Category Archives: Uncategorized

Monday: 5 PM Capitol Hill Rally Opposing Congress’ Oversight of DC – Sponsored by DC Councilmembers

Councilmembers Allen, Grosso, Nadeau, and Gray will participate in a rally to tell Rep. Chaffetz and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to keep their #HandsOffDC.  5:00pm at Lower D Park on the South Side of the Rayburn House Office Building, South Capitol Street and C Street, SW.  Protestors will then continue on to the #HandsOffDC organizing meeting at the Atlas Performing Arts Center at 1333 H Street NE at 6:30 pm, sponsored by Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen.

The Week Ahead….Community Meetings on Res 13/RFK & Boys and Girls Club Redevelopment

by Larry Janezich

Monday, February 13

1. Rally to tell Rep. Chaffetz and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to keep their #HandsOffDC as they vote to override the will of D.C. residents. 5 pm at Lower D Park [Spirit of Justice Park on Google Maps] near South Capitol Street and C Street, SW, and then continue on to the #HandsOffDC organizing meeting at the Atlas Performing Arts Center at 1333 H Street NE at 6:30 p.m.

2. ANC6D meets at 7:00pm, 1100 4th Street SW, 2nd Floor.

Among items on the draft agenda:

Public Safety Report- First District MPD (PSA 105 & PSA 106) Lt. Robinson, Sgt. Kennie, Sgt. Strassman, Sgt. Ritchie

Presentations:

SW Waterfront Fireworks Festival

Greater Greater Washington

Mother Earth Public Art

Bus Stop – Delaware & M Street

ABC Committee licensing:

1. Cherry Blossom 8:10
2. Pearl Street Warehouse

Marine Corps Marathon

Museum of the Bible

Forest City Waterfront Station – PUD Extension

Forest City Parcel L-1

Short Term Family Housing Letter of Support

Tuesday, February 14

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

Among items on the agenda:

Election of Committee Chairs

Establishment of Outreach & Constituent Services & Hilleast Task Forces; Election of Chairs

Alcohol Beverage issues:

1. Capitol Hill Tandoor, 419 8th Street, SE; Withdraw Protest, support license renewal with Settlement Agreement
2. Pretzel Bakery, 257 15th ST, SE; New Class “D” Restaurant License; Stipulated License

Historic Preservation Application: 417 4th St SE; Modifications to plans

Historic Preservation Application: 1335 Mass Ave, SE; Rear 2nd Story addition with Rooftop deck

Zoning Adjustment: 608 G St, SE; Rear first-floor addition to an existing one-family dwelling

Zoning Adjustment: 337 16th St. SE; Rear first-floor addition to an existing one-family dwelling

Zoning Adjustment: 1415 Potomac Ave, SE; Two-story rear addition to an existing flat

Zoning Adjustment: 1336 E St. SE, Rear second-story addition to an existing one-family dwelling

1333 M Street, SE– PUD Modification to allow 2 more years before permitting

Historic preservation application: 517 7th St, SE; 3-story addition

Historic preservation application:  1335 Mass Avenue, SE, rear second-story addition to an existing one-family dwelling

Youth Rehabilitation Act Resolution

Hands Off DC Resolution

2. PSA 104 meets at 7:00pm at Stuart Hobson Middle School, 410 E Street, NE

Wednesday, February 15

1. Community Meeting – briefing by developers on RFK/Reservation 13 hosted by ANC6B Commissioner Denise Krepp. 7:00pm, St. Coletta’s of Greater Wasington, 1900 Independence Avenue, SE
2. ANC6A Economic Development and Zoning Committee meets at 7:00pm, Sherwood Recreation Center, Corner of 10th and G Streets, NE

Among items on the agenda:

619 Elliott Street, NE, Zoning Adjustment Application for a special exception from the lot occupancy requirements to permit the construction of a third-story addition with roof deck to an existing one-family dwelling in the RF-1 Zone.

1126 Constitution Avenue, NE, Zoning Adjustment Application for a special exception from the lot occupancy requirements to permit the construction of a two-story garage in the RF-1 Zone.

