CAPITOL HILL CORNER

The Week Ahead…

by Larry Janezich

Monday, March 9

ANC6D meets at 7:00pm, 1385 Canal Street, SE, DC Water and Sewer Authority.

Among items on the Draft Agenda:

Public Safety Report – First District MPD (PSA 103, PSA 105 & PSA 106) Capt. Pulliam, Lt. Donigian, Lt. Anderson.

Consent Agenda

March of Dimes – March for Babies Walk – May 9.

Army 10-Miler – October 11.

Prevent Cancer Foundation 5k – November 1.

8th Annual DC Metro HBCU Alliance 5k Run/Walk & Community Day – July 11.

Providence Health Imaging Center Letter of Support.

Request for extension of placarding ESQ Bower LLC.

Pillar Church SW Picnic at Jefferson Field – Request for Amplified Sound.

Letter of support for The Bullpen, one-day substantial change application for April 2, July 4, and July 29.

Letter of support for Walters one-day substantial change application for April 2.

Presentations & Resolutions

Office of People’s Counsel Utilities Presentation – Cheryl Morse.

Amerigroup – Audree Hall.

National Cherry Blossom Festival – Petalpalooza.

2020 Census Support Resolution.

Alcohol Beverage Licensing.

La Famosa – 1300 4th Street, SE – New Class “C” Restaurant License, Cooperative Agreement.

Colada – 10 Pearl Street, SW – New Class “C” Restaurant License, Cooperative Agreement & Stipulated License.

Roy Boys – 1025 1st Street, SE – Class “C” Restaurant License, Protest Application.

Development, Planning, and Transportation

1900 Half Street, SW – Zoning Application – Modification of Consequence to Design Review (Educational Use).

Follow-up letter to PSC regarding utilities oversight.

Letter to WMATA regarding idling buses.

Tuesday, March 10

ANC 6B meets at 7:00pm at Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

Among items on the Draft Agenda:

Consent Agenda

Washington Yacht Club, 1500 M Street SE – Historic Preservation Application for New Designation as a Historic Landmark.

1247 E Street, SE – Zoning Adjustment Application – Time extension request to extend permitting an additional 2 years on variance from the use provisions to operate a coffee shop/café in the first floor space within an existing apartment house.

512 A Street, SE – Historic Preservation Application to construct new 2-story carriage house at rear alley.

250 7^th Street, SE, Eat BRGZ – Public Space Application for New Sidewalk Cafe Un-Enclosed/Add Sidewalk Cafe seating adjacent to existing Summer Garden, located on the 7th Street side of building.

FY2021 Budget Oversight Testimony at Office of Planning.

Presentations:

Director Robinson, Director of DC DMV – Real ID Renewals and Timelines, etc.

Alcohol Beverage Licensing

1420 Pennsylvania Avenue, Trusty’s Bar, request to install three (3) Dragon’s Ascent electronic games of skill machines.

Planning and Zoning

710 E Street, SE – Historic Preservation Application to permit a rear 3-story addition.

1330 K Street, SE – Zoning Adjustment Application – to waive the 40-day Notice Requirement for Increased Relief for the Special Exception to construct a third story and a rear addition to convert a single-family dwelling unit into two dwelling units and to expand an accessory building for a third residential unit.

Review of NCPC’s Lighting Policy and Framework of its Monumental Core Streetscape Project.

Letter on RES-13 to Mayor Bowser and DC Council.

Resolution on Supporting DC’s Homeless Funding Effort.

Resolution to DCHA Requesting Information Regarding Potomac Gardens Housing Plans.

Resolution in Support of the Friends of Virginia Avenue Park.

Wednesday, March 11

ANC6C meets at 7:00pm, Heritage Foundation, 214 Massachusetts Avenue, NE.

Among items on the Draft Agenda:

Community Announcements

Mayor’s budget—Tyler Williams.

DPW spring cleaning—Celeste Duffie.

311 services—Jettia Vance.

Alcoholic Beverage Licensing.

Junction Bistro, Bar, and Bakery; 238 Massachusetts Avenue, NE – Application for a sidewalk café.

