CAPITOL HILL CORNER

Hine Development Finally Lands Major Restaurant

by Larry Janezich

We’re short on details, but a new restaurant is coming to the corner of 7^th and C Streets, SE, catty corner from Eastern Market, with an indoor seating capacity of 230, a summer garden with 150 seats, and a total occupancy load of 400.  The space is on the ground floor of the northwest corner of the Hine project.   Since C Street has been privatized, the owners will not have to apply for a public space permit for the summer garden.

The liquor license applicant is asking for hours of operation for the summer garden, Sunday through Thursday 7:00am – 12am, Friday and Saturday 7am – 2am, and hours of alcoholic beverage sales, service, and consumption, Sunday through Thursday 8:00am – 12:00am, Friday and Saturday 8:00am – 2:00am.

More information should be forthcoming when the liquor license application comes before ANC6B’s Alcohol Beverage Control Committee, chaired by Chander Jayaraman, the first week of July.  Objectors will be heard at the ABRA Roll Call Hearing on August 12.  The Protest Hearing date is scheduled for October 9, 2019.

The owner(s) engaged Andrew Kline’s Veritas Law firm which specializes in representing hospitality clients in matters before the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.  An attorney for the firm is listed as the applicant. In the past, applicants have engaged the firm when they anticipate push back from nearby neighbors.

The new restaurant will be the third announced this year for the development.  Space for BRGZ – a hamburger joint with seating for 25 inside and 60 at the sidewalk café – is currently being built out directly across C Street.  Likewise, The Eastern – an upscale wine bar seating 55 inside and 30 at the sidewalk cafe – is coming to the 300 block of 7^th Street opposite Monmartre.

ANC6B Residents Fault DDOT on 5G Cell Installations

by Larry Janezich

Installation of new infrastructure for 5G (fifth-generation cellular wireless) has been under the radar of most residents whose blocks will be affected until recently, when telecommunication companies AT&T, Verizon, and Crown Castle sent out letters notifying neighbors of the pending installation on certain blocks.  The three companies plan to install 7000 of the cells attached to light and utility poles over the next five years – 10% of the 71,000 light poles in the District.  There are currently 26 small cell installations scheduled for ANC6B; most of them appear to be located near the US Capitol, the location driven by the density of users.  Some have described the devices as refrigerators attached to light poles.

The DC Department of Transportation is supporting and authorizing the project, but has left it up to the companies to inform the residents directly affected.  That information, for the most part, that has not penetrated to a neighborhood level until now.  Suddenly, with the installations imminent, there are public concerns about health, safety and aesthetics.

About 50 Capitol Hill residents showed up Wednesday night for a special ANC6B meeting to hear telecommunication representatives explain 5G and to answer questions.  DDOT declined an invitation to attend the meeting.

The companies are desperate for additional capacity, they say, not only because of the advance in technology, but also because demand is degrading the quality of 4G cell phone service.  The companies have selected installation locations according to guidelines established by DC’s Department of Transportation (Public Space Committee), and submitted applications for installation to that agency, which will give final approval.  Industry reps say that once DDOT signs off on a location, it’s pretty much a done deal.  Residents who asked about what recourse they had to oppose a selection got little satisfaction from industry pledges to remain open to resident’s concerns and feedback.

The major concerns raised by residents last night were health and safety, and aesthetics, with the most questions raised about the former.  One attendee said she had small children, and “everybody on the block is very concerned about it.”  Industry reps sought to assure attendees that the amount of electromagnetic radiation produced by the new small cells is “a mere fraction of what is allowed” by federal regulations.

Many residents at the meeting had only recently learned about 5G, and faulted DDOT for not doing a better job of informing the public rather than leaving that task to the telecommunications industry.  Several residents complained that numerous calls to telecommunications reps were not returned.  For its part those industry representatives said that they wanted to be more transparent and identify the individual poles where they intended to install equipment, but DDOT had dictated the content of the form letter which excluded that information.  Part of resident’s frustration was that there was no one present who could talk about what impact combined plans of the three companies would have.

