Category Archives: Uncategorized

Blossoms at Eastern Market.  Cherry blossoms filled the North Hall today as part of the months – long celebration of the 150^th year anniversary of Eastern Market. 

CHAMPS sponsored a series of events at the Market throughout the day.  One of them was a life-drawing demonstration in the North Hall. 

Friday, March 31, will be the last day for the Covid Centers throughout the city, including the one on Barracks Row. 

For anyone in need of the services provided by the COVID Centers, including COVID-19 vaccine, booster, or test kits, including through:

Local retailers and pharmacies;

https://www.covid.gov/tests offers free at-home COVID-19 tests

https://testinglocator.cdc.gov/ directs people to a local free testing location

https://www.vaccines.gov/ directs people to a local free vaccination site

The ANC6B Task Force on Public Safety met last Monday to hammer out a statement of purpose:

• Identify and raise public safety issues to ANC6B, draft resolutions for their consideration, and call for timely action to respond to community concerns, preentcriime, and preserve public safety in 6B.
• Promote community engagement and offer greater transparency and agency to community members regarding public safety.
• Identify the scope and drivers of crime in the community and recommend strategies to improve public safety.
• Amplify the voices and recommendations from residents most directly impacted by crime, and leverage expertise of community resources.
• Improve communication and coordination between the community and law enforcement, judicial, and social service, mental health and non-governmental entities.

And today, Sunday afternoon, the ANC6B SE Library Task Force met to continue its search for interim service library space during the two years plus the SE Library will close for renovation.  Representatives of the group have scheduled a meeting with CM Charles Allen on March 31 to appeal for his assistance, since the DC Public Library’s position is that residents can use the NE Library in the interim.  Task Force Chair Commissioner David Sobelsohn is emphatic in his assertion that this is not acceptable.  In addition, on April 13, members of the Task Force will testify before the DC Council Library Committee Budget Hearing to request funding for interim services.  The next meeting of the Task Force is scheduled for Monday, April 10^th at 7:00pm. 

The Week Ahead 

by Larry Janezich

Posted:  March 26

Monday March 27

ANC 6A Community Outreach Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm. 

For info on how to join the meeting, go here:  https://anc6a.org/community-calendar/

Among items on the draft agenda:

Presentation: 

• Christopher Wade, 1D Community Outreach Specialist, Community Engagement Section, United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia

                                                                                      ***

Events DC is hosting its quarterly community meeting on FRK Fields and Campus at 6:00pm.Register to receive a link here.  http://bit.ly/3K7b0Jg

Tuesday, March 28

ANC6B Executive Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.

For info on how to join the meeting, go here:  http://bit.ly/40fWl40

• The Committee will set the agenda for the April meeting of the full ANC.

                                                                                      ***

ANC6B will hold its April meeting on Tuesday, April 11 at 7:00pm.  The agenda and information on how to join the virtual meeting will be posted on Capitol Hill Corner on Sunday, April 9. 

ANC6A Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee will host a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.

For info on how to join the meeting, go here:  https://anc6a.org/community-calendar/

Among items on the draft agenda:

• Discussion of application by Hiraya Kapamilya at 1250 H Street, NE, for a Class C Tavern License.
• Discussion of application by Old City 1 Café at 1307 H Street. NE, for a Class C Restaurant License.

                                                                                     ***

Saturday, April 1

Community Cleanups. Join neighbors in cleaning up our neighborhood at multiple locations next Saturday. Bags and gloves will be available, but bring your own if you have them.  Information can be found at  https://www.charlesallenward6.com/SpringClean23

Here are sites you can join on April 1 (start time is 10 am, unless otherwise noted):

Eastern Market Metro Park (hosted by CM Allen’s Office)

• Meet near metro entrance; will cover Barracks Row, as well

H Street NE (hosted by CM Allen’s Office and 6A02 Commissioner Mike Velasquez)

• Meet at 8th and H, NE

King Greenleaf Rec Center (hosted by CM Allen’s Office):

Anacostia River Trail (hosted by Bozzuto)

• Meet at the trail entrance

Barney Circle (hosted by 6B08 Commissioner Edward Ryder):

• Meet at 17th and Barney Circle

Navy Yard (hosted by neighbor Tori Collins):

• Meet in front of the AC Hotel (867 New Jersey Ave, SE)
• Tyler Elementary School (hosted by Tyler PTO)

Sherwood Rec Center & School-Within-a-School (hosted by SWS PTO):

• Meet at the playground. Bagels provided by Bullfrog Bagels.  Register here:  http://bit.ly/3K6Z8WD

Maury Elementary School (hosted by 6A04 Commissioner Amber Gove and Maury ES PTO)

• JO Wilson (hosted by JO Wilson PTO)

C St, NE (hosted by neighbor Maggie Edwards)

• Meet at North Carolina Avenue and 15th St, NE

The Smart Street Lighting project will install new LED light bulbs city wide but won’t alter light-pole placement or the design of historic globes and shades.

Kingman Park Among First in Line for Smart Street Lighting

by Hilary Russell

Posted March 22, 2023

DC’s $309-million Smart Street Lighting Project is poised to convert the city’s jumble of 72,000-plus incandescent and high-pressure-sodium street light bulbs to LED technology that is monitored and controlled remotely.  Installation will begin in the next few weeks in Wards 5, 7, and 8.  During this phase, the project will add wireless access points in underserved communities in Wards 7 and 8, thereby advancing DC’s stated goal of citywide broadband access.

