Update on Plan to Make PA Avenue SE Two Travel Lanes in Each Direction
By Larry Janezich
Posted September 10, 2021
Last Wednesday night, ANC6B’s Transportation Committee got an update on DDOT’s plan to reduce Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, from three travel lanes in each direction to two lanes in each direction between 2nd Street, SE, and Barney Circle.
DDOT considered several options and asked for community comment before selecting a plan which provides two travel lanes in each direction, a peak period bus lane in each direction with parking allowed during off peak hours, and a curbside bike lane.
The plan is at 30% design phase completion, which means that the major design elements which the public is most likely to care about are at a stage that they can be depicted and explained in some detail. The plan has been transferred to the DDOT Traffic Engineering and Signals Division to carry the project to 100%.
The project will proceed in two phases – Phase I will be from 2nd Street, SE, to 13th Street, SE, and is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2022. Phase II will be from 13th Street, SE, to Barney Circle and will be complete in 2024-2025.
The Committee agreed to a motion to support the project by a unanimous vote. The full ANC6B is expected to follow suit at its next monthly meeting on September 14.
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Jazz Artist Aaron Myers at Eastern Market Metro Plaza Friday Night – 5:00-6:30pm
By Larry Janezich
Aaron Myers – DC based jazz artist (4 albums), author (2 books), Obama activist, and WPFW Jazz Stories host – will bring his music and poignant cultural insights to Eastern Market Metro Plaza for an early evening performance on Friday, September 10.
Myers: “It is an artist’s responsibility to use their platform to shed light, bring about awareness, and thoughtfully engage others on the issues of the day.”
The performance is the second in a series of September Friday Night live events brought to the Plaza by Barracks Row and Eastern Market Main Streets, Champs, the Capitol Hill BID and the Hill Center as an on-going Plaza activating effort for the benefit of the community.
The schedule for the rest of the month includes performances by Samuel Prather on September 17, and Herb Scott on September 24.
Funding is being provided by the two Main Street organizations and the Capitol Hill BID. CM Charles Allen was successful in providing $150,000 in next year’s budget for programming for the Plaza in FY 2022.
Programming for September will feature more live music for kids and families on Saturday mornings from 10:00-11:30am.
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Capitol Hill Art League Members-Only Juried Art Exhibit thru Sept 25
By Larry Janezich
Posted September 8, 2021
The Capitol Hill Art League (CHAL) members show themed “Reflections” is hung in the gallery at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW) and will be there until September 25th. The exhibit may also be viewed online at: http://caphillartleague.org/2021-reflections “Reflections”, literal and or abstracted suggests contemplative, evocative expressions that welcome the viewer’s curiosity, and perhaps recognition. “Reflections” may reflect one’s internal musing of the “real”, or imaged and/or depictions of the multiple reflections actually visible. Below are some additional images of pieces from the show.
CHAW is located at: 545 7th Street, SE, Washington, DC. 20003
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The end of the first day of school last Monday – this was the scene around 3:20pm on Monday in front of Watkins Elementary.
Here’s a view just before 3:15pm from across a grid-locked 12th Street.
Last Friday evening, some 250 people were gathered at the Pavilion on Eastern Market Metro Plaza to hear songstress Deborah Bond and her band perform live jazz for an hour and a half. Coming on Friday, September 10: Aaron Myers.
Murals DC – the DC Department of Public Works Graffiti Prevention Initiative – has commissioned a series of new murals for a site at 8th street and Virginia Avenue, SE, which will reflect the themes of unity and community featuring local references – landscape features and architecture. http://muralsdcproject.com/ Here’s Shani Shih working on the second of three murals slated for the wall. More later.
And Daniel Barojas uses a brush for the finer details of his work on the third mural. The new murals will reflect the themes of unity and community. More later.
The Saturday C Street, SE Flea Market is back. This may be a little deep in the weeds for those who casually enjoy interacting with the weekend vendors, but after the retirement of Carole Wright – who had the contract for vending on C Street on Saturdays – the Street sat empty half the weekend since early spring. Word is that Hine Project developer Eastbanc tried to get around the Zoning Order which mandated the use of C Street between 7th and 8th for flea markets on weekends as part of the deal with the Zoning Commission to permit a larger building. Commissioners from ANC6B reminded them that use for purposes other than a flea market was not discretionary. Michael Berman, who runs the Sunday Flea Market on 7th Street picked up the contract for C Street Saturday operation. The Manager of Eastern Market controls vending on 7th Street on Saturday.