Transportation and Public Space

Request for resident-only parking—Union Station: 200 E, 300 E, 200 F, 300 F, 500 2^nd, 500 3rd, 600 3rd; Congressional buildings: 200 C, 300 C, 400 3rd, 200 A, 300 A, 400 A, 700 A, unit 3rd, 100 3rd, unit 4th, and 100 4th (all in NE).

Union Station Expansion/Burnham Place projects.

Streets Market, 51 M Street NE, Public Space Application for a sidewalk café.

Hotel/office/retail project, 20 Mass Avenue, NW – Public Space Application.

DC Council budget oversight hearings

Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development

22 M Street, NE – Zoning Adjustment Application for a special exception to allow animal care and boarding use.

630 C Street, NE – Historic Preservation Application for concept approval to add a rear addition and a two-story carriage house.

 645 Lexington Place, NE – Historic Preservation Application – concept approval to demolish garage and construct a three-story rear addition and new front steps.

Environment, Parks, and Events

NoMa Parks update.

Capitol Hill Classic races, May 17.

Thursday, March 12

ANC6A meets at 7:00pm at Miner Elementary, 601 15^th Street, NE.

Among items on the Draft Agenda:

Presentation:

Jeff Marootian, Director, District Department of Transportation.

Alcohol Beverage Licensing

Letter to all establishments with Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA) licenses in ANC 6A reminding establishments of settlement agreement requirements: 1) to take steps to address loitering in front of establishments; and 2) to post signage asking that patrons not make excessive noise when arriving or departing.

Transportation and Public Space

1387 North Carolina Avenue, NE – Letter to DDOT stating that the ANC has no substantial objection to the public space permit application for fence over 42 inches at 1387 North Carolina Avenue, NE, provided that the permit is corrected to list the current owner and state the correct height of the fence, and that ANC6A send a letter to the company that built the fence requesting that they do not perform unpermitted work in the future and suggesting that it compensate the current owner for her time in obtaining the retroactive permit.

Request for Resident Only Parking (ROP) for the unit block of 10th Street, NE; the 100 block of 10th Street, NE; the 1000 block of Massachusetts Avenue, NE; the 100 Block of 9th Street, NE; the unit block of 9th Street, NE; and the 1200 block of Linden Place, NE.

Economic Development and Zoning

216 9^th Street, Zoning Adjustment Application for special exceptions to permit construction of a two-story rear addition to an existing attached flat on the conditions that  the applicant conducting a shadow study to ensure that there is no impact on the light and air of the neighbors, and best efforts to get letters of support from neighbors.

1006 10th Street, NE – Zoning Adjustment Application for special exceptions to permit construction of a two-story rear addition to an existing semi-detached principal dwelling unit on the condition that the applicant conducting a shadow study to ensure that there is no impact on the light and air of the neighbors, and best efforts to get letters of support from neighbors.

216 14th Place, NE – Zoning Adjustment Application for a special exception to permit construction of a two story rear addition to an existing attached principal dwelling unit on the condition that the applicant make best efforts to get letters of support from neighbors at   220 and 212 14th Place, NE and from the neighbor across the alley at 223 11th Street, NE.

326 11^th Street, NE – Historic Preservation Application – for relief to build a rear addition onto an existing structure.

Saturday, March 14

Friends of Southeast Library hold their Second Saturday Book sale at Southeast Library, 10:00am – 3:00pm

Proposed Bike Lanes for PA Avenue SE Will Reduce Travel Lanes – May Affect Parking

By Larry Janezich

Wednesday night, Mike Goodno and Greg Greg Matlesky, managers of DDOT’s Pennsylvania Avenue SE Corridor Study, told ANC6B’s Transportation Committee some of the details of a plan to put bike lanes on PA Avenue between 2^nd Street, SE and Barney Circle.

According to Goodno, the goal is to help get people out of cars, and would accomplish this by redesigning the avenue to provide for safer, more accessible, multi-modal transportation options – in this case, buses and bicycles.  This is in keeping with DC’s long term goal of significantly improving non-motorized transportation conditions in the city.

Currently, PA Avenue from 2^nd Street to Barney Circle has three travel lanes and a parking lane, but no bike lane.

There are three alternatives being considered to provide bike lanes. All of them will reduce the number of travel lanes and two of them would provide for restricted parking during rush hour.

The first proposal would provide two travel lanes, restricted parking during rush hour, a rush hour priority bus lane and a curbside bike lane.

