DDOT employees use white paint on sidewalks to mark a hazard when they go into the field to validate a complaint.
Pedestrian Safety Advocacy. Scott Price, representing the CHV, appeared before ANC6B’s Transportation Committee to present an CHV initiative to address Capitol Hill’s dangerous brick sidewalks. According to Price, DDOT has different standards and goals for automobile hazards vs. pedestrian hazards. DOT has three days to fix potholes vs nine months for sidewalks – and, regarding the latter, meet that goal 54% of the time. The issue is systemic and DDOT is dealing with it on a case be case basis.
CHV’s plan is to set up a system whereby residents can send a photo and location of CH sidewalks in need of repair, and CHV will file a request for them with DDOT and monitor progress on repair and maintain a data base.
CVH will take this presentation to ANC6A and 6Cto seek advice regarding CHV goals and methods.
Separately, ANC6A Commissioner Roberta Shapiro is conducting a parallel Capitol Hill Sidewalk Survey and is soliciting input here: https://forms.gle/9QWiSCyWb3LrZwqG9
ANC6B’s Southeast Library Task Force met Sunday afternoon in Southeast Library. The group received an update from the Chair – Commissioner David Sobelsohn – on the search for interim space/servces for a bare bones library operation during the two years SE Library will be undergoing renovation. Sobelsohn reported on three possibilities under consideration. 1. A bookmobile can be rented for an estimated cost of $70,000. 2. The former Covid Center on Barracks Row at 507 8th Street is available at a discounted rate of $20,000 a month. 3. The Arthur Capper Recreation Center at 1000 5th Street, SE, has free space which is potentially available, though admittedly out-of-the-way for some current users of SE Library. The group discussed the urgent need to express community concerns to both Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen and Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White (Chair of the Council’s Committee on Recreation, Libraries and Youth Affairs). The group feels that support from the two Councilmembers is essential if the budget is to contain any funds for interim space/services. The Council will hold an initial vote on the Budget on May 16 and a final vote will follow on May 30. The Task Force will next meet at 7:00pm on May 22, in SE Library.
Going through Hell: The Divine Dante. At the National Gallery, April 9 – July 16 – West Building, Main Floor.
Going through Hell: The Divine Dante exhibits some 20 works from the National Gallery’s collection, including paintings, early printed illustrations by William Blake, pieces by Auguste Rodin created for his sculpture The Gates of Hell, and a collage by Robert Rauschenberg.
And while you’re at the West Building, if you have an extra hour, these tours start from the Rotunda.
The Week Ahead…& Some Photos from the Past Week
by Larry Janezich
Posted May 7, 2023
Tuesday, May 9
ANC6B will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
For info on joining the meeting, go here: https://bit.ly/42xRlZq
Among items on the draft agenda:
Consent Agenda
- Lola’s, 711 8th Street, SE. Application for an Entertainment Endorsement for a Class C Tavern License.
- Mason & Greens DC, 400 8th Street, SE. New Application for a Retailer’s Class “B” Full-Service Grocery Store License.
- 706 15th Street, SE, Project. Zoning Adjustment Application to construct a rear deck addition, to an existing, attached, two-story with cellar, principal dwelling unit.
Presentations
- DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) Interim Director, Shirley Kwan-Hui.
- C Office of the Tenant Advocate’s (OTA) Education & Community Outreach team (E&O).
Legislative Business
Alcohol Beverage Control Committee
- I Egg You, 517 8th Street, SE. New Application for a Retailer’s Class “C” Restaurant license.
- Democratic National Committee. Request to amend the existing Settlement Agreement to increase the hours of operation and sales, service, and consumption of alcohol. Current: Mon-Fri: 11:30 am – 1:00 am. The requested hours are: Sun-Thur. 7:00 am – 2:00 am; Fri-Sat. 7:00 am – 3:00 am.
Planning and Zoning Committee
- Request for Oversight by Council of DOB Vacant Building Enforcement.
- 235 12th Street SE Project. Historic Preservation Application. To add a third floor and roof deck to an existing two story row house and construct and to add a second story/accessory dwelling unit to an existing garage structure.
- Alley Closing in Square 762 Project. Application to close NE portion of existing alley system in Square 762. (Square 762, Abutting Lots 842, 843, and 823). Between 2nd & 3rd Street SE; Pennsylvania & C Street SE.
New Business
- Report for the Southeast Library Task Force.
- Public Parks and Recreation Spaces Task Force.
- Report for the Public Parks and Recreation Spaces Task Force.
- Report for the Special Committee on Public Safety.
- Report for Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee.
- Discussion on Hybrid Meetings.
ANC7D will hold a virtual meeting at 6:30pm.
For info on how to join the meeting, go here: https://7d0761.wixsite.com/anc7d-1
Among items on the draft agenda:
DC Government Updates/Presentations
- Mayor’s Office of Community Relations & Services (MOCRS).
- Office of Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent Gray.
- Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Scheduled Community Presentations
- Lead Free DC – Stephen Akyereko, DC Water.
- 2024 Grant Funding Opportunities – JR Russ, DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.
