CAPITOL HILL CORNER

First Look:  Concept Design for Capitol Hill’s Southeast Safeway Redevelopment AKA “Beckert’s Park”

By Larry Janezich

Monday night, Safeway senior real estate manager Tim McNamera and developer Bryant Foulger of Foulger-Pratt Group, the developer Safeway has selected to redevelop the Capitol Hill southeast Safeway site, sponsored a community meeting in Hill Center.  The purpose, according to ANC6B Planning and Zoning Committee Chair Nick Burger was to provide an opportunity for residents to learn about the project and provide feedback.  ANC6B will provide input regarding the project in June, both at the Planning and Zoning Committee meeting and at the June meeting of the full ANC.

Foulger unveiled the concept design for the new project on 14^th Street between D and E Streets, S.E.  Key features of the project are as follows.

• The project will increase the size of the Safeway from the 50,000 square feet to 60,000 square feet.
• There will be 329 apartments. The developer says that 70% of the units will be studio and one-bedroom apartments and 30% will be two bedrooms.  A number of penthouse apartments will be set back on the roof.  Rents will be calculated at a cost of approximately $3.25 a square foot – meaning that a small 500 square foot studio apartment will rent for between $1500 and $2000 a month.   Ten percent of the units will be affordable under DC regulations, at 60% of AIM – average median income.
• Amenities for the residents are still being worked out but could include a club room, a dog run, a bike mechanic workroom, a fitness center, a dog washing station and a 6,000 square foot private aquatic court on the E Street side.
• All parking will be below grade and residents will not be eligible for Ward 6 Residential Parking Permits. Currently there are 155 parking spaces on the Safeway parking lot. This will increase to 194 parking spaces for the retail component of the project which will be accessed from 14^th  There will be an additional 170 spaces for residential parking, accessed from the alley – two separate entrances and two separate parking levels.
• The retail plan for the two first level 4500 to 5000 square foot spaces is still being developed. The developer hopes that a restaurant will be placed in one and noted that a day care facility for a number of growing families and the community is a possibility for the other.
• A new Starbucks on 14^th Street will feature outdoor café seating.
• Safeway’s workforce of 150 current employees will be carried over into the new project with the addition of 15 to 25 new employees.
• The pharmacy will be relocated in the neighborhood while the project is under construction.
• The project’s name comes from Beckert’s Brewery which occupied the site in the early 20th Century. Prior to the brewery, there was a park at the location.

Folger Pratt hopes to break ground mid to late summer of next year, and plans for a 24 month construction period.  The project will be built as a matter of right under current zoning, meaning there will be no Zoning Commission Review.  Since it lies outside of the Historic District, there will be no Historic Preservation review.

Plans for the project will be posted shortly on the DC Office of Planning’s website where residents will have an opportunity to make comments addressed to the Office of Planning. https://planning.dc.gov/node/640482

 

 

The Week Ahead…And Hill Residents Vow to Fight Congressional PAC’s Move into Neighborhood

By Larry Janezich

Monday, May 8

1. ANC6D meets at 7:00pm, 1100 4^th Street, S.W., second floor.

Among items on the draft agenda:

Public Safety Report- First District MPD (PSA 105 & PSA 106) Lt. Robinson, Sgt. Barnes

Presentation:  Department of Public Works Traffic Enforcement – Preston Moore/Celeste Duffie

Liquor license:  Cap Liquors – 1301 South Capitol Street, S.W.

Liquor license:  WeWork – 80 M Street, S.E.

Liquor license:  Shillings – 1331 4th Street, S.E.

Liquor license:  Requin – 100 District Square, S.W.

Liquor license:  Mi Vida – 98 District Square, S.W.

Liquor license:   Kirwan’s – 749 Wharf Street, S.W.

Development, Planning, and Transportation issues:

Amidon Parking

2100 2nd Street, S.W. – Design Review

375 M Street SW & 425 M Street, S.W., 2nd Stage PUD & Modification to 1st PUD

Urban Atlantic

Forest City Zoning Text Amendment

Forest City Tingey Square Streetscape

2. Community meeting on redevelopment of Southeast Safeway, 7:00pm, Hill Center. The Southeast Safeway is in the early stages of a major, multi-year redevelopment. The real estate developer, Foulger-Pratt is leading this project, working in conjunction with Safeway, and the next step in their process is to go through a Large Tract Review (more detail on the LTR process here: http://bit.ly/2pPdbIB  The development team will walk through the current project design and will be available to answer questions from the community.

