Monthly Archives: September 2023

The shaded dog leg on the right is the dead-end alley the Conservative Partnership Institute proposes to privatize.

Thursday night’s meeting of the ANC6B Planning and Zoning Committee

Update on Conservative Partnership’s Proposed Alley Closing in 200 Block PA Ave SE

by Larry Janezich

Posted September 8, 2023

At Thursday night’s ANC6B Planning and Zoning Committee, Commissioner David Sobelsohn updated on the status of the Subcommittee on Alley and Street Closings’ consideration of the Conservative Partnership Institute’s application to close a portion of the alley behind the former Capitol Lounge. 

The Conservative Partnership wants to close the alley behind the legendary bar to create what will likely become event space for the organization’s new headquarters comprised of several buildings in the 200 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.  The Partnership is led by former South Carolina Senator Jim Demint, Chairman; and former White House Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows, Senior Partner.

Commissioner David Sobelsohn reported that on August 24^th, members of the Subcommittee toured the alley with representatives of the applicant. Here are the main takeaways from that tour and the subsequent discussion at the subcommittee meeting:

• The applicant owns all of the buildings (with exception of a building owned by the Heritage Foundation) bordering the proposed courtyard which the closing would enable. 
• The applicants eventually hope to reopen a restaurant in the former Capitol Lounge space.
• The applicants have submitted a legal memo to the Subcommittee in support of their right to close the alley.
• What’s at stake is not who owns the land (the Partnership) but an easement held by the city for public access to the space. 
• Determining if any of the nearby residents use the alley or the area around it is a priority for the Subcommittee, since that would be a primary reason to object to the alley’s closure.  So far, the Subcommittee has not found any resident who uses the relevant portion of the alley. 
• The Mayor can send a bill to close the alley to the city council, but it must be passed by the council, signed by the Mayor and reviewed by Congress.
• The City Council is likely to defer to the wishes of Ward 6 CM Charles Allen regarding council consideration of the matter.
• The City Council is unlikely to accelerate consideration of legislation related to the application, meaning that legislation is unlikely to pass before December 2024, after which Congress would have to review it.

The Subcommittee discussed both their available options and pursuing community benefits in exchange for the loss of public space.  The consensus was that seeking community benefits would necessarily be coupled with the ANC’s support for the application and would be realized only if the city council approves the alley closure, that CM Charles Allen’s support for the closure was essential but that support – according to Commissioner Chander Jayaraman – seems to be conditioned on the support of ANC6B. 

The Subcommittee will meet on Wednesday, September 19th at 5:45pm in SE Library to discuss a possible list of community benefits.  The current thinking of Subcommittee members seems to be that an appropriate community benefit would be a cash contribution to a community non-profit.  Sobelsohn acknowledged that this could be a “tricky situation,” citing the reaction of the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, who – despite their need for money to make the building ADA compliant – decided they would rather not accept a benefit from the Conservative Partnership Institute.    

8th and Pennsylvania Avenue, Thursday, September 7, circa 4:30pm.

8^th Street SE Bus Priority Plan Gets Chilly Reception from ANC6B Transportation Committee

By Larry Janezich

Posted September 7, 2023

Last night, ANC6B’s Transportation Committee got the first look at DDOT’s plan to install the southern portion (East Capitol to M Street, SE) of the 8^th Street SE Bus Priority Project.  It’s fair to say it was not well received either by the ANC or by a number of vocal residents, some who spoke in favor of preserving a car-centric transportation model for the immediate community.

Andrew Grinberg, DDOT Transportation Planner Project Manager, introduced the project to the community.  The timeline anticipates incorporating feedback, refining and finalizing the concept, with the goal of having a final design by summer of 2024 and construction beginning by the fall of 2024.

The concept presented to the Committee last night aims to address issues defined in the needs assessment and advance project goals of improved bus service, safety and access.  The project is in accordance with the Mayor and City Council’s desire to move commuters and other drivers from the roads on to public transportation or other modes of travel including bikes. 

