’t find vinyl window in the South Building built with conventional financing and constructed of steel according to Type I Construction standards.  According to the National Fire Protection Association, structures are divided into five construction types for the purposes of firefighting, and are listed from least combustible (Type I – high rises) to most combustible (Type V – most recent single-family homes).  Most city rowhouses are Type III.

The lower-grade building materials used for the stand-alone LIHTC building underscores the objections raised by many residents to segregating the majority of units in the first place.

Regarding distribution of affordable housing throughout the project, as mentioned before, 34 affordable units will be in the North Building.  Half (17) of the affordable units in the North Building will be reserved for seniors at least 55 years old; two of these units will be for seniors with incomes at or below 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI) and 15 will be reserved for seniors with incomes at or below 60% of the AMI.  (DC uses an AMI of $107,500, a figure inflated by including surrounding wealthy counties in its calculation.  Actual median income from just the District is closer to $60,000.)

Three of the 17 non-senior units will be reserved for households earning less than 30% of the AMI and 14 units are reserved for households earning less than 60% of the AMI.

With respect to layout, retail space for the North Building will be located on the first floor and in the basement.  The building will be four stories, and step down to three stories on 7th and 8th Streets.  Except for two units facing 8th Street, the residences will be located on the second, third and fourth floors.  Entrances to the retail will be on 7th Street and on the newly re-opened C Street between 7th and 8th Streets.  Entrances to the residential units and the main lobby will be on 8th Street and C Street.  Developers expect to complete construction on the North Building this fall.

Eastbanc principal Anthony Lanier did not respond to a request for comment on this posting.

For more on affordable housing see CHC post here:  Understanding “Affordable” Housing: the Cases of Hine and the Boys and Girls Club http://bit.ly/1Vb36is

The downstairs reading nook at East City Book Shop

East City Book Shop, 645 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. An locally owned independent book shop

The Week Ahead….

by Larry Janezich

Monday, May 16

1. ANC6A Transportation and Public Space Committee meets at 7:00pm at Capitol Hill Towers, 900 G Street, NE.

Among items on the agenda:

Councilmember Allen’s request to WMATA to adjust Metro closure

Request for traffic study at 19th Street and Benning Road, NE

Tuesday, May 17

1. ANC6A Alcoholic Beverage Licensing Committee meets at 7:00pm, Sherwood Recreation Center, 640 10th Street, NE.

Among items on the agenda:

Alcohol beverage license renewals for:

Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H Street, NE

Granville Moore’s, 1238 H Street, NE

Imm on H, 1360 H Street, NE

Maketto, 1351 H Street, NE

RedRocks, 1348 H Street, NE

Sally’s Middle Name, 1320 H Street, NE

H & Pizza, 1118 H Street, NE

Smith Commons, 1245 H Street, NE

2. Capitol Hill Restoration Society Board of Directors meets at 6:30pm, Capitol Hill Townhomes, 750 6^th Street, SE.

Among items on the agenda:

Report on 2016 House Tour

Wednesday, May 18

1. ANC6A Economic Development and Zoning Committee meets at 7:00pm, Sherwood Recreation Center, 640 10^th Street, NE.

Among items on the agenda:

1121 G Street, NE – Application for a special exception from the use requirements to convert a two-story, one-family dwelling into a three-unit apartment house in the R-4 District.

11 15th Street, NE – Application of Lock7 Development, LLC, for a variance from the off-street parking requirements under to renovate and expand an existing apartment house in the C-2-A District.

1111 H Street – Application for variances from the rear yard requirements under and a special exception from the single-enclosure penthouse requirements to renovate an existing structure into an apartment building containing up to eight dwelling units with ground-floor retail in the HS-R/C- 2-C District.

814 H Street, NE – Application, for a special exception from the fast food establishments requirements allow the operation of a new fast food establishment in the C-2-A District.

2. PSA 106 meets at 7:00pm, 200 Eye Street, SE, first floow. (ID required for entrance)

Agenda not available at press time.

3. Hillary for America is opens office at 1227 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE with Mayor Muriel Bowser, 5:00pm – 7:00pm, 1227 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.  RSVP (click link): https://www.hillaryclinton.com/events/view/NVSB2WIMONF3ZIRQ/

Thursday, May 19

1. PSA 108 meets at 7:00pm, Liberty Baptist Church, 527 Kentucky Avenue, SE

Agenda not available at press time.