Tuesday, May 9

1. ANC6B meets at 7:00pm in Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E.

Among items on the draft agenda:

Presentation:  Deputy Major of Education Jennifer Niles.

Beuchert’s Saloon, 623 Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E., permission for sidewalk café.

Draft letter to ANCs in other parts of the city urging support for recent legislation introduced by CM Charles Allen regarding rodent and trash management for restaurants.

Public Space Application Fixture: Bollard(s) in alley at 715 8th Street, S.E. (Pineapple & Pearls).

Public Space Application:  Change size of Cafe Seating Area at 660 Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E. (Joselito Casa de Comidas).

4 4^th Street, S.E.:  Public Space Application:  Build ADA Curb Ramp; Fence > 42”; Bay Window projection.  (O’Brien House, Marquette University)

DC DOEE, Application by the Juanita M. Vidi 2005 Irrevocable Trust to perform a voluntary cleanup of a property located at 309-311 Pennsylvania Avenue S.E. (Lustre Cleaners)

1109 D Street, S.E.:  BZA Application for a special exception from the accessory building use requirements to construct a two-story accessory dwelling to be used as a garage with a second-story dwelling unit in the RF-1 Zone at 1109 D Street, S.E.

120 6th Street, S.E.:  BZA application for a special exception from the lot occupancy requirements and a special exception from the accessory building height requirement to construct a two-story accessory structure (garage and second-floor living space) in the RF-1 Zone at 120 6th Street, S.E.

1506 E Street, S.E.:  BZA application for a special exception nonconforming structure requirements, the lot occupancy requirements, and the rear yard requirements, to construct a third-story addition to an existing one-family dwelling in the RF-1 Zone at 1506 E Street, S.E.

428 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.:  BZA application of Congressional Hispanic Caucus BOLD PAC for a special exception for the use of an existing residential building for the purposes of a nonprofit organization in the RF-3 Zone

Update from ANC 6B P&Z Comprehensive Plan Working Group

Tyler Elementary School Revised Curbside Management Proposal

Alley Naming Case: Square 762 on 3rd Street between Pennsylvania Ave, SE & C Street, SE

Letter to DGS on keeping 7th St S.E. between Pennsylvania Ave. and C St. closed for continued Market Activity.

2. Police Service Area (PSA) 104 public meeting, 7:00pm, Sherwood Recreation Center, Corner of 10th and G Streets, N.E.

Wednesday, May 10

1. ANC6C meets at 7:00pm, Heritage Foundation, 214 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E.

Among items on the draft agenda:

Presentation:  MPD Police Chief Peter Newsham.

Presentation:  Sarah Fashbaugh, ABRA updates.

K Street NE traffic study, update.

Florida and New York Avenue NE intersection, virtual circle design alternatives.

3rd and L Street, N.E., park and dog park.

Capitol Crossing update, 222 Massachusetts Ave. NW, bike racks, sidewalks, planters, etc.

17 6th Street, N.E., Historic Preservation application for rear, rooftop, and garage additions.

630 Lexington Place N.E.:  Historic Preservation Application, concept approval for rear and rooftop additions.

516 3rd Street N.E.:  Historic Preservation Application concept approval for basement entrance, rear addition,  garage demolition.

507 Second Street N.E.:  Zoning adjustment, screening for mechanical equipment on existing two- story plus cellar, attached building.

1125 7th Street, N.E., potential BZA appeal of permit B1706219.

D.C. Comprehensive Plan amendments.

Thursday, May 11

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

Among items on the draft agenda:

Recommendation: ANC6A send a letter to BZA opposing the appeal of the owners of 1511 A Street, N.E, regarding the rejection of their permits to create an eighteen (18) unit apartment building in a residential neighborhood.

Recommendation: ANC6A send a letter of support to HPRB for approval of the  creation of a small two (2) story addition at the rear court and the demolition of the existing garage at 210 Tenth (10th) Street, N.E., pending best efforts to receive letters of support from neighbors.

2. CHRS Zoning Committee, Kirby House, 420 10^th Street, S.E.

Saturday, May 13

Book Sale at Southeast Library, 10:00am – 3:00pm.

