Category Archives: Uncategorized

Montmartre and Seventh Hill Pizza Close – Victims of Pandemic Economics

May 18, 2020

by Larry Janezich

Montmartre Chef Stephane Lezla, who is Chris Raynal’s business partner in Capitol Hill’s institutions Montmartre and 7^th Hill Pizza, confirmed today that the two restaurants are closing permanently. Lezla said, “Continuing doesn’t make sense – we were hit by a perfect storm and lost our best three months – March, April, and May – when we have most of our income. The business lost during the Cherry Blossom Festival is not coming back.” He said everybody had been helpful – the community, the restaurant’s providers, the staff, and the landlord. According to Lezla, “There is no one to blame, it was a decision Chris and I made.” Asked if it were possible they would reopen elsewhere, Lezla said, “Who knows?”

Other sources told CHC that the restaurant had been unable to negotiate a reduction in rent with building owner Stanton Development for the period the restaurants had been and expected to be affected by the pandemic. Likewise, some restaurants on Barracks Row have reported being unable to negotiate lower rents during the shutdown.

CHC reached out to ANC6B Commissioner and candidate for At Large City Council seat, Chander Jayaraman for comment. Jayaraman chairs ANC6B’s Barracks Row Working Group which will meet next Wednesday to discuss legislation proposed by Councilmembers Charles Allen and Mary Cheh that would permit temporary closing of certain streets to allow restaurants to expand their outside serving area to ease operations once the city starts to reopen. That legislation was scheduled to be taken up by the Council on Tuesday, but has been pulled from the agenda at the request of the Mayor.

Jayaraman said, “While COVID-19 continues to threaten the survival of small businesses, I hope property owners are compassionate and understanding of the challenges small businesses face, and will be supportive while these businesses are really hurting.”

Busboys and Poets CEO Andy Shallal started the #PaintTheStorefronts movement to bring an uplifting message to the community after his restaurant in Anacostia was vandalized.  The movement has spread across the DMV.

 

 

 

 

The Week Ahead…& Some #PaintTheStorefronts Photos from the Past Week

by Larry Janezich

May 17, 2020

Monday, May 18, 2020 at 7:00 pm

ANC 6A Transportation & Public Space Committee meets at 7:00pm.

NOTE: This meeting will be conducted virtually via WebEx.  Instructions for accessing the meeting via WebEx have been posted under Community Calendar https://anc6a.org/community-calendar/

Draft agenda:

Discussion of a pilot for closing select streets to non-resident traffic to create additional safe space for outdoor activities. Perhaps by placing simple barriers and signage at cross streets along the routes. Residents, essential workers, emergency service providers, delivery providers, and garbage and recycling collectors would to continue to have vehicle access. A link to the list of proposed Routes is here:  https://anc6a.org/wp-content/uploads/TPSA0520-1.pdf Others may be proposed. Andrew DeFrank of DDOT will be attending the meeting.

Discussion of adding curb extensions to facilitate social distancing on blocks near essential businesses and creating additional space for safe outdoor seating near restaurants.

Monday, May 18, 2020

ANC 6A Community Outreach Committee will meet at 7:00m.

NOTE: This meeting will be conducted virtually via WebEx.  Instructions for accessing the meeting via WebEx have been posted under Community Calendar https://anc6a.org/community-calendar/

Draft agenda:

Discussion:  Moving forward.

Tuesday, May 19

ANC6A Alcoholic Beverage Licensing Committee meets at 7:00pm.

NOTE: This meeting will be conducted virtually via WebEx.  Instructions for accessing the meeting via WebEx have been posted under Community Calendar https://anc6a.org/community-calendar/

Draft agenda:

Duffy’s Irish Pub, 1016 H Street, NE – Discussion of requests for:

• • A modification to the establishment’s settlement agreement and ABRA license to allow live music in the establishment’s beer garden on Friday and Saturday nights;
  • A modification to the establishment’s settlement agreement and ABRA license to allow the establishment to operate 24 hours per day;
  • The designation of two parking spaces on the north side of the 1000 block of H Street NE as No Parking for Pick-Up only; and
  • The designation of a parking space on the north side of the 1000 block of H Street NE for use as outdoor seating.

