The Week Ahead…& Some Photos from the Past Week

The Week Ahead…& Some Photos from the Past Week

by Larry Janezich

Posted July 7, 2024

Attempt for largest human Ice Cream Cone Image Misses Mark.  According to Brian Ready, Executive Director of Barracks Row Main Street, they had the numbers but a fluctuating crowd size and a partially blocked photo dashed the hopes for verifying Barracks Row Main Street’s attempt to break a Guinness World Record at Eastern Market Metro Plaza on July 4th.  The goal was to exceed the largest number of participants creating an image of an ice cream cone.  The current record is 478.  Sarah Casson, Guinness World Record adjudicator, was unable to verify that 479 people participated in the effort.  Ready pointed to a fluid number of participants made restless by the heat and to a partially blocked image taken from a cherry picker – the best organizers could get under city restrictions.  Some 700 people answered the on-line call for RSVPs to participate, though the heat and the wait time eroded the numbers as the morning event moved to high noon. In terms of publicity for Barracks Row, however, the attempt was an unqualified success as two local television stations, WTOP and WJLA broadcast television news spots on their local news programs.  See here:  WTOP  https://bit.ly/3XNQTqO and WJLA https://bit.ly/3SmhKH5 Photo Courtesy of Barracks Row Main Street.

Here’s Guinness World Record Adjudicator Sarah Casson and Barracks Row Main Street Executive Director Brian Ready. Photo Courtesy of Barracks Row Main Street.

SE Library Renovation:  Here’s an image of the current condition of the lower level of Southeast Library, preceding excavation to add a new floor below the existing lower level.  DC Library is presenting a construction update at Monday night’s meeting of the ANC6B Southeast Library Task Force.  (See below.)  Here’s a link to the latest construction report:  https://bit.ly/4eS8l3u Photo courtesy of DC Public Library.

From Capitol Hill BID:  “India Person worked as a Hospitality Ambassador at Capitol Hill BID for over 20 years. After a hard fought two year battle with cancer, she passed away on January 25, 2024.  She was sunshine on a cloudy day.   For 20 years India Person patrolled and cared for our BID members.  She fought an amazing battle with cancer for the last 2 years…working up until the last few weeks.  She passed away today [January 25, 2024] ~ Bless her beautiful soul.”  BID plans to install a memorial bench for India Person on Eastern Market Metro Plaza.  ANC6B is expected to support the BID’s public space application on Tuesday night.  Photo courtesy of Capitol Hill BID.

Here’s the location where the bench with plaque will be installed.  Photo courtesy of Capitol Hill BID.

ICYMI – ComplimentsOnly Sub shop is opening on Barracks Row in the space formerly occupied by Bitter Grace between Ginza Karaoke and Jen’s Ice Cream– part of the building complex at 526 8^th Street, SE.  .  It will be the second location for ComplimentsOnly which has another outlet at 2029 P Street, NW.  Here’s a link to their website and the menu featuring subs with quirky names.  https://www.complimentsonlysubs.com/  The story was first reported by Washington Business Journal.

The Week Ahead…

Monday, July 8

ANC6B Southeast Library Taskforce will hold a hybrid virtual and in person meeting at 6:30pm.   The meeting location will be 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE; Second Floor (entry adjacent to Trader Joe’s).

For info on how to join the virtual meeting, go here:  https://anc6b.org/

Among items on the draft agenda:

• Moment of silence in memory of our former vice-chair, Raiford Gaffney.
• Update on the renovation of SE Library including a preview of the July construction update which will go public at the end of the week.  Jaspreet Pahwa
• Reopening of the Arthur Capper interim library facility including effort to expand hours of operation

ANC6B Parks and Public Spaces Taskforce will hold an in-person meeting at 7:00pm.  The meeting will be held at 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE; Second Floor, Conference Room 3 (entry adjacent to Trader Joe’s).

Among items on the draft agenda:

• Consideration of a draft letter required to support for the Riverfront Bid application to DC’s Public Art Building Community (PABC) Grant Program – 2nd Street Underpass Artmaking Project for work under the overpass near Garfield Park.
• Consideration of Planning and Zoning Committee action approving a commemorative bench in the EMMetro Park honoring BID Ambassador India Person.
• Discussion of the Throne installation and planned evaluation reviews.
• Consideration of a draft letter to appropriate members of DC Council addressing amplified sound abatement legislation.

Tuesday, July 9^th

ANC6B will hold a hybrid virtual and in person meeting at 7:00pm.  This meeting will be a hybrid meeting.  Meeting location will be 700 Pennsylvania Ave SE; First Floor (entry adjacent to Trader Joe’s).

