CAPITOL HILL CORNER

 

“Raising Spirits” – a Jolting Exhibit at The Fridge

By Larry Janezich

As an artist I know remarked, “There’s a big difference between art and the art market.  The market is fashion.  I don’t care what level you’re talking about.”

Nic Zimbro’s art jolts the imagination at his show “Raising Spirits” at The Fridge.

Two huge collage installations dominate the exhibit, one a Tyrannosaurs Rex; the other Tyrannosaurus of art, Picasso.  The former is mediation on violence – the latter a meditation on the art market.

Zimbro: “There’s never been a time in my life when there wasn’t art.”  He studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, and his mentor there, he says, advised him to stay away from the market – just continue developing.  He says he followed that advice – once living in a trailer with no electricity while he developed his craft.  In his youth he was attracted to graffiti art but has left that far behind and now admits to the influence of Goya in his work.

Zimbro – Muralist/Painter/Collagist/Assemblage-ist – participated in The Fridge’s 2018 Street Sticker Expo creating a wall-sized collage portrait from stickers which took him a week to create in place.  His current exhibit includes a selection of smaller paintings – about 100 pieces in all.  It will be on view through April 28, 2019 and is free and open to the public. For more of his work go here:  https://insta-stalker.com/profile/mr.zimbro/

E-mail owner and Gallery Director Alex Goldstein for an appointment or inquiries. alex@thefridgedc.com

The Fridge is located on Barracks Row at 516 1/2 8th Street, SE (rear alley) Washington, DC 20003

Hours: Tuesday  Closed, Wednesday Closed, Thursday 1–7PM, Friday 1–7PM, Saturday 12–7PM, Sunday 12–5PM, Monday Closed.

 

The Week Ahead…. CM Allen at ANC6B & ANC6D, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton at ANC6D

by Larry Janezich

Monday, April 8

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

Among items on the draft agenda:

Remarks:  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton.  

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

Letter to DDOT and DPW RE Request for Protected Bike Lanes on L’Enfant Plaza, SW.

Letter RE Support for Waterfront Towers to Engage DDOT to Install Uber/Lyft Drop-off Zone on 3^rd Street, SW.

Letter to DDOT Public Space Committee RE Support for Cambria Hotel Public Space Application.

Office of Campaign Finance, Public Funding Program – Deloris Ramsey.

Wharf Phase II Quarterly Construction Update – Elinor Bacon.

Presentation:  Department of Housing and Community Development – Deputy Director Allison Ladd.

Councilmember Charles Allen on the DC City Council and ANC6D. 

Alcohol Beverage License Applications:

Residence Inn Capitol, 333 E Street, SW: new Tavern license with entertainment endorsement.

Homewood Suites, 50 M Street, SE: Amendment 1 to Tabern license: 170 vs. 35 in rooftop summer garden.

Salt Line, 79 Potomac Avenue, SE: Amd 1 to Restaurant license: addition of 34 seats in summer garden = 130 indoor & 229 Summer garden patrons.

Punch Bowl Social, 1250 Half Street, SE: new Restaurant license.

Development, Planning, and Transportation Applications:

Yards Parcel G Zoning Appliction Design Review.

Trapeze School Relocation Use Approval.

41 L Street SE Public Space Permit Application.

Tuesday, April 9

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

Among items on the draft agenda:

Presentation:  Councilmember Charles Allen on the DC City Council and ANC6B. 

Presentation:  Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge Project Representative: Follow-up from February meeting http://www.southcapbridgeproject.com/

Alcohol beverage license renewals:

Young Chow Asian Restaurant; 312 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

District Taco; 656 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

Sizzling Express; 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

The Pretzel Bakery; 257 15th Street, SE,

National Democratic Club; 30 Ivy Street, SE.

Sanaphan Thai Cuisine; 653 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

Nooshi Capitol Hill; 524 8th Street, SE.

Belga Café; 514 8th Street, SE.

Beuchert’s Saloon; 623 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

Little Pearl; 921 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE;.

Rose’s Luxury; 717 8th Street, SE.

Pineapple and Pearls; 715 8th Street, SE.

Trattoria Alberto; 504 8th Street, SE.

District Soul Food; 500 8th Street, SE.

Bullfeathers; 410 1st St SE

Lavagna; 539 8th Street, SE.

