ANC Votes to Support Conservatives’ Alley Closing Request
by Larry Janezich
Posted May 15, 2024
Tuesday night, ANC6B signed off on both a motion to support the alley closing behind the former Capitol Lounge on the 200 block of PA Avenue, SE, and the community benefits agreement negotiated with the Conservative Partnership Institute (CPI) to compensate the community for the loss of public space.
The vote was 5 – 1 with 2 abstentions – the “nay” vote coming from Commissioner Frank Avery and the abstentions from Commissioners Kasie Durkit and Matt Lafortune.
Several commissioners had concerns which threatened to delay a vote, the most significant was a provision which required that (until the council votes to approve or reject the closing) an ANC representative would “periodically” urge CM Charles Allen to urge Council approval). CPI representatives present at the meeting offered to remove that language to expedite consideration. The motion that ended up passing struck the offending language from the benefits agreement. That change prompted a change in the degree of opposition of Commissioners Durkit, who voted to abstain, rather than “nay.” * The change did not fully satisfy opponents of the measure who had additional concerns about procedural and substantivd matters. Prior to the final vote, a motion to postpone the issue until June failed by a vote of 3 yeas – 4 nays – 1 abstention.
The agreement, according to the ANC’s press release, provides a dozen benefits, including
- A $100,000 contribution to the Capitol Hill Community Foundation, a local nonpartisan nonideological grants-making fund that, according to its website, supports “activities, projects, and groups that enrich the lives of residents and celebrate the history and beauty of our community.”
- Public access to the courtyard, currently off-limits to the public.
- Public use of meeting space in CPI’s buildings.
- Indoor trash storage, a limit on truck access and on hours CPI can use its courtyard, and the installation of security cameras, a privacy fence, extra lighting, and a safety mirror.
For the full text of the ANC6B Press Release, go here: https://capitolhillcorner.org/library/ and scroll to the bottom.
The application to close the alley has to receive the approval of multiple city agencies, and exactly where it is in this process is uncertain. Copies of the letter went to CM Charles Allen and to the Office of the DC Surveyor. The City Council will have to approve the alley closing and the Mayor will have to sign off on it before it becomes effective. The Council generally defers to the Ward Councilmember on alley closing issues wirh respect to timing or whether to take it up at all.
*An earlier version of this post said Commissioner Lafortune abstained rather than voting “nay.” In fact, Lafortune announced early in consideration that he would abstaiin.
CAPITOL HILL CORNER 
The takeover of this small plot by an anti-democratic entity is a harbinger of more to come. Capitol Hill as a neighborhood is on a slow walk to the gallows. Mayor Browser is complicit in her inaction. Shame on her!
Why is it relevant that it’s a “conservative” organization? If it was a left wing entity would you refer to it as such. Given that you allowed the first comment to be posted, are you not going to let mine go through as you have in the past? It’s important for your readers to know that you exert a heavy hand on what comments you let go through – biasing what they think is the news. (Ed. Note. “Conservative” was used because the Conservative Partnership Institute was too long for the headline. Also, please note the headline of the ANC6B Press Release.)
I urge anyone who disagrees with the ANC’s decision to reach out directly to Charles Allen. His contact information is available on his website here.
Looks like the embedded link dropped off my last post. His contact info is here: https://www.charlesallenward6.com/contact
It includes his email which is callen@dccouncil.gov.
Seems very sensible to me. Nice job, ANC.