Commissioner Jennifer Samolyk got pledges from the company representatives to attend another meeting in September.  Samolyk said she hoped DDOT would attend the September meeting, agreeing with one resident that “DDOT needs to give us the big picture.”

Here are some links to additional information:

FAQ’s – https://ddot.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/ddot/page_content/attachments/Branded%20Small%20Cell%20FAQ%20Prep%206-6-19_1.pdf

Guidelines – https://ddot.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/ddot/page_content/attachments/Final%20Third%20Version%20of%20the%20Small%20Cell%20Guidelines.pdf

DDOT Website on Small Cells –  https://ddot.dc.gov/smallcell

 

Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton at  ANC6B: “The President is trying to steal the Fourth of July”

by Larry Janezich

Congresswoman Norton appeared before ANC6B for the first time Tuesday night to talk about her work in Congress for DC residents.  She says she is pursuing two tracks to equality:  advancing statehood and completing home rule.  But it was her statement about the President and the Fourth of July which was the highpoint in her discussion of her work to protect DC from the administration and the Republican Senate.

She called the President’s intention to take over the July 4^th celebration “dangerous” – and noted that “there is nothing more apolitical than the traditional July 4^th Concert” on the West Front of the US Capitol.  She called the celebration little changed over the decades until 9/11 when attendees were required to go through metal detectors.  She seemed chagrined when she alluded to the Lincoln Memorial – where the Rev. Martin Luther King’s delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech and where the President plans to deliver a Fourth of July address.  She said she is trying to work to get the celebration back where it was, offering no details, but perhaps thinking of legislation reserving the National Memorials for non-political purposes.

On Wednesday, the Washington Post reported that the White House is considering ordering up a second firework display on July Fourth in connection with a speech by the President.  See here:  https://wapo.st/2Ixjs3i

Norton addressed several other topics of special concern to DC residents:

Statehood:  Her bill on DC Statehood has 207 co-sponsors and needs 218 to pass the House.  She said it looks like the House has enough votes to pass the bill but that will be hard to get the bill through the Senate.  The Senate bill was introduced by Senator Tom Carper, (D-DE) and has 28 cosponsors.

Advancing Statehood:  Norton is pursuing several goals which can be achieved legislatively without statehood.  These include providing for local prosecutors, authority to call out the National Guard, and control over local courts.

RFK Stadium: Norton has introduced a bill to authorize the federal government’s sale of the RFK Stadium site and additional unused federal land to DC.  She noted the controversy surrounding a proposed new stadium for Washington’s football team, and said that her legislation “wiped the slate clean, taking the football team out of it.”  Her bill, she says, states the city wants it for “amenities.”  Literature distributed at the meeting clarifies that this means strengthening DC’s ability to redevelop the site with options such as additional green space, affordable housing, commercial development,”etc.

During Q&A, residents and commissioners in attendance raised questions about the trend of lobbying groups and non-profits buying up residential houses near the Capitol and using them as event spaces; a complaint that politicians talk about helping small businesses but don’t really help, citing the hardship caused by the government shutdown earlier this year; the failure of the US Attorney’s Office to prosecute crimes involving guns and other violent crimes as well as failing in transparency; the Architect of the Capitol’s failure to incentivize use of mass transit and ride share while increasing parking for Congressional staff; and an objection to the Architect of the Capitol serving on the DC Zoning Commission.

Norton said she had not heard of the housing or parking issues but urged further communication with her office on those.  She said she might be able to do something about the prosecutor’s office and the Architect of the Capitol on the Zoning Board – maybe through legislation.  She was sympathetic about the effect of the government shut down on small business but said there was little that could be done about that except elect a new president.

Norton was scheduled to address ANC6A at its monthly meeting on Thursday night, but a conflict in her schedule required her to cancel that meeting.

Owners Plan Major Upgrade for Albert’s Liquor in Hill East

by Larry Janezich

Albert’s Liquors owners, Jorge and Blanca Ventura, plan to transform the 580 square foot building at 328 Kentucky Avenue, SE, into a new high end liquor venue which will offer wine and snacks on two outdoor patios and add a 1400 square foot, 2 bedroom, 2.5 bath living unit on two floors above the store.  The project will not be subject to historical preservation review, since it lies outside the Capitol Hill Historic District.  The store is a stone’s throw from the development of the new Safeway mixed use development under construction catty corner across D Street, SE.

