CAPITOL HILL CORNER

MPD Nixes Police Substation for Barracks Row – But Tries Something New

By Larry Janezich

A Tuesday night’s meeting of ANC6B’s Barracks Row Working Group, MPD First District Capt. Aubrey Mongal threw cold water on the idea for an MPD substation on Barracks Row.  The proposal had come out of the first meeting of the Working Group last month, and Barracks Row Main Street had gathered a petition of some 500 signatures supporting the move.

Mongol said, flatly, “We don’t sponsor that.”  The police abandoned the idea of mini-stations years ago, he said, because officers spent too much time inside and got completely away from the street.  He said that the presence of a police station is not a deterrent and will not put more officers on Barracks Row – “We deploy on the basis of violent crime – not on quality of life.”  He added, “We don’t have violent crime on Barracks Row…we have violent crime near Nats Stadium in SW and on H Street.”

While dampening the Working Group’s enthusiasm for a substation, MPD announced a new initiative to deal with what it sees as the primary problems on Barracks Row – panhandling and the side effects of substance abuse – especially on the troubled 400 block.  The hoped for salvation comes in the form of Officer R.J. Mazloom (Maz), who is now the “Barracks Row Bike Cop” and whose job is to clean up the street’s noisome problems.  His approach will be a mixture of old-fashioned neighborhood beat policing and social work engagement, and his aim is developing a rapport with denizens of the street, being as inclusive as possible.  One goal is to lay down ground rules for behavior using conversation and incentives to personalize the accountability expected of habitués of the block.  Mazloom says he even engages the supplies of K2 – gathering intelligence which “hard charging officers will use in another way.”

He describes his approach as a compassionate one, but one that discourages panhandling.  He advocates “building an economy of positive engagement and work on that model.”

Mazloon will be on the beat from 3:00pm to 1:00 or 2:00am – a ten hour shift.

Officer Ulysses Fernandez owns the morning shift on Barracks Row.  Fernandez, well known to many residents, says K-2 is a very bad drug and MPD is trying to get control of it.  In response to a question from ANC6B Chair Chander Jayaraman, he said that there are 7 to 10 regulars (not necessarily homeless) on the 400 block and noted an uptick in K-2 related activity in the last 3 to 6 months.  Fernandez says he works closely with Community Connections to help determine whether substance abusers are their clients.  He points to the limited ways agencies can help a substance abuser.  Often, first responders called to administer aid to an unresponsive person find a fully conscious person when they arrive, one who declines hospital treatment, since the effects of the drug last some 15 minutes.

Jayaraman asked about the effectiveness of making arrests to control the drug activity on the block.  It turns out that there are clear disincentives for making arrests of suppliers of K-2.  Capt. Mongal replied that an officer needs a probable crime in order to conduct a search of an individual – and the officer needs to witness the crime, rather than take someone’s word for what they saw.  When an officer makes an arrest it takes him off the street for a period of time, and the arrestee is back on the street the next day.  Another disincentive is that it’s rare that a substance recovered in connection with an arrest will test positive for being controlled substance, as the formula is continually changing in order to stay ahead of the law.

Mazloom said that MPD presence makes a block “hot” and makes people move away – people who don’t want to be “hot” move somewhere else.  ANC6B Commissioner Brian Ready who chairs the Working Group along with co-chairs on the business side of Barracks Row, said that pushing the problem somewhere else was in opposition to the inclusive DC ethos, and warned of opening the door to unintended consequences.  Mazloon seemed to acknowledge an acute awareness of the difference between enforcing the law and over-policing.  He said, “We walk a fine line. We have to.”

One of the goals of the Working Group is to create a marketing plan for Barracks Row, and Working Group Co-Chair and business owner Gaynor Jablonski (The Ugly Mug) is taking the lead on creating a comprehensive marketing plan for 8^th Street as well the commercial corridors around the Metro Plaza.  Referring to the effectiveness of marketing plans being employed by competitors – H Street, Capitol Hill Riverfront, NOMA, The Wharf – Jablonski said that no one sells our area like these others sell theirs.  Jablonski is heading up a Discovery Committee to work on a marketing plan and looking toward engaging a firm to provide public relations and articles on a monthly basis. The committee will discuss costs and how to make it an ongoing effort – he says, “We can’t wait, because were becoming less and less relevant.