The Week Ahead…and Some Photos from the Past Week
By Larry Janezich
Posted September 6, 2021
The Week Ahead…
ANC Highlight:
Wednesday, September 9, ANC6A: U.S. Attorney’s Office for the DC representative Douglas Klein – Community Prosecutor for the First District – will make a presentation. Seems like a good time to ask how the prosecution of insurrectionists is going and whether that East Capitol Street chiropractor has been charged with anything. Klein usually responds that he can’t comment on ongoing investigations. Still, it might be interesting.
Wednesday, September 8
ANC6B Transportation and Public Safety Committee will hold a virtual meeting.
Presentation: Jessica Sutter, Ward 6 State Board of Education Representative.
Presentation: Principal Sah Brown, Eastern High School.
Presentation: S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia Update – AUSA Douglas Klein, Community Prosecutor for 1D, AUSA Magdalena Acevedo, Community Prosecutor for 5D and Christopher Wade, Community Outreach Specialist for 1D.
H Street Spirits at 1368 H Street, NE. Application for a Class A Retail License.
Z Korner Store at 234 15th Street, NE. Application for a Class B Retail License
Traffic calming. Letter of support to DDOT for consideration of speed humps and/or raised crosswalks.
1600 block of Isherwood Street NE, amending the ANC’s resolution of July 10, 202.
F Street, NE, between 17th and 18th Streets, NE, and the Intersection of 18th NE, and E Streets, NE, and 18th Street NE from D to E Streets. NE, and E Street. NE, from 18th to 19th Streets, NE.
700 – 1300 blocks of I Street, NE, including consideration of speed humps and/or raised crosswalks.
1300, 1400 and 1500 blocks of East Capitol Street, NE, including consideration of speed humps and/or raised crosswalks.
300 block of 19th Street, NE, including consideration of speed humps and/or raised crosswalks.
Intersections of 14th and A Streets, NE; 15th and A Streets, NE; and 15th Street and Constitution Avenue, NE.
1300 I Street, NE. Letter of support to BZA for a Modification of Consequence pursuant to previously approved plans (to add a penthouse enclosure, including a staircase, and roof deck at 1300 I Street, NE) with the caveat that the developer make best efforts to get letters of support from the neighbors on I Street and Florida Avenue, and that the developer change the treatment on the penthouse structure to match and flow with the rest of the building..
810 C Street, NE. Letter of support to HPA regarding a historic review of a project for the renovation and a 10 foot addition, add third story to two-story building, and reconfigure façade’s windows and door openings to an existing two-unit row house with conversion to a single family row house at 810 C Street, NE, in the Historic District. with the caveat that the developer make best efforts to get letters of support from the owners or occupants of adjacent properties at 812 C Street NE and 805 C Street NE.
ANC6B Planning and Zoning Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
G Street, SE. Case: BZA 20502. Special exception for lot occupancy.
Letter in support of bills by Eleanor Holmes to remove to remove federal members of the DC Zoning Commission and to remove NCPC review of District-owned and private projects. The bill to reintroduce would remove CFA review for private projects. The last one uniquely affects ANC 6B (and 6C) in that ordinary permits for private properties close to the Capitol must go through an extra layer of review at the Commission of Fine Arts. For everyday permits that don’t require HPRB reviews, these are always approved without issue but are subject to delays from their staff as well as their meeting calendar. For larger projects, our local HPRB would retain review and jurisdiction.
ANC6B Alcohol Beverage Control Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
La Casina DC, 327 7th Street, SE. Retailer’s Class “C” Restaurant liquor license, request to change/update Settlement Agreement.
Crazy Aunt Helen’s, 718 8th Street, SE. Retailer’s Class CR License, request to change/update existing Settlement Agreement.
BR Fine Wine & Spirits, 801 Virginia Avenue, S.E. Retailer’s Class “A” Liquor Store license. Request to change name from BR Fine Wine & Spirits to Classy Corks Wine and Spirits.