- Financing Programs – Belinda Perry, DC Office of Campaign Finance (OCF).
- Community Update – Maureen Mitchell, Anacostia Riverkeeper.
- Community Update – Bob Coomber, CRYSP DC.
- Community Update – Marshall Heights Community.
- Development Organization & Minnesota Ave Main Street.
New Business
- ANC 7D Committees Update
- Adoption of Revised ANC 7D Bylaws
Commission Resolutions and Letters
- Letter Concerning ZC #05-28AC (Parkside).
- Letter Concerning ZC #05-28AD (Parkside).
- Letter Concerning ZC #05-28AE (Parkside).
- Letter Concerning ZC #05-28AF (Parkside).
- Letter to DDOT re: Restoration of 21st & C NE Turn Lane.
- Letter to DDOT re: NOI 23-64-PSD.
- Letter to Special Events Task Group re: Capitol Hill Classic.
Wednesday, May 10
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:
Consent Calendar
Legislative session
- 214 Massachusetts Ave. Fixture, landscaping, paving projections (support)
- H Street, NE. Streetscape Maintenance (proposed letter)
- Sidewalk Survey from ANC 6A (support)
- 407 3rd Street, NE. (HPA 23-324) (support)
- 300 M Street, NE. Zoning Application. (support)
- 1232 4th Street, NE. Zoning Application. (support with conditions)
Presentation/Discussion
- Discussion of 8th Street, NE. Bus Priority Project.
Thursday, May 11
ANC6A will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
Or info on how to join the meeting, go here: https://anc6a.org/community-calendar/
Among items on the draft agenda:
Presentation
- David Epley, Associate Director, Data & Benchmarking Division, Department of Energy & Environment.
Consent Agenda
- Motion ANC 6A take no action with regard to the application of Gallery O on H at 1354 H Street, NE, for renewal of its Class C Multipurpose Liquor License.
- Motion that ANC 6A send a letter of support to DDOT for the four Notices of Intent for reducing the speed limit from 25 to 20 mph, and to request DDOT provide a status report on other pending ANC 6A requests.
- Motion that ANC 6A send a letter of support to DDOT for the Notices of Intent for the 8th Street Bus Priority Project.
- Motion that ANC 6A send a letter of support to DDOT for Public Space Notice #10994457, and requesting DDOT give the ANC 30 days’ notice to review such requests in the future.
- Motion that ANC 6A send a letter of support to DDOT for Public Space Notice #10994461, and requesting DDOT give the ANC 30 days’ notice to review such requests in the future.
- Motion that ANC 6A send a letter of support to BZA for a Special Exception to construct a two-story rear addition, to an existing, attached, two-story with cellar, principal dwelling unit at 424 10th Street, NE.
- Motion that ANC 6A send a letter of support to BZA for: Request for a Special Exception to construct a third story addition to an existing, attached, two-story with cellar, flat at 1112 8th Street, NE.
Legislative Business
Alcohol Beverage Licensing
- Motion that ANC 6A not support the request of KitchenCray at 1301 H Street, NE, for a stipulated Class C Tavern License with Entertainment Endorsement pending ABRA’s consideration of its application for a substantial change to its existing license.
- Motion that ANC 6A support KitchenCray’s request for stipulated license with entertainment on the lower level only, on the condition that they sign a Settlement Agreement, with ABL Chair Erin Sullivan, ANC Chair Amber Gove, ANC Vice Chair Keya Chatterjee, Commissioners Mike Velasquez and Robb Dooling all authorized to represent the ANC in this matter.
New Business
- Motion that ANC 6A send a letter to DPR Director requesting:
- an explanation for the lack of programming at Sherwood over the last two quarters and specific plans for programming in Q3 and Q4;
2. plans for improvement in routine maintenance of the building and ground and cleanliness in the outdoor areas surrounding the building;
3. confirmation of alternative plans for a hypothermia shelter for Winter 2024.
- Motion that ANC 6A send a letter to Councilmember Allen reaffirming ANC 6A support for the DC Streetcar extension to Benning Road Metro Station.
CAPITOL HILL CORNER 
At the risk of being attacked as anti-pedestrian safety, I will make a plea for historic preservation. These two goals are not mutually exclusive–it is entirely possible to pursue both. It is not the bricks themselves that are at fault, and yet, DDOT’s subcontractors blissfully ignore clearly stated regulations in DDOT’s own standards as found in Section 31.6 of the DDOT Design and Engineering Manual that explicitly prohibit the removal of historic paving materials such as sidewalk bricks and blue stone curbing, in favor of procedures that benefit themselves instead: ripping out antique pressed brick and blue stone curbing and installing inferior, cheap modern materials. In the course of making my case innumerable times to boots on the ground on my block, these companies have made clear to me that they do not believe they are bound to any such DDOT standards. It would be different if these modern materials were superior in any way, but alas they are not. Follow the money–these companies are some of the largest political campaign donors, and the profit motive is clearly in charge. I implore CHV and the ANCs to work together with CHRS and DCPL to make the sidewalks safe and sound while preserving and reusing the old materials. It can be done.