CAPITOL HILL CORNER

Barracks Row’s Homebody to Relocate Across from Eastern Market in September

by Larry Janezich

Henriette Fourcade, owner of Homebody, the popular contemporary living retail outlet on Barracks Row, has announced the store will relocate to the lower level of Forecast, the women’s clothes boutique, at 218 7th Street across from Eastern Market.  Fourcade will be out of her current location by August 1, and hopes to open across from Eastern Market by September 1.

Homebody is closing the Barracks Row location at 715 8^th Street, SE, to make way for a sister restaurant to Rose’s Luxury.

Fourcade says that Forecast’s owner, Debbie Danielson, called her yesterday and told her she could not imagine Homebody going out of business, and offered Forecast’s lower half to Fourcade.  Homebody’s owner has been seeking space to relocate since February, when she learned her lease on the space would not be renewed.

Former Finley’s Boxing Club Now Home of EastSide Yoga

by Larry Janezich

The cultural shift brought by gentrification and changing demographics on Capitol Hill could not be more apparent than in the conversion of the legendary Finley’s Boxing Club to East Side Yoga.

The unpretentious façade of Tenth Street Auto Repair at 518 10th Street, NE, gives no clue that the second floor was once the location of the legendary fighting venue or its current repurposing into a ​yoga studio.  Despite the differences between the two, both hoped to serve the community from a largely residential setting – a quietly growing trend across Capitol Hill.

James Finley,​ who owned the auto repair shop, died on January 28, 2014.  But from 1960 until 2001 he operated a boxing club that reflected his passion and featured among those who trained there a long roster of world class and champion boxers, including Sugar Ray Leonard​ and​ Bob Foster​.​  ​A​t one time or another, Mike Tyson, George Foreman, and Larry Holmes dropped by, and Jazz legend Miles Davis would workout​ there​ occasionally.

In 2001, as rents increased and local residents’ interest in ​boxing ​​beg​an to decline and Finley saw clients turn from professionals to ​beginners wanting to learn basic skills and stay in shape​, ​Finley​ decided to​ close the ​boxing gym​.

Earlier this year, Alia J. Khan – who describes herself as a “recovering attorney​”​ – opened East Side Yoga where boxing once reigned.  She says the studio and the location are unique because of its size and because it is located in the heart of Capitol Hill – actually in the neighborhood, not on one of the main retail strips.

Neighbors who want a look as the space as it is now,​ and perhaps re​imagine​ the space as it once was​,​ will be able to check it out as part of the Capitol Hill Restoration Society House tour, on May 9th and 10th.

For more photos and details, see the studio’s website is here:  www.EastSideYogaDC.com

Tenants Signed for Douglas Development Building at 15^th and Pennsylvania Avenue, SE

by Larry Janezich

According to the Douglas Development website for the mixed use retail/office building at 1442 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, two tenants – McCormick Paints and New York Pizza – have been signed to occupy the first floor retail space.  The site was acquired by Douglas in 2007 and the redevelopment was completed in December, 2013.  The website says the two story project has 13,139 square feet with abundant space for outdoor seating and the potential for a rooftop terrace.  Offices are planned for the projects second floor.  To see the project’s website, go here:  http://bit.ly/1K7X8pT

The majority of the first floor retail space will be occupied by McCormick Paints.  This will be the third paint store in SE Capitol Hill which already has Frager’s Paint Store at 12^th and Pennsylvania Avenue, and Duron Paints on Barracks Row.  It appears that McCormick’s will be the largest of the three.  NY Pizza is looking for a new home since the current site at 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue is scheduled to be redeveloped by CAS Riegler who plans to put a six story 150 – 180 residential building on the site.  For a previous post on this development, go here:  http://bit.ly/1F6lYGl

