Author Archives: ljjanezich

Capitol Hill Residents Want Tougher Rat Bill – Will Testify Wednesday at Council Hearing

by Larry Janezich

Capitol Hill residents living next to commercial corridors with restaurants are afraid the City Council won’t put enough teeth in CM Charles Allen’s rat control bill to make it effective.  They say the most important things that the city can do about rats are 1) require indoor storage of trash and grease for new restaurants or those undergoing renovation, 2) require the use of air scrubbers in restaurant ventilation units to remove food odors that attract rats, and 3) vigorously enforce the city’s Health Code.   The first two items require considerable investment by businesses.  As for the third, residents suspect that there is an unwritten understanding that city should not be too tough on enforcing regulations that impose a burden on businesses.

Capitol Hill Corner talked to several Capitol Hill residents who will testify or submit testimony at Wednesday’s joint City Council Hearing on the rat bill.

One resident whose house backs up to restaurants says, “We are absolutely overwhelmed with rats.  I have lived here for a long time, but have never dealt with what we are dealing with now.  We get no help from restaurants and the proposed legislation is doing little to remedy that.  The resident called the bill a “timid” approach and fears it will “end up endorsing what has already proven not to work”.

Another says, “Restaurants are breeding grounds and food providers for rats.  People fought to get good practices in place, but the legislation as written doesn’t require it.  We have to get in our minds that the essential health and wellbeing of the city is at stake.  Poor legislation is worse than nothing at all – the council will think it’s done and move on.”

A third resident says no legislation will work without better enforcement, adding, “The bill moves the ball forward but does not provide a “big fix”.   We have to stop feeding rats.”

Capitol Hill Corner asked CM Allen to react to these concerns.  Allen replied “My goal from the beginning has been to work on reforms to the existing laws to give the city new tools to control and attack rodents and the sources that sustain them….  But…I will work with stakeholders to further strengthen the bill.”

Allen says the bill he introduced strengthens existing law by requiring existing food establishments to “enclose” trash when possible, which includes indoor storage, and also requires new food establishments to provide for indoor trash storage “when feasible”.  He said that the bill authorizes the Department of Health (DOH) rodent control inspectors to ensure that a restaurant has a system for the proper storage and disposal of grease and issue fines – an authority they currently do not have.

Asked about whether a fund to combat rodents which relies of the effectiveness of the Health Department’s fining violators of the health code is adequate, Allen said, “The Council obviously doesn’t run the agencies – that’s the Mayor’s job – but the bill gives DOH new tools that they’ve asked for.  This rodent abatement fund expired several years ago and needs to be revived to give DOH new resources… we’ll look at this during the budget process as well.”

ANC6B Chair Chander Jayaraman and ANC6B Commissioner Diane Hoskins, both strong advocates of requiring eateries to adopt best operating practices including indoor trash and grease storage, will testify on the legislation at Wednesday’s hearing.  Both strongly support pollution control units for restaurants – upon which the bill is silent.  The units remove rat-attracting food odors and particulates vented from restaurants, and as a quality of life issue, require installation of baffles to address noise concerns.

The hearing on Wednesday is a joint hearing between the City Council’s Committee on Health and the Committee of the Whole. After the hearing, the members of the committee and their staff will make changes to the bill before the Committee of the Whole finalizes and votes on the bill. Those changes will be based on the record developed at the hearing – both in-person testimony and testimony submitted for the record. The record will remain open for two weeks after the hearing for anyone who wants to submit written testimony.

Once the committee votes on the bill, there will be two readings before the full Council, where any councilmember can suggest amendments. Allen says, “There are many opportunities for residents to provide input, and I look forward to continuing to hear how to improve the bill.”

The hearing on CM Allen’s Rat Control Bill, is on Wednesday, December 6, at 9:30am, Room 500, Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.

Here’s what prompted CM Allen to take on the Rat Problem:  http://bit.ly/2q8hekf and here http://bit.ly/2mQRCFS

For a post on Capitol Hill’s Rat Hot Spots, see here:  http://bit.ly/2nxDQWo

The Week Ahead…CM Allen’s Rat Control Bill Up for City Council Hearing Wednesday

by Larry Janezich

Monday, December 4

ANC6C ABL Committee  usually meets on the first Monday of the month at 7:00pm at Kaiser Permanente Capitol Hill Medical Center, 700 Second Street, NE.  At press time, ANC6C had not yet released an agenda for a meeting. 