PGN Architects, which is designing the building, says a Zoning Adjustment Application will come before the Bureau of Zoning Adjustment in July or September.  The plan to serve alcohol will also require an adjustment to the liquor license.

The Week Ahead…. & Barracks Row Shakespeare Rehearsal Space Morphs Into Retail Space

Monday, June 10

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

Among items on the draft agenda:

Public Safety Report- First District MPD (PSA 103, PSA 105 & PSA 106) Capt. Mongal, Capt. Dorrough.

Letter of Support for Soccer Mini-Pitch at Randall Field.

Letter to DDOT regarding Parking spots on L St, 1st Street, and Cushing, SE.

Amidon Bowen Kids Presentation.

Verizon and AT&T (Smartlink) 5G – Mario Acosta Velez, Verizon; Alex Miller, AT&T.

Amidon Field Restoration Update – Cecelia Lane, DOEE.

How’s My Driving Mobile App – Mark Sussman.

DMV Ticket Ombudsman Presentation.

DC United CBCC Update – Rikki Kramer.

DDOT Update on New Jersey Avenue, SE, and I Street, SE, intersection.

DC Statehood Resolution.

Gatsby, 1201 Half Street, SE: New CR liquor license with sidewalk cafe + Cooperative Agreement.

Tall Ship Providence, (106 N. Lee Street, Alexandria, VA), New CX liquor license w/Entertainment.

Sandlot Southwest, 1800 Half Street, SW: New CT liquor license.

Mary, 2100 2nd Street, SW: New CR liquor license w/ summer garden – Protest or request to postpone dates.

Letter to DC Charter School Board supporting DCPS and Jefferson PTO’s request for Appletree to vacate when contract is up and support opposition to Appletree being provided space in Jefferson after the modernization.

First Street SW Pier, Public Space Application.

Motion to Rescind or Amend – Proposed Closing of Half and Potomac Avenue, SW.

Tuesday, June 11

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

Among items on the draft agenda:

Presentation: Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton.

Liquor license renewals:

Radici, 301 7th Street, SE; Class “C” Renewal.

La Plaza Mexican Restaurant, 629 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE; Class “CR” Renewal.

Le Pain Quotidien, 666 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE; Class “D” Renewal.

The Ugly Mug Dining Saloon/Valor Brew Pub, 723 8th Street, SE; Class “C” Renewal.

ABRA-015387: La Lomita Dos, Escobar Rincon Inc., 308 Pennsylvania Ave SE; Class “C” Renewal.

Ambar, 8th Street, SE; Class “C” Renewal.

District Soul Food Restaurant & Lounge, 500 8th Street, SE; Class “CR” Restaurant License Renewal.

Medium Rare Barracks Row, 515 8th Street, SE; Class “CR” Renewal.

Bullfrog Bagels, 317 7th Street, SE; Class “CR” Renewal.

Cafe 8, Cafe Bistro MED,424 8th Street, SE; Class “C” Renewal.

Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol Street, SE – Historic Preservation Application, Concept: Exterior modifications to create a new visitor entrance.

Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol Street, SE – Historic Preservation Application, Concept: Modifications to interior Historic Landmark–Bond Reading Room.

ANC Support letter for Lockwood Apartments community benefit funds moved to escrow.

708 4th Street, SE – Zoning Adjustment Application, Special exceptions to construct a two-story rear addition to an existing, attached principal dwelling unit.

142 D Street, SE; Historic Preservation Permit: Rear, upper, and dogleg infill addition.

530 11th Street, SE. Historic Preservation Application, Concept: two-story rear addition.

530 11th Street, SE: Bureau of Zoning Adjustment Application – Special exceptions to construct a two-story rear addition.

511 5th Street, SE – Historic Preservation Application, Concept: Rear two-story and dogleg infill addition.

221 10th Street, SE – Bureau of Zoning adjustment, Special exceptions to construct an accessory building with a garage and dwelling unit.

