Category Archives: Uncategorized

DDOT’s Steve Strauss, standing, receives grilling by unhappy ANC6D Commissioners.

ANC6D Commissioners Blast DDOT and Mayor on No Circulator for SW

Commissioners Cite Lack of SW Parking, Retail, Access to Capitol Hill

by Larry Janezich

Monday night, an angry ANC6D sent a message to the DC Department of Transportation and to the Mayor that they were fed up with empty promises of Circulator Service to the ANC’s neighborhoods west of South Capitol in SW Washington.

Commissioners had invited Sam Zimbabwe, DDOT Associate Director of Policy, Planning & Sustainability to update the ANC on when Circulator Service would be extended to SW Washington.  They were not happy to hear Zimbabwe stand-in Steve Strauss, Deputy Associate Director of the Progressive Transportation , tell them that maybe the Union Station/Navy Yard Circulator could be extended to SW in the spring of 2017.  He said that although the intent had been to use some of the 18 new Circulator buses ordered last year to expand the Navy Yard route into SW as well as the Georgetown to Union Station route, those buses are needed to replace the aging buses in the current fleet.  The next bus order will be placed in the late spring of 2016, with delivery a year later.

One of the most outspoken commissioners was Rhonda Hamilton, who tore into Strauss: “This is disappointing.  We’re living here and can’t get out of SW – there is no parking – there are two subway stops to Eastern Market.  You’re not getting the message.  You have been promising, promising, promising.  The Circulator has been coming for five years.  When are we getting the Circulator in SW?”

Ward Six Mayor’s representative Seth Shapiro elicited from Strauss that two buses would be necessary to expand the Navy Yard route into SW, but Strauss said he could not speculate on whether the needs of SW would outweigh the needs of the Georgetown route in terms of allocation of resources.

Commissioner Andy Litsky told Shapiro that there is a dearth of retail in SW and “we want to shop on Capitol Hill.  If the city wants us to spend money in the city, the Mayor needs to provide a way for that to happen – otherwise, we’ll go to Virginia.  Take this back to the Mayor, ‘This is bunk, and it needs to be fixed.’”

ANC6D Chair Roger Moffet told Strauss that his presentation was “bogus – you’re not telling us what we asked you here for.  At what point will you give us an answer?”

Strauss replied that he thought DDOT would have an answer by fall.  Moffet told him that the ANC would meet next on September 21, and invited him back to that meeting to provide an update.  Strauss said, “It might be October.”

Circulator, promising when launched because it promised pickups every ten minutes, has become less predictable, causing frustration among riders.  CHC timed Navy Yard – Union Station Circulator bus arrivals at a Barracks Row location on Wednesday, July 8, and found that in the 7:30am – 8:5am time interval, buses arrived at: 7:30am, 7:41am, 7:52am, 8:02am, 8:08am, 8:12am, 8:26am, 8:33am, and 8:51am.  For riders with smart phones, a live map showing the current location of each bus on the Union Station – Navy Yard route provides diversion while you wait.  See here:  http://circulatormap.com/map/union-station-navy-yard

On Monday, a memorial service for community journalist/activist Roberta Weiner held at Hill Center was attended by some 120 friends and Hill residents, including Rep. Eleanor Homes Norton, Councilmember Charles Allen, Director of Director of the DC Department of the Environment and former Councilmember Tommy Wells, and Former Councilmember Sharon Ambrose.

Superstar Chef Rob Weland announced the name of his new Barracks Row Restaurant, “Garrison”

On Thursday, 2014 DC Restaurateur of the Year Michael Babin Appeared before ANC6B’s ABC Committee and agreed to neighbors’ requests to mitigate the impact of his new Barracks Row restaurant at 413 8th Street, SE

Friday morning, a Food Oil Recycler services the restaurants on 7th Street, across from Eastern Market. DC regulations allow the engine running the recycling pumps to idle while the truck is stopped.

And the Resulting Food Oil Spillage

And a busy day today at the 7th Street Flea Market

The Week Ahead …. And Some Photos from Last Week

by Larry Janezich

Monday, July 13

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

Among items on the agenda:

Public Safety Report – First District MPD – PSA 105 and 106

Circulator Service in SW – update by Sam Zimbabwe

New liquor licenses for Hyatt Place Hotel, 400 E Street, SW; Hampton Inn and Suites, 1265           1^st Street, SE; Capital Yacht Club, 600 Water Street, SW.