Joselito, Casa de Comidas; 660 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

Montmartre/7th Hill; 327 7th Street, SE.

Atish on the Hill; 609 Pennsylvania Avemue, SE.

Bullfrog Bagels; 317 7th Street, SE;

811 E Street SE; Historic Preservation Application – concept: 2-story rear addition with partial 3rd floor, new windows and wells on front, back and side.

1719 C Street, SE; Zoning Adjustment Application for a Special Exception to replace the existing one story accessory building with a two-story building containing an accessory apartment.

Letter of support for Capitol Hill Arts Workshop Lease Renewal Authorization Act of 2019. 20 year renewal of lease for CHAW at 545 7th Street. SE.

Letter to DDOT opposing a proposed Circulator Route change to permit new turn-around route around Metro Plaza for north bound buses on 8^th Street, turning across traffic to proceed west on D Street, SE (in front of Hill’s Kitchen), then right on 7^th Street SE at intersection with D Street, and right on Pennsylvania Avenue at the intersection of 7^th and Pennsylvania.

Wednesday, April 9

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

Among items on the draft agenda:

Alcohol beverage license renewals:

The 116 Club, 234 3rd Street, NE.

Le Grenier, 502 H Street, NE

Ethiopic Restaurant, 401 H Street, NE

Charlie Palmer Steak, 101 Constitution Avenue, NE

Red River Grill/Union Pub, 201 Massachusetts Avenue, NE.

Brothers Burger Bar, LLC d/b/a Aroma, 707 H Street, NE, ABRA-112502, new restaurant license.

Washington Gateway, 200 Florida Avenue, NE— discussion of sidewalk, streetscape, utility trench, etc.

3rd and A Street, NE—DDOT Notice of Intent to install all-way stop control.

Logan School, 215 G Street, NE— discussion of concept, modernization and expansion.

414 Constitution Ave NE, Historic Preservation Application – concept for a three-story rear addition.

414 Constitution Ave NE, Zoning Adjustment Application – Special exception, lot occupancy requirements, as above.

639 Special Lexington Place NE, Zoning Adjustment Application – Special exceptions, rear addition.

1120 Abbey Place NE, Zoning Adjustment Application – Special exceptions, two-story rear addition..

459 5th Street, NE, Historic Preservation Application — Revised concept approval, three-story rear addition and one-story rooftop addition.

120 7th Street NE, potential BZA appeal, permit violation, penthouse regulations.

DCRA Director confirmation hearing— Potential topics for ANC6C testimony

Thursday, April 11

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

Among items on the draft agenda:

Presentation:  Metropolitan Police Department Captain Michael Pulliam (1st District) and Officer Fisher (5th District).

Presentation:  Chief of Staff Ben Stutz, Office of the City Administrator – FY20 Proposed Budget and Investments in Ward 6.

Presentation:  John Deignan, Communications Coordinator, DC Water.

Dangerously Delicious Pies, 1339 H Street, NE – Alcoholic Beverage License renewal.

Recommendation: ANC 6A send a letter of support for the District Department of Transportation’s (DDOT) proposal to install traffic calming measures as proposed at the 9^th Street/West Virginia Avenue/L Street NE intersection.

Letter declining ANC6A support for Public Space Permit to extend eight (8) driveways through public space to allow access to the alley lots located behind the 17 Solar Condominium property at 410-417 17^th Street NE, due to the petitioner’s lack of guidance from DDOT’s Public Space Committee (PSC) about alley lot access requirements and the likelihood that a more suitable parking solution can be found.

1433 G Street, NE – letter of support for a Special Exception to permit construction of a two-story rear addition to an existing principal dwelling unit.

1348 Constitution Avenue – letter of support for a Special Exception to allow construction of a rear addition to an existing attached principal dwelling unit.

Saturday, April 13

Friends of Southeast Library hold a booksale, 10:00am – 3:00pm.  Southeast Library, lower level.

