Formerly Subway, 430 8th Street Barracks Row will be the new home of a Union Kitchen outlet this fall.
Union Kitchen Barracks Row Plans Fall Opening
by Larry Janezich
Posted April 12, 2022
Union Kitchen is coming to Barracks Row at the location of the former Subway shop, 430 8th Street, SE. The story was first reported by Daniel J. Sernovitz in Washington Business Journal.
The café/grocery will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and offer specialty grocery items and housewares in the 1400 s.f. storefront space. Owners are aiming at opening in October.
This comes as good news for a troubled block of Barracks Row where the now-closed Tandoor and the notorious Popeye’s once lived. Subway closed up shop at the location in February of 2020. As reported by CHC in March of this year, the north end of the block will soon feature Mason & Greens, Sustainable Dry Goods | Grocer. See here: https://bit.ly/3vUI40n .
Union Kitchen, a local chain which bills itself as a “food business accelerator,” is headquartered at 1369 New York Avenue, (see here: https://www.unionkitchen.com/ ). Neighbors in Northeast are familiar with one of Union Kitchen’s 8 outlets at 538 3rd Street, NE.
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Part of the the coalition of some 100 neighbors involved in the effort to Save Mott’s Market. Photo: Save Mott’s Market.
Campaign to Save Mott’s Market Suffers Serious Setback – Neighbors Not Giving Up. Photo: Hilary Russell
by Hilary Russell
Posted April 11, 2022
An energetic and determined coalition of about 100 Hill neighbors has been campaigning to save Mott’s Market at 233 12th Street, SE, since the building was listed for sale in March 2022 https://bit.ly/37AwGfZ . Residents in the close-knit, nearby community who value this historic resource came together organically, disseminated signs, held virtual meetings, and established a website and a multi-member LLC (limited liability company) that aimed to buy the building. They made plans to revitalize the corner store by renting it to an experienced vendor who “shared the community’s vision.” And they raised enough funds to make a serious offer on April 7 to the Cho family, owners of the building since 2010.
On Friday, April 8, the coalition learned that a competing offer from a developer – one with no contingencies – had been accepted. The buyer’s identify has not yet been publicly disclosed. According to organizer Jordan LaCrosse, coalition members are deeply disappointed but are not giving up. As she put it in an email to those involved in the effort, “While this is regrettable news, it is not necessarily the end. There remain possible avenues our team can explore in the coming weeks to influence the ultimate fate of the market and the building itself.” The email signoff was upbeat: “We are so very fortunate to live in a caring, courageous, and committed community.”
Capitol Hill Corner https://capitolhillcorner.org/ will keep you informed, but sign up for coalition emails at savemottsmarket@gmail.com to join or keep tabs on continuing efforts to influence the building’s new owner. Visit www.mottsmarket.com to learn more about the neighborhood coalition and the 100+-year-history of a corner store at 123 12th Street, SE.
Atlas Dog House is coming to 1350 E Street, SE, on the first floor of the Southwest corner of Beckert’s Park – part of the SE Safeway complex. This will be a high-end sister facility of the Atlas Dog House at 1375 H Street, SE. The new facility will feature day care for dogs, 4 pens with a capacity of 30 dogs each, a hydro therapy pool, sound proofing and odor control. The ANC6B Planning and Zoning Committee voted to support a request for a zoning adjustment to provide a special exception for the construction of an animal boarding establishment. The full ANC6B is expected to endorse the zoning change at its meeting this coming Tuesday. Friday evening, Barracks Row Main Street kicked off its 2022 season of Friday night Jazz at Eastern Market Metro Plaza with Imani-Grace Cooper www.imanigrace.com . The concerts will continue every Friday through September. The Rock Creek Morris Women and the Foggy Bottom Morris Men welcomed and celebrated spring with Morris dancing on Saturday afternoon on the plaza in front of the 7th Street Hill Café across from Eastern Market. Morris dancing is an ancient folk agricultural ritual from England. The tradition experienced a revival in the late 1890s in England and there are now some 150 Morris dancing teams in the United States, according to Wiki. For more see here http://fbmm.org/ and here https://rockcreekmorriswomen.weebly.com/New Guerrilla Gardeners’ plantings in the 600 Block of Virginia Avenue, SE, West Bound – part of their One Beautiful Mile Project. Photo credit: Jim Guckert. For more, see here: https://guerrillagardenersdc.org/
‘And Spring Splendor now showing at Winston Park, 8th and I Street, SE, beauty brought to you courtesy of Guerrilla Gardeners. Photo credit: Jim Guckert. For more see here: https://guerrillagardenersdc.org/
On Thursday, the US Senate confirmed the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court by a vote of 53 – 47.