Douglas Development has been steadily increasing its presence in SE Capitol Hill.  It is currently redeveloping a commercial project at 1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.  DC Restaurateur Ari Gejdenson of Acqua al II has expressed interest in opening a ground floor specialty market at that location.  In addition, Douglas owns the building housing Pret a Manger at 3^rd and Pennsylvania Avenue, SE and the building housing District Doughnuts on Barracks Row.  For previous posts on Douglas Development Capitol Hill projects, go here:  http://bit.ly/1PiJJgo

Sunday Flea Market Expects To Move to 7^th Street With Minimal Loss of Vendors

Community Meeting Tonight Will Provide Details on Flea Markets and Hine Construction

by Larry Janezich

Sunday Flea Market operator Mike Berman says he’s not excited to move to the street on May 16, but he thinks it is workable.  He has a plan for reconfiguring the vendor space on 7^th street to maximize vendor space during each of the three construction phases (demolition, excavation, and construction) although at the cost of reduced retail space for vendors.  The operation will shrink to 66 spaces on Saturday, May 16, but Berman says he expects to accommodate all of his permanent people – those who have been with him a long time as well as many of his regular vendors.

The key, he says, is an agreement that market vendors will be able to set up on public space which the city has allocated to the Hine developers for construction space.  This includes a strip of grass between the Hine parking lot fence and 7^th Street which will allow for 21 additional vending spaces during the demolition phase.  That number could grow to as many as 40 during the excavation and construction phases through utilization of the sidewalk adjacent to the current Hine building on 7^th Street.

Without the use of this public space, Berman would have been faced with a substantial reduction in the size of his operation – as it is, he expects to lose only 12 – 20 vendors – some have decided not to make the extra effort involved in the move to the street, and some have decided to seek space as part of the weekend Eastern Market outside vendors who operate around Eastern Market and on7th Street between C Street and North Carolina Avenue..

Sunday Flea Market vans and trucks will park in the surface lot at 6^th and C Streets for a flat rate of $10 a day.  The same rate will be applied for smaller vendor vehicles and for public parking in the 100 spaces in the underground garage opening onto Pennsylvania Avenue next to Sizzling Express.

Berman says “the move to 7^th Street will help vendors by saying that everybody visiting Eastern Market has got to walk by the vendors – and it helps Eastern Market by creating a really festive street.”

More details will be forthcoming at a community meeting tonight at 5:30pm in the North Hall of Eastern Market.  Matthew Harris, Stanton EastBanc Hine project manager, will provide an update on the Hine redevelopment.Barry Margeson, Eastern Market Manager, (who will oversee the 7th Street  flea Market operations on behalf of the Department of General Services)will provide an update on the transition of the flea markets to their new location as well as provide updates on traffic flow and parking changes.

The Week Ahead…..

by Larry Janezich

Monday, May 4

ANC6C Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee meets at 7:00pm, at Kaiser Permanente Kaiser-Permanente Capitol Hill Medical Center, 700 2nd Street, NE.

Among items on the agenda:

New license for Nando’s Peri-Peri, 411 H Street, NE.

New license for Union Kitchen Market, 538 Third Street, NE.

Renewal of license for Capitol Fine Wine & Spirits, 415 H Street, NE; Oasis Liquor, Inc., 1179 Third Street, NE; Union Wine and Liquor, 50 Massachusetts Avenue, NE; Coast In Liquors,301 Florida Avenue, NE; and Kogod Liquors, 441 New Jersey Avenue, NW.

Monday, May 4

Community Meeting at 5:30pm in the North Hall of Eastern Market to update community on Hine Construction plans and move of Hine Weekend Flea Markets to 7^th Street.

Matthew Harris, Stanton EastBanc Hine project manager, will provide an update on the Hine redevelopment.

Barry Margeson, Eastern Market Manager, (who will oversee the 7th Street flea Market operations on behalf of the Department of General Services) will provide an update on the transition of the flea markets to their new location as well as provide updates on traffic flow and parking changes.

