Category Archives: Uncategorized

Barracks Row:  ANXO Craft Cider/Spanish Restaurant Bids to Open at Phase 1’s Former Location

by Larry Janezich

Phase One – the oldest lesbian bar in the country until it closed last year – has been sold, ANC6B Chair Chander Jayaraman informed the Advisory Commission Tuesday night.  (The sale was first reported in The Washington Blade earlier this month.)  A potential temporary tenant for the building – the owner of ANXO Cidery & Pintxos Bar (locations in Truxton Circle and Brightwood Park) – will ask ANC6B’s Alcohol Beverage Committee for a change of hours of operation next month.

ANXO owner, Sam Fitz, is negotiating to rent the Phase 1 space from the new owner and wants earlier serving hours than the start time of 7:00pm which is a condition of the current Phase 1 license conveyed with the building.

Fitz’s plan is to team with local artists to create an art installation that will serve food and drink, with emphasis on a menu of Northern Spain (San Sebastian) dishes designed to cater to an evening dinner crowd.  Fitz wants to open what is essentially a five month pop up operation from June 1 through October to test the business concept and show it can work.  ANXO boasts the largest list of ciders “in the world”, in addition to its beer, wine, and cocktail beverage menu.  After the test period he hopes to become a long term tenant, in which case the location would be shut down for up to nine months for extensive building renovation.

Tax records show that the Phase 1 building sold on February 23, 2017, for $3.3 million.  The tavern, at 525 8th Street, SE, earned its title by being in continuous operation since 1970.

More information about ANXO including their craft ciders and the Spanish-themed menu is here:  http://www.anxodc.com/

CHC first reported the closure of Phase 1 last June, here:  http://bit.ly/299A2bh

The Week Ahead…CM Elissa Silverman at ANC6C

by Larry Janezich

Monday, April 10

1. 6^th District Citizens Advisory Council meets at 7:00pm, 6^th District Police Station, 100 42^nd Street, S.E.

2. RFK Stadium Armory Stakeholder Meeting, 7:00pm, Events DC Administrative Offices, RFK Stadium, 2400 East Capitol Street, S.E., Media Room – 4th Floor, enter through Lot 5, Gate A.

Tuesday, April 11

1. Kingman Park Civic Association meets at 7:00pm, St. Benedict the Moor Church, 21^st Street, S.E.

2. PSA 104 Community Safety Walk.  Meet at 7:00pm at the Loree Grand (3rd and K Street, NE).

Wednesday, April 12

1. Note Change of Day – ANC6B meets at 7:00pm, Hill Center.

Among items on the agenda:

Presentation:  At-Large CM Elissa Silverman (Tentative).

Sushi Hachi, Inc., 735 8^th Street, SE, New Retailer’s “C” Restaurant License.

ABC Committee update on action Items from March meeting.

602 E Street, SE; Permit for a rear addition.

913 E. Capitol Street, SE; Concept/three-story rear addition.

1 Library Court. S.E.; Application for special exceptions from the parking requirements, the penthouse setback requirements, the height requirement, the rear yard requirement, the side yard requirement, the rear addition extending more than ten feet past the rear wall of the adjacent building requirement, and variances from the nonconforming structure requirements, and the lot area and width requirements to construct a one-story rear addition to an existing one-family row dwelling in the RF-3 Zone at premises 1 Library Court, S.E.

202 9^th  Street, SE; Application for special exceptions from the accessory building lot occupancy requirements, from the accessory building rear yard requirements, and from the lot occupancy requirements, to construct an accessory two-story carriage house for use as covered parking and an office in the RF-1 Zone at 202 9^th Street, S.E.

Public Space (PSC); Application for 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E., development.

Letter to DGS on release of the Environmental Assessment for the Eastern Market Plaza.

Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee Report.

Hine Community Advisory Committee Report.

2. ANC6C meets at 7:00pm, Heritage Foundation, 214 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E.

Among items on the draft agenda:

Presentation:  Elissa Silverman, At-Large Council Member

Capitol Hill Montessori School at Logan, upcoming budget hearing(s)

Authorization to seek intervenor status in 1511 A Street, N.E. BZA appeal

Reservation 84

XO, 15 K street N.E., request for extended holiday hours

Uline Arena loading zone, 1140 3rd Street, N.E.