Wednesday, May 20

ANC6A Economic Development & Zoning Committee meets at 7:00pm.

NOTE: This meeting will be conducted virtually via WebEx.  Instructions for accessing the meeting via WebEx have been posted under Community Calendar https://anc6a.org/community-calendar/

Draft agenda:

909 and 911 I Street, NE – Zoning Adjustment Application – for special exceptions under the residential conversion requirements, the penthouse height requirements, and to permit a trellis that does not conform with the side building wall setbacks required, to construct two three-story buildings with penthouses.

429 18th Place, NE- Informational session about a Planned Unit Development (PUD) being considered at 429 18th Place, NE.

229 14th Street, NE – Zoning Adjustment Application for a special exception from the rear addition requirements to construct a two-story rear addition to an existing attached principal dwelling unit.

Hill’s Kitchen, Labyrinth, East City Books and Mr. Henry’s Find a Way

May 17, 2020

by Larry Janezich

Three Capitol Hill retail businesses have collaborated with Mr. Henry’s to arrange for patrons to pick up items purchased from the retail shops, otherwise closed by order of the Mayor.  Hill’s Kitchen, Labyrinth, and East City Books will take your on-line purchase order (links below) to Mr. Henry’s, where customers can pick up their purchases Monday – Saturday from 4:00p m – 8:00pm and Sunday, 12:00pm – 8:00pm.

Mr. Henry’s is offering carryout during the same hours, and starts taking orders at 2:00pm.  They also offer delivery in the Capitol Hill Area. To order, call (202)546-8412 – check out the current menu on the website (link below).

Mr. Henry’s hosts a series of “Covid Concerts” to bring patrons live music and entertainment and to support local musicians during this time. A list of upcoming hour long sessions on Facebook are also available on their website.

Hill’s Kitchen  https://www.hillskitchen.com/

Labyrinth https://www.labyrinthgameshop.com/

East City Books https://www.eastcitybookshop.com/

Mr. Henry’s http://www.mrhenrysdc.com/

Capitol Hill Author Pens Book for Young Readers on Life Under Stay-at-Home – Free on Line

by Larry Janezich

A few weeks before the stay at home orders began, Capitol Hill resident Gimbiya Lim started reading the Ramona Quimby books with her daughter who “ immediately loved them and related directly with Ramona”. However, as the weeks stretched longer and longer, Lim realized that although her daughter still liked the books her immediate connection to the stories had changed – “it went from her exclaiming ‘That is just like me!’ to reflectively remembering ‘We used to do that…’“

Lim says, “So much of children’s’ literature is about going out and being in social spaces – it focuses on the dramas of going to school, on field trips, to the library, and playgrounds. It is about getting together with extended family and play dates with friends. It includes stories of babysitters, neighbors, teachers, and even lemonade stands. All of these are things are suddenly very distant in the lives of children.”

After several days of looking for a book that would relate to what it means to be under a stay at home order and not finding it, Lim decided to write a book for younger readers, timed a few weeks behind current events, set here in DC.  It draws on her life and what she hears from other families in the area.  She publishes a chapter a week (Monday morning) and it is available for free for families who might want access to a story to which their kids can relate.  Here’s the link:  https://www.wattpad.com/story/220436765-a-to-z-of-staying-home

Here’s a description from the home page for the book:  “A to Z of Staying Home”

“Second Grade is going a little too slowly for Amandla, who would rather be in medical school. When the COVID-19 epidemic breaks out and her city declares everyone needs to STAY AT HOME, everything normal (tardy slips, substitute teachers, and birthday parties) is over. She had been looking forward to the field trip to Cherokee Days and Aunt Ama’s graduation from medical school. Instead, Amandla and her younger sister, Zuri, and their neighbors and everyone else is at home watching the dandelions grow.”