Singer/Songwriter Deborah Bond performs Friday evening on Eastern Market Metro Plaza. Photo: Deborah Bond
Friday Night Live Jazz on Eastern Market Metro Plaza Starts September 3
by Larry Janezich
On Friday, September 3, Deborah Bond, DC’s popular indie-soul song artist, will kick off a month of Friday night live music performances from 5:00pm until 6:30pm at the Eastern Market Metro Pavilion. Her music references Anita Baker, Sade, and Chaka Khan and she cites inspiration by Luther Vandross, Whitney Houston and Stevie Wonder.
Bond is a veteran of performances at venues including the Warner Theater, 9:30 Club, Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, Blues Alley, Blue Note NYC, Cobb Performing Arts Center in Atlanta, and Jazz Café in London.
The complete schedule for the month is as follows:
September 3: Deborah Bond
September 10: Aaron Myers
September 17: Samuel Prather
September 24: Herb Scott
According to Charles McCaffrey, Executive Director of Eastern Market Main Street, Councilmember Charles Allen initiated the effort to program the events through the end of the fiscal year. Barracks Row and Eastern Market Main Streets, Champs, the Capitol Hill BID and the Hill Center joined forces to consider what could be done quickly. Capitol Hill Center’s relationship with Herb Scott of DC Jazz Fest enabled performers to be lined up for Friday nights in September.
According to McCaffrey, the goals were to activate the plaza, reinforce the idea that DC is open, do things outside for the community, and encourage the community to patronize nearby businesses and restaurants.
Funding is being provided by the two Main Street organizations and the Capitol Hill BID. Allen was successful in providing $150,000 in next years budget for programming for the Plaza in FY 2022.
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Friday morning at the Marine Barracks, the Marine Band was just finishing a practice performance of the 1812 Overture – with cannon – for that night’s Evening Parade. The flag at half-staff is in honor of the 13 Military Service members killed on Thursday in Kabul.
ANC6A ABC Committee met last Tuesday and gave conditional approval for liquor licenses for H Street Spirits at 1368 H Street, NE, featuring high end bourbon, and Z Korner Store at 234 15th Street, NE, a convenience store that will also carry beer and wine. Committee members: Mona Hatoum, Chair; Erin Sullivan, Ian Stanford, and Commissioners Robb Dooling, Laura Gentile, and Amber Gove.
Word on Barracks Row is that the former Eat Bar at 415 8th Street, SE, is being built out for a Ledo’s Pizza. Here’s a menu from Ledo’s existing locations: https://ledopizza.com/menu/
Moechella Market on Barracks Row is a celebration of go-go music and black DC culture. It’s hosted every Sunday from 1:00-8:00 pm at Arena Social (507 8th St SE Washington, DC 20003), featuring vendors and live music and entertainment. (Barracks Row MainStreet) Washington City Paper has more here: https://bit.ly/38omZO
This weekend was the final restoration of the 6th Street Mural Restoration Project. Here’s ANC6C Commissioner Brian Ready and his volunteers on Saturday morning
The series of murals promoting DC Statehood near the corner of 8th Street and Virginia Avenue, SE, having reached the end of their year-long run, are being replaced. MuralsDC – the DC Department of Public Works Graffiti Prevention Initiative – has commissioned a series of new murals for the site which will reflect the themes of unity and community featuring local references – landscape features and architecture. http://muralsdcproject.com/
Reminder of non-standard date for this month’s full ANC meeting: Thursday, September 9
617 A Street, NE – Zoning Adjustment Application to construct an accessory garage with roof deck for an existing, attached two-story principal dwelling unit.
200 K Street, NE – Zoning Application of Toll DC II LP, for a modification of significance to a previously approved PUD to allow for use of approximately 6,950 square feet (of the 13,801 square feet of gross floor area devoted to retail uses) for animal sales, care, and boarding use in Phase II – i.e., the Union Place Apartments.
111 Massachusetts Avenue, NW – Zoning Application of Georgetown University for a PUD modification of consequence and a waiver, to allow the application to be processed as a modification of consequence (and thus without the need for a hearing) rather than as a modification of significance, for an existing building (authorized under the prior PUD orders for commercial, residential, and retail use).
