The Week Ahead…& Some Photos from the Past Week

R.I.P. Mehmet Yalcin, owner of Woven History & Silk Road, has passed away.  He was in Turkey visiting family and had a heart attack.  His death was announced to the community by Judy Thomas, Executive Director, Eastern Market Main Street. 

He opened Silk Road – a family-owned textile business near Eastern Market – in 1995 after a career at the World Bank.  Yalcin held a Ph.D. from Harvard University and was a scholar of Inner Asian and Altaic Studies.  Here’s an article from 2021 in the Hill Rag:  https://bit.ly/4psmDvD

At last Tuesday’s 1^st District MPD Citizens Advisory Council (CAC), District Commander Colin Hall announced that for the next ten weeks, he would be attending the FBI National Academy.  The Academy is a professional course of study for U.S. and international law enforcement managers nominated by their agency heads because of demonstrated leadership qualities.  Hall has served at 1^st District Commander since July 23.

The CAC is an advisory panel in each police district that provides the district commander with information and recommendations from the community on the public’s safety problems and police service needs.  1^st Districts CAC holds a virtual meet on the first Tuesday of the month.  See here:  https://1dcac.com/

During Commander Hall’s absence, the 1^st District will be overseen by Commander Christopher Dorsey of the MPD’s Office of the Field Commander.   

Update on CIVIC on 8th: Last Tuesday night ANC6B’s Alcohol Beverage and Cannabis Committee discussed CIVIC’s on 8th’s application for a tavern license with an entertainment endorsement. Co-owner Rhonda Foxx said the business model includes live entertainment on the patio along E Street. The committee voted to recommend the full ANC approve a temporary alcohol license at its upcoming meeting January 13meeting, allowing CIVIC to open ASAP and simultaneously protest the license to allow the ANC time to get an agreement to limit the hours of the outside entertainment. Foxx says the coffee bar will oper in a few weeks – and that could quickly be followed by the cocktail bar.

Update on WingStop on Barracks Row: Last Thursday, the ANC6B Planning and Zoning Committee heard from high-powered Hill and Knowlton attorney Liela Batties who was there to push WingStop’s application for an exception to the ban on fast food outlets on Barracks Row and present a new request for an exemption from dumpster requirements. In the process, the community learned that Douglas Development, the owner of the building which formerly housed an illegal weed dispensary (now the proposed location for WingStop at 406 8th Street), also owns Dunkin, next door. Douglas Development seems to be bending over backward to be accommodating and has agreed to work with ANC6B Commissioner Brian Gorman to coordinate a meeting with neighbors to adress concerns.

Update on SE Library Renovation: The renovation of SE Library continues to move forward on schedule to meet a completion date of this coming June. The DC Library will need a couple of months, they say, to get the new library up and running after that.

The Week Ahead…

Monday, January 12

ANC6B Parks & Public Spaces Taskforce will hold an In Person Only Meeting at 7:00pm.

Join Information: This meeting will be held at 700 Pennsylvania Ave SE; Second Floor (entry adjacent to Trader Joe’s).

Among items on the draft agenda:

Discussion of Rumsey Aquatic Center Rebuild.  There will be a public meeting re the Rumsey rebuild on Wednesday, January 14 at 6:30 in the North Hall of the Eastern Market.  Concerns:

• The treatment of the alley between the pool and the EM, while attractive, may not reflect actual working use of the alley by the EM.
• Are the proposed spaces large enough and flexible enough to meet the community’s aspirations? (e.g. is space sufficient for the competitive swim meets that some desire? Is the proposed therapy pool adequate? Is the storage area(s) adequate? )
• What is the proposed treatment of the C street side of the building?  It is not clearly reflected in the drawings.
• One unusual concern related to actual labeling of the meeting spaces:  if they are to represent flexible design and use, does it make sense to use designations such as “Seniors” or “Makers” rooms.

St. Elizabeth Campus Development and historical preservation.

