Category Archives: Uncategorized

Eastern Market, North Hall, Saturday, July 2, circa 9:00am

The Week Ahead….

by Larry Janezich

Monday, July 4

1.Independence Day Parade on Barracks Row.  10:00 am

Tuesday, July 5

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

Among items on the agenda:

1101 Pennsylvania Avenue SE – (Frager’s), construction public space plan

420 12th Street, SE – Watkins Elementary School, public space plan in connection with Watkins school renovations

Capitol Hill Squash Club, 218 D Street, SE – Application of Capitol Hill Squash Club Associates for a special exception to use the second floor of a building as a group instruction (exercise) studio in the CAP/R-4 District

622-624 North Carolina Avenue, SE – Application of Kenneth A. Golding, for variances from the penthouse height requirements and special exceptions from the apartment house expansion requirements and the penthouse setback requirements and expand an existing apartment house in the R-4 District.

626 E Street, SE – façade alterations to non-contributing 3-story apartment building

507 8th Street, SE – (Shakespeare), concept/visible 2-story addition on 2-story contributing warehouse building

411 New Jersey Avenue, SE – (National Democratic Club), new construction

Capitol Courts, 1229 E Street SE & 1230 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE – Historic Preservation Application

2. ANC 6C Parks and Events Committee meets at 7:00 pm, at Kaiser-Permanente Capitol Hill Medical Center, 700 2^nd Street, NE

Among items on the agenda:

Park at 5^th and I Streets, NE – Discussion with Insight Property Group, LLC, concerning the design, construction schedule, administration and maintenance of the improvements at the National Park Service park at 5^th and I Streets, NE

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

Wednesday, July 6

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

Among items on the agenda:

Review of DDOT Proposed Rulemaking on Red Top Meters

Status Report on MPD Efforts to Reduce Red-light Running at the intersection of Kentucky/Potomac Avenues & 15^th/C Streets (tentative)

Letter to DDOT Requesting Closure of the 2^nd Street, SE, alignment under the SE/SW Freeway at Garfield Park

2. ANC6C Planning, Zoning and Economic Development Committee meets at 7:00pm at Kaiser Permanente Capitol Hill Medical Center, 700 Second Street NE.

Among items on the agenda:

300 8^th Street, NE – Revised application of Community Three Development, LLC, to demolish existing noncontributing structure and for concept approval to construct a new four-story residential building with penthouse.

301-331 N street, NE– Revised application of Foulger-Pratt Development, LLC for approval of a consolidated PUD and a PUD-related map amendment to facilitate the development of 301-331 N Street, NE, for a mixed-use project. The Applicant proposes to develop the property into a project of two integrated buildings with a mix of uses. The east building will contain residential and ground floor retail uses, and the west building will contain residential, hotel, office, and ground-floor retail uses. In total, the project will contain approximately 366 residential units, approximately 175 hotel rooms, and approximately 250 underground parking spaces. The overall floor area ratio of the project will be approximately 6.65, and the maximum building height will be 120 feet.

Proposed legislation – Discussion of:

1. the DCRA Infractions Fine Increase Regulation Amendment Act of 2015;
2. the Vacant and Blighted Buildings Enforcement Amendment Act of 2015;
3. the Vacant Property Enforcement Amendment Act of 2016; and
4. the Homeowners Protection from Construction Damage Amendment Act of 2016.

Thursday, July 7

1. ANC6B ABC Committee meets at 7:00pm at Hill Center

Among items on the agenda:

Ted’s Bulletin, 505 8^th Street, SE – Renewal of Class C Restaurant license

Matchbox, 517 8^th Street, SE – Renewal of Class C Restaurant license

Beuchert’s Saloon, 623 Pennsylvania Avenue SE – Substantial change for new sidewalk café with seating for six.

S.E. Market, 1500 Independence Avenue, SE – Substantial change in hours of operation, sales and consumption.

Report on the Status of ANC 6B License Renewal Protests: Good Stuff, Bearnaise, and We the Pizza; Hank’s on the Hill; and Ambar.

2. PSA 107 meets at 7:00pm in Southeast Library, lower level.
3. Friends of Southeast Library, FOSEL, meet at 5:30pm, lower level.

