Looking north at the Pennsylvania Avenue facade
Looking northwest at the 8th and D corner.
Looking south from above and behind the north residential building.
Looking to the southwest
Looking north down 7th Street
Author Archives: ljjanezich
3-D Model of Hine Project Available at Hill Center – Part I
Looking north from above Pennsylvania Avenue
View of courtyard, which appears sunken below ground level.
Looking north from above and behind CVS.
Looking northwest, at corner of 8th and Pennsylvania.
Looking southwest. Plaza on upper right.
The Hine Project, looking north
3-D Model of Hine Project Available at Hill Center
by Larry Janezich
Today, Stanton-Eastbanc, developers of the Hine Project, installed the long-awaited 3-D model of the project in Hill Center Reception Room. Interested parties can view the model during normal operating hours. Enter Hill Center through the ground level west entrance.
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The Week Ahead….
The Week Ahead….
by Larry Janezich
Monday, April 2
Stanton-Eastbanc’s 3-D model of the Hine project available for viewing at the Hill Center. Timing uncertain.
CHRS Historic Preservation Committee meets at 6:30pm at 420 10th Street, SE, to hear Stanton Eastbanc presentation on the Hine Development and to hear presentation on the plans for renovation of NE Library.
Tuesday, April 3
DC Primary today.
ANC6B Planning & Zoning Committee meets at 7:00pm at St. Coletta’s. On the Agenda: Spring Mill Bakery’s (701 8th Street, SE) application for a sidewalk café.
Wednesday, April 4
ANC6B Transportation Committee meeting at 6:30pm in Hill Center. On the Agenda: Discussion of community letter on the Virginia Avenue Tunnel Project
ANC6B Hine Subcommittee Working Group on Retail meets at 7:00pm, Place TBD, to continue consideration of a recommended retail plan for the Hine Development
Thursday, April 5
ANC6B Hine Subcommittee meets at 7:00pm in Hill Center, Room TBA, to consider design issues for the proposed development at the Hine School site. The meeting will include a presentation by the architects and consideration of recommendations for both the PUD negotiation and the ANC position before the April 26th Historic Preservation Review Board.
CHRS Committee on Planning and Zoning meets at 7:30pm at 420 10th Street, SE
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Grassroots Effort Pushes Ban on Corporate Contributions to Local Pols -Ballot Initiative for November Election Sought
Grassroots Effort Pushes Ban on Corporate Contributions to Local Pols -Ballot Initiative for November Election Sought
by Larry Janezich
DC Public Trust http://dcpublictrust.org/wordpress1/ is heading up a grass roots campaign to get corporate cash out of local elections. The effort, initiated by Former Ward 1 At-Large D.C. Council candidate Bryan Weaver and Ward 7 ANC Commissioner Sylvia Brown , will require over 22,000 signatures from registered voters across the city, 4,000 from Ward Six. Currently, District law allows corporate contributions up to $500 for ward races, $1,000 for at-large and $2,000 for mayor per year but corporations can exceed those limits by “bundling” contributions from individuals and subsidiary companies. The proposed initiative would ban corporations and other business entities from making direct contributions to politicians or their campaign, legal defense, and inaugural committees, or their constituent-service programs.
It is not clear that the initiative will completely fix what has been described as the “pay to play culture” characterizing the relationship between DC city government and the business community. Corporations have been resourceful in finding ways to help elect city officials in excess of the limit of law. An equally important area needing reform is transparency in campaign financing. Currently, considerable effort is required to search through the Office of Campaign Finance’s online records which go back to 2000.
ANC6B Commissioner Brian Pate is supporting the effort. He says “We’re looking for volunteers to gather signatures at various civic events, with a focus on the April 3rd primary election. People can contact co-Ward 6 coordinators Justin Unger (justin.ungernps@gmail.com) or Nathaneal Hill (nathanael.hill@gmail.com) to sign up for shifts on the April 3rd at polling places throughout the Ward, or to get involved at other times. We are, of course, also looking for signatures on the ballot petition.”
The language of the proposed initiative is as follows:
“The Prohibition on Corporate Campaign Contributions Initiative of 2012”
This initiative, if passed, would prohibit corporations and other business entities from making direct contributions to principal campaign committees, exploratory committees, legal defense committees organized in support of public officials, transition committees, inaugural committees, or constituent-service programs.