3. PSA 106 meets at 7:00pm at the CQ Community Center, 1000 5^th Street, SE.

Thursday, February 16

1. Community meeting on the redevelopment of the Boys and Girls Club, hosted by the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED), 6:30pm, Friendship Chamberlain Elementary School, 1345 Potomac Avenue, SE. Surplus hearing and discussion of the OurRFP process regarding the redevelopment of the Hill East Boys and Girls Club.

During the surplus hearing, the District will receive comments on the proposed surplus of the District property. After the surplus hearing, DMPED will hold the second engagement meeting in the OurRFP process to reconnect with the community about the ideas shared at the January 28^th  Workshop and Online Engagement Forum. Community members will also be provided an opportunity to further prioritize their preferences for the redevelopment of the site.

2. PSA 108 meets at 7:00pm, at Liberty Baptist Church, 527 Kentucky Avenue, SE.

Developer: Overbuilding “Stymied” Financing of Major SE Residential Project – Seeks PUD Extension

by Larry Janezich

Last Tuesday night, Eric Siegel of Cohen Seigel Investors appeared before ANC6B’s Planning and Zoning Committee, seeking support for a two year extension of the PUD for the first phase of a major residential project in Southeast Washington, saying the company had not been able to get equity partners and debt financing for the project, despite efforts of brokers who had approached some 85 potential investors.

About two years ago, the Zoning Commission approved the construction of the first phase of a planned 673 unit project at 1333 M Street, SE, as a Planned Unit Development (PUD) which would allow greater height and density than would otherwise be allowed.  The first phase of the project anticipates a ten story 218 residential unit building.

Seigel offered several reasons why investors had shied away.  The project is a mile from Metro, and though Cohen Siegel has proposed a shuttle for the complex that “had not been persuasive to investors.”  Cohen Siegel has reached out to the city for a potential remedy which involves raising the Southwest Boulevard, or building a pedestrian bridge over it, which would reduce the distance to an acceptable ½ mile, but that does not appear to be something that could happen quickly.  Siegel also cited the lack of proximity to retail, and added that the “3500 units under construction on the Capitol Riverfront and another 2300 in the pipeline have stymied interest”.

Once financing is obtained, the project will be built in four phases, resulting in three buildings – which will appear to be four, but two of them will be connected.  The project will include affordable housing units, seven retail spaces totaling about 10,000 square feet, and 214 below grade parking spaces.

The Committee voted 9 – 0 in favor of supporting the PUD extension.

When first proposed in 2010, the project was envisioned as office, hotel, retail and commercial, but the glut of office space in DC resulted in conversion of the project to mostly residential with some ground floor retail.

Cohen Siegel is one of the major players among District developers, and was named in the NPR/WAMU Series “Deals for Developers” in May of 2013 (see here: http://apps.npr.org/deals-for-developers-wamu/).  In that series, NPR/WAMU stated that the company had received an $8,800,000 subsidy in the form of an LDA on this project, and had contributed $62,250 to District politicians over the past ten years.

 

Proposal Unveiled to Develop Former Frager’s Paint Store Parcel at 12^th and Pennsylvania, SE

by Larry Janezich

Tuesday night, ANC6B’s Planning and Zoning Committee heard representatives of PGN Architects present a proposal for the redevelopment of 1123-1129 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, a series of retail shops which include the former Frager’s Paint store, an Asian restaurant, and Pizza Iole.

PGN Architect Jeff Goins described the proposal as a very early concept, intended to brief the Committee on the intent of the property’s owner.  No formal actions toward redevelopment have yet been taken, but over the next couple of months, the architects will take the proposal before the Historic Preservation Review Board and meet with the community to explain the details of the project.  Commissioner Kirsten Oldenburg, in whose single member district the project resides, will host community meetings where PGN Architects will explain the details of the proposed development, which lies in the Capitol Hill Historic District.

The proposal would comprise 30 to 32 residential units with 5,000 square feet of ground floor retail.  .