So far, Lim has published five chapters:

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 – A is for Amandla

Chapter 2 – B is for Birthday

Chapter 3 – C is for Coronavirus

Chapter 4 – D is for Deinonychus Antirrhopus

Chapter 5 – E is for Emoji

Lim has an MFA in creative writing from American University; in addition to publications in conjunction with her nonprofit work, her short fiction has appeared in literary magazines.

Here are the Farmers Line Vendors Who Will Be at Eastern Market this Weekend, 9:00am – 1:00pm

Mask and social distancing requirements are in effect.

Saturday:  http://easternmarket-dc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Saturday-5-16-20.pdf

Sunday:  http://easternmarket-dc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Sunday-5-17-20.pdf

Here’s a list of Farmer’s bios and contact info – http://easternmarket-dc.org/our-farmers/

ANC6C Responds To Ward 6 Mutual Aid Group’s Plea for Help

By Larry Janezich

Last night, ANC6C stepped up and authorized a $3,000.00 grant to provide health crisis related assistance to Ward 6’s most vulnerable residents.  The grant was in response to a request from The Ward Six Mutual Aid Group, and was made possible by city action which relaxed restrictions on how ANC’s can make grants from their annual funding allocation.  Since the group does not have 501C3 status, the donation will be received by their affiliated organization, Serve Your City, which does.  Maurice Cook, the founder of Serve Your City,  started and now also leads the Ward 6 Mutual Aid Group. 

Prana Nanda, a volunteer with the Mutual Aid Group, was on hand at the Commission’s virtual meeting to support the request from the all-volunteer organization.  He cited the ways in which it provides assistance and noted the group has the support of CHAMPS, the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, Momma’s Safe Haven, the TraRon Center, and Brotha’s Huddle.

Councilmember Charles Allen, who appeared later to update the ANC on the city’s COV-19 response, expressed his gratitude for the work of Ward 6 Mutual Aid Group had been doing.

According to another volunteer, Max Grossman, the Ward 6 Mutual Aid Group was formed in response to COVID-19 to help limit the impact of the public health pandemic on the city’s most vulnerable – the elderly, low-income families, families facing housing insecurity, and others.

Grossman says in the past 7 weeks, Ward Six Mutual Aid has:

1. Provided over $15,000 in groceries & supplies and 2,500 masks to those who need them in our community.
2. Bridged the digital divide by providing laptops (refurbished by volunteers), modems, and free tutoring to students in Ward 6.
3. Provided fliers throughout our ward that have information on how to avoid COVID-19, how and where to get tested, and how to find the needed medical support for those who test positive through our Black Public Health Campaign. These materials are free to download.

Grossman said, “We’ve delivered 52 laptops/tablets so far and are in need of many, many more.”

If residents can help by donating funds, items, or time, here’s the link:  https://www.serveyourcitydc.org/covid-19-emergency-response

If residents need to access resources, call the Mutual Aid Hotline at 202-683-9962.

Details on The Roost’s “Culinary Clubhouse” Opening at 1401 PA Avenue SE

May 13, 2020

by Larry Janezich

Last night, ANC6B endorsed the request for a liquor license for The Roost  – the eight food service plus two bars plus a full service restaurant venue coming to Blackbird, the newly developed 167 unit residential building at 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.  The “culinary clubhouse”, as it’s being touted, will seat 415 and have a 480 maximum occupancy.

According to Michael Babin of the Neighborhood Restaurant Group, Cameo – the coffee shop – will be the first to open in about two months, followed by Leni – the all-day café – a week later.   He anticipates a gradual opening of the rest of the food outlets and bars.  Whether there will be on site seating is an open question.  Initially, Babin expect preorder and pick up with social distance seating phased in.  The remaining outlets include, Ako (sushi and omakase – leave it to the chef) by Kenaki, the Slice Joint (pizza), Red Apron (charcuterie and burgers), Hi Fi Taco, Show of Hands (craft cocktail and wine bar), and the 50 tap beer concept and garden, Shelter. Caruso’s Grocery, a standalone red sauce Italian Restaurant will be the last to open, but carry out will be available some time earlier.