• This week the DC Preservation League and the National Trust for Historic Preservation wrote the U.S. Federal Services Administration to protest plans for demolishing properties on St. Elizabeth’s West Campus – a Historic Landmark District. 
• Possible action for our Committee: to prepare a letter of support from ANC6B for the regarding the request for responsible agencies to meet on site to discuss the issue– with copies provided to the DC Council, pertinent ANCs,  and others actors cited by the DC Preservation League– emphasizing the need for redevelopment compatible with historic preservation.

Meeting schedule for 2026 and discussion of additional agenda building issues.

Tuesday, January 13

ANC6B will hold a hybrid meeting at 7:00pm. 

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:

Election of 2026 ANC 6B Officers

• Election of: Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, Parliamentarian

Adoption of Agenda

Consent Agenda

Community & Commission Announcements & Speak Out

• Office of the Mayor (MOCR)
• Councilmember Charles Allen’s Office
• Metropolitan Police Department

6B Commissioner Announcements

ANC 6B Input on Other Concerns

• Presentation of the 2025 ANC 6B Outstanding Public Service Award
• Discussion: Interim Police Chief
• [LATE BREAKING] Discuss: Letter to WMATA Regarding Signage at L’Enfant Plaza Metro Station

Alcoholic Beverage & Cannabis Committee

• CIVIC on Eighth – 501 8th Street SE.  New Application for a Retail’s Class “C” Tavern; Protest Petition Deadline: 01/26/2026

Protests/Other Updates

• Ambar – 523 8th Street SE, Ongoing negotiation regarding settlement agreement and protest hearing. Parties have requested continuance while discussions proceed
• Continue Discussion for “Vision for Barracks Row”/Roundtable Planning
• Finalization of Roster for Barracks Row Roundtable

Planning and Zoning Committee

• BZA Application for Fast Food special exemption at 406 8th Street, SE

Technical Assistance Fund (OANC) – Owl Purchase

ANC7D will hold a virtual public meeting at 7:00pm

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

Among items on the draft agenda:

Adopt January 2026 meeting agenda and December 2025 meeting minutes

Updates from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)

Special Guest – Thom de Boo, “Trains Are Awesome” Transportation Vlogger

Elected District Government Official Updates

• Letisha Vinson, Office of Ward 7 Councilmember Wendell Felder
• Amber Wright, Mayor’s Office of Community Relations & Services (MOCRS
• Eboni-Rose Thompson, State Board of Education (SBOE), Ward 7 Representative
• Kisha Anderson, District Department of Transportation (DDOT),
• Ward 7 Community Engagement Specialist
• Community Presentations/Discussions
• Chris Dyer, Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), Community Engagement Manager:  Updates on Summer Camp Registration, River Terrace Survey, Rosedale Pool Request

RFK Roundup

• Opportunity for Commission to raise awareness around RFK Development Issues

Commissioner SMD Reports

Wednesday, January 14

ANC6C will hold 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:

Election of ANC Officers (Christy Kwan, official counter)

Designation of officers authorized to provide secondary signature on checks

Appointment and elections of committee members and chairs

Treasurer’s report for December

Community announcements

Commissioner announcements

DC agency informational announcements

• Office of Planning’s H Street NE land use project
• Other community announcements/public comment

Consent agenda

Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development Committee

• 218 F Street NE.  BZA Application for special exceptions from lot occupancy requirements and rear addition restrictions to construct a two-story rear addition + cellar principal dwelling unit
• 507-509 L Street NE. BZA Application for area variances from front setback requirements and rules of measurement for front setback requirements to construct four attached three-story + cellar flats

Transportation and Public Space Committee

• DDOT Strategic Bikeways Plan, ANC 6C request for support

Plenary Session

Alcohol and Cannabis Licensing Committee

• OANC advice on committee chairmanship – Ad hoc rotating chair from among committee members

New Business

• J.O. Wilson construction – Update, Jeremiah Foxwell
• 201 K Street NE, sidewalk access closed – Andrew Hayes

Community Meeting on Rumsey Redesign.

• The DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and the DC Department of General Services (DGS) have scheduled a community meeting to discuss the latest concept design for the Rumsey Aquatic Center.

