CAPITOL HILL CORNER

Update on the Southeast Library Renovation

By Larry Janezich

Representatives of the development/design team undertaking the $23 million renovation of  Southeast Library met with Capitol Hill residents at Eastern Market on Saturday.  Residents had an opportunity to take a survey as well as express preferences for design elements under consideration for the renovation.  DC Public Libraries selected the firm of Whiting-Turner to be the project’s contractor and Quinn Evans as the Architect of Record.  Alos on the team is Tappe Architects which specializes in library construction.

Saturday’s event marked the beginning of the process of public engagement and was intended to be a quick hit to capture input from those not inclined to get to a public meeting. The first community meeting on the project is scheduled for Tuesday, March 3, in the North Hall at Eastern Market.  The purpose of that meeting will be to allow residents and library users to take a deep dive into the design elements.

As the design proceeds, support will be sought from the ANC, the Historic Preservation Review Board, and the Commission on Fine Arts.  The developer is still in the process of determining if review by the National Capital Planning Commission will be necessary.

The development team is in the midst of a 90 day “due diligence” period to assess the technical requirements for the construction.  One part of that assessment is the collection of soil borings to check for contamination and the water table.

The design process is expected to take at least a year and Southeast Library is expected to remain open into 2021 with an anticipated closure for renovation close to the end of 2021.  The hope is to reopen in 2022, the 100th anniversary of the library.

The survey is online and can be found here: https://www.dclibrary.org/southeastlibraryrenovation

The Week Ahead… & Reminder on Eastern Market Survey

by Larry Janezich

Reminder:  The opportunity to take the survey to provide community input on the future of Eastern Market ends soon – possibly this week.  Here’s the link to the survey:  https://www.easternmarketplan.org/

The Week Ahead….

Monday, February 10

ANC6D meets at 7:00pm, at 1100 4th Street, SW.

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:

Letter of Support – Interim to Permanent Principal Dohrman at Jefferson Middle School Academy.

2020 Race for Hope, May 23, 2020

Resolution requesting increased funding to include shorter headways for Route 74 Buses.

Letter to DCHA RE: 20-year Transformation Plan.

Letter on Air Quality Concerns at Buzzard Point.

Presentations:

Short-term Family Housing Provider and Unity Update – Jay Melder.

Capital Grid Project Update – Jamaal Jordan.

Providence Health Imaging Center.

CitizenM, 550 School Street, SW – request for Class C Hotel liquor license.

Gatsby Restaurant, 1201 Half Street, SE – Public Space Application.

Atlas Brewing, 1201 Half Street, SE – Public Space Application.

Comprehensive Plan Resolution.

Riverpoint Bulkhead Comments.

ANC6A Community Outreach Committee meets at 7:00pm, Eastern High School, Parent Center, 1700 East Capitol Street NE (Enter from East Capitol Street)

Among items on the draft agenda:

Presentation: 

Mr. Gottlieb Simon, Director, Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions.

Tuesday, February 11

ANC6B meets at 7:00pm, The Hill Center 921 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

Among items on the draft agenda:

Consent Agenda

411 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Historic Preservation Application – Concept – New construction of 2 homes.

1249 South Carolina Avenue, SE, Zoning Adjustment Application – Special Exception/Variance to construct a rear addition to an existing apartment house.

Comprehensive Plan Comments:

ANC 6B Working Group Comp Plan Comments.

Capitol Hill Village Comp Plan Comments.

Environmental Protection Element Comp Plan Comments.

Transportation Element Comp Plan Comments.

Letter and 311 Notice to DDOT to Remove AM Rush Lane from 900 Block of I Street, SE.

Presentation:

Katherine Whitehouse, Office of At-Large Councilmember Robert C. White, Jr.

Tortuga Caribbean Bar & Grille, 514 8th Street, SE – Request for Substantial Change to add an Entertainment Endorsement with Cover Charge inside the premises only.

Finn McCool’s, 713 8th Street, SE – Request for Substantial Change for Class Change from a Retailer Class “C” Restaurant to a Retailer Class “C” Tavern license.