The 20 foot sidewalk outside of Shelter on 14th Street will accommodates a sidewalk café with retractable awning, with a capacity of 118, seated and standing.  Residential neighbors directly across the street had concerns with respect to noise and late hours, but seemed mollified after Babin agreed to close the café at 10:30pm on Sunday through Thursday, and 11:30pm, Friday and Saturday.

Babin hopes to promote the “clubhouse” as a daytime hangout for creative types by including an outlet for Shop Made In DC  – a “highly edited “storelet” featuring a small collection of locally produced “wares and goods from 40+ DC creatives”.  The Roost will provide a printer, Wi-Fi and space for makers to hold classes in the evening to teach people their crafts.

Update on Saturday Shooting at 12^th and K Streets

by Larry Janezich

Today, ANC Commissioner Kelly Waud – in whose single member district the shooting occurred – shared with her constituents an email from First District Commander Morgan Kane, written in response to several questions raised by a concerned neighbor.

Kane’s email said that in response to the shooting, the First District has assigned resources to the Potomac Gardens/Hopkins/K Street area around the clock, who are expected to actively patrol the area.

Kane emphasized in remarks to Waud that the vehicle has been recovered, a point reiterated by MPD’s Lt. Donigan, who – in a public safety report to ANC6D on Monday night – added that a gun had been recovered as well.  Donigan said that two seriously injured victims of the Saturday shooting are recovering.

Kane told Waud, “We will continue to deploy in this area. In addition to patrol my Crime Suppression Team continues its operations as well. Unfortunately, the victims on Saturday are well known to us.”

According to Kane, the vehicle used in the shooting was identified by the MPD crime cameras in the area – it belongs to the company GetAround.  The Office of the Attorney General recently issued a Consumer Alert about the company.  It is a short term rental car company using technology that is easily defeated, allowing their cars to be stolen quickly and easily.

Mayor Opens Convention Health Care Facility – Bullet Points from Today’s Press Briefing

by Larry Janezich

Today, Mayor Bowser announced the opening of the DC Convention Center as an alternate care site to support DC’s COVID-19 surge response.  The site can accommodate 437 beds and is ready to accept 100 patients this week.  It will begin accepting low-acuity patients when DC hospitals approach surge bed capacity.

The Mayor took questions from the press following the announcement.

Bullet points:

• Children’s Hospital has seen one case of the rare inflammatory reaction among children that has befallen 73 children in New York.
• A decision about extending the Shelter in Place
• Current hospital capacity without surge is at 71%.
• Expect a late May peek for hospitalization.
• Nursing homes are not allowed to decline admission because of the Covid-19 status.
• DC Health Lab has a capacity of between 300 and 500 tests per day. The highest number of tests administered in one day so far has been 289. A total of 30,000 tests have been administered so far from all venues in the city, including private labs and hospitals.
• A decision about extending the shelter in place order will come this week.

 

The Week Ahead – CM Charles Allen Updates  ANC6C  on Wednesday

By Larry Janezich

Monday, May 11

ANC6D holds a Virtual WebEx Meeting at 7:00pm.

For instructions on how to log in to the meeting, go here:  www.ANC6D.org/virtualmeeting.

Among items on the draft agenda:

Public safety Report, First District MPD, with Lt. Donigan.

Presentations:

Office of the People’s Counsel – Utilities, Cheryl Morse.

Housing Counseling Services.

The Sandlot – 1800 Half Street SW, stipulated alcohol beverage license.

Roy Boys – 1025 1^st Street, SE, request for extended hours.

Taphouse 99 – 1250 Half Street, SE – Public Space Application for Sidewalk Café .

Letter to DCRA re Food Trucks in Navy Yard.

Letter to DOEE regarding the Vulcan Concrete Plant.

