The three piece sculpture “Found You” by Beth Nybeck has been funded by Barracks Row Mainstreet for placement in Parcel 4 near the playground.
“Weavings” by Hiroshi Jacob is being considered by Barracks Row Mainstreet as an addition to Parcel 6 – the triangle park at the Corner of 8th and Pennsylvania near Trader Joe’s.
Artist Jay Coleman is in discussions with fabricators regarding the scale of his 5 foot to 7 foot piece “Loveful Hands” before moving to renderings and drawings for the final project. The piece will be oriented so the thumbs are facing the 8th and Pennsylvania Avenue intersection with the proposed pavilion on the south side of the Metro entrance in the back ground.
More Public Art Planned for Eastern Market Metro Plaza Park
by Larry Janezich
Posted January 27, 2021
At a progress briefing on Eastern Market Metro Plaza Park held on Wednesday by Diego Martinez, project manager for the Department of General Services, Martinez announced plans for a second and possibly a third piece of public art for the Plaza/Park. This, in addition to Jay Coleman’s interactive sculpture “Loveful Hands” which will reside in front of the entrance to Eastern Market Metro.
Barracks Row Mainstreet is funding the fabrication and installation of Beth Nybeck’s “Found You” – three 5 & 7 foot metal sculptures of rabbits playing hide and seek. The artist describes the piece as a “hopeful, whimsical, playful experience to help people find the goodness and light existing within each other”. The stainless steel structures are perforated so that light from inside will sprinkle light on the ground at night. The piece will be will be placed near the playground on Parcel 4 of the Plaza/Park.
Another piece which is under consideration for addition to the project is Hiroshi Jacobs” “Weaving”. The 4X20X9 construction of plate steel encourages interaction and can be experienced in different ways. It would be sited on Parcel 6 – the small triangle park in front of Trader Joe’s. The artist says it “represents intersection and interaction among people, providing seating and promoting communication”. David Perry, Chairman of Barracks Row Mainstreet, measured the enthusiasm of the community stakeholders who attended the meeting and said he would take a proposal to fund the piece to the Barracks Row Mainstreet Board.
Artist Jay Coleman’s piece, “Loveful Hands” was selected last year by the Eastern Market Metro Plaza Advisory Taskforce as the first choice for public art located near the Metro entrance on Parcel 4. “Found You” and “Weaving” also enjoyed considerable support from stakeholders in the community resulting efforts to find ways to fund additional pieces for the Park/Plaza project.
For more information on the original 8 artistic concepts submitted for consideration for the project, see here: http://bit.ly/2Hnji1R
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It’s not clear how long Independence, East Capitol, and Constitution Avenues will be closed, but Sunday afternoon, the National Guard announced that 5,000 troops will remain at the Capitol through mid-March. Currently there are sone 7,000 troops and that number will fall to 5,000 in early February. Those troops will remain in place should any demonstrations develop in connection with the Senate impeachment trial of former President Trump scheduled to start the week of February 8 and/or President Biden’s State of the Union Message likely to be scheduled in late February.
The Ugly Mug has applied to add Sports Wagering to their operation. It will probably come up next month before ANC6B.
The Park Kennedy is now leasing on Reservation 13. A window banner proclaims as part of the sales promotion, “Not for the faint of heart.” (What?)
Another banner (upper left) on the wall overlooking the Sunoco Station at Pennsyvania Avenue and 13th Street, SE, announces a forthcoming mural of Cong. John Lewis.
Meanwhile, in the 300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, next to the the proposed Sports Book outlet Handle-19, BB&T has folded its tent and departed its former location at 317 PA Avenue, SE.
The Marine Barracks about 3:00pm on Wednesday, January 20.
The Week Ahead…
By Larry Janezich
Posted January 24, 2021
The Week Ahead…
Monday, January 25
ANC6A Community Outreach holds a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
Representatives from CM Charles Allen’s office, DC Board of Education, and all DCPS and charter schools in ANC6A have been invited to present at the meeting.