221 10th Street, SE – Historic Preservation Application, Concept: two-story carriage house.

233 1/2 9th Street, SE – Historic Preservation Application – Concept, Rooftop addition to existing accessory building/garage.

Letter to Councilmembers Allen and Cheh supporting CM Allen’s Vision Zero Enhancement Omnibus Amendment Act of 2019.

Letter supporting reversing bike lane to contraflow on the 700 Block of 15th Street, SE.

Letter to DDOT on Penn-Potomac Avenue Project.

Letter of support for all way stop control and intersections: 10^th and South Carolina, 10^th and East Capitol, and 12^th and G Streets, SE.

Wednesday, June 12

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

Among items on the draft agenda:

Verizon, 120 7th Street NE—Discussion of mitigations, use of public space.

35 New York Avenue NE—Streetscape improvements.

Capitol Crossing, PUD modification.

429 5th Street, NE, Historic Preservation Application, Revised Concept, third-story addition, rooftop  one-story addition.

913 7th Street, NE, Zoning Adjustment to permit two-story rear addition.

633 7th Street, NE, Zoning Adjustment to permit two-story rear addition.

Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol, Historic Preservation Application, Concept , visitor entrance.

501 H Street NE, Zoning Adjustment to permit mixed use building, second floor glass windows.

Call boxes project – discussion.

Board of Elections, proposed new precinct – discussion.

ANC 6B Special Call Meeting: 5th Generation (5G) Small Cell Tower Installation

ANC6M meets at 7:00pm, at The Yards- 700 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, First Floor Conference Room.

Agenda:

Please join ANC 6B on Wednesday June 12th for a Special Call meeting to discuss the 5G Small Cell Tower Installations in Ward 6. The telecommunications industry will be deploying infrastructure that will bring 5th Generation (5G) technology to the area via wireless telecommunication antennae and equipment (small cell). Small Cell infrastructure consists of antennas and related power equipment that transmits wireless signals to improve reliable data streaming. This infrastructure will provide cellular and data coverage throughout Ward 6.  For more information on the approval process and guidelines, please visit https://ddot.dc.gov/smallcell

Thursday, June 13

ANC6A meets at 7:00pm, Miner Elementary, 601 Fifteenth Street, NE.

Among items on the draft agenda:

Presentation:  U.S. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton.

Maryland Avenue NE Construction Update – Mohamed Dahir, DDOT

Washington Gas Project Update – Apera Nwora, Washington Gas

 Suggested Motion: ANC6A approve the grant for $800.00 to Eastern High School for the repair of the grand piano and the upright piano.

Recommendation: ANC 6A take no action on the license renewals for Quara Ethiopian Fusion Restaurant, at 818 H Street, NE; DC Conscious Café  at 1413 H Street, NE; Gallery O, at 1354 H Street, NE, and Maketto at 1351 H Street, NE.

Recommendation: ANC 6A protest RedRocks at 1348 H Street, NE, request for an extension of entertainment hours unless RedRocks makes satisfactory efforts to comply with the terms of its existing settlement agreement, including terms regarding noise reduction and control.

Recommendation: ANC 6A protest 12 Twelve DC/Kyss Kyss, 1210-1212 H Street, NE,) request for a sidewalk cafe endorsement unless the chair or chairs of the ABL indicate that they have had a satisfactory discussion with representatives from Kyss Kyss.

Recommendation: ANC6A send a letter to DDOT requesting that all local/local intersections that are not already all-way stops should become all-way stops, except in cases where DDOT determines that it is infeasible.

Recommendation: ANC6A send a letter to DDOT in opposition to the request for a curb-cut onto Wylie Street (associated with Kadida Development at 808 13th Street, NE) on the grounds that it converts a public benefit (2 publicly available parking spaces) into a private amenity (single, privately owned parking space).