When completed in May 2024, the Smart Street Lighting Project is projected to reduce the city’s greenhouse-gas emissions by 38,000 tons per year and enhance public safety, including for pedestrians and cyclists.  Its monitoring and control system will eliminate 311 calls to report broken or malfunctioning streetlights and ensure quick repairs.  The new LED bulbs are projected to reduce light pollution, though they will be brighter than those in current use (27000k versus 24000k).  Each can be dimmed on request, but not below approved public-safety levels and only once, according to DDOT.

Attendees at the March 14 meeting of the Friends of Kingman Park learned that such a request must be coordinated through Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners (ANCs).  Commissioners in ANC 7D, 7C, and 7E will among those inaugurating this service for their constituents and DDOT.

 

Commissioner Ebony Payne, who represents ANC7DO5, said she is pleased “the project will bring more internet access and that the new streetlights will reduce the city’s greenhouse gas emissions…”

Kingman Park residents will turn to Commissioner Ebony Payne if they have issues with the new lighting. Some of them have noted the need to brighten dark streets to enhance public safety, especially if they live on a block with broken streetlights. Others expressed some apprehension about the new lights being too bright and possibly disrupting sleep patterns and circadian rhythms. As Payne put it, “The real test will be once neighbors experience the new brighter lights after installation. I am reserving my judgement until then.”

Residents of Ward 6 are in Group 3. Installation of its new LED street lights won’t begin until all the work is completed in Group 1 (wards 5, 7, and 8) and Group 2 (wards 2, 3, and 4).

Mother Blossom Cannabis Products Opens on Barracks Row.  Mother Blossom had a soft opening on Friday at its new location at 406 8^th Street, SE, and was open for regular business on Saturday.  The shop is owned by Dee Martin and the general manager is Al Hagler.  It’s the latest addition to the cannabis gifting outlets on Capitol Hill and the third on the 400 block of 8^th Street, SE. 

The store offers cannabis, tinctures, edibles and topicals as well as non-psychoactive cannabis products.  A couple of features which sets it apart from most gifting shops are a lounge with a bar and an open air patio. 

Here’s a still-under-construction image from last Thursday of the bar and lounge where cannabis product-infused smoothies will be served. 

Update on Auto Zone Project.  The ANC6A Planning and Zoning Committee heard an informational presentation on the proposal to develop the nearly 1 acre Auto Zone site at 1207 H Street, NE, from Ben Miller.  Miller is co-owner of the H Street development firm WestMill Capital and is also co-founder of the crowd funding platforms Popularise and Fundrise.  Miller told the committee his company hopes to be able to obtain financing to develop the project and is close to submitting a package to the Bureau of Zoning Adjustment.  He anticipates a 240 unit project with up to 40 off them being affordable units.  Above is a preliminary architectural rendering of the north elevation of the building. 

Update on 1000 – 1016 H Street, NE.  The ANC6A Planning and Zoning Committee also recommended that the full ANC support local developer Sanjay Bajaj’s plan to put up a $30 million, 78 unit, five story residential project at this location after the developer conceded to the committee’s demand for more retail space on the ground floor.  Originally, the developer had offered only 1223 square feet, but under pressure from the Committee raised that to 3261 square feet – the maximum feasible for the site he claimed.  Committee Chair Brad Greenfield said that thought the desire was for something closer to 100%, this was probably the best they could get.  The Committee agreed and voted 6 – 1 with one abstention to forward the proposal to the full ANC. 

Update on New Residential Project at 1 K Street, SW – Last Monday night, ANC6D voted 8 – 0 to oppose the Historic Preservation Review Board  design review of the W.C. Smith Development plan to construct a 13 story 352 unit entirely residential building at 1 K Street, SE, adjacent to the long-time South Capitol fixture, the Skyline Inn.  The committee found that the project’s design is inconsistent with the context of the surrounding neighborhood due to design elements, that the uses are not in context with the surrounding neighborhood given the mixed use requirements of construction in the D5 Zone, that vehicular traffic caused by the building will not minimize contacts between pedestrians and vehicles or the environment, and that congestion caused by the building will not be in context with surrounding neighborhoods or street patterns.  Here’s a view of the building looking southeast with the smaller Skyline building in front of it.   

The Week Ahead & Some Photos from the Past Week

by Larry Janezich

Posted March 19, 2023

Monday, March 20

ANC6A Transportation and Public Space Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.

For info on joining the meeting, go here: https://anc6a.org/community-calendar/

Among items on the draft agenda: 