Saturday, May 21

1. Sherwood Neighborhood Volunteers (SNV) Spring Cleanup, 12:00noon, Sherwood Recreation Center Park, 640 10th Street, NE. Join SNV for our annual spring gathering and help beautify the park.

At Monday’s night’s meeting: (L-R) Commissioner Jennifer Samolyk; Martin Smith, BRMS; MPD 1st District Captain Mark Beach and Ulysses Fernandez.

Also at the meeting. (L-R) Ishan Heru and Mimi Scotchmer, Community Connections; Rev. Kelli Jareaux, Safety.net

Some members of the audience at Monday’s meeting. Standing at rear is Bobby Coffey, representing Aquila Recovery, a new substance abuse recovery program coming to the office space above the 8th and PA Starbucks. The private pay outpatient clinic treats clients referred by personal physicians.

Addressing the Ongoing “Quality of Life” Issues Around Eastern Market Metro Plaza

by Larry Janezich

ANC 6B’s Outreach and Constituent Services Task force, Co-chaired by Commissioners Diane Hoskins and Jennifer Samolyk, met with residents and community stakeholders on Monday night to address the issues of homelessness, vagrancy, pan handling, and drug abuse near Eastern Market Metro.

The goal of the task force was to provide a forum to discuss quality of life issues and to find ways to address concerns.  At the end of the meeting, it seemed clear that the approaches available, i.e., management and displacement, require committed on-going effort which provide limited short-term results, but do little to provide a long-term solution.

There are several reasons why those in need are attracted to the Eastern Market Metro Plaza area: the Metro Plaza transportation hub; available green space; public restrooms in Eastern Market and SE Library (and the library itself); and a well-off community, home to residents who sometimes give money to panhandlers.  In addition, there are many faith-based programs on Capitol Hill providing food and clothing to those in need.  Two neighborhood churches also provide meals:  Church of the Brethren at 337 North Carolina Avenue, SE, and Ebenezer United Methodist Church at 400 D Street.

As has been discussed before, clients of Community Connections, the nonprofit mental health agency located at 8^th and Pennsylvania Avenue, are blamed by many residents for some of the neighborhood’s most distressing quality of life issues.  On Monday night, Community Connection representatives Mimi Scotchmer and Ishan Heru said that the clinic had increased its security force to three persons, who rotate responsibility for touring the neighborhood hourly to identify clients who remain in the area and to determine how to address additional needs they might have.  In addition, the agency attempts to reach out to non-clients whose behavior may be problematic and to bring them into a program.

Although residents often turn to police to solve the quality of life problems, MPD First District’s Captain Mark Beach told attendees that “We can’t arrest our way out of this situation.”  Quality of life issues have a low priority from a police force that must address crimes of violence and property first.  Often, by the time police can respond to a nuisance crime, the problem is no longer an issue or the complainant is no longer on the scene.  Beach said the 25 calls per day the First District gets to deal with unconscious persons drain resources which could be better used elsewhere.  In addition, arrests for minor crimes result in only a few hours inconvenience for those arrested.

Barracks Row Main Street (BRMS), represented by Executive Director Martin Smith, is deeply concerned on behalf of Barracks Row businesses. Smith pointed out that persons perceived as problematic are afflicted by a number of overlapping issues:  mental illness, homelessness, income instability, and substance abuse.

Judging from Monday night’s meeting, his organization’s approach is to displace the problem, though many of the restaurants on Barracks Row are generous supporters of social service programs to help the city’s poorer residents.  BRMS has worked with owners of vacant buildings to board up fronts which are being used as overnight shelters by the homeless.  Smith said that landlords are sometimes reluctant to undertake architectural solutions to reduce the use of homeless persons using their business fronts for shelter, fearing pushback from the ANC.  He suggested the ANC be more proactive in reaching out to owners in an effort to coordinate solutions.

BRMS is also considering establishing collection boxes for people to make contributions to help the needy instead of giving money to pan handlers. In response to questioning, Smith also said BRMS had looked at hiring private security in the evenings for Barracks Row but so far had not been able to find a way to make it financially feasible.

A group of stakeholders who have a large investment in the community but who were not present at last night’s meeting were the representatives of the corporations who have outlets or franchises near the intersection.  Though invited, no one from 7-11, CVS, or Citibank showed up.  All three own or lease properties which are problematic, either because of uncaring landlords or indifferent management, or both.  Former ANC commissioner Ivan Frishberg expressed his frustration at the 7^th and Pennsylvania CVS’s unwillingness to address the problem posed by the group of men who gather daily on D Street behind the CVS and engage in alcohol and substance abuse.  Frishberg said, “There was human feces today on D Street by the CVS.  CVS refused to clean it up.  You guys (MPD and Community Connections) tell me all those things you’re doing. I’m surprised – I just don’t see it.”  Captain Beach pledged to do an assessment of the scene to see what MPD could do.