227, 233-235, 237-239 Massachusetts Ave. NE – Historic Preservation application of Hillsdale College for concept approval for new penthouses and reconfiguration of plazas.
300 New Jersey Ave. NW & 51 Louisiana Avenue, NW – Zoning Adjustment Application for special exception relief, allow the construction of a penthouse addition that will serve an existing rooftop deck on the existing, detached commercial building.
Thursday, September 2
ANC6C Transportation and Public Space Committee holds a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
Public Space Application at 1133 North Capitol Street, NE.
Swampoodle II at 3rd and L Street NE. NoMa Parks Foundation is planning for Swampoodle II at the northwest corner of 3rd and L Streets NE. The Committee will hear updates from the NoMa Parks Foundation, including proposed traffic calming measures and crossing design.
Recommended Circulator Route from Union Station-Deanwood. DDOT’s Transit Development Plan 2020 update recommends a new Circulator route from Union Station to Deanwood; The Committee will consider making a recommendation for the ANC to submit to DDOT.
Baltimore-Washington SCMAGLEV Draft EIS. ANC6C submitted comments last May to the Federal Railroad Administration on the Baltimore-Washington SCMAGLEV Project draft environmental impact statement (DEIS). Since then, additional comments have been noted on the DEIS, including comments from the DC Office of Planning and the District Department of Transportation. The Committee will consider making a recommendation for the ANC to request Mayor Bowser and Chairman Mendelson to submit additional comments on the project.
6th Street NE between K Street NE and Florida Ave NE was reconfigured as a part of Florida Ave Project’s interim safety improvements, which included shifting 6th St NE to oneway northbound and including protected bike lanes on both sides of the streets. The Committee will consider making recommendations to the full ANC to request funding to complete 6th St NE improvements on the same timeline as the rest of the Florida Ave Project.
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Guerrilla Gardening is a form of urban activism where individuals take responsibility for improving unused and neglected public spaces and build community in the process. As practiced by Capitol Hill based Guerrilla Gardeners of DC, it is more than organizing people to beautify the street and engaging community partners to provide the resources.
The Guerrilla Gardeners of DC is a non-profit with a three member board and a core group of about a dozen volunteers that recruits ad hoc volunteers on projects as needed.
One of those projects came together last year, when then-ANC6A Commissioner Kelly Waud and Naomi Mitchell (a neighbor who works in CM Charles Allen’s office) reached out to Jim Guckert of Guerrilla Gardeners for assistance with the two triangle parks on Potomac Avenue, SE, between 12th and 13th Streets. The parks had recently been renovated with fitness equipment and a splash pad at the cost of some half a million dollars, but upon completion were left with no plan or money for maintenance. Nature had taken over. Guerrilla Gardeners couldn’t wait to jump in. Waud co-chaired the restoration project with Guckert, raised money and recruited volunteers. Waud offered to match some donations from her own pocket which in the end, ran to several thousand dollars. The project kicked off last fall and community volunteers turned out in force to restore and plant. (see CHC post here: https://bit.ly/33NN5bt)
The Rumphius Foundation funded three summer internships for Potomac Gardens and Hopkins Apartments residents to assist in maintaining and enhancement of the parks. Guerrilla Gardener’s plan for future maintenance involves founding a Friends of the Park group to take over maintenance with help from Guerilla Gardeners. Guckert and Waud are also taking steps to activate the park. They reached out to Aquarius Van-Ghasri – long time DCHA Commissioner and President of the Potomac Gardens Resident’s Council. The three collaborate to implement programming for the parks. Some of these upcoming events* include a “Children’s Book Reading” featuring local authors of three children’s books (Saturday, August 27), “Unplugged in the Park” featuring the rhythm and blues band “Shug and Velvet Cover” along with DJ TKO and the poetry of Geraldine Jackson (Saturday, September 4). Later in September, a Capitol Hill Sport & Health fitness instructor will her services for a “Just Dance” fitness class in the park for anyone who wants to attend.
Guckert says the events are all undertaken with the “goal of connecting people with resources of community as much as possible – and if we are the catalyst, so much the better”. He hopes to use the Potomac Parks template in other parts of city especially in underserved neighborhoods, i.e., establish affiliate groups then transition to a Friends of the Park to take over and manage their own maintenance and programming.