Laura Marks, Chief of Staff, Office of CM Charles Allen
Jessica Sutton, Ward 6 Member, State Board of Education (SBOE)
Eastern Senior High School
Sah Brown, Principal
Elizabeth Braganza, IB Coordinator
Regina McClure, NAF Director, Eastern Academy of Health Sciences
Antwanette Starks
Benjamin Davis
Heather Schoell, PTO President
Apple Tree PCS -Lincoln Park
Shirvon Smith, Acting Principal
Jamie Miles, Chief of Schools
Eliot Hine Middle School
Marlene Magrino, Principal, (invited)
Lena Heid (invited)
Robert Campbell (invited)
Kingsman Academy
Kennesha Kelly, Head of School (invited)
Maury Elementary School
Helena Payne Chauvenet, Principal (invited)
Jean Kohanek (confirmed)
Monument Academy
Jeffrey Grant, Principal (invited)
Ludlow Taylor Elementary School
Shaunte Daniel, Principal (invited)
Rachel Turow, PTO President
Miner Elementary School
Bruce Jackson, Principal (invited)
School within School @ Goding
John Burst, Principal (invited)
Nick Rutar, (invited)
ANC6A Transportation and Public Space Committee holds a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
Discussion with DDOT of traffic calming options for 1300-1400 block of North Carolina Avenue, NE and related bike lane connectivity issues as part of C Street NE redesign plans.
Status update and discussion with DDOT on pending Traffic Safety Assessments and other critical areas of concern previously identified by the ANC.
Tuesday, January 26
ANC6B Executive Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm to set the agenda for the February 9 meeting of the full ANC.
Discussion of a request for support for application for a stipulated license for new establishment at 1378 H Street NE, subject to existing June 21, 2004 settlement agreement with Rose’s Dream, Inc.
Discussion of additional conforming changes to template settlement agreements identified while making updates as identified at December meeting.
Wednesday January 27
Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
Mayor Bowser’s Situational Update, Thursday, January 21, 2021
Vaccines and Security – Mayor Bowser’s January 21 Situational Briefing
by Larry Janezich
Posted January 21
On Friday, January 22, at 9:00 a.m., 740 additional appointments will become available to any DC resident who is 65 and older or any individual who works in a health care setting in DC.
If you previously attempted to get an appointment and you did not receive a notification with a confirmation code, date and location, you must re-register.
Here are some highlights from today’s briefing.
Next week, DC will receive 8,775 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and 5,600 doses of Moderna vaccine.
Going forward: Appointments will be released every Friday a 9:00am for eligible groups in ALL DC zip codes. Appointments will be released every Thursday at 9:00am for eligible residents in PRIORITY zip codes – most of Wards 1, 4, 5, 7, and 8.
Vaccinations are prioritized based on two factors: Prevention of morbidity and mortality and preservation of societal functions.
Vaccinations to prevent morbidity and mortality are well underway for those over 65 and others. (See CHC post from January 11.)
Preservation of societal functions vaccinations have also started – including health care workers, EMS workers, and frontline public health workers.
Beginning the week of January 25, additional groups will become eligible under preservation of societal functions including teachers and support staff at DC Public Schools and DC Public Charter Schools, members of the MPD, and “Continuity of DC Government” personnel.
Public school teachers and staff will receive direct communication to schedule their appointments far vaccinations at Dunbar High School.
DC Public Charter Schools will receive guidance from the Office of the State Superintendent of Education.
Restaurants will be able to resume indoor dining up to 25% capacity as of Friday, January 22.
Inaugural Security
The out-of-state National Guard is beginning to return home starting today.
DC National Guard will remain in DC through January 30.
The Mayor will make a to-be-determined request for National Guard assistance for the State of the Union address before a Joint Session of Congress, likely to occur in late February.