Four new Zipcar spaces, 263 8th Street N.E.; 1225 5th Street N.E.

LED streetlights.

NoMa streetscape guidelines.

NoMa Parks update.

Casey Trees, tree planting in the community.

5th and I Streets, N.E. update on park space.

Rock ‘N Roll Marathon, review of race and community complaints.

17 6th Street, N.E., application for rear, rooftop, and garage additions.

17 6th Street, N.E., BZA 19489, third story addition, roof deck, and expansion of accessory building for residential use.

618 3rd Street, N.E., concept approval, front basement entrance, rear addition, garage demolition.

622 D Street N.E., concept approval, rear and rooftop additions.

D.C. Comprehensive Plan amendment cycle.

Budget oversight hearings.

Incarceration to Incorporation Entrepreneurship Program

Thursday, April 12

1. ANC 6A meets, 7:00pm, Miner Elementary School, 601 Fifteenth (15th) Street, N.E.

Among items on the agenda:

Presentation:  Sarah Fashbaugh, Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration

Presentation:  Avec H Street Update (901 H Street, N.E.)

Presentation:  MuralsDC program

Settlement Agreement with Dio, LLC t/a Dio Wine Bar (904 H Street, N.E.).

Settlement Agreement with Quara Ethiopian Fusion Restaurant (818 H Street, N.E.).

Settlement Agreement with Nomad Hookah Bar (1200 H Street, N.E.).

Letter of support to the Office of Planning for medium density designation of 1603-1625 Benning Road in the Benning Road Corridor

Redevelopment Framework Plan to be incorporated into the 2008 Comprehensive Plan update.

Letter of conditional support to the Office of Zoning for a land use designation change from the existing C-3-A to C-2-B and a map amendment change to develop the property at 1603-1625 Benning Road requiring the developers and architects to continue to update the ANC and work on the pending community benefits package.

Letter opposing the application to the Historic Preservation Review Board to create the Kingman Park Historic District if the two block portion of ANC6A that was included in the application remains included in the proposed historic district.

2. CHRS Zoning Committee meets at 7:30 pm, Kirby House, 420 10^th Street, S.E.

New Sushi Place on Barracks Row Gets ANC Committee’s Nod on Liquor License

by Larry Janezich

Thursday night ANC6B’s Alcohol Beverage Control committee, chaired by Chandler Jayaraman, voted unanimously to recommend that the full ANC grant a new class C restaurant liquor license to Sushi Hachi.

The 88 seat restaurant – plus 8 seats on a sidewalk patio – will take over the space formerly occupied by Zest Bistro 735 8^th Street, S.E.  Owner Steve Yoon hopes to open in July, depending on the city’s permitting process.

Yoon, who also owns and has run Sushi Rock at on Clarendon Avenue in Arlington for the past six years, told the ANC committee that Sushi Hachi will feature 8 – 9 different popular fishes on its daily sushi menu.  The kitchen will also produce a seasonal menu that will change every few months.  In addition to the usual edamame, seaweed salad, and miso soup, the menu will feature special items like tuna tartare and yellowfin tuna ceviche, Thai style.

Before becoming a restaurateur, Yoon, worked in the kitchen at the DC Grand Hyatt Hotel.  He says he is striving for a different look for Sushi Hachi than that at Sushi Rock (see here:  http://sushirockva.com/) and will focus on achieving a clean and simple look utilizing wood and granite.

The committee’s agreement on the liquor license followed a prolonged discussion on how the restaurant would manage its trash. ANC 6B has been vigorous in using liquor license applications to exact best operating practices from restaurants on Capitol Hill’s commercial corridors, negotiating the line between regulations a restaurant can live with and those which they find too burdensome.  The neighbors of Barracks Row are both very active and well organized in support of the ANC’s efforts.

Update:  ANC6B has encouraged new restaurants with significant build-out or those undergoing major renovation to provide for indoor trash storage.  Neither of those apply to Sushi Hachi.  A number of trash management measures were discussed during the hearing, including inside storage of grease and daily trash pickups.  The details of what the ANC and the Yoon agree to will be available in the voluntary Settlement Agreement which must be signed before the full ANC approves the liquor license application.  