1624 E Street, SE, Zoning Adjustment Application – Special Exception to raze the existing two-story, semi-detached principal dwelling unit, and to construct a three-story, detached principal dwelling unit.

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

Planning and Zoning Committee Comp Plan Comments:

Comp Plan comments on SE Boulevard.

Comp Plan comments on 1333M/Washington Gas Triangle.

Comp plans comments on 15th Street Commercial Corridor.

Traffic Safety Options for 16th & Independence Avenue, SE.

DDOT Plans to Widen D-4 Exit from 695 to 11th Street, SE.

Hill East Task Force report.

Livable Community Task Force report.

Letter to Public Space Committee on ANC 6B Input for Phase I of Eastern Market Metro Park Plaza.

Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee report.

Working Group on Barrack’s Row report.

Election of Committee Chairs & Re-establishment of Task Forces.

ANC Resolution to commemorate 100 years of Women’s Suffrage.

Request for consideration of a resolution on the DC Archives.

Wednesday, February 12

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

Among items on the draft agenda:

Presentation:

Christopher Wade, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Community Outreach Specialist.

Junction Bistro, Bar, and Bakery, 238 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, new, stipulated license.

Butter Chicken, 500 H Street, NE, ABRA-116156, new Class “D” tavern license.

Sidamo Coffee & Tea, 417 H Street NE, renewal, Class “C” restaurant.

RESA. 22 M Street NE, Public Space Application – parking garage safety improvements.

Logan School, 215 G Street, NE, Public Space Application – bike racks, fence, landscaping, new driveway.

1212 6th Street, NE, one story addition, multiple changes including porch, driveway, etc.

500 H Street NE, Public Space Application – sidewalk café.

H Street, NE, safety concerns – 3rd and 6th Streets, NE.

6th Street, NE, budget request – fixes between K and Florida, including ADA-compliance.

North Capitol Street, NE,  safety improvements between Massachusetts Avenue and R Street.

627 Orleans Place, NE, Zoning Adjustment Application – construction of a rear deck.

508 D Street NE, Zoning Adjustment Application – construction of a rear addition.

653 8th Street, NE, Zoning Adjustment Application – addition of a fourth apartment and rooftop equipment.

Draft amendments to Comprehensive Plan (Elements: Capitol Hill, Central DC, Upper NE Area, Generalized Policy Map, Future Land Use Map, Other elements).

1133 North Capitol Street, redevelopment update – Mr. Courtney.

Rock ‘n Roll Marathon, March 28, 2020.

NoMa Parks Foundation, update.

Draft Comprehensive Plan (Elements: Environmental Protection, Arts and Culture).

Thursday, February 13

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

Among items on the draft agenda:

Presentations:

Lewis Ferebee, Chancellor, District of Columbia Public Schools.

Oversight of the Office of ANC – Shawn J. Hilgendorf, Director, Committee on Facilities and Procurement.

Letter to District of Columbia Homeland Security and Management Agency in support of the 2020 Capitol Hill Classic.

Motion to add the comments of the TPS to those of EDZ regarding the DC Comprehensive Plan and submit the comments.

Letter to DDOT in opposition to the application for a driveway through public space at the rear of 1518 North Carolina Avenue, NE.

Letter to DDOT asking for enforcement of DCMR 24-102 with respect to overgrown hedge at 100 14th Street, NE, for safety reasons and request the online 311 be modified to facilitate reporting of public space violations.

Consideration of whether to alter or amend a letter of opposition to DDOT for an application to permit the construction of a fourth apartment and the installation of new rooftop mechanical equipment, in an existing three-unit apartment house at 653 8th Street, NE/ 807 G Street, NE (BZA #20190) in the RF-1 Zone, based on the fact that there would be fewer than 250 square feet on the lot per unit.

Letter to real estate agents active on Capitol Hill informing them of the Residential Parking Permit restrictions in place for any address on H Street.

Submission changes to the DC Comprehensive Plan that are a merger of the already approved recommendations and the changes submitted by Capitol Hill Village.