Capitol Courts – mixed use project planned for 1200 blocks of PA Ave SE – South Elevation

North Elevation

Shotgun House – Existing

Shotgun House Proposed

Shotgun House – Perspective – E Street

The site plan. The 5,000 retail space is indicated in red. The adjacent yellow area is the site of the bulk of the mixed use project. Access to the parking garage is on the left.  The Shotgun House site in in yellow near the top of the image.

First Images for New Shotgun House and Capitol Courts’ Micro Apartments on PA Ave SE

by Larry Janezich

Thursday night, Sassan Gharai of SGA Architects met with neighbors of the Shotgun House and the space currently occupied by Frager’s Garden Center in the 1200 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, to reveal the preliminary concepts for development of those sites.

Gharai, developer of nearby Butterfield House, has a Historic Preservation Application before DC’s Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) for “Capitol Courts” – a 119 unit mixed use development for the north side of the 1200 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, and the restoration and development of the Shotgun House at 1229 E Street, SE.  The projects are being presented as a package to the HPRB, though they are technically two separate projects.

Some 100 of the 119 units will be 400 square foot “junior bedrooms” – there will be a few one bedrooms and larger units.  The junior bedrooms will rent for $1200 a month with a minimum six month lease.  The units will be marketed to a “young crowd” and will be semi-furnished, with a bed, sofa, and coffee table.  “It’s a different way of living,” Gharai said, adding that “the rooms will essentially be glorified hotel rooms, with tiny, tiny, tiny, kitchens.”

The plan for Capitol Courts includes 5,000 square feet on the ground floor Southeast corner of the project, for a specialty foods and deli outlet featuring principally prepared food.  Gharai said he doesn’t want a restaurant because they’re “not clean and generate trash.”  He said he is talking with a new start up – Street Market & Café – as a possible tenant for the retail space.  See here:  http://streetsmarketcafe.com/

The four story apartment building would rise to 50 feet, plus a penthouse “party area” featuring entertainment for the tenants including television, a pool table, ping pong, a lounge, and a wading pool to facilitate cooling off for sunbathers.  The penthouse level will also feature bedrooms which can be rented to accommodate tenant’s guests.

There will be 21 underground and surface parking spaces, a bike room, and car sharing program.  Management will encourage renters not to own cars and Gharai anticipates banning renters from applying for Residential Parking Permits.  (Update: by making no RPP a condition of the lease)  Access to parking will also allow E Street neighbors to have new first time access to their back yards means of an easement Gharai will provide those residents.

SGA hopes to break ground in the spring of 2017.  John Weintraub, owner of Frager’s Hardware, said last night that the new Frager’s Hardware store across Pennsylvania Avenue will not be available until mid-2018 and he has not yet found a place to relocate the Garden Center.

The plan for the Shotgun House anticipates creation of two separate units which, unlike the apartments in Capitol Courts, will be sold.

SGA Architects plan to move the Shotgun House over to abut the adjacent house to the west.  The front 26 feet of the house will be preserved –  dismantled, reconstructed with “custom milled siding and a hand-crimped tin roof and custom windows.”  The restored Shotgun House will be one unit, and two-story extension in the rear will constitute the second unit.

Gharai said he hopes to start on the Shotgun House before the end of the year, if HPRB signs off on it and permits can be obtained.

ANC6B’s Planning and Zoning Committee will consider the Historic Preservation Applications of the two projects next Tuesday at its July meeting at 7:00pm, at St. Coletta’s.  The full ANC6B will then consider the HPAs at their monthly meeting on July 12, at 7:00pm at Hill Center.  These two meetings may be the only opportunities for the community to weigh in on the design elements of the projects.  Since the Capitol Courts is being built as a “matter of right,” no zoning changes will be required that will bring the project to back before the ANC regarding issues pertaining to height, massing, density, or light.

For previous CHC post on development of the Shotgun House and the Pennsylvania Avenue site, go here:  http://bit.ly/28NQ7Cg

Chief Cathy Lanier addresses the Hill East community last night at St. Coletta’s

As does Council Member Charles Allen

Some 50 community members turn out to talk about crime in Hill East.  Organizer ANC6B commissioner Denise Krepp and Chief Lanier are standing, far right.