Tio Javier and Sizzling Express Will Close – Other Food News You May Have Missed Last Week….

by Larry Janezich

Tio Javier:  Will close on April 15, according to @barredindc.  The Mexican restaurant with the popular roof deck overlooking Barracks Row is one of William Sport’s Hill Restaurant Group (formerly managed by Xavier Cervera).  According to Barracks Row Main Street, it will reopen as “a great new, refreshed concept by the same owners.”    Tom Johnson, Managing Partner for the Hill Restaurant Group, is one of the co-chairs of the Barracks Row Working Group established by ANC6B Chair Chander Jayaraman to focus on reviving Barracks Row, which is currently experiencing a falling off as a hospitality industry destination.  See here:  https://bit.ly/2up9cnj

Sizzling Express:  According to a Sizzling Express manager, the restaurant will close at the end of June when their lease expires.  They do not plan to reopen in another location.  In December, the restaurant cut back its hours, closing at 3:00pm on Sundays.  A pet store and grooming service are rumored to be the successor. 

District Soul Food:  Got a grilling from ANC6B’s Alcohol Beverage Control Committee members considering the owners’ application for a liquor license renewal.  According to tweets by Committee (and ANC6B) Chair Chander Jayaraman, the main issues are music noise (they are going to install new windows), patron noise (they can’t control what people do after they leave, but will post a sign asking patrons to be respectful of neighbors), trash (trash totes are being left outside despite agreement to store indoors), and cigar smoke seeping into adjacent restaurant Trattoria Alberto (DOH says DSF has now record that they got a required exemption to have a cigar lounge).  The committee and the applicant went around in circles for about 45 minutes before the Committee voted to take “no position” on the application and bucked it up to the full ANC6B meeting next Tuesday.

 

 

Update – Third Community Meeting on Redesign of Eastern Market Metro Plaza

by Larry Janezich

The Department of General Services (DGS) convened the third community meeting on redesign of the Eastern Market Metro Plaza Wednesday night.  John Stokes, DGS Communications Director, said they would continue to host meetings “until we get as close a consensus as possible” on the design.  The goal is to build a space people want to come to and stay.

Project manager Cassidy Mullen gave a presentation on the status of the project.  On March 21, the design team took their plan before the Commission on Fine Arts (CFA) – the federal agency who approves public design plans.  The CFA withheld that approval and offered comments which DGS is now working to address.

Cassidy said the Commission had no issues with individual components of the plan, but felt that there was “too much going on” and that parcel 1 (Metro entrance) and parcel 4 (playground) needed more separation and should be treated as independent parks.

Revisions will build on the existing plan and the design team has taken a step back to look at the big picture – how the shapes and forms relate to each other and at how to make the parcels operate independently, with parcel one focused on residential use and parcel 4 focused on transit and the commercial rim.

At Wednesday night’s hearing, the design team only had rough sketches of the latest concept with some preliminary changes to playground outlines and an attempt to preserve existing trees on parcel one and an attempt to emphasize the urban plaza feel of parcel 4.  Cassidy emphasized they were not wiping the slate clean and the project would continue to be a community-based plan.

Under the current timeline for the project, work will begin soon on the schematic design phase, adding details to define what the parks will look like – colors, forms, lighting.

The interim playground equipment is on order and will be installed in May, and later be incorporated into the 7,200 square foot permanent playground, which Cassidy said was among the larger public playgrounds in the city.

DGS will get permits in the summer/fall, and begin construction in December of 2019.  The initial $5.9 million available will be spent to initiate construction on both parcel 1 and parcel 4, concentrating on the areas outlined in purple in the design concept above.

The Department of Transportation  is finalizing a vehicular and pedestrian transportation study.  The current design anticipates reversing the flow of traffic on the two D Streets, north and south of the parks.

DGS is drawing plans being made for a maintenance budget on a 40 year cycle ensuring money will be available far into the future.

The next community meeting will be in mid to late June.

Here’s the link to the project website:  https://dgs.dc.gov/page/eastern-market-metro-park-project

The Week Ahead…It’s Liquor License Renewal Time – Time to Raise Bad Neighbor Issues

by Larry Janezich

Monday, April 1

ANC6B Transportation Committee will meet at 7:00pm in the ground floor conference room of the Hine Project – 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, entrance to left of Trader Joe’s. 

Among items on the draft agenda:

Proposed improvements to 1300 block of E Street, SE.

Speed Cameras as a traffic calming device for residential neighborhoods.

Proposed Circulator Turnaround at Eastern Market Metro.

Pedestrian Safety Solutions for the Intersections of South Carolina Avenue, SE; E Street, SE; and 4th Street, SE.