Protest liquor license for Dardo and Buffalo Wild Wings.

Tuesday, July 14

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

Among items on the agenda:

Restaurant Liquor License for the new restaurant at 413-415 8^th Street (Barracks Row) formerly the location of Kraze Burger.  It looks like owner Michael Babin has agreed to meet community requests regarding odor mitigation and if he does, this looks like “slam dunk?”  See here:  http://bit.ly/1CvyT6C

Capitol Hill architects Judith Capen and Robert Weinstein (landlords of CHRS for office space), owners of 1220 D Street, SE, are looking to upgrade this multiunit property close to the Buchanan School development.  Some members of the ANC’s Planning and Zoning Committee had issues with the owners’ desire to tear off and replace the entrance canopy – like where to draw the line on similar requests from other developers.  Not sure what CHRS said about it.

The owner of a couple of buildings at 1010-1012 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, wants to turn them into mixed use – retail and six units of residential.

Thursday, July 15

1. ANC6B’s Outreach and Constituent Services Task Force meets at 7:00pm at Hill Center.

Among items on the agenda:

Nuisance properties – maybe something on how to better liaison with District 1 MPD.

2. PSA 104 meets at 7:00pm in Sherwood Recreation Center, 640 10^th Street, Ne. Check out the PSA 104 blog here:  http://psa104.blogspot.com/  Maybe this should be the standard for the rest of Ward Six PSAs.

Michael Babin before the ANC6b Alcohol Beverage Control Committee last Thursday. Commissioner Chander Jayaraman, second from left, chairs the committee

Barracks Row Restaurateur Babin Yields to Resident Pressure on New Restaurant

Coalition (including Rep. John Lewis) Pushed Hard for Best Practice Operating Standards

by Larry Janezich

Last Thursday night at ANC6B’s Alcohol Beverage Control Committee meeting, prominent DC restaurateur Michael Babin said he believed he could reach an agreement to install the odor pollution control unit on his new proposed restaurant at 415 8th Street (formerly Kraze Burgers) that a broad coalition of Capitol Hill residents had requested of him.  Babin had resisted taking that step, earlier telling residents that he could not afford the $50,000 price tag of the installation.  He had previously​acceded to two other requests – indoor trash storage and noise abatement.  In his concession, he told the ANC and the 25 or so residents at Thursday night’s meeting, “We want to be great neighbors.”

Babin said he had communicated the details of the neighbors’ concerns to his landlord, StreetSense, and praised the landlord as a “good operator who cares” about the concerns of neighbors.  He did not comment on whether StreetSense was participating in alleviating the expense of the installation.  Babin heads the Neighborhood Restaurant Group, which owns 17 restaurants in DC and Northern Virginia.  See CHC post here:  http://bit.ly/1JRWIWN

The large contingent of concerned residents who attended the meeting urged the ANC to protest Babin’s application for a liquor license without an odor mitigation agreement for the new venture, but Babin’s announcement made the protest unnecessary.  Resident Katherine Szafran spoke for the group and presented the ANC with a petition with 190 signatures of residents and non-food business owners, including civil rights and congressional​legend​ ​Representative John Lewis.  The petition urged Babin and StreetSense to adopt “Best Practices” including installing a pollution control unit, indoor trash storage, and sound mitigation.

Szafran told the ANC that the lax standards for restaurant operating procedures “are a major health issue.  Rats are overrunning the neighborhood.”  She cited the long efforts of residents to address the problems and pointed to recent closures of two restaurants neighboring Babin’s new location which the city had shut down because of vermin.  “Rats smell food and they travel – part of the solution is to cut down on the smell of fried food and grease,” she said.

Although neighbors concerned about the impact of restaurants on Barracks Row have presented petitions before, none has had as many signatures nor reflected such a broad community involvement.  Those signing included residents on the streets around Barracks Row and Eastern Market,​ those near the restaurants between 2nd and 3rd Streets on Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, as well as residents from disparate locations across Capitol Hill.