The second alternative would provide two travel lanes, a full-time parking lane, a curbside bike lane, but  no dedicated bus lane.

A third alternative would provide two travel lanes, restricted parking during rush hour, a rush-hour bus lane, and a median-side bike lane.

6B Transportation Committee resident member Floyd Brown raised the concern that few drivers on the commuter route would be likely to use the bike or bus options and a reduced number of travel lanes would divert auto traffic onto secondary residential streets.  The managers said they would take a look at that before the upcoming community meeting when more details of the plan would be presented.

Resident commissioner John Manley pressed Goodno and Metlesky about what happens to bikers after 2^nd Street as they travel west, since the bike lane would not continue on to Independence Avenue.  DDOT has no clear answer on that, or on what happens to bikers traveling east after they reach Barney Circle.

A community meeting was scheduled on March 25 at 6:00pm at Friendship school until a Commissioner Kelly Waud pointed out that it conflicted with Councilmember Charles Allen’s Budget Town Hall scheduled for the same time at Maury Elementary.  Goodno said the date of the DDOT community meeting may be changed.

For more, go here:  https://www.pennavese.com/

Renovation of SE Library Pushed Back – Closing Late 2022 & Reopening Early 2024

by Larry Janezich

Despite hopes that the renovation of Southeast Library could be finished before the Library’s 2022 anniversary date, the start of construction has been pushed back to late 2022 making spring of 2024 the target for reopening the library.  The Library will remain open until late 2022 instead of closing in late 2021.

At the first community meeting on the renovation last Tuesday night in the North Hall at Eastern Market, Chuck Wray, head of Quinn-Evans Architect’s library renovation design team, said that the complexity of the approval process for work on  the historic Carnegie Library caused the adjustment of the project timeline*.

There are no answers yet to the two most frequently asked questions:  “What will the new library look like and how much bigger will it be?”  Wray says, “We’re champing at the bit to start designing,” but the design process won’t start until late 2020 after extensive data collection and engagement with the community.

Some 500 community members have responded to the on-line survey seeking input on how the library is used.  One take-away from the survey was that although residents think the library is important they don’t like to spend time there.  85% of potential library patrons find Southeast Library more convenient but 65% don’t go there, preferring the newly renovated Northeast Library.  “Environment” was the reason Wray cited for the preference for another library.

Wray says the 21^st century library is an agent of civic engagement, simultaneously a learning center, a social center and a cultural center.  Designers will focus on accommodating Southeast Library’s diverse population.  Some of that population is the library’s homeless patrons.  Wray said that one of the challenges will be designing the library for a diverse population, noting that “when you create a popular attractive space, if everybody wants to be there, will everybody be comfortable with everybody there?”

The goal is to connect patrons with collections and each other – to enhance communications between people.  According to Wray, one measure of the success of the project will be the degree to which that is connection is achieved.

Councilmember Charles Allen was on hand to encourage residents to provide input to get the best library possible.  Allen said that “Southeast library is a great opportunity and a challenging one…we worked hard on the timing to coordinate the project with the renovation of the Eastern Market Metro Plaza…and pushed Richard (Gavilan) to think about the Plaza as part of the extension of the library and to incorporate additional outdoor space into the design.”

*Timeline

Winter 2020 – Programming and community engagement

Spring/Summer 2020 – Concept development

Late 2020 mid 2022 – Design

Late 2022 – early 2024 – Construction

Spring 2024 – Reopen

The Week Ahead…Community Meeting on Redevelopment of SE Library – Next Tuesday at 7:00pm

by Larry Janezich

Also, the Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee met last Wednesday.

 

The Week Ahead…

Monday, March 2

ANC6C’s Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee is scheduled to meet at 7:00pm at Kaiser Permanente Capitol Hill Medical Center, 700 Second Street, NE.

An agenda was not available at press time.

Tuesday, March 3

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

Among items on the draft agenda:

710 E Street, SE – Historic Preservation Application for a rear 3-story addition.

Washington Yacht Club, 1500 M Street SE – Historic Preservation Application for New Designation as a Historic Landmark.

1247 E Street, SE – Zoning Adjustment Application –  Time extension request to extend permitting an additional 2 years on variance from the use provisions to operate a coffee shop/café in the first floor space within an existing apartment house.