The Week Ahead…& Some Photos from the Past Week & ANC Highlights
by Larry Janezich
Posted April 10, 2022
ANC Highlights:
Tuesday – Mayor Bowser appears before ANC6B on the DC Annual Budget.
Tuesday – ANC6B will consider letters of concern on redistricting.
Wednesday – ANC6C will propose a new boundary map for ANC6C which the Commissioner will present to the Council’s Redistricting Subcommittee at its hearing on April 28th.
Thursday – ANC6A will consider a letter to the Redistricting Subcommittee recommending the creation of a west of the river ANC.
1801 E Street, SE. Association for the Preservation of Historic Congressional Cemetery. Application for a Multipurpose Class “C” liquor license.
717 8th Street, SE. Rose’s Luxury. Application for a Class “CR” Restaurant license.
2022 Capitol Hill Classic 10K, 3K, and Fun Run
428 11th Street, SE. Zoning Adjustment Application. Special Exception to construct a rear, two-story addition to an existing, attached two-story with basement, principal dwelling unit.
1415 Potomac Avenue, SE. Zoning Adjustment Application. Special Exception to construct a rear, two-story addition with deck, to an existing, attached two-story with cellar, principal dwelling unit.
912 G Street, SE. Zoning Adjustment Application. Special Exception to construct a roof deck on an accessory garage to an existing, attached, two-story with cellar, principal dwelling unit.
1350 E Street, SE. Zoning Adjustment Application. Special Exception to construct an animal boarding establishment in an existing, detached, mixed use building.
135 Kentucky Avenue, SE. Zoning Adjustment Application. Special Exception to construct a two-story rear addition, and a second story garage addition to an existing, attached, two-story with basement, principal dwelling unit.
745 10th Street, SE. Zoning Adjustment Application. New accessory building in rear yard with roof deck.
Resolution requesting increased regulation of last mile delivery services (DashMart, GoPuff, etc.)
Presentations:
Mayor Muriel Bowser – Discussion on DC’s Annual Budget.
Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee
312 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. Young Chow Asian Restaurant. Application for a Class “CR” Restaurant license.
410 1st Street, SE. Bullfeathers . Application for a Class “CR” Restaurant license.
629 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. La Plaza. Application for a Class “CR” Restaurant license.
653 Pennsylvania Ave SE. Sanphan Thai Cuisine. Application for a Class “CR” Restaurant license.
715 8th Street, SE. Pineapple and Pearls. Application for a Class “CR” Restaurant license.
735 8th Street, SE. Sushi Hachi. Application for a Class “CR” Restaurant license.
515 8th Street, SE. Bodegon Spanish Tapas. Application for a Class “CR” Restaurant license.
Planning and Zoning Committee
Letter to encourage Office of Planning to continue to analyze potential for increased Alley and Accessory Building housing units.
Letter to DC Council Regarding Neighborhood Concerns on Increased Carjackings – introduced by Commissioner Samolyk (tentative).
Letters on Ward 6 ANC Redistricting – introduced by Commissioner Holman.
Letters on Ward 7 ANC Redistricting – introduced by Commissioner Holman.
***
Wednesday, April 13
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6C will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
New café at Constitution and 7th Street, NE – James Thran.
Restaurant Tip Credit Elimination Act of 2021 – Ryan O’Leary.
Mobile voting in D.C. election – Rev. George Gilbert, Jr.
Transportation and Public Space Committee
Eighth Street Bus Priority Concept Plans.
Swampoodle Terrace legislation; K, L, and M Street installations.