DC has a homeless population of about 12,000.  A 1996 analysis of data by the National Survey of Homeless Assistance Providers and Clients showed that over 60% of people who are chronically homelessness have experienced lifetime mental health problems.  According to the 2010 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration report, over 80% have experienced lifetime alcohol and/or drug problems.

The major causes of homelessness in DC appear to be deinstitutionalization of the mentally ill under the Reagan administration, as well as redevelopment and gentrification and the resulting lack of affordable housing.

Commissioners and community problem-solvers at the meeting – as has been the case at others – gave little attention to the issue of drug dealing which takes place around Eastern Market Metro Plaza.  The matter remains of deep concern to the community, not only because of its clearly criminal nature, but also because it exacerbates the problems of those with behavioral issues who move in and through the Capitol Hill community.  The prevalence of so called “designer drug” designed to stay one step ahead of the law makes enforcement difficult.

Eastern Market, Sunday morning, circa 10am

The Week Ahead….

by Larry Janezich

Monday, May 9

1. ANC6D meets at 7:00pm, at DCRA, 1100 4th Street, SW, 2nd Floor.

Among items on the agenda:

Presentation:  Brenda Donald – Deputy Mayor of Health and Human Services

CG Overlay Review, 1900 Half Street, SW

Forest City PUD Modification, F1 Block Cinema

2. ANC 6B Outreach and Constituent Services Task Force meets at 7:00pm, Hill Center.

Discussions will focus on the status of and solutions for vagrancy and pan-handling in and around the Eastern Market Metro plaza area (8th Street SE and Pennsylvania Avenue SE).  Invited speakers include Captain Mark Beach of MPD’s First District and representatives of Barracks Row Main Street, Community Connections and 7-11.

Tuesday, May 10

1. ANC 6B meets at 7:00pm at Hill Center.

Among items on the agenda:

Presentation:  Acting Director Karima Holmes, Office of Unified Communications (dispatchers for 911 calls)

Renewal of Alcohol Beverage Licenses for the following:

Capitol Hill Tandoor and Grill, 419 8th Street, SE;  The Ugly Mug Dining Saloon, 723 8th Street, SE; Lincoln Park Kitchen/Wine Bar, 106 13th Street, SE; Senart’s Oyster & Chop House, 520 8th Street, SE; Pacifico Cantina, 514 8th Street, SE; Molly Malone’s, 713 8th Street, SE; Chesapeake Room, 501 8th Street, SE; Talay Thai Restaurant, 406 First Street, SE; Bullfeathers, 410 First Street, SE; District Taco, 656 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, Radici; 301 7th Street, SE; Montmartre/7th Hill, 327 7th Street, SE; Beuchert’s Saloon, 623 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE; La Plaza Mexican Restaurant, 629 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE; Mr. Henry’s, 601 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE; Hanks Oyster Bar, 633 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE; Boxcar Tavern, 224 7th Street, SE; Sanphan Thai Cuisine, 653 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE; Tortilla Coast, 400 First Street SE; Ambar, 523 8th Street, SE; Medium Rare Barracks Row, 515 8th Street SE; Tunnicliffs Tavern, 222 7th Street SE.

Medium Rare Barracks Row, 515 8th Street SE, Revision to existing sidewalk cafe

2. Ward 6 meeting with Councilmember Charles Allen. The meeting will be hosted by the Washington Interfaith Network, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 206 New York Avenue, NW, Liberty Baptist Church is organizing a delegation to attend. If interested in participating as part of the Church delegation, please call or text Pastor Anthony Owers:  543.7894 or email: libertybaptistchurchdc@verizon.net

3. The upcoming PSA 104 meeting scheduled for Tuesday, May 10 has been canceled to allow residents to attend the reception for the Channing Phillips, the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, 6:00pm – 8:00pm, The Lobby Project, 1200 First Street, NE. Sponsored by NOMA BID and the First District Citizens Advisory Council.