Monday, May 4

CHRS Historic Preservation Committee meets at 6:30pm, Kirby House, 420 10^th Street, SE

Tuesday, May 5

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

Among items on the agenda:

Public space request for a new un-enclosed sidewalk café for Souk, 705 8^th Street, SE.

Raze permit for Potomac Electric Power Co. structure at 732 7th Street, SE.

Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Marine Barracks Washington, Bachelor Enlisted Quarters – comments deadline – Tuesday, May 26, 2015.

Tuesday, May 5

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

Among items on the draft agenda:

NoMa Parks informational session – Discussion with Stacie West, Director of Park Projects, NoMa Business Improvement District, concerning NoMa parks.

Miscellaneous – Discussion of  6C public school playground access, jurisdiction of Reservation 84, Peace Corps memorial.

Tuesday, May 5

North Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association (NLPNA) meets at 7:30 at Maury Elementary School, 13th St. and Constitution Ave. NE.

Wednesday, May 6

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

Among items on the agenda:

Discussion on Office of Planning’s Southeast Boulevard Planning Study: Final Report.

Update on Department of Transportation’s SE Boulevard Feasibility Study.

Review of the DDOT Traffic Study involving the addition of a signalized pedestrian crossing on 11th Street between K and L Streets, SE.

Discussion of a Green Alley Designation for Freedom Way.

Wednesday, May 6

ANC 6C Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development Committee meets at 7:00pm, Kaiser Permanente Capitol Hill Medical Center, 700 2^nd Street, NE.

Agenda not available at press time.

Thursday, Mary 7

ANC6B Alcohol Beverage Control Committee meets at 7:00pm, Hill Center.

Among items on the agenda:

License renewals for Hayden’s 700 North Carolina Avenue, SE; Chat’s Liquors, 503 8^th Street, SE; JJ Mutt Wine & Spirits, 643 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE; Albert’s Liquors, 328 Kentucky Avenue, SE; Capitol Hill Wine and Spirits, 323 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE; Congressional Liquor 404 1^st Street, SE; World Wine and Spirits, 1453 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE; Gandel’s Liquors, 211 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE; S&J Liquors, 1500 Massachusetts Avenue, SE.

Elaine’s One LLC, 715 8th Street SE, new CR license with sidewalk café endorsement – this is the application for the new restaurant coming from the owner of Rose’s Luxury to the space currently occupied by Homebody.

Thursday, May 8

PSA 107 meets at 7:00pm in Southeast Library.

Thursday, May 8

Friends of Southeast Library meets at 5:30pm in Southeast Library.

Saturday, May 9

Opening of Apoptosis – a sculptural installation by Peter Krsko.  Reception at 7:00pm at The Fridge, 516 8^th Street, rear alley.

Hine Saturday Flea Market Starts Downsizing To One-Third Its Size

Community Meeting on Monday, May 4, Will Provide Details on Flea Markets and Hine Construction

by Larry Janezich

Visitors to the Saturday Flea Market on the Hine Parking lot today will get a preview of what to expect as the flea market downsizes in preparation for its move to 7^th Street starting May 16.

Saturday Flea Market operator Carol Wright says when the market moves to 7^th Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and C Street, SE, on Saturday, May 16, the number of available vendor spaces will shrink from 155 – used by vendors allocated up to three spaces each for tents and parking to a much smaller number of 34 spaces for tents.

Wright says she will lose some vendors to other venues such as the Georgetown flea market.  She will allocate some spaces on 7^th Street on a regular basis to those vendors who have been with her longest.  Since demand for the remaining spaces exceeds supply Wright says she will allocate spaces to other vendors on alternate weekends to accommodate as many as possible.  Once on 7th Street, Vendors will be confined to one side of the 35 foot wide street, since the city will require a 20 foot fire lane to be kept clear of vending spaces.   After an initial six week transition period while the Hine building is demolished, vendors will pay for parking in nearby lots.