Suggested Motion: ANC 6A send a letter of support to DDOT for the proposed K Street NE “road diet” which includes the following modifications to traffic and/or parking requirements:

Remove the existing morning peak hour parking restrictions (NO STANDING OR PARKING, 7:00 am to 9:30 am, Monday – Friday) on the north side of K Street, NE between 2nd Street and 6th Street, NE;

Remove the existing afternoon peak hour parking restrictions (NO STANDING OR PARKING, 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm, Monday – Friday) on the south side of K Street, NE between 2nd Street and 12th Street, NE;

Remove approximately 32 parking spaces from the south side of K Street, NE, between 2nd Street and 6th Street, NE for installation of east and westbound bike lanes;

Remove approximately four (4) parking spaces from the north side of the 500 block of K Street, NE to provide an eastbound left-turn lane;

Remove approximately eight (8) parking spaces from the south side of the 700 block of K Street, NE and one (1) parking spaces from the south side of K Street, NE to provide an eastbound left-turn lane at 8th Street, NE;

Designate the parking on the north side of the 200, 300, 400, and 500 blocks of K Street, NE, to be restricted to two-hour parking between the hours of 7:00 am and 12:00 am from Monday through Sunday, with Zone 6 permit holders excepted; and

Designate the parking on the east and west sides of the 900 and 1000 blocks of 3rd Street, 4th Street, 5th Street, and 6th Street, NE, to be restricted to two-hour parking between the hours of 7:00 am and 12:00 am from Monday through Sunday, with Zone 6 permit holders excepted.

Suggested Motion: ANC6A send a letter of support to DDOT in response to Notice of Intent for improving safety conditions at 13th Street, Tennessee Avenue/Constitution Avenue NE in response to ANC6A’s request for traffic calming made in November 2015.

ANC6B Transportation Committee Gives Nudge to CM Allen’s Traffic/Parking Enforcement Bill

by Larry Janezich

CM Allen’s Vision Zero Enhancement Omnibus Amendment Act has been kicking around since last year when a smaller version was introduced to “start a conversation,” according to Allen’s Legislative Director, Chris Laskowski.  A new bill was introduced this year, and a number of pedestrian fatalities added impetus to its proposed agenda.

Wednesday night, ANC6B’s Transportation Committee, chaired by Kirsten Oldenburg, voted to recommend that the full ANC send a letter to councilmembers Allen and Cheh supporting Allen’s Vision Zero legislation.  Cheh chairs the Committee on Transportation where Allen’s bill has been referred and she is expected to hold hearings this fall.

The most controversial part of the bill is a provision for citizen parking enforcement.  The pilot program would establish 10 citizen enforcers per ward, who after training could issue parking tickets, documenting violations with photos.  Laskowski told the committee that bills rarely get stronger after introduction; a better strategy is to introduce a strong bill and scale it back if necessary.  He hinted that Allen would not let the citizen parking enforcer language jeopardize the bill.  Other provisions would mandate wider application of four way stops at intersections, ban right turns on red, and reduce the current 25 mph speed limit to 20 mph on most neighborhood streets.  The bill also calls for aggressive towing of cars parked in bike lanes, bus stops and cross walks.

Some observers fear that the bill’s momentum following a series of pedestrian deaths has waned.  Commissioner Kelly Waud moved that the committee support the bill and recommend that a letter be sent to the councilmembers.  The motion passed unanimously, and a letter is likely win quick approval at the full ANC at its monthly meeting next Tuesday in Hill Center.

FOX 5 Immersion Coverage of Eastern Market Today Kicks off “Rediscover Eastern Market Weekend”

by Larry Janezich

FOX 5 broadcast live from Eastern Market this morning, as part of their summer Zip Trip series which puts their Good Day DC team into a different location each Friday to showcase local restaurants, schools, and businesses.

According to John Stokes, Department of General Services (DGS) Communications Director, DGS and Eastern Market were looking for a way to commemorate the 10^th year anniversary of the reopening of Eastern Market after the disastrous fire in April, 2007.  Stokes said that a connection with FOX 5 lead to a collaboration to showcase the Market today.  Eastern Market Manager Barry Margeson brought in some of the regular Eastern Market vendors whose products can be made on site as well as local non-profit groups to enliven the site.