​The enormous efforts undertaken to secure this many signatures and the level of concern exhibited signal residents’  lack of confidence that ANC6B will prioritize their ​interests over the interests of Barracks Row restaurants.  Residents had cause to worry.  A settlement agreement reached in May with Aaron Silverman on his new companion restaurant to Rose’s Luxury – “Elaine’s” – on Barracks Row, seemed to give the restaurant the benefit of the doubt on the issues of trash, noise, and odors – none of which were required to meet the “Best Practices” standard.  Neighbors felt left out of the process when the settlement agreement was worked out with Silverman by ANC Commissioner James Loots.  See here:  http://bit.ly/1EcMLfJ

The previous ANC6B – some members of which did not seek re-election – clearly felt that the “Best Practices” agreement reached with & Pizza (including all three concerns regarding Babin’s new place) would become the new standard for Barracks Row.  It is unclear if a majority of the current ANC6B feels the same degree of commitment, but it is clear that they are being held to a new standard themselves regarding Barracks Row issues.

To his credit, Babin is undertaking the expensive mitigations even though, as he told the attendees, he is “pretty sure” he could get a liquor license without agreeing to the requests.

With two significant victories on imposing “Best Practices” on new restaurants opening on Barracks Row – first & Pizza and now Babin’s new place – ​the community has moved closer to establishing those standards as the new norm for new restaurants​, ​not only on Barracks Row but on Pennsylvania Avenue, and potentially H Street, NE, which ​struggles with​ the impact of food and drinking establishments on its community​ and does so without the benefit of a BID, or Business Improvement District, to mitigate ongoing problems.​​

In the end, the Committee voted 9 – 0 to approve Babin’s liquor license application contingent on a signed settlement agreement incorporating language covering indoor trash storage, noise mitigation and pollution control units.  The agreement must be reached and signed before the meeting of the full ANC6B meeting next Tuesday.  Timing is critical, since the ANC will not meet again until September 8, and as Babin said Thursday night, “time is money.”

The yet unnamed restaurant will seat about 50 patrons and will be modeled on another Babin restaurant in Virginia, B-side, as first reported by CHC here: http://bit.ly/1JRWIWN

City Cancels Request for Proposals to Develop Hill East Boys and Girls Club

by Larry Janezich

Capitol Hill Corner has learned that the Department of General Services (DGS) has cancelled the Request for Proposals (RFP) to develop the Boys and Girls Club issued on September 17, 2014.  It’s possible the move was made in advance of issuing a new request for proposals, but CHC could not confirm that.

Brian Flahaven and Denise Krepp – ANC6B Hill East commissioners – led the effort to require DGS to get better responses for the development.

Asked for his reaction, Brian Flahaven, former chair of ANC6B’s Hill East Task Force, told CHC: “ANC6B asked DGS to reconsider the length of the lease on the property to get better responses.  I hope they do reissue RFP with less restrictive terms that make more sense for the site. If they cancel it for good – that would be the worst possible outcome.”  For ANC6B’s action on Krepp’s letter to DGS asking for reconsideration of the RFP terms, see here:  http://bit.ly/1AHzvhL

That letter came about owing to the considerable unhappiness in the Hill East community with the only bid for developing the property (the Dantes Partners/Menkiti proposal) which seemed  to be feasible given DGS’ refusal to lengthen the 25 year lease for the property – a restriction that precluded private financing, making viable only bids which rely on public financing.  Dantes Partners/Menkiti proposed building a 100% senior housing project financed by the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program.  The surrounding community overwhelmingly favored a mixed income residential project.  For previous posts on the controversy surrounding the Boys and Girls Club, see here:  http://bit.ly/1DzFGp8

For more on the city’s push for 100% affordable housing at the Boys and Girls Club, see here:  http://bit.ly/1DvMw1W

For more on how LIHLTC works, see here:  http://bit.ly/1FT5TCb

July 2, 2015, 8:15pm, 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue, SE

