CAPITOL HILL CORNER

At Last – Non-Food Retail Coming to Barracks Row

Woman’s Exercise Apparel Outlet Will Focus on Green Brands

by Larry Janezich

Summit to Soul, a women’s fitness and lifestyle boutique will open by the end of July according to founder Kimberly Wattrick.  The retail space at 727 8^th Street on Barracks Row was formerly the home of Capitol Hill Sporting Goods which closed recently after 13 years.

Summit To Soul is a Washington, DC, based boutique that provides high-quality women’s fitness and yoga apparel and gear.  The store is committed to carrying only eco-friendly, sustainably-sourced, or Made in USA products.  Those brands include:  Beyond Yoga, Onzie, Wear It To Heart/WITH, Rese, Coeur, United By Blue, Manchuka, and Oiselle.

Wattrick said she chose to open on Barracks Row because she “lives on Capitol Hill and loves the community and saw a need for a women’s apparel outlet.”  After the store launches she has plans for Summit To Soul sponsored community events such as free run clubs and fitness groups.

Wattrick is a long time DC resident, a former collegiate tennis player and avid exercise enthusiast.  After a career in socially responsible investing, she founded Summit To Soul in 2015.   She received her BA from Georgetown University and an MA in International Affairs from Johns Hopkins SAIS, where she won a national business plan competition for sustainable business practices.  For more information on product lines, see the store’s website here: https://www.summittosoul.com/

Capitol Hill residents who have been pining for non-restaurant retail to return to 8^th Street will undoubtedly welcome the news.  In addition to Capitol Hill Sporting Goods, two other “real” retail stores on the block closed recently:  Homebody lost its lease to make way for Pineapple and Pearls – Aaron Silverstein’s high end, $250 fixed price companion restaurant for Rose’s Luxury – and City Bikes closed earlier this year because of an increase in rent.   Barracks Row has struggled to attract retail on a commercial corridor where some landlords hold out for higher rents only food and drink establishments can afford.  As word spreads of the clout of the well-organized nearby neighbors who have been successful in requiring new restaurants to meet best operating practices, these landlords may be waiting for a while.

 

Vandals Damage/Destroy Capitol Hill School Art Work at Hine Development Site

by Larry Janezich

Over the holiday weekend, vandals damaged or destroyed at least eight paintings which were part of a Capitol Hill schools’ art project featured on the construction fence surrounding the Hine development site.  A sharp instrument was used to slash the canvas paintings.  In most cases, the remnants of fabric were left hanging, attached to the frame.  In the case of the the painting from River Park Nursery, a large piece of canvas was completely removed.  Where possible, the pieces have been repaired.  The vandalized art includes the works from St. Coletta, Tyler School, Hill Preschool, St. Peter School, River Park Nursery, Peabody Elementary, Miner Elementary and Capitol Hill Day School.  27 schools participated in the art project which opened on September 29, 2015.

The Week Ahead….

by Larry Janezich

Monday, July 4

1.Independence Day Parade on Barracks Row.  10:00 am

Tuesday, July 5

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

Among items on the agenda:

1101 Pennsylvania Avenue SE – (Frager’s), construction public space plan

420 12th Street, SE – Watkins Elementary School, public space plan in connection with Watkins school renovations

Capitol Hill Squash Club, 218 D Street, SE – Application of Capitol Hill Squash Club Associates for a special exception to use the second floor of a building as a group instruction (exercise) studio in the CAP/R-4 District

622-624 North Carolina Avenue, SE – Application of Kenneth A. Golding, for variances from the penthouse height requirements and special exceptions from the apartment house expansion requirements and the penthouse setback requirements and expand an existing apartment house in the R-4 District.

626 E Street, SE – façade alterations to non-contributing 3-story apartment building

507 8th Street, SE – (Shakespeare), concept/visible 2-story addition on 2-story contributing warehouse building

411 New Jersey Avenue, SE – (National Democratic Club), new construction

Capitol Courts, 1229 E Street SE & 1230 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE – Historic Preservation Application

2. ANC 6C Parks and Events Committee meets at 7:00 pm, at Kaiser-Permanente Capitol Hill Medical Center, 700 2^nd Street, NE

Among items on the agenda:

Park at 5^th and I Streets, NE – Discussion with Insight Property Group, LLC, concerning the design, construction schedule, administration and maintenance of the improvements at the National Park Service park at 5^th and I Streets, NE

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

Wednesday, July 6

1. ANC6B Transportation Committee meets at 7:00pm in Hill Center.

Among items on the agenda:

Review of DDOT Proposed Rulemaking on Red Top Meters

Status Report on MPD Efforts to Reduce Red-light Running at the intersection of Kentucky/Potomac Avenues & 15^th/C Streets (tentative)

Letter to DDOT Requesting Closure of the 2^nd Street, SE, alignment under the SE/SW Freeway at Garfield Park

2. ANC6C Planning, Zoning and Economic Development Committee meets at 7:00pm at Kaiser Permanente Capitol Hill Medical Center, 700 Second Street NE.