Commemoration of the reopening will continue through the weekend, and Eastern Market invites all community stakeholders and residents to join them for the “Rediscover Eastern Market’”Weekend Celebration from June 7th-9th.

For a schedule of events, see here:

http://easternmarket-dc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Rediscover-EM-w-Schedule_square-01.png

To volunteer to help manage the event on Saturday and Sunday, see here:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b084ba4aa2fabf94-rediscover

Folger Imagines Great Hall as Community Gathering Place After Two Year Closure

by Larry Janezich

Imagine the Folger’s Great Hall as a gathering space, filled with light, with plentiful seating, rugs, wi-fi, and a full time concession stand.  Here, planners say, researchers, the community, students, tourists –  maybe Congressional staffers seeking relief from transactional relationships – will commingle.  Think of the atmosphere in the atrium in the National Portrait Gallery/American Art Museum.

That’s the one of the goals of the plan for the upcoming two year renovation of the Folger Library.  The driving force behind the project is to create new, permanent, below- grade exhibition space for the Library’s vast collection of literary treasures.  Tuesday night, Senior Advisor to the Director Melody Fetske presented the Library’s Historic Preservation and Zoning Adjustment Applications for the renovation to ANC6B’s Planning and Zoning Committee.  The proposal won the unanimous support of the Committee which recommended that the full ANC support the plan at its June meeting next Tuesday.

Capitol Hill Corner followed up in a conversation with Garland Scott, head of External Relations for the Folger.  She said that the vision was to return the Great Hall to the purpose which benefactors Clay and Emily Folger* intended.

Most visitors have seen the Great Hall in dim artificial light meant to protect the rare materials on display.  With the relocation of the Folger’s collection, the Great Hall can be used for other purposes.  The current exhibition in half the hall contains no such materials, permitting shutters to be opened, flooding the interior with the northern light that artists prefer.  The light brings to life details easily overlooked in a darker room:  the rich paneling, the ceiling, the comedy and tragedy floor tiles, the coats of arms of Elizabeth the First and that of America and beneath each their attendant quotations by David Garrick and William Winter.

The Library already rents out some of its space as event space some 20 times a year.  According to Scott, the Great Hall could also be used as event space, providing a new source of revenue.

The Folger building will be open to daytime visitors through Jan 5, 2020. Folger Theatre performances will continue through March 1, 2020. Folger Consort will be in residence at St. Mark’s beginning in fall 2019. The building will reopen in 2022.

The Folger Library advises that Capitol Hill neighbors wanting to learn more about the building project, view architectural renderings and where to find Folger performances and readings, etc., during construction, can get details at www.folger.edu/renovation

*According to Wikipedia, Standard Oil of New York executive Henry Clay Folger, an avid collector of Shakespeareana and his wife Emily decided on the current location for a library to house their collection near the end of WWI.  Townhouses occupied the land, and Folger spent years buying them up.  The Library of Congress had its eye on the land for expansion, but Congress designated the land for the Folger in 1928.

Hill East Gets Update on Development of Reservation 13

by Larry Janezich

ANC6B’s Hill East Task Force, chaired by Commissioner Denise Krepp, met last night with a slew of city officials, utility representatives, developers and construction people to update current and former ANC6B Commissioners and Hill East residents on progress on the development of Reservation 13 and to address concerns about street construction and traffic management in nearby neighborhoods.

Chris Donatelli of Donatelli Development, announced that construction of the building on the second of the two sites currently being developed will begin in August, with an anticipated construction time line of 18 months.  This building, the smaller of the two mixed use projects, will provide 91 living units, plus 10,000 square feet of first floor retail.  Donatelli said that “there had been a lot of interest” from retail providers, though none had been signed yet.  This is typical of new developments – the retail is not nailed down until the building is complete.

Donatelli said that framing is underway on the first and larger building – which will deliver 262 apartments and – according to earlier reports – 13,000 square feet of retail plus 115 underground parking spaces.

Most of the meeting was about management of construction traffic in adjoining neighborhoods, and DDOT Associate Director Matthew Marcou was on hand to address those issues, as well as DDOT’s plans for construction work necessary in connection with bringing utilities to the site.