The reaction of the Committee to the proposal was generally positive, with Chair Nick Burger expressing his personal reaction to the proposed design, calling it “cool, not boring, distinctive….punchy.”  The architects had considered a more conventional approach along the lines of Butterfield House, but had opted for another design inspired by modern structures in historic neighborhoods in Paris and Lisbon, as well as the Stanton Development building at 7th and Pennsylvania which houses Le Pain Quotidien.

The Week Ahead…CM Charles Allen’s Oversight Roundtable on Youth Rehabilitation Act Thursday

by Larry Janezich

Monday, February 6

1. Capitol Hill Restoration Society Historic Preservation Committee meets at 6:30pm, Kirby House, 420 10^th Street, SE.

Tuesday, February 7

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

Among items on the agenda:

417 4th Street, SE, (HPRB denied ANC6B approved application for special exception to permit a third floor in December.)  This appears to be a reconsideration of the Historic Preservation Application – perhaps of a new concept – for construction of a three-story rear addition to an existing three-unit apartment house in the RF-3 Zone at premises.

517 7th Street, SE; Historic Preservation application for a 3-story addition.

1335 Massachusetts Avenue, SE, Historic Preservation Application for rear second story addition to an existing one-family dwelling.

1335 Massachusetts Avenue, SE, Zoning Adjustment application for rear second story addition to an existing one-family dwelling.

Application for Minor Modification of Zoning Adjustment order for 1401 A Street, SE.

608 G Street, SE, Zoning Adjustment for rear first-floor addition to an existing one-family dwelling.

337 16th Street, SE, Zoning Adjustment for rear first-floor addition to an existing one-family dwelling.

1415 Potomac Avenue, SE, Zoning Adjustment for two story rear addition to an existing flat.

1336 E Street, SE, Zoning Adjustment for rear second-story addition to an existing one-family dwelling.

1333 M Street, SE, – Application for PUD Modification to allow 2 more years before permitting.

Concept Design Presentation, 1123 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, PGN Architects.

2. ANC 6C Parks and Events Committee meets at Kaiser-Permanente Capitol Hill Medical Center, 700 2^nd Street, NE.

Among items on the agenda:

Capitol Hill Classic – Presentation concerning the 38th annual Capitol Hill Classic race, a fundraiser for the PTA of the Capitol Hill Cluster School, scheduled for Sunday, May 21, 2017. Representative: Roberta Stewart, Outreach Chair, Capitol Hill Classic.

NoMa Parks – Update from NoMa Parks Foundation concerning the status of NoMa parks projects. Representative: Stacie West, NoMa Parks Foundation.

Reservation 84 – Discussion of neighborhood effort to revitalize a triangular public park space (bounded by Constitution Avenue, NE, Massachusetts Avenue, NE, and 7th Street, NE, and potential ANC6C grant application requesting funds for the purchase of trees.

Wednesday, February 8

1. Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6C meets at the Heritage Foundation, 214 Massachusetts Avenue, NE.

Among items on the draft agenda:

Presentation:  Fighting climate pollution in D.C. – Jeremiah Lowery

Capitol Hill Classic, Sunday, May 21, 2017, fundraiser for the PTA, Capitol Hill Cluster Schools.

Revitalization of Reservation 84, park at Constitution, Massachusetts, and 7th Street, and potential ANC 6C grant request to plant trees.

725 L Street NE, Zoning Adjustment for addition of one-story sunroom.

108-110 8th Street, NE, revised application for three-story rear addition and one-story garage with attached studio.

646 6th Street, NE, Zoning Adjustment application for third-floor addition.

Council oversight hearings.

K Street traffic study.

Union Station, First Street entrance.

Vision Zero to eliminate D.C. traffic deaths, second rulemaking.

NoMa underpass at L Street NE.

300 Maryland Avenue N.E., hardscaping, landscaping, and lighting.

2. ANC6B Transportation Committee meets at 7:00pm in Hill Center.

Among items on the agenda:

Overview and Discussion of DDOT’s 17th Street, SE, Improvement Project with DDOT Representative.

Review of DDOT’s Vision Zero Revised Proposed Rulemaking.

Establishment of a Committee Working Group on Alley Naming.