The Week Ahead….Liquor License for Kraze Burger Successor on Barracks Row

by Larry Janezich

Monday, July 6

1. CHRS Historic Preservation Committee meets at 6:30pm at Kirby House, 420 10^th Street, SE.
2. Roberta Weiner: 1937-2015. A memorial service for long time community news reporter Roberta Weiner will be held at 6pm at Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.  Following the service, at 7 p.m., friends will gather at Tunnicliff’s Tavern located at 222 Seventh Street, SE.  See more here:  http://bit.ly/1HGA8A5

Tuesday, July 7

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

Among items on the agenda:

1220 D Street SE, alterations to entrance

416 G Street SE, concept/front addition

1209 Independence Ave SE, concept/rear addition, roof deck

1010-1012 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, concept/rear additions

1015 E Street SE, concept/revised rear addition.  (Bureau of Zoning Adjustment ordered changes to this project which would have had a severe adverse impact on 11^th Street neighbors – see here http://bit.ly/1JHXiru)

1325 D Street SE, curb cut for Buchanan School Development.

2. AnC6B Transportation Committee will meet at 7:00pm in Hill Center.

Among items on the agenda:

Update on the Completion of Office of Planning’s SE Boulevard Study and Next Steps on DDOT’s Feasibility Study: Office of Planning/DDOT

Identifying Dangerous Intersections:  Commissioner Flahaven

Resolution on Naming Alleys in Square #1042: Commissioner Burger

Update on DDOT analysis of adding a signalized pedestrian crossing on 11th Street between K and L Streets SE.

Thursday, July 9

1. ANC6B Alcohol Beverage Control Committee will meet at 7:00pm in Hill Center.

Among items on the agenda:

New restaurant license for the former Kraze Burger, 413-415 8th Street, SE.  (This fried meat outlet could be controversial in a block some call oversaturated with restaurants – see here:  http://bit.ly/1JRWIWN )

2. ANC6A meets at 7:00pm at Miner Elementary, 601 Fifteenth Street, NE.

Among items on the agenda:

Patio expansion plans of Lattice Partners LLC (Copycat Co.)

Proposed protest of a request for a change from a restaurant license to a tavern license for Da Luft at 1242 H Street, NE

New license for Imm on H at 1360 H Street, NE

Letter of support to DDOT for the Ben’s Chili Bowl public space application related to installation of panda statue in front of the store at the corner of 10th and H Streets, NE, with the condition that the owners consider moving the statue if the ANC receives complaints about it blocking pedestriantraffic/right-of-way.

Letter of support to DDOT for the Mia’s Coffeehouse public space application related to a sidewalk cafe at 1500 A Street NE

Letter to the Bureau of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) in conditional support of a variance from the off-street parking requirements in connection with the operation of a medical office at 702 15th Street, NE.

Here are 12 photos capturing a few of the highlights of the annual Barracks Row Fourth of July Parade.

The Eastern High School Marching Machine Led the Parade. It was not clear where the Marine Corps Color Guard was this year.

Mayor Bowser Marched in the Parade, the first time in recent memory a Mayor has participated

Councilmember Charles Allen marched with the DC Statehood delegation

Beauty Queens in Red, White…

and Blue

Scouts and …

more Scouts

Community Activist Peter Bug Matthews

Happy Parade watcher

The Rural Dog Rescuers Marched – hoping, perhaps for adoptions (www.ruraldogrescue.com)

And, representing the Continental Army…..

DC Statehood. It’s Time.

“The District,” the all-female acapella group, performed at Eastern Market on Sunday. Genres include Pop, Rock, R&B, Hip-Hop, Country and “everything in between.” For more: http://bit.ly/1JhyOTw

The Week Ahead… And Updates on DC General, RFK, and Boys and Girls Club

by Larry Janezich

The Week Ahead…

Tuesday, June 30

1. ANC6B Executive Committee meets at 7:00pm in Hill Center to set the agenda for the July 14 regular meeting of the Commission.