201 K Street NE, bike racks, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, retaining wall, landscaping.
Discussion of new and upgraded bike lanes.
300 D Street NE. paving of public space.
Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development
634 East Capitol NE. Zoning Adjustment Application. Relief from lot occupancy requirements to construct a rear two-story addition currently permitted as a boarding house to be converted to a flat.
1121 Abbey Place, NE. Zoning Adjustment Application. Expedited review for relief from rooftop architectural alteration to make legal an illegally constructed roof deck on the front porch.
Environment, Parks, and Events Committee
Update on NoMa parks—Robin-Eve Jasper.
2022 Capitol Hill Classic—Roberta Stewart.
Discussion of future meetings, online or in-person.
Grants Committee (Victoria Lord, chair)
Capitol Hill Literary BookFest.
Capitol Hill Gardening Club, 7th Street garden.
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Thursday, April 14
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6A will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
Mayor’s Proposed FY2023-24 Budget – Michael Carter, Director, Department of Public Works (DPW).
Consent Agenda
1238 H Street, NE. Application for renewal of “CR” Restaurant license.
Letter to DDOT supporting traffic calming in the area of C Street NE between 11th Street, NE, and 15th Street, NE.
Letter to DDOT reiterating the ANC’s request for traffic calming in the 800 block of West Virginia Avenue, NE, and K Street, NE, as set out previously in the ANC’s June 15, 2021, comment to DDOT in response to the Notice of Intent.
Recommendation: ANC 6A send a letter of support to HSEMA in support of the permit for the Capitol Hill Classic race.
242 11th Street, NE. Letter of support to HPRB for the construction of a ten foot (by right) addition on the rear of building while also adding a 3rd floor addition, and a second floor addition to an existing one story garage.
1108 Constitution Avenue, NE. Letter of support for the construction of a rear yard addition and cellar addition which will fill in the dogleg at 1108 Constitution Avenue, NE.
Transportation and Public Space
ANC support for the installation of separated bicycle lanes on the 1300 block of North Carolina Avenue, NE, as set out in the DDOT Notice of Intent with requested modifications to the proposed designs to enhance pedestrian and cyclist safety.
Letter of support for the DDOT Notice of Intent for installation of all way stop control at 16th Street and Constitution Avenue NE.
Economic Development and Zoning
Letter of support to Zoning Commission for a map amendment to change the property at 1207 H Street, NE (Auto Zone), from its current zoning Mixed Use; Medium Density Residential and Medium Density Commercial to Medium Density Mixed Use) which permits a height of 70 feet and an FAR of 4.8, and will be subject to the enhanced affordability requirements under the Inclusionary Zoning Plus Program.
New Business
Suggested Motion: ANC 6A write a joint letter with ANC6 B to the Redistricting Task Force recommending the creation of a primarily west of the river ANC to represent the connected Ward 7 neighborhoods of Hill East, Kingman Park, Rosedale, Reservation 13/RFK developments and our incarcerated neighbors in the DC Jail.
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Councilmember Elissa Silverman chaired the 10 hour Subcommittee on Redistricting Hearin on Thursday.Here’s the Ward 7 Task Force ANC boundary map. Here’s Ward 7 Task Force member and ANC6A Commissioner Brian Alcorn’s map showing the areas formerly in Ward 6 which have become part of Ward 7, and their relation to Ward 7 ANC’s into which they would be incorporated. Alcorn has lead the fight for a stand-alone ANC west of the river. West of river residents say the proposed Ward 7 map fails to meet the principles of compact and contiguous ANCs and the requirement to keep communities of interest together, among others.
CM Silverman Takes On “The Elephant in the Room” – Ward 7’s Cross-River ANCs
By Larry Janezich
Posted April 8, 2022
CM Elissa Silverman took on “the elephant in the room” yesterday, the issue of Ward 7’s two proposed cross river ANCs. The issue came up during the City Council’s Subcommittee on Redistricting’s ten hour hearing on the ANC Boundary Redistricting Bill. Three of those 10 hours were spent on the Ward 7 Task Force’s controversial map which would extend two Ward 7 ANCs over the river to incorporate neighborhoods in Hill East. Hill East wants their own stand-alone ANC on the west side of the river.