The Working Group’s agenda also included presentations from two organizations providing outreach to the homeless:  Capitol Hill Group Ministry and Community Connections.  Both attempt to connect the homeless with the city’s homeless programs, and both have staffers who work directly with the homeless on 8th Street and the city, though Community Connections outreach ability will be reduced at the end of the month owing to lack of grant funding.  Group Ministry concentrates on homeless families.  They also have an outreach team that checks on the welfare of Capitol Hill’s homeless, who tend to be single individuals, and provides assistance at Shirley’s Place – the Group’s Day Center at 1338 G Street, SE, which is open weekdays, 8:00am until 6:00pm.

The Week Ahead & Construction Update on Emilie’s – a Restaurant Coming to the New Frager’s

by Larry Janezich

Monday, April 15

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

Among items on the draft agenda:

Development of a plan to solicit recommendations for additional bike share station locations and ascertain public support for same.

Development of an initial list of local/local intersections where 4-way stops are desirable (but do not already exist). This list will be presented to the commissioners for comment and a recommendation finalized at the May 20, 2019 TPS meeting.

Possible bikeshare locations as identified by commissioners (and others), to date:

1. 1. Intersection at 8th & H Streets NE, proximate to streetcar, X2 & 90 bus;
   2. Intersection at 11th and C Streets NE;
   3. Triangle at 10th Street and Massachusetts Avenue NE;
   4. North side of East Capitol Street NE, in front of Eastern High School, proximate to Metro

Local/Local Intersections:

(Local roads are a technical term, using functional classification of roads by DDOT and the Federal Highway Administration. Local roads receive no federal money for upkeep or control. Because of this, DDOT can make changes to these intersections without clearance form FHWA.

Click on the link below to see a map of functional classifications; if a road is not colored in it’s a “local” road)

https://ddot.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/ddot/publication/attachments/FunctionalClass_2016.pdf

Tuesday, April 16

Barracks Row Main Street Working Group Meets at 7:00pm, 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, 7^th Floor Conference Room. 

Agenda:

Presentation:  First District MPD representatives

Safety: 

400 Block Metro Police Station Project.

Improved Outreach to our homeless community.

Additional Ideas for Improvements.

Aesthetics:

Parking Letter for Funding.

Sidewalk Repair.

Update on the power washing of 400 block of 8th Street.

Neighborhood Clean Up Plan.

Spring/Summer Plantings.

Additional Clean Funding.

Additional Ideas for improvements.

Positioning/Marketing:

New Marketing Plans for the Main Streets.

The Marines Summer Event Collaboration.

Additional Ideas for Improvements.

Possible Future Agenda Items

How Barracks Row can take better advantage of our alternate modes of Transportation.

Marketing Barracks Row Main Street to the Greater Washington Region.

Collective Snow Removal.

Eastern Market Metro Park Transportation Study Review.

Wednesday, April 17

ANC 6A Alcoholic Beverage Licensing Committee meets at 7:00pm at Sherwood Recreation Center, 10^th and G Streets, NE.  Note that this day is different than the usual ABL meeting day due to the Emancipation Day holiday on Tuesday, April 16.

Among items on the draft agenda: 

Discussion of renewals of the following licenses:

Dangerously Delicious – 1339 H Street, NE. Restaurant license.

Choongman Chicken and Seafood – 1125 H Street, NE. Restaurant license.

Sally’s Middle Name – 1320 H Street, NE. Restaurant license.

RedRocks – 1348 H Street, NE. Restaurant license.

Chupacabra – 822 H Street, NE.  Restaurant license.

Cusbah – 1128 H Street, NE. Restaurant license.

Granville Moore’s Brickyard – 1238 H Street, NE. Restaurant license.

Smith Commons- (1245 H Street, NE. Restaurant license.

Atlas Performing Arts Center – 1333 H Street, NE. Restaurant license.

Imm On H – 1360 H Street, NE. Restaurant license.

Stable DC – 1324 H Street, NE. Restaurant license.

ANC6A Economic Development & Zoning Committee meets at 7:00pm as Sherweed Recreation Center, 10^th and G Streets, NE. 

Among items on the draft agenda:

 1323 Rear Linden Court, NE.  Zoning Adjustment Application for special exception to construct a rooftop deck for a dwelling in the RF-1 zone.