Update on Status of DDOT Study.

Thursday, February 9

1. Councilmember Charles Allen’s Judiciary & Public Safety Public Oversight Roundtable

The DC City Council Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety will hold a Public Oversight Roundtable on the following Matter:  Sentencing in the District of Columbia: Agency Roles and Responsibilities, at 9:30am in the Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Room 500.

The Committee invites the public to testify or to submit written testimony. Anyone wishing to testify at the roundtable should contact the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety via email at judiciary@dccouncil.us or at (202) 727-8275, and provide their name,  telephone number, organizational affiliation, and title (if any), by close of business, Monday, February 6, 2017.

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

Among items on the agenda:

Capitol Hill Tandoor, 419 8th Street, SE, Withdraw Protest, support renewal with Settlement Agreement.

Pretzel Bakery, 257 15th ST, SE, New Class “D” Restaurant License.

Update on Hank’s Oyster Bar Protest and decision on the Motion in Limine.

Here’s How Policing Will Change on Capitol Hill Under MPD’s New Sector Plan

PSA’s 104, 107 & 108 Constitute Sector Two of First District’s Three Sectors

By Larry Janezich

Thursday night, at the PSA 107 meeting, MPD Captain John Knutson explained the operation of the new Sector Concept instituted January 3 by MPD.  It will, he said, bring additional management accountability to districts, allow for faster dispatch, lower response times, and improve service to the community.  The sector concept does not eliminate PSAs – those boundaries within the First District remain the same.

Under the Sector model, each patrol district is divided into three sectors with a Sector being an informal grouping of Police Service Areas (PSAs).  Each sector will be led by a captain, who will report directly to their respective district commanders. Each Sector will also have 3 Lieutenants on 3 shifts for round the clock coverage.

Knutsen pledged 24 hour availability 7 days a week, and attendance at monthly community PSA meetings in a renewed effort to improve community policing.  Lieutenants will share responsibility for overseeing the PSAs and personnel in their sector on any given shift.

According to Knutsen, the main benefit of the Sector Concept is that it will allow MPD to pool resources of the three PSAs and allow police to shift resources where needed to respond to crime patterns.

While Knutsen and his Lieutenants are available 24 hours a day by phone or email, if residents witness a crime in progress, they should call 911.

Knutsen stressed: “For this sector, I am the decision maker and I’ll be at meetings,” referring to PSA meetings.  He said that MPD will take a look at meetings to see how they can be structured to better serve the community – or example, next month’s meeting will be held on the first Thursday in Northeast Library.  Referring to his fellow captains in charge of Sectors, Knutsen said, “We all run Sectors as little police stations.  We’re all competing against each other.”

Officials say they generally answer emails 24/7 and the cell phone when at work.

Captain Knutsen’s contact information:

John.Knutsen@DC.gov

Cell:  202 438 8486

Lieutenant Crystal Beslow’s contact information:

Crystal.beslow@dc.gov

Cell: 202 437 1714

For more on the Sector Concept, go here:  http://bit.ly/2l5tsDV

Following are photos of activities Monday night and tonight in front of the Supreme Court.  Last  night, protesters gathered to express their objections to Trump’s executive order banning Muslim refugees and immigrants.  Tonight, protesters gathered to take advantage of the live television camera set up on the sidewalk in front of the Court as reporters awaited Trump’s announcement of his nomination to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.

City Launches New Effort to Develop Hill East Boys and Girls Club

Neighbors’ Top Priority is a Community Space Amenity

by Larry Janezich

Saturday, the office of the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development (DMPED) launched a new effort to develop the long abandoned Hill East Boys and Girls Club.   A previous effort in 2015 was withdrawn in the face of substantial community opposition to the single viable proposal which came in response to a tightly constructed set of requirements set by the then-project manager, the Department of General Services.

Councilmember Charles Allen, took credit on Saturday for bringing that effort to a halt and for moving responsibility for the development to DMPED, which he termed a more appropriate overseer.

The new effort is occurring under a relatively new process “Our RFP”, i.e. “Our Request for Proposals”, the goal of which is basing the development of a public property in accordance with what the community wants the development to be, and with greater transparency.

