Monthly Archives: June 2020

Mayor Bowser at today’s briefing.

Bullet Points from Mayor Bowser’s Briefing on Tuesday – Phase III/Breitbart/The Nats

by Larry Janezich

June 30, 2020

Mayor Bowser and members of her administration held a situational briefing today.  Here is a quick summary of key points made during the Q&A with reporters.

• There will not be a swift transition to Phase III.
• There is no need to impose travel restrictions to DC because the opening under Phase II does not attract visitors.
• Hospitals are not seeing an increase in the hospitalization of younger victims of COV-19.
• Mayor Bowser is not in favor of reducing funding for the MPD – a broader discussion is necessary on how long it will take for MPD to respond to calls.
• The city administration is working with the BID and the business community to making final plans on how to preserve Black Lives Matter Plaza in a permanent way.
• The Mayor thinks the name of Woodrow Wilson High Scholl should be changed but it needs a larger discussion and it needs to be done in an appropriate way.
• Homeless encampments should be removed – there is no suspension during the pandemic. The city has shelters for the homeless.
• The Mayor said she was perplexed by the Breitbart event where Second District MPD tweeted “Today in the Second District, members from @BreitbartNews & 2D residents stopped by to deliver lunch to our officers and show appreciation for their great work.” The tweet was quickly deleted.  Bowser said that someone in MPD Public Information a very bad mistake in attaching that post to Breitbart News. It is being investigated internally.
• The city has signed a letter of agreement in principle with NAACP on how to move to the organization from Baltimore to DC. She anticipates an RFP on the razing of the Reeves Building at 14th and U to make way for a new building for NAACP.
• The Nationals have been granted a waiver for training and games, but with no fans.
• The city is trying to resolve the ban on sale of fireworks. Currently, only Costco is being permitted to sell them.

Felice Development Group’s residential/retail project on the banks of the Anacostia River near Boat House Row. The total project will amount to 791,000 square feet, with 900 residential units and two levels of below grade parking. The project will provide 45,000 square feet of retail space with a proposed option to convert 25,000 square feet of that space to other uses, including residential.

ANC6B Seeks Community Benefits from Developer of Massive Mixed Use Project at 1333 M Street

by Larry Janezich

June 29, 2002

Last Wednesday night an ANC6B Subcommittee held a virtual meeting to begin negotiating community benefits regarding the construction of the 900 unit mixed use building at 1333 M Street.  Since the development anticipates greater height, massing, and density than the current zoning of the site would allow, regulations provide that the community is entitled to benefits and amenities to offset the impact on the community.  The process by which the zoning is changed occurs under the regulations for construction of a Planned Unit Development (PUD).  The ANC’s role is to make recommendations on benefits and amenities to the Zoning Commission, which incorporates those conditions in the order changing the zoning.

Stephen Cochran from the DC Office of Planning told the Subcommittee that the Planned Unit Development process was designed to encourage developments of higher quality with more public benefits than would accrue if the project were built as a matter of right.

A benefit is a superior feature which benefits the neighborhood or general public.

An amenity is a type of benefit that enhances the attractiveness, convenience, or comfort of the project for occupants and the immediate neighborhood.  It is typically not what the developer would normally do anyway, or things considered as mitigation for issues created in the community by the development.

The offer of benefits and amenities represent a sacrifice on the part of the developer involving an extra expense.

Examples of PUD benefits and amenities include exceptional architecture, affordable housing above the 10% which is required by Inclusionary Zoning, use of minority businesses, contributions to public schools/libraries or neighborhood events, sustainability features, services for elderly/handicapped citizens, public space and parks, transportation,  community meeting space, and subsidized retail space for local businesses.

So far, the developer seems willing to increase the residential floor area for affordable housing  to 11% (above the required 8% to 10% under Inclusionary Zoning regulations) as a benefit, and the expenditure of $6.7 million – mostly in transportation infrastructure, landscaping, and the creation of open space as an amenity.

Planning and Zoning Committee and Subcommittee Chair Corey Holman, characterized the offer as “paltry”.