Wednesday, May 11

1. ANC6C meets at 6:00pm (instead of 7:00pm) at the Heritage Foundation, 214 Massachusetts Avenue, NE.

Among items on the agenda:

Presentation:  Tamera Robinson – Board of Elections, new voting machines

Presentation:  Doug Klein, community prosecutor, First Police District

Presentation:  NoMa mural event

Presentation:  Council Member Charles Allen – update on the Councilmember’s initiatives and community input on priorities

Update on liquor license application for Wunder Garten, 131 M Street, NE

Liquor license renewals for Addis Ethiopian Restaurant, 707 H Street, NE; DC Harvest, 517 H Street, NE; Uni Bistro, 403 H Street, NE; JBG-Gallaudet 6th Street development project.

Skanska development project, NoMa meander

2nd and E Streets, NW, bus shelter safety issues

61 Pierce Street NE, public space application

816 6th Street, NE, application for a child care center

301-331 N Street, NE, PUD for a mixed-use project

2. Capitol Hill Village hosts CPR/First Aid Training. 11:00am, 760 6^th Street, SE.  All are welcome.  Please call or send email:  202 543-1778, or info@capitolhillvillage.org

Thursday, May 12

1. ANC6A meets at 7:00pm, Miner Elementary School, 601 Fifteenth Street, NE.

Among items on the agenda:

Presentation:  Courtney Snowden, Deputy Mayor for Greater Economic Opportunity

Presentation:  Lt. Seth Anderson, PSA 104

Presentation:  Emily Bloomfield – Monument Academy

Renewal liquor license for Ben’s Chili Bowl, 1001 H Street, NE

Protest of the request for a substantial change in the liquor license of Sol Mexican Grill, 1251 H Street, NE,  for an increase in occupancy from 60 to 155, increase weeknight closing time from 11:00 pm to 2:00 am, increase weekend closing time from 2:00 am to 3:00 am, add entertainment weeknights from 6:00 pm to 1:00 am (previously none), and extend entertainment hours on weekends from 1:00 am to 2:00 am, unless an agreement with the ANC is reached regarding trash management prior to the protest date.

Renewal of liquor licenses for the following venues: Atlas Performing Arts Center at 1333 H Street, NE; Granville Moore’s at 1238 H Street, NE; Imm on H at 1360 H Street, NE; Maketto at 1351 H Street, NE; Redrocks at 1348 H Street, NE;  Sally’s Middle Name at 1320 H Street, NE; H & Pizza at 1118 H Street, NE; Smith Commons at 1245 H Street, NE.

Request for a sidewalk café for BAB Korean Fusion’s Restaurant at 1387 H Street, NE

Request for support for special exceptions at 920–922 H Street,NE, based on the revised design.

2. Capitol Hill Restoration Society’s Zoning Committee meets at 7:30pm, Kirby House, 420 10^th Street, SE.

Editor’s Note:  RFK Redevelopment

Events DC has put up a website with the proposed RFK redevelopment that allows for public comment. http://www.rfkcampusfuture.com

Attorney Andrew Kline addresses ANC6B Alcohol Beverage Control Committee

One of Beuchert’s managers (rear) reacts to Kline’s presentation before the ANC.

ANC Commissioners “Shocked” & “Flabbergasted” by Alcohol License Attorney

by Larry Janezich

Attorney Andrew Kline has represented dozens of restaurants seeking or renewing alcohol licenses which have come before ANCs – many have come before ANC6B.  Last Thursday night, in an appearance before ANC6B’s Alcohol Beverage Control Committee, he bristled with indignation that the ANC would presume to attach conditions to their endorsement of the renewal of a liquor license for his client, Beuchert’s Saloon.  (Conditions written into a “Settlement Agreement” between a restaurant and the ANC on behalf of the neighborhood are routine in virtually every license application or renewal.)

Kline told the committee that his client would not sign an agreement and that he (Kline) did not recognize the ANC’s rule making authority.  Asked by committee Chair Chander Jayaraman if he had read the proposed agreement, Kline said he hadn’t had an opportunity to review it.

Challenged by Commissioner James Loots that the only person well served by Kline’s tack – which would lead to an ANC protesting renewal of the license – was Kline himself, the attorney indicated that he was prepared to suffer the protest of the license by the ANC and take the issue to the Alcohol Beverage Control Board.  He persisted with his objections, interrupting and speaking loudly over commissioners who were trying to speak (not only a mistake but a violation of decorum), until Jayaraman silenced him with a crescendos of “Thank yous”.