Right wing extremism will continue to be a persistent threat and the city is planning for a short, medium, and long range posture to counter the threat.
Fences lining DC Streets are being taken down and most will be removed by tomorrow. The fences around the Capitol Building – maybe the Capitol Complex – are likely to remain through the end of the month.
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Mayor Bowser’s Situational Briefing, Tuesday afternoon, at 7th and PA Avenue, SE.
Charles Allen said he had been impressed with the way the city mobilized and felt confident about the steps taken regarding security. He added that the fight for DC statehood could not be stronger and more important or necessary that anytime in our country’s history.
Here’s a view of the press gaggle with the Mayor barely visible below the dome of the Capitol.
Highlights from Mayor Bowser’s January 19 Situational Update
by Larry Janezich
Mayor Bowsers held a situational update in the middle of the median on Pennsylvania Avenue, at 7th Street, SE, this afternoon, along with Council Members Charles Allen and Brook Pinto, MPD Chief Contee, HLS Director Chris Rodriquez, Deputy Mayor Mitchell, and others.
She said she wanted to check in ahead of the Inaugural and discuss what’s in the future for DC.
Here are some of the highlights:
Sousa, 11th Street, and South Capitol Bridges, originally scheduled to be completely shut down inbound, will remain partially open with traffic reduced to one lane inbound.
Every MPD Police District has contingency plans and resources for any demonstrations which spill into residential neighborhoods.
DC’s overall need for COVID-19 vaccine is much greater than supply. With the intense scarcity, the distribution will be imperfect until we get more vaccine. The allocation by ward was meant to address issues concerning those who were underrepresented in the number of vaccinations administered and over represented in the numbers of those infected. Creation of a central registry to administer the vaccine would still involve a question of how to select people for vaccinations.
The city is looking into whether there are any additional federal funds to compensate business adversely affected by the security lockdown.
Bowser said DC doesn’t want fences or armed troops longer in the city than they have to be – “but we want to be smart. We want to see the best approach to hardening our security posture without looking like were hardening.”
There are no indications of specific or credible threats to any building outside the federal enclave.
The Mayor has nothing to announce regarding the end of the ban on indoor dining at restaurants now in place until 5:00am on January 22.
The majority of those arrested under the Inaugural security restrictions have been charged at the federal level and will appear in District Court.
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Last week the four ANCs on or abutting Capitol Hill met for the first meeting of 2021. As part of the regular order of business new officers were elected, many held over from last year. A noteable exception was the election of Edward Daniels as Chair of ANC6D. Those officers marked with an asterisk in the list below are newly elected to the post.
Amber Gove was reelected as Chair of ANC6A
ANC6A Officers and Commissioners
Amber Gove 6A04, Chair
Keya Chatergee 6A01, Vice Chair*
Laura Gentile 6A05, Secretary *
Brian Alcorn 6A08, Treasurer
Other Commissioners:
Phil Toomajian 6A02
Mike Soderman 6A03
Robb Dooling 6A06
Sondra Phillips-Gilbert 6A 07
Brian Ready was reelected as Chair of ANC6B
ANC6B Officers and Commissioners
Brian Ready 6B03, Chair
Steve Holtzman, Vice Chair *
Jerry Sroufe, Secretary
Corey Holman, Treasurer
Kirsten Oldenburg, Parliamentarian *
Other Commissioners:
Jennifer Samolyk 6B01
Edward Ryder 6B07
Peter Wright 6B08
Alison Horn 6B09
Denise Krepp 6B10
Karen Wirt was reelected as Chair of ANC6C
ANC6C Officers and Commissioners
Karen Wirt 6C02 Chair
Mark Eckenwiler 6C04, Vice Chair
Christine Healey 6C01, Secretary
Joel Kelty 6C05, Treasurer
Other Commissioners:
Jay Adelstein 6C03
Drew Courtney 6C06
Edward Daniels in the newly elected Chair of ANC6D
ANC6D Officers and Commissioners
Edward Daniels 6D07, Chair*
Fredrica “Rikki” Kramer 6D05, Vice Chair*
Jared Weiss 6D02, Secretary*
Ronald Collins 6D03, Treasurer
Other Commissioners:
Andrew Bossi 6D01
Andy Litsky 6D04
Rhonda Hamilton 6D06
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Extreme Pizza is close to opening on Barracks Row.