Hill East Residents Vent About Open Air Drug Market & Gunfight at 17^th and Independence

MPD Chief Lanier Promises Action

by Larry Janezich

Wednesday night, some 50 Hill East residents, called together by ANC6B Commissioner Denise Krepp, met yet again at St. Coletta of Greater Washington to talk about crime.  Present last night were MPD Chief of Police Cathy Lanier, top brass from MPD District 1, Doug Klein from the US Attorney’s office, Santha Sonenberg from the DC Attorney General’s office, Council Member Charles Allen, and ANC Commissioners Krepp, Kirsten Oldenburg, Chander Jayaraman, Daniel Chao, Daniel Ridge, Nick Burger, and Calvin Ward.

The overwhelming concern of those attending was what residents called an open air drug market at 17^th and Independence, the scene of a semi-automatic gunfight early last Sunday morning between a group of young men hanging out at the intersection and another group of young males in a car which stopped at the scene.  A witness’s verbal description indicated that as many as 20 to 30 shots could have been exchanged.  One minor injury to a female bystander was reported along with considerable property damage.

Residents living nearby related their on-going experiences with those who they say are selling drugs on the corner but who live outside the District.  It is these visitors residents blame for the series of violent incidents that have occurred at the intersection and they want to know why police can’t prevent people from hanging out on the block.  One resident said the police are taking the problem too lightly.

Chief Lanier denied police are taking the issue lightly, and says that MPD faces a Constitutional rights hurdle prohibiting police from requiring those who loiter at the intersection to move elsewhere.  She said that some individuals had been arrested multiple times and that efforts of plain clothes officers against the alleged drug dealers would continue.  “I will make sure our team takes action,” Lanier said, “we know who the players are.”

Lanier believes that that we need to take a look at the criminal justice system.  She told residents that 50 of the most violent repeat offenders who are on the street today in DC have a total of 857 arrests among them.  Some 35 of the 50 are out serving part of their sentences in the community.

Krepp asked, “Why aren’t they in jail?’

Lanier responded, “You’re asking the wrong person.  My cops ask me that every day and I’ve got to get them out and on the streets.”

Residents near the intersection expressed their frustration.  One property owner who said she had lived in the neighborhood for forty years criticized the police for the way they “engage” the drug dealers, alleging that on the night of the recent shooting, police spent two hours talking to those hanging out at the corner “like they were friends” before being called away to another incident.  The shooting last weekend, she said, happened after police left.

The same longtime resident added, “They don’t respect your officers.  People are out there drinking alcohol.  I’m sorry [the police] are not doing their jobs.  I believe the officers are scared of them because they have bigger guns than the police.  None of them live on the block.  I lived there 40 years.  I grew up there and I know them.”

Another resident told police that the drug market used to be low-key and tolerable.  “Now, there are shots fired every six months.  The only thing preventing a homicide is peoples’ bad aim.  We need to focus on a long term strategy that will make clear that drugs can’t be sold with impunity on the corner.”

A third resident said that there were “so many shots [Saturday night] that I can’t believe it wasn’t a semi-automatic weapon.  It’s terrifying being awakened by gunshots – is scared the shit out of me.”

Krepp asked officials, “How do we get kids who don’t live there out?’  It turns out that there is not only no easy answer, there is no answer at all.

First District Commander Contee: “That’s the challenge.”

Chief Lanier:  We can’t tell people they can’t hang out on the block.”

Klein – “Unfortunately, there are no anti-loitering laws – they’re unconstitutional.  Police can make arrests, but they have to be there when a crime is committed.”

Krepp suggested a crime summit to bring together all city agencies to consider ways to address the problem and asked CM Allen what he thought.  Allen said that a community meeting would not solve the problem, that much of the problem was caused by the courts, and the courts had no accountability.  He suggested exploring ways to empower the community to be proactive in addressing crime issues.

Lanier says that the justice system is broken, and that before being proactive an analysis is needed to identify problems so they can be fixed.  She suggested that the first steps have been taken in the collection of data by the Mayor’s Criminal Justice Coordination Council.

Lanier’s first priority seems to be guns and getting them off the streets.  She talks about having to tell her officers who have taken guns off the streets to go back and “do it again, and do it again, and do it again” from the same people who are on the streets with new guns.  “There were 23 homicides last year by people with previous convictions for homicides who were out on the street,” she added.