The key findings of the needs assessment for the project are:

Improve bus performance by addressing:

• Barracks Row’s overall slow speed
• Congestion hot spot at 8^th between Pennsylvania Avenue and E Street, in both directions
• Slow speed of buses on Barracks Row
• Bus stops often blocked

Safety issues for the pedestrian/bike environment

• Commercial and drop off double parking
• Angled parking hazards
• Inadequate visibility at intersections

Some of the main proposed solutions are:

• An offset bus lane from D Street to L Street for southbound busses on Barracks Row
• Convert angled parking on Barracks Row to parallel parking
• Establish a northbound curbside bus lane on Barracks Row
• Reverse the one way traffic on D Streets both segments, north and south of Pennsylvania Avenue
• Add contraflow bike lane on D Street north of Pennsylvania Avenue, modify cross walks, loading zones and short term parking
• (No change is anticipated regarding Barracks Row streateries)

What raised the ire of the Committee was the proposal to reverse the flow of traffic on D Streets.  The Committee had come out solidly opposed to the same proposal floated by DGS in 2015 in connection with reconfiguring the traffic flow around the Eastern Market Metro Station in connection with its $21 million renovation.  The ANC’s opposition killed that proposal then.  One Committee member remarked that he was surprised to see this come up again given the ANC’s previous reception of the proposal and urged DDOT to think harder and more creatively on this.  The plan was also criticized for being too optimistic that short term illegal parkers would be ticketed out of this behavior by a new bus camera ticketing program launching next month. 

What raised the hackles of the Barracks Row businesses and some residents was the reduction in the number of parking spaces on Barracks Row and 8^th Street, amounting to 8% of 660 available spots – about 52 spaces.  Concerns included lack of parking not only for patrons, but also for workers. 

Then there were the objections from the car-centric crowd who loudly and angrily proclaimed that the plan would only make traffic and congestion on Barracks Row worse…wasting the taxpayers’ money…a “liberal” plan that would end up creating gridlock, and an assertion that “people are not giving up cars and you better start planning for that.”

Grinberg took the heat, replying, “Anytime you’ve got cars you have the cost of them which are congestion, traffic and pollution.  So what we’re trying to do is mitigate that with the primary goal of improving bus service and along with that the walking and livability environment. 

Grinberg will come back next Tuesday to make a presentation to the full ANC6B Commission at its regular September meeting. 

DDOT will accept comment on the plan through October 10.  Here’s the link to offer comment:  http://buspriority.ddot.dc.gov/pages/8thstse

For a CHC profile on how car-loving former ANC6B Chair Dan Ridge became an anti-car radical, see here:  https://bit.ly/44MSehg

Dos Toros Taqueria is opening at 215 Pennsylvania Avenue – formerly Firehook Bakery.  Earlier this year, Dos Toros Taqueria – a San Francisco-style taqueria – announced the opening of three outlets in DC. One of them is on Capitol Hill.  The enterprise has a dozen locations in NYC.  Their liquor license application comes up tonight in ANC6B’s Alcohol Beverage and Cannabis Committee.  Here’s a link to the restaurant’s menu at the NYC outlets:  https://www.dostoros.com/menu

Firehook closed in March of 2021 after a nearly ten year run.  The space has been mostly vacant since then except for a pottery making pop-up.  

On Wednesday, Peregrine Espresso will mark its 15^th anniversary at 660 Pennsylvania Avenue near Eastern Market.  Here’s a photo from Tuesday morning, featuring part of the early morning crowd of patio regulars who convene daily (mostly) regardless of weather conditions. 

Founded by Ryan and Jill Jensen in 2008, the outlet has a reputation for quality coffees and a superb cappuccino.   Peregrine is also distinguished by a transparent and education-driven wage chart for all employees. Their baristas have competed at regional and national Barista or Brewers Cup competitions to continue their coffee education. Another priority is implementing some environmental sustainability efforts including composting & recycling, using wind power and reusable glass milk bottles.  The space has been a coffee shop for a couple of decades – before Peregrine it was Murky which painted over the mural of Eastern Market installed by Stompin Grounds.  Before that, it was Roasters who roasted their coffee on site, leaving you smelling coffee the rest of the day after stopping by for a cup. 

While I Egg You’s application for a liquor license wends its way through the licensing bureaucracy, the owners move forward with the confidence that the application will be granted.  There’s a new sign up  – The Shell – naming the event space for the venue, to go along with the suggested list of possibilities for which the space could be used:  private events, birthday parties, fundraisers, receptions, weddings and corporate events. 