Tuesday, December 5

ANC6B Planning & Zoning Committee meets on at 7:00pm at St. Coletta of Greater Washington, 1901 Independence Avenue, SE.

Among items on the draft agenda:

Zoning adjustment for 407 ½ 4th Street, SE, Special exception to construct a two-story rear addition to an existing one-family dwelling.

Historic Preservation Application for 508 7th Street, SE., concept/two-story rear addition.

Zoning adjustment for 508 7th Street, SE, Special exceptions under the non-conforming structure requirements to construct a two-story rear addition to an existing one-family dwelling in the RF-1 Zone at 508 7th Street, SE.

Historic Preservation Application for 1314 Independence Avenue, SE, concept/two-story rear addition.

Zoning adjustment for 506 2nd Street, SE, Special Exception to construct a two-story rear covered porch on to an existing two-family flat.

Zoning adjustment for 733 Kentucky Avenue, SE, special exception to construct a rear addition to existing one-family dwelling.

Wednesday, December 6

Committee of the Whole & Health Public Hearing on CM Allen’s Rat Control Bill, 9:30am, Room 500, Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.   Those who wish to testify must email the Committee of the Whole at cow@dccouncil.us, or call Randi Powell, Legislative Policy Advisor, at 202-724-8196, and provide your name, address, telephone number, organizational affiliation and title {if any) by close of business  Monday, December 4, 2017. Persons wishing to testify are encouraged, but not required, to submit 15 copies of written testimony. If submitted by the close of business on Tuesday, December 5, 2017 the testimony will be distributed to Councilmembers before the  roundtable. Witnesses should limit their testimony to five minutes; less time will be allowed if there are a large number of witnesses.

ANC6B Transportation Committee will meet at 7:00pm, at Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

Among items on the draft agenda:

Discussion with Suzette E. Robinson, COO, DDOT (invited).

Request for Action on Repaving 8th Street, SE, north of the 300 block (tentative).

Presentation by the DC Street Light Task Force, represented by Ms. Delores Bushong.

ANC6C Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development Committee meets at 6:30pm, Northeast Library, 7^th and D Streets, NE. 

Among items on the draft agenda:

Zoning adjustment for 1121 Abbey Place, NE, for special exceptions to add – a third floor and construct a four-story rear addition to an existing one-family dwelling in the RF-1 Zone at 1121 Abbey Place N.E. (square 773, lot 184).

Historic Preservation Application for 518 6th Street, NE, for concept approval for rear addition.

Historic Preservation Application for 210 A Street, NE,  for a permit to install security gate and fence atop a retaining wall.

Thursday, December 7

ANC6C Transportation and Public Space Committee meets at 7:00pm at Kaiser Permanente Capitol Hill Medical Center, 700 2nd Street, NE. 

Among items on the draft agenda:

Streetcar Storage and Maintenance Facility Needs Assessment Study – DDOT is working on their Streetcar Storage and Maintenance Facility Needs Assessment Study, in progress. At the Benning Extension Meeting, DDOT shared the potential locations evaluated, which include sites in ANC6C. DDOT will share the evaluation with the committee for comments.

Heritage Foundation/Armand’s Heritage Foundation’s plans to develop the site of the former Armand’s pizzeria on Massachusetts Avenue, NE. Work is already underway at the adjacent property. Representative: Harold Bingham, MGAC

Zipcar – Discussion of the possibility of moving the Zip car spots at 4th and M Street, NE to a spot north of Florida Avenue.

ANC6B Alcohol Beverage Control Committee meets at 7:00pm, at Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

Among items on the draft agenda:

Lola’s LLC d/b/a Lola’s, 711 8th St., SE, Amendments to correct Settlement Agreement to permit use of summer garden that was incorrectly designated as sidewalk café.

Wineandbutter, LLC, P & C Market, 1023 East Capitol Street, SE, Approval of a Corrected Settlement Agreement A for a Class B Retail Grocery License.

PSA 107 is scheduled to meet at 7:00pm in Southeast Library, Lower Level.

FOSEL – Friends of South East Library – meet at 5:30pm in South East Library, Lower Level. 

Century Associates and Senior Cohousing is the Mayor’s Choice for the Hill East Boys and Girls Club

by Larry Janezich

Today, Ward Six Councilmember Charles Allen issued a statement regarding the Mayor’s announcement today of  the selection of Century Associates and their proposal for senior cohousing for the redevelopment of the former Boys and Girls Club in Hill East.