ANC 6C Alcoholic Beverage Licensing Committee will meet at 7:00pm, Kaiser Permanente, 700 2^nd Street, NE.

Among items on the draft agenda:

Liquor license renewals for:

116 Club, 234 3rd Street NE, Washington.

Le Grenier, 502 H Street NE.

Ethiopic Restaurant, 401 H Street NE.

Charlie Palmer Steak, 101 Constitution Avenue, NW.

Union Pub, 201 Massachusetts Avenue, NE.

New Application:

Aroma, 707 H Street, NE, Retailer’s Class “C” Restaurant license.

Capitol Hill Restoration Society Historic Preservation Committee meets at 6:30pm, at Kirby House, 420 10^th Street, SE. 

Agenda not available at press time. 

Washington Bach Consort Returns with Free Music Series, 12:10pm, St. Peter’s Church (see details below)*

Tuesday, April 2

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

Among items on the draft agenda:

811 E Street SE; Historic Preservation Application – Concept: 2-story rear addition with partial 3rd floor, new windows and wells on front, back and side. New siding.

1719 C Street, SE; Zoning Adjustment Application – Special Exception to replace the existing one story accessory building with a two-story building containing an accessory apartment.

Discussion of the CHAW Lease Act.

Compilation of topics and questions for Office of Planning, who will be at our May meeting. Ideas include the Comprehensive Plan, Conservation Districts, alley development on tax lots.

Talk of the Hill with Bill Press: Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)

Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) joins Bill Press for a discussion of the current Democratic majority, her career and the major issues of the day.  7:00pm – 8:30pm, The Hill Center.  Tickets $10.00 – see here:  http://www.hillcenterdc.org/event/talk-of-the-hill-with-bill-press-congresswoman-rosa-delauro-d-ct/

Wednesday, April 3

Eastern Market Metro Plaza Community Meeting, 7:00pm in Eastern Market’s North Hall. 

Agenda:

Department of General Services update on changes in the design post DC Commission on Fine Arts requests for changes in the design.

ANC6C Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development Committee meets at 7:00pm, Northeast Library, 7^th and D Streets, NE.

Among items on the draft agenda:

Logan School, 215 G Street, NE – Informational presentation on current design concepts for school modernization and expansion. Representative: TBD.

414 Constitution Avenue, NE  – Historic Preservation Application for concept approval for three-story rear addition with cellar, rooftop addition, rear deck, balcony, and conversion to two-family dwelling.

414 Constitution Avenue, NE – Zoning Adjustment Application a special exception to construct a three-story rear addition to an existing, attached principal dwelling.

639 Lexington Place, NE – Zoning Adjustment Application for special exception to construct a rear addition to an existing attached principal dwelling unit.

1120 Abbey Place, NE – Zoning Adjustment Application to construct a two-story, rear addition to an existing, attached principal dwelling unit

429 5th Street, NE – Historic Preservation Application – Revised application for concept approval for three-story rear addition and one-story rooftop addition.

120 7th Street, NE – Discussion of potential BZA appeal from the February 28 issuance of permit in violation of the penthouse regulations.

DCRA Director confirmation hearing – Discussion of potential topics for ANC6C testimony on April 23.

Thursday, April 4

ANC6B Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee will meet at 7:00pm in the ground floor conference room of the Hine Project – 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, entrance to left of Trader Joe’s.  Due to the large number of cases, start times have been staggered to accommodate the occupancy limits of the meeting space for the meeting.

Alcohol license renewals:

7:00 PM

Young Chow Asian Restaurant; 312 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

District Taco; 656 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

Sizzling Express; 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

The Pretzel Bakery; 257 15th Street, SE.

National Democratic Club; 30 Ivy Street, SE

Sanphan Thai Cuisine; 653 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

Nooshi Capitol Hill; 524 8th Street, SE.

Belga Café; 514 8th Street, SE.

Beuchert’s Saloon; 623 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

8:00 PM

Little Pearl; 921 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

Rose’s Luxury; 717 8th Street, SE.

Pineapple and Pearls; 715 8th Street, SE.

Trattoria Alberto; 504 8th Street, SE.

District Soul Food; 500 8th Street, SE.

Bullfeathers; 410 1st Street, SE.

Lavagna; 539 8th Street, SE.

9:00 PM

Joselito, LLC, Casa de Comidas; 660 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

 Montmartre/7th Hill; 327 7th Street, SE.

