The Week Ahead …& Some Photos from the Past Week

A makeshift memorial pays tribute to Robert Cunningham, a Metro mechanic who died Wednesday morning at the Potomac Avenue Metro Station on Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.  Cunningham intervened in a hostile confrontation on the station platform with an active shooter to “prevent what could have been another mass shooting,” in the words of a WaPo editorial.  There were other heroes that day who disarmed and subdued the suspect when he boarded a Metro car and threatened to kill more people. Friday morning MPD and Metro Transit Police handed out hot chocolate to Metro riders at the Potomac Station.  That helped to relieve the dread, but not the profound feelings of sadness that enveloped the station, evident even later in the day.  See the WaPo editorial here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/02/03/metro-subway-shooting-robert-cunningham-hero/  

The current drycleaners and former long-time barber shop at 601 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, kitty corner from Stanton Park, is going residential.  Schmidt Development has a proposal before ANC6C to raze the site and construct a three story residential building.  Since the building is a “non-contributing structure,” (i.e, does not reinforce the cultural, architectural, or historical significance of the Capitol Hill Historic District) there’s no problem with demolishing the building, but HPRB still needs to sign off on what replaces it.  That process starts with the ANC, and ANC6C’s Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development Committee had some problems with the design elements at last Thursday night’s meeting.  The committee voted 7 – 1 against recommending that the full ANC support the plan.  The developers will likely come back to the full ANC on March 8 with tweaks to the design in hopes of winning support. 

There’s considerable activity at the former BB&T Bank at 317 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, which appears to be undergoing some expensive interior renovation.  Beyond saying that the site would not be a restaurant, workers deflected questions about the future tenant. 

Signage on the rear wall of the retail outlet could be an indication of what kind or retail is planned. Taste Budz.

Also last Thursday night, the Friends of Southeast Library (FOSEL) met to elect new officers.   Succeeding long time president Neal Gregory will be Capitol Hill author Robert Pohl (11 o’clock center in black sweater).  Also elected were Vice President Bob Gellman, Secretary Elizabeth Teegarden, and Treasurer Mary Granger.  All were elected unanimously.  ANC6B Commissioner David Sobelsohn was on hand to explain the functions of the new ANC6B Southeast Library Taskforce, meant to help find space to operate during the two year renovation of the library which will close later this year, represent the concerns of neighbors to DC Library, and provide input on any design tweaks that arise.  Community members can hear more on this at Tuesday night’s ANC6B meeting (see below). 

Pacci’s Trattoria keeps teasing the community regarding its opening on Lincoln Park.  The latest is that it will happen this coming week.  Last Thursday, they fired up the pizza oven. 

Here’s a shot of the dining room. 

And here’s Chef Luis Flores – a longtime associate of owner Spiro Goldasis. 

The Week Ahead …& Some Photos from the Past Week

by Larry Janezich

Posted February 5, 2023

Monday, February 6

ANC6C Alcoholic Beverage Licensing Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.

For info on how to join the meeting, go here:  https://anc6c.org/hot-topics/

Among items on the draft agenda:

• The Royal Sonesta Capitol Hill, 20 Massachusetts Avenue, NW.  Application for a new Retailer’s Class “C” Hotel liquor license.
• Ted’s Bulletin, 1005 First Street, NE.  Application for a new Retailer’s Class “C” Restaurant liquor license. 

Tuesday, February 7

ANC6B Planning and Zoning Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.

For info on how to join the meeting, go here:  https://anc6b.org/calendar/

Among items on the draft agenda:

• 2023 Capitol Hill Classic – May 21, 2023
• 130 E Street, SE. Historic Preservation Application for a two story rear addition above an existing one-story structure (on a three story house).
• 732 7^th Street, SE.  Historic Preservation Application for a vertical and rear addition to an existing one-story non-contributing commercial building. Proposed building to be four stories.  
• 4-5 Library Court, SE.  Zoning adjustment application for a Special Exception to combine one tax lot and two record lots in the RF-3 zone. 

ANC6C Environment, Parks and Events Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.

For info on how to join the meeting, go here:  https://anc6c.org/hot-topics/

Among items on the draft agenda:

• K Street Underpass Virtual Gallery – Brian Smith – NoMa Bid’s Director of Planning & Economic Development – will discuss the new gallery installation which is scheduled to go-live in February. The underpass is located between 1^st and 2^nd Streets, NE. 
• Swampoodle Terrace – The Committee and NoMa Bid will discuss how things are going at Swampoodle Terrace, which opened to the public this past October.

