ANC7D has a lot on its large plate. Photo and text by Hilary Russell.
ANC 7D monthly meetings have full agendas, given that its 10 commissioners represent a large territory: Hill East, Kingman Park, Congressional Cemetery, Kenilworth East and Eastland Gardens, Mayfair, River Terrace, and Rosedale. Recent meetings have lasted considerably more than two hours, though two commissioner positions (Mayfair and River Terrace) remain vacant.
The May 9 meeting included consideration of Parkside, a massive “master-planned community” by City Interests Development Projects located on Kenilworth Terrace NE. Commissioner Ebony Payne detailed the need to allow vehicular left turns onto Oklahoma Avenue, improve intersection safety, and integrate drop-off and other requirements of Blow Pierce Elementary School into the 19th Street Bike Lane Project. See here for more: https://bit.ly/3Woz7b3
Commissioners heard from Ward 7 liaisons in two offices—the Mayor’s and Councilmember Vincent Gray’s—and from representatives from DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities; Anacostia Riverkeepers; Marshall Heights Community Association; Events DC; and CRYSP DC, which manages the fields in the RFK campus.
The meeting noted the following upcoming events:
- Another “Kidical Mass” DC family-friendly bike ride is planned for Capitol Hill on May 20 at 4 pm.
- On May 23 at St. Coletta’s, the Hill East Civic Association will host presentations by developers on Reservation 13 and RFK from 6:30 to 8 pm.
- WELLderness, a weekend outdoor series of Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens includes yoga, tai chi, an Indian dance workshop, and sessions titled journaling in nature and intuitive eating.
- DC’s “Truck Touch” Day, on June 3 at RFK Festival Grounds from 8 am to 1pm, offers children and adults opportunities to climb into DC vehicles that clean and repair streets, fix traffic lights, collect trash, and shovel snow, as well as other fun family activities.
Kitchen Cray on H Street, NE, wants a stipulated (meaning they can start operating immediately) Tavern License with Entertainment Endorsement. Last Thursday, it appeared that ANC6A was ready refuse to support the request and took it off the agenda at the last minute to give the restaurant’s management time to meet with the ANC and the community. Some of the nearby neighbors think the proposed business model for the venue is a disaster for the neighborhood and think that the restaurant already launched a nightclub in violation of its license. Commissioner Mike Velasquez gave Kitchen Cray credit for acknowledging its mis-steps and said he was hopeful of having a productive conversation with management and neighbors this coming week.
Penn and Potomac Avenue Traffic Circle. CM Charles Allen reports that the project is funded and construction will begin next year to make the intersection safer and more welcoming. At Tuesday night’s ANC6B meeting,, Commissioner Matt LaFortune, Chair of the 6B Transportation Committee, announced the project director will provide an update at the June meeting of the Committee on June 7.
Movement on the development of the H Street Auto Zone site. ANC6A Commissioner Mike Velasquez told ANA on Thursday night that the site’s owner WestMill Capital Partners – expects Auto Zone to move from its H Street location by the end of summer when its lease expires. Afterward, the parking lot will be fenced off to mitigate on-going parking lot issues until construction starts. A pre-development Zoning Hearing will occur in September.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider Verse – a Friday night film in Lincoln Park. Photo: Amber Gove
Friday night, MPD First District sponsored this year’s first Friday Night Films in Lincoln Park. This is an occasional event coordinated through ANC6A. ANC6A Chair Amber Gove, who was on site Friday night, said she was exploring other Friday nights to schedule repeat events, but noted that show time depends on darkness and the best time from that perspective is late spring and early fall. As it was, it was nearly 8:30pm before Friday night’s film started.
Popcorn and lemonade were courtesy of MPD as well. Photo: Amber Gove
The Week Ahead…& Some Photos from the Past Week
by Larry Janezich
Posted May 14, 2023
The Week Ahead…
Monday, May 15
ANC6A Transportation & Public Space Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
For info on how to join the meeting, go here: https://anc6a.org/community-calendar/
Among items on the draft agenda:
- DDOT update on H Street Priority Bus Lanes – Zack Gambetti-Mendez, AICP, Transportation Planner, Bus Priority Program, DDOT.
- 11th Street Traffic Calming: request for a comprehensive safety study and additional input for selected and pending Traffic Safety Investigations (TSIs).
- Vision Zero Hardening at 13th Street/Constitution Avenue NE and 11th/East Capitol Streets – DDOT speaker TBC.
- 1101 H Street, NE. Public Space Application. (Paving: Driveway(s) Close Existing, Paving: Driveway(s) New- Commercial, Paving: Sidewalk(s), Projections: Bay Window(s), Projections: Marquee).
- Metro’s Better Bus Network Redesign Project. Overview and ways to provide comment.
ANC6B’s Special Committee on Public Safety will hold a virtual meeting at 7:30pm.
For info on how to join the meeting, go here: https://bit.ly/3I8UoiO
Among items on the draft agenda:
- Presentation: DC Office of the Attorney General Public Safety Division.
- Discussion – 911 System.
- Identify agenda items and potential Expert/Guest speakers for next meeting.
Tuesday, May 16
Virtual CHRS Preservation Café at 6:30pm.
- Joanna Kendig, a local historian and CHRS board member, will present a virtual Preservation Café on the history of our DC water and sewer Infrastructure. Running water and modern sanitation are necessary for healthy living. We now take them for granted, but they were non-existent when the District was first established in 1793. Learn about the development of these essential services which evolved as our city grew to become a modern metropolis.
- Reservations are free but required. Reserve your spot on Eventbrite. More info: https://chrs.org/infrastructure-pc/
Wednesday, May 17
ANC6A Economic Development and Zoning Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
For info on how to join the meeting: https://anc6a.org/community-calendar/
Agenda not available at press time.
CAPITOL HILL CORNER 