PROPOSED LEGISLATION
BE IT ENACTED BY THE ELECTORS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the “Prohibition on Corporate Campaign Contributions Initiative of 2012.”
Sec. 2 It shall be unlawful for a corporation, limited liability company, or partnership to make any contribution to a principal campaign committee, exploratory committee, legal defense committee, transition committee, inaugural committee, or constituent-service program
Sec. 3 To the extent that the Board of Ethics and Government Accountability Establishment and Comprehensive Ethics Reform Amendment Act of 2011 (Enrolled version of Bill 19-511, passed by the District of Columbia Council on December 20, 2011) takes effect prior to the effective date of this Initiative, this Initiative shall be deemed and construed to repeal any provision of that Act that conflicts with this Initiative.
Sec. 4 Fiscal impact statement.
Sec. 5 Effective date. This act shall take effect after a 30-day period of Congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206 (c)(1)), and publication in the District of Columbia Register
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Eastern Market Committee Votes For Weekday Farmers’ Line – New Market Expected To Be Operational By May
Eastern Market Committee Votes For Weekday Farmers’ Line – New Market Expected To Be Operational By May
by Larry Janezich
Prodded by ANC6B Commissioner Brian Pate, the Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee (EMCAC) voted tonight to direct Market Manager Barry Margeson to establish a weekday farmer’s market. The unanimous vote came on a motion offered by Committee member Tom Kuchenberg.
The farmer’s line will be in accordance with the current law governing Eastern Market, which gives some of the weekend farmers and produce providers the right of first refusal on spaces. Margeson was further directed to seek out organic and local producers for the market in so far as spaces are available. The conventional wisdom is that there will be plenty of space to accommodate any organic or local producer who wishes to sell during the week.
Margeson has the flexibility to determine which day would work best, and has stated that Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday would work. David Fowler, a local farmer in tonight’s audience whose family has sold at the Market since 1873, noted that it will be June or July before local produce from this growing season will be available. Margeson has had expressions of interest from two produce providers, even before making any attempt to solicit produce vendors. He regularly has to turn away produce sellers seeking space on the weekends.
EMCAC Chair Donna Scheeder stated flatly that she expects the new market to be in operation by the next meeting of EMCAC on May 2nd. She said the message of tonight’s action is “we want a weekday farmers’ market, we want it now, we want additional producers and growers in a weekday farmers’ line….in early May, we’ll walk down the street on a weekday and see farmers.”
The weekday farmer’s line has been discussed for ten years and for a few moments tonight, it appeared that the proposal would be referred to a committee for additional discussion. Pate pushed to have a vote tonight, saying he supported organic produce to help make the weekday market unique and to increase the quality of the produce, though he said he was ok with aggregators or those who retail but do not produce their own produce. EMCAC will review what essentially a pilot program is periodically and make adjustments as necessary.
In a related matter, a representative from Councilmember Tommy Wells’ office announced that Wells’ office was hoping to set a date tomorrow for a public hearing on the legislation to provide a new governing structure for Eastern Market. The legislation is being tweaked and is likely to be released in the next few days.
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The Week Ahead ….
The Week Ahead ….
by Larry Janezich
Tuesday, March 27
ANC6B Executive Committee meets at 7:00pm in Hill Center.
CHRS Community Forum meets at 7:00pm at Maury Elementary School, 1250 Constitution Ave, NE. Historic Preservation Review Board Chair Catherine Buell speaks on working of HPRB. (Former CHRS Board Member and Historic Preservation Chair Nancy Metzger was recently appointed to the HPRB by Mayor Gray)
Wednesday, March 28
7:00pm at a place TBD. ANC6B Hine Subcommittee Working Group on Retail for the Hine Development meets to continue working on recommendations. Latest details on the Stanton Eastbanc retail plan will be discussed. Recommendations will be forwarded to ANC6B for their April 10 meeting.
Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee (EMCAC) meets at 7:00pm in Eastern Market North Hall.
Office of Planning hosts meeting on making the 11th Street Bridge a recreational area. 6:30-8:00 pm at the DC Office of Planning, 1100 4th Street, SW.
Thursday, March 29
ANC6B Subcommittee on Hine PUD meets at 7:00pm in Hill Center to consider recommendations on the Hine project design, retail plan, and open space plan.