Letter of support to Mr. Clifford Dixon, Permit Expeditor regarding permits for excavation foundation and building not issued yet) for:

1. an after-hours permit application that would allow work by the Eliot-Hine Middle School construction team to start at 6:00 am Monday through Saturday; and
2. authorization to work on the following holidays in 2020 to ensure the ability to meet the construction schedule: Washington’s Birthday, 02/17/2020; DC Emancipation Day, 04/16/2020; Memorial Day, 5/25/2020; Independence Day, 7/3/2020; Labor Day, 9/7/2020; Indigenous Peoples’ Day, 10/12/2020; Veterans Day, 11/11/2020.

Letter to DDOT re: Small Cell Design Guidelines.

And then there’s this:

The Week Ahead… and 100% Chance of Snow on C Street at Eastern Market

By Larry Janezich

Monday, February 3

ANC6C Alcoholic Beverage Licensing Committee meets at 7:00pm, Kaiser Permanente, 700 2^nd Street, NE.

Among items on the draft agenda:

Junction Bistro, Bar & Bakery – 238 Massachusetts Avenue, NE – request for support of stipulated restaurant liquor license for pending application.

Butter Chicken Company 2 – 500 H Street, NE – new application for a Class “D” Tavern license.

Sidamo Coffee & Tea – 417 H Street, NE – renewal of Class “C” Restaurant license.

Tuesday, February 4

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

Among items on the draft agenda:

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

411 New Jersey Avenue, SE – Historic Preservation Application for construction of 2 homes. Tentative.

1249 South Carolina Avenue, SE – Zoning Adjustment Application to allow construction of a rear addition to an existing apartment house.

1624 E Street, SE – Zoning Adjustment Application to raze the existing two-story, semi-detached principal dwelling unit, and to construct a three-story, detached principal dwelling unit.

Rezoning petition for triangle between 12th/Water/M to MU-13 (potential helipad site).

ANC 6B Comments on Amendments to Comprehensive Plan

Wednesday, February 5

ANC6B Transportation Committee meets at 7:00pm, in the Rear Meeting Space – 2nd Floor, The Yard, 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

Among items on the draft agenda:

Request for Removal of AM Rush Lane on the 900 Block of I Street, SE, to enable residents of the block to use their RPP/Zone 6 curbside parking spaces 24/7.

Presentation on Stop Light at 16th Street & Independence Avenue, SE. DDOT Director Marootian is scheduled to brief the Committee on efforts underway to add a stoplight at 16th and Independence Ave SE.

Brief Update on Status of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, Corridor Study.

Discussion on DDOT Plans to Widen 695 Eastbound Exit onto 11th Street, SE.

Final Recommendations on CompPlan Transportation Chapter.

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

Among items on the draft agenda:

627 Orleans Place, NE – Zoning Adjustment Application to permit construction of a rear deck addition to an existing attached principal dwelling unit

508 D Street, NE – Zoning Adjustment Application to permit construction of a rear addition to an existing attached principal dwelling unit.

653 8th Street, NE – Zoning Adjustment Application to permit construction of a fourth apartment and the installation of new rooftop mechanical equipment, in an existing three-unit apartment house.

Draft amendments to Comprehensive Plan – Review of the following Draft Plan elements, including Capitol Hill Area Element, Central Washington Area Element, Upper Northeast Area Element, Generalized Policy Map, Future Land Use Map (FLUM), Any elements not previously discussed, and Elements discussed in November/December/January to be re-discussed/reconsidered.

Thursday, February 6

ANC6B Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee will meet at 7:00pm at the Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

Among items on the draft agenda:

Yaju Ramen, 525 8th Street, SE – Request for Substantial Changes to Retailer’s Class “C” Tavern license.

Tortuga Caribbean Bar & Grille, 514 8th Street, SE – Request for Substantial Change to add an Entertainment Endorsement with Cover Charge inside the premises only.

Finn McCool’s, 713 8th Street, SE – Request for Substantial Change for Class Change from a Retailer Class “C” Restaurant to a Retailer Class “C” Tavern.