Deputy US Attorney Doug Klein said that despite questions being raised about prosecution rates, the Department of Justice is processing the 350 cases it gets on a weekly basis “month after month,” and prosecuting those cases it thinks are winnable.

It may well be that the imminent opening of a 24 hour 7-11 convenience store at 15^th and Independence – two blocks west – will solve the problem for the residents at 17^th and Independence.  The outlet will offer food and drink 24/7, a natural hangout location, and a drive-through alley behind the store.  If not solved, the problem may be displaced, creating problems for a different set of neighbors.

To Lanier’s larger point, nothing illustrates more clearly that the criminal justice system is broken than the incarceration rate for the United States compared with other countries. According to the BBC half of the world’s prison population of about nine million is held in the US, China or Russia.

According to the Institute for Prison Policy Research, prison rates in the US are the world’s highest, at 724 people per 100,000.  In Russia the rate is 581.  Stats for the top ten incarcerating countries are as follows:

1             United States of America               2 217 947

2             China                                                  1 649 804

3             Russian Federation                          651 360

4             Brazil                                                  622 202

5             India                                                   418 536

6             Thailand                                             319 883

7             Mexico                                               255 138

8             Iran                                                     225 624

9             Turkey                                                187 609

10           Indonesia                                          180 347

Phase 1 on Barracks Row Look Closed for Good…

And Last New Year’s Eve Looks Like It Will Be the Last New Year’s Eve (photo credit Phase 1’s FB page)

Phase 1 – Barracks Row’s Iconic Lesbian Bar and Nightclub Looks Closed for Good

by Larry Janezich

From Phase 1’s Facebook page, dated February 5:  “Phase is closed until further notice.  Please check back with us for further updates. Thank you for all your patronage and support.”

On May 11, Phase 1, in response to a question posed on its Facebook page, said, “We are permanently closed.”  The LGBT press reported in February that the entire staff had been let go, and now a “For Sale or Lease” banner has appeared on the building.

Phase 1, the iconic lesbian bar and nightclub at 525 8^th Street, SE, laid claim to the distinction of being the oldest continually operating lesbian bar in the United States and the oldest operating LGBT bar in Washington, according to Wikipedia.  The bar was founded by Allen Carroll and Chris Jansen in 1970.

CHC contacted Carroll and asked him about the status of Phase 1.  Allen said, “I’m not open right now – I’m taking a break.  I don’t know what I want to do.  I’ll be 75 in November – I’ve been open 46 years.  I’ve got it up for sale or lease.”

Martin Smith, Executive Director of Barracks Row Main Street said he understood that the bar had closed some time ago and called it “Truly a disappointing loss both to the local lesbian community and to Barracks Row and the Hill overall – Phase 1 was one of the oldest businesses on 8th Street.”

Barrack’s Row formerly hosted several bars serving the gay community – most have fallen away or moved.  Bachelor’s Mill remains on lower Barracks Row near the Navy Yard.  Remington’s – a gay bar at 637-639 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, closed on April 14, 2014, after more than 30 years in business.  The adjacent buildings which were formerly Remington’s now house a Sprint outlet and a 7-11 convenience store.  See here:  http://bit.ly/294KmhF and here http://bit.ly/29b4Ze1

Former Long-time Frager’s Co-owner Ed Copenhaver Dies

by Larry Janezich

Ed Copenhaver, who along with business partner John Weintraub bought Frager’s Hardware in 1975, died early yesterday morning at NOVA hospital in Fairfax, Virginia, after a long illness.  He was 73.

Copenhaver was a familiar face in Frager’s until his retirement in 2012.  Frager’s employees remember him as a “pure gentleman.”  A Capitol Hill resident who knew Copenhaver told CHC, “John Weintraub has always been seen as the guiding force of Frager’s, and he certainly is the business side of it, but Ed was its heart and soul.  In addition to being the floor manager customers saw and loved, he employed Hill kids who were otherwise troubled or flailing (typical teen stuff) and they loved working for him.  He was an amazingly unpretentious guy.”

Asked for comment, Weintraub recalled, “We met in college at University of Virginia in 1961, re-connected in the early seventies in Washington, DC,  and were co-owners of Frager’s since 1975. No plans have been made yet for a service. He was great to work with and a giving person. Customers and staff loved him.”