Allen said that the Century Associates project will bring dedicated senior co-housing and assisted living in partnership with Capitol Hill Village to the 11,000 square foot site. The site will offer 29 for-sale units and 10 affordable units at 50 and 80 percent area median income.

“When I first took office in 2015, I heard loud and clear from the nearby neighbors they weren’t satisfied with the proposals to redevelop the Boys & Girls Club Eastern Branch. I asked the city to stop their process and start over – with a focus on delivering a better plan to serve the communities’ needs,” said Councilmember Allen. “Working with Mayor Bowser and the ANC, the city launched a new effort that led to today’s announcement – a better outcome for all. This is a big win for Ward 6 and our neighbors. I’m proud to have helped lead this process to deliver better results, and am very grateful for the hard work and thoughtful additions from the community, in particular ANC 6B-09 Commissioner Daniel Ridge.”

The project will incorporate sustainable design features, as well as work with the community to program the use of nearly 2,000 square feet to serve the broader neighborhood.

David vs Goliath – The City Is Close to Announcing a Developer for the Hill East Boys and Girls Club

by Larry Janezich

An announcement of the city’s selection for the developer of the Boys and Girls Club in Hill East appears imminent.  In some respects, the dueling developers appear to be David vs Goliath, with local Capitol Hill entity Century Associates – clearly the favorite of the community and the ANC (see below) – pitted against the several development companies all of which appear to be owned by a holding company, of which Morningstar Development is a part.  Political contributions to the campaigns of numerous mayoral and city council campaigns by those developers associated with Morningstar far outstrip the handful of select contributions from Century Associates.

Here’s a review of where we are tonight regarding the redevelopment proposals:

The office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development held a public disposition hearing on Thursday, November 16, at St. Coletta’s, presided over by Gilles Stucker, Associate Director of Real Estate.  The purpose was to receive community comment regarding what use the Boys and Girls Club should be put when disposed of as surplus property by the city.

Sixteen residents of the some 30 attendees – many of them members of Capitol Hill Village – expressed a strong preference for the senior cohousing proposal offered by Century Associates over the conventional condo development put forward by Morningstar Development.  (See ANC6B action below for details)

ANC6B Commissioner Dan Ridge, speaking only for himself, said, “If this RFP is to issue an award, if we are to trade in our building for between 5% and 10% back in community space, then let me throw my personal weight behind the Century Associates plan. This plan is audacious. This plan is exciting. This plan, even though replicated elsewhere, will be designed here by the residents themselves. This is an experiment. In my mind, this tips the balance. This experimentation itself is a community service. I would encourage the city council to set aside the property taxes generated by this project to a Community Land Trust to, over time, preserve and deepen the affordability of the project by purchasing additional units in the building as they become available on the open market.”

Stucker said of the next steps forward, that DMPED’s Office of Real Estate will collect oral testimony and written comments and prepare a package that will be sent to the city council along with a recommendation to surplus the property and what use should be made of it after disposition.

Asked by a resident what criteria will be used in formulating the recommendation, Stucker said “the RFP criteria, public comments, and the great weight of the ANC”.  Regarding the time frame, Stucker said he hoped a decision would be made this year.

Stucker noted that the hearing that night was the first instance of the use of a Disposition Hearing under the “OurRFP” process which is intended to provide transparency and accountability for the RFP process.

Ridge, again speaking for himself, took issue with the OurRFP process used for the Boys and Girls Club:  “In my opinion, I think this RFP process is an almost pathological mismatch for this property.”  He said that the process did not need to be structured to produce a mostly residential outcome, but …“this specific RFP was rigged to steer this process towards residences.”

Ridge offered the following specifics: “It required CBE* participation, which excluded non-profits. It required respondents to have developed three similar projects, a near impossibility for a team rehabilitating a neighborhood community center. DMPED, … constrained the discussion to only those matter-of-right uses … [and] lumped most non-residential uses together into ‘institutional’. This is perhaps the scariest way to describe the purpose of this building over the last 70 years.”

“This liquidation of 40,000 square feet of community space into housing is especially jarring because this building is specifically enumerated in the Comprehensive Plan as a community facility and because it is perhaps the last, best hope for Hill East to have the kind of amenity that is supposed to flow from the density we are told to accept.  Mayor Bowser’s recent Amazon bombshell for Reservation 13 has only served to dim prospects of meaningful community support here. Most jarring is to have seen, since the Boys and Girls club closed, Eastern Market rebuilt from ashes and the Hill Center reclaimed from a state worse than the Boys and Girls club was when closed. These are jewels for the rest of the Hill and examples of what is possible.”