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

Among items on the draft agenda:

22 M Street, NE – RESA – parking garage safety improvements. RESA is a new apartment building located in NoMA where the parking garage entrance/exit faces Patterson Street, NE. DDOT advised management to seek ANC support to remove parking spot(s) immediately adjacent to the garage’s entrance/exit to provide extra visibility for people using the garage and along Patterson.

215 G Street, NE – Logan School Public Space Application for renovation including: 22 bike racks, a fence, and landscaping and planting for 14 trees. The existing driveway will remain to serve the proposed parking lot; a new driveway will serve as an exit out of the public alley.

1212 6th Street, NE – Public Space Application – proposal to perform an addition/alteration repair, 1 story addition above existing 2 story, single family unit to create a two family unit; new open porch, lead walk with steps, window well, driveway off alley and knee wall with fencing. Response to request for additional information.

500 H Street, NE, Butter Chicken Company 2 Sidewalk Cafe Application – proposal for unenclosed sidewalk cafe with eleven tables (two ADA accessible) and a total of 42 seats. All tables will have umbrellas with 8’ clearance when open. Proposed hours of operation are from 10am to 12am, 7 days a week.

H Street NE safety concerns. The Committee will discuss ways to improve safety along H Street, NE. At 3rd Street NE, residents have noted that signal timing incentivizes eastbound drivers to run the red light. In addition, on January 15, a person on a bicycle suffered a crash — near the same location as Mr. Malik Habib’s fatal 2018 crash — due to the streetcar tracks and was subsequently hit by a moving vehicle. At 6th Street, NE, neighbors have experienced near misses and desire a left turn signal at 6th Street, NE.

6th Street, NE budget request. The ongoing implementation of safety improvements along 6th Street, NE, between K Street, NE, and Florida Avenue, NE, was included as a part of the interim improvements for Florida Avenue; however, funds for permanent fixes (such as ADA-compliant sidewalks) are not included in the full Florida Avenue project. The Committee will discuss next steps on requesting funds for permanent fixes for this stretch of 6th Street, NE.

North Capitol Street sign on letter. In January 2019, the NoMa BID presented to the Committee the North Capitol Needs Assessment, which identified specific safety improvements along North Capitol Street from Massachusetts Avenue to R Street. However, in 2019, four pedestrians were fatally struck on or near North Capitol Street, including Mr. Hubert Hinds in December, 2019 while crossing H Street, NE. The Committee will review a sign on letter developed by the ANC6E Transportation and Public Space Committee and others to DDOT Director Marootian requesting DDOT to take immediate action in implementing the recommendations.

Saturday, February 8

Community input on the renovation of Southeast Library. 9:00am – 1:00pm, North Hall Eastern Market.

DC Public Library has hired the design-build team of Whiting-Turner Construction and Quinn Evans Architects to renovate Southeast Library. Members of the design team will be in the North Hall at Eastern Market from 9:00am – 1:00pm this Saturday. DCPL invites residents to stop by for 15-20 minutes and share their ideas for what they would like to see in the renovated library.

Here’s a link to the online survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DCSoutheastLibrary

In addition, on Tuesday, March 3, at 7:00pm, DC Public Library will host a Community Meeting in the North Hall at Eastern Market. At this meeting, residents will 1. Meet the design team, 2.Learn about the project, 3. Share ideas.

Friends of the Southeast hold a Book Sale from 10:00am – 3:00pm.

History, biography, mystery, fantasy, literature, photography, cookbooks — many brand new. Plus, most books are only $1. Proceeds from sales help fund library programs for children.

On Barracks Row:  Spring Mill Bread Going – “Jew-ish” Deli Coming

By Larry Janezich

Capitol Hill Corner went to check out Spring Mill Bread’s last day on Barracks Row yesterday.  Owner Katherine Rurka was on site, cleaning out the store.  The company’s logo had already been removed from the front of the building.  Asked why they were closing, she replied simply, “Our lease was up,” adding, “I’ve got to call the fire department, we’ve got smoke.  Where’s my phone?”  CHC offered a phone, but Rurka found hers, exclaiming, “On our last day,” and made the call.

Three DC Fire Department vehicles arrived within minutes and located a faulty breaker switch in the basement and no cause for alarm.