At Wednesday’s meeting, Capitol Hill Village stepped up with a suggestion for a community benefit – an adult day center.  They cited community need for a center for adults with physical and cognitive issues and suggested the use of 9000 square feet for a multipurpose room, therapy rooms, and a warming kitchen. CVC said that in initial discussions, the terms of the proposal were not acceptable to the developer, reportedly not because of the care center per se, but because of specific terms of rent and the use of space.  Discussions of the proposal will continue with the development team.

Holman said that he continues to struggle with the fact that every dollar spent on other benefits comes from affordable housing – clearly his top priority.  He said, he thinks the approach should be to push on the size and the amount of affordable housing and show that “it’s our number one priority…It shouldn’t be either or, but the affordability proffer should be more that 11%.”

Former commissioner and ANC6B Planning and Zoning Committee chair Nick Burger cautioned against attempts to segregate affordable housing to less desirable parts of the buildings, and supported pushing the envelope on energy efficiency.  He said that an adult day center was an interesting idea and wondered how the CHV would conduct outreach to engage minority members of the community.  The CHV responded that the group was one of their main targets.

The Subcommittee will meet several times over the summer with the goal of making a recommendation on benefits and amenities to the full ANC6B in the fall.  The next meeting will be on Thursday, July 2, when the focus will be on public space and transportation issues, with the participation of representatives of DDOT.  This meeting will be a Webex virtual meeting. Go here for the link & Call-In number to join this public meeting. https://www.anc6b.org/calendar/

The House of Representatives, voted on Friday, June 28, to pass Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton’s bill, HR 51, the DC Statehood Bill. The tally was 232 – 180 with 19 not voting. Rep. Collin Peterson Democrat of Minnesota, joined Republicans in voting no.

Muriel Bowser commissioned #MuralsDC51, a project comprised of local artists, to create 51 statehood, Black history, and social justice themed murals across all eight wards.  This one on lower 8th Street, SE, has grown since last Sunday’s The Week Ahead.  See:  @#muralsdc51 (The second panel from the left begs interpretation.)

On Thursday evening, the presence of 9 television news crews in Lincoln Park lent an air of expectation that demonstrators might attempt to topple the Emancipation Memorial. The demonstration which materialized did not take that turn…

…but U.S. Park Police staged had the cavalry next to the Supreme Court in case it did.

The Eastern Market arts and craft vendors returned to the 200 Block of 7th Street on Saturday…

…and Michael Berman’s Diverse Market’s Flea Market at Eastern Market returned to the 300 block of 7th Street on Sunday.

The Week Ahead…& Some Photos from the Past Week

By Larry Janezich

June 28, 2020

Tuesday, June 30

ANC6B’s Executive Committee holds a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.

This meeting will be a Webex virtual meeting. Go here for the link & Call-In number to join this public meeting. https://www.anc6b.org/calendar/

Agenda: 

To set the agenda for the July 14 meeting of the full ANC6B.

Wednesday, July 1

Livable Communities Task Force (LCTF) Meeting – Wednesday, July 1st at 7:00 PM

This meeting will be a ZOOM virtual meeting. Go here for the link  to join this public meeting. https://www.anc6b.org/calendar/

Agenda:

Updates on the opening date of the parcel 1 park including the playground which will be able to open in Phase 2, and to discuss recommendations for ANC6B to consider regarding the development of parcels 2 – 6 of the Eastern Market Metro Park.  Construction on the remaining parcels, including Parcel 4 where the entrance to Metro is located, will begin in October.

Thursday, July 2

ANC6B’s Planning and Zoning Subcommittee on Benefits and Amenities re 1333 M Street, SE, Planned Unit Development (PUD ) meets at 7:00pm.

This meeting will be a Webex virtual meeting. Go here for the link & Call-In number to join this public meeting. https://www.anc6b.org/calendar/

Agenda:

Public Space and Transportation Issues.

Saturday, July 4

The Annual Barracks Row Fourth of July Parade goes virtual.  See here:  https://www.capitolhill4thparade.com/

ANC6B Has Grants for Ward 6 Organizations Providing COV-19 Humanitarian Relief – Apply by 7/13

By Larry Janezich

June 28, 2020

ANC6B is responding to the DC City Council’s encouragement to use a portion of ANC6B operating funds “to support organizations providing humanitarian relief, including food or supplies.”