1330 K Street, SE – Zoning Adjustment Application – Special Exception to construct a third story and a rear addition to convert a single-family dwelling unit into two dwelling units and to expand an accessory building for a third residential unit.

20-219 512 A Street, SE – Historic Preservation Application to construct new 2-story carriage house at rear alley.

Eat Brgz, 250 7^th Street, SE – Public Space Application –New Sidewalk Cafe Un-Enclosed/Add Sidewalk Cafe seating adjacent to existing Summer Garden, located on the 7th Street side of building.]

ANC6C Environment, Parks and Event Committee is scheduled to meet at 7:00pm at Kaiser Permanente Capitol Hill Medical Center, 700 Second Street.

Community Meeting on the Redevelopment of Southeast Library

Community Meeting:  7:00pm, North Hall of Eastern Market.  DC Public Library officials and members of the design/build team of Whiting-Turner Construction/Quinn Evans Architects will engage members of the community and seek input on the $23 million redevelopment of the historic Southeast Neighborhood Library.

For more information on the project and to take a survey regarding how much you use the library, go here:  https://www.dclibrary.org/southeastlibraryrenovation

Wednesday, March 4

ANC6B Transportation Committee meets at 7:00pm in the Ground Floor Conference Room, 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. 

Draft agenda:

Update on Pennsylvania Avenue SE Corridor Study – Mike Goodno, DDOT

Review of DDOT Proposed Rulemaking on Electric Charging Stations

ANC 6C Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development Committee meets at 6:30pm, Northeast Library, 7th & D Streets, NE.

Among items on the draft agenda:

22 M Street, NE – Zoning Adjustment Application to permit an animal care and boarding use on the ground floor of an existing mixed use building.

 630 C Street, NE  – Historic Preservation Application to permit a rear addition and a two-story carriage house.

645 Lexington Place, NE – Historic Preservation Application to demolish garage and construct three-story rear addition and new front steps.

Thursday, March 5

ANC6B Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee meets at 7:00pm in the Frager’s Conference Room at the Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

Agenda:

1420 Pennsylvania Avenue, Trusty’s Bar – request to install three Dragon’s Ascent electronic games of skill machines.

ANC 6C Transportation and Public Space Committee meets at 7:00pm at Kaiser Permanente Capitol Hill Medical Center, 700 2nd Street, NE.

Draft agenda:

The committee will review the request for the following residential permit parking blocks to be designated as resident-only parking:

Union Station parking challenges:

200 E, 300 E, 200 F, 300 F, 500 2nd, 500 3rd, 600 3rd (all in NE)

Congressional building parking challenges:

200 C, 300 C, 400 3rd (all in NE)

Union Station Expansion and Burnham Place Projects

Representatives from the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation and the Federal Railroad Administration will provide an update on the Union Station Expansion project.

Representatives: Beverley Swaim-Staley, Union Station Redevelopment Corporation; David Valenstein, FRA; and Gretchen Pfaehler, consultant.

Streets Market, 51 M Street, NE – Public Space Application for a proposed unenclosed sidewalk cafe with ten 32” x 64” tables (four of which are ADA accessible) and a total of 40 seats. Proposed hours of operation are from 7am to 11pm, 7 days a week. The cafe proposes to also have a 3’ tall fence.

Friends of Southeast Library meet at 5:30pm at Southeast Library, lower level.

Saturday, March 7

Hill East Community Litter Cleanup

1st Saturday, March 7, 9:00 am; Trusty’s and Atlas Vets have 10:00am cleanup starts. Volunteer bag and glove pick-up locations include Fulcrum Properties – 1328 G Street, SE; Trusty’s – 1420 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE; 7-11 – 1501 Independence Avenue, SE; Atlas Vet – 1326 H Street, NE; Chik-fil-A – 1401 Maryland Avenue, SE (offering free breakfast sandwich to volunteers); and Wine & Butter Cafe, 1023 East Capitol Street.   Volunteers return filled bags to any of these sponsors.  At 10:00 am, Fulcrum Properties offers mimosas, coffee and donuts to volunteers. Info on rain cancellation will be available by emailing here: CleanCapHill@gmail.com

Work Starts on the new Eastern Market Metro Park/Playground this Week

By Larry Janezich

Construction of the new Eastern Market Metro Park/Playground will begin on Tuesday, March 3, with the closing of the park between 8^th and 9^th Streets on the north side of Pennsylvania Avenue and its enclosure with chain link fence.  Demolition of the existing temporary playground and walkways will follow, prior to the beginning of construction of the new park in mid-March.  An official groundbreaking ceremony – likely the week of March 9 – will kick off the construction phase.  A date and time will be announced.