The War on Rats – Part III:  CM Allen’s Legislative Assault on Rodent Syndicates

by Larry Janezich

Last March, Capitol Hill ANC6B residents rallied at CM Charles Allen’s annual spring visit to ANC6B to tell him that rats are taking over the city and they wanted him to do something about it.  http://bit.ly/2mQRCFS Following through on his pledge to “take a crack at it”, Allen has introduced legislation to put “more tools in the toolbox” in the city’s war on rats.  The Department of Health has reported huge numbers of rat dens throughout the District, particularly near restaurant clusters, where trash and food waste attract rats.

The Making Rodent Syndicates Flee Restaurants, Interior Settings, Basements, and Yards Amendment Act of 2017 seeks to address the District’s exploding rat population.  The legislation has several elements and would require food establishments to develop a rodent mitigation plan and gives DOH additional funding and enforcement authority, through changes to the law.  The bill would:

• require food service businesses to provide a rodent prevention plan when applying for a basic business license with a “Public Health: Food Establishment Retail” endorsement. It would require existing businesses to consider, where applicable and when feasible, enclosing trash storage, proper disposal of used cooking grease, sealing openings to rodents, and an ongoing pest abatement plan. The Department of Health would review and approve the plan.
• require new food establishments or businesses converting to food service to create enclosed trash storage and installation of grease traps when feasible.
• require a rodent plan that extends through the life of a razing project.
• reinstate a fund created in 2001 but which sunset after one year. The Fund would collect fines and judgments for health code violations related to rodent mitigation; the Department of Health would use the Fund to expand prevention and monitoring efforts.

ANC6B has been aggressive in using liquor license applications and renewals and zoning regulations to pressure Capitol Hill food service establishments to adopt best operating rodent control and trash management practices.  At last night’s ANC6B Alcohol Beverage Control Committee meeting, chaired by Commissioner Chander Jayaraman, the committee voted to recommend that the full ANC send a letter to other ANC’s which have restaurant clusters, urging support of the legislation.  Allen’s bill does not go as far as current ANC6B goals which includes not “enclosed” trash storage but “indoor” trash storage.  Allen says, however, “I’m looking forward to working with neighbors and small businesses on this – and open to ways to strengthen the bill as it moves forward.”  Jayaraman said last night that the ANC would “opine on this in June.”

In a statement, Allen said, “This bill codifies best practices that many food establishments are already using. The District must proactively address the public health concerns that rat populations bring, and this bill is the start to that effort.”

Residents Protest PAC/Lobbyist Takeover of Neighborhood Near Capitol

By Larry Janezich

Neighbors living near the Capitol Building have grown increasingly unhappy as more and more lobbyists and non-profit organizations have begun operating out of townhouses in their residential neighborhood.  Last night, at ANC6B’s Planning and Zoning Committee they went public with their unhappiness.  The occasion was an application of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) BOLD PAC for a zoning adjustment to permit use of the townhouse at 428 New Jersey Avenue, S.E., for administrative purposes which include a once-a-week breakfasts and “one or two fundraising events a quarter.”

More than a dozen neighbors turned out to complain about the traffic, parking, and trash issues such  organizations bring, as well as the rude behavior of some of those attending events.  During discussion of the application – which became heated at times – a resident voiced the feelings of the group, saying “We’ve had enough,” citing the “trucks, cars, Suburbans and trash”.   “It’s an absolute nightmare for us.  We’re tired of it.  People park on the block and trash the front and the alley.  I can’t express our frustration…at this point, we’re done.”  Another said residents of nearby North Carolina Avenue felt threatened by what’s happening on New Jersey.  “It no longer feels residential.  There are four lobby houses on our block.”

Enforcement of city regulations prohibiting such use has proven to be almost impossible, as city agencies turn a blind eye or give the benefit of the doubt to organizations using the properties.

The legal case for the CHC was presented by zoning and land use attorney Meridith Moldenhauer, partner at Griffin, Murphy, Moldenhauer & Wiggins.  She explained why an exception to the zoning regulations was justified and noted that the CHC was following procedures as opposed to “other people” who were operating similar operations illegally.