Early indications during the DMPED-sponsored community meeting on Saturday is that Hill East wants a development that includes a community amenity – a public space which will anchor the neighborhood and attract neighbors on a daily basis.

ANC6B Commissioner Daniel Ridge, in whose single member district the project lies, told the 40 plus residents who turned out for the meeting that the constant refrain he has heard was that residents pictured themselves as users of a common space in the development, and that they clearly wanted a community amenity they can walk to and have an opportunity to visit.

The structure of “Our RFP” process involved attendees breaking up into working groups of five or six members, and determining a list of their priorities for the development, which were then presented to the group.  DMPED will extend the input process with an on-line engagement forum here:  http://bit.ly/2jt6ghw

The report of the several working groups with respect to the use of the building reflected an initial preference for public space, housing, and a facility that will have no impact on parking in the neighborhood.

DMPED listed the allowable uses of the building, as follows:  residential, place of worship, charter or public school, local government facility, recreation center, library, small health care facility, emergency shelter, boarding house, grocery store, private club, and a child/elderly development center.  The building is not designated historic, and does not need to be preserved.

A second community meeting to further prioritize preferences will be held on February 16, at Friendship Chamberlain Elementary, 1345 Potomac Avenue, SE.  DMPED will then write and release an RFP in March or April.  After four to six months for review – during which ANC6B would weigh in with its recommendation – DMPED will make a selection.

For a rate look inside the Boys and Girls Club, see previous CHC post here:  http://bit.ly/2gsF8CZ

The Week Ahead….

by Larry Janezich

Tuesday, January 31

ANC6B Executive Committee meets at 7:00pm in Hill Center to set the agenda for the ANC6B February meeting.

Wednesday, February 1

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

Among items on the draft agenda:

725 L Street, NE, Revised application for a special exception from the lot occupancy

requirements to allow the addition of a one-story sunroom to an existing

one-family dwelling in the RF-1 Zone

108-110 8th Street, NE,  Second revised application for concept approval for the construction of a three-story rear addition and new one-story garage with attached studio.

646 6th Street, NE, – Application for a. a special exception from the lot occupancy requirements of and the nonconforming structure requirements and b. special exceptions from the upper floor addition requirements and the building height requirements to construct a third-floor addition above an existing two-story one-family dwelling in the RF-1 Zone.

Discussion of upcoming Council oversight hearings

Thursday, February 2

1. ANC6B Alcohol Beverage Committee meets at 7:00pm, in Hill Center.

Agenda not available at press time.

2. PSA 107 is scheduled to meet at 7:00pm in Southeast Library

3. Friends of Southeast Library (FOSEL) meet at 5:30pm in Southeast Library. Person interested in joining FOSEL are welcome.

 

Protest of President’s Ban on Muslims Spreads to Capitol Hill

by Larry Janezich

A rally against Donald Trump’s executive order targeting all refugees as well as immigrants from 7 predominantly Muslim countries which was held in Lafayette Park today, ended up on the East Front of the U.S. Capitol.  To have this large a demonstration occur on the Capitol Grounds without a permit is nearly unprecedented, and was likely permitted by US Capitol Police only because it was Sunday, and few or no legislators were in the building.

About 2:45pm,  a group protestors started moving through the crowd, claiming to be organizers, and announcing that they were marching to the Capitol.  Since this had the appearance of a spontaneous movement, it is unlikely that a permit had been obtained.  Perhaps half of the 8 – 10 thousand protestors (my totally subjective rough estimate) ended up at the Capitol, marching down Pennsylvania Avenue, totally filling the street.  Near the Capitol, the marchers were diverted to Louisiana Avenue toward Union Station, which worked at first, until a group well back in the march broke away from the others, with cries of “Up the hill” and headed straight up Constitution Avenue and on to the Capitol Grounds.

Peace for Iran, which bills itself as a group of international volunteers, announced the “No Muslim Ban” rally yesterday, calling for supporters to rally from 1 – 3pm today at Lafayette Park, across from the White House.