Here’s a preview of the interior.
Extreme Pizza To Open on Barracks Row
by Larry Janezich
An Extreme Pizza franchise is on the cusp of opening in the space formerly occupied by Orchid at 520 8th Street, SE. There it will join four other pizza providers: &Pizza, Pizza Boli’s, Matchbox, and Mediterranean Café.
According to the websites of two Arlington outlets, the restaurant will offer salads, subs, calzones and wings in addition to pizza. You can check out the menu for the Pentagon City location here: http://bit.ly/3bRAvNY
According to Wikipedia, the company was founded in San Francisco in 1994 and has more than 30 locations in the US. The theme of West Coast restaurants is extreme sports, and the décor features photos of athletes in action. Restaurants on the East Coast differ in that they reflect the style and local of the neighborhood.
1637 D Street, NE. Zoning Adjustment Application for special exception to construct a two-story with basement addition to an existing, nonconforming, two-story with basement, principal dwelling unit.
1300 I Street, NE, Zoning Adjustment Application for a special exception under the residential to construct a third story, with rear and side additions, and to construct six residential units to an existing, two-story, detached building.
This map from the Washington post shows where the 7+ foot non-scaleable fencing was up. Since then, additional fences hav been erected around the House Office Buildings and the US Capitol Police HQ and parking losts north of the Hart Senate Office Building.
Here’s the latest Secret Service map on access restrictions – effective immediately – released this morning.
Vaccination/Inaugural Safety Update
by Larry Janezich
Posted January 17, 2021
The District government is closed on Monday for MLK, Jr. Day and on Wednesday for Inauguration Day. No trash/recycling pick up.
Vaccinations:
DC’s vaccination appointment portal will open at 9:00am Monday for DC residents over 65 and health care workers. There are 1,436 appointments available. Here’s the link: https://coronavirus.dc.gov/vaccinatedc
Inaugural:
For public safety alerts related to the Inaugural, text INAUG2021 to 888777.
On January 11, Mayor Bowser extended the order pausing Phase 2 activities – including indoor restaurant dining – until 5am on Jan 22. Here’s a link to the order. https://bit.ly/2XNutWw
On January 11, Mayor Bowser extended the Public Emergency and Public Health Emergency through March 31. Here’s a link to the order. https://bit.ly/3bLV1zm
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Mayor Bowser’s Wednesday Briefing on COVID-19 Vaccinations & Inaugural Security
by Larry Janezich
Posted January 14, 2021
Mayor Bowser held a briefing on Wednesday along with Director of the DC Health Department Nesbitt and Acting Chief of Police Contee.
Here are some of the highlights from the briefing:
Vaccinations:
The 6700 appointments available on Monday were gone by mid-day. A new round of appointments will be made available as soon as DC receives more vaccine from the federal government.
The office of the Chief Information Officer is working to correct glitches in the rollout of the vaccination program.
The system should have shut down access to registration for an appointment once no appointments were available. It did not and that is being addressed.
If you filled out the registration form on line and did not get an appointment you have to re-register.
DC Health has doubled the number of operators in call centers to help register those who do not have access to the internet. Those call centers access the registration portal and fill out registration documents for those who call in.
The decision to vaccinate those over 65 instead of the CDC recommended 75 plus was made locally because of the disproportionate number of cases in racial and ethnic groups.
Health care systems like Kaiser, George Washington, Johns Hopkins, and Sibley are distributing the vaccine to their members within those health care system.