Commissioners were divided.  Commissioner Jennifer Samolyk, in whose single member district the building resides, was adamant in her opposition to the application, imploring her fellow commissioners to listen to the residents.  Committee Chair Nick Burger said there was a real benefit to preserving the residential character of the neighborhood, but he preferred the committee take no position on the application and forward it to the full ANC to be resolved.  He said there was a substantial risk that the Board of Zoning Adjustment would overrule an objection by the ANC, and a better course would be negotiation between the PAC representatives and the neighbors to reach agreement on how the PAC would operate out of the property including a possible full time resident in the basement unit.

A motion to oppose the application was offered by Samolyk, and was agreed to by a vote of 5 – 4, with 2  abstentions.  The recommendation now goes to the full ANC meeting next Tuesday where it will again be debated and voted on by the 10 elected commissioners as opposed to the committee which is made up of elected officials and appointed resident members.

Samolyk told Capitol Hill Corner after the vote, “I am truly saddened to see that some of my fellow ANC commissioners are choosing to support a PAC, that raised close to 2 million dollars so far this year in fundraising, over a room full of concerned residents”

The house at 428 New Jersey has a footprint of 1,072 square feet on each of its two floors and a basement.  It was on the market for 75 days at a price tag of $2 million, before coming under contract by CHC BOLD PAC.  The section of New Jersey Avenue is about a block from both the Democratic and Republican National Committee HQs and appears to have more than half a dozen buildings being used for non-residential purposes.  Areas close in to the Capitol in Northeast are experiencing the same problem.

During the first quarter of the current year, the PAC – which is the campaign arm of the CHC, raised more than $2 million – mostly in small contributions.  http://bit.ly/2qsKi61

CHC Institute’s “Building Our Future, Together” campaign, which provides scholarships and supports education, received nearly $11 million last year from major corporations, including PepsiCo Foundation, Toyota, State Farm, Bank of America, Anheuser-Busch, Dell, Time Warner Cable, Hyundai Motor America, and Entravision.

The Week Ahead….and Photos from the Climate March

Item in bold type are especially noteworthy.  

by Larry Janezich

Monday, May 1

1. ANC6C Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee meets at 7:00pm, Capitol Hill Medical center/Kaiser Permanente, 700 Second Street, N.E. (2nd & G Streets N.E.

Agenda not available at press time.

2. CHRS Historic Preservation Committee meets at 6:30pm, Kirby House, 420 10^th Street, S.E.

Tuesday, May 2

1. ANC6B Planning & Zoning Committee meets at 7:00pm at St. Coletta of Greater Washington, 1901 Independence Avenue S.E.

Among items on the agenda:

1506 E Street, S.E. – Application for zoning adjustment for a special exception from the nonconforming structure requirements, the lot occupancy requirements, and the rear yard requirements, to construct a third-story addition to an existing one-family dwelling in the RF-1 Zone at 1506 E Street, S.E.

1109 D Street S.E. – Application for zoning adjustment for a special exception from the accessory building use requirements, to construct a two-story accessory dwelling to be used as a garage with a second-story dwelling unit in the RF-1 Zone at 1109 D Street, S.E.

120 6th St. S.E – Application for a zoning adjustment for a special exception under from the lot occupancy requirements, and a special exception from the accessory building height requirement, to construct a two-story accessory structure (garage and second-floor living space) in the RF-1 Zone at 120 6th Street, S.E.

428 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. – Application of CHC BOLD PAC zoning adjustment for a special exception under the RF-Use requirements for the use of an existing residential building for the purposes of a nonprofit organization in the RF-3 Zone

715 8^th Street, S.E. (Pineapple and Pearls) – Public Space Application – Fixture: Bollard(s – Exception

660 Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E. – Public Space Application to change Size of Cafe Seating Area at 660 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E.

309 – 311 Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E. (Lustre Cleaners) – Application to perform a voluntary cleanup of a property located at 309-311 Pennsylvania Avenue SE. The applicant is proposing to convert the current dry cleaner/tuxedo rental/salon facility into a restaurant.

2. ANC6C Parks and Environment Committee meets at 7:00pm at Capitol Hill Medical Center/Kaiser Permanente, 700 Second Street, N.E. (2nd & G Streets N.E.)

Agenda not available at press time.

