Some 20 residents participated in last Wednesday night’s Safety Walk west of 4th Street, SE, and south of Pennsylvania Avenue, including ANC6B Commissioner Frank Avery (far left) and MPD 1st District Captain Harding, Council Member Charles Allen, and ANC6B Commissioner Jerry Sroufe (center).
ANC6B Commissioners on the value of Public Safety Walks: CHC asked Commissioners Frank Avery (ANC6B01) and Jerry Sroufe (ANC6B02) to comment on the value the Safety Walks have for the community.
Avery: I appreciated the thoughtful discussions about how different agencies work together and people sharing their experiences. I was especially appreciative of Captain Harding for leading, Mr. Hughes from the Department of Behavioral Health for providing so much information, the US Attorney’s Office for sharing some background, and both ANC 6B Public Safety Chair Lisa Matsumoto and Councilmember Charles Allen for attending and fostering collaborative ways to address public safety holistically.
Sroufe: I think the safety walks are useful in two respects. First, they tend to bring out some people who are not regulars at ANC meetings, EMCAC meetings, etc. Questions from these residents tend to be less policy oriented and more instrumental – directed to immediate concerns that are often overlooked in policy discussions. Questions and concerns of residents are addressed. The full participation of police and other security agencies, Council Members and Commissioners, also provides assurance that the city does care and is active in addressing the problems. The “walks” I have attended have been positive community building events. I find the opportunity for side conversations with police and other security folks in this setting is very helpful in working on specific problems in my SMD.
The walks are not sufficient, of course. There are systemic issues to be addressed. For one example, the schools are seldom included in these discussions, even though many of the problems are associated with youth who are or have been students (CM Allen is an exception to this comment0. …recently when Mayor Bowser convened all ANC Commissioners to discuss public safety issues, she involved almost every District agency except the schools.
Bethel DC360. Last week, ANC6D heard a presentation on the status of reconstruction for the Bethel Pentecostal Tabernacle Church at 60 I Street, SW. The project is being undertaken by the church in partnership with the major development firm Foulger-Pratt under an agreement which allows Bethel to continue to operate on the site while providing Foulger-Pratt rigthts to develop the property. The final product will be a seven story residential building, the ground floor of which will be a new 17,000 s.f. sanctuary. The project will provide 197 residential units with 14 units designated as affordable housing. The reconstruction is being undertaken as a matter of right, limiting oversight by ANC6D. Some commissioners expressed reservations about the exterior lighting of the building, noting that it exceeds standards for the norm in ANC6D. Above is a rendering of the completed building at night.
Here’s a Google Map showing the location of the Bethel DC360 – as the project is known – directly across I street from the Rubell Museum.
Archibald Walk Redux. At its December 4th meeting, the ANC6B Planning and Zoning Committee heard from residents of Archibald Walk, SE, who described what was later characterized by the committee as a “putatively illegal construction” of a fence and patio at 516 Archibald Walk. The evidence presented appeared to be compelling enough that – according to the Committee Report – Commissioner Sobelsohn, in whose single member district the property lies, moved that the Committee recommend to the full ANC that a letter be sent to the Department of Buildings laying out what has happened regarding illegal construction at 516 Archibald’s Walk, urging investigation of the situation, and requesting an explanation of why the illegal construction was allowed to happen. That motion passed, 5 – 0. Currently, such a letter is being drafted and will be sent to DOB. Some readers of CHC will recall the dispute back in 2015 regarding a tree house in Archibald Walk which apparently was constructed in violation of public space restrictions. The owners of the tree house and the city subsequently agreed that the tree house would come down by 2024.
Union Kitchen on Barracks Row? CHC never sees any work being done on the buildout of the former Subway outlet at 430 8th Street, Barracks Row. Still, a buildout is underway. In 2022, the site was tapped as a future location of a Union Kitchen outlet and it appears the plan – though delayed – may still be on track.
Pastry at Souk. Here’s a Saturday afternoon capture of the pastry case at Souk café and patisserie at 705 8th Street, SE, Barracks Row. For more info go here: https://www.dcsouk.com/
The Week Ahead…& Some Photos from the Past Week
By Larry Janezich
Posted December 1, 2023
Monday, December 18
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:
- Florida Avenue NE, Streetscape Project Update. The Florida Avenue NE Streetscape Project (https://floridaavene-streetscape.ddot.dc.gov/ ) outreach team will provide project updates and address community safety concerns with related contractor work.
- Safety concerns with the existing design and approved Florida Avenue NE, Streetscape Project design at the intersections of Florida Avenue NE/12th Street NE/K Street NE and Montello Avenue NE.
- Scott Price of Capitol Hill Village (CHV) will present the CHV Pedestrian Safety Program Sidewalk Safety Project, reviewing sidewalk safety data and goals for 2024 DDOT hearings.
ANC6D Transportation Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
For info on how to join the meeting, go here: https://www.anc6d.org/anc6d-transportation-committee/
Among items on the draft agenda: TBA
Tuesday, December 19
ANC6B’s Executive Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
For info on how to join the meeting, go here: https://anc6a.org/community-calendar/
- The Committee will meet to set the agenda for the January meeting of the full ANC.
Wednesday, December 20
ANC6A’s Alcohol Beverage Licensing 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 agenda:
- Welcome new prospective committee members.
- Discussion regarding revisions to standard ANC 6A settlement agreement.
ANC6A Economic Development and Zoning Committee CANCELLED
CAPITOL HILL CORNER 