Deciding which vendors to accommodate in the downsizing has been a wrenching experience, Wright says, and neither she nor her vendors are certain how successful the new arrangement will be.  According to Wright, fewer vendors will attract fewer customers while less space for each vendor will mean fewer choices for those customers.

Sunday Flea Market operator Mike Berman faces similar issues and CHC will report how Berman expects manage the transition in a subsequent posting.

Clark Construction is scheduled to finish hazmat removal by May 16 – when that happens the Hine lot will close in order to permit demolition to begin.  Demolition could start as soon as May 18, and will start with the Hine buildings facing 8^th Street. Demolition is expected to take about six weeks.

Community Meeting on Monday, May 4 at 5:30pm in the North Hall of Eastern Market

Matthew Harris, Stanton EastBanc Hine project manager, will provide an update on the Hine redevelopment.

Barry Margeson, Eastern Market Manager, (who will oversee the 7^th Street  flea Market operations on behalf of the Department of General Services)will provide an update on the transition of the flea markets to their new location as well as provide updates on traffic flow and parking changes.

Hill East Neighborhood Coalition Pushes to Reopen Bidding on Boys and Girls Club

Capitol Hill Village Shows No Interest in Dantes/Menkiti Affordable Housing Proposal

by Larry Janezich

The Department of General Services timeline called for a decision on awarding the contract for development of the city- owned Eastern Branch Boys (and Girls) Club to be made in March.  But a well-organized group of nearby neighbors of the club – closed in 2007 – are petitioning Mayor Bowser to reopen the process for development of the site.  The group cited “little effort by DGS [Department of General Services] to collect feedback or input from the larger Hill East community” and a flawed DGS Request for Proposals (RFP) that resulted in a likely single viable proposal for developing the site – and even that proposal does not provide mixed income housing and exceeds square footage and height requirements under DC law.

In a letter to the Mayor being circulated in Hill East, the group states:

“Given all of these concerns and because this began before your administration, it seems like a great time and opportunity to restart the process, especially in light of your “OurRFP” initiative.  Accordingly, we are respectfully requesting that your office:

1) Review the matter with DGS; 2) Organize a meeting with DGS and the community; 3) Launch community surveys and input; 4) Revise the RFP with more potential uses and flexibility under your new “OurRFP” initiative.”​

The last point regarding revision of the RFP ​apparently refers to the 25 year time limit on the city’s lease of the site which effectively precludes conventional financing of the project.  The “OurRFP” initiative is Mayor Bowser’s new pilot community engagement effort that engages the community in a more active way prior to the city publishing an​ RFP ​for development of a city property. ​

​In the case of the Boys and Girls Club, the initial RFP for development produced only two proposals. ​ The first and – seemingly – the only remaining proposal from ​Dantes Partners/Menkiti Group​, ​is a plan to build 100% affordable housing subsidized directly through the federal government’s LIHTC program.  These 49 small units – that number made possible only by construction of a two story addition atop the existing building – would rent for a little more than $1000 a month.

The second proposal – from Century Associates – works within the existing structure and would provide 27 100% market rate units (two of which would be caregiver units) financed conventionally with no government subsidy.  This proposal does not, on its face, qualify for consideration by DGS, given that its market value units fail to meet a new city requirement that at least 30 percent of new residential projects on city-surplused land be affordable housing. This proposal has not been dis-qualified by DGS, and technically is still under consideration despite not meeting the 30% affordable housing mark.  .

A survey conducted by members of the neighborhood coalition shows most nearby residents favor the Century Associates plan over the Dantes/Menkiti plan, but would rather see a mix of larger affordable and market rate units in the building.  The survey also showed neighbors oppose the proposed additional two stories and larger number of small units proposed by the Dantes/Menkiti plan.

Meanwhile, Capitol Hill Village (CHV), who engaged early on in the process to try to serve as a catalyst between the city and potential developers, seems to have lost interest in the project as being of any benefit to its members.  Bill Sisolak, who participated in the process on behalf of CVH, told CHC that he thinks “the majority of members of Capitol Hill Village are looking for larger units – one, two, or even three bedrooms units – and it’s unlikely they would be interested in any of the units being proposed by Dantes Partners/Menkiti.” CHV is dedicated to the concept of providing options for “aging in place” for Capitol Hill residents.