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Stanton/Eastbanc Unveils New Drawings, Initiates Marketing Plan
Stanton/Eastbanc Unveils New Drawings, Initiates Marketing Plan
by Larry Janezich
Hine project developer Stanton/Eastbanc has unveiled architect Amy Weinstein’s new drawings changing design elements of the Hine Redevelopment in response to concerns raised by the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB). The Board will hold a hearing to review the new plans – possibly in April. The project is currently working its way through the PUD process to change the zoning to accommodate the project’s greater height and density. That process will conclude with a series of hearings before DC’s Zoning Commission, likely in June.
Because of the size of the images on the website make assessing the degree of change difficult to assess. The drawing can be viewed here:
Stanton/Eastbanc has given a face lift to their website which initiates a marketing plan and solicits expression of interest from potential residential, retail, and commercial interest. The site reveals that the residences will comprise studios, one bedrooms, one bedrooms plus den, two bedrooms, two bedrooms plus den, three bedrooms, and penthouses in a price range from $500,000 to $3,000,000. Potential buyers are asked to register their interest in amenities, including a business center, conference room, private party room, exercise room, and rooftop pool. The link to the website is here: http://www.hineschool.com/
The website also list new additions to the Stanton/Eastbanc development team. In addition to previous associates Dantes Partners (counselors on affordable housing), and Esocoff Associates (architect), the site list AutoPark, Inc., the Jarvis Company (government relations, permit acquisition, and zoning counseling); and L.S. Caldwell & Associates (contracting and employment compliance).
ANC 6B’s Hine Subcommittee will meeting on Thursday, March 29, at Hill Center to review its recommendations regarding design, open space, and retail plan recommendations.
ANC6B’s schedule on the Hine Development is as follows. Details will be posted on this blog the week of the event.
April 3 Planning and Zoning Committee considers recommendations on full amenities and benefits list, mitigation list and recommendations to HPRB. Stanton/Eastbanc may make a presentation regarding the new drawings at this meeting.
April 10 ANC6B considers recommendations from Planning and Zoning Committee
April 26 Hine Subcommittee meeting on tentative agreements with developers
May 1 Potential action on agreements from Planning and Zoning Committee
May 8 Potential action on agreements from the ANC
May/ June Possible Hine Subcommittee and ANC special call meeting to prepare for Zoning Commission hearing
Late June Likely beginning of Zoning Commission hearing
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Mayor Says Hill East Redskins Camp “Is Not a Plan – It’s a Conversation”
Councilmembers Michael Brown, Jack Evans, and Mayor Gray
ANC Commissioners From Wards Six and Seven. Hill East Resident Commissioner Jared Critchfield (second from right) Chairs ANC6B
300 Residents Turn Out For Community Meeting
Mayor Gray Meets Wards Six and Seven Residents On Redskins Training Camp
Mayor Says Hill East Redskins Camp “Is Not a Plan – It’s a Conversation”
by Larry Janezich
Mayor Vincent Gray told 300 residents of Ward 6 and Ward 7 that the idea of bringing a Redskins training camp to Reservation 13 “is not a plan – it’s a conversation.” The community meeting, sponsored jointly by ANCs in Wards Six and Seven, was held in DC Armory, near Reservation 13. Last fall, the redistricting process placed Reservation 13 in Yvette Alexander’s Ward 7, most of which lies east of the river, a change from its previous, contiguous location in Ward Six.
Ward Six residents in the neighborhoods adjacent to Reservation 13 are largely opposed to siting a Redskins training facility there, preferring the long-stalled plans for city buildings, retail, and residential complexes.
Mayor Gray said that DC joined the conversation about a new Redskins training facility in DC after learning that Virginia and Maryland each had proposals on the table for a training facility within their boundaries. Gray added that he had visited the Tampa in 2011 to take a look at what was reportedly the finest training facility in the country. The Washington Times reported that Gray and was accompanied on that trip by Councilmembers Evans and Michael Brown.
Gray said that visit to Tampa resulted in consideration of what a Redskins training facility might include: fields, a training facility, a Redskin’s hall of fame, a hotel and a medical center. He went on to say that “nobody wants to bring out something that is half-baked,” and noted that one reason there have been no community meetings on the plan was that, “we’ve had nothing to present – and there is still nothing to present.”
The Mayor went on to tell the crowd what would have to happen before a training facility could be brought to the site of Reservation 13: both the DC Master Plan and the DC Comprehensive Plan would have to be modified, each being brought first to the community and then passed by the City Council. Then the site would have to be re-zoned in public hearings before the Zoning Commission. “To the extent people are concerned about this; there is no way anything could be moved through the back door,” Gray told the gathering.
