CAPITOL HILL CORNER

The Week Ahead….ANC6C Considers Historic District for Union Market Warehouse District

And check out the photo updates on developments on Barracks Row here:  http://bit.ly/2co2uUs

By Larry Janezich

Tuesday, September 6

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

Among items on the agenda:

Commander’s Run, September 17, DC National Guard: Lt Col Derek L. Demby.

133 Kentucky Avenue SE, 2nd story addition atop rear porch.

310 4th Street SE, 2-story rear addition.

420 12th Street SE (Watkins Elementary School), renovations and addition: Department of General Services.

629 East Capitol SE, concept/alteration, new basement entrance, windows, and roof parapets.

1230 Pennsylvania Avenue SE & 1229 E Street, SE, development public space plan by SGA Companies Inc.

921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, addition of memorial marker.

210 C Street SE (Capitol Hill Day School), changes to playground.

1625 A Street SE, two story addition to an existing one-family dwelling in the RF-1 Zone.

133 Kentucky Avenue SE, 2nd story addition to the rear of an existing one-family dwelling in the RF-1 Zone.

1736 Bay Street SE, two story rear addition to the rear of an existing one-family dwelling in the RF-1 Zone.

Text Amendments, to Subtitle A §304 (Deviations and Modifications Permitted by Zoning Administrator’s Ruling) & Subtitle C §301 (Minimum Land Area for PUDs).

Status Report on ANC6B’s BZA Appeal No. 19275 Andromeda Substance Abuse Recovery Health Clinic.

2. ANC 6C Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development Committee will meet at 7:00pm, at Capitol Hill Medical center/Kaiser Permanente, 700 Second Street, NE, 2^nd and G Streets, NE. (Note: The Committee will meet on Tuesdays instead of Wednesdays)

Among items on the agenda:

Historic District nomination of Union Market Terminal – Union Market Terminal is a large complex of wholesale warehouse buildings occupying an approximately 40-acre tract of land located just east of the intersection of Florida and New York Avenues with Florida Avenue forming its southern edge and New York Avenue its northern border. In its entirety, the complex includes more than six squares of connected warehouse buildings that were constructed over the course of several decades from 1929 until the present.

The proposed historic district boundaries include only the core section of this larger complex, comprising two central rows of buildings lining 4th and 5th Streets, NE, and two smaller rows on Morse Street NE, south of and running perpendicular to 4th and 5th streets. This core grouping includes architecturally uniform warehouse buildings that were constructed in the first years of after the 1929 establishment of the complex. Representative: Rebecca Miller, DC Preservation League.  See WaPo backgrounder here:  http://wapo.st/2c3j5fu

220 L Street, NE.  Application of JS Congress Holdings, LLC, requesting approval of a consolidated PUD and related zoning map amendment for property located at 220 L Street, NE, and 1109-15 Congress Street, NE.  The Property is bounded by L Street, NE, to the south, Congress St NE to the west, a public alley to the east, and private property to the north.

The Property is currently improved with two structures, which will be replaced with a new mixed-use building comprised of residential uses and production, distribution, and repair (“PDR”) space. The PUD will provide approximately 59,254 square feet of residential use (including penthouse space) and approximately 3,580 square feet of PDR uses. Of the total residential gross floor area, the Applicant will dedicate 8%, or 4,740 square feet, to inclusionary zoning units, or approximately five units. The Applicant will devote two IZ units to households earning up to 50% of the area medium income (“AMI”); the remaining three units will be set aside for 80% AMI households. CastroHaase+Brown PLLC.

400 Florida Ave. NE.  Application of EAJ 400 Florida Avenue, LLC, for approval of a consolidated PUD and related zoning map amendment for the property bounded by a public alley to the north, 5th Street, NE, to the east, Florida Avenue, NE, to the south, and 4th Street, NE.

The Property is currently improved with two two-story structures and is otherwise unimproved. The Applicant proposes to raze the existing structures in connection with redevelopment of the Property to construct a new mixed-use building composed of residential and hotel uses. The PUD will include a total of approximately 98,836 square feet of residential use (110 units, plus or minus 10%) and approximately 65,540 square feet of hotel use (164 rooms). Of the total residential gross floor area, the Applicant will dedicate six percent to households earning up to 50% of the area medium income (“AMI”) and another six percent to households earning up to 80% of the AMI.