In addition to Stucker, other city official in attendance included DMPED Project Manager Miguel Garcia , Valacia Wilson, Planner, Office of Planning, and Ikenna Udeuioor, Realty Specialist, Department of General Services.

* The Certified Business Enterprise (“CBE”) Program provides preference to District-based firms pursuing District Government issued procurement opportunities, and expands the availability of business opportunities with District-sponsored development projects.

ANC Action

On November 14, ANC6B voted to recommend Century Associate’s senior co-housing proposal for development of the Hill East Boys and Girls Club.  The vote was 6 – 0, with three abstentions.

Century Associates proposed 29 one, two, and three bedroom age restricted co-housing units with a dozen below grade parking spaces and 1850 square feet of community space.  30% of the units would be “affordable” i.e., available at 50% – 80% of market rate.  The use of the community space would be determined by the community.  Century was not able to say what the market price of the non-affordable units would be, but did estimate that the average price of the units including the affordable ones would be $545,000.

A strong majority of the ANC agreed that senior co-housing was a better fit for the Comprehensive Plan for the District.  The support came with the request that use and management of the community space required by the city to be included in the project be clarified.

Morningstar Development’s competing proposal would provide 31 one, two, and three bedroom conventional condo units, a similar number of parking spaces, and 3000 square feet of community space.  The Morningstar representative announced at the meeting that the developer could increase the percentage of affordable housing from the required 30% to 40%, though it’s unclear whether such an offer is permitted after a response to a request for proposals has been submitted.  The developer anticipates that the market rate units will sell from $382,600 up to a large three-bedroom for $741,700..  The “affordable” units will be available below market at rates ranging from 50% to 80% of market value.  The developer also said the company would contribute startup costs of $155,000 for a café in part of the rent-free community space.

For ANC6B’s Planning and Zoning Committee consideration of and recommendation see here:  http://bit.ly/2zpSF6C

For more on the concept of senior cohousing, see here:  http://cohousing.org/node/4005

The Week Ahead…. & Construction Starts on 145 Unit Apartment Bldg. Near SE Safeway

by Larry Janezich

 

The Week Ahead….

Monday, November 27

ANC6A Community Outreach Committee (COC) meets at 7:00pm at Maury Elementary School, Multi-Purpose Room, 1250 Constitution Avenue, NE (Enter from 13th Street).

Among items on the draft agenda:

Committee Business

Community Comments

Tuesday, November 28

ANC6B Executive Committee meets at 7:00pm in Hill Center to set the agenda for the December 12^th meeting of the full ANC. 

Wednesday, November 29

Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee (EMCAC)  meets at 7:00pm, North Hall, Eastern Market.

Among items on the draft agenda:

Report from Marketing and Promotions: Chuck Burger

Market Managers Report

Lease negotiations status

Public safety

Parking

Eastern Market Main Street

Lighting of the Capitol Hill Holiday Tree on Saturday Night – Photo Essay

by Larry Janezich

Some 300 Capitol Hill residents showed up Saturday night for the 11^th annual lighting of the Capitol Hill Holiday tree in the SE quadrant of Eastern Market Metro Plaza.  The living tree was planted in 2007, in honor of founder of National Capitol Bank, Barrack Row Main Street, and Capitol Hill BID George Didden, III.  Members of his family have been asked to turn on the lights, and this year his daughter Amanda flipped the switch.

At Large Councilmember Elissa Silverman – a 12 year resident of Ward Six – showed up on behalf of herself as a resident of Ward Six but also standing in for Ward Six Councilmember Charles Allen who, she said, was travelling for the holiday with his family.

Entertainment was provided by “Joyous Voices”, Capitol Hill Arts Workshop’s “Suzuki Strings” and the “Washington Youth Choir”.  The ceremony was organized by founding president of the Capitol Hill BID, Patty Brosmer which began in 2003.

For more on what you need to know about Capitol Hill BID see CHC post here:  http://bit.ly/2lwSJq2

The Week Ahead…Community Engagement Winds Down as the Thanksgiving Holiday Nears

by Larry Janezich

Monday, November 20

ANC6A Transportation & Public Space Committee meets at Capitol Hill Towers, 900 G Street, 7:00pm.