• Automated Traffic Enforcement (ATE) camera request for westbound H Street NE. Commissioner Dooling has requested an update from DDOT on this specific request.
• Traffic on the 1400-block of G Street NE. Commissioner Dooling requested a discussion of ongoing traffic issues on the 1400-block of G Street NE.
• Illegal parking within the H Street, NE, corridor. Commissioner Dooling will lead a discussion about longstanding issues with local business employees and visitors parking in front of residents’ garages within the H Street NE neighborhood.
• FOIA request for TSIs closed as a result of TSI 2.0 implementation. Commissioner Shapiro will lead a discussion about a FOIA request to DDOT for a listing of all TSIs closed out as a result of the January 6, 2023 implementation of TSI 2.0, to include TSI #, location, problem cited and resolution requested, and any subsequent action.
• FOIA request for all ANC 6A TSIs Filed after TSI 2.0 Implementation. Commissioner Shapiro will lead a discussion about a FOIA request to DDOT for a listing of all ANC 6A TSIs Filed after the January 6, 2023 implementation of TSI 2.0, to include TSI #, date filed, location, problem cited, resolution requested, current TSI dashboard category, detailed data and scoring used to select of defer the TSI, and specific data sources used in scoring the TSIs.
• FOIA request for Sidewalk Risk Management Data. Commissioner Shapiro will lead a discussion about a FOIA request for Sidewalk Risk Management Data for DC by ward for the last three years, to include the dollar amount and number of claims paid by the District related to sidewalk conditions.
• Sidewalk Experience Survey. Commissioner Shapiro will introduce a Sidewalk Experience Survey she has drafted to collect input from ANC 6A residents on overall sidewalk conditions in the neighborhood.
• Florida Avenue NE Streetscape Project Permit Enforcement. Commissioner Chatterjee and TPS Committee Co-Chair Lynch will discuss conditions of the Florida Avenue NE bike lanes during construction related to the Florida Avenue, NE, Streetscape Project, specifically ongoing permit enforcement challenges with Washington Gas contractors performing work on PROJECT pipes main and service pipe replacement program.

ANC6B Special Committee On Public Safety will hold a virtual meeting at 8:00pm.

For info on how to join the meeting, go here:  https://anc6b.org/arcive/

Among items on the draft agenda:

• Review and Comment on Draft Statement of Purpose
• Open Discussion of Committee Priorities and Set Meeting Schedule for the Year
• Identify Topics of Interest and Potential Expert/Guest Speakers
• Identify Agenda Items for Next Meeting

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Library of Congress Concert at 8:00pm. 

• Mark’s will host a Library of Congress concert featuring Ars Nova Copenhagen, a premiere choir that specializes in both early and new music. Tickets: Free, but advance-registration is required. https://www.loc.gov/item/event-407487/ars-nova-copenhagen/2023-03-20/

Sunday, March 26

ANC6B Library Taskforce will hold an in-person meeting at 2:30pn at SE Library, lower level. 

Agenda not available at press time.

City Council Chair Phil Mendelson made the final redistricting decisions which kept Hill East together as a part of Ward 7’s newly ANC7D. An alternative plan would have made Hill East part of two Ward 7 ANCs.

City Council Chair Mendelson Briefs ANC7D at March Meeting

by Hilary Russell and Larry Janezich

Posted March 15, 2023

A rare ANC appearance by Council Chair Phil Mendelson kicked off a full agenda for the March 14 meeting of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 7D, formed in 2022 as part of the redistricting process.  He highlighted several issues of interest to the commissioners and many Capitol Hill residents:

• His priorities are restoring proposed cuts in school funding and ensuring funding for free bus service scheduled to start in July.
• Following Congress’ vote to overturn the Council’s Criminal Reform Bill the next steps are unclear. Whether there is another hearing will be up to Councilmember Brooke Pinto, who now chairs the Judiciary Committee. The Council may wait until there’s a Democrat majority in the House before re-passing the bill and sending it back.
• The Fraternal Order of Police opposed the Council’s Criminal Reform Bill and the Policing Reform Bill (now before Congress) and hired a lobbyist to work against them.
• The Police Force requires at least 500 new officers. The Council funded the Mayor’s request for new hires but there aren’t enough applicants. The DC Police Academy is only half filled with trainees.
• Though a 2022 Council bill outlawed school-funding cuts, reduced funding is projected for schools, including for some with growing enrollment.
• The comment period on the City’s 2024 budget, to be released on March 22, will end the last week of April.

Regarding other agenda items, Commissioners welcomed and asked pointed questions of DC Government representatives. These included Francis Campbell, new Constituent Services Coordinator of Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent Gray, along with high-ranking Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers in two of the three police districts within ANC 7D’s boundaries.  Other meeting participants updated commissioners on the DC Department of Transportation’s (DDOT) plans for an Arboretum bridge and trail, the new lottery system for DPR summer camps, the renovation of the Triangle Park at 17th and C Streets, and the upcoming Events DC quarterly meeting about the RFK campus on March 27.

Single-member district reports, allocated one minute each, included Commissioner Brett Astman’s announcement of a $1.25 million grant to renovate the Kingman Field Dog Park at 14th Street and Tennessee Avenue, NE; concern expressed by Commissioner Brian Alcorn about deferred maintenance at Eastern High School; and Commissioner Siraaj Hasan’s opposition to DDOT’s planned replacement of the Lane Place Pedestrian Bridge over DC 295, which he characterized as “a bridge to nowhere” and “fiscally irresponsible.”

ANC 7D’s commitment to diving deep into big issues and engaging constituents in those they deem to be most important was captured by a presentation by Commissioner Marc Friend.  He outlined five committees that will meet monthly (starting in late April), each co-chaired by an ANC 7D resident and a commissioner, which will discuss, analyze, and recommend resolutions, letters of support, and grants to the ANC, and organize neighborhood events

The ANC6B SE Library Taskforce met Sunday afternoon to organize support for interim library services during the renovation of SE Library.