Among items on the agenda:

300 8^th Street, NE – Revised application of Community Three Development, LLC, to demolish existing noncontributing structure and for concept approval to construct a new four-story residential building with penthouse.

301-331 N street, NE– Revised application of Foulger-Pratt Development, LLC for approval of a consolidated PUD and a PUD-related map amendment to facilitate the development of 301-331 N Street, NE, for a mixed-use project. The Applicant proposes to develop the property into a project of two integrated buildings with a mix of uses. The east building will contain residential and ground floor retail uses, and the west building will contain residential, hotel, office, and ground-floor retail uses. In total, the project will contain approximately 366 residential units, approximately 175 hotel rooms, and approximately 250 underground parking spaces. The overall floor area ratio of the project will be approximately 6.65, and the maximum building height will be 120 feet.

Proposed legislation – Discussion of:

1. the DCRA Infractions Fine Increase Regulation Amendment Act of 2015;
2. the Vacant and Blighted Buildings Enforcement Amendment Act of 2015;
3. the Vacant Property Enforcement Amendment Act of 2016; and
4. the Homeowners Protection from Construction Damage Amendment Act of 2016.

Thursday, July 7

1. ANC6B ABC Committee meets at 7:00pm at Hill Center

Among items on the agenda:

Ted’s Bulletin, 505 8^th Street, SE – Renewal of Class C Restaurant license

Matchbox, 517 8^th Street, SE – Renewal of Class C Restaurant license

Beuchert’s Saloon, 623 Pennsylvania Avenue SE – Substantial change for new sidewalk café with seating for six.

S.E. Market, 1500 Independence Avenue, SE – Substantial change in hours of operation, sales and consumption.

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

2. PSA 107 meets at 7:00pm in Southeast Library, lower level.
3. Friends of Southeast Library, FOSEL, meet at 5:30pm, lower level.

 

First Images for New Shotgun House and Capitol Courts’ Micro Apartments on PA Ave SE

by Larry Janezich

Thursday night, Sassan Gharai of SGA Architects met with neighbors of the Shotgun House and the space currently occupied by Frager’s Garden Center in the 1200 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, to reveal the preliminary concepts for development of those sites.

Gharai, developer of nearby Butterfield House, has a Historic Preservation Application before DC’s Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) for “Capitol Courts” – a 119 unit mixed use development for the north side of the 1200 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, and the restoration and development of the Shotgun House at 1229 E Street, SE.  The projects are being presented as a package to the HPRB, though they are technically two separate projects.

Some 100 of the 119 units will be 400 square foot “junior bedrooms” – there will be a few one bedrooms and larger units.  The junior bedrooms will rent for $1200 a month with a minimum six month lease.  The units will be marketed to a “young crowd” and will be semi-furnished, with a bed, sofa, and coffee table.  “It’s a different way of living,” Gharai said, adding that “the rooms will essentially be glorified hotel rooms, with tiny, tiny, tiny, kitchens.”

The plan for Capitol Courts includes 5,000 square feet on the ground floor Southeast corner of the project, for a specialty foods and deli outlet featuring principally prepared food.  Gharai said he doesn’t want a restaurant because they’re “not clean and generate trash.”  He said he is talking with a new start up – Street Market & Café – as a possible tenant for the retail space.  See here:  http://streetsmarketcafe.com/

The four story apartment building would rise to 50 feet, plus a penthouse “party area” featuring entertainment for the tenants including television, a pool table, ping pong, a lounge, and a wading pool to facilitate cooling off for sunbathers.  The penthouse level will also feature bedrooms which can be rented to accommodate tenant’s guests.

There will be 21 underground and surface parking spaces, a bike room, and car sharing program.  Management will encourage renters not to own cars and Gharai anticipates banning renters from applying for Residential Parking Permits.  (Update: by making no RPP a condition of the lease)  Access to parking will also allow E Street neighbors to have new first time access to their back yards means of an easement Gharai will provide those residents.

SGA hopes to break ground in the spring of 2017.  John Weintraub, owner of Frager’s Hardware, said last night that the new Frager’s Hardware store across Pennsylvania Avenue will not be available until mid-2018 and he has not yet found a place to relocate the Garden Center.

