Finn McCool’s – the Irish Pub Tavern on Barracks Row – has closed, as reported by Eater Washington DC: http://bit.ly/3b0euvs The space will become a new tavern serving American fare run by a new operator, according to Tom Johnson of the Hill Restaurant Group which ran McCool’s. Johnson’s group recently relinquished its lease on the former Orchid, which has morphed into Extreme Pizza run by Bombay Street Food owner Asad Sheikh.
Finally…we know what’s going into the space on the Pennsylvania Avenue side of the Hine Project next to Sephora. It’s being fitted out for a new AT&T retail cell phones
Last Tuesday, a joint Senate Rules and Senate Homeland Security Committees hearing opened up what will become a long investigation on several fronts of the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol. The hearing revealed a series of failures which led to the collapse of security, including: bad intelligence, a missed FBI warning, lack of training and equipment for the US Capitol Police, the freezing up of the Capitol Police Board, and a failure of preparedness and communications which led to a delayed deployment of the National Guard. The hearing was held in the Senate Hart Building’s second floor multi media room. Photo from the Senate Recording Studio coverage of the hearing.
On Wednesday, temperatures in the upper 60s drew about 100 kids to the Eastern Market Metro Park Playground.
Also on Wednesday, the Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee held a virtual meeting. Chair Donna Scheeder announced the resignation of Johnathan Page as the Mayor’s representative on the Committee. Page has relocated off the Hill. Market Manager Barry Margeson discussed a plan to expand Market hours – 9:00am until 6:00pm Tuesday thru Friday; 8:00am until 5:00pm on Saturday; and 9:00am until 5:00pm on Monday – timing TBA.
Wednesday morning, a dozen neighbors of Folger Park met with National Park Service representatives, Tonya Thompson (Chief of Staff, National Capital Parks-East facing camera on right) and Daniel Weldon (Cultural Resources Program Manager, National Capital Parks-East facing camera on left) to discuss improvements to the park. The meeting was called by ANC6B Commissioner Jennifer Samolyk. Funds for renovation of the park will be available in 2023. Samolyk says her major takeaway was initiating the formation of Friends of Folger Park – an effort which the National Park Service will help coordinate.
Neighbors Marsha Lea and Stephanie Rao observe that the central wading pool (now a plant bed) and lush planting plan depicted in the 1930s design, suggest that the design intent for this space was to be a garden-like oasis for city-dwellers. Asks: Replacement of hazardous hardscape. Restoration of the design features on the west and east sides of the park, including the faded mosaic and non-functioning fountains. Evaluation of and addressing pedestrian circulation. Creating more open and inviting perimeters. Replace rotting wood benches. Rat abatement.
The Week Ahead and ANC Committee Highlights
by Larry Janezich
Posted February 28
ANC COMMITTEE HIGHLIGHTS
Wednesday, ANC6B Transportation Committee discusses the Baltimore/DC Maglev DEIS.
Thursday, ANC6C Transportation Committee considers a letter to city officials on H Street safety issues and also discusses the Baltimore/DC Maglev DEIS.
THE WEEK AHEAD…
Monday, March 1
ANC6C Alcoholic Beverage Licensing Committee holds a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
- To join the meeting, go here: https://dcnet.webex.com/dcnet/onstage/g.php?MTID=e38aec8f61e715bfd32f9baef1103e246
- For additional info on joining the meeting, go here: https://anc6c.org/hot-topics/
Draft agenda:
- Uncorked, 22 M Street, NE. Transfer Application for Retailer’s Class “A” Liquor Store.
Tuesday, March 2
ANC6B Planning and Zoning Committee holds a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
- To join the meeting, go here: Meeting link: https://dcnet.webex.com/dcnet/j.php?MTID=m00677b3b10c9d4e5368e2f790ab33771
- For additional info on joining the meeting, go here: http://bit.ly/3b3CLkm
Among items on the draft agenda:
- 102 9th Street, SE – Zoning Adjustment Application – Special Exception to construct a penthouse addition to an existing three-story, attached, principal dwelling unit.
- 413 8th Street, SE, Chipotle – Zoning Adjustment Application – Special Exception to allow (continue) a fast food restaurant use.
- 610 South Carolina Avenue, SE – Zoning Adjustment Application – Special Exception to construct a one story addition to two-story building.
- 411 New Jersey Avenue, SE – Zoning Adjustment Application – Special Exception to construct two new, three-story, principal dwelling units.
- 1819 A Street, SE – Zoning Adjustment Application. Special Exceptions to construct a third story and a three-story rear addition, and to convert an existing two-story, detached, principal dwelling unit to a three-story, semi-detached, three-unit residential building.
- Text Amendment to add Inclusionary Zoning Requirements to NC-6 (Lower Barracks Row).