As SE Library Prepares to Close, Taskforce Mobilizes for Interim Services

by Larry Janezich

Posted March 31, 2003

ANC6B’s Taskforce on the Southeast Library met on Sunday afternoon, to continue organizing support for interim library services during the two years + that Southeast Library will be closed for renovation, likely begin this summer. The group is chaired by ANC6B Commissioner David Sobelsohn.  Michelle Leporatti is vice chair and Ana Unruh Cohen has agreed to serve as taskforce secretary,

So far, outreach efforts by Taskforce volunteers have produced no plausible locations to site a temporary facility.  A preliminary list of needs includes a 300 – 400 s.f. room with a library staffer where books can be picked up and dropped off, access to the catalogue, a scanner, a copier, a few computers, and a selection of books. 

Other libraries such as the West End and the Southwest were accommodated with space in the Watergate and a mobile library respectively during their construction periods.  So far, DC Public Library’s response to the needs of residents using SE Library is the suggestion that they use the Northeast Library. 

Members of the ANC6B Taskforce find this unacceptable and are discussed mobilizing to seek support for interim services in the following ways: 

• A meeting with CM Charles Allen to appeal for his assistance.
• Sobelsohn is circulating a draft letter to all members of the DC City Council and the Mayor which he will take to ANC6B next Tuesday seeking their imprimatur before sending it to city officials.
• Sobelsohn is also circulating a draft letter inviting Executive Director of DC Public Libraries Richard Reyes Gavilan to the next meeting of the Taskforce on March 26 to ask for treatment similar to that accorded residents of Southwest and the West End Libraries and to emphasize the Taskforce’s concern about the effects of construction on residents who live near the library.
• Testify at the upcoming DC Budget Hearings to support additional funding for interim services.
• Organize an email and petition campaign directed at DC Councilmembers.

New members joining the group have brought some significant assets to the table.  Susan Sedgewick representing the powerful community organization Capitol Hill Village participated in Sunday’s meeting.  And a pair of bibliophiles – Kelsey Gold and Celli Horstman – offered to lend their access to the hundreds of members of local social media communities – BookTok, Bookstagram, and BookTube and the book clubs that connect on those sites – to garner support for interim library space. 

After the meeting, Gold told Capitol Hill Corner:  “The library is so important to us. While the Southeast Branch modernization effort is really exciting, I was disappointed to hear at this meeting how much uncertainty there is regarding the provision of local interim services so close to construction.  I will definitely be reaching out to my local elected officials as a concerned resident and will advocate within my local bookish communities to do the same.”  For more, here’s a link to a WaPo article on bookstagram:  http://bit.ly/3yxEKIC

One popular event associated with the library which will be suspended during the construction period will be the monthly book sale organized by the Friends of the Southeast Library.  Without storage space and adequate adjacent space to set up a book sale, FOSEL leadership does not think it will possible to continue during construction. 

Posh Cannabis Gifting Outlet Opens at 317 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.  Friday morning saw the grand opening of Taste Budz, a new high-end cannabis gifting outlet.  Pictured above is CMO Andrew Neal. The shop is owned by Brenda Johnson and will be the the conpany’s second outlet, following the opening of aVirginia Beach outlet two years ago.  The owner plans to open at third Taste Budz in Georgetown in six weeks. 

Neal says that his goal is to educate, advocate, and destigmatize cannabis and its non-psychoactive products.  To that end, he and his business partner have created a welcoming space where he invites people to come and hang out.  He says they provide access to everyone, pointing to the newly installed ADA compliant elevator and the entrance ramp. 

Neal says the best part of the operation is the business staff – “knowledgeable, diverse, beautiful people.”  The retail end is handled by “tellers” (Julie and Xavi pictured above) similar to those  one might encounter in a bank – Neal says that inside the shop they are the “Budz tellers” and that customer service and satisfaction are priorities.  Taste Budz is open from 7 days a week, 11:00pm – 8:00pm. 

H Street NE Residential Project Runs into ANC Problem.  Last Thursday night, ANC6A voted to 6 – 0 to request that BZA delay its hearing on local developer Sanjay Bajaj’s plan to put up a $30 million, 78 unit, five story residential project at 1010 – 1016 H Street, NE.  The ANC had conditioned its support on the developer designating residential units on the ground floor as artist space/studios with the provision that this would be written into the condominium bylaws, and that the developer would make best efforts not to include natural gas in the building, and that if these conditions were not met, ANC 6Ashould oppose the request.  It was the consensus of the committee that the developer had not met these criteria.   Commissioners want more time to negotiate with the developer, so the vote to request the delay was coupled with the provision that if a delay is not possible, the ANC will not support the proposal unless the first floor is reserved for retail or another non-residential activated usage and a construction agreement is reached with the adjacent neighbors. 

Coastline Oyster Company opens on Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.  Just next door at 319 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, the former ZOCA Mexican restaurant has morphed into the Coastline Oyster Company – the latest restaurant concept by Chef-owner Danio Somoza and Partner Donna Serafini.  Coastline Oyster Company is a raw bar, seafood house, and sports bar with live music.  Here’s a link to their website and menu.  ZOCA Mexican Restaurant opened May 3, 2022. 

One With Eternity:  Yayoi Kusama’s exhibit at the Hirshhorn will end this spring.  Here’s an image of one of her Infinity Mirror Rooms. 

And here’s an image of her iconic Pumpkin. 

Free next-day passes are released daily on the museum’s website via Etix starting at noon.  Book up to two timed-entry passes per person online, selecting preferred entry time for the following day as available.  Visitors are encouraged to check pass availability and reserve online in advance of their visit.  Unclaimed passes are available online and in-person at the Museum’s welcome desk during public museum hours until all have been distributed.