3. ANC6C Parks and Events Committee will meet at 7:00pm at Capitol Hill Medical Center/Kaiser Permanente, 700 Second Street, NE, 2nd and G Streets, NE.

Among items on the agenda:

NoMa Parks – Discussion with NoMa Parks Foundation concerning the status of NoMa parks.  Representative:  Stacie West, NoMa Parks Foundation.

REI Opening – Discussion with REI concerning events and activities associated with the grand opening of REI’s new flagship store in NoMa October 21- 23rd.  Representative:  Matt Liddle, REI.

Wednesday, September 7

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

Among items on the agenda:

Review of DDOT Proposed Rulemaking to Revise the Residential Parking Permit System.

Review of DDOT signal synchronization process along Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

Request DDOT to install light fixture in the alley behind 700 block of I Street, SE.

Thursday, September 8

1. ANC6A meets at 7:00pm at Miner Elementary, 601 Fifteenth (15th) Street, NE

Among items on the agenda:

Presentations:

Robert White, Candidate, D.C. Councilmember At-Large.

Commander Morgan Kane, First District, Metropolitan Police Department.

Letter to DDOT in support of the request that they use brick when working on the sidewalk on the 800 block of A Street NE to be consistent with the other sidewalks in the adjacent area.

Letter to DDOT in support for a petition requesting a DDOT safety evaluation of the intersection at 8th Street, NE, and West Virginia Avenue, NE.

Letter to DDOT in support of a petition requesting a safety evaluation at the intersection at 10th Street, NE, and Massachusetts Avenue, NE.

Letter to DDOT in support for having a dedicated line for the streetcar on K Street, NW, due to the benefit it will provide for service for residents of ANC6A and other users of the streetcar.

Letter to Bureau of Zoning Adjustment in support of the PUD for a landuse designation change from the existing C-2-A to C-2-B in order to develop the property at 1701 H Street, NE.

Letter to HPRB in support of the concept/construction of two (2) story carriage with roof deck at 313 11th Street NE, pending receipt of letters of support from adjoining neighbors.

Consideration of HPRB review of proposed third story addition to 1116 Constitution Avenue NE.

2. ANC6B Alcohol Beverage Control Committee meets at 7:00pm at the Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

Among items on the agenda:

Ziaafat Grill & Restaurant, 1102 8th Street SE, new Class C Restaurant license with sidewalk café endorsement.

Matchbox, 517 8th Street SE, withdrawal of protest on renewal of Class C license.

Ted’s Bulletin, 505 8th Street SE, withdrawal of protest on renewal of Class C license.

District Taco, 656 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, substantial change for sidewalk café with seating for 10 with sales/service 8am to 9pm, Sunday thru Saturday.

Report on the Status of ANC 6B License Renewal Protests: Good Stuff, Bearnaise, and We the Pizza; Hank’s on the Hill; Ambar; and Matchbox and Ted’s Bulletin.

3. ANC 6C Transportation and Public Space Committee will meet at 7:00pm at                Kaiser Permanente Capitol Hill Medical Center, 700 2^nd Street, SE.

Among items on the agenda:

501 H Street, NE, public space plans and traffic control plans.

Constitution Square traffic control plan.

Recommendation for DC to take ownership of two alley lots.

Maryland Avenue redesign – median reduction on 600 block.

New parking regulations (including Resident Only rules).

The Week Ahead…..Things Are Picking Up

by Larry Janezich

Tuesday, August 30

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

Thursday, September 1

PSA 107 (Police Service Area) meets at 7:00pm at SE Library (lower level), 403 7^th Street, SE.

Friends of Southeast Library (FOSEL) meet at 5:30pm in Southeast Library.  Anyone wishing to join the Friends is welcome to attend.

Editorial: The GSA Massacre Should Spell the End for Bowser

by Larry Janezich

Editorial:

Department of General Services Director Admiral Chris Weaver resigned rather than fulfill a request by City Administrator Rasheed Young that he fire two employees involved in the contracting process which failed to award contracts to a major Bowser contributor.  That was on August 12.  On August 15, the city placed the two employees on administrative leave.