Zest Bistro closed on October 5, 2015 and the owners concentrated their efforts on Agua in The Yards featuring contemporary Mexican cuisine.

Southeast Boulevard Update: DC Department of Transportation Launches Environmental Impact Study

by Larry Janezich

Wednesday night, DDOT planner Jonathan D. Rogers told ANC6B’s Transportation Committee, that DDOT has embarked on the required Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed Southeast Boulevard.  The project is a joint effort of DDOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHA).  The EA will consider the impact of the project on air and water quality and historic preservation, and produce a concept design based upon community’s preferred alternative.

For the three concepts put forward by DC’s Office of Planning, see here:  http://bit.ly/2nhJsrN

The contract for the assessment has been let and the process will take some 18 months.  Rogers said, “The key will be community engagement” – in addition to the nearby neighbors, some of the community organization stakeholders include ANC6B, ANC7B, the Capitol Riverfront BID, and the Capitol Hill Restoration Society.

DDOT is still coming up with a schedule, but Rogers envisions two public meetings and a final public hearing – required every time federal funds or lands are used for a development project.  The first public meeting will likely occur this summer or fall.  The result of the EA will be a final report which DDOT hopes will conclude with a “FONSI” – a finding of no significance regarding environmental impact.  The report will also include a concept design for the preferred alternative.  The EA then goes to FHA for consideration, and can’t move forward without a favorable response.  Rogers said that will be followed by the funding piece – which he termed “a heavy lift.”

The cost of the project is estimated at $120 – $190 million – more than the annual budget of DDOT. ( See CHC post here:   http://bit.ly/2o26hN6 )  Sources for funds include DDOT, the federal government, and local funds.   Given the cost, Rogers pointed to the need to find a way to monetize the project – i.e., repurposing public lands in the 200-to-250 foot right of way not used for the boulevard itself.    Rogers said that the EA will “gauge the temperature of the ANC regarding land use,” since concept design necessarily takes future land disposition into consideration.

He said land use issues are potentially controversial, citing the possible declaring of the associated public lands excess and opening them up for development or a bus storage, parking, and maintenance facility.  Public lands will be disposed of in a process separate from the EA process.

Some ANC commissioners were more than skeptical that a bus terminal would be in the best interests of the nearby neighbors.  Rogers said that any such use would depend on the ability to design an entrance and exit for such a facility which “is not at the neighborhood level.”  He noted the city’s severe need for bus storage and maintenance saying more buses are coming to the area and the needs are greater than the city thought.   In any event, the EA will not design the future project beyond the conceptual.

High End Eyewear Coming to Eastern Market

by Larry Janezich

In what may be a bellwether for Eastern Market retail – high end eyewear retailer Georgetown Optician is taking over the space at 660 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, formerly occupied by Sappore, the artisan olive oil and balsamic vinegar outlet that moved to the internet as of December 31, 2016.  The property is owned by Stanton Development, who is also leasing the 16 retail spaces in the north and south buildings of the Hine development, and is known to be seeking boutique retailers.  Georgetown Opticians has outlets in Georgetown, 14^th Street, and Tysons Corner.  See here:  http://bit.ly/2nI9jFs

Developer on Verge of Announcing Hine North Building Retail

by Larry Janezich

Eastbanc partner Stanton Development is expected to announce the retail leases for the north building of the Hine Project in mid-April.  There are four street level retail spaces in the north building plus one large lower level retail space below grade.  One of the street level spaces will be reserved for two “incubator” retail tenants – local businesses who have not graduated to independent brick and mortar status – which means a total of six retail tenants for the project.  Stanton characterized the tenants as a mix of food and non-food retail.

Stanton is still working on leasing the retail space for the south building which will accommodate as many at ten street level retail tenants, plus a day care center at the corner of 8^th and Pennsylvania and a Trader Joe’s.  Trader Joe’s has begun to modify their space in accordance with their needs; the company is looking to open this fall.

Stanton’s partner Eastbanc advises that the target for beginning to lease the residential units in the south building is late summer.  The 128 apartments average 1,250 square feet.  Stanton says that they have had 2,000 expressions of interest in the units.  Leasing of the residential units will be handled by Eastbanc partner Bozzuto property management.

