Councilmember Charles Allen held community office hours at Hype Café, at 11th and Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, on Friday. Commissioner Jerry Sroufe pictured above talks to Allen about the problem of Capitol Hill residences which are illegally being used by corporations, non-profits, and political parties for office and fundraising event space. Sroufe hopes to get ANC6B to invite Acting Director of the DC Department of Buildings, Brian Hanlon to appear before the Commission to answer questions on the issue.
Last Wednesday, MPD made a presentation to Eastern Market vendors and others about what to do in case of an active shooter at the Market. The briefing comes in light of increased security concerns at the Market, following an assault of a Market employee by an individual involved in a traffic accident near the 7th and North Carolina Avenue. Funding has been approved for the installation of security bollards to better protect 7th Street in lieu of the random collection of vehicles that currently block access to the street during the weekend vendor and flea markets.
According to MPD, an active shooter is one targeting multiple individuals in a public space. The officers stressed the importance of having a plan in place in case of an active shooter inside the market; vendors should have an individual safety plan for themselves and get out as quickly as possible. They reminded vendors to be mindful of surroundings and to watch for out-of-the ordinary behavior.
Much of the responsibility for a response lies with the Market and the vendors in creating a plan for what should happen in case of an event inside and outside the Market. To that end, Market Manager Barry Margeson said that questions raised during the meeting expressed a desire for more specific, Eastern Market focused training and the management is currently working to update the Emergency Response Plan; a contractor and funds have been identified for this purpose.
On Wednesday, the ANC6B Planning and Zoning Committee unanimously voted to support a plan for the creation of an “gathering space” on the grounds of Hill Center. Here’s a rendering of where it will be located. The Hill Center hopes to start the project in fall and complete it over the winter.
And here’s a rendering of what it will look like. The new structure will:
- Provide seating for events which currently take place in the East Parking Lot.
- Provide space which can function in multiple ways including accommodating tables and chairs, amphitheater seating, or lecture seating.
- Provide a gathering space for community members before and after attending events or classes at Hill Center.
- Provide a new revenue stream for rentals to support maintenance of the exterior of the building.
Barracks Row apparently needs a new retail liquor store. On Wednesday, ANC6B voted to support a retail liquor license for 725 8th Street, across from the Marine Barracks and cheek to jowl with Valor and the Ugly Mug. The space is currently occupied by the Jackson Hewitt Tax Service.
Los Lomita II at 308 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, is changing hands. Last Wednesday, ANC6B voted to support a Class C Restaurant liquor license for the owners of the in-coming Los Caballeros. When one door closes, another one opens.
Sunday afternoon, the ANC6B Southeast Library Task Force met at the library. Chair David Sobelsohn (center left) said that library staff had cautioned that the closing of the library may not happen this summer. That would be in accordance to DC Public Library Executive Director Richard Reyes-Gavilan’s statement to ANC6B a few weeks ago that he expected the library to close this summer but “I wouldn’t bet my life savings on it.” In any event, it appears library staff members have been told that there will be six weeks’ notice before closing. The Task Force laid plans for members to testify for the upcoming Library Board of Trustees Meeting on July 26 to press their case for additional interim services for patrons of SE Library.
The Week Ahead…& Some Photos from the Past Week
by Larry Janezich
Posted June 9, 2023
Monday, July 10
ANC6B Special Committee On Public Safety will hold a virtual meeting at 7:30pm.
For info on how to join the meeting, go here: https://anc6b.org/
Among items on the agenda:
- Follow-Up Discussion: City 911 System
- Status of Recommendations from 06/12/2023 Meeting
- Councilmember Brook Pinto – Pending
- Councilmember Pinto Fare Evasion Legislation
- Identify Agenda Items and Potential Expert/Guest Speakers for Next Meeting
ANC6D will hold a virtual Administrative Meeting at 7:00pm.
For info on how to join the meeting, go here: https://www.anc6d.org/virtualmeeting/
Agenda:
- Committee business and agenda for the July meeting of the full commission.
Tuesday, July 11
ANC6B will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
For info on how to join the meeting, go here: https://anc6b.org/
Among items on the draft agenda:
- Presentations: Sukrit Mishra – Solar 101
- Extreme Pizza; 520 8th Street, SE; Retailer’s Class “C” Tavern License, Application for an Entertainment Endorsement.
- 725 8th Street SE; Application for a new Retailer’s Class “A” Liquor Store.
- Los Caballeros Restaurant; 308 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE; Application for a Retailer’s Class “C” Restaurant License.
- Update on I Egg You liquor license protest.
- Public Space Permit for New Sidewalk Cafe Un-Enclosed at 106 13th Street, SE (Pacci’s Trattoria).
- Letter of support to Hill Center to add a gathering terrace at the Hill Center for public use and events.
- 116 5th Street, SE, Project. Historic Preservation Application. Concept approval for addition of a third floor containing a bedroom and bathroom and enclosure of a second-floor rooftop deck to extend an existing bedroom.