Among items on the draft agenda:

Traffic safety on 400 Block of 10th Street NE

Tuesday, November 21

CANCELLED ANC6A Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee meeting CANCELLED

Capitol Hill Towers, 900 G St. NE – Photo ID required

CM Silverman on Verge of Calling for Resignation of DC Consumer Regulation Chief Bolling

By Larry Janezich

Last Tuesday, Councilmember at Large Elissa Silverman met with ANC 6B in an outreach effort to “share what I’m working on”.  Dysfunctionality at the DC Department of Consumer Regulation (DCRA) was near the top of the list of her concerns.  Silverman related that just that day, in a public hearing, she heard the “most disheartening accusation against DCRA” and said that the agency’s response was “horrible”.  The case involved a contractor who had caused structural damage to an adjoining property and DCRA had failed to respond to the aggrieved party’s complaint.

Following up on the opening and citing her own constituents’ ongoing problems with the troubled agency, Hill East ANC 6B Commissioner Denise Krepp asked Silverman, “When are you going to ask for Director Bolling’s resignation … she needs to go”.

Silverman responded, “I’m really close”.  She said the wife of the couple who testified in the hearing earlier on Tuesday was in tears about what happened to their home, adding “There was no outreach or apology or offer to address the problem from Director Bolling.”  Silverman compared the callousness to that of the DC Fire Department Emergency Services who mishandled the case of NYT reporter David Rosenbaum in 2006.  Rosenbaum was the victim of a mugging, who the DCFD dismissed as being drunk.  The reporter died after medical treatment was delayed.  Silverman said, “DCRA is at the same point”.

Pressed by Krepp about when Silverman would act, the Councilmember replied, “Probably in the next few weeks”.

Silverman’s criticism was in line with Councilmember Charles Allen and widespread public opinion.  Earlier this year, Allen told a Capitol Hill community meeting that DCRA is the “one agency which has caused us the biggest problems and has the most improvements to make”, and “that the agency needs a top to bottom shakeup.”  (See CHC post here:  http://bit.ly/2uglX4e)

The question now, is whether Silverman and Allen follow through and whether Mayor Bowser listens to the Councilmembers and the community.  Bowser is currently on a tour of the city’s ANCs (most recently at ANC6D, report forthcoming).  Since DCRA issues seem prevalent throughout the city, the ANC’s should carry the issue of accountability directly to where the buck stops.  Given, however, Bowser’s shameful toleration of questionable ethics in contracting in the Department of General Services (See here:  http://bit.ly/2uUdcyv), the toleration of preferential treatment at the Department of Education and the indifference to community concerns shown by the Department of Transportation, it’s not clear exactly where that is.

Given those circumstances, what’s more likely to happen is that Bolling will profess enough departmental mea culpas and pledges to do better, allowing a general pardon for past grievances and the dysfunction to continue.

 

The Week Ahead…Mayor Bowser at ANC6D on Monday

By Larry Janezich

Monday, November 13

ANC6D meets at 7:00pm at Capitol Quarter Community Center, 1000 5^th Street, SE (Note temporary change in venue)

Among items on the draft agenda:

Presentation by Mayor Muriel Bowser, followed by questions from the commission and the community.

Public Safety Report- First District MPD (PSA 105 & PSA 106) Lt. Queen, Lt. Robinson.

2018 Rock N Roll Marathon and Half Marathon (Diane Romo Thomas).

Presentation:  DC Water – Sewer Rehabilitation in Navy Yard Neighborhood (Tanya Hedgepeth).

Friendly’s Food Market – 1399 Half Street, SW. – Class B Renewal + revised CA.

7-11 – 1101 S. Capitol Street, SW – Class B Renewal w/ ANC letter to ABRA/ABC Board.

Requin – 100 District Square, SW – Amend. to CA: addition of 40 seats in summer garden.

Officina – 1120 Maine Avenue, SW – New Class B + CR w/ entertainment endorsement & 3 summer gardens w/ entertainment endorsement.

Capitol Yacht Club – 800 Wharf Street, SW – ANC letter supporting request for stipulated license.

Cornercopia, Sal’s Café, Smiles – renewal of Class B Licenses.

Randall School Project – Community Engagement Efforts.

25 M Street, SE – Mixed use building. Modification of Consequence, digital signage design update.

Southwest Community Library Renovation Project.

1900 Half Street, SW – Modification of Significance.

Riverfront Phase II Modification – PUD Modification.