It didn’t seem like an opportune time to press for additional details.  Spring Mill Bakery closed their Bethesda location when their lease was up in January 2018.  Outlets in Arlington, Gaithersburg, Rockville, Takoma, and Spring Mill, Pennsylvania remain open.

As first reported by Popville, the popular “Jew-ish” Deli Call Your Mother will open in the space vacated by the bakery this spring.   It will join Bullfrog Bagels near Eastern Market, giving Capitol Hill a second source of bagels.  Here’s a link to Eater DC’s report http://bit.ly/2RPoeis and here’s a link to Call Your Mother’s menu https://www.callyourmotherdeli.com/menu.

 

The Week Ahead…and Update on Eastern Market Strategic Study

By Larry Janezich

Strategic/Business Plan for Eastern Market

The Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee met last week to hear from Architrave’s Scott Betz on the status of the Strategic/Business plan for Eastern Market.  Last fall, Architrave, a local architectural firm, won the $300,000 city grant to conduct the study.

Betz told the community that the survey* for input from residents and stakeholders is out and study updates are being posted on the website: https://www.easternmarketplan.org/. An effort is underway to distribute the survey broadly throughout the community and beyond.

Architrave is taking a deep dive into the history of Market management and governance, case studies of other public markets, and an operations analysis of Eastern Market.  Invitation only stakeholder and business owner meetings are planned for late February and a public meeting in March.

The firm has reached out to the following community organizations for introductory meetings and to learn more about the organizations:  Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee (EMCAC), Capitol Hill Association of Merchants & Professionals (CHAMPS), Capitol Hill Restoration Society, Eastern Market Main Street, Capitol Hill Business Improvement District (BID), DC Food Policy Council, EMPDC, the Hill Center, and ANC 6B. Representatives of these organizations will be invited to one of the stakeholder meetings in February.

Betz said that Architrave has visited market managers for public markets to find out about things that work and things that don’t work.  Those markets include Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia, Lancaster Central Market in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Boston Public Market, and Findlay Market in Cincinnati.  Betz expects Architrave’s recommendations to be guided by the operation of other markets and emphasized the need to promote the Eastern Market zone as a whole.

To that point, EMCAC board member Chuck Burger stressed the need to broaden the survey to those outside the immediate community.  He said the whole Hill is suffering – “people are not coming here and spending money – what can we do to bring an outside audience to the Market?”  Burger suggested that one way would be to advertise the survey in City Paper.

Betz acknowledged the need to widen the net, and noted that 80% of the 500 responses to the survey received so far have been from those living on Capitol Hill.  But, he noted, this is before launching of the effort to distribute the survey “in community organization newsletters and on social media.”

*Here’s a link to the survey https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/eastern-market-survey

The Week Ahead…

Monday, January 27

ANC6C Community Outreach Committee meets at 7:00pm at Eastern High School, Parent Center, 1700 East Capitol Street.

Agenda:

Committee business.

ANC6A Transportation and Public Space Committee meets at 7:00pm at Capitol Hill Towers, 900 G Street, NE.

Among items on the agenda:

Request for ANC support for 2020 Capitol Hill Classic on May 17.

Comprehensive Plan comments plus request for ANC endorsement of the Comprehensive Plan comments from Capitol Hill Village.

Development of a course of action in response to DDOT response to ANC request for four way stops at all local-local intersections in ANC6A.

Tuesday, January 28

ANC6B Executive Committee meets at 7:00pm in Hill Center to set the agenda for the February meeting of the ANC.

PSA 106 meets at 6:30pm, in the Community Center, 5th and K Streets, SE.

Update on Barracks Row and Lower 8th Street

By Larry Janezich

Community Connections tenant Dunkin’ Donuts has plans to relocate from the corner of 8th and Pennsylvania Avenue, to a few doors down 8th Street at 406 – 409 8th, the recently renovated site of space formerly occupied by the Old Siam. Dunkin Donuts took out a building permit to build out the space for a Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins store on January 7.  A manager at Baskin Robbins said he had heard of the plan but didn’t know the timing.