- 405 4th Street, SE, Project. Historic Preservation Application. Concept approval for a three story rear addition to an existing two story row house principal dwelling and to add an Accessory Dwelling Unit in the RF-3 zone.
- 405 4th Street, SE, Project. Bureau of Zoning Adjustment Application to construct a three story rear addition to an existing two story row house principal dwelling and to add an Accessory Dwelling Unit.
- Update on Subcommittee on Alley Closing in Square 762, behind the former Capitol Lounge, 229 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.
- Draft testimony on Electric Vehicles for upcoming hearing by City Council’s Committee on Transportation and the Environment.
- Resolution supporting a raised crosswalk 13th Street and Massachusetts Avenue, SE.
- Letter Supporting Efforts to Create Virginia Avenue Connector and Provide Pickle Ball.
- Resolution Supporting SYC/W6MA 4th Annual Back to School Bash at Eastern Market Metro Plaza.
Wednesday, July 12
ANC6C holds 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
- Notice of intent for K Street Protected Bike Lane
- NY Avenue Trail
- Chop Shop DC/Nice N Easy. Protest Class C Tavern License.
- Zoning regulations amendments.
Plenary Agenda
- 601 Massachusetts Avenue – Capitol Bikeshare Docking Staation
- Two Rivers Public Charter School – School Parking Zone (SPZ)
- ANC 6A Sidewalk Survey Results
- National Park Services properties discussion.
- 616 7th Street, NE. Zoning Adjustment Application for rear deck.
- Grant for Capitol Hill Cluster/Peabody
- Proposed letter on 1165 3rd Street, NE.
Thursday, July 13
ANC6A 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 agenda:
Presentations: Anthony Hall, Department of Behavioral Health
Consent Agenda:
- Motion to oppose the application of Providencia at 1321 Linden Court, for a Class C Tavern License unless a settlement agreement is entered into prior to the protest date.
- Motion that ANC 6A send a letter of support for Maury Elementary School’s application for a School Parking Zone, with four recommendations: that Maury prioritize on-site spaces for mobility-impaired staff and staff using carpools; that staff not utilize Resident Only Parking Zones (e.g. west side of 200 block of 12th Place NE); that the school comply with the intent and spirit of the Transportation Benefits Equity Act; and that school leadership would not solicit Visitor Parking Permits for staff use.
- Letter of support to DDOT for extending the bicycle lanes on K Street, NE, to meet the pocket park to be installed at 8th and K Streets, NE, and connect to the bicycle lane on West Virginia Avenue, NE.
- Letter of support to DDOT for Public Space Permit Application for a new un-enclosed sidewalk café at Daru, 1451 Maryland Avenue, NE.
- Letter of support to DDOT to urge the installation of vertical traffic calming measures, including but not limited to a raised crosswalk and speedbumps near Miner Elementary School (15th Street and Tennessee Avenue/on 15th Street and at 15th and G Street, NE) prior to the beginning of the SY23-24 school year (August 28, 2023).
- Letter to DDOT requesting attention to and prioritization of traffic safety input requests for the 1400 block of G Street, NE.
- Letter of support to the Zoning Commission for a proposed map amendment to rezone the property at 721 H Street, NE, from NC-16 to NC-17.
- Letter of support to Bureau of Zoning Adjustment for a Special Exception to raze an existing structure, and to construct a new, detached, six-story with below-grade parking and penthouse, 175-210 dwelling unit, mixed-use building at 1207 H Street, NE, with the stipulation that the apartment lease documents include a prohibition against amplified music on the roof deck after 11:00 pm, or comply with DC code, whichever is earlier.
- Letter of support to BZA for a Special Exception to construct a rear addition, to an existing, attached, two-story, principal dwelling unit at 1216 Constitution Avenue, NE, in the RF-1 zone.
Regular Business:
- Motion that ANC 6A oppose the application by Kitchen Cray at 1301 H Street, NE, for Substantial Changes to its Class C Restaurant License unless a settlement agreement is entered into prior to the protest date.
- Letter to the DC Council to commission a formal assessment and plan for systematically maintaining and replacing, if necessary, dangerous sidewalks in ANC 6A.
- Letter of support for the following traffic calming and safety measures:
Installation of all-way-stop at 11th and F Streets, NE.
- 900 block 11th Street, NE – One speed table.
- 800 block 11th Street, NE – One speed table.
- 700 block 11th Street, NE – One speed table.
- 600 block 11th Street, NE – Two speed tables.
- North leg of 11th Street, NE and E Street NE – Raised crosswalk.
- 400 block 11th Street, NE – One speed table.
- South leg of 11th Street, NE and D Street NE – Raised crosswalk.
- 300 block 11th Street, NE – One speed table.
- 200 block 11th Street, NE – One speed table.
- 100 block 11th Street, NE – One speed table.
CAPITOL HILL CORNER 