The Week Ahead….

by Larry Janezich

Monday, April 3

1. ANC6D meets at 7:00pm, 1100 4^th Street, SW, second floor.

Among items on the draft agenda:

Public Safety Report – First District MPD (PSA 105 & PSA 106) with Sgt. Barnes.

Pepco Proposed Rate Increase.

Application for Class B liquor license for Sal’s Café, 400 C Street, S.W.

Amendment to Class A liquor license for Masala Art, 1101 4^th Street, S.W.

Discussion of Parcel L-1 Hotel at The Yards.

Discussion of modernization funding for Jefferson Middle School Academy.

Extension of PUD for Waterfront Station II.

Extension of PUD for Randall School.

Public Space application for RiverPoint – 2100 2nd Street, S.W.

Public Space application for Peninsula 88, First and V Streets, S.W.

2. Capitol Hill Restoration Society, Historic Preservation Committee meets at 6:30pm, Kirby House, 520 10^th Street, S.E.

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

1. ANC6B Planning and Zoning Committee meets at 7:00pm, St. Coletta of Greater Washington, 1901 Independence Avenue, S.E.

Among items on the agenda:

Historic Preservation Application for 602 E Street, S.E; Permit/rear addition.

Historic Preservation Application for 913 East Capitol Street, SE; Concept/three-story rear addition.

Bureau of Zoning Adjustment Application for 1 Library Court, SE, for special exceptions from the parking, the penthouse setback , the height, the pervious surface, the rear yard, the side yard, and the rear addition extending more than ten feet past the rear wall of the adjacent building requirements, and variances from the nonconforming structure and the lot area and width requirements to construct a one-story rear addition to an existing one-family row dwelling in the RF-3 Zone at 1 Library Court, S.E.

Bureau of Zoning Adjustment Application for 202 9th Street, SE, for special exceptions from the accessory building lot occupancy, from the accessory building rear yard, and from the lot occupancy requirements, to construct an accessory two-story carriage house for use as covered parking and an office in the RF-1 Zone at 202 9th Street, S.E.

Public Space Application for 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, CAS Riegler Development.

Discussion of Construction Issues & DCRA

2. ANC 6C Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development Committee meets at 6:30pm at Northeast Library, 7^th and D Streets, N.E.

Among items on the draft agenda:

DCRA presentation on home-improvement permitting – overview of permit application process for minor home improvement projects (fences, interior renovation/repair) and online resources. (Tentative; presenter TBD)

Historic Preservation Application for 17 6th Street, N.E., – Application for concept approval for rear, rooftop, and garage additions.

Bureau of Zoning Adjustment Application for additions at 17 6th Street, N.E., – for a special exception from the lot occupancy and the RF-1 use requirements, to construct a third-story addition with roof deck to an existing one-family dwelling and expand to an accessory building for residential purposes in the RF-1 zone at 17 6th Street, N.E.

Historic Preservation Application for concept approval for 618 3rd Street, N.E. – for front basement entrance, rear addition, and garage demolition.

Historic Preservation Application for concept approval for 622 D Street, N.E. – rear and rooftop additions.

Discussion of DC Comprehensive Plan amendment cycle.

Wednesday, April 5

1. ANC6B Transportation Committee meets at 7:00pm at Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E.

Among items on the agenda:

Presentation on DC’s Vision Zero Initiative with Jonathan Rogers, DDOT.

Discussion of issues to Consider in 2017

Update on SE Boulevard and the Environmental Assessment Process.

Thursday, April 6

1. ANC6B Alcohol Beverage Control Committee meets at 7:00pm, Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania avenue, S.E.

Among items on the agenda:

Class C Restaurant Liquor license for Sushi Hachi, Inc., 735 8th Street, S.E.

Update on Action Items from March Meeting

2. ANC 6C Transportation and Public Space Committee meets at 7:00pm at Kaiser Permanente Capitol Hill Medical Center, 700 2nd Street, N.E.

Among items on the agenda:

Uline Loading Zone, 1140 3rd Street, N.E.  Douglas Development, owner of the Uline building that REI is in, is proposing to create a loading zone for pick-up and drop-off on 3rd Street N.E in front of the main entrance. The loading zone would be active between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm. The goal is to cut down on any potential congestion from Uber/taxi pickup and drop off at the building.  Representative: Drew Turner, Douglas Development Corp.