DGS says it will finish work on the playground/park by the end of this coming June.  The equipment in the current playground – funded by the Hine developers as a community benefit under a Planned Unit Development agreement – will be relocated and incorporated into the new and larger playground on the north side of the parcel.  Funding for that playground and the redesign of the entire Plaza was included in this fiscal year’s budget by CM Charles Allen.  Construction on the rest of the Plaza project, including Parcel 4 where the entrance to Metro is located, will begin this October and will be complete in April/March of 2021.  See below for a rendering of the performance pavilion, a prominent feature of  this portion of the plaza.

 

Here’s a Photo Progress Report on Seven Major Capitol Hill SE Developments

by Larry Janezich

On May 11, 2019, Capitol Hill Corner posted a photo progress report on seven major Capitol Hill developments http://bit.ly/2E2Ft91.  Here’s a progress report 10 months later.  The seven projects will provide 1,185 residential units to Capitol Hill’s housing stock.  Below are photos of where construction stands today, coupled with renderings of how the projects will look when finished.

Frager’s, mixed use retail/residential – project finished. Units are being sold.  Frager’s Hardware is open and Emilie’s restaurant occupies the prime corner ground level retail space. View from 12th and Pennsylvania Avenue. looking Southeast, February 24. Click to enlarge.

Frager’s – The now developed original Frager’s site on the 1100 block of Pennsylvania Avenue SE, provides 34 condos. One, two and three bedroom units are intended to accommodate families. 10% of the residential space is required to be designated for affordable housing, under Inclusionary Zoning requirements. Frager’s Hardware occupies 8,500 s.f. of retail space.

Watkins Alley is under construction at 1309 E Street, SE. View from E Street, SE, looking Southwest, on February 24.

Watkin’s Alley – will provide 44 units, (uncertain whether condo or apartments) including 8 – 2 BR flats, 6 lofts, and 1 carriage house. Five units (3 townhouses and 2 flats) will be designated affordable housing units under Inclusionary Zoning requirements.  This view is from E Street, looking south, and fails to capture much of the project which is in the center of the block – see next depiction.

Here’s another view of  Watkins Alley looking Northeast, showing the scale of the project.  The former Safeway is top center.  This view shows the backs of the units in the previous rendering, barely visible between the green roof tops, center and left.

Lockwood – 1300 Block of E Street, SE. View from mid-block on E Street, looking Southeast, on February 24.  Units are now leasing.

Lockwood – Lockwood will provide 145 boutique apartment units: 1, 2, and 3 BRs. Thirteen of the units will be affordable under Inclusionary Zoning.

Capitol Courts is under construction at 1234 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. View from mid-block looking Northeast, February 24.

Capitol Courts – the former site of the Frager’s Garden Center – a mixed use building that will contain 119 micro apartments and a few 1 BRs. The plan includes 5,000 s.f. of ground floor retail. Ten percent of the residential space will be designated for affordable housing under Inclusionary Zoning.  This view is from Pennsylvania Avenue, looking Northwest.

Work continues on the mixed use building at 1401 Pennsylvania – Blackbird. View from the median strip at 14th and Pennsylvania, looking Southeast. February 23.

Blackbird – A mixed use residential/retail building under construction will provide 167 apartments and 18,000 s.f. of retail. Ten percent of the residential space will be for affordable housing, with a large portion of that for family units: 4 – 3 BRs, 2 studios, 2- 1 BRs and 2- 2 BRs.  The Neighborhood Restaurant Group has announced plans for a “culinary clubhouse,” a multi-restaurant, multi-bar concept – “The Roost” – for the building’s ground floor retail space.

The Safeway Development at 14th and D Streets, SE – “Beckert’s Park” – is under construction. View from 14th and D Streets looking Southwest, February 24.