Guerrilla Gardeners will launch another major project this fall – “One Beautiful Mile” – which will tie a series of their projects together, starting at Potomac Avenue Circle and extending to Garfield Park. Those existing projects include the two Potomac Avenue Triangle Parks, the planting of the Marine Barracks corner at 9th and I, Winston Park at 8th and I, and the landscaped knoll on the north side of the freeway between 6th and 7th Streets. The goal is to beautify the stretch and encourage the intervening homeowners and businesses to take responsibility for the public spaces and tree boxes in front of (or behind) their properties.
Guerrilla Gardeners has expanded its reach to support non-gardening ways to build community. Guckert is building a team of volunteers and neighbors to participate in Congressional Cemetery’s annual fundraiser, the 5K Deadman’s Run on October 29. Those who join the team and register for the race will get a free Guerrilla Gardener’s tee shirt– the only way to get one without volunteering and getting your hands dirty. Other examples include Guerrilla Gardeners’ support for the 6th Street mural restoration project headed up by ANC Commissioner Brian Ready and a project led by neighbor and former HPRB member Nancy Metzger to restore fire call boxes.
Guckert says, “What Guerrilla Gardeners does is a good thing to do. If you see something that somebody should be taking care of, maybe that should be you. That’s the spirit I try to infuse in others.”
Guerrilla Gardener’s Board is comprised of Jim Guckert, Karl Kindel, and Pat Startt. Guerrilla Gardener’s funding comes from donations and a grant from the Capitol Hill Foundation. The group was formally organized as a non-profit 501C3 in September of 2019. Donations are tax deductible.
ANC6A defies the norm, with a committee meeting during August. On Monday last, the 6A Transportation and Public Space Committee voted to amend the DDOT Traffic Safety Assessment for 1600 block of Isherwood Street, NE, allowing DDOT to install speed humps on 3 continuous blocks: the 1600 and 1500 blocks of Isherwood Street, NE, and the 1400 block of Duncan Place, NE. Pictured: TPS Committee Chair Maura Dundon, 6A Chair Amber Gove, and committee members Keya Chattergee, Brian Alcorn, and Jeff Fletcher
Thursday afternoon, at 4th and PA Avenue, SE. MPD shut down streets leading to the US Capitol because of a bomb threat. At approximately 9:15 that morning, a man in a black pick-up truck drove onto the sidewalk in front of the Library of Congress and told an officer on the scene that he had a bomb. Officers immediately evacuated nearby buildings, including the Library of Congress Buildings and the Cannon Office Building. The House and Senate were on recess, but some people were still working in the buildings. Some five hours later, the suspect was arrested when he voluntarily stepped out of the vehicle. Multiple federal and city agencies were involved, including the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Park Police, Supreme Court Police, the Metropolitan Police Department, and D.C. Fire and EMS.
Here’s a look at My Cake Theory on 7th Street, SE, near Eastern Market. Owner Tiffany Lightfoot, who became famous on Food Network, creates decadent cupcakes and extravagantly creative custom designed cakes. Hours are Wednesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The website to view the menu and order on line is here: https://mycaketheory.com Instagram @mycaketheory has countless photos of her fabulous creations.
My Cake Theory at 325 7th Street, SE.
The 6th Street Mural Restoration Project nears completion, and ANC6B Chair Brian Ready – who allows to working on the project by himself mid-week – expects to volunteers to finish next weekend. The graffiti which has recently found its way to spaces between the paintings is scheduled to be removed by the city.
Volunteers have found it hard to work the project into their August schedules. Dawn Nelson, pictured her, is one who answered Ready’s call for volunteers on Saturday.
Three blocks away at the 3rd Street Underpass at Garfield Park, it looks like the street art crew associated with The Fridge Art Gallery on Barracks Row has been busy. Every year or so, the existing street art on the wall of the underpass is painted over and new works installed. Followers will recognize one of street artist Decoy’s signature faces.