The Commission has allocated $45,000 of its administrative reserve for grants to organizations providing humanitarian relief in Ward 6.

According to a press release, the Commission says, “We recognize that this is a very modest effort in the face of the havoc of the pandemic, but we hope it will be a significant contribution to the important work being undertaken by the grant recipients.”

Organizations serving Capitol Hill and Ward 6 can download a grant the application  from the ANC6B website here https://bit.ly/2NCuYgZ . The suggested request range for grants is between $5K and $15K; final submission date is July 13.

The Commission notes that in offering a grant project designed to address an emergency, ANC6B is most interested in funding organizations with programs already in place — those who can use the grant funds immediately to accelerate their humanitarian efforts.

For additional information about the grant program please contact Commissioner Jerry Sroufe at 6B02@anc.dc.gov.

Here Are the Farmers Line and Arts & Crafts Vendors Who Will Be at Eastern Market this Weekend

by Larry Janezich

June 26, 2020

Here Are the Farmers Line/Arts & Crafts/Prepared Food Vendors Who Will Be at Eastern Market this Weekend, 9:00am – 4:00pm (apparently the previously announced 3:00pm close has been extended).  In addition, Diverse Markets Eastern Market Flea Market will be on the 300 block of 7th Street on Sunday, 9:00am – 4:pm.

And remember that the indoor market is 9:00am – 5:00pm Tuesday – Sunday.

Mask and social distancing requirements are in effect.

https://easternmarket-dc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Saturday-6-27-20-Map.pdf

https://easternmarket-dc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Sunday-6-28-20-Map.pdf

Here’s a list of Farmer’s bios and contact info – http://easternmarket-dc.org/our-farmers/

For more information, see here:  http://easternmarket-dc.org/

Eastern Market will be open the following hours on the July 4th Weekend:

Friday, July 3: Regular Hours

Saturday, July 4: Closing early at 3pm

Sunday, July 5: Regular Hours

This is the 200 block of 7th Street a couple of weeks ago – the arts and crafts vendors will be back here on Saturday as well as on the 300 block.  Mike Berman’s Flea Market comes back to the 300 block on Sunday.

Eastern Market Arts-Crafts-Flea & Prepared Food Vendors Return This Weekend

by Larry Janezich

June 25, 2020

The Eastern Market arts and crafts vendors will return to the 200 and 300 blocks of 7^th Street this Saturday, and Mike Berman of Diverse Markets, will bring the flea market back to the 300 block of 7^th Street on Sunday.  The 200 and 300 blocks of 7th Street, SE, will be closed to traffic to allow for vending, and will have space for a more than 50 non-food sellers and prepared food sellers.  The hours of operation will be from 9:00am – 3:00pm, and that will include farmers on the Farmers Line who have been grumbling about having to close down at 1:00pm.  The hours of operation for the indoor merchants will remain at 9:00am to 5:00pm.

All Phase One health guidance and regulations under the Mayoral Order continue to apply, including the requirement for patrons and vendors to mask up and to follow social distancing guidelines.

The reopening does not yet include the operation of the Saturday and Sunday flea markets on C Street, which is a private street owned by the Hine developer.  The city has not issued any guidance for the reopening of private flea markets, and the reopening of 7^th  Street to vending is made possible by a clause in the Mayor’s order that allows non-food vendors to “piggyback” on existing farmer’s markets.

Berman says he will put at least 20 vendors on the 300 block of 7th Street on Sunday and says he hopes to find a way to open up C Street for his Sunday flea market.  A different operator, Carole Wright, operates the Saturday flea market on C Street.

Here’s a shot of 7th Street, midday on Saturday. We should learn this week when the Eastern Market weekend arts and crafts and flea market return to 7th Street.

Blackbird, at 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, has removed construction barriers, affording a look at The Roost – the future “culinary clubhouse’ space.

Here’s where the beer garden “Shelter” will be on the 14th Street side.