The plan for the Shotgun House anticipates creation of two separate units which, unlike the apartments in Capitol Courts, will be sold.

SGA Architects plan to move the Shotgun House over to abut the adjacent house to the west.  The front 26 feet of the house will be preserved –  dismantled, reconstructed with “custom milled siding and a hand-crimped tin roof and custom windows.”  The restored Shotgun House will be one unit, and two-story extension in the rear will constitute the second unit.

Gharai said he hopes to start on the Shotgun House before the end of the year, if HPRB signs off on it and permits can be obtained.

ANC6B’s Planning and Zoning Committee will consider the Historic Preservation Applications of the two projects next Tuesday at its July meeting at 7:00pm, at St. Coletta’s.  The full ANC6B will then consider the HPAs at their monthly meeting on July 12, at 7:00pm at Hill Center.  These two meetings may be the only opportunities for the community to weigh in on the design elements of the projects.  Since the Capitol Courts is being built as a “matter of right,” no zoning changes will be required that will bring the project to back before the ANC regarding issues pertaining to height, massing, density, or light.

For previous CHC post on development of the Shotgun House and the Pennsylvania Avenue site, go here:  http://bit.ly/28NQ7Cg

Hill East Residents Vent About Open Air Drug Market & Gunfight at 17^th and Independence

MPD Chief Lanier Promises Action

by Larry Janezich

Wednesday night, some 50 Hill East residents, called together by ANC6B Commissioner Denise Krepp, met yet again at St. Coletta of Greater Washington to talk about crime.  Present last night were MPD Chief of Police Cathy Lanier, top brass from MPD District 1, Doug Klein from the US Attorney’s office, Santha Sonenberg from the DC Attorney General’s office, Council Member Charles Allen, and ANC Commissioners Krepp, Kirsten Oldenburg, Chander Jayaraman, Daniel Chao, Daniel Ridge, Nick Burger, and Calvin Ward.

The overwhelming concern of those attending was what residents called an open air drug market at 17^th and Independence, the scene of a semi-automatic gunfight early last Sunday morning between a group of young men hanging out at the intersection and another group of young males in a car which stopped at the scene.  A witness’s verbal description indicated that as many as 20 to 30 shots could have been exchanged.  One minor injury to a female bystander was reported along with considerable property damage.

Residents living nearby related their on-going experiences with those who they say are selling drugs on the corner but who live outside the District.  It is these visitors residents blame for the series of violent incidents that have occurred at the intersection and they want to know why police can’t prevent people from hanging out on the block.  One resident said the police are taking the problem too lightly.

Chief Lanier denied police are taking the issue lightly, and says that MPD faces a Constitutional rights hurdle prohibiting police from requiring those who loiter at the intersection to move elsewhere.  She said that some individuals had been arrested multiple times and that efforts of plain clothes officers against the alleged drug dealers would continue.  “I will make sure our team takes action,” Lanier said, “we know who the players are.”

Lanier believes that that we need to take a look at the criminal justice system.  She told residents that 50 of the most violent repeat offenders who are on the street today in DC have a total of 857 arrests among them.  Some 35 of the 50 are out serving part of their sentences in the community.

Krepp asked, “Why aren’t they in jail?’

Lanier responded, “You’re asking the wrong person.  My cops ask me that every day and I’ve got to get them out and on the streets.”

Residents near the intersection expressed their frustration.  One property owner who said she had lived in the neighborhood for forty years criticized the police for the way they “engage” the drug dealers, alleging that on the night of the recent shooting, police spent two hours talking to those hanging out at the corner “like they were friends” before being called away to another incident.  The shooting last weekend, she said, happened after police left.

The same longtime resident added, “They don’t respect your officers.  People are out there drinking alcohol.  I’m sorry [the police] are not doing their jobs.  I believe the officers are scared of them because they have bigger guns than the police.  None of them live on the block.  I lived there 40 years.  I grew up there and I know them.”

Another resident told police that the drug market used to be low-key and tolerable.  “Now, there are shots fired every six months.  The only thing preventing a homicide is peoples’ bad aim.  We need to focus on a long term strategy that will make clear that drugs can’t be sold with impunity on the corner.”

A third resident said that there were “so many shots [Saturday night] that I can’t believe it wasn’t a semi-automatic weapon.  It’s terrifying being awakened by gunshots – is scared the shit out of me.”

Krepp asked officials, “How do we get kids who don’t live there out?’  It turns out that there is not only no easy answer, there is no answer at all.

First District Commander Contee: “That’s the challenge.”

Chief Lanier:  We can’t tell people they can’t hang out on the block.”