For next day timed passes, go here:  http://bit.ly/3T9N62x

The Week Ahead & Some Photos from the Past Week

by Larry Janezich

Posted March 12, 2023

The Week Ahead & Some Photos from the Past Week

Monday, March 13

ANC6D will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.

For info on how to access the meeting, go here:  https://www.anc6d.org/virtualmeeting/

Among items on the draft agenda:

• VPRA Long Bridge Program Update
• Safeway Concerns with Manager Mike Bigelow
• One K Street Presentation
• 701 6^th Street, SW, Mural Project

Tuesday, March 14

ANC6B will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.

For info on how to join the meeting, go here:  https://anc6b.org/meetings/march-2023-meetings-of-anc-6b/

Among items on the draft agenda:

Presentation:

• Brandon Best, D.C. State Board of Education (SBOE)

ABC Committee

• Application for an Entertainment Endorsement for Hill East Burgers
• Discussion on Notice to Cure for Harvest Tide
• Status update of working group on protocol for ABC cases

Planning and Zoning Committee

• Election of Vice-Chair
• Presentation from Mark-Anthony Tynes – Department of Buildings
• 218 D St SE. Bureau of Zoning Adjustment Application.  Capitol Hill Day School; Special Exception to expand a private school use to the second story of an existing, attached, three-story commercial building
• 718 North Carolina Ave SE. Bureau of Zoning Adjustment Application.  To construct a two-story rear deck addition, to an existing, attached, three-story with cellar, principal dwelling unit.
• 718 North Carolina Ave SE; Historic Preservation Application. Two-story rear screened porch addition.

Transportation Committee

• Presentation from DC Water on Ongoing Projects Causing Roadwork
• Presentation from DPW on Parking Enforcement
• Presentation from DDOT on Additional Speeding Cameras
• Presentation by Mark Sussman on a Kidical Mass Chapter for Capitol Hill
• Report of the March 2, 2023 Special Call Transportation Meeting

Southeast Library Task Force

• Letter of Support for Budget Funding for Interim Services for the Southeast Library

Letter of Support for Councilmember Allen’s Ward 6 Budget Request #8: Garfield Park Connector Enhancements for Addition of 4 or More Pickleball Courts

Report for the Public Parks and Recreation Spaces Task Force

Report for the March 6 Special Committee on Public Safety Meeting

Report for the Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 7D will hold a virtual meeting at 6:30pm. 

For info on how to join the meeting, go here:  https://anc.dc.gov/event/anc-7d-monthly-meeting

Among items on the agenda.

Presentations: 

• DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson
• Mayor’s Office of Community Relations & Services (MOCRS)
• Office of Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent Gray
• Metropolitan Police Department/MPD 1st, 5^th & 6th Districts
• DC State Board of Education Ward 7 Representative (TBD)
• Stacee Hemby, DDOT, Arboretum Bridge and Trail
• Chris Dwyer, DPR Summer Camp Registration Process

New Business Items

• ANC 7D Committees
• Letter to BZA Regarding Case #28021

                                                                                           ***

Ward 6 Public Schools Parent Organization (W6PSPO) will host a virtual Middle School Principals Panel Discussion at 7:00pm.  Leadership from Jefferson Middle School Academy, Eliot-Hine Middle School, Stuart-Hobson Middle School, and Capitol Hill Montessori@Logan will share their ideas on what makes a good middle school, how their schools help all students reach their highest potential, what extracurricular activities they offer, and more.  Denise Forte, the President and CEO of the Education Trust, will be the moderator.  Parents whose children will be middle school next year as well as parents whose children will attend middle school in the coming years are encouraged to attend.

You can register for the Middle School Principals Panel Discussion at

https://bit.ly/W6PSPO23MSPrincipals   

Wednesday, March 15

ANC6A Economic Development & Zoning Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm. 

For info on joining the meeting, go here: https://anc6a.org/community-calendar/

Among items on the agenda:

• 1207 H Street, NE. Informational update on zoning and development of the property at 1207 H Street NE (currently the AutoZone).
• Racial Equity Tool. Discussion of the revised DC Zoning Commission Racial Equity Tool, and how it will be used on zoning projects within ANC 6A.
• 912 Maryland Avenue, NE. Request for area variance relief to construct a rear addition to an existing, attached, two-story with basement, principal dwelling unit.
• 336 11th Street, NE. Request for special exception relief to construct a rear and side addition to an existing attached, two-story with cellar, principal dwelling unit in the RF-1 zone.
• 214 Warren Street, NE. Request for special exception relief for a project to construct a two-story rear addition, to an existing semi-detached, two story principal dwelling unit.
• 721 H Street, NE. Proposed map amendment to rezone the property from NC-16 to NC-17.

                                                                                         ***

Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton’s will hold a Virtual Town Hall with the National Park Service and Smithsonian Zoo at 6:00pm.  (all DC residents welcome, see attachment to register)  https://norton.house.gov/media/press-releases/norton-hold-town-hall-meeting-national-park-service-national-zoo-and-district

Thursday, March 16

Friends of Kingman Park Community will hold a virtual and in-person meeting at 7:00pm at St. Benedict the Moor Catholic Church. Families and children welcome. 

Info on how to join the meeting: TBA. 

ANC6A met last Thursday night. The meeting featured a presentation by CM Charles Allen.

CM Charles Allen on RFK, Schools, The Budget, Traffic & the Environment

by Larry Janezich

Posted March 12, 2023

Last Thursday night, CM Charles Allen joined the ANC6D virtual meeting for the first of his annual springtime tours of the Ward 6 ANCs. 