The Week Ahead…Cannabis Festival at RFK…and Some Photos from the Past Week
by Larry Janezich
Posted August 22, 2021
Tuesday, August 24
ANC6A Alcoholic Beverage Licensing Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
Discussion of application by H Street Spirits at 1368 H Street, NE, for a Class A Retail License.
Discussion of application by Z Korner Store at 234 15th Street, NE, for a Class B Retail License.
Discussion of application by Daru at 1451 Maryland Avenue, NE, for renewal of its Class C Tavern License.
Saturday, August 28
Saturday, August 28
National Cannabis Festival, 11:00am – 8:00pm, Festival Grounds, at Lot 6/7 at RFK Stadium, 2400 East Capitol St NE, Washington, D.C
Proof of full vaccination is required – masks will be encouraged.
More than 20,000 attendees expected.
“National Cannabis Festival is a yearly, one-day event held at the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium festival grounds with a focus on the music, advocacy, education, and activism related to Cannabis in Washington, D.C.” Wiki.
Building Community Through Gardening – More on Capitol Hill’s Community Gardens
by Larry Janezich
Posted August 21, 2021
Community gardening is a global phenomenon and like its cousin, guerrilla gardening, it sprang from a grass roots movement. Both provide an additional dimension to the social fabric of the community and act as largely unacknowledged agents of community development, building community through legally sharing – or appropriating – common ground in a way that sustains the environment and improves neighborhoods. Capitol Hill community gardens tend to focus on food production. Guerrilla gardens focus on the ornamental. Both provide ways to make a meaningful contribution to the community. During the pandemic, many Capitol Hill gardeners found relief from social isolation in the community gardens. Some of the gardens have to be sought out – like Pomegranate Alley Community Garden; some are hidden in plain sight like the 13th Street Community Park and Garden and 1200 Potomac Avenue Community Garden.
Last week, CHC posted photos of four of Capitol Hill’s eleven Community Gardens – Hilton, King’s Court, Pomegranate Alley, and Virginia Avenue. Here are photos of the remaining seven. There are waiting lists for most garden plots; below, find contact information for all eleven.
Hill East Community Garden. 36 plots. In center of block bounded by C, D, 17th and 1th Streets, SE. board@hilleastgarden.org
Green SEED Community Garden. 75 plots. In center of block bounded by D, E, 17th andth Streets, SE. info@greenseedgarden.org
1200 Potomac Avenue Community Garden Association. 23 plots. Corner of 12th and Potomac Avenue, SE. marcihilt@aol.com
Kingman Park-Rosedale Community Garden. 16 plots. In center of block bounded by 20th, 21st, D and E Streets, NE. For more info: kpgcoordinators@gmail.com
Lovejoy Community Garden. 18 plots. Behind the Lovejoy Park at 12th and E Streets, NE. bounded by D, E, 11th and 12th Streets, NE. Must live within four blocks. This garden is part of the DPR Community Gardens program and maintained in part by DPR. See here for more information. https://dpr.dc.gov/page/community-gardens – contact lovejoygarden@gmail.com
13th Street Community Park and Garden. Corner of C and 13th Streets, SE. 13 plots. www.13thstreetgarden.org
Southwest Community Gardens. 32 plots. In Lansburgh Park, K Street and Delaware Avenue, SW. This garden is part of the DPR Community Gardens program and maintained in part by DPR. See here for more information. https://dpr.dc.gov/page/community-gardens – contact swgardensdc@gmail.com
Previously featured on CHC:
Hilton Community Garden. 6th Street between Constitution and C Streets, NE. 35 plots. mary.lifcher@gmail.com
King’s Court Community Garden 34 plots. In center of block bounded by 14th and 15th Streets and C Street and South Carolina Avenue, SE. Margaret.mook@gmail.com
Virginia Avenue Community Garden. 80 plots. In Virginia Avenue Park, 9th andVirginia Avenue, SE. This garden is part of the DPR Community Gardens program and maintained in part by DPR. See here for more information. https://dpr.dc.gov/page/community-gardens – contact commgarden@yahoo.com
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Headquarters and community hub for Capitol Hill Village at 1355 E Street, SE, next to Insight Developments Lockwood Apartments. CHV obtained the townhouse from Insight as a negotiated community benefit as part of the developer’s application for a zoning change to permit increased height and density for its project.