Klein – “Unfortunately, there are no anti-loitering laws – they’re unconstitutional.  Police can make arrests, but they have to be there when a crime is committed.”

Krepp suggested a crime summit to bring together all city agencies to consider ways to address the problem and asked CM Allen what he thought.  Allen said that a community meeting would not solve the problem, that much of the problem was caused by the courts, and the courts had no accountability.  He suggested exploring ways to empower the community to be proactive in addressing crime issues.

Lanier says that the justice system is broken, and that before being proactive an analysis is needed to identify problems so they can be fixed.  She suggested that the first steps have been taken in the collection of data by the Mayor’s Criminal Justice Coordination Council.

Lanier’s first priority seems to be guns and getting them off the streets.  She talks about having to tell her officers who have taken guns off the streets to go back and “do it again, and do it again, and do it again” from the same people who are on the streets with new guns.  “There were 23 homicides last year by people with previous convictions for homicides who were out on the street,” she added.

Deputy US Attorney Doug Klein said that despite questions being raised about prosecution rates, the Department of Justice is processing the 350 cases it gets on a weekly basis “month after month,” and prosecuting those cases it thinks are winnable.

It may well be that the imminent opening of a 24 hour 7-11 convenience store at 15^th and Independence – two blocks west – will solve the problem for the residents at 17^th and Independence.  The outlet will offer food and drink 24/7, a natural hangout location, and a drive-through alley behind the store.  If not solved, the problem may be displaced, creating problems for a different set of neighbors.

 

To Lanier’s larger point, nothing illustrates more clearly that the criminal justice system is broken than the incarceration rate for the United States compared with other countries. According to the BBC half of the world’s prison population of about nine million is held in the US, China or Russia.

According to the Institute for Prison Policy Research, prison rates in the US are the world’s highest, at 724 people per 100,000.  In Russia the rate is 581.  Stats for the top ten incarcerating countries are as follows:

1             United States of America               2 217 947

2             China                                                  1 649 804

3             Russian Federation                          651 360

4             Brazil                                                  622 202

5             India                                                   418 536

6             Thailand                                             319 883

7             Mexico                                               255 138

8             Iran                                                     225 624

9             Turkey                                                187 609

10           Indonesia                                          180 347

Phase 1 – Barracks Row’s Iconic Lesbian Bar and Nightclub Looks Closed for Good

by Larry Janezich

From Phase 1’s Facebook page, dated February 5:  “Phase is closed until further notice.  Please check back with us for further updates. Thank you for all your patronage and support.”

On May 11, Phase 1, in response to a question posed on its Facebook page, said, “We are permanently closed.”  The LGBT press reported in February that the entire staff had been let go, and now a “For Sale or Lease” banner has appeared on the building.

Phase 1, the iconic lesbian bar and nightclub at 525 8^th Street, SE, laid claim to the distinction of being the oldest continually operating lesbian bar in the United States and the oldest operating LGBT bar in Washington, according to Wikipedia.  The bar was founded by Allen Carroll and Chris Jansen in 1970.

CHC contacted Carroll and asked him about the status of Phase 1.  Allen said, “I’m not open right now – I’m taking a break.  I don’t know what I want to do.  I’ll be 75 in November – I’ve been open 46 years.  I’ve got it up for sale or lease.”

Martin Smith, Executive Director of Barracks Row Main Street said he understood that the bar had closed some time ago and called it “Truly a disappointing loss both to the local lesbian community and to Barracks Row and the Hill overall – Phase 1 was one of the oldest businesses on 8th Street.”

Barrack’s Row formerly hosted several bars serving the gay community – most have fallen away or moved.  Bachelor’s Mill remains on lower Barracks Row near the Navy Yard.  Remington’s – a gay bar at 637-639 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, closed on April 14, 2014, after more than 30 years in business.  The adjacent buildings which were formerly Remington’s now house a Sprint outlet and a 7-11 convenience store.  See here:  http://bit.ly/294KmhF and here http://bit.ly/29b4Ze1

Former Long-time Frager’s Co-owner Ed Copenhaver Dies

by Larry Janezich

Ed Copenhaver, who along with business partner John Weintraub bought Frager’s Hardware in 1975, died early yesterday morning at NOVA hospital in Fairfax, Virginia, after a long illness.  He was 73.

Copenhaver was a familiar face in Frager’s until his retirement in 2012.  Frager’s employees remember him as a “pure gentleman.”  A Capitol Hill resident who knew Copenhaver told CHC, “John Weintraub has always been seen as the guiding force of Frager’s, and he certainly is the business side of it, but Ed was its heart and soul.  In addition to being the floor manager customers saw and loved, he employed Hill kids who were otherwise troubled or flailing (typical teen stuff) and they loved working for him.  He was an amazingly unpretentious guy.”