“Beckert’s Park” –  Will provide 329 apartments, a new 60,000 s.f. Safeway, and several thousand additional s.f. of community friendly retail. The developer says that 70% of the units will be studio and 1 BR apartments and 30% will be two bedrooms. A number of penthouse apartments will be set back on the roof. Rents will be calculated at a cost of approximately $3.25 a square foot – meaning that a small 500 square foot studio apartment will rent for between $1500 and $2000 a month. Ten percent of the units will be affordable under DC regulations, at 60% of AIM – average median income.

The first of two mixed use projects is underway on Reservation 13. View from 19th Street near the south entrance to the Stadium Armory Metro canopy, looking Southeast, February 23.

Reservation 13 – Two parcels are being developed. The larger south building is under construction as shown in the previous photo; work on the smaller north building will begin soon, under a phased development plan. The total number of apartments in the two buildings is 353 – 262 in the south building and 91 in the north building. Originally, it was intended that 106 of the units in the project would be designated affordable.  Last fall, DC city agencies announced that the smaller north building will be 100% “deeply affordable” units for those with 0% – 30% of Area Median Income.  It is unclear if the new designation will affect the number of affordable units in the larger south building. In addition, the project will provide 22,000 s.f. of retail.

City Agencies Stiff Hill East Residents Seeking Answers on Reservation 13

by Larry Janezich

Monday night, some 20 Hill East residents, concerned ANC6B Commissioners and Hill East activists showed up for a meeting at St. Coletta’s knowing that the invited city agencies would be no-shows for the expected briefing on Reservation 13 issues.

Hill East Taskforce Chair Denise Krepp had invited DCRA, DMPED, DDOT, OP, DGS, MPD, and DOC to participate.  Only Commander Kane of MPD’s 1^st District responded by sending a representative.

Meeting participants who did show up, includied ANC6B Chair Brian Ready, Commissioners Chander Jayaraman (also a candidate for at -large city council seat), Kasie Clark, and Steve Holtzman; former commissioner and current activist Francis Campbell, Capitol Hill Village representative Vira Sisolak, and Hill East activists Pat Taylor, Andre Speaks and Maurice Cook.  Also present was Jeanne Lewis, another candidate for an at-large city council seat.

Most of those attendees, as well as the nearby neighbors who attended, clearly regarded the no show as a slap in the face and yet another example of the lack of respect city agencies show the ANCs and their constituent bodies.

Tensions and distrust between those agencies and Hill East resident have grown since last November when the real estate blog Curbed DC revealed the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development’s plan to change 91 units in the Donatelli/BlueSkye Reservation 13 development from a mix of affordable and market rate units to 100% low income housing units at 0% – 30% of AMI. The surprise left Hill East residents with deep feeling of distrust toward the city, feelings which were only exacerbated by last night’s failure of agency representatives to provide transparency on issues related to Donatelli/BlueSkye Reservation 13 development.

Attendees at last night’s meeting collaborated on a list of questions to be included in letters to the City Council and city agencies.  One question begging to be answered is whether Donatelli’s agreement to convert their smaller building to 100% low income housing changes the allocation of affordable housing in their larger building.  The Hill East Taskforce voted unanimously to recommend that the full ANC endorse the letters which are all but certain to be forwarded to the council and agencies under the ANC aegis.

The jurisdictional issue is tricky.  Reservation lies in Ward 7, though the residents of Ward 6 in Hill East will be those most affected by any development.  Hill East residents deserve to have their questions answered and their concerns addressed.  Since it seems the ANC’s Taskforce doesn’t have the clout to require the city agencies to clarify what’s happening on Reservation 13, the question is, who does?

The Samaritans of Eastern Market Metro Park

Every fourth Saturday Lolita Johnson and her family and friends set up free lunch for all comers in Eastern Market Plaza Park on the north side of Pennsylvania Avenue.  Johnson says that last September she was religiously inspired to set up a prayer tent and offer lunch one day a month and to locate it here.  She has been doing it every month since then.  She pays the $300-400 monthly cost out of pocket with the help of contributions from work friends and church members.  She says, “I don’t make that much money, and when I started I didn’t know how I was going to pay for this. But the money just came”.  The lunch is her individual effort – it is not sponsored by a church, though she worships at All Nations Worship Assembly in Baltimore.  Her mother, Janice Johnson, belongs to the First Baptist Church in Glendale, Maryland.  Her friend, Christina Brown, belongs to the National Church of God in Fort Washington, Maryland.