Takeaways:

• RFK Campus Time Line. There is none – we’re all just stuck.  Swapping one billionaire for another does not change the fact that a stadium is still not a good idea.  Stadiums do not pay for themselves and don’t create jobs.  The Mayor wants a stadium but a majority of the city council does not.  Representative Norton says she will not move on transfer of the site to DC until the Mayor and city council are on the same page.
• Ward 6 DCPS school budgets are facing cuts in the Mayor’s Budget – he will work to restore them.
• Teacher retention is problem. For past three years the number of teachers who do not come back has increased.  Last year, 30% of public school teachers and 38% of charter school teachers did not return.  Need to figure out how to support teachers – part of that is pay.
• The Annual Ward 6 Budget Town Hall with open mike will be on April 6 at the School Within a School at 920 F Street, NW.
• DC’s economy continues to grow but has slowed because of decreased assessment of downtown properties resulting in lower taxes which has impacted revenues.
• The city should have Sunday enforcement of parking. We’re a seven-day a week city.  We need to be thoughtful and partner with churches. 

Priorities as Chair of Committee on Transportation and Environment.

• Traffic Safety. Hold hearings on Traffic Safety Investigations and Traffic Enforcement.  Get funding for laws already passed such as Vision Zero, Safe Sidewalks, and Safer Streets Act.
• WMATA Recovery. Ensure safe systems and that WMATA has the equipment they need.
• Planning and oversite of the billions of federal dollars for infrastructure coming to the city.
• Climate Change. Push bill expanding Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure with a hearing this spring and moving legislation this fall.  Push Residential Electrification with equity in mind.  Push Metro for DC moving to a fare-free bus system.  Figure out how to integrate climate, transportation and public space goals into the city’s economic recovery.
• Public Safety. Move forward on both an effective policing/accountability AND an investment in prevention strategy for people at risk rather than an either/or strategy.
• Push DPR to open recreation centers all weekend. Note today’s announcement of roll out opening of recreation centers on Saturday.  We need recreation centers open all weekend. 

ANC6B Special Committee on Public Safety held its initial meeting last night to discuss how to address Capitol Hill crime issues.

ANC6B Launches Effort to Address Crime on Capitol Hill 

by Larry Janezich

Posted March 7, 2023

The new ANC6B Public Safety Committee chaired by resident member Lisa Matsumoto held its first meeting on Monday night and elected Jody Kent Levy as Vice Chair.  Both Matsumoto and Lavy have extensive experience in working within the criminal justice system and both are resident members appointed to the Committee by ANC6B Commissioner Chander Jayraman.  Resident member Dilip Ramchandani was elected secretary.  Some 28 participants joined the virtual meeting.  

The primary purpose was to craft a statement of purpose and committee members wrestled with the prospective mission of the Committee for more than an hour.  They discussed a wide range of goals but came to no final resolution and members were asked to flesh out their ideas and bring them in writing for consideration at the next meeting which will be at 8:00pm on Monday, March 20.  

Matsumoto, an attorney who has spent her entire career working in the criminal justice system, opened the discussion by laying down a proposal that the purpose was to raise public safety issues to ANC6B through meetings and interactions with the community. 

Some of the ideas about how to do that included:

• Serve as a forum to hear community concerns, decide what can be done, and make recommendations to the ANC.
• Strengthen ANC communications with MPD and received periodic reports from them.
• Examine any future rewrite of the criminal code and make recommendations to the ANC to forward to the City Council.
• Engage with agencies such the Office of the Attorney General, and the US Attorney General’s Office to understand how they work.
• Examine the disconnect happening in the Office of Unified Communications to understand how the 911 call system functions (and at times seems to not function) and assess anomalies in response times.
• Find ways to increase agency transparency when the ANC deals with federal agency law enforcement such as the US Capitol Police.
• Take a proactive look at crime data and talk to experts to try to come up with recommendations on the most pressing issues, rather than focus on rapid responses to incidents or potentially distracting liaison efforts.
• Hear panels or individual presentations to explain definitions of crime and the penalties for committing them, the work of violence interrupters, and Safe Passage Program representatives.
• Request allocation of MPD resources for areas that need it.
• Create an ANC6B email address for residents to communicate public safety concerns to the Public Safety Committee.
• Assess the Neighborhood Engagement Achieves Results (NEAR) Act of 2016 – which uses a community-based public health approach to violence prevention and intervention – to see how effectively its provisions have been implemented – especially behavioral health teams – and seeing if there are recommendations the ANC can support. 
• Identify ways to support and amplify organizations in the community already working on public safety issues.
• Create an ANC email address for community members to express their concerns to the Public Safety Committee.

It seemed that the consensus was that the committee should be more than an anecdotal forum for residents to engage in a community dialogue about their public safety concerns and more than a vehicle to promote a better relationship between the community and the MPD. 

Early on in the meeting, committee member Chuck Burger suggested that steps be taken to develop a base of knowledge regarding an understanding of crime – what’s being committed and the penalty for it.  He said his observation is that interpretations of crime and punishment issues haven’t shown a lot of knowledge regarding what we’re hearing from the police and the press and that there is a lot of misunderstanding about what’s going on.  He added that that kind of understanding is critical before the committee starts interpreting things. 

At its next meeting in two weeks, the committee will work on continue drafting its Statement of Purpose and will attempt to schedule its first presentation on one of the major topics of discussion facing the committee, such as the mental health crisis, the work of violence interrupters, and the homeless issue. 