Saturday, July 4

1. Fourth of July Parade on Barracks Row starts at 10:00am.

Updates:

DC General

Last Thursday night, at a meeting of the ANC6B Hill East Task Force, chaired by resident member Brynn Barnett, city officials told the 40 or so Hill East Residents that there is no quick solution to closing DC General and the closing will depend on decentralizing care for the homeless to small neighborhood-based high quality shelters spread throughout the city.  The Department of Human Services has not found sites for the smaller shelters in Wards 1, 2, 3, and 6; officials also mentioned that finding a home for all homeless who qualify for shelter will predate any closing of DC General.​

​Regarding the siting of new shelters, Brenda Donald, Deputy Mayor for HHS said, “There are going to be some unpopular decisions made,” adding, “this [closing DC General] is a commitment, and it will be done thoughtfully and respectfully.”​  Donald also said, “This is not going to work if it brings down a neighborhood.”

Last April, Mayor Bowser released a plan to close DC General in two years.  It’s not clear from the remarks of officials briefing the community last night that that plan is a realistic one.

RFK

Councilmember Charles Allen also appeared at the Hill East meeting last Thursday to tell residents that he expects Events DC, a quasi-public body to recommend a new football stadium to replace RFK – this in light of Mayor Bowser’s hopes to return football to DC.  Events DC oversees the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and manages the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium.  It also built and now serves as landlord for Nationals Park.

Allen said, “I told the mayor ‘We don’t want a football stadium there,’” He continued, “She wants one. “   He went on to say, “I don’t think it’s the best use for the site.  I’ll keep pushing for the Capitol Riverside Youth Sports Park.”​ ​(See here:  http://www.capitolriverside.org/ ​)​  ​”If I can’t stop it, I can influence the final product.”  Allen said, ”I don’t think I see how a football stadium works with its acres of asphalt.”  He said the city needs input on RFK from the neighborhood – saying that the community input can be very powerful.

​In response to questions, Allen refused to rule out a use as a professional football stadium, including one that would necessitate public funding, saying only, “I’m not sure public financing in necessary.”

Boys and Girls Club

​In response to a question raised by CHC, Allen also addressed the pending award by the Department of General Services (DGS) of a contract to redevelop the Boys and Girls Club, saying “John Kayne [acting director of DGS] has been silent.”  Allen replied that “the ultimate decision is within DGS, and they don’t want to reopen the process.”  Allen said he had asked DGS if the lease terms (25 years which precludes private financing and makes viable only bids which rely on public financing – such as through the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program) could be modified and was told DGS would stick with the current lease terms.

Allen noted that the “ANC and other folks were not thrilled with the proposal and that tells me they’re not ready to move on it.”  Allen said he had tried to evaluate another 100% senior housing by the developer (Dantes Partners) – The Hodge – and found that the residents were “thrilled” with it.  Hill East Task Force Pat Taylor pointed out that the Hodge part of a larger building complex with retail and parking – amenities which will be lacking at the Boys and Girls Club site.   ANC6B Commissioner Brian Flahave, has gone on record saying he thought that – given the controversial nature of the project – Kayne was waiting for a permanent director of DGS to be appointed and confirmed.

Mapping 27 Violent Crimes in or near Hill East in the Past 30 Days

15 Violent Crimes in the same areas during the same time periods in 2014

by Larry Janezich

In the past 30 days, there have been 27 violent crimes in or near Hill East. Details of these crimes have been reported elsewhere in other Capitol Hill News sources.  What is lacking is the overall scope of the problem, both in terms of its pervasiveness and location.  The following maps take a step toward addressing these issues.  The legend on the left side of the maps provide MPD definitions of what constitutes a violent crime.

Ed. Note.  Post updated at 5:00pm Thursday.  Map annotations now show the number of violent crimes in the area during the same period in 2014.  Thanks to readers for pointing out this would be helpful.

Residents can air concerns tonight (Thursday) when the ANC 6B Hill East Task Force meets at 6:30pm at St. Coletta of Greater Washington, 1901 Independence Avenue Southeast.  CouncilMember Charles Allen will provide community updates and take questions from the Task Force and attendees.