MPD 1^st District Community Advisory Council will hold a virtual meeting from 6 pm – 7:15pm for an open public safety discussion including updates on gun violence and the recent murder at the Potomac Avenue Metro, with First District Commander Tasha Bryant. 

• Log-in Information: https://dcnet.webex.com/dcnet/j.php?MTID=m8295cbfc41e8f3f4e9b6f47ba7d7b6a1
• For full agenda, go here:  https://1dcac.com/

Wednesday, February 8

ANC6C will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.

For info on how to join the meeting, go here:  https://anc6c.org/hot-topics/

Among items on the draft agenda:

• Discussion of K Street Underpass Virtual Gallery.
• Discussion of Swampoodle Terrace.
• The Royal Sonesta Capitol Hill, 20 Massachusetts Avenue, NW.  Application for a new Retailer’s Class C Hotel license.
• Ted’s Bulletin, 1005 First Street, NE.  Application for a new Retailer’s Class C Restaurant license. 
• 718 3rd Street, NE.  Public Space Application to replace existing exterior metal/concrete to all metal stairs and stoop.
• The Boiling Crab, 400 H Street, NE.  Public Space Application re trash room design review.
• Report on Buildings Strategic Enforcement Plan. 
• 601 Massachusetts Avenue, NE.  Historic Preservation review of plan to raze/ construct new three-story residential building.
• 523 2^nd Street, NE.  Historic Preservation review for rear/third floor addition and rear alterations. 
• 616 Lexington Place, NE.  Historic Preservation application for rear/upper-floor addition. 

ANC6B Transportation Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.

For info on how to join the meeting, go here:  https://anc6b.org/calendar/

Among items on the draft agenda: 

• DDOT Updates:
  • 9^th & I Streets, SE, Intersection
  • Community Petition for Traffic Signal at 11th and D Streets, SE.
  • 19^th Street & Potomac Avenue, SE, Corridor Safety Project.
• Incorrect Restoration of 4th Street, SE/South Carolina Avenue Pedestrian Safety Features.
• Letter to DDOT re: ANC 6B TSI locations that did not make the initial list of 200 priorities.
• Letter to DPW re: Virginia Ave bus.   
• Upcoming Transportation Committee Meetings – Special Session on Electric Vehicles

Thursday, February 9

ANC6A will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.

For info on how to join the meeting, go here:  https://anc6c.org/hot-topics/

Among items on the draft agenda:

Presentation:  Vacant/Blighted Properties in ANC 6A – Mark-Anthony Tynes, Account Manager, Office of the Director, the Department of Buildings. 

• Consent Calendar:
  • Appointment of resident members to the Community Outreach Committee: Angelique Dorazio-Sanders, Clare Dougherty, Elizabeth Corinth, Stephanie Myers, Gail Sullivan.
  • Letter to the Department of Public Works (DPW) in support of curbside composting and additional compost drop off facilities.
• Smokin’ Pig at 1208 H Street, NE.  ANC 6A to take no action with regard to the application for renewal of its Class C Tavern License.
• Motion that ANC6A oppose the application of Vybrations Restaurant and Lounge at 1123 H Street NE for a Class C Restaurant License unless a settlement agreement is entered into prior to the protest date.
• Motion authorizing ANC6A  Commissioners Gove, Chatterjee or Shapiro to testify at the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) performance oversight hearing, requesting: 1) improved responses to rising traffic violence, 2) increased transparency in the traffic safety investigation process, and 3) increased automated traffic enforcement and—through the Department of Public Works (DPW)–booting and towing of chronically violating vehicles.
• Motion to appoint appoint Erin Blumenthal (6A02) as a member of the Alcohol Beverage Licensing (ABL) Committee.
• Motion to appoint Ayisha Lockett as a member of the Economic Development and Zoning (EDZ) Committee.

ANC6B Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.

For info on how to join the meeting, go here:  https://anc6b.org/calendar/  

Among items on the draft agenda:

• Hill East Burger, 1432 Pennsylvania Avenue, NE.  Request for an Entertainment Endorsement for Retailer’s Class “C” Tavern License. 

Saturday, February 11

• Friends of Southeast Library hold their monthly second Saturday book sale from 10:00am until 3:00pm at Southeast Library.