This WAMU story (link below) claims that the resignation/placing-on-leaves at the Department of General Services were directly related to the failure of DGS to award contracts to Bowser’s contributor, Fort Meyer Construction.  The story does not surprise those of us who followed the awarding of the contract for the Hine Development.  If true, it should spell the end of Muriel Bowser’s political career….or maybe, it’s just “Forget it, Jake.  It’s Chinatown.”

When was the last time a DC Government official resigned over a matter of principle?  You have to salute Chris Weaver’s Richardson/Ruckleshaus-Watergate-Saturday-Night-Massacre style resignation – and you remember how well that worked out for the chief executive.

Enough is enough.

See the WAMU story here:  http://bit.ly/2bOH5Vt

The Week Ahead….And Photo Essay – King’s Court Community Garden

By Larry Janezich

King’s Court Community Garden occupies much of the interior of the 200 block of 14th and 15th Streets, SE.  The garden comprises 32 plots of differing shapes and sizes.  Long time Hill East Resident Pat Taylor, one of the founders of Capitol Hill’s community gardens, chairs the King’s Court Community Garden Board.

For more on Capitol Hill Community Garden’s see Catherine Plume’s Hill Rag article here: http://bit.ly/2bIgsRX

Also, check out the update on Life on Capitol Hill – link at the top of the home page.

Monday, August 22

ANC 6A Community Outreach Committee meets at 7:00pm at Maury Elementary School, Multi-Purpose Room, 1250 Constitution Avenue, NE (Enter from 13th Street) to discuss ANC 6A Grants and process.

…….And the rest of the week is dark.

City Advances Shotgun House Project – Sends Shakespeare Plan Back to Drawing Board

(Also, click of Life on Capitol Hill on the Home Page to see updates)

by Larry Janezich

At its July 28 meeting the Historic Preservation Review Board advanced the plan to reconstruct the Shotgun House at 1229 E Street, SE, and found the new mixed use residential and retail project proposed by SGA Architects at 1230 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, to be compatible with the Capitol Hill Historic District.  The vote was unanimous, 6 – 0.

For the shotgun house addition, the Board asked at its August 4 meeting, that the “proportions of the fenestration continue to be refined and the height of the roof be lowered; for the new construction on Pennsylvania, the Board asked that the size of the penthouse be reduced to the greatest extent possible, and that the design of the garage door continue to be refined.  It was recommended that the applicant work with HPO on evaluating the potential for archaeological resources on the site.”  Final approval was delegated to HPO.  Vote:  6-0.  See CHC post on the projects here:  http://bit.ly/29buF8j and here: http://bit.ly/29O9X1Z

Michael Oxman’s proposal for a mixed use retail, office, residential project at 507 8^th Street – currently used by the Shakespeare Theater as rehearsal space, did not fare as well before the board.

The Board found “the concept of adding a two-story addition of this size and visibility from the 8th Street, SE, right-of-way to be incompatible with the character of the historic district and advised the applicant to reduce the addition such that it will be smaller and less visible from the 8th Street, SE, right-of-way and return to the Board for further review.” The vote was unanimous, 7 – 0 .   (See earlier CHC post on the project here: http://bit.ly/29XUNYi

Final List of ANC Candidates for Ward Six

by Larry Janezich

The close of business yesterday August 10, was the deadline for ANC candidates to file their 25 signature petitions with the DC Board of Elections.  Candidates must be registered to vote and have resided in their Single Member Districts (SMDs) for 60 days (since June 11, 2016) in order to qualify to stand for election and gather the signatures of at least 25 residents who are also registered residents of their SMDs.

The general election day is Tuesday, November 8.  Qualified electors may register to vote and/or cast ballots for their precincts at the polling places for their precincts.

The following current Ward Six ANC commissioners are not seeking re-election: 

ANC6A:  Omar Mahmud 6A01

ANC6B:  Daniel Chao 6B07

ANC6C:  Daniele Schiffman 6C01, Tony Goodman 6C06

ANC6D:  Marjorie Lightman 6D01, Stacy Cloyd 6D02, Rachel Reilly Carroll 6D03

ANC6E:  Kevin L. Chapple 6E02, Rachelle Nigro 6E04, Antonio Barnes 6E06, Alfreda S. Judd 6E07

List of incumbent Ward Six ANC Commissioners and candidates

6A01 Omar Mahmud (incumbent) not seeking reelection

6A01 Marie-Claire Brown

6A02 Phil Toomajian (incumbent)

6A03 Michael B Soderman (incumbent)

6A03 Gil Thompson

6A04 Matt Levy (incumbent)

6A05 Yair Inspektor

6A05 Patrick Malone (incumbent)

6A06 H.J. Amons Sr.