Rep. Norton, CM Allen, and SE Library Update – News You Might Have Missed Last Week

by Larry Janezich

Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton  came to last week’s meeting of ANC6D, touting her effectiveness as DC’s representative to Congress, and listing her accomplishments.  The desultory monologue was followed by a Q&A which featured questions on the future of RFK Stadium, affordable housing issues and transportation debacle in SW at The Wharf which overwhelmed enforcement efforts on the April 6 weekend featuring Petalpalooza.  On RFK, Norton cited her sponsorship of a bill working its way through Congress which would allow the District to buy it from the federal government, and then the city will decide what to do with it.  She said affordable housing was a problem in all big cites, and Congress has not been able to come up with a solution.  She said regarding developers, “You can’t tell them where to put housing in a market economy.”  Her response to the traffic issue was that she was holding a Congressional hearing the next day on traffic safety issues, without addressing specific concerns raised by the Commission.

Councilmember Charles Allen

CM Allen:  Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen was at ANC6D last Monday and at ANC6B the next day, Tuesday.

At both meetings, he announced that he would hold the Ward 6 Budget Town Hall on April 23 from 6:00pm – 8:00pm at the Arthur Capper Community Center to hear from residents about what they want in the budget.

At ANC6D, Commissioner Andy Litsky raised the issue of the traffic issues at The Wharf on the weekend of April 6, calling it a “perfect storm” of a Nationals Park, DC United, and Petalpalooza traffic which created a traffic jam making it impossible for emergency vehicles to penetrate, and warning, “Someone’s going to die” if it’s not solved.  Allen said it sounded like a complete failure and said he would convene a group of DC agencies to follow through to strategize on preventing a recurrence.

At ANC6B, Allen addressed an April 30 incident when images of a ten year old boy in handcuffs flooded Twitter and FB after an armed robbery in the 200 block of Massachusetts Avenue, NW.  Attorney General Karl Racine later issued a rare statement saying the youth was totally innocent.  Allen called the video of the incident a “punch in the gut” and said that though MPD were following internal procedures, he would work with MPD to rethink about how to do it in a different way, holding out the possibility of legislative changes as well.  Allen chairs the City Council’s Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.

Asked about the development of RFK, Allen cited the 5,000 signatures his petition to oppose a new stadium at RFK had gathered, and cited Representative Norton’s work on legislation allowing DC to buy the land.  Allen said, “We don’t need to bail out a billionaire with your tax dollars.  We need housing and recreation that will connect the community to the river.” Here’s Business Journal’s story which has a link to the petition. http://bit.ly/2PaABTn

When one commissioner asked about Allen’s degree of confidence that there will be money available to finish the redesign of Eastern market Metro Plaza beyond the initial $5.9 million launch effort, Allen said flatly, “I will find the money for this project.” The final price tag will be around $20 million.

Allen was far less positive about the possibility floated by the ANC’s Working Group on Barracks Row enthusiasm over establishment of an MPD substation on the raucous 400 block of Eighth Street.  He called the block a significant challenge.  He said he had walked to block with MPD, and they were opposed to a storefront substation since their station house was two blocks away and because “they were on the 400 block all the time.”  Allen said such a move was likely to result in what has happened in the Salt Lake City model – that the targeted activity was displaced a couple of blocks away.  He said a substation would not solve the underlying issue, and suggested pulling together Barracks Row Main Street, the ANC Working Group, MPD, and the Department of Behavioral Health to work on ways to address the issues. Allen said of the latter department that is was “floundering” and suffered “deep issues which prevent a rapid response.”  Last week, Mayor Bowser appointed DC mental health veteran Barbra Bazron to take of the directorship of the scandal plagued agency.  See Washington City Paper story here:  http://bit.ly/2G6mXwo

Southeast Library Renovation

In other news:  Last week, after a meeting with DC Library officials, Capitol Hill Community activists Pat Taylor and Jill Lawrence reported that DC Library is on the cusp of issuing a Request for Qualifications for renovation of Southeast Library.  The request anticipates responses from design/build firms expressing interest in the project which will allow the Library to determine a group of organizations deemed qualified to undertake the project.  A Request for Proposals will be issued to that group, and once a finalist is selected, that designer will conduct the due diligence on the site to determine suitability regarding subterranean conditions and existing underground infrastructure.  Once that is determined and a plan developed on how much space will be available, the community will be consulted regarding what the community wants in the renovation.

 

“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