Silverman, chair of the Subcommittee, opened the hearing, saying “My colleagues and I will be asking questions…I want to be clear on one point. Questions are to understand how decisions are made. To understand the rational and intent is part of the legislative process…I want everybody to keep that in mind. There have been sentiments that somehow, asking a question is undermining the task force process. It is being curious – a means to understand. If someone has an issue with that, please let me know and speak to me individually. My questions will be directed to whether maps meet the requirement of law and subscribe to principles of redistricting.” Silverman might have been referring to the comments of some Ward 7 Task Force members who questioned Silverman’s appearance at the task force meeting on March 29, prior to the vote on the final Task Force map recommendation.
The hearing proceeded with testimony from proponents and opponents of the Ward 7 Task Force map, with the latter outnumbering former, 12 to 6. The imbalance reflected the strong feelings of Hill East residents voicing their support for their own ANC, rather than the 16 – 3 vote of the Task Force in favor of the map.
After a witness referred to the cross- river ANCs as “the elephant in the room” and the phrase was repeated by CM Anita Bonds, Silverman addressed the issue.
“I am going to talk about the elephant in the room. This is my perception of the dynamics at play. For decades if not more, the communities in wards east of the river – which are predominantly Black – have felt neglected and not paid attention to in terms of political power – in terms of economic development – in terms of respect by elected officials and by fellow DC residents. In the redistricting process the newly reconstituted Ward 7 residents west of the river feel neglected and not paid attention to. So those who testified tonight felt that their desire to have a west of the river ANC was ignored by east of the river residents….” She asked supporters of the Task Force map to address the concerns of those west of the river that they felt they were not listened to and that the workings of an ANC would be best implemented by a stand-alone ANC.
Map author Keith Hasan-Towrey noted the long time push and pull between areas of Ward 7 and Ward 6 regarding representation and said the Task Force made sure there were four SMDs on each side of the river in ANC7A which includes Rosedale and Kingman Park and Hill East, formerly in ANC6A. He suggested by creating an ANC with this kind of integration is one way to bring people together. He added, “We did not split neighborhoods or communities – west of the river defined itself as a giant community.”
Silverman said that the approach to the proposed ANC7A was “thoughtful regarding the balance of power and this is about power. This is not the situation in 7F where there are 3 SMDs east of the river and 5 west of the river. I see an imbalance of power. ANC7F has Reservation 13 and the Subcommittee’s report says it is seen as an anchor for the community around it. I am straining to see how the power is balanced in 7F” [cross-river ANC which includes south Hill East and Reservation 13].
Hasan-Towrey said the Task Force had meet with resistance on how to make this work in 7F – “If all parties come together, I think we can do that.” He cited time constraints which got in the way of continuing negotiations, but added that “it was always the goal to balance power as equally as possible and we continue to ask for that.”
Silverman said that this claim about unity it was a good goal – that east of the river and west of the river need to see each other’s interest more: “I’m struck that almost every west of the river Ward 7 resident testified this would divide and didn’t feel included. Those who live in Kingman Park…said they just didn’t feel listened to in a [the current pre-redistricting] cross-river ANC and given no priority because they were a lone commission west of the river.”
ANC6B Commissioner Alison Horn responded to Hasan-Towrey regarding the question of parity in 7F, saying she repeatedly ran into a roadblock when she raised the issue with the Task Force. She said she was told that there were political issues that were non-starters on the other side of the bridge which made it unrealistic to do anything differently. She added, “Any statements that there weren’t attempts to compromise [by east of the river residents] are disingenuous…attempts to compromise with my area fell far short of what it should have been.”
ANC7F Chair Tyrell Holcomb said that working through the adjustment period is going to feel uneasy. He suggested that if 7F properly utilizes committees for west of the river and east of the river, “I think we can create a balance where nobody feels their voice is not heard and we will always have the opportunity to feel we’re included in the process. It will not be easy. We have to meet in the middle. Regarding development …we need to engage voices on both sides of the river to make sure there is no disparity as it relates to development.”