There will be no formal funeral, but a memorial service will be held in a couple of weeks, according to sources.  Details will be forthcoming.

For the 2012 Hill Rag’s story on Copenhaver’s 2012 retirement and photos, go here:   http://www.capitalcommunitynews.com/PDF/64-65_RAG_0312.pdf

Tuesday, June 21, circa 10:00am, an alley feeding into Kings Court. The building in the background featuring the blue tarp is the pop-up condo, the developer of which requested paving of the alley.

About half done.

Later that day.  Nice job, DDOT.

Want Your Alley Paved?  It’s Easy.  Write a letter.  Be nice.

(And employ a full time person who stays at the District Building to take care of things.)

by Larry Janezich

Neighbors of the contentious pop-up at 242 14th Street, SE, (See here: http://bit.ly/1Suk9Gg) were surprised at the appearance of DC Department of Transportation paving equipment in their alley last week.  Some months ago, long-time Capitol Hill developer Bob Hess floated the idea to neighbors of petitioning to have the dirt alley behind his new two-unit condo pop-up paved.  The project features an unusual main entrance for one condo fronting on an alley feeding into Kings Court and this is the alley Hess wanted paved.  Neighbors were not inclined to cooperate, being upset at the height and mass of the project, which – even though within legal limits at the time permits were issued – is out of character with the roof line on the block.

So when the city’s paving equipment showed up on Monday evening last week, irate neighbors demanded to know through their ANC commissioner if the imminent paving had received the appropriate sanctions.  Apparently they had, as a visit to the site in mid-morning on Tuesday, June 21, showed the paving well underway.

There are many alleys on Capitol Hill that need paving, and a timeline for paving them reportedly exists, but one which is dependent on the funding available for those projects. Naturally, neighbors were curious to know how the paving of the alley just off Kings Court had been achieved so expeditiously.

When CHC asked a worker on site how CHC could get its alley paved, he replied, “Work through your ANC.”  But the ANC commissioner for the neighborhood was not involved nor was he aware of the paving.

CHC reached out to DDOT Associate Director of Public Space Regulation, Matthew Marcou and asked:

“Can you give me some background about how today’s paving of the side alley emptying onto Kings Court, SE, came about?  I was there this morning and I saw that a DDOT crew has paving well underway.

The aspect of the job that I’m curious about is that it seems to have been undertaken primarily for the benefit of a private developer – Bob Hess – who has built a two unit pop up on 14^th  Street, SE, with an unusual arrangement whereby the main entrance to one of the units is on the alley which feeds into Kings Court.  It is this alley that is being paved.

So, can you walk me through what transpired to make this work possible?  There are many residents who have alleys that are in much worse condition than the one that is being worked on this morning.”

Pending a reply, CHC also went directly to developer Bob Hess and asked how he managed to get the alley paved.

Hess said, “I wrote a letter to the mayor and included photos.  I made it technical and talked about erosion, puddling, water run-off – silt build up.  I employ a person full time who stays down at the District building and takes care of things for me.  That’s why I don’t have any problems.”

CHC said it had an alley that needed paving.  Hess said, “Write a letter to the Mayor.  You have to be nice.”

Later that day, CHC received a terse reply from Director Marcou:

Dear Mr. Janezich:

I am looping in DDOT’s PIO Terry Owens.

A week later, on Monday, June 27, CHC replied to Marcou that no word had been received from Owens, and that CHC was asking if the developer had received preferential treatment, and if so, what the basis was.

As of close of business today, Monday June 27, there has been no reply.  If one should come, CHC will update this post.

Bob Hess is a crusty, likeable, old time, hands-on, small developer – probably in his late 60’s.  He wears Levis and a work shirt, drives a battered pickup truck, and personally oversees the work on his projects.  He continues building, probably not because he needs to, but because he loves it.  He knows how the system works and, he likes to say, “I know what I’m doing.”  He’s cut from a different bolt of cloth than some of the of the larger developers on Capitol Hill, e.g., the Hine developers.  But what he shares with them is an unawareness that continuing the methods used to develop properties in an undervalued section of the city seems today like exploitation – and that an insensitivity to the fact that working within the letter of the law – or receiving the benefit of doubt (if not preferential treatment) from the city’s oversight agencies – is no longer in the best interests of the community.

Hess offered to send me the letter he sent to the Mayor.  But he didn’t.