ANC6B has gone on record in support of the Hill East community.  On March 12,  the commission voted 10 – 0 to send a strongly worded letter to DGS expressing its unhappiness with a RFP process which essentially left the community with a choice of only one redevelopment option for the Hill East Boys and Girls Club Building.

DGS’s response came in a March 30 letter to ANC6B.  Jonathan Kayne, interim director of the DGS, stated that his agency does not plan to re-issue its RFP for the Boys and Girls Club.

CHC reached out to Ward Six Councilmember Charles Allen today asking if he would support re-issuing the Boys and Girls Club RFP with a longer lease on the site, but received no response.

​ (This item has been added been added to CHC’s  “Ward Six Councilmember Watch” page – see the top of the Homepage.)​

As reported in numerous CHC posts, the dismissal of ANC and community concerns has become characteristic of city agency attitude toward the city’s residents.  With respect to how the process for development of city-owned properties unfolds, there have been other instances (e.g. see the original four proposals the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development submitted to the community for the Hine Development) where a city agency has used a developer’s proposal as a stalking horse.

As reported earlier on this blog, ANC Commissioner Brian Flahaven predicted that the decision on the Boys and Girls Club development would be a political one.  To this observer, this means the decision on awarding the Boys and Girls Club will depend on whether the Mayor and Councilmember Allen believe it is in their interest to do so.  Developers have the money.  Residents have the votes.

Residents who want more information on the group’s efforts to require DGS to reissue the RFP can contact Denise Daniel at:  denisemdaniel@hotmail.com

For previous posts on the Boys and Girls Club, go here:  http://bit.ly/1AHzvhL

The Week Ahead….And The Coffee Siphon Arrives on H Street, NE

Tuesday, April 28

ANC6B Executive Committee meets at 7:00pm in Hill Center to set the agenda for the next full ANC6B meeting on May 12.

Wednesday, April 29

Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee will meet at 7:00pm in North Hall of Eastern Market.

Among items on the agenda:

Status of preparations to move the Hine Flea Market to 7^th Street, scheduled tentatively for May 16.

Update on the Hine construction plans.

Thursday, April 30

The D.C. Department of Housing and Community Development holds a Ward Six community meeting to solicit feedback and suggestions from residents on affordable housing in the District from 6:30pm until 8:30pm, at Southeast Neighborhood Library, 403 Seventh St. SE.

First Look at Plans for Development of Capitol Hill’s Buchanan School/IGU Site

40 Townhomes and 41 Condos Planned for Site

by Larry Janezich

Tuesday night, Insight Property Group Partner Sarah Davidson met with some 40 Capitol Hill residents to discuss Insight’s plan for redevelopment of the 2.13 acre site currently occupied by the former Buchanan School and the International Graduate University.  The plan calls for 81 residences – 40 townhomes priced around $1 million, and 41 condos priced between $300 thousand and $1 million.

Using the illustration above for orientation, and starting in the lower right, the large structure represents the two oldest structures on the site dating to 1895 and 1921.  These will be combined into one building by razing the interstitial structure and replacing it with a new entry way and elevators.  The condos will reside in the combined structure and will range in size from studio to three bedrooms, providing options for singles as well as larger families who desire a one level living space.  14 – 16 parking spaces will be provided.

Moving clockwise to the upper right corner of the illustration locates nine large townhomes on D Street on the site’s northeast corner.  The more recent auditorium on the north side of the north historic building will be razed to make room. These three story townhomes will be built as a matter of right, on 18 foot wide lots of 1800 plus sf.  These units will have a minimum of three bedrooms, backyards, standalone parking spaces, and roof terraces facing north.