Atish on the Hill; 609 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

Bullfrog Bagels; 317 7th Street, SE.

ANC6C Transportation and Public Space Committee meets at 7:00pm at Kaiser Permanente, 700 2^nd Street, NE.  

Among items on the draft agenda:

Announcement:  Maryland Avenue Project groundbreaking

Washington Gateway – 200 Florida Avenue, NE – Public Space application for approved PUD for Phase II and III of the Washington Gateway mixed-use development. Improvements in public space at 200 Florida Avenue, NE, include sidewalk improvements, standard DDOT streetscape improvements, 2 window wells, continuation of existing retaining wall, handrail, door swing, canopy projections, and curb replacement as needed for utility trenching.

3rd and A Street, NE – Notice of Intent published by DDOT to install an all‐ way stop control at the intersection of 3^rd Street and A Street, NE.

DDOT Budget Oversight

The committee will discuss items to include in testimony for the budget oversight hearing for DDOT, to be held on April 11.

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

Agenda:

Discussion of the April 13 book sale.

Report from the Southeast Library staff.

Opening, Art Exhibit The Corner Store:  Spring Comes

The exhibit features six DC-area artists, all women, and funs April 5 – May 15, and features Kimberley Bursic, Heike Gramckow, Karen Cohen, Alex Tolstoy, Janet Seifert, Joyce McCarten, and Rosabel Goodman. A reception/meet the artists will be held April 13.  900 South Carolina Avenue, SE.

Saturday, April 6

Community Litter Clean-up. 

At 9:00am, volunteers can pick up bags and gloves at the locations listed below.  Return bags to any of the locations.  Chick-fil-A offers a free breakfast sandwich.  At 10:00am, Fulcrum offers mimosas, coffee, and donuts.  This month, organizers are adding a cleanup of 19th Street – meet at the Metro entrance nearest RFK Stadium at 9am.

Fulcrum Properties:  1328 G Street, NE.

Trusty’s: 1420 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

7-11: 1501 Independence Avenue, SE.

Atlas Vet: 1326 H Street, NE.

Chick-fil-A: 1401 Maryland Avenue, NE.

Events at Southeast Library for adults and kids

There are a lot of programs for adults and kids at Southeast Library.  Here’s a link to events during April:  https://bit.ly/2JTOdnj

American Folklife Concerts at the Library of Congress:

The American Folklife Center’s Homegrown concert series presents the very best of traditional music and dance from a variety of folk cultures thriving in the United States. All concerts are free of charge, do not require tickets for admission, and are presented from noon to 1:00 p.m. in the Library’s historic Coolidge Auditorium or the intimate Whittall Pavilion. One of goals of the series is to bring the multicultural richness of American folk arts from around the country to the Capitol. To make sure that we are getting the very best artists from all regions of the country, we work closely with state folklorists in each state, who advise us on artists and styles of performance that are important in their regions. The Center also works with several other areas of the Library, and several outside partners, including the Millennium Stage of the Kennedy Center, to stage this series of concerts. For more information about Homegrown Concerts and other AFC events, call the Folklife Research Center at (202) 707-5510, or email folklife@loc.gov.  Here’s a link to a list of upcoming concerts:   http://www.loc.gov/concerts/folklife/?loclr=eafe

*Music from the Washington Bach Consort

The new season of free, noontime music from the Washington Bach Consort continues on Capitol Hill on Monday, April 1, at St. Peter’s Church, (313 2nd St., SE).   The series continues until May on the first Monday of each month. Each show starts at 12:10pm and free to the general public.

The series continues the Bach Consort’s mission of introducing and making accessible the music of J.S. Bach to audiences who may not have prior familiarity with his work or with classical music in general.

For a full schedule and more info, visit: https://bachconsort.org/noontime-cantatas/

The upcoming free Cantata Series Capitol Hill performances are as follows:

Monday, April 1, 12:10pm

Capital Cantata at St. Peter’s on Capitol Hill

Cantata: Ich bin vergnügt mit meinem Glücke, BWV 84

Monday, May 6, 12:10pm

Capital Cantata at St. Peter’s on Capitol Hill

Cantata: Wir müssen durch viel Trübsal in das Reich Gottes eingehen, BWV 146

New Burger Joint Coming to Hine Project – Plus Some Things You Probably Missed Last Week

by Larry Janezich

A tweet from @eat_dc Thursday evening announced a “new burger joint called BRGZ is opening across from @EasternMarketDC at 250 7th St SE with seating for 25 inside and 60 outside.”