Eastern Market Metro Plaza, Friday, June 24, circa 7:00pm

The Week Ahead….

by Larry Janezich

Tuesday, June 28

1. ANC6B’s Executive Committee meets at 7:00pm at Hill Center to set the agenda for the next meeting of the full ANC6B scheduled for July 12, also at Hill Center.

Wednesday, June 29

1. MPD District 1 officials meet with residents at 7:00pm at St. Coletta’s (19^th and Independence Avenue, SE) to address concerns about the gun fight that took place Saturday night at 17^th and Independence.

2. The Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee (EMCAC) will convene for a special meeting at 7:00pm in the North Hall of Eastern Market.

Agenda:

Final Review of the Report of the Market Operations Committee Regarding the Proposal to Create a Business Plan for Eastern Market.

Thursday, June 30

1. SGA Architects will hold a community meeting at 7:00pm in the Harriet Jacobs Room in Hill Center to introduce their concepts for the shotgun house at 1229 E Street, SE, and a multi-family residence at 1230 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.  For examples on some of SGA’s multi- family projects, go here:  http://www.sgacos.com/multifamily/

The Shotgun House at 1229 E Street, SE, slated for development – finally.

The current site of Frager’s Garden Center – formerly owned by Capitol Hill real estate investor Larry Quillian – will become a 120 unit apartment house

SGA Architects designed and developed Butterfield House at 1020 Pennaylvania Avenue, SE

Shotgun House and Frager’s Garden Center Sold

120 Apartment Complex Coming to 1200 Block of Pennsylvania Ave SE

by Larry Janezich

Sassan Gharai, founder of SGA Architects, is the new owner (ed. see comments below) of both the famous Shotgun House* and the attached Frager’s Garden Center in the 1200 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.  The firm designed and developed Butterfield House at 1020 Pennsylvania diagonally across from the old Frager’s Hardware store, which is being developed by Perseus Realty.  The new SGA project is within the Capitol Hill Historic District and subject to design approval by the Historic Preservation Review Board.

SGA plans to build a 50 foot, 120 unit apartment building by right, on the site that is now Frager’s Garden Center.  The Shotgun House will be pushed back on the lot, preserved and restored, and a three story addition will be built on the rear of the building. Sources indicated the building would not contain a retail component (ed. but see comments below).  The town house at 1230 Pennsylvania which is part of the parcel would remain a residence and be incorporated into the project.   SGA architects have been reaching out to neighbors in the past few weeks to explain their intentions for the site.

The controversy over preservation of the historic Shotgun House has been an impediment to the development of the parcel, but Capitol Hill historic preservationists and early signals from the Historic Preservation Board seem to favor this development.

SGA Architects hope to take the design before HRPB in July, which would put it on the agenda of ANC6B earlier in the month.  That may be the only time it comes before the ANC if the plan to build by right stays in place, and no zoning changes are sought that would require a Planned Unit Development (PUD) procedure.  It could be a year before construction can start, leaving time for Frager’s to relocate their garden center.  No word yet on where that might be.

Asked for comment, ANC6B Commissioner Nick Burger, in whose single member district the project lies, said, “This has been a contentious site for many years.  I’m cautiously optimistic that this is a plan viable for the developer and one the neighbors would be willing to support.”  Burger said he had urged the developer to hold a community meeting to introduce the plan to the neighbors, and said the developer seemed amenable.

Butterfield House, the design of which pays homage to the Victorian era, has 28 condos and was finished in 2008.  The new project – so far unnamed – will be apartments, in contrast to the 30-40 condo units planned for the Frager’s site across the street.  No word on how much parking is planned for the new SAS development.

For a CHC post on the last time then-owner Larry Quillian tried to get rid of the Shotgun House, go here: http://bit.ly/28U4JPg  The result was that the Historic Preservation Review Board refused to permit its demolition.

*From Wikipedia:  “A “shotgun house” is a narrow rectangular domestic residence, usually no more than about 12 feet (3.5 m) wide, with rooms arranged one behind the other and doors at each end of the house. It was the most popular style of house in the Southern United States from the end of the American Civil War (1861–65) through the 1920s. Alternate names include “shotgun shack”, “shotgun hut”, “shotgun cottage”, and in the case of a multihome dwelling, “shotgun apartment”. A railroad apartment is somewhat similar, but instead of each room opening onto the next room, it has a side hallway from which rooms are entered (by analogy to compartments in passenger rail cars).