For info on how to join the virtual meeting, go here:  https://anc6b.org/

Among items on the draft agenda:

• Consent Calendar:  TBA
• Community & Commission Announcements & Speak Out.
• Presentations:
  • Sean Moore – DC Water, Lead Free DC Presentation/Update for ANC 6BANC.
• ANC 6B Resolution on DC Utility Shutoff Ban.
• Consideration of Settlement Agreement for DMV Liquors Wines and Beers, 643 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE (formerly J.J. Mutts). Renewal of a Class A Liquor License.
• 229 8th Street, SE.  Historic Preservation Application.  Project TBD.
• 629 South Carolina Avenue, SE.  Project: To construct a three-story with cellar, rear addition, to an existing, attached, three-story with cellar, principal dwelling unit in the RF-1 zone.
• 629 South Carolina Avenue, SE.  Zoning Adjustment Application.  Project: To construct a three-story with cellar, rear addition, to an existing, attached, three-story with cellar, principal dwelling unit in the RF-1 zone.
• 1630 G Street, SE.  Zoning Adjustment Application.   Project: To construct a front porch addition to an existing, semi-detached, two-story with cellar, principal dwelling unit in the RF-1 zone.
• Letter to the USAO for the District of Columbia Regarding Data Transparency. 

 ANC 7D will hold a virtual meeting at 6:30pm.

For info on how to join the meeting, go here:  https://7d0761.wixsite.com/anc7d-1

Among items on the draft agenda:

• Community Speaker
  • Dave Statter, Statter 911 Communications, LLC, 30 minutes w/Q&A.
• Community Presentation
  • Sherry Lumpkin, Noel Kassewitz, and Billy Friebele.  River Spirit Project, Social Art and Culture (SAAC).  Introduction and presentation of project designs.
• DC Government Updates/Presentations
  • Lawrence Davin, Mayor’s Office of Community Relations & Services (MOCRS) Ward 7 Representative.
  • Francis Campbell, Office of Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent Gray.
  • Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Representatives.
• Letter to DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities concerning Spirit of the River Sculpture by Social Art and Culture (SAAC).
• Proposed Motion: Commission to consider sending a letter of support to CAH for sculpture installation at Kingman and Heritage Islands.
• 4337 Douglas Street, NE. (District Properties.com LLC and LNDC, Inc.) Proposed Motion: Commission to consider sending a letter communicating ANC position on BZA Application.
• Proposed Motion: Commission to consider sending a letter communicating ANC position on BZA #20769, 4533 Douglas St, NE
• Proposed Motion: Commission to consider sending a letter communicating ANC position on BZA #21149, 1801 D St, NE.
• Letter to Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent Gray concerning alley naming for Square 1084.  Proposed Motion: Commission to suggest 2-3 potential options for DC Council consideration.

Wednesday, July 10

ANC6C will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm. 

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

Agenda:  TBA

Thursday, July 11

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 draft agenda: 

Consent Agenda

• Recommendation: ANC 6A sign a letter of support for the substantial change to the Class C restaurant license of Bloom at 1402 H Street, NE.
• Recommendation: ANC 6A approve a grant to Maury Elementary School PTO in the amount of $1,000.00 to fund for installation of a crosswalk mural in 200 block of 13th Street, NE, at Tennessee Avenue NE.

Plenary Session

• Recommendation: ANC 6A send a letter to DDOT in support of the Arts in the Right-Of-Way project at 15th Street, NE, and Constitution Avenue, NE, and reiterating a long-standing request for an all-way stop at this location.
• Recommendation: ANC 6A send a letter to DDOT in support of an Arts in the Right-Of-Way installation at Maury Elementary School in the crosswalk across the 200 block of 13th Street at the intersection with Tennessee Avenue NE.
• Recommendation: ANC 6A oppose the application for a class C restaurant license for AG Restaurant at 816 H Street, NE, unless a settlement agreement is reached and that Commissioner Dooling have the authority to represent the ANC in settlement agreement discussions.
• Recommendation: ANC 6A sign a letter of support for a stipulated license for AG Restaurant at 816 H Street NE (ABRA-128831) if a settlement agreement is reached.
• Recommendation: ANC 6A send a letter of support to the BZA re: Request for a Special Exception from the matter-of-right-uses to construct a detached, two-story accessory garage with accessory dwelling to an existing, attached, two-story with cellar, principal dwelling unit in the RF-1 zone and use the accessory building second floor as a dwelling unit once construction is complete and a certificate of occupancy is obtained at 813 7th Street, NE.
• Suggested motion: ANC 6A support the request for a two (2) year time extension to Board of Zoning Adjustment Order in order to construct a third floor with penthouse addition, to an existing, attached, two-story with cellar, mixed use building at 1252 H Street, NE.
• Suggested Motion: Nomination of Commissioner Dave Wethington to be Co-Chair of ANC 6A.