District Soul Food has not been able to get its long standing noise issues resolved and at a January 8 protest hearing ANC6B asked the Alcohol Beverage Review Board to withdraw their entertainment endorsement, or alternately, ensure that the establishment takes measures in a finite amount of time to bring the restaurant into compliance with the terms of their settlement agreement limiting noise.  The restaurant has not followed through on its agreement to install soundproof windows.  The board has 90 days from the January 8 hearing to render a decision.

In other food outlet news, CAVA will close temporarily for renovations this spring.

Last Tuesday night, ANC6B’s Barracks Row Working Group chair Brian Ready, stepped down from that leadership position, to devote more attention to his job of chair of the full ANC, to which he had been elected a week before.  Former ANC6B chair Chander Jayaraman will assume the chairmanship of the working group, which dovetails with his chairmanship of the ANC6B Alcoholic Beverage Committee. Ready will continue to serve as a member of the working group.  Jayaraman is running for a seat at large on the city council, and earlier this week announced he was the first candidate to qualify for matching funds.

Barracks Row’s quality of life problems were discussed at the Working Group meeting.  MPD stressed that many of these problems do not involve crimes, and  their primary focus is addressing violent crime.  MPD said that a holistic approach involving many city agencies is necessary.  Those agencies and other stakeholders will be invited to next month’s working group meeting.  In the meantime, efforts are underway to make the alcoves/entrances to empty storefronts less hospitable to hanging out by erecting plywood barricades.  MPD hopes to assign a second officer to supplement the presence of Barracks Row bike cop Officer (Maz) Mazloon.

And finally, The Brig on lower 8^th Street, is getting a residential neighbor. Last week, ANC6B voted 8-0 to support the Historic Preservation Application concept for the conversion of the three story commercial building at 716 L Street, SE – next to The Brig – to a four story plus penthouse, 18 unit apartment building.  Here’s how it looks now and how it will look:

 

 

 

 

 

The Week Ahead….And Community Connections Decides to Stay Put

Community Connections Is Staying Put

By Larry Janezich

Last Tuesday night, Ishan Heru, Community Connections Chief Impact Officer, told ANC6B that Community Connections is staying in its current location and is looking forward to serving the community.  Heru offered no further details.  CHC caught up with him outside the meeting and asked if this asked if this means that the owners of the building have taken it off the market.  He replied that they had.  Asked why, Heru said “They didn’t get the offers they were expecting.  It was a financial exploration.”

CHC asked Heru if Dunking Donuts – rumored to be relocation elsewhere on Barracks Row – is staying put as well.  He replied, “They are one of our tenants.  No decision has been made on that.”

Last September, CHC reported that the Community Connections building had been put on the market.  The Washington Business Journal reported that the building had been listed at $18.8 million.

Community Connections, founded by Helen Bergman, MSW, and Maxine Harris, PhD, in 1984 is the largest not-for-profit behavioral health provider in the city, serving more than 3,000 clients annually.  In addition to behavioral health, they provide homelessness/housing and outpatient addiction services. They acquired the former furniture store for their headquarters in 2006 for $12.5 million.

The Week Ahead…

Monday, January 20

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Federal and DC Government Holiday.  No trash or recycling pickup.

Tuesday, January 21

ANC6A Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee meets at 7:00pm, Sherwood Recreation Center, corner of 10^th and G Streets, NE. 

Agenda not available at press time.

Capitol Hill Restoration Society Board of Directors meets at 6:30pm, Capitol Hill Townhomes, 750 6^th Street, SE. 

Agenda not available at press time.

Wednesday, January 22

ANC6B Barracks Row Working Group meets at 6:30pm, 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, First Floor Conference Room.

Among items on the agenda: 

Presentation:  DC Office of Nightlife.

Review and update the vison mission and goals of the Barracks’ Row Working Group.

Discuss Restaurant Challenges: Why some are leaving the street I.e., Medium Rare.

Safety:

UPDATE: Any safety concerns

400 block and the aggressive panhandling

Questions/ Ideas for Safety Improvements

Positioning/Marketing:

Barrack’s Row Marketing Plan for the 2020 year

Review the Event Calendar for 2020

Collective Business Services:

Collective Snow Removal, Rat abatement, alley power washing and other services possible offered by Barracks Row Main Street for a fixed price.

Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee meets at 7:00pm, North Hall, Eastern Market.

Among items on the agenda:

DGS Performance Oversight Meeting on February 27, 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

The War on Rats – an Update

by Larry Janezich

On Tuesday night, ANC6B heard an update on the Rat Wars from Gerard Brown, who heads up the DC Department of Health’s rat control division.  Judging by the praise he received, Brown is pretty high on the list of the ANC’s favorite DC employees.  A lot of that has to do with Brown’s dedication to his job, and a lot has to do with his charm and straight talk.

What’s new is that his office has purchased a carbon monoxide machine to inject the gas into rat burrows which quickly kills rats underground.  This promises to be more effective than putting dry ice in burrows to achieve the same purpose.  Brown said his division has partnered with the Downtown Bid which pinpointed rat activity in specific tree boxes.  After treatment with carbon monoxide, the BID installs wire mesh below ground in the tree boxes to prevent rats from coming back.  Brown says he is reaching out to the Capitol Hill BID to enlist their services for a similar effort here on Capitol Hill.

Brown also said that the pilot program to sterilize rats which started last May has been extended.  He has had calls from all over the country with questions about the method’s effectiveness, but it’s too early to say.  Rats have been consuming the liquid which is dispensed in boxes around the city – one of which has been placed in the alley behind the restaurants across from Eastern Market.  Cameras will be installed which will allow the Health Department to judge the effectiveness by observing the number of juvenile rats.

In other news, the staff of his division has been increased from 12 to 16 and reorganized to increase efficiency.  In addition, his office is working to reduce the time lag between a complaint and a response to three days.

Brown said that weapons in the rat control arsenal currently include carbon monoxide, rodenticide, enforcement of trash violations, and partnership with residents.  He urged residents to report rat and trash issues.  Rodent control staff treats rat issues on public property but will treat the exterior of private property if residents request a rodent inspection and treatment. Here’s the link https://311.dc.gov/citizen/home

For other complaints about rodents or trash violations, residents should contact the Mayor’s Hotline at 311. Request the report be sent to DC Health, and the Health Department will receive the complaints electronically.

 

Brian Ready Elected Chair of ANC6B

by Larry Janezich

Last night, ANC6B elected Commissioner Brian Ready to Chair the Commission for the year-long term ending in January of 2021.  Outgoing Chair Chander Jayaraman nominated Ready, saying “It’s not often you get a chance to nominate someone like Brian, who, he noted is apparently* (see below) the first African American chair of ANC6B.  He characterized Ready as kind and thoughtful and expressed confidence that he will be a great chair adding that he was gratified to be able to nominate him.  Ready was approved by acclamation.

Ready, who is in his first term as Commissioner, represents single member district 6B03 which includes Southeast Library and Marion Park.  He has received considerable attention for his efforts to revitalize Barracks Row, chairing the ANC’s Barracks Row Working Group, comprised of ANC Commissioners and business owners.

Jayaraman decided not to run for a second term as Chair after he announced his candidacy for a Member-at-Large seat on the DC City Council.  He will serve out the remainder of his ANC term and continue to chair the Alcohol Beverage Committee, but is prohibited from running for reelection while running for City Council.

The ANC installed remaining officers, also by acclamation:  Chander Jayaraman, Vice Chair, Jerry Sroufe, Secretary; Corey Holman, Treasurer; and Kelly Waud, Parliamentarian.

*Former ANC6B Commissioner Peter Waldron notes that in 1994, Evelyn Washington was elected Chair of ANC6B succeeding Jamie Platt and followed by Peter Waldron for two terms.  Ms. Washington was African American.  There were 13 commissioners in 6B at that time plus a permanently unfilled Single Member District (SMD) that represented those housed in the DC jail.  We kicked around ideas on how to represent those who were incarcerated but the long and short of it was whoever was elected would not be able to attend meetings.  Ms. Washington was an able commissioner and chair.