Here’s a look at an exhibit hall in the National Museum of the American Indian that’s dedicated to depicting ways Native American imagery and nomenclature have been reflected in the promotion of commercial products.  Signage asks, “What if (the images or nomenclature) are not trivial?  What if … they … reveal a buried history – and a country forever fascinated, conflicted, and shaped by its relationship with American Indians?”

The Week Ahead…& Some Photos from the Past Week

By Larry Janezich

Posted September 5, 2023

Highlights: 

Tuesday: 

• ANC6B ABC Committee discussion of Cannabis retailer licensing
• MPD First District CAC crime discussion

Thursday:

• ANC6B P&Z Committee discussion on commercial use of residential properties with Acting Department of Buildings (DOB) Director Brian Hanlon. 

Tuesday, September 5

ANC6B Alcoholic Beverage & Cannabis Committee 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:

• The Ugly Mug Dining Saloon/Valor Brew Pub, 723 8th Street, SE.  Application for a Games of Skill Endorsement for their Restaurant Class C Liquor license. 
• Dos Toros Taqueria, 215 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. Application for new Class “C” Restaurant License.
• Wine and Butter, 11^th and East Capitol Street.  Application for the renewal of a Retailers’ Class “B” liquor license with a tasting endorsement.
• Discussion Item: Notice to cure for establishments on Barracks Row.
• Discussion Item: I Egg You Protest wrap up and lessons learned.
• Discussion Item: ABCA law update coming this fall.
• *Discussion Item: Cannabis retailer licensing.

*MPD First District Citizens Advisory Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 6:00pm. 

For info on how to join the meeting, go here:  https://1dcac.com/

Agenda:

• Community safety walks and crime discussion
• 4^th Street, SW: Safeway and CVS safety concerns
• Navy Yard and M Street crime concerns
• 13^th Street, NE, and Constitution Avenue crime concerns
• H Street, NE:  burglaries, car jackings and homicide follow up
• Policing 14^th Place, 15^th Street, NE, and other areas

Wednesday, September 6

ANC6B Transportation Committee 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:

• DDOT Presentation on 8th St SE Bus Priority Project
• Update on 11th Street Bridge Park Update/Streetscape
• Salden’s Court Alley Renaming
• Eastern HS Homecoming Parade
• Committee Discussion on DDOT Director Everett Lott presentation to ANC6B at September 12 meeting of the full ANC 

ANC6C Planning and Zoning Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 6:30pm. 

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

Agenda not available at press time.

Hill Center:  Author presentation:  Writing for Their Lives: America’s Pioneering Female Science Journalists.  7:00pm – 9:00pm.  $10.00.  In-person event.  Purchase tickets here:  https://bit.ly/3PeHtzZ   

• Capitol Hill resident and historian Marcel Chotkowski LaFollette discusses her new book in conversation with Elizabeth Quill, Science News Executive Editor.
• “Writing for Their Lives tells the stories of women who pioneered the nascent profession of science journalism from the 1920s through the 1950s. Like the “hidden figures” of science, such as Dorothy Vaughan and Katherine Johnson, these women journalists … were also overlooked in traditional histories of science and journalism.  But, at a time when science, medicine, and the mass media were expanding dramatically, Emma Reh, Jane Stafford, Marjorie Van de Water, and many others were explaining theories, discoveries, and medical advances to millions of readers via syndicated news stories, weekly columns, weekend features, and books—and they deserve the recognition they have long been denied.”

Thursday, September 7

ANC6B Planning and Zoning Committee Meeting

Among items on the draft agenda:

• *Discussion on Commercial Use of Residential Properties with Acting Department of Buildings (DOB) Director Brian Hanlon
• Proposed Alley Renaming in Square 969 “Sladen’s Walk” Project: Rename an unofficially named
• 223 8th Street, SE, Project: To construct a rear addition to an existing, semi-detached, three-story principal dwelling unit in the RF-1 zone.
• 116 5th Street, SE, Project: Addition of a third floor containing a bedroom and bathroom and enclosure of a second-floor rooftop deck to extend an existing bedroom
• 744 13th Street, SE, Project: To construct a rear addition, to an existing, attached, two-story with cellar, principal dwelling unit in the RF-1 zone
• Update on Alley Closing in Square 762 (Block between 2nd and 3rd Streets, SE, and Pennsylvania Avenue, and C Street, SE.)
• Discussion on Fines for Violating Historic Preservation and Unauthorized Work

ANC6C Transportation and Public Space Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm..

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

Agenda not available at press time.