New Zipcar Spaces, 263 8th Street, N.E.; 1225 5th Street, N.E.  Car sharing provider Zipcar is looking to reserve four street parking spaces within ANC 6C for their cars. The spots are located at (1) the first two spaces at the intersection of 8th Street. N.E. and C Street, N.E., (approximate address: 263 8th Street, N.E.); and (2) the first two spaces at the intersection of 5th Street, N.E. and Florida Ave NE (approximate address: 1225 5th Street, N.E.).

LED Streetlights – The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is planning to install cool-white LEDs that have a strong blue-wavelength component. The American Medical Association has warned that blue-rich LED street lights cause hazardous glare and are potentially harmful to human health because of their disruptive effect on circadian sleep cycles. To mitigate these potential problems, the AMA recommends that roadway lighting have “the lowest emission of blue light possible.” ANCs 4B and 5B and the Palisades Citizens’ Association have endorsed warm-white LED street lights that comply with the AMA’s recommendations. In addition, more than 150 people from multiple wards have signed petitions expressing concern about blue-rich LEDs and calling for installation of warm-white LEDs. Representative: Wayne Savage, D.C. Street Light Task Force.

3. PSA 107 will not meet this month.

The War on Rats – Part II:  Residents & City Identify Six Rat Haven Hotspots on Capitol Hill

by Larry Janezich

ANC6B is waging war on rats in response to expressions of alarm and concern by Capitol Hill residents who live near “restaurant clusters” which provide support for the city’s rodent population.

On Tuesday, March 21, the ANC’s Taskforce on Outreach and Constituent Services co-chaired by ANC6B Commissioners Jennifer Samolyk and Diane Hoskins, held a standing room only community meeting attended by more than 50 residents who took the opportunity to voice their concerns about rats.  The six “restaurant clusters” identified by residents and by Department of Health Rodent Control Chief Gerard Brown include:

Barracks Row; Eastern Market and the 200 block of 7^th Street, SE; the 100 block of D Street, SE; the 200 block of Pennsylvania Avenue; the 300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue and the 600 block of Pennsylvania Avenue.  Public green spaces flanking Pennsylvania Avenue between 4^th and 6^th Streets were also pointed out as sites of infestations.

CHC interviewed a number of attendees as to their impression of the meeting and what their take-away had been.  The overwhelming sense of residents is that rats – which have been under control for a while – are back in a horrendous way.  People were incensed and related personal experiences.

A resident of C Street, SE, behind the Tune Inn and the Hawk & Dove said she knocks on the inside of her door before leaving home to scare away rats outside; a resident of 8th Street, SE, walking home after dark, saw 8 rats in one block under the covered walkway on 8th Street next to the Hine project.  A resident of the 600 block of C Street S.E. said defecation in the green spaces flanking Pennsylvania Avenue as well as food leftovers attract rats to the park.  Residents singled out the 7/11 on Barracks Row and Ophelia’s Fish House – both at 8^th and C Streets – as examples of egregious trash management offenders, with rats so emboldened or overcrowded that they can be seen on trash bins in the daytime.  The nearby residents showed a video posted to YouTube of the trash conditions at these venues:  See here:  http://bit.ly/2mXnoTf

The rat problem is directly related to a neighborhood’s number of food service establishments with poor trash management policies.  The city has encouraged development of dining destinations, and has lax enforcement of trash and rodent management either deliberately to reduce the hassle factor of operating a restaurant or because they have turned a blind eye to the consequences of the problems associated with development.  Consequently, the residents have been left to fend for themselves.  ANC6B, chaired by Chander Jayaraman, has pioneered the use of liquor license applications and renewals to require restaurants to use best operating practices regarding trash management.  Recently, the ANC won a precedent-setting finding by DC’s Alcohol Beverage Board that trash management can be considered by the ANC in making recommendations on liquor licenses.

Some restaurants, notably, &Pizza, Eat Bar, and Acqua al 2 have earned praise from the ANC and/or residents for adopting exemplary trash management practices.  Others, such as Capitol Hill Tandoor, are in the process of adopting these practices.  Some, such as the three Spike Mendelsohn restaurants on the 300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, have resisted addressing trash and rodent issues.