3. First District Citizens Advisory Council meets 7:00pm – 7:45pm at 101 M Street, SW, First District Station, to wish Assistant Chief Diane Grooms best wishes on her retirement from MPD.

Wednesday, May 3

1. ANC6B Transportation Committee meets 7:00 pm, at Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E.

Among items on the agenda:

Small Business Parking Permit Act of 2017

Transportation Benefits Equity Amendment Act of 2017

Tyler Elementary School Revised Curbside Management Proposal

(Although not on the agenda, a letter to the Department of General Services on keeping 7th Street, S.E. between Pennsylvania Ave. and C St. closed for continued marketing purposes might be discussed.) 

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

Among items on the draft agenda:

17 6th Street, N.E. – Revised application of for concept approval for rear, rooftop, and garage additions.

630 Lexington Avenue, N.E. – Application of for concept approval for rear and rooftop additions.

516 3rd Street, N.E. – Application for concept approval for front basement entrance, rear addition, and garage demolition.

507 2nd Street, N.E. – Application of Nike USA, Inc., for a special exception from the penthouse setback requirement to allow screening for mechanical equipment on an existing two-story plus cellar attached building in the MU-24 zone at 507 2nd Street, N.E.

1125 7th St. NE – Discussion of potential BZA appeal of permit B1706219.

Thursday, May 4

1. ANC6B 6b Alcohol Beverage Control Committee meets at 7:00pm at Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E.

Among items on the agenda:

Beuchert’s Saloon, 623 Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E., substantial change application with seating for four patrons (sidewalk café).

Draft letter to select other ANCs with rodent and trash management issues soliciting requests that  the City Council take action to address trash management and related rodent issues in the District.

2. ANC6C Transportation and Public Space Committee meets at 7:00pm, Kaiser Permanente Capitol Hill Medical Center, 700 2nd Street, N.E.

Among items on the draft agenda:

K St. Traffic Study – The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is undergoing a traffic safety study of K Street, N.E, from North Capitol Street to Florida Avenue, at the request of ANC 6C. Following up on their initial presentation to this committee of preliminary results, they will be showing additional data and some proposed solutions.

Virtual Circle at Florida and New York Avenues – As part of the Florida Avenue Multimodal Study, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is in the planning stages of a redesign of the “virtual circle” intersection of Florida and New York Avenues. They presented five design alternatives at a recent public meeting.  Representative: Sam Zimbabwe, DDOT.

3rd and L Street Park –  NoMa Parks is planning a combination park and dog park on the lot next to the Loree Grand at 3rd and L Streets, N.E.  They presented their plans at a recent public meeting and have submitted a public space application in conjunction with the work.  Representative: Stacie West, NoMa Parks.

Storey Park, 1005 1st Street, N.E.  A public space construction application for a new development on First Street in NoMa.

3. PSA 107 meets at 7:00pm at Southeast Library, lower level.

 

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

Saturday, May 6

1. Miner Elementary Community Yard Sale Fundraiser, 9:00am – 12:00 noon, Miner Elementary School, 601 15^th Street, N.E. Playground and cafeteria – north side of school.

City Asks Developers for Proposals to Redevelop Hill East Boys and Girls Club

by Larry Janezich

Yesterday, the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development put out the Request for Proposals (RFP) for redevelopment of the Hill East Boys and Girls Club.  The request acknowledged neighbor’s preferences for a residential project containing some sort of “community serving” retail such as a day care center or senior care facility, or another use as a community space.  The question now is what kind of economically viable project potential developers will come up with to satisfy those priorities

A previous effort at redevelopment under the Department of General Services foundered when it produced only one proposal (providing for 100% affordable housing financed by low income housing tax credits) that met RFP requirements.  See here:  http://bit.ly/2crh6Ty  The proposal provoked a strong negative reaction from neighbors who want a project with a mix of affordable and market rate units, as well as a community space.  (A second proposal for a mixed use project was submitted in response to the DGS RFP, but the terms of the RFP specifying a 25 year lease made the project difficult if not impossible to qualify for commercial financing.)