Asked for comment, Weintraub recalled, “We met in college at University of Virginia in 1961, re-connected in the early seventies in Washington, DC,  and were co-owners of Frager’s since 1975. No plans have been made yet for a service. He was great to work with and a giving person. Customers and staff loved him.”

There will be no formal funeral, but a memorial service will be held in a couple of weeks, according to sources.  Details will be forthcoming.

For the 2012 Hill Rag’s story on Copenhaver’s 2012 retirement and photos, go here:   http://www.capitalcommunitynews.com/PDF/64-65_RAG_0312.pdf

Want Your Alley Paved?  It’s Easy.  Write a letter.  Be nice.

(And employ a full time person who stays at the District Building to take care of things.)

by Larry Janezich

Neighbors of the contentious pop-up at 242 14th Street, SE, (See here: http://bit.ly/1Suk9Gg) were surprised at the appearance of DC Department of Transportation paving equipment in their alley last week.  Some months ago, long-time Capitol Hill developer Bob Hess floated the idea to neighbors of petitioning to have the dirt alley behind his new two-unit condo pop-up paved.  The project features an unusual main entrance for one condo fronting on an alley feeding into Kings Court and this is the alley Hess wanted paved.  Neighbors were not inclined to cooperate, being upset at the height and mass of the project, which – even though within legal limits at the time permits were issued – is out of character with the roof line on the block.

So when the city’s paving equipment showed up on Monday evening last week, irate neighbors demanded to know through their ANC commissioner if the imminent paving had received the appropriate sanctions.  Apparently they had, as a visit to the site in mid-morning on Tuesday, June 21, showed the paving well underway.

There are many alleys on Capitol Hill that need paving, and a timeline for paving them reportedly exists, but one which is dependent on the funding available for those projects. Naturally, neighbors were curious to know how the paving of the alley just off Kings Court had been achieved so expeditiously.

When CHC asked a worker on site how CHC could get its alley paved, he replied, “Work through your ANC.”  But the ANC commissioner for the neighborhood was not involved nor was he aware of the paving.

CHC reached out to DDOT Associate Director of Public Space Regulation, Matthew Marcou and asked:

“Can you give me some background about how today’s paving of the side alley emptying onto Kings Court, SE, came about?  I was there this morning and I saw that a DDOT crew has paving well underway.

The aspect of the job that I’m curious about is that it seems to have been undertaken primarily for the benefit of a private developer – Bob Hess – who has built a two unit pop up on 14^th  Street, SE, with an unusual arrangement whereby the main entrance to one of the units is on the alley which feeds into Kings Court.  It is this alley that is being paved.

So, can you walk me through what transpired to make this work possible?  There are many residents who have alleys that are in much worse condition than the one that is being worked on this morning.”

Pending a reply, CHC also went directly to developer Bob Hess and asked how he managed to get the alley paved.

Hess said, “I wrote a letter to the mayor and included photos.  I made it technical and talked about erosion, puddling, water run-off – silt build up.  I employ a person full time who stays down at the District building and takes care of things for me.  That’s why I don’t have any problems.”

CHC said it had an alley that needed paving.  Hess said, “Write a letter to the Mayor.  You have to be nice.”

Later that day, CHC received a terse reply from Director Marcou:

Dear Mr. Janezich:

I am looping in DDOT’s PIO Terry Owens.

A week later, on Monday, June 27, CHC replied to Marcou that no word had been received from Owens, and that CHC was asking if the developer had received preferential treatment, and if so, what the basis was.

As of close of business today, Monday June 27, there has been no reply.  If one should come, CHC will update this post.

Bob Hess is a crusty, likeable, old time, hands-on, small developer – probably in his late 60’s.  He wears Levis and a work shirt, drives a battered pickup truck, and personally oversees the work on his projects.  He continues building, probably not because he needs to, but because he loves it.  He knows how the system works and, he likes to say, “I know what I’m doing.”  He’s cut from a different bolt of cloth than some of the of the larger developers on Capitol Hill, e.g., the Hine developers.  But what he shares with them is an unawareness that continuing the methods used to develop properties in an undervalued section of the city seems today like exploitation – and that an insensitivity to the fact that working within the letter of the law – or receiving the benefit of doubt (if not preferential treatment) from the city’s oversight agencies – is no longer in the best interests of the community.

Hess offered to send me the letter he sent to the Mayor.  But he didn’t.