HIPS – Harm reduction services for sex workers and drug abusers.   Monday night, the ANC6A Community Outreach Committee, chaired by resident member Adina Wadsworth, heard a presentation on behalf of HIPS from Chibundo Egwuatu, Coordinator for the Sex Workers Advocates Coalition (SWAC). HIPS stands for “Honoring Individual Power and Strength” – an organization that provides non-judgmental harm reduction services, advocacy, and community engagement for sex workers and drug abusers. 

The center of the organization is a Drop -In Center at 906 H Street, NE.  Go to their website for more information on their operation and a list of services the organization provides for sex workers or drug abusers:  https://www.hips.org/

Covid Centers Closing.  ICYMI, on Friday, Mar 3, the Department of Health announced that the city’s Covid Centers – including the one on Barracks Row – will close on Friday, March 31.  The Centers were established in 2022 to provide free access to Covid vaccinations, testing, and masks.   

CM Charles Allen’s Bills subsidizing purchase of electric bikes and promote Electric Vehicle Infrastructure.  Thursday, the ANC6B Transportation and Public Space Committee chaired by Commissioner Matt LaFortune, held a Special Call Meeting on Electric Vehicle Policy. Charles Allen – now Chair of the Council’s Committee on Transportation and the Environment – discussed two bills, the first would promote EV infrastructure and the second would subsidize the purchase of electric bicycles. 

The Comprehensive Electric Vehicle Infrastructure …Act has as its goal establishing 7,500 public charging stations by 2027 while setting a requirement to equally distribute stations across the entire District: http://bit.ly/3ZBu33e  Allen says a hearing will be held later this spring.

The Electric Bicycle Rebate Program Amendment Act would provide rebates for bikes, locks, fittings, and batteries for residents to subsidize the costs of an e-bike (either a regular frame or cargo bike model).  http://bit.ly/3JlXrp7 A hearing on the bill is scheduled for March 16. 

New residential units coming to Barracks Row – 733 8^th Street, SE.  Demolition has started on the the two story building at the former location of Howl to the Chief at 733 8th Street on Barracks Row.  The owner plans on addition two new stories – three floors of residential units while keeping the first floor for retail.  Howl to the Chief moved a few doors down to 719 8th Street. 

Here are before and after images from the Architect’s Powerpoint presentation to ANC6B in June of 2021. 

Orchids galore.  The 27^th annual orchid exhibit at the US Botanic Garden continues this month and runs through April 30.  Hundreds of orchids festoon the Tropics House where visitors will find two 9 foot tall tree sculptures covered with epiphytic orchids. 

The Week Ahead…& Some Photos from the Past Week

by Larry Janezich

Posted March 5, 2023

Monday, March 6

ANC6B Public Safety Committee  will hold a virtual meeting at 8:00pm. 

For info on how to join the meeting, go here:  http://bit.ly/3L2v7ZU

Among items on the draft agenda:

• Procedural matters
  • Elect Vice-Chair.
  • Request volunteer to serve as Secretary of the Committee.
  • Future meeting schedule.
• Statement of Purpose.
• Identify agenda items for next meeting.
• Identify possible speakers/experts for future meetings.

Tuesday, March 7

ANC6B Planning and Economic Development Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm. 

For info on how to join the meeting, go here:  TBA.

Among items on the draft agenda:

• Election of Vice-Chair.
• Presentation from Mark-Anthony Tynes – Department of Buildings.
• 218 D Street, SE; Capitol Hill Day School. Zoning Adjustment Application.  Special Exception to expand a private school use to the second story of an existing, attached, three-story commercial building.
• 718 North Carolina Ave SE. BZA Application.  To construct a two-story rear deck addition, to an existing, attached, three-story with cellar, principal dwelling unit.
• 718 North Carolina Avenue, SE. Historic Preservation Application. Two-story rear screened porch addition. 

Wednesday, March 8

ANC6B Transportation and Public Space Committee holds a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.

For info on how to join the meeting go here:  TBA.

Among items on the draft agenda:

• Presentation from DC Water on Ongoing Projects Causing Roadwork.
• Presentation from DPW on Parking Enforcement.
• Presentation from DDOT on Additional Speeding Cameras.
• Presentation by Mark Sussman on Kidical Mass Chapter for Capitol Hill. (Kidical Mass DC is the Washington, DC chapter of Kidical Mass, the national movement to encourage parents and children to bike together.)  http://kidicalmassdc.blogspot.com/
• Report of the March 2, 2023 Special Call Transportation Meeting.

Thursday, March 9

ANC6A will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm. 

For info on how to join the meeting go here:  https://anc6a.org/community-calendar/

Among items on the draft agenda: 

Community Presentations:

• Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen.
• DPR Update – Christopher Dyer, Community Engagement Manager, Department of Parks and Recreation.

Consent Agenda

• Letter to Councilmember Charles Allen requesting the DC Council offer a resolution honoring the late Mr. William Outlaw honoring his long-time service to the Capitol Hill community.
• Letter of support to HSEMA for the 2023 Capitol Hill Classic Races.
• Letter of support to DDOT Public Space Committee to enclose a second floor balcony at 207 14th Place, NE.
• Letter to DDOT regarding sidewalk repairs, sidewalk gaps, and pedestrian infrastructure.
• Letter of support to the DC Council for the Automated Traffic Enforcement Effectiveness Amendment Act of 2022
• Letters of support to BZA for a request for area variance relief to HPRB for historic review of a project to construct a second story accessory dwelling unit addition to an existing detached, accessory garage in the rear of an existing, attached, three-story principal dwelling unit at 915 Maryland Avenue NE.  Both letters will state that support is on the condition that the plans be updated so that the access to the upper unit is only available from the rear yard and not the alley.