It will not be possible to deliver vaccine to individuals who are home bound owning to storage requirements.
Vaccine can be delivered to those homebound in large venues.
It’s premature to say that last week’s public gathering and insurrection at the Capitol contributed to the record number of new cases announced on January 11. That elevated figure may be related to holiday travel.
Maryland has reported two cases of the variant strain of the COVID – 19 virus. It has a higher rate of transmission; it is not a question of if it will get to DC, but when. New restrictions may have to be imposed to control spread of the variant.
Nesbitt knocked down the perception that those vaccinated can stop wearing masks after completing the vaccination regimen. She said, “We don’t know a lot about an individual’s ability to acquire or transmit in a post-vaccination situation“.
Security:
Acting Chief Contee said the main security concern is through this weekend and beyond. (There have been press reports of a march of militants on Sunday, a protest demonstration on Inaugural day, and a demonstration in support of the female insurrectionist who was shot while storming the Capitol on January 6.)
There are two additional demonstration planned for this month. A March for Reparations is being planned for January 20 – 21, and a Right to Life March on January 29.
The final number of National Guard in DC will be determined by the Secret Service, but will be “upwards of 20,000”.
There will be signification impacts to travel including closure of Metro stations, roads, and hotels. There will be a lot of security personnel in the city and officials are trying to balance their housing needs with the need to discourage people from travelling to DC for the Inaugural.
Air B&B has cancelled reservations for Inaugural week.
DC can refuse to issue permits for public gatherings based on a health emergency, but can’t stop public gatherings. Bowser said that permits were not issued for the BLM demonstrations last summer.
The Inaugural falls into a National Special Event category and that brings in an entirely different command and control operation.
ANC6B Beats Back Attempt to Defund Protest of Handle-19 Sports Book Liquor License
by Larry Janezich
Last night, ANC6B voted 6 – 4 to defeat a motion by Commissioner Corey Holman to rescind a previous ANC decision to authorize spending $14,000 for lawyer’s fees to represent the ANC in its protest of a liquor license for Handle – 19 – a sports betting establishment trying to open at 319 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.
As reported earlier on CHC, ANC6B is joining nearby residents to protest a liquor license before ABRA for the gambling venue which the neighbors view as an existential threat to their neighborhood and quality of life. Handle – 19 has the right to open up in the 300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, but neighbors are gambling they won’t if a liquor license is denied.
Holman said that the ANC represents itself on a regular basis and has the ability to represent itself before ABRA. He said” the money seems too much and not enough at the same time” and amounted to one half of the ANC’s annual budget allocation. He added that if the motion was agreed to, he would move to use the funding to reestablish ANC6B COVID relief programs.
Former commissioner Chander Jayraman said that rescinding the funding “would be like going to a gunfight with blanks. The ANC will be going up against a giant corporation with lots of money. If we do vote to defund, why bother to protest?” Jayaraman, following his unsuccessful run for city council, remains an active participant in community affairs, especially on matters related to liquor licenses. In addition to chairing the Commission, he chaired the 6B Alcohol Beverage Control Committee during his tenure.
Commissioner Kirsten Oldenburg, agreed with Jayaraman, saying that if the ANC goes in front of ABRA to protest without a lawyer it sends the message that we’re caving on this. She added, “we can’t go to a protest hearing without legal expertise.” She later said that she would prefer to have an absolute cap on the amount of money the ANC could spend in legal fees.
Late in the debate, Holman seemed resigned to seeing his motion defeated, saying that he could see which way this was going, and concluded his remarks observing that “the ANC did not make a good faith effort to reach a settlement agreement” limiting Handle-19’s operations.
The breakdown of the vote is as follows:
Those opposed to the motion to rescind funding: Commissioners Samolyk, Sroufe, Ready, Holtzman, Wright, and Krepp.
Those in support of the motion to rescind funding: Oldenburg, Holman, Ryder, and Horn.
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CAPITOL HILL CORNER 