There’s not a lot of info about the new company – their FB page says they debuted as a pop-up in NYC at Oyster Bar: Pier A Harbor House (22 Battery Place) in February of 2018.  They then touted, “The brgz team is launching their first pop up in NYC to offer the public a chance to try the first “truly custom burger”.  More on this to come.

Bad Restaurant Neighbors:  In other news, gleaned from somewhat barren fields this past week, some bad neighbors have shown up on the list of restaurants seeking ANC6B support for liquor license renewals.  District Soul Food is off to a rocky start on Barracks Row, with complaints about trash, noise, questionable disposal of grease, rowdy departing customers, and a complaint from next door Trattoria Alberto that cigar smoke is driving their customers away.  The Departments of Regulatory and Consumer Affairs are on the case, and one ANC6B Commissioner intends to protest the renewal unless issues are resolved before the next ANC meeting on April 9.  Others in for a grilling on various issues by ANC commissioners:  Bullfrog Bagels, Spike Mendelsohn’s Good Food, Little Pearl, Atish on the Hill, Buechert’s Saloon, and Sanphan Thai Cuisine.  Those cases and others will be heard next Thursday in Hill Center by the ANC6B ABC Committee, chaired by Commissioner Chander Jayaraman.

Metro Plaza Redesign:  It turns out the Eastern Market Metro Plaza Community Meeting scheduled for April 3 at 7:00pm in Eastern Market’s North Hall is still on, despite the setback DGS designers received from the DC Fine Arts Commission who sent the design plan back to the drawing board.  It’s not clear what the agenda will be, – it was supposed to be to presentation of the final design for the Metro “Park” to the community.

Barracks Row Safety Issues:  There was news about the proposed MPD substation for the 400 block of Barracks Row to address a host of safety issues on that block; Co-chair of the Working Group on Barrack’s Row, ANC Commissioner Brian Ready, found MPD First District Commander Kane “100%” opposed to the idea which had been greeted with enthusiasm at the first meeting of the Working Group on March 20.  The Working Group will meet again on April 16^th.  Commander Kane has been invited to discuss safety issues on the 400 block.  In the meantime, Barracks Row Main Street has a petition in support of the substation on their website.  After being live for 5 days, by last Tuesday, the petition had been signed by 300 people.  (See here:  https://www.barracksrow.org/)

Eastern Market/Flea Market:  Over at Eastern Market, Manager Barry Margeson is rolling out a new voucher parking system to address concerns of South Hall merchants and outside vendors who complain the lack of parking on weekends is responsible for declining sales.  The plan will provide a $4 discount parking voucher in the Hine Project while visiting Eastern Market.  (Ask South Hall merchants for details) Merchants say that will help, but what they really want a similar arrangement for surface parking in the Colonial Parking Lot directly across 7^th Street from the back of the market.  Margeson said that discussions with Colonial Parking are on-going.

In other news, Eastern Market and DGS will begin management of the outdoor vending spaces on the 300 block of 7^th street on April 6 on Saturday – the Sunday flea market vending on the block will still be under the management of Michael Berman’s Diverse Markets.  Shoppers will notice a change in the product line on Saturday, since the same criteria for vending on the sidewalk, north plaza, and 200 block of 7^th Street outside of Eastern Market will now apply to vendors on lower 7^th.  The criteria limit vending to arts and crafts, antiques, and ethno- specific products (as opposed to just selling stuff).

And, at last Wednesday’s EMCAC meeting, ANC6B Chair Chander Jayaraman pushed EMCAC for more budget transparency as well as for private management of the market (and Saturday vending on the 300 block of 7^th Street) – which is required by law.  He also said that EMCAC and ANC6B need to work together to take management of the Market “to the next level”, especially on the issues of leases for South Hall merchants and funding.  EMCAC Chair Donna Scheeder said more information on the status of the RFP for the 300 block of 7^th Street, leases, and a time line for the long-awaited strategic plan market study could be available shortly, since EMCAC had a meeting scheduled with DGS on these issues.