Johnson says, “When I get a better paying job, I can do more”.  About 60 people stop for lunch on a typical Saturday.  Johnson adds, “They don’t have to be homeless.  Anybody can stop by for food, prayer, or if they just want to talk.”

The Week Ahead… & American Legion Post 8 Fundraiser on Saturday

by Larry Janezich

Monday, February 24

ANC 6A Transportation & Public Space Committee Meets at 7:00pm, Capitol Hill Towers, 900 G Street, NE.

Among items on the draft agenda:

1387 North Carolina Avenue, NE.  Public Space Application – to permit a fence over 42 inches high.

Development of questions to be addressed to DDOT Director Marootian at March 12, 2020 ANC 6A meeting.

The Hill East Taskforce meets at 7:00pm at St. Coletta of Greater Washington, 1900 Independence Avenue, SE.

Agenda:

Discussion of why DC agencies and councilmembers are refusing to talk with the Hilleast community.

Tuesday, February 25

ANC6B Executive Committee meets at 7:00pm in Hill Center to set the agenda for next month’s meeting of the ANC on March 10 in Hill Center..

Wednesday, February 26

The Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee will meet a 7:00pm in the North Hall of Eastern Market, located at the corner of 7^th and North Carolina. 

Among items on the agenda:

DGS Performance Oversight Meeting on February 27, 2020.

DGS Budget hearing April 2, 2020.

Update on the Strategic/Business Plan, Scott Betz.

Report of the Market Manager.

Status of Lease negotiations

Winter Operations Update

Marketing and advertising

Market Budget expenditures

Status of the signage

Status of the security measures

Testimony on DGS Performance

Tenant’s Council Report

Capital Improvements Report

Eastern Market Metro Plaza Update

Saturday, February 29

Musical celebration and fundraiser at American Legion Auxiliary, Post 8, 6:00pm, at 3^rd and D Street, SE, to benefit the DC Veterans Administration Medical Center’s Music Therapy Program.

The Capitol Hill American Legion Auxiliary is rolling out the red carpet for two local veterans who recently went to Nashville.  Each came back with an original song they wrote with a professional songwriter and recorded as part of Operation Song.  This workshop program in Music City, U.S.A., has as its mission “to empower veterans, active duty military, and their families to tell their stories through the process of songwriting.”  The Operation Song organization has welcomed those who’ve served in war and peace, “bringing them back one song at a time,” as its motto says.  So far more than 750 songs have been created, helping veterans to express and transform often painful experiences.  Former U.S. Army officer Calvin Tildon’s song, “My Happy to be Alive Day,” tells his story of combat in Vietnam.  John Fay became a U.S. Marine right out of high school in the late 1950s, and called his song “Squared Me Away.”

Doors open at 6 p.m., with the formal program, including musical performances by “Veterans in Harmony”, starting at 7 p.m.  Gourmet nibbles and a specialty cocktail will be served.  The Capitol Hill community is invited to attend and enjoy a fun musical evening.  The suggested donation is $10 and 100% of proceeds going to benefit the DC VA Music Therapy Program.   Tickets at the door, or buy online here. http://bit.ly/2T7pm0C

ANC6B Working Group Meets with City Agencies & Non-Profits on Barracks Row Issues

by Larry Janezich

The problems plaguing the 400 block of Barracks Row were inventoried and discussed at a meeting of business owners, ANC commissioners, MPD, DHHS, Community Connections, DBS, and Everyone Home (formerly Capitol Hill Ministry) last Tuesday night.

ANC6B’s Working Group on Barracks Row’s regular monthly meeting enumerated a list of concerns:

Homeless in need of services;

Panhandlers, some of whom disrupt business and retail traffic;

Community Connection clients, a recurring concern in the neighborhood;

Dealers of synthetic drugs like K-2, which may or may not be illegal at any moment, who vend to some or all of the above, exacerbating existing concerns;

Quality of life issues collect on the west side of the block stretching between the 7-11 and the Starbuck’s coffee shop.  These include public intoxication, overdoses, trash accumulation, and street harassment. The west side includes four fast food outlets and four empty store fronts and a lot of thru traffic from the Metro and bus stops.