He went on to say that the city needs a catalyst to jump start Hill East – “I don’t know what it is,” he admitted, “but we’ve been focusing on economic development and will continue to focus on economic development.”
Gray also said that Reservation 13 is not the only place “we’ve looked at for a training facility,” and summing up, the mayor said, “There is no plan. I have a desire to bring the Redskins back to DC. If we work together that will happen. But we need to work together rather than fighting over a non-existent plan.”
City Officials turned out in force for tonight’s meeting, which in addition to the Mayor featured Councilmembers Michael Brown, Jack Evans, Yvette Alexander, Deputy Mayor Victor Hoskins, City Administrator Allen Lew, former Councilmember Sharon Ambrose, and more than a dozen ANC Commissioners from Wards Six and Seven. Councilmember Wells was reported to be travelling.
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Neighbors Rally to Save Historic Church Windows – Historic Preservation Runs Up Against Religious Freedom
Epworth Church, 7th and A Streets, NE
Neighbors Rally to Save Historic Church Windows – Historic Preservation Runs Up Against Religious Freedom
by Larry Janezich
Last October, when the World Mission Society Church of God bought the historic Epworth Episcopal Church South, located at 700 A Street NE, it was reasonable to assume the transition from one place of worship to another would be routine. That notion ended earlier this spring when neighbors noticed that several of the building’s stained glass windows had been removed, despite the historic nature of the those windows, and apparently without first consulting ANC6C or the Historic Preservation Office (HPO).
Complaints to the HPO resulted in an investigation that confirmed that this was indeed the case, and the office ordered the new owners to restore the windows to their original locations.
The owners complied but, according to HPO, several panes of stained glass were broken in the process and one of the largest was re-installed precariously without its wooden frame.
Built in 1895 and dedicated in 1896, Epworth Episcopal Church originally had stained glass windows featuring simple floral designs. The church suffered extensive damage in a 1919 fire, and apparently many of the current windows date to a 1921 restoration.
The new owners of the church, the World Mission Society Church of God, have filed an application with the HPO to remove the windows and replace them with clear glass – according to the HPO staff report – out of “concerns related to freedom of religion, lead safety, and energy efficiency.”
The HPO staff report recommends the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) advise the Mayor’s Agent – who will decide the issue if an adverse HPRB decision is appealed – that the application “for replacement of the existing stained glass windows with clear glass is not consistent with the purposes of the preservation law or with the window standards included in the preservation regulations.” ANC6C and the Capitol Hill Restoration Society have likewise put their opposition on the record.
Even if the Mayor’s Agent were to agree with a denial by HPRB of the permit, the new owners could appeal to the federal courts, who would decide if the First Amendment should yield to historic preservation law. The fact that the World Society has hired a lawyer for the opening stages of the permit process indicates that they are prepared to do take their case to other venues.
Wikipedia notes that the World Mission Society Church of God was founded by Ahn Sahng-hong in 1964 and maintains its headquarters in Korea. The church claims 1.45 million members worldwide and has come under criticism for deviating from mainstream Christian beliefs. It is active in many volunteer services and welfare activities throughout the world.
HPRB has put the case on its agenda for its meeting on Thursday, March 22, at 441 4th Street, NW, Room 220 South. The meeting starts at 9:00am.
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The Week Ahead….
The Week Ahead….
by Larry Janezich
March 19, Monday
ANC6B Hill East Task Force meets holds a panel discussion at 7:00pm on the history of Reservation 13. Mayor Gray meets with Hill East residents on Reservation 13 on Thursday at the Armory.
March 20, Tuesday
The ANC6B Hine Subcommittee meets at 7:00pm at Hill Center on mitigation amenities and benefit issues.
March 20, Tuesday
CHRS Board Meeting, open to CHRS members, 6:30pm Capitol Hill Townhomes, 750 6th Street.
March 20, Tuesday
Ward 6 At-Large Candidates Forum, 7:00pm – 8:30pm at Brent Elementary School.
March 22, Thursday
Meeting with Mayor Gray on Reservation 13, 7:00pm – 9:00pm at DC Armory. Security will be in effect, so you will need photo ID to enter the building.
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CAPITOL HILL CORNER 