A longstanding theory is that the style can be traced from Africa to Haitian influences on house design in New Orleans,[1] but the houses can be found as far away as Chicago, Key West, Florida, Ybor City,[2] and Texas. Though initially as popular with the middle class as with the poor, the shotgun house became a symbol of poverty in the mid-20th century. Some of these houses are being bulldozed as part of urban renewal, while others are being saved for historic preservation. Others are saved and renovated in areas that undergo gentrification.”  Read more of this article here:  http://bit.ly/28MjWBr

Congressional Cemetery, Wednesday, June 15, 2016, circa 7:00pm

The Week Ahead….Mayor Bowser Walks Hill East on Tuesday

by Larry Janezich

Monday, June 20

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

Among items on the agenda:

Petition for Residential Parking Permits by residents on 400 Block of 17^th Street, NE (17Solar)

Request for traffic calming measures for 200 Block of 10^th Street, NE

Request for traffic study at intersection of 10^th Street, NE, and Massachusetts Avenue, NE

Bicycle and vehicle traffic on 1500 Block of C Street, NE

Letter of support for providing dedicated lanes for future western section of DC Streetcar

2. ANC6B01 and Tortilla Coast will host a re rat abatement at 6:00pm at Tortilla Coast, focusing on the rodent problem along 1^st Street, SE, and D Streets, SE and the alley off 1^st Street behind Bull Feathers, Subway, and Talay Thai.

Agenda:

The discussion will center around best practices for rat abatement.

Tuesday, June 21

1. Mayor Bowser’s Neighborhood Walk in Hill East starts at 3:00pm from Stadium Armory Metro Stop. The proposed future home of Andromeda Recovery Clinic at 15^th  and Massachusetts is scheduled to be part of the walk.  One of the Mayor’s Ward 6 reps has requested DC’s Director of Behavioral Health to participate. See CHC post on this issue here: http://bit.ly/1UPmiAi

2. ANC6A ABC Committee meets at 7:00pm at Sherwood Recreation Center, 10^th and G Streets, NE

Among items on the agenda:

Discussion of request by H Street Country Club at 1335 H Street, NE, for a change to its hours of live entertainment (requesting addition of entertainment Sunday through Thursday 6:00pm to 1:00am, no change to Friday/Saturday entertainment hours)

Discussion of neighborhood issues related to Master Liquors at 1806 D Street NE.

Discussion of ANC’s protest of expansion of seating and entertainment hours by Sol Mexican Grill at 1251 H Street, NE

3. The EMCAC Subcommittee for Market Promotions meets at 7:00pm at the Eastern Market Manager’s Office.

Agenda:

The Department of General Services proposal to engage an outside contractor to make recommendations for a five-year plan for Eastern Market.

4. CHRS Board of Directors meets at 6:30pm, Capitol Hill Townhomes, 750 6^th Street, SE, second floor.

Wednesday, June 22

1. The Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee (EMCAC) will meet at 7:00pm in Eastern Market’s North Hall.

Among items on the agenda:

Report of the Vice Chair on Marketing /promotions committee

Report from the Market Operations Committee meeting to review the plan to undertake a study for a 5 year plan for Eastern Market

Editor’s Note:

Daniel Chao

ANC 6B07 Daniel Chao has sent out the following notice asking the community to donate items to support the Potomac Gardens Summer Camp Programs:

“Total Family Care Coalition at Potomac Gardens is once again starting their Summer Camp Program for children ages 6 to 13.

They are in need of some supplies and are asking for assistance in donations.  If you are able to and wish to donate any of the items below please contact Benita Blaine at bblainetfcc@gmail.com or call 202-758-3281.

New CAG Headquarters and possible substance abuse recovery clinic at 201 15th Street, SE. Projecet is scheduled for completion by the end of June. Occupancy is anticipated in mid-September. Click to enlarge.