Letter of support for Special Exception relief to construct a new, detached, five-story with cellar and penthouse, 80-unit apartment addition, to existing mixed-use buildings at 1000–1016 H Street, NE, on condition that the residential units on the ground floor be designated as artist space/studios, and this would be written into the condominium bylaws, and that the developer make best efforts not to include natural gas in the building, and that if these conditions are not met, ANC 6A should oppose the request.

Motion to approve Mark Sussman (6A04) and Paul Angelone (6A05) to and remove Hassan Christian from the membership of the TPS Committee.

ANC6B Alcohol Beverage Control Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.

For info on how to join the meeting go here:  http://bit.ly/3kP8Q7k

Among items on the draft agenda:

• Application for an Entertainment Endorsement for Hill East Burgers.
• Discussion on Notice to Cure for Harvest Tide.
• Status update of working group on protocol for ABC cases.

ANC6C Transportation and Public Space Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm. 

For info on how to join the meeting, go here:

Among items on the draft agenda:

Presentations:

• Yohannes Bennehoff, DDOT, on proposed improvements to the 8th Street, NE, bus lines (Bus Priority Project).
• ANC6C Commissioner Adelstein and resident Bob Dardano on the “triangles” that are formed at the intersections of various DC streets and avenues in ANC 6C. Specifically, who has jurisdiction over them, how/can they be improved, and finally what type of improvements would be welcomed by the community.

DDOT Construction Permit. 125 E Street NE:  Paving: ADA Curb Ramp.  Paving: Alley(s). Paving: Curb & Gutter(s).  Paving: Driveway(s).  Close Existing, Paving: Driveway(s) Repair or Replace, Paving: Mill and Overlay, Paving:  Sidewalk(s), Fixture: Bike Rack(s): DDOT Standard, Fixture: Curbside Signage, Fixture:  Mutlispace Meter, Landscaping: New Tree Space(s), Landscaping: Stormwater Mgmt  (serve public), Landscaping: Tree Planting, Landscaping: Tree Space (Stormwater Mgmt),  Over Head Work: Streetlight(s) Installation.

Eastern Market stakeholders and community members met last night to plan the celebration of the 150th anniversary of Eastern Market. Here, Eastern Market Main Street Chair Mary Quillian Helms (center with back to camera) addresses the group. Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee representative and chair of the Planning Group is Brian Pate (center in red coat.)

CM Charles Allen said, “It’s going to take all of us…I envision this group growing as we think about who to bring in…this will be exciting…a celebration and creation of a vision coming out of civic pride…a great way to bring people back together again after what we’ve been through over the past two years.”

Plans Advance for Months of Celebrating Eastern Market Anniversary

by Larry Janezich

Posted March 1, 2023

Tuesday night, a group of stakeholders convened to plan the eight month celebration of the 150^th Anniversary of Eastern Market.  The meeting was chaired by EMCAC Board Member Brian Pate.  Some 20 community members turned out, including Councilmember Charles Allen. 

Allen provided an overview of the goal which, he said, was an opportunity to determine how to celebrate, promote, and advance Eastern Market… not just a celebration but a determination of “what we are and what we want to be.” 

Pate called it a celebration of Eastern Market but also of the community and the arts.  He announced that Eastern Market Main Street had applied for a $400,000 grant for funding a series of events which will begin on March 20 and stretch through the actual birthday of the Market on November 12. 

Allen was optimistic about receiving assistance from EventsDC, saying decision makers appeared to be excited by the prospect of participating in funding, designing, and marketing the anniversary. 

Mary Quillian Helms, Chair of the Eastern Market Main Street Board of Directors, and Barry Margeson, Co-chair, discussed some of the items on the preliminary calendar of events.  Additional details were provided by Eastern Market Main Street Executive Director Ann Blackwell

Among those items: 

• March 20: 150^th Market Banner Installation.
• March – 20 April 9:  The Cherry Blossom Experience – which will include filling the North Hall with cherry blossoms.
• March 26:  Capitol Hill Arts Workshop celebrates Eastern Market with events throughout the day.
• March 30:  Capitol Hill Restoration Society presents an Eastern Market History Lecture by Capitol Hill author Robert Pohl.
• April 1-2: Capitol Art Book Fair in North Hall.
• May 6:  The History of Eastern Market Book Launch in association with The Literary Hill Event.
• May 19:  Market Day – A 150 table community picnic set up on 7^th Street.  Family activities all day.
• November 12:  An Anniversary Celebration with all day family activities and cerebration in the North Hall that night.

Allen said that the events calendar – currently heavily weighted in favor of April events – would continue to be built out by the efforts of the group as they focus on the summer and fall. 

A brainstorming session which followed produced a number of ideas, including a kick-off media event featuring Mayor Bowser, a food shopping tour, the sale of an anniversary beer, additional programming related to the history of the Market, soliciting community restaurants to provide cooking demonstrations with Eastern Market products, and creation and sale of an Eastern Market jigsaw puzzle. 

The first event is 20 days away, and the group will meet again before then, though a date has not yet been set.