Last night, some 20 Hill Easters heard Dion Townley, Project Manager for the Development of the Boys and Girls Club, describe the just-issued Request for Proposals for the redevelopment. Townley appeared before the ANC6B Hill East Task Force, chaired by ANC6B Commissioner Daniel Ridge in whose single member district the project lies.  Townley explained that the RFP was developed on the basis of community input growing out of a pair of meetings earlier this year.  See here: http://bit.ly/2lTxtiU

In those community meetings, DEMPED listed the limited choices residents had to shape the development.  Zoning limits the use of the site to residential or mixed use (residential with retail limited by zoning regs to neighborhood-serving retail such as a day care center, senior care, or community space) or institutional use.  Likewise, zoning limits height to the current height of the building, unless a zoning change for the property is sought through a PUD process.  Such a change would not change the limitations on any retail component.

The RFP notes that, “There was a consensus within the community that the future development of the site should include residential use.  Some residents expressed a preference for future development that consists solely of residential use, but the majority of the community expressed a priority to also include a neighborhood serving use site such as a community space, day care, and/or senior care in the future development.”

Also, “There were varying preferences within the community regarding housing types for the new development. Priorities included opportunities for homeownership, housing reserved for seniors, multigenerational housing, and a preference for family size units.”

The RFP says explicitly that DMPED’s guiding priorities are to increase affordable housing, and current Inclusionary Zoning regulations require that 30% of the housing in the development of city-owned buildings or land, be affordable.  The RFP, linked to below, has a detailed explanation of the affordable housing requirements on page 8.  Affordable housing residents meet the same criteria as residents applying for renting or purchase of commercial market rate housing.

The Selection process timetable (subject to change) is as follows:

Issuance of RFP – April 26, 2017

RFP response submission due date – July 14, 2017

Selection recommendation panel interviews – August 2017

Public input/disposition hearing: community presentation by development team respondents – September 2017.  (This will be the next opportunity for public input.  Developers will present their proposals to community members and gather comments from the public and the ANCs prior to the selection of a developer.)

Final selection of development team – Fall 2017

Submission of land disposition agreement and accompanying legislation to DC city Council – Spring 2018.  (DMPED will come back to the ANC before final submission to the City Council.)

DMPED’s RFP for the Boys and Girls Club can be found here:  http://bit.ly/2oyoRjt

The Week Ahead…. Boys and Girls Club & a New Restaurant on PA Ave?

Monday, April 24

1. CM Charles Allen’s Ward 6 Budget Town Hall meeting, 6:30pm, Jefferson Middle School, 801 7^th Street, SW.

2. The office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED)              is scheduled to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for development of the Hill East            Boys and Girls Club.

Tuesday, April 25

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

Wednesday, April 26

ANC6B’s Hill East Task Force meets at 7:00pm at St. Coletta of Greater Washington, 1901 Independence Avenue, S.E.  DMPED has been invited to provide an update on the RFP for the Boys and Girls Club.  In addition, representatives from the Office of Planning will attend to talk about “tactical urbanism” in the context of pedestrian safety (read the 17^th Street “speedway”).

Saturday, April 29

March for climate, jobs and justice.

Participants will gather in front of the Capitol Building at 11:00am.  The march will kick off at 12:30pm, and proceed up Pennsylvania Avenue toward the White House and end with a rally at the Washington Monument at 3:00pm.

The Week Ahead….

by Larry Janezich

Monday, April 17

Emancipation Day holiday.  DC offices will be closed.  No trash or recycling pickup.

1. CANCELLED.  ANC6A Transportation & Public Space Committee is scheduled to meet at 7:00pm, Capitol Hill Towers, 900 G street, NE.

Agenda not available at press time.

Tuesday, April 18

1. ANC6A Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee meets at 7:00pm, Sherwood Recreation Center, 10th and G Streets, N.E.

Agenda not available at press time.

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

Agenda not available at press time.

Wednesday, April 19

1. ANC6A Economic Development and Zoning Committee meets at 7:00pm, Sherwood Recreation Center, 10th and G Streets, N.E.

Agenda not available at press time.

2. CHRS Historic Preservation Café: 7:00pm, Northeast Library, 330 7th Street, N.E.  Gary Barnhart, owner of GL Barnhart Construction, will present “Elements of Capitol Hill Historic and Modern Masonry”.   Barnhart will discuss various types of older and newer masonry construction systems found throughout Capitol Hill homes and buildings.