The Week Ahead…ANC6B to Elect New Leadership

by Larry Janezich

ANC6B will elect new leadership on Tuesday and change is in the wind as Chair Chander Jayaraman, who is running for city council, is stepping down as chair.  Though he will continue to serve out his term on the ANC, Jayaraman cannot run for re-election if he is running for city council, so his single member district seat will be contested this fall.

ANC6D is electing leadership on Monday, but it looks like current officers will be re-elected. 6D will get an update on the 11^th Street Bridge Park, for those following that issue, and will consider a couple of new restaurant liquor licenses.

In addition to the election of new leadership, ANC6B will hear a presentation from the Pied Piper of the DC Health Department, Gerard Brown, on those noisome rodent issues. The Commission will also get an update on the status the ANC’s protest of District Soul Food’s liquor license based on noise and entertainment concerns. The ANC has retained attorney James Loots to represent them in pursuing the complaint before the Alcohol Beverage Regulation Administration.

Monday, January 13

ANC 6D meets at 7:00pm, 1100 4^th Street., Southwest.

Among items on the draft agenda:

Public Safety Report, First District MPD – Capt. Pulliam, Lt. Donigian, Lt. Anderson.

Presentation:

Department of Energy and Environment presentation – Jennifer Kulp, Energy Program Specialist.

Wharf Phase 2 – Dump trucks, traffic plan, concrete pours, after hours work.

Letter requesting increased monitoring and enforcement of utility crews operating in the District.

Chopsmith, 11 District Square, Southwest – new Class D restaurant liquor license, plus stipulated license.

MOMO, 1001 4^th Street, Southwest – new Class C restaurant liquor license.

207^th Street, Southwest – Public Space Committee application.

11^th Street Bridge Park project update.

Resolution proposing pedestrian only designation for Half Street between M & N Street, Southeast, near Nationals Ballpark.

Resolution – that DC Department of Transportation accept resident petition for residential parking on south side of M St., Southwest, east of Sixth Street to 430 M Street.

Election of ANC 6D officers for the 2020 term.

Tuesday, January 14

ANC6B will meet at 7:00pm, at Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

Among items on the draft agenda:

Presentation:

Gerard Brown, DC Department of Health, to speak on DC rodent concerns and efforts to reduce rodent population.

Bricklane Restaurant; 517 8th Street, SE – Class C Tavern license Renewal

530 11th Street, SE – Historic Preservation Application for concept for two-story rear addition.

800 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE (Metro Plaza Park Project), Public Space Application for: Paving: ADA Curb Ramp, Paving: Curb & Gutter(s), Paving: Sidewalk(s), Fixture: Bench(es), Fixture: Bike Rack(s): DDOT Standard, Fixture: Bollard(s) (Exception), Fixture: Fence to 42″ (Open Design), Fixture: Playground, Fixture: Table (Except for commercial), Fixture: Trash Receptacle(s) (Exception).

ANC 6B Comments and Proposed Amendments to Comprehensive Plan.

ANC 6B Rezoning Application for triangle bounded by 12th Street, SE; Water Street, SE; and M Street, SE (potential helipad site).

Review of Comp Plan Transportation Chapter.

Presentation on EMMP Transportation Impact Study.

Request to Remove AM Rush from 900 Block of I Street, SE.

Election of Officers: Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, Parliamentarian

Wednesday, January 15

ANC6A Economic Development and Zoning Committee meets at 7:00pm, Sherwood Recreation Center, Corner of 10th and G Streets, NE.

Among items on the draft agenda.

1301 H Street, NE:  Request for relief of Residential Parking Permit restrictions from a resident at 1301 H Street, NE.

DC Draft Comprehensive Plan Updates: Incorporate recommended changes from Capitol Hill Village into the ANC 6A submission to the DC Comprehensive Plan.  The Comprehensive Plan establishes a vision and broad goals to help inform decision-making and provide context for residents, officials, and stakeholders and can help guide and inform more fine-grained planning efforts.

Thursday, January 16

Capitol Hill Restoration Society Zoning Committee meets at Kirby House, 420 10^th Street, SE

Agenda not available at press time.