The past couple of weeks had seen some contentious communications between Jayaraman and Scheeder over the de-privatization of the vending on the 300 block of 7th Street and this looked like détente.

The Week Ahead…

By Larry Janezich

Monday, March 25

ANC 6A Community Outreach Committee meets at 7:00pm, at Eastern High School, Parent Center, 1700 East Capitol Street NE (Enter from East Capitol Street).

Among items on the agenda:

Committee business

Tuesday, March 26

ANC6B’s Executive Committee meets at 7:00pm, in Hill Center.

Agenda:

To set the agenda for the April meeting of ANC6B in Hill Center.

Wednesday, March 27

Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee meets at 7:00pm in the North Hall of Eastern Market. 

Among items on the agenda:

Special Presentation on Historic Designation for the Southeast Public Library and request for support. Beth Purcell, Capitol Hill Restoration Society

Update: Eastern Market Metro Plaza Project

Budget Testimony – hearing April 4th

Capital Improvements Report

Market Managers Report

Lease update

Parking

300 block 7th street

Friday, March 29

Harmonious Wail in Concert, 7:00pm, the Corner Store, at 9^th and South Carolina.

“Smoldering vocals laced with jazzy mandolin and guitar; an infectious blend of continental jazz, swing, gypsy music and melodic vocals. A terrific night of hip-swaying tunes with good friends.  Tickets here: https://www.instantseats.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.venue&VenueID=461

 

 

Update on Redesign of Potomac Avenue Triangle Parks

by Larry Janezich

Work on the parks was scheduled to begin in the fall of 2018.  So, what’s up?

Capitol Hill Corner reached out to ANC Commissioner Kelly Waud, who became commissioner after the deal was sealed on the park in 2018, to ask her for an update.

Waud replied that the process has slowed because the response to the initial Request for Proposals (RFP) was over budget, and the RFP was reissued.

She said, “The project kickoff with the awarded contractor and DGS was March 6. The design, permitting, and construction should take place through this summer.”  She said she was waiting for an updated implementation schedule, and noted that DC Historic Preservation Office is requiring DGS to perform a Phase 1A Archaeology Survey of the two parks. This may have a schedule impact as well.

Here’s CHC’s report on ANC6B’s approval of the final designs for the parks and a detailed look at them: https://bit.ly/2Cu6COh

Eastern Market Metro Redesign Sent Back to Drawing Board by Fine Arts Commission

by Larry Janezich

ANC6B Commissioner Steve Holtzman told constituents and neighbors in a Friday e-mail, that on Thursday, the DC Commission on Fine Arts (CFA) sent the design concepts for upgrading “Metro Plaza Park” back to the drawing boards  The move will delay the approval process for at least a month.  It seems likely that the April 3 community meeting where DGS was to present the final concept to the community will be postponed or, at least, changed in agenda and format.

According to Holtzman, after the DGS project team’s half hour presentation, the seven member commission asked the design team to reconsider the basic principles of the design, steering them away from the concept of a “Town Square” and toward a concept of two large triangular parks that don’t “need to look like each other”.

The take-away admonition appeared to be, “less is more.”

Holtzman said that the gist of the commission’s feedback is reflected in the following comments from members of the commission:

“The fact that it’s called a park, forget about that. You’re imagining this as a park when what you have are 2 wonderful spaces. You are taking the word ‘park’ too literally. You have two magnificent open spaces… Don’t think of it as a square. It’s two large triangular spaces. Two wonderful parks that don’t even have to look like each other. There’s some confusion here. There’s “Library Square”…and “South Carolina Playground”. They need better names. But, don’t see it as a giant square. See it as two wonderful spaces.”

“There’s too much going on…too many different things.”

“It is not one park nor will it be unless you close both Pennsylvania Avenue and 8th Street.”

“You compromise both spaces by trying to unify them”

“Try to not force the idea that this is the one unit we’ll allow.”

“The two spaces relate to different areas…the metro plaza relates to the buildings of the businesses and the library and the Metro.  The park with the playground relates to the neighborhood north of it.”

Holtzman told his constituents, “I think we can assume that the project has not hit a complete roadblock. The Commission only meets monthly so it seems fair to say that the minimum the project will be delayed will be one month. It may be longer. We’ll have to see how the team responds.”