ANC6C Environment, Parks, and Public Events Committee which usually meets this date will not meet this month.
Wednesday, March 3
ANC6B Transportation Committee holds a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
- To join the meeting, go here: Meeting link: https://dcnet.webex.com/dcnet/j.php?MTID=m8bb858ae66bd7aa8245a21b2be69831d
- For additional info on joining the meeting, go here: http://bit.ly/2ZVtvbM
Among items on the draft agenda:
- Demonstration of ANC6B Traffic Calming Inventory Draft
- Request to Convert Several Blocks in 6B04 to Two-Way
- Discussion on the Baltimore/DC Maglev DEIS
ANC6C Planning, Zoning and Economic Development Committee hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
- To join the meeting, go here: https://dcnet.webex.com/dcnet/onstage/g.php?MTID=ef9ceac2a51c2b863684d8e54f51fa6f
For more info on joining the meeting, go here: https://anc6c.org/march-2021-virtual-meeting-details/
Among items on the draft agenda:
- 200 Massachusetts Avenue, NW – Capitol Crossing – Informational presentation on to-be-filed second-stage PUD application for the Center Block of the Capitol Crossing development project. This application is for the last two buildings in the project. It includes a commercial building on which will be developed with a hotel and ground floor retail, and a residential building which will include 50 affordable housing units and ground floor retail.
- 622 Eye Street, NE – Further-revised application of VBS Community Builders LLC, for a special exception to convert an existing residential building into a five-unit apartment house and for variance relief from the 900-square-foot/unit lot area requirements.
- Short-term rental rulemaking (2nd round) – Proposed DCRA regulations implementing the 2019 Council legislation regulating Airbnb and similar short-term lodging arrangements. The PZE and ANC 6C reviewed and commented on the initial draft regulations in November 2020; owing to the number of comments, DCRA has issued a revised proposal. Deadline for comments: Mar. 22, 2021. (Original proposed rulemaking; ANC 6C comments; second proposed rulemaking; underlying legislation)
- 307 A Street, NE – Application for a special exception from the lot occupancy requirements to construct a one-story rear addition to an existing attached three-story principal dwelling unit.
- 410 East Capitol Street, NE – Application for concept approval to replace an existing one-story rear addition with two-story addition.
Thursday, March 4
The ANC6B Alcohol Beverage Committee – usually scheduled this day – will not meet this month
ANC6C Transportation and Public Space Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
- To join the meeting, go here: Attendee Link: https://dcnet.webex.com/dcnet/onstage/g.php?MTID=ebe96588b7900d009fed3c06acac88b98
- For more info on joining the meeting, go here: http://bit.ly/2NGBbw6
Among items on the draft agenda:
- Second MoveDC survey: www.WeMoveDC.org.
- 111 K Street, NE – New Sidewalk Café. Public Space Application for an unenclosed sidewalk cafe at the southeast corner of K Street, NE and 1st Street NE. The proposed 216 sq. ft. cafe will include a total of 10 tables, or 27 seats total, with umbrellas. Hours listed on the application are from 8am or 10am until 11pm or midnight, 7 days a week.
- H Street NE safety concerns. A joint meeting between ANC 6A and 6C Transportation and Public Space Committees was held on February 16 on H Street NE safety concerns. The Committee will review the joint letter as drafted by a subcommittee of members from both ANCs requesting solutions for H Street NE.
- DDOT Performance Oversight Testimony. The hearing record for the Council’s Committee on Transportation and the Environment held DDOT’s performance oversight hearing on Friday, February 26, 2021 will close 14 days after the hearing date. The Committee will consider and make any recommendations for the ANC to submit written testimony for the record.
- Baltimore-Washington SCMAGLEV Project DEIS. Comments are due on April 22, 2021 for the Baltimore-Washington SCMAGLEV Project
- Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The Committee will discuss the DEIS and any received community feedback.
CAPITOL HILL CORNER 
In reference to the events of January 6, the razor-wire festooned security fence around the capitol complex — installed after the horses had bolted the barn — was initially thought to be necessary until the inauguration. Then the inevitable mission creep set in: keep the fence up until the not yet scheduled State of the Union address, until the imaginary March 4 Trump inauguration, and, most recently, until September. Not sure what is significant about September, the official start of autumn?
The basis for the mission creep is what amounts to social media chatter. We have gone from ignoring intelligence to being held hostage by noise.
The Capitol Police command is now requesting a thousand more officers even though it did not call up but few more than half its officers on January 6, and issued those unfortunate officers few resources and no instructions.
Time for the Senate and House leadership to step forward — Schumer & McConnell, and Pelosi & McCarthy. Take down that fence.
Like all the photos, give a gazette quality to the newsletter
it was really nice to read about the 100 kids.