100 K Street, SE (GH Group, LLC) – Special Exception.

SW Waterfront Park Bus Prohibition.

Tuesday, November 14

ANC6B meets at 7:00pm at Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

Among items on the draft agenda:

Presentation:  Councilwoman Elissa Silverman.

L Street Market Inc., 7th L Street Market, 700 L Street, SE – Renewal Class B Retail Grocery License.

3rd & Pennsylvania, LLC, Roland’s Grocery, 333 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE – Renewal Class B Retail Grocery License.

Park & Song Inc., Congress Market, 421 East Capitol Street, SE – Renewal Class B Retail Grocery License.

Radici Uno (One Root), LLC, Radici, 301-303 7th Street, SE – Renewal Class B Retail Grocery License.

Trader Joe’s East Inc., Trader Joe’s  #622, 750 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE – Renewal Class B Retail Grocery License.

Midagra, LLC, DCanter, 545 8th Street, SE – Renewal Class B Retail Grocery License.

Lola’s LLC d/b/a Lola’s, 711 8th Street, SE – Amendments to correct Settlement Agreement to permit use of summer garden that was incorrectly designated as sidewalk cafe in last renewal conforming amendment to Settlement Agreement regarding total seating and capacity.

Wineandbutter, LLC, P & C Market, 1023 East Capitol Street, SE – Renewal Class B Retail Grocery License.

Cho’s Family Market Inc., Mott’s Market, 233 12th Street, SE – Renewal Class B Retail Grocery License.

Harris Teeter, LLC, Harris Teeter, 1350 Potomac Avenue, SE – Renewal Class B Retail Grocery License.

716-718 L Street SE, Concept: three-story rear addition and two-story rooftop addition.

421 Seward Square SE, Concept: rooftop addition.

Recap of Hill East Task Force Community Meeting on Eastern Branch Boys & Girls Club Building and discussion on ANC action.

DC Food Trucks Parking Regulations.

Feasibility and possibility of bike lanes on Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

Letter to DGS in support of Councilmember Allen and EMCAC to request that DGS get a formal opinion from the Attorney General’s Office regarding the Eastern Market Special Use Area prior to mandating or initiating new requirements.

Letter to ANC7F requesting a speedy election.

Letter to the Mayor’s Office, DMPED and other city agencies stating that ANC 6B as an affected ANC with respect to Reservation 13.

Wednesday, November 15

ANC6A Economic Development and Zoning Committee meeting has been cancelled.  

Capitol Hill Restoration Society Preservation Café:  Shotgun House Revisited.  Ruth Trocolli,the DC Historic Preservation Office’s District Archaeologist, and her associates, will be the featured speakers at 6:30 p.m. at the Northeast Library is located at 330 7th Street, NE.  Dr. Trocolli directed the excavation of the site at 1229 E St. SE, a pre-civil war home which is often referred to as “the shotgun house” for its architectural style.  New information completes the story of this historic property.

Saturday, November 18

Free One-Day Paint Drop-off Event in DC:  PaintCare will host a special one-day paint drop-off event on Saturday, November 18th at the DC Armory. District households and businesses are invited to drop off leftover house paint in any amount without charge.  We’ll accept all brands of old house paint, stain and varnish. Proof of District residency required. Businesses are encouraged to call PaintCare for details on oil-based materials.  An electronic flyer with event details is available here: https://www.paintcare.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/dc-flyer-event-DC-Armory-111817.pdf. District households and businesses can find the nearest year-round drop-off location by using a site locator tool on PaintCare’s website (https://www.paintcare.org).

The Capitol Hill Art League’s reception for “Life off the Hill” – an Art Exhibit: 30 pieces of art (paintings, sculptures and photography) featuring local artists.  5:00pm – 7:00pm, Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, 545 7th Street, SE.  Free admission.

Kingman Park Historic District.  The Office of Planning will hold a public meeting on Saturday, November 18, 2017 from 10 am – 12:00 noon at the Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, 1636 East Capitol Street NW on the historic district designation process.  Consideration of the proposed Kingman Park Historic District (Case 16-19, all properties between East Capitol, 19th and M Streets, NE and Maryland Avenue, NE and the Anacostia River) has been deferred until the January 25, 2018 HPRB meeting.

Barracks Row Engine Co. 18 Open House, 10:00am – 2:00pm.  Engine 18 (and Truck Company 7) are housed in the Barracks Row Firehouse at 414 8th Street, SE.