ANC6B has made a concerted effort to standardize the operating procedures for restaurants on Barracks Row and the Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, commercial corridor in the interests of addressing quality of life issues for nearby neighbors, including rodents, noise, odors and trash.  In recognition of those efforts which have been supported by a well-organized group of nearby residential neighbors, many restaurants have voluntarily become role models for best operating practices – La Vagna was singled out Thursday night – while others still have to be coerced.

Commissioner Loots told Kline that he was “flabbergasted” that Kline refused to participate in the process.  Commissioner Diane Hoskins, recounting amiable discussions with the the management of Beuchert’s Saloon, said she was “disappointed that this had spiraled into something that no one had intended”, and that she was “shocked how this has gone”.  Subsequently, the committee voted to protest the renewal of the license by a vote of 5 – 0 – 1.

At the end of the meeting, a late-arriving Brenden McMahon, one the the owners of Beuchert’s, expressed his apologies to the committee.

CHC reached out to McMahon for comment and received the following response:

“Last night was the first time I have ever met Mr. Kline and in no way had intended for him to represent us in the manner he did.  [We] have worked very well with the neighborhood and ANC for 4 years and intend to continue that.  His presence was a mistake and miscommunication that, apparently, got out of hand.  I was deeply embarrassed to hear we had been represented in that way and rushed over as soon as I heard.  I do believe everyone knows who we are though and don’t anticipate the incident sticking to us.  I apologized to all ANC members at the end of the meeting and they all seemed to genuinely understand it was a misrepresentation.”

One ANC commissioner close to the issue told CHC that it was likely a signed settlement agreement would be in place before the issue comes before the full ANC6B May meeting,

As it turned out, Kline rose several more times during Thursday night’s meeting representing other restaurants, all of whose license renewals are problematic, including: Hanks Oyster Bar, Ambar, and the three restaurants operated by celebrity chef Spike Mendelsohn:  Bearnaise; We, The Pizza; and Good Stuff Eatery.  Kline, perhaps realizing that his representation of Beuchert’s had crossed a line, indicated a willingness to work with the ANC on issues concerning these restaurants.

Issues with the Mendelsohn restaurants have been well documented on CHC, see here:  http://bit.ly/1SVuqMU

In addition, of particular concern to the committee was Ambar on Barrack Row.  Commissioner Loots cited complaints from residential and nonresidential neighbors regarding deliveries, noise from mechanicals, odors, open trash containers, rat feces, spilled food, and employees loitering and smoking in the alley.

ANC6B meets for its regular monthly meeting next Tuesday, May 10, at 7:00pm in Hill Center.  It’s going to be a long meeting.

Shakespeare Theater Company Rehearsal Space on Barracks Row

Barracks Row Shakespeare Site to Become Retail/Office/Residential

by Larry Janezich

According to sources, owners of the Shakespeare Theater Company’s rehearsal space at 507 8^th Street, SE, Barracks Row, plan to redevelop the building into a mixed use retail, office, and residential complex.  This building is separate and distinct from the large three story building where Shakespeare has its administrative offices at 516 8^th Street, across the street.

The owners of 507 8th recently met with nearby neighbors to solicit feedback on the proposal and expect to take a the project before the Historic Preservation Review Board in the near future.

The plan for the building includes 6,500 square feet of retail on the first floor – one of the largest spaces on Barracks Row.  A second floor would be dedicated to 6,500 square feet of office space.  Twelve studio apartments would occupy a new set-back third and fourth stories.  The building is currently unsuitable for retail or office space and would be totally gutted and given a new façade as well as the extra floors.

The Shakespeare Theater Company leases the site at bargain basement prices on a year-to-year basis.  The theater company plans to relocate their rehearsal space and administrative offices from Barracks Row to a new mixed use complex at 6^th and Eye Streets, SW, but the timing of the move is uncertain.  Erkiletian Construction Corporation in partnership with the Shakespeare Theatre Company has purchased the site in Southwest and filed a Planned Unit Development (PUD) application for a seven story building in February.  A coalition of nearby neighbors, fearing the community is facing overdevelopment, has mounted an organized campaign to oppose the project.

The 8^th Street property is held by a family who is heavily invested in Barracks Row, owning not only the building at 507 8^th Street, but also the building housing Ted’s Bulletin as well as the large parking lot across 8^th Street adjacent to Garrison’s.

This may not be the last of this type of project for Barracks Row.  CHC reported (see here: http://bit.ly/1Qt34ez) that Douglas Development recently purchased the building housing NaNa Thai Restaurant at 406 8^th Street.  The developer has a history of developing mixed use projects but is being mum on plans for the site.