View looking north on 15th Street of new 7-11 scheduled to open within weeks. The new CAG building can be seen adjacent to and just beyond the “Liquor Market Building”

View looking south of the new proposed Andromeda clinic from the front of the 7-11

Map showing location of proposed clinic (red), 7-11 (blue), CAG (purple) and Payne School (green)

DC Department of Behavioral Health Oblivious to Perfect Storm Brewing in Hill East

by Larry Janezich

DC’s Department of Behavioral Services’ (DBH) faulty assumption contributes to a perfect storm brewing in Hill East at the intersection of 15^th Street and Independence Avenue, SE.

Monday night, Hill East residents and ANC6B Commissioners Jayaraman and Krepp learned for the first time that the newly constructed Community Action Group (CAG) headquarters at 201 15^th Street, SE, which has been publicized as administrative offices, will seek to be certified to provide substance abuse and other counseling services for up to 50 clients a day at the location.  Jayaraman had questioned the Department of Behavioral Services (DBH) regarding their understanding of whether the CAG was going to apply for a certification as a substance abuse recovery clinic, and was told “we do not expect CAG to seek certification” for the 15^th  Street location.

CAG is already certified to operate as a clinic for space it leases at 12^th and Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, and Monday night, CAG President Janice Gordon commented that she was looking forward to a moving into the new building because of the expense of leasing the Pennsylvania Avenue location.  Gordon said that the CAG headquarters aimed to serve the community and would perform spiritual, social, recreation and health and wellness functions but would not provide details on what these functions entailed.  She said, “Once we get into the building the space that we have will determine specifically how far we’ll go in any direction.”  She said CAG had not yet had any conversations with DBH.

According to the CAG website for the 12^th and Pennsylvania location, “The treatment center provides outpatient care. There are special groups and programs for persons with co-occuring mental and substance abuse disorders, persons with HIV and AIDS, gays and lesbians, seniors and older adults, pregnant and postpartum women, women, men, and criminal justice groups.”

The ANC Commissioners and nearby neighbors are concerned because another substance abuse recovery clinic is seeking to open a block away.  Andromeda Transcultural Health Services expects 35 – 40 up to 100 visits a day from its clients.  See CHC posting here: http://bit.ly/1XprQ7W

Between the two facilities there is a 7-11 – weeks from opening –  which will sell fast food, soft drinks, and cigarettes.  Also between them is a mom and pop market selling alcohol.  The intersection of Independence, Massachusetts, and 15^th Street provides considerable greenspace and an alley behind the 7-11 that has been a hangout spot for public drinking for years, if not decades.  Payne school, City Center Charter School, and the Early Childhood Education Center are within 1000 feet of at least one of the proposed clinics.  DC General is four blocks away – from which (according to Jayaraman) some of the Andromeda’s clients will be drawn.

All of this surrounded by a diverse residential area of Hill East.

The two ANC commissioners have been trying to alleviate the impact on the community.  They pushed hard and apparently successfully to prevent sale of alcohol by the 7-11.  Jayaraman is appealing the Certificate of Occupancy for Andromeda with the Bureau of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) based on its mis-classification of itself as a general business office when it is actually a medical treatment facility.  Yesterday, Krepp emailed DBH to ask for a sit-down with CAG, Andromeda, and ANC Commissioners.  As of last night she had not received a reply.

Asked for reaction to the meeting Monday night, Krepp said her take away was she was concerned about the lack of transparency and the lack of communication between DBH, CAG, and Andromeda.  She said she was surprised to learn that CAG would be seeing up to 50 clients recovering from substance abuse each day.  Jayaraman said that CAG was being “very vague about what it’s going to do on 15^th Street.”  He said he is “extremely concerned about what rational DBH has for locating two facilities providing recovery counseling services within one block of each other.”

Gary Peterson, Chair of the Capitol Hill Restoration Society (CHRS) Zoning Committee, told CHC that the committee had taken a position opposing Andromeda on the grounds that it has been mis-classified as a business office when it is actually a treatment facility and that zoning regulations restrict whatever is done on the site to “neighborhood serving commercial” enterprises.  Petersen said that Andromeda had not made the case that their clients were from the neighborhood and it was his understanding that many of the clients are referred by the courts and Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA).  CHRS will file a letter of opposition with the Bureau of Zoning Adjustment on that basis.

It is not clear whether the same claims will or could be raised against CAG when it applies for certification as a medical facility at it’s new location.

The Board of Zoning Adjustment will hold a hearing on the Jayaraman’s appeal on July 28^th.