At the end of the three hours on Ward 7, Silverman stated definitively who would have the final word on Ward 7 boundaries: “I, as well as CM Bonds and CM Henderson, will be looking to CM Gray in terms of what we will decide regarding recommendations in Ward 7. There have been a lot of strong and passionate beliefs here – a good discussion. We’ll continue it on April 28.”
The Subcommittee will hold a second hearing that date with opportunities to testify. Going forward, the Subcommittee will mark up the bill in May and forward it to the City Council. The Council will hold the first vote on May 24, and the second on June 7.
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Live Jazz at Eastern Market Metro Plaza Tonight at 5:00pm.
by Larry Janezich
Tonight Live Jazz on Capitol Hill kicks off the season of Friday night jazz concerts on Eastern Market Metro Plaza. The concerts will continue through September. Tonight’s performing artist is Imani-Grace Cooper, 5:00pm – 6:30pm.
“Imani-Grace Cooper is a 2016 graduate of Howard University’s vocal department. Now a full time D.C resident, Imani-Grace is recently returning to the states after a two month residency at Quincy Jones’s listening room, Qʼs Lounge And Bar of the Palazzo Versace Hotel in Dubai, UAE as vocalist for the Justin Kauflin Quartet. She’s headlined venues like The John F. Kennedy Center For Performing Arts, The Apache Cafe in Atlanta, GA and Smalls Jazz Club. Imani-Grace advocates for the arts in education with a desire to spread mental, physical and spiritual health throughout her various communities. Her teaching experiences include Pre-K to bachelorette level classroom settings, masterclasses and workshops, as well as private instruction and tutoring. Along with band leading, Imani-Grace has curated numerous events in the D.C. area including a 3 year jazz series featuring local and coastal greats like Allyn Johnson and Brent Birkhead. Imani-Grace performs weekly in worship at the Washington National Cathedral as a lead vocalist for the cathedralʼs jazz band. For more on Imani-Grace as well as information about her culture and music collective Pyramid Projects, visit www.imanigrace.com. “
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Construction for the Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, multi modal traffic plan will start in June with bus platforms for passengers.
Construction of PA Ave SE Dedicated Bus and Protected Bike Lanes Starts in June
By Larry Janezich
Posted April 7, 2022
Greg Matlesky, project manager for the Pennsylvania Avenue Southeast Corridor study, told ANC6B’s Transportation Committee last night that DDOT will begin construction of the new PA Ave, SE, transportation plan in June.
The plan would proceed in two phases and provide curbside 5 foot separated bike lanes on both sides of the street, each with a three foot buffer, then a lane for off-peak metered parking which becomes a dedicated bus lane during peak hours, and two traffic lanes.
Phase 1 concerns PA Ave, SE, between 2nd Streets, SE, and 13th Street, SE. Construction of the bus platforms for boarding and discharging passengers – as pictured above – will begin in June. Milling of the Avenue and installing the bike lanes will happen over the summer and will be completed during the fall of 2022 and spring of 2023. Phase I ends at 2nd Street, SE, where it runs into Independence Avenue which is – at that point – under the control of the U.S. Capitol Police Board, not the District government.
Phase II will deal with PA Ave, SE, between 13th Street, SE, and Barney Circle, SE, and will undertaken in 2024 and 2025 after funding is secured in a future budget cycle.
DDOT reps said that one recurring problem in parts of the city with similar traffic control projects is vehicles blocking bus lanes. DDOT will address this problem by installing cameras on buses which will enable automatic ticketing for violators.
According to DDOT, the Pennsylvania Avenue Southeast Corridor Project will link Capitol Hill and Southeast neighborhoods to the National Mall and provide an east-west connection to the 4th and 6th Streets, SE paired bike lane corridors. Separated bike lanes are regarded as an effective transportation measure that addresses safety and mobility issues along the project corridor. Bicycle infrastructure is under-represented on the corridor and PA Ave SE is considered “uncomfortable for most bicyclists” based on DDOT data.
The goals of the project include providing safer multi modal options for all users, improving traffic control, providing continuous separated bike lanes as well as opportunities to prioritize buses.