This is a shot of the build out for Ako by Kenaki on the corner of 14th and PA Ave, looking down the length of the clubhouse.

Over on lower 8th Street, the prime corner retail space in the mixed use project “Emblem” – across from The Brig – will be occupied by a beauty salon. This photo from 6/18 –

and shows that two days later, a new statehood mural had been added to lower 8th. Click to enlarge.

The Week Ahead…

By Larry Janezich

June 21, 2010

Monday, June 22

Phase Two of ReOpen DC begins today.

ANC 6A Community Outreach Committee (COC)

This meeting will be a Webex virtual meeting. Go here for the link & Call-In number to join this public meeting.  https://anc6a.org/wp-content/uploads/COCA0620.pdf

Among items on the agenda:

Presentation:  Gottlieb Simon, Office of the Advisory Neighborhood Commission

Presentation:  Hannah Jacobson Blumenfeld, Serve Your City

Tuesday, June 23

ANC6B Barracks Row Working Group meets at 7:00pm.

This meeting will be a Webex virtual meeting. Go here for the link & Call-In number to join this public meeting. https://www.anc6b.org/calendar/

Agenda:

This meeting will focus on continued COVID-19 issues such as social distancing and phased opening of businesses in our area.

Wednesday, June 24

ANC6B’s 1333 M Street, SE, Planned Unit Development (PUD ) Planning and Zoning Subcommittee  meets at 7:00pm.

This meeting will be a Webex virtual meeting. Go here for the link & Call-In number to join this public meeting. https://www.anc6b.org/calendar/

Agenda: 

Begin discussion of community benefits and amenities from the developer (required in exchange for a change in zoning permitting greater height, massing, and density than would otherwise be allowed).

Thursday, June 25

POSTPONED UNTIL WEDNESDAY, JULY 1

ANC6B’s Livable Communities Task Force (LCTF) meets at 7:00pm.

This meeting will be available on Zoom.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://georgetown.zoom.us/j/98212358847

Agenda: 

Updates on the opening date of the parcel 1 park including the playground which will be able to open in Phase 2, and to discuss recommendations for ANC6B to consider regarding the development of parcels 2 – 6 of the Eastern Market Metro Park.  Construction on the remaining parcels, including Parcel 4 where the entrance to Metro is located, will begin in October.

Phase II Reopening Likely to Begin on Monday, June 22 – Here’s What It Would Look Like

By Larry Janezich

June 17, 2020

Mayor Bowser said today at her 11:00am briefing that if the metrics continue the downward trend, Phase II reopening could begin on Monday.  She will announce a decision on Friday and issue a Mayoral order then, if appropriate.  She warned that unfavorable metrics after the Phase II reopening could cause a dial-back.

Here’s what reopening under Phase II would look like:

Gatherings up to 50 people

Indoor dining at restaurants at 50% capacity

Gyms, health clubs, yoga studios, dance studios, and workout studios at at five patrons per 1,000 square feet and social distancing

Parks, playgrounds, courts and fields for casual play (no league sports)

Non-essential retail indoor shopping at 50% capacity

Personal Services such as nail salons, tanning salons and wax salons by appointment (no waiting inside the shop)

Churches and houses of worship – indoor serves for up to 100 or 50% capacity, whichever is less (no choirs, singing or shared items)

Department of Recreation swimming pools for swimming classes or instruction

Museums with limited capacity under specific guidelines TBA

Libraries at 50% capacity

Camps no more than 10 in cohort and with social distancing

Theaters, cinema, and entertainment venues remain closed, but may apply for a waiver

Colleges and universities after approval of a plan which must be submitted to the city for review

In addition, the DC government will continue to operate in a modified telework posture, but starting Tuesday, the Department of Motor Vehicles will be open for in person services.  Telework is still recommended for most businesses.

For additional information go here:  https://coronavirus.dc.gov/phasetwo

ANC6Bi07 Commissioner Kelly Waud

ANC6B Commissioner Kelly Waud Will Not Seek Reelection

by Larry Janezich

June 17, 2020

ANC6B07 Commissionr Kelly Waud announced last week, that she would not seek reelection.  Waud told Capitol Hill Corner, “I’m not running again for the usual reasons… ANC is a big time commitment and I would rather contribute to the community in other, hands-on, direct ways.”