Thursday, April 20

1. PSA 108 meets at 7:00pm, Liberty Baptist Church, 527 Kentucky Avenue, S.E.

H Street Updates: AVEC Mega Development at 901 H Street & ANC Approves Two New Alcohol Licenses

By Larry Janezich

AVEC

Excavation for Rappaport and WC Smith’s new two-block long mixed use building at 901 H Street NE – formerly the site of the H Street Connection – is underway.  Rappaport representative Lindsay Moses reported to ANC6A on Thursday night.

Rappaport owns the retail portion of the project, WC Smith the residential portion.  No word yet on the retail tenants for the project, but Moses says they’ve had considerable “buzz” from big players as well as small locals, regarding a mix of proposed restaurants and services.  Developers are currently excavating the first below grade level and have two more levels to go to accommodate three levels of underground parking.  Digging will continue through year’s end and contractors will start pouring concrete early next year.  Developers expect to complete the project in 2019.

The developers give regular updates on the second Wednesday of the month at 6:30pm at Capitol Hill Towers. The next meeting is scheduled for May 10.

New Alcohol Licenses

There are two new alcohol beverage venues opening soon on H Street.  Thursday night, ANC6A signed off on a liquor license for Dio Wine Bar a 904 H Street, NE.  Owner Stacey Khoury-Diaz appeared before the ANC to say that they hope to open in August and that the bar will be devoted primarily to organic wines and a small plates menu.

The ANC also approved a license for Quara Ethiopian Restaurant opening within days at 818 H Street, N.E.  It will be the second Ethiopian restaurant for the owner who also owns Quara in Adams Morgan.  Quara on H Street will offer a full breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu.

Later Weekend Hours for Nomad Hookah

The Commission also approved a new settlement agreement for Nomad Hookah Bar at 1200 H Street, N.E., extending the hours of operation on the outdoor space by one hour – until midnight – on weekends, on the condition that it be enclosed in a similar manner as Cusbah’s patio at 1128 H Street, N.E.  The action provoked some grumbling from the audience after ANC6A Chair Phil Toomajian refused to allow discussion after the vote of approval about why he thought that extending hours of operation for Nomad did not set a precedent for other H Street venues to demand equal treatment.  Toomajian suggested an “off-line” discussion to a questioner, and declared the resident out of order when she persisted.

DC Murals

Murals DC has joined with the DC Commission on the Arts in an anti-graffiti program involving the creation of murals at various locations across the city on the walls of privately owned buildings. A mural is currently being proposed for a building at 700 H Street, N.E.  Residents are being solicited for ideas for murals and they should contact DC murals here. http://muralsdcproject.com/

Since the wall spaces on private buildings, owners must donate the space for art, so the owner has a great deal to say about whatever goes on the wall.

 

Barracks Row:  ANXO Craft Cider/Spanish Restaurant Bids to Open at Phase 1’s Former Location

by Larry Janezich

Phase One – the oldest lesbian bar in the country until it closed last year – has been sold, ANC6B Chair Chander Jayaraman informed the Advisory Commission Tuesday night.  (The sale was first reported in The Washington Blade earlier this month.)  A potential temporary tenant for the building – the owner of ANXO Cidery & Pintxos Bar (locations in Truxton Circle and Brightwood Park) – will ask ANC6B’s Alcohol Beverage Committee for a change of hours of operation next month.

ANXO owner, Sam Fitz, is negotiating to rent the Phase 1 space from the new owner and wants earlier serving hours than the start time of 7:00pm which is a condition of the current Phase 1 license conveyed with the building.

Fitz’s plan is to team with local artists to create an art installation that will serve food and drink, with emphasis on a menu of Northern Spain (San Sebastian) dishes designed to cater to an evening dinner crowd.  Fitz wants to open what is essentially a five month pop up operation from June 1 through October to test the business concept and show it can work.  ANXO boasts the largest list of ciders “in the world”, in addition to its beer, wine, and cocktail beverage menu.  After the test period he hopes to become a long term tenant, in which case the location would be shut down for up to nine months for extensive building renovation.

Tax records show that the Phase 1 building sold on February 23, 2017, for $3.3 million.  The tavern, at 525 8th Street, SE, earned its title by being in continuous operation since 1970.

More information about ANXO including their craft ciders and the Spanish-themed menu is here:  http://www.anxodc.com/

CHC first reported the closure of Phase 1 last June, here:  http://bit.ly/299A2bh