Meeting Details:

Location:  North Hall at Eastern Market | 255 7th Street SE

Time:  6:30 PM- 8:00 PM

 Individuals needing special accommodations, please contact Christopher Dyer at (202) 702-9453 or Christopher.dyer@dc.gov    

For more information and to RSVP, please visit: https://rumsey.splashthat.com/

Thursday, January 15

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:

Organizational actions

Motion to elect officers: Chair – Amber Gove (6A04); -Vice Chair – Stephen Kolb (6A07); Secretary/Parliamentarian – Jeff Giertz (6A06); Treasurer – Roberta Shapiro (6A02)

Motion to elect members and leaders of the permanent Committees for 2026.

Economic Development and Zoning Committee – TBA  & Mike Cushman (6A04) – Co-Chairs; Ayisha Lockett (6A06), Becca Buthe (6A03), Russ Green (6A02); Rachael Loper (6A02).

Transportation and Public Safety Committee – Patrick Bloomstine (6A01), Chair; Shaun Lynch (6A01); Caitlin Rogger (6A07); Jeff Fletcher (6A07); Mark Sussman (6A04).

Alcohol Beverage & Cannabis Committee – Jeff Giertz – Chair; Members – TBA

Community Outreach Committee: Chair and Members – TBA

Motion to adopt a schedule of monthly meetings.

Community Presentation – To be announced

Consent Agenda

Alcohol Beverage and Cannabis

• Recommendation: ANC 6A protest the application for renewal of a Class C tavern license with Entertainment and endorsements at The Haymaker 1015 H Street NE
• Recommendation: ANC 6A protest the application for a retail Class B Beer and Wine by US Spirits, LLC at 50 Massachusetts Ave NE Suite M118 unless a settlement agreement is reached.  ANC 6A authorizes the ANC Chair or the Chair of the ABC Committee, or their designee, to negotiate the settlement agreement
• Recommendation: ANC 6A protest the application for the application for a new license for a Class C Restaurant by Crumb at 822 H Street NE unless a settlement agreement is reached.  ANC6A authorizes the ANC Chair or the Chair of the ABC Committee, or their designee, to negotiate the settlement agreement
• Recommendation: ANC 6A protest the application for a substantial change request to a Class C Tavern to change hours of operation and alcoholic beverage sales and service for the Summer Garden by 816 Dirty Water at 816 H Street NE

Capitol Hill Corner would also like you to know about:

Sign Up for FreeDC. To learn about upcoming FreeDC events, actions, and ways to get involved, go here:  https://freedcproject.org/events   

Wednesday, January 14

FreeDC Event:

Rally for America’s Workforce: PAWA to the People

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

12:00 PM  1:30 PM

Upper Senate Park

200 New Jersey Avenue Northwest Washington, DC

https://freedcproject.org/event-list/rally-for-americas-workforce-pawa-to-the-people

Thursday, January 15

FreeDC Event:

Congress Working Group, January Meeting (Hybrid)

Thursday, January 15, 2026

6:00 PM  7:30 PM

Old City Market & Oven

522 K Street Northeast Washington, DC,

Note: The January meeting of the Congress Working Group was previously scheduled for January 8th, but was rescheduled to allow community members to attend the evening’s vigils in response to the shooting in Minneapolis. Those who registered for the January 8th meeting are still registered for tonight’s meeting.

Free DC’s Congress Working Group develops priorities and projects for Free DC’s advocacy to Congress.

This meeting will be hybrid, meaning there will be both in-person and remote attendance options. Please register below and let us know how you’re planning to attend!

If you are attending in person, please note that Old City Market & Oven is located about a 10-minute walk from the NoMa Metro Station (M St NE exit) on the Red Line.

The meeting room is in the basement, accessible only by stairs; attendees requiring wheelchair accessibility/elevator access should register to attend this meeting remotely. For additional accessibility information, please contact congress@freedcproject.org.  

Free DC working group meetings are only open to those who have previously attended a campaign orientation. A list of upcoming campaign orientations is available here.  https://freedcproject.org/event-list?category=Orientation