The plan also is part of the city’s moveDC long-range transportation plan to provide equitable and excellent transportation facilities and services and the Vision Zero Initiative to create safe streets for everyone. For more or to comment on the plan, go here: https://www.pennavese.com/
A sign on Spike Mendelsohn’s Santa Rosa Taqueria and Margarita Bar says they will reopen here in their new location at 3rd and Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, on Saturday, April 16. A source with Ledo Pizza at 415 8th Street, SE, Barracks Row says to look for an announcement of a soft opening on their Facebook page in about 3 weeks. Some photos from the U.S. Botanic Gardens which reopened last Friday at 10:00am. Timed entry tickets are NOT required. Stepping in from outdoors your skin immediately senses the humidity. Go here for more information. https://www.usbg.gov/Visitors captured by orchids in the orchid room.Tomatoes and strawberries – protected by plexiglass – benefit from a pot specific watering system. In the tropics you feel the heat as well as the humidity, especially on the elevated walkways. On cold days, the water in the jungle’s waterways is heated as high as 90 degrees.
The Week Ahead…& Some Photos from the Past Week
by Larry Janezich
Posted April 3, 2022
Tuesday, April 5
ANC6B Planning and Zoning Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
428 11th Street, SE. Zoning Adjustment Application – Special Exception to construct a rear, two-story addition to an existing, attached, two-story with basement, principal dwelling unit
1415 Potomac Avenue, SE. Zoning Adjustment Application – Special Exception to construct a rear, two-story addition with deck, to an existing, attached, two-story with cellar, principal dwelling unit
912 G Street, SE. Zoning Adjustment Application – Special Exception to construct a roof deck on an accessory garage to an existing, attached, two-story with cellar, principal dwelling unit.
1350 E Street, SE. Zoning Adjustment Application – Special Exception to construct an animal boarding establishment in an existing, detached, mixed use building.
135 Kentucky Avenue, SE. Zoning Adjustment Application – Exception to construct a two-story rear addition, and a second story garage addition to an existing, attached, two-story with basement, principal dwelling unit.
745 10th Street, SE. Zoning Adjustment Application – New accessory building in rear yard with roof deck
510 9th Street, SE. Historic Preservation Application – Partial third floor roof deck above existing house. New cellar windows and wells on front façade, front steps to be replaced.
300 G Street, SE. Historic Preservation Application – Rear yard two story addition.
321 D Street, SE. Historic Preservation Application – Concept: Construct a rear three-story addition; add a partial third floor on the existing house and renovate the existing house.
Resolution requesting increased regulation of last mile delivery services (DashMart, GoPuff, etc.)
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Wednesday, April 6
ANC6C Transportation Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm
Notice of Intent: Notification of the Installation of One-Way Protected Bikeways and Peak-Period, Peak-Direction Bus-Only Lanes on Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.
***
ANC 6C Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 6:30pm.
1801 E Street, SE. Association for the Preservation of Historic Congressional t/n: Historic Congressional Cemetery – Application for a Multipurpose Class “C” liquor license.
312 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. Young Chow Asian Restaurant. License renewal Class “CR” Restaurant License.
410 1st Street, SE. License renewal Class “CR” Restaurant License.
629 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. La Plaza Mexican Restaurant. License renewal Class “CR” Restaurant License.
Out and About – Little Free Libraries and Blessings Boxes – A Photo Essay
by Elizabeth Eby
Posted April 2, 2022
This Little Library (above) is located on 19th Street at the crosswalk leading to the northern end of the Stadium Armory Metro. I never walk by a Little Library without looking inside. It might be interesting to analyze a neighborhood by surveying the titles in and out over a 10 day period. In any event, there’s almost always something worth examining inside. This time I hit the jackpot! An “original” 2X4 inch Yves Klein hand painted on corrugated cardboard AND a novel called The Art Forger. A quick scan reveals that it is a novel about an unhappy love affair and contains useful information for art forgers. There are dozens of Little Libraries on Capitol Hill.
An official website, https://littlefreelibrary.org/ says Little Free Library is a nonprofit organization that started in Hudson, Wisconsin, and provides guidance on how to order or build one of your own.