Here’s their takeaway:

The Mayor and the City Council have not made rodent control a priority and do not provide the funds or the resources to effectively manage rodents.  The Department of Health has four inspectors for the entire city and 9 abatement employees.

The city does a poor job of enforcing the current regulations.  The Department of Health’s Bureau of Rodent Control (apparently) somehow lost the ability to fine businesses and residences for harborage of rats – read “rat burrows”.  (Ed. Note:  How this happened is unclear, since the law still seems to be in effect.  If – granted it’s a big if – this ability was lost by administrative action, the power to fine should be restored.  See here:  Subchapter I. Bureau of Rodent Control. Rodent harborage prohibited http://bit.ly/2nsLjGf)

Rats are rampant at construction sites.  Developers say city regulations prohibit use of “tracking powder” – a rodenticide “shot” into rat burrows on construction sites – because of hazards to workers.  Baited traps which are permitted are ineffective means of control.

Use by DOH of an effective means of rat control – treating burrows with dry ice, which suffocates rodents in their burrows – was recently suspended because of federal regulations.   EPA prohibits the use of dry ice for rat abatement since it’s not labeled as a rodenticide.  It may be that the agency was prompted to issue its stop use order by protests from National Pest Management Association (and it seems likely the Association will lobby hard to prevent any change in that regulation).  See here   http://usat.ly/2np01xi

Rats are rampant on green space public lands on Pennsylvania Avenue, but confusion among residents and agencies regarding who has jurisdiction to do what often results in nothing being done.

Among the action items to come out of the meeting:

A letter to DOH and city officials advocating a citizens’ enforcement pilot program and activating of the DOH Rodent Control Task Force for hot spots.  (See Part I of CHC’s three part series on rats here:  http://bit.ly/2njUUit)  In addition, DOH will consider additional installation of rat proof trash containers similar to those recently installed on the 600 block of Pennsylvania Avenue.

Residents are organizing to appear at the city council budget hearings to ask the council to put more resources into rat abatement.

Residents are organizing to reach out to and collaborate with other ANCs and to press the city council for regulations requiring indoor trash storage for businesses serving food.

As reported by CHC, CM Charles Allen has already pledged to “take a crack” at organizing a coalition of government agencies and civic and business organizations to take on the rodent problem.

Radio Shack/Sprint at Eastern Market Metro Is Closing

By Larry Janezich

Radio Shack at Eastern Market Metro is closing, and the store’s contents are being sold at a deep discount.  The staff said the store’s final day had not been set and that store was closing “Because the big bosses at Radio Shack decided to close it.”  Sprint, which occupied a portion of the space, moved out last Friday.  Radio Shack took out Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February of 2015 and announced plans to sell some 2,400 stores to a Wall Street hedge fund, Standard General.

Asked for her reaction to the store’s closing, Leah Daniels, owner of nearby Hill’s Kitchen, said that she will miss having them as neighbors; “I’m sorry for the continuing loss of retail on Barracks Row and the Capitol Hill corridor – it shows how important it is for community members to shop in local stores.”

Plans for the building at 717 D Street, SE, are uncertain.  Long time Capitol Hill investor Maurice Kreindler owns the building, as well as several other adjacent properties, including the currently empty former Long and Foster location next to Starbucks and the currently empty pet store next to the building housing &Pizza – which Kreindler also owns.  A source familiar with Barracks Row businesses told CHC that Kreindler has expressed a desire to put a restaurant in the Radio Shack location.

Update:  Barracks Row Executive Director Martin Smith told CHC, “We’ve already reached out to the landlord about helping to recruit a new tenant … and I think the space has great visibility and a lot of potential. I know a few different retailers that have been interested in space on Barracks Row for a while that might be a good match for something that size.”  As CHC has reported previously, the asking price per square foot for leases in the 700 block of Barracks Row are among the highest in the city.

 

 

The War on Rats – Part I:  ANC Task Force Launches First Strike

By Larry Janezich

On Tuesday, March 21, ANC6B’s Outreach and Constituent Services Task Force held a SRO community meeting in Hill Center to discuss the issue of rats on Capitol Hill and to hear from Department of Health (DOH) Rodent Control Chief, Gerard Brown.  A report on that meeting will be posted in Part II of CHC’s three part series on ANC6B’s on-going war on rats.