6A06 Peter Grant

6A06 Stephanie Zimny (incumbent)

6A07 Sondra Phillips-Gilbert (incumbent)

6A08 Calvin Ward (incumbent)

*

6B01 Jennifer E Samolyk (incumbent)

6B02 Diane Hoskins (incumbent)

6B03 James M Loots (incumbent)

6B03 Brian Ready

6B04 Kirsten Oldenburg (incumbent)

6B05 Steve Hagedorn (incumbent)

6B06 Nick Burger (incumbent)

6B07 Daniel Chao (incumbent) not seeking re-election

6B07 Aimee M. Grace

6B08 Chander Jayaraman (incumbent)

6B09 William Reed

6B09 Daniel Ridge (incumbent)

6B10 Cam Norris

6B10 Kathryn Denise Krepp (incumbent)

6B10 James Zeigler

*

6C01 Daniele Schiffman (incumbent) not seeking reelection

6C01 Christine Healey

6C02 Karen Wirt (incumbent)

6C03 Scott Price (incumbent)

6C04 Mark Eckenwiler (incumbent)

6C05 Chris Miller (incumbent)

6C06 Tony Goodman (incumbent) not seeking re-election

6C06 Heather Edelman

6C06 Graham Smith

*

6D01 Marjorie Lightman (incumbent) not seeking re-election

6D01 Gail Fast

6D01 Wes Ven Johnson

6D01 Martin Welles

6D01 Dorinda “Rindi” White

6D02 Stacy Cloyd (incumbent) not seeking re-election

6D02 Paul Biedlingmaier

6D02 Tori L. Collins

6D02 Cara Lea Shockley

6D03 Rachel Reilly Carroll (incumbent) not seeking re-election

6D03 (no candidate)

6D04 Andy Litsky (incumbent)

6D05 Rebekah Caruthers

6D05 Dana Lutenegger

6D05 Katelynd Mahoney

6D05 Roger Moffatt (incumbent)

6D06 Rhonda Natalie Hamilton (incumbent)

6D07 Meredith Fascett (incumbent)

6D07 Kathy Newman

*

6E01 Alexander M. “Alex” Padro (incumbent)

6E02 Kevin L. Chapple (incumbent) not seeking re-election

6E01 Mary A. Sutherland

6E02 Anthony Brown

6E02 Valerie Randolph

6E02 Eugene Simms

6E02 Leroy Thorpe

6E03 Kenneth James

6E03 Frank S. Wiggins (incumbent)

6E04 Rachelle Nigro (ncumbent) not seeking re-election

6E04 Lily Roberts

6E04 Sterlicia Rodney

6E04 Mohammed Seid

6E04 Phil Tsolakidis

6E05 Marge Maceda (incumbent)

6E05 Alex Marriott

6E06 Antonio Barnes (incumbent) not seeking re-election

6E06 Alvin Judd Sr.

6E07 Alfreda S. Judd (incumbent) not seeking re-election

6E07 Kevin M. Rogers

Stanton Eastbanc Launch Leasing Efforts for Hine Project Retail/Office Space – Latest Renderings

Project Has Changed Since Zoning

By Larry Janezich

Stanton-EastBanc has launched the marketing of the retail and office space in the Hine project scheduled to open in the fall of 2017.  There are 14 retail spaces available – ten in the main South building ranging from 3800 s.f. to 1700 s.f., and four in the North Building, ranging from 1500 s.f. to 800 s.f.

These do not include the Trader Joe’s already scheduled for the below grade corner of the project at 7^th and Pennsylvania Avenue, nor the infant day care facility scheduled for the first floor corner of 8^th and Pennsylvania Avenue.  Sources tell CHC that SEB is negotiating with a major national retail outlet to anchor the first floor retail space at 7^th and Pennsylvania.

No word yet on marketing of the residential space, but indications are the units will be apartments rather than condos as originally planned.

The office space is being branded as “700 Penn” – http://700penn.com/; the retail space is piggybacking on the Eastern Market brand with “At Eastern Market” –  http://ateasternmarket.com/

The project has changed modestly since it went before the Zoning Commission for final approval.