Hill East has a smaller population of Blessing Boxes – a first cousin to the Little Free Libraries. A Google search provides many photos but no a national organization, indicating they are individually motived.
Today I chatted with the woman who “runs” the Blessing Box on 14th Street, SE, pictured below. She is the granddaughter of the woman who started the blessing box tradition at the house. She had set up a 1950s style kitchen table by the sidewalk fence where she put out food for anyone who needed or wanted it. Most of it was produce donated by her friends who had farms. The granddaughter bought the house after her grandmother died. At first she put the table away to make more play space on the patio but her neighbors objected so it’s back in its place of honor but empty. The box had been up for at least 10 years when I moved to Hill East. There is a list of suggested canned or packaged foods to donate, no pet food please; the owner told me she had neighbors who really need the food and a man who cannot read who took a can of cat food he thought was tuna.
This Blessing Box is a miniature mansion featuring glass windows and elegant gold decorations.Another blessing box arrived this past summer. This one was painted by artist Karen Edgett. I pass both boxes when I walk to the Safeway. The stock keeps rotating, reminding us of how truly blessed we are.
Out and About is an occasional photo feature by artist, photographer, and Capitol Hill resident Elizabeth Eby. She finds vignettes while out and about on or near Capitol Hill.
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The Ward 6 Task Force met last Wednesday and approved the final ANC/SMD Redistricting Map, sending it and the Task Force Report to the City Council Subcommittee. Chair: Ivan Frishberg
Wards 6 & 7 Task Forces Wrap ANC Redistricting Final Maps and Reports – Hill East Fights On
by Larry Janezich
Posted April2, 2022
Ward 6’s Task Force on Redistricting completed its work Wednesday night, agreeing on a final map to submit to the City Council’s Subcommittee on Redistricting. The vote was 12 – 0. The report accompanying the final map was forwarded to the Subcommittee without a vote. Prior to the vote, final adjustments were made in ANCs A and D. CM Charles Allen joined the meeting, thanking the Task Force for its work, citing the difficulty of the redistricting process after Ward 6 experienced the single largest shift of population in DC history.
Ward 7’s Task Force met Thursday night to approve the report accompanying the map it approved Wednesday night, clearing both for consideration by the Council’s Subcommittee on Redistricting. Co-Chairs: Tamara Blair and Joel Caston
On Thursday night, the Ward 7 Task Force on Redistricting finished its work, agreeing to a report explaining its rational for the ANC and SMD Redistricting recommendations embodied in the map it agreed to earlier in the week. The vote was 13 – 4 with 2 absent.
Two areas of contention arose during consideration of the report. The first was the listing of public comments on the process which seemed to be weighted in favor of those who supported creation of a standalone ANC west of the river. After some Task Force members raised concerns these comments did not reflect the final action of the Task Force, Co-chair Tamara Blair and Task Force member Ashley Ruff agreed to revisit the public comment section to achieve a more balanced content.
The other divisive issue concerned the minority report, representing the views of Task Force members Tamera Blair, Francis Campbell and Brian Alcorn – all of whom supported a standalone ANC on the west side of the river. After a discussion about the Task Force’s ability to amend the minority report and whether the majority could include a rebuttal, and then a rebuttal to the rebuttal, the group voted to attach the minority report as an addendum without additional explanations.
Alcorn, who is currently an ANC6A commissioner and other west of the river residents, gave no indication they were ready to give up on the issue of a standalone ANC. Alcorn distributed an email to his constituents and neighbors urging them to testify at upcoming Subcommittee Redistricting hearings in support of a standalone ANC west of the river, as well as contact individual council members. ANC6B Commissioner Denise Krepp joined Alcorn in a similar appeal to Hill East residents.
The schedule for rest of the ANC/SMD redistricting process is as follows:
April 7, 2022: First Council Subcommittee hearing on ANC and SMD boundaries. Residents can sign up to testify for 3 minutes.
April 28, 2022: Second Council Subcommittee hearing on ANC and SMD boundaries. Another opportunity for residents to testify.
May/June 2022: Subcommittee votes on ANC and SMD boundaries bill.
June 2022: full Council votes on ANC and SMD boundaries bill.
CAPITOL HILL CORNER 