Here’s a link to the March 7, concept drawings, labeled “Commission on Fine Arts Hearing”  https://anc6b.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/2019-03-06_CFA-Presentation_Final.pdf

 

Barracks Row Coalition Tackles Safety, Appearance, Marketing Issues & Hints of New Retail

by Larry Janezich

Commissioner Brian Ready, Chair of ANC6B’s Barracks Row Working Group, convened the first of a series of monthly meetings to address the challenges facing commercial/retail outlets on Barracks Row.  More than 30 interested parties – ANC commissioners, business owners, and neighbors showed up for a round-table in the 7^th floor conference room of 700 Pennsylvania Avenue.

The consensus of the group was that the top three challenges in order of importance are safety, appearance, and marketing.

Addressing safety, Martin Smith, Executive Director of Barracks Row Main Street (BRMS), suggested that one solution could be the establishment of an MPD “pop up” substation on the 400 block of 8^th Street – the long troubled gateway block to the Row that has defied clean-up.  He said that BRMS had found support for the idea from business owners and that he has had a preliminary conversation with CM Charles Allen on feasibility.  Smith says that much will depend on community support, and to that end, has created a link on the Barracks Row Main Street website to simplify sending a letter of support for the idea to CM Allen. Click on the TAKE ACTION button on the top left of the BRMS home page here:  https://www.barracksrow.org/

Martin also shared three new leases for vacant buildings on the street are in the works, plus a fouth lease for a current business which is expanding.  He also said that National Community Church had announced plans for a summer opening of a 1,000 seat performance venue in the “Blue Castle” on lower 8^th Street, as well as a Child Development Center.  The two operations will take about half the space.  Martin said he had had a “glimpse of some of the concepts for use of the rest of the space, and I am very excited.”

Ready says that the group agreed on efforts to improve the appearance of the street, including requesting DDOT to complete the scheduled upgrade of the slate slab part of the commercial strip’s sidewalks, along with doing as inspection for ADA access.  The group will also arranging for a power washing of the 400 block.

Once these two challenges are dealt with the group will focus on marketing, and those efforts will be coordinated by business owners Gaynor Jablonski and Tom Johnson.  The two are co-chairs of the working group representing the Row’s commercial interests, while Ready represents ANC6B.  Jablonski is owner of District Restaurant Group – The Ugly Mug, Jake’s Grille, and Katherine’s Catering; Johnson  is Managing Partner for the Hill Restaurant Group – Finn McCools, Hawk & Dove, Tio’s, Lola’s, Ophelia’s, and Orchid.

Initial ideas for marketing reflect the perceived need to make a visit to Barracks Row a multi-sensory experience, taking advantage of the Miracle Theater and The Marine Barracks’ summer Friday evening parades to restore the street as a destination for entertainment, dinner and drinks. (Ed. Note: maybe the street’s only art gallery – The Fridge – should be looped into the entertainment mix, as well as the Shakespeare Theater rehearsal space.)

The meeting also helped clarify the interests of Community Connections, who had a representative present to remind the group that they are one of the street’s business owners, as leaseholders for Dunkin’ Donuts and Yes!  Given that fact, the rep said that Community Connections has the same interests on the street that the other business owners have in ensuring the street remains vital and vibrant.  Community Connections told the group that staff patrols the area every other day to service current or potential clients on 8^th Street and that the organization will explore whether they can commit additional resources to the effort.

The Working Group was the brain-child of ANC6B Chair Chander Jayaranman.  In February, he announced the formation of a “subcommittee” to bring a coordinated ANC/business effort to reverse a downswing in the attractiveness of the Row as a destination.  Jayaraman said that the effort was necessary based on the recognition that Barracks Row is competing with the Wharf, H Street, and the Waterfront at Yard Park.  Jayaraman’s plan was that the subcommittee would be co-chaired by Commissioner Brian Ready and a representative from the business community “but will be driven by the business community on Barracks Row”.  (The community co-chair job was subsequently divided into two co-chairs.)  He listed the goals of the subcommittee as:   develop strategies to market Barracks Row across the city as a go-to destination, think creatively and generate ideas for events and promotions to attract customers to Barracks Row, organize and facilitate a meeting with property owners about ways to ensure the long-term sustainability of Barracks Row through fair lease agreements, and generate ideas for attracting more businesses to Barracks Row to fill empty storefronts.

Going forward, the group plans to meet the third Thursday of every month.