As has been reported elsewhere on CHC, ANC6B Commissioner Brian Flahaven, chair of the Community Outreach Task Force, has undertaken an initiative to renew the principles of community policing by strengthening the relationship between the community and the MPD.  One of the deficiencies in the concept of community policing is the apparent total lack of participation and investment in the concept of community policing by community organizations including, Barracks Row Main Street, Capitol Hill BID, CHAMPS, Community Action Group, Community Connections, Capitol Hill Ministries, Capitol Hill Community Foundation, Capitol Hill Restoration Society and numerous smaller community organizations – not to mention Capitol Hill media organizations.  (See: “PSA Meeting Raises Question: Is Hill East Safe?” here – http://bit.ly/1IoESG)

Next:  Crime mapping for Barracks Row and H Street, NE.

Violent Crimes w/in 1500 feet of 17th and Independence in the last 30 days.  1 in same period during 2014. (click to enlarge)

Violent Crimes win 1500 feet of 17th and F in the last 30 days. 5 in same period in 2014.

Violent Crimes w/in 1500 feet of Potomac Avenue Metro in the last 30 days. 4 in same period in 2014.

Violent Crimes w/in 1500 feet of 12th and Maryland Avenue, NE in the past 30 days. 3 in same period in 2014.

Violent Crimes w/in 1500 feet of 12th and Independence, SE, in the past 30 days.  2 in same period in 2014.

The blue area in the upper right marks the location of the market, accessed at the entrance off Oklahoma Avenue.

RFK Farmers Market – Photo Essay

by Larry Janezich

The RFK Farmers Market opened some 30 years ago under the Mayoral tenure of Marion Barry.  It offers basic produce at cheap prices – plus a few specialty items hard to find elsewhere.  The market is in RFK Parking Lot No.6, open from 7 AM to 4 PM, Thursdays and Saturdays, year-round (unless there is a game at RFK). Below are photos of some of offerings. The spring onions and strawberries are done, but the local greens and squash are being picked, and next Saturday marks the beginning of the tomato harvest.

Beans – Roma, String, and Pole

Smoked Bacon, Peanuts and Cracklin’s

Local Greens – Collard, Kale and Mustard

Squash – Zucchini, Pattycake, and Yellow

Ciders, Chow Chow, Canned Peaches

Raw “Green” Peanuts just out of the ground. (Boil 1 pound in a gallon of water with 1/4 cup of salt for an hour or so (three or more for raw peanuts that have dried).

Peaches, Peppers, Cucumbers

Vendors at RFk Farmers Market

More Vendors

Core members of The Capitol Hillbillies – Joel and Pearl Bailes – Jam at Eastern Market Sunday afternoon.

Joel Bailes at the rolling piano – note wheels.

Piano hammers

Joel and Pearl Bailes

The Week Ahead … CouncilMember Allen meets Hill East Community Thursday Night &

The Capitol Hillbillies Jammin’ at Eastern Market on Sunday – Photos

By Larry Janezich

The Capitol Hillbillies’ mission is to bring New Orleans to Capitol Hill.  The band performs in configurations of 2 to 9 musicians, presenting primitive New Orleans –style jazz and gospel, hot blues, early country, jug band tunes along with an occasional rockabilly or Chicago Blues.

The band lists its influences as Robert Johnson, Son House, Leadbelly, Blind Willie McTell, Blind Willie Johnson, Mississippi John Hurt, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Bessie Smith, Lottie Kimbrough, Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Big Bill Broonzy, Tampa Red, Muddy Waters, Cannon’s Jug Stompers, The Memphis Jug Band, The Carter Family, Woody Guthrie, Peter Stampfel, Noah Lewis, The Harry Smith Folk Anthology, etc.

In addition to busking on Capitol Hill, the band performs at private events.  See Facebook, here:  http://on.fb.me/1dafE65 or Contact:  Joel Bailes: rollingpiano@gmail.com

The Week Ahead….

Wednesday, June  24

Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee meets at 7:00pm in Eastern Market’s North Hall.

Thursday, June 25

ANC 6B Hill East Task Force Meets at 6:30pm at St. Coletta of Greater Washington, 1901 Independence Avenue Southeast.  CouncilMember Charles Allen will provide community updates and take questions from the Task Force and attendees.  Also, officials from the DC Department of Health and Human Services will discuss the DC General Homeless Shelter, including an update on the plan to replace the shelter and close DC General.  Participating in the meeting will be Brenda Donald, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services and Laura Zeilinger, Director of the Department of Human Services.