46,699 s.f. of retail has been increased to 60,000 s.f.

163,392 s.t. of office space has been reduced to 150,000 s.f.

158 residential units have been increase to 162

260 parking spaces have been increased to 320

The At Eastern Market website claims some interesting facts regarding the neighborhood – though not specifically stated – perhaps defined by the census tract – see below.

The two marketing websites list an Eastbanc telephone number as the contact for questions, though the At Eastern Market website says Stanton-Eastbanc is handling development and retail.  A third entity – Jones Lang Lasalle (JLL) is listed as a team member on the 700 Penn website office leasing website and appears to be a property management company.

 

Recommended:  The Antipodes Project at The Fridge – Through August 29

by Larry Janezich

Antipodes:

Wikipedia – “The term … changed its sense from the original ‘under the feet, opposite side’ to ‘those with the feet opposite’… referring to hypothetical people living on the opposite side of the Earth. Medieval illustrations imagine them in some way “inverted”, with their feet growing out of their heads, pointing upward.”

The Antipodes Project is an example of visionary art comprised of four large scale multi-paned tableaus began in 2006.  Three of the works are complete and the fourth is still a work in progress.  Tolman chose The Fridge for the premier of the project – a ten year collaboration of more than 30 artists, each of whom shares Tolman’s capacity for attention to detail.  There are an additional dozen or so individual visionary pieces by Tolman and some of his collaborators in the show.

The Antipodes Project references Hieronymus Bosch in an even more bizarre and surreal exercise of imagination, creativity and spontaneity.  The catalyst Tolman provided each of his collaborators was a text from Aldous Huxley’s Heaven and Hell – along with encouragement to seek out the “exceedingly improbable” creatures, in the “remoter regions of the mind.”  The artists sent their ink drawings to Tolman on 11 X 14 Bristol board panels by mail.

Tolman assembled the pieces into 12, 20, and 18 panel compositions and provided the artistic bridges connecting each panel to the others and integrating them into a unified whole.  That required learning the styles of ink drawing of the contributors and then seamlessly morphing one style into another.

According to Tolman, the project started as a hobby, almost died, was rejuvenated and took on a new life of its own.  Now Tolman hopes to continue the project, make more pieces, and “see where it goes.”

The artist currently works in a studio on Capitol Hill.  He received his MFA from American University in 2012 and his BFA from the Corcoran College of Art and Design in 2005. He has exhibited work nationally and internationally including being an exhibited finalist in the prestigious Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery.  In addition to The Fridge, he is currently showing works in two galleries in NYC.

You can see more of his large body of work here: http://www.bentolman.com/ and on his Facebook page, here:  https://www.facebook.com/bentolman.art/?fref=nf

The Fridge is located at 516 & ½ 8^th Street, SE, rear alley. www.thefridgedc.com  Open hours tend to be irregular.  Watch for the sandwich board sign on 8^th Street, next to the Shakespeare Theater Administrative Offices.          

The Week Ahead….

by Larry Janezich

ANCs 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, EMCAC and the CHRS  do not meet during August.  ANC 6A is the only Commission which holds committee or task force meetings this month.  ANC 6B’s Executive Committee will meet on August 30 to set the agenda for September’s monthly meeting.  PSA’s meet – although MPD was an unexplained no show at PSA 107 last Thursday.

The Week Ahead….

Tuesday, August 9

1. 901 H Street Redevelopment Community Meeting, 6:30pm at Capitol Hill Towers, 9^th and G Streets, NE. General project update construction update regarding the H Street Connection site, which has been demolished over the past weeks.
2. Police Service Area (PSA) 104 public meeting at 7:00pm. Stuart Hobson Middle School, 410 E Street, NE.   Residents are invited to provide input to police on illegal activity in their neighborhoods.

Wednesday, August 10

ANC6A Transportation and Public Space Committee and the Maryland Avenue Pedestrian Safety Project Design meet at 6:30pm in NE Public Library, 330 7^th Street, NE, to review the 30 percent construction documents for the implementation of the Maryland Avenue Pedestrian Safety plan.  The plan, which was approved by the community and ANC6A and ANC6C and adopted by DDOT a few years ago, remains posted on ANC6A’s website where the 30% construction design documents have now been posted as well.  See here:  http://anc6a.org/