This is the Little Lending Library in front of CHV HQ and community hub, depicted as a double miniture of the building.
Here are the (somewhat flexible) boundaries for Capitol Hill Village – meant to reinforce the sense of community. There are 78 other “villages” in the District.
Capitol Hill Village: One of the Hill’s Most Powerful Community Organizations
by Larry Janezich
Posted August 16, 2021
Capitol Hill Village (CHV) was started in 2007 to provide services that enable seniors to age in place – rides to the doctor, cleaning a garage, IT and computer help, and running errands (see link below). It is now one of the most – if not the most – powerful community organizations on Capitol Hill. Specifically, the group excels at negotiating community benefits from developers looking for local approval for their projects. For example, in recent years CHV won a $225,000 startup fund for an Adult Care Center from Felice Development and ownership of an E Street townhouse for CHV headquarters and community hub from Insight Development. In addition, CHV successfully pushed for affordable housing for seniors in the redevelopment of the Hill East Boys and Girls Club. (Here’s a link to CHV care services in addition to services of volunteers: https://bit.ly/3g4Pw0a )
The organization has 375 members and 312 volunteers (one third of whom are non-members). Volunteers provide a variety of care services such as those mentioned above for members who need assistance. Not all members of CHV are seniors but Executive Director Judy Berman says 95% are over 60. There are two categories of membership: social, which permits access to all programs (many already open to all – see link below) and regular, which also permits access to volunteer assistance and other care services. Berman says all ages are welcome and that younger people who join tend to do so as social members or volunteers. CHV is truly a Capitol Hill village, with boundaries – though, according to Berman, these boundaries are not rigid. She points to members who live north of H Street, NE. (Here’s a link to programs available to both members and nonmembers on the events calendar: https://bit.ly/3g65nLX )
Membership costs range from $12 a month to $80 a month. Berman says CHV has a deep commitment to serve lower income residents and to that end, membership for those individuals is discounted. About 10% of the members are lower income, and CHV holds an annual fundraiser for things they can’t afford, including medical services. Revenue from memberships makes up 25% of what is reported to be an annual $1.1 million budget, with the balance coming from grants, fundraising events, and government funding (federal dollars come from DDOT and city funding comes from the DC Department of Aging and Community Living).
The Board of CHV is currently comprised of 15 members, limited to two-three year terms. There is no upper limit on the number of Board members, and CVH is open to suggestions for new board members. The Board’s Governance Committee interviews candidates and makes formal nominations to the full board.
In reviewing the biographical notes for Board members, it is striking how many board members also participate in other community organizations. (Here’s a link to the webpage about the board: https://capitolhillvillage.org/about/board/) It’s not uncommon for community organizations to carry a perception of insularity with them, and Berman says the Board works hard to address that concern. Berman says she wants “to show that ‘clubby’ is not how we operate”. She believes that everyone deserves a village; “Some have church or family, but we all need people close by that will take care of us and check in on us”. What does it mean to be a member of CHV, she asks? “Membership gives you permission to say yes, you can reach out.”
One challenge facing CHV is developing a sustainable funding model. One way forward, Berman says, is to get CHV’s contribution to wellness and health recognized to justify insurance coverage from private health care, in the same way some insurance companies pay for gym memberships. Another challenge is maintaining a diverse and active membership and volunteer roster and CVH has outreach designed specifically to do that.
Asked how Covid has affected CHV, Berman said the biggest shift was putting the organization’s programming on-line. During the pandemic, CHV served as a distributor of accurate information on Covid news and vaccines, and developed a sector phone network to enable members to check in with each other on a regular basis. In addition, Covid has pushed CHV resources out further; DDOT funding permits CHV to provide Lyft transportation to get vaccine or medical services for anyone in DC, with two days’ notice.
Berman says COVID brought DC’s 15 or so “villages” together, strengthening relationships as they shared funds, programming, and advice. The national Village to Village Network (VtVN) offers guidance, mentorship, resources and opportunities to collaborate. VtVN serves as the national advocacy voice for Villages and the Village Movement. Here’s a link to the Capitol Hill Village website: https://capitolhillvillage.org/
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CAPITOL HILL CORNER 