Letter to DDOT regarding 5G.

Letter to EOM regarding Health Disparities as they pertain to COVID-19.

Tuesday, May 12

ANC6B holds a Virtual WebEx Meeting at 7:00pm.

For instructions on how to log in to the meeting, go here: https://www.anc6b.org/2020/02/26/march-2020-meetings-of-anc-6b/

Among items on the draft agenda:

Consent Agenda:

310 4th Street, SE – Historic Preservation Application – setback addition and deck at roof to add third story.

222 Kentucky Avenue, SE – Historic Preservation Application – to remove 1-story rear addition and replace with 2-story rear addition, add 1-story addition and deck to 2-story dogleg replace all rear windows.

1235 E Street, SE – Historic Preservation Application – two-story addition at front.

Presentation: Jessica Sutter with DC State Board of Education Ward Six.

The Roost, 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE – New Retailer’s Class “C” Restaurant License; Establishment will be a restaurant offering multiple food vendors. Seating Capacity of 415 inside and a Total Occupancy Load of 480. Sidewalk Café with a Total Occupancy Load of 118. Request to add an Entertainment Endorsement indoors and outdoors.

Recommended Sidewalk Extension Sites to Support Social Distancing Letter.

Micro mobility Corrals: 14th/D by Safeway, 14th/Penn by The Roost & Other possible locations.

Letter TBA about giving BIDs and Main Street the Power to use grant money to help small businesses.

Wednesday, May 13

ANC6C holds a Virtual WebEx Meeting at 7:00pm.

For instructions on how to log in to the meeting, go here::  https://anc6c.org/hot-topics/

Among items on the draft agenda:

Council Member Charles Allen—Update (arrival time 8:00-8:30 pm).

Mayor’s response to corona virus, Tyler Williams—Update.

Consent Calendar

111 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Zoning Application – PUD extension.

Pho Viet Restaurant, 333 H Street, NE – New alcohol beverage license.

Farmbird Restaurant, 625 H Street, NE – New alcohol beverage license.

7th and A Streets, NE – Safety improvements: all-way stop sign and crosswalks.

K Street, NE/NW – Protected bicycle lanes.

Essential businesses, pedestrian space to queue.

Washington Gas, Maryland Avenue, NE—Update.

Union Station, Parking for For-Hire Vehicles, white paper.

22 M Street, NE, Zoning Adjustment Application (revised) to permit an animal care and boarding use, ground floor of an existing mixed-use building.

630 Lexington Place, NE – Historic Preservation Application for concept approval, three-story rear addition and alteration of roof line.

417 7th Street, NE – Historic Preservation Application for concept approval, new window opening and replacement of existing windows, front of house.

Thursday, May 14

ANCA holds a Virtual WebEx Meeting at 7:00pm.

For instructions on how to log in to the meeting, go here:  https://anc6a.org/community-calendar.

Among items on the draft agenda:

Letter to DDOT to request that DDOT pursue sidewalk extensions on blocks near essential businesses, including restaurants to allow for safe outdoor seating.  Additional requests for extended sidewalks for safely distanced pedestrian activity will also be proposed.  Specific blocks to be discussed during the meeting.

909 & 911 I Street, NE – Letter of support to BZA for special exceptions under the residential conversion requirements and the penthouse height requirements to permit a trellis that does not conform with the side building wall setbacks, to construct two three-story buildings with penthouses at said locations and that the applicant remove the trellises from the roof deck, remove the side balconies, move the planned solar panels to the back of the roof, and make the back of the roof deck inaccessible.

Presentations: 

Commander Morgan Kane, First District (15 minutes).

Captain Jerome Merrill, Fifth District (15 minutes).

Preetha Iyengar, MD, Medical Officer, Division of Epidemiology Disease Surveillance & Investigation, DC Department of Health (DOH) (20 minutes).

DC Reopen – Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services (15 minutes).

Anthony Diallo, Ward 6 Account Manager, Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) (15 minutes).