Working Group Co-Chair Tom Johnson, representing business owners on Barracks Row, is pushing a plan to hire off duty MPD to maintain a part time presence on the 400 block of 8th Street, “so that people feel safe, because now they do not feel safe or comfortable on the block”.  He says 90% of Barracks Row businesses support the plan.  A similar idea was floated last year by Barrack’s Row Executive Director Martin Smith who suggested an MPD substation on the block – a proposal that was nixed by MPD.

Johnson says, “The homeless are not the problem – people selling drugs is the problem…we need to try something different and see if it works.  If not, try something else.  Having officers on the block adds a layer of security, comfort, and safety.”

Off duty police are sometimes hired to work inside a business establishment and are paid directly by the establishment.  If they’re hired to work in public space outside an establishment, the businesses reimburse MPD for the officer’s overtime.  Typically, the officer performs this work in uniform.

Johnson said that next week he will mount a camera on top of one of his restaurants – Ophelia’s – at the corner of 8th and E Streets, to monitor activities on the south end of Barracks Row including outside the 7-11 across the street.

ANC6B Chair Brian Ready, who chaired the meeting in place of ANC6B Commissioner Chander Jayaraman, said he had no problem with facilitating business owners’ efforts to put additional security on the street, adding, “I’m all about balance…If businesses want to go down that line, they have to be aware of unintended consequences.”  One of those consequences is the negative message that additional security is necessary – another is push back from some who think that an approach with better optics involving social services and on-the-street interaction with social workers produces better results. Ready noted it was not an either/or situation, leaving room for both.

The city agencies and non-profits in attendance were asked what contributions they could make to alleviate Barracks Row problems.

Department of Health and Human Services: Monica Merk said the department is working on ways to publicize the rights of business owners and empower them to deal with panhandling issues.

Community Connections:  Representatives Ray Walker and Brian Sutton said that representatives from the non-profit routinely walk Barracks Row and other parts of the city having similar issues.  Two teams interact with those they encounter and encourage them to take advantage of city services.  Clients without fixed addresses who have Social Security checks sent to Community Connections are sometimes victimized by others on Barracks Row.

Department of Behavioral Health:  Representatives Jacqueline Ellis and Jordan Gulley said that their Community Response Team responds to critical incidents 24/7, 7 days a week with teams of behavioral health specialists to conduct on the spot assessments and referral to those undergoing a behavioral crisis.  Their hotline number is 202-673-6495.

Everyone Home DC:  Karen Cunningham and Abby Sypek say their group does strategic outreach focused on Capitol Hill with the goal of keeping everyone alive and safe year-round and prioritizes helping families find permanent housing.  The organization provides connector resources for those with mental health and substance abuse issues and assists people in need of food stamps or ID.  Cunningham and Supek urge residents to attend the Mayor’s Budget Forums and ask for more resources for housing and behavioral health.

Those in attendance knew that already.  But those residents and members of the public who need to hear that message and carry it to the budget forums almost never attend these meetings and were not in evidence Tuesday night.  Charles Allen’s office sent a representative, Nichole Opkins, to the meeting, who  did not offer any public comments but did engage Community Connection representatives after the meeting.

Captain Cookie to Open Outlet Near Eastern Market

by Larry Janezich

Captain Cookie has leased the space formerly occupied by Pitango, at 660 7^th Street, SE, near Eastern Market.  They have two other outlets, one at 2000 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, and one at 2800 10^th Street, in NE.  No word yet on when they’ll open, but it seems likely it will happen this spring.

Captain Cookie started as a food truck merchant before opening the two brick and mortar bakeries which also market their menu of a dozen different cookies, ice cream, specialty cakes, and local milk.  See their menu here:  https://www.captaincookiedc.com/pages/menu.html

The Captain Cookie trucks still service the city and are popular hires for special events.  According to their website, each truck is a mobile bakery with running water, dipping freezer and bakery oven.

Captain Cookie’s trucks were on campus at The George Washington University so often that co-owners Kirk and Juliann Francis decided to open their first brick-and-mortar near the school.

Their website stresses the company’s commitment to social issues, stating that they have committed a large portion of their profits to support efforts to end hunger including the DC Central Kitchen, Capital Area Food Bank and No Kid Hungry.