Two follow up actions have occurred as the result of the meeting.  The first occurred last Friday, when the Department of Health’s Rodent Control Task Force was deployed to attack rat harborage and trash issues on the 300 and 600 blocks of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, and adjacent streets – identified as two of the most serious infestations.  The Rodent Control Task Force has identified some 300 rat burrows in and around Capitol Hill’s restaurant clusters – the areas which draw and sustain the city’s rat population.  Burrows in the 300 and 600 blocks of Pennsylvania Avenue were treated with rodenticide powder – shot into the burrows – which accumulates on the animals’ fur and is ingested as the rodent grooms itself.

ANC6B Commissioner Jennifer Samolyk accompanied the abatement team and told CHC that although restaurants are the main attractant; residents have to do their part as well, citing birdfeeders in yards and dog poop in tree boxes, both powerful attractants for rats.  The DOH Rodent Control Team targets hotspots throughout the city every Friday.

The second initiative which resulted from the Tuesday meeting was a letter from the ANC Task Force co-chairs – Samolyk and Diane Hoskins – to DOH chief, Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt, and copied to DOH Vector Control Chief Gerard Brown and the offices of CM Charles Allen and Mayor Bowser.  The letter asks DOH for support for a citizen-assisted “Clean Trash” Enforcement Pilot Program on Capitol Hill.

The proposed program would address the personnel shortage currently hampering the operation of the Department of Health – Rodent Control currently has only four inspectors for the entire city, and 5 – 7 employees involved in abatement.

The pilot program would create a mechanism which would allow residents to report problems to the DOH which would then be able to act without sending an inspector.  The ANC commissioners believe such a program will stimulate citizen interest in the problem and create a supplemental level of enforcement for the DOH.

A copy of the letter appears below.

Forthcoming.  Part II in CHC’s three part series will report on the ANC’s Task Force Community Meeting to discuss rats.  Part III will take a broader look at ANC6B’s War on Rats.

March 28, 2017

Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt

Director, District of Columbia Department of Health

899 North Capitol St NE

Washington, DC 20002

RE: Establishing a Citizen-assisted “Clean Trash” Enforcement Pilot on Capitol Hill

Dear Dr. Nesbitt:

Last week, ANC 6B Outreach and Constituent Services Taskforce, hosted more than 50 residents from Capitol Hill to discuss widespread and deeply held concerns with rat activity in our Capitol Hill neighborhood. While we are the co-chairs of this Taskforce, we write this letter on behalf of our single member districts and not on behalf of Commission to expedite sending this letter.

To state a summary of the meeting plainly, the rats are out of control. Residents all over Capitol Hill waited patiently to share their concerns for over two hours. The dramatic and unwelcomed uptick is intensely acute in parts of our neighborhood where residential areas are right next door to commercial and restaurant areas. We attribute chronic poorly managed trash and grease handling as a primary contributor to our undesirable rat populations.

During the meeting, we identified two priority areas for closer neighborhood coordination and partnership with the Department of Health:

Active DOH treatment of all active rat burrows with neighborhood assistance in identifying troublesome areas

Aggressive DOH enforcement of unsanitary trash and grease management practices with neighborhood assistance in identifying problem areas

We understand that fixing this problem will not happen overnight but need your assistance, especially in these two areas.

We believe that establishing a citizen-assisted “clean trash” enforcement pilot program in Capitol Hill would allow for a major step forward to strongly discouraging unsanitary trash and grease storage. While current DOH enforcement resources are extremely limited, neighbors are eager to assist DOH in making enforcement progress. We enthusiastically support this pilot program concept and welcome the opportunity to work alongside you and your staff to make this a reality.

We believe this pilot, when realized, would leverage citizen interest in cleaning up our neighborhood while expanding the capacity of your enforcement officers despite limited resources.  We look forward to discussing further and making “clean trash” the rule as opposed to the exception.

Sincerely,

Diane Hoskins                                                                                      Jennifer Samolyk

Commissioner ANC 6B-02                                                                 Commissioner ANC 6B-01