Waud became commissioner in April of 2018, succeeding Commissioner Aimee Grace who resigned earlier that year.  She was reelected to a two year term in November, 2018.

Waud has been an active commissioner, pushing the city to complete the redevelopment of the Potomac Avenue pocket parks, raising questions about the effect of the Southwest Boulevard and the proposed Bus Transit Support Facility on her single member district, lobbying the Department of Transportation of dangerous intersections at Potomac/Pennsylvania/14^th Street, SE and at the 11^th  Street, SE/395 off ramp.

She has taken a particular interest in Hopkins Apartments, working with Abena Disroe, President of the Hopkins Resident Council, to build the Hopkins community gardens, and starting a Go Fund Me page for Disroe when she lost everything to a fire.

When Congressional Aviation expressed interest in building a heliport at 11^th and Water Street, Waud helped organize a public meeting where residents expressed their concerns about noise and the lack of community involvement in the decision process.  The proposed project does not appear to have advanced.

Recently she has worked to mobilize her single member district to participate in the negotiations for community benefits and amenities under the Planned Unit Development of the massive mixed use project on the Anacostia waterfront at 1333 M Street.

She also joined other 6B commissioners in changing the ANC’s bylaws to allow for grant making during the declared COVID health emergency; the ANC is setting up a task force to establish a process and criteria for grants that will benefit the community.

Waud told her constituents in an email, “It has been an honor to serve you and I am proud of the work we have accomplished. I am happy to talk with anyone who has an interest in running about what they should expect from the role, please feel free to reach out by email.”

6B07 is a diverse single member district, including the commercial strip on the south side of Pennsylvania Avenue, Harris Teeter, the Potomac Avenue pocket parks, Potomac Gardens, and Hopkins Apartments.  The district borders the major CAS Riegler mixed use retail/150 – 180 apartments at 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue, currently under construction, and is seeing other new residential construction as evidenced by plans for a multi- residential building in the in 1300 Block of K Street, SE, as well at the project at 1333 M Street.

Petitions for the November 3, 2020 General Election for ANC will be available on June 26, 2020 here: https://dcboe.org/Candidates/General-Election-2020-Petitions

Engine Company No 8 at 1501 C Street, SE, near the Pretzel Bakery

COVID-19 Testing Resumes This Week on Capitol Hill  at Engine Company No 8

By Larry Janezich

June 15, 2020

Engine Company No 8 at 1520 C Street, SE, will resume providing free walk up testing this Thursday and Friday, 4 pm – 8 pm, and Saturday from 12 pm – 4 pm.

The expanded testing is part of a larger effort utilizing firehouses across the city.  The firehouse testing sites are free, walk-up, and no referral, no appointment, and no exhibition of symptoms is needed.

So far, more than 2,300 people have been tested at a firehouse. The testing at these sites is done by personnel from the DC Fire and EMS Department, the Public Health Lab, and the Department of Health.

The new firehouse testing schedule is below:

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, 4 pm – 8 pm.

Engine 4 (2531 Sherman Ave NW)

Engine 11 (3420 14th St NW)

Engine 24 (5101 Georgia Ave NW)

Engine 31 (4930 Connecticut Ave NW)

Thursday and Friday, 4 pm – 8 pm, and Saturday from 12 pm – 4 pm.

Engine 8 (1520 C St SE)

Engine 10 (1342 Florida Ave NE)

Engine 30 (50 49th St NE)

Engine 33 (101 Atlantic St SE)

The firehouse testing sites are in addition to the many free testing sites across DC, including the walk-up testing site at F Street, NW between 4th and 5th Streets, NW and the drive-thru and walk-up testing sites at 2241 Martin Luther King Jr Avenue SE in Ward 8 and at the UDC-CC Bertie Backus campus in Ward 5.

Residents are still encouraged to access testing through their health care providers so that they are connected to health care. However, anyone who needs a test can get a test at the testing locations listed above.

Find a full list of testing locations at https://coronavirus.dc.gov/testing