Continuing clockwise on illustration an additional nine townhomes will face D Street on the site’s northwest corner.  (The relatively recent structure currently nearest the corner of 13^th and D Streets will also be razed.)  Directly below are 23 additional three-bedroom plus townhomes on lots ranging in size from 16 to 20 feet wide.  The smaller lots will have “tuck under” parking – larger lots will have standalone parking.  The smaller lots will feature “tuck under” parking garages; larger lots will have standalone parking.  These units will have roof terraces facing the street.   A zoning variance will be necessary for configuration of these townhomes and under zoning regulations, 10 percent (2-3) of these townhomes will fall under Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) regulations, but none of the condos will.  (For CHC on Inclusionary Zoning go here:  http://bit.ly/1FT5TCb)

The eleven townhomes in the middle of the site and closest to the original historic structures will face those buildings and be separated from them by green space which will be part of the North – South walk-through which will be open to public transit.  The space behind these townhomes and between the 12 units facing 13^th Street will be an alley way, designed to encourage community interaction.  (See below.)

Time line for the project:

Begin demolition in May – June 2015

BZA Approval – November 2015

Purchase property – December 2015

Start construction – September 2016

Complete construction – March 2018

Some of the issues raised during the question an answer period were as follows:

Safeway – Insight speculates that it will be redeveloped sometime in the future, but despite having conversations with the company, they really have no idea when.

Parking – residents complained about difficulty in parking at night, especially during times when Watkins field is in use.  The development raises the prospect that the current diagonal parking on 13^th Street opposite Watkins will be lost to RPP residential parking.

Peter Bug Matthews Shoe Academy – Insight alluded to enhancing the site and continuing its use to develop neighborhood activities.  The building sits on a city owned site and its status going forward is unclear.  Asked if he’d been given any guidance from the city, Mathews said no one has said anything to him.  “I’ve been there 38 years – it seems to me I should be grandfathered in.”

Ed. Note:  In March, Sean Ruppert of OPaL LLC revealed plans for a 45 unit mixed residential project comprised of townhouses, condos, flats and a carriage house for the site at 1309-1323 E Street, SE, across E Street to the south from Buchanan School.  (For CHC article, go here:  http://bit.ly/14qcnLZ)

When New Development Comes at Neighbors’ Expense

by Larry Janezich

The need and desire for more housing on Capitol Hill is the main argument offered in support of the conversion of one or two unit townhouses to multifamily housing.

With increasing frequency, as developers convert townhouses, development comes at the expense of the property’s neighbors.  In some cases, the negative impact is limited to the unsightliness and irregular proportions of pop ups and more competition for street parking.  In more dramatic instances, the damage to the neighbors is substantial, decreasing the value of their homes and quality of life – and the attitude of the city and ANCs seems to be: “we’re sympathetic, but our hands are tied.”

A case in point is the conversion of the townhouse at 1015 E Street, SE, just steps east of Hill Center, in the Capitol Hill Historic District.  The property is a townhouse on a site which is zoned for commercial.  Owner/developer Bruce Athey is converting the building to a five unit apartment house by building a large two story rear addition all the way to the rear property line as a matter of right.  The new construction would result in a 24 foot high wall across the back of two residences on 11^th Street which sit at right angles to the new construction.  (see photos and renderings)

The matter came before ANC6B last night as the developer is seeking a zoning adjustment to extend a side-yard the length of the addition to the rear of the property.

ANC6B found no compelling reason to oppose the request to extend the side yard and accommodate the construction of the two story addition.  Caught between sympathy for the neighbors and the fact that the planned expansion is a matter of right, the ANC voted to take no position on the request for the variance. Taking no position leaves the decision on the side yard in the hands of the Board of Zoning Adjustment which is likely to grant the developer’s request.

Commissioner Chander Jayaraman said he opposed the variance and the building itself, voicing support for residents and constituents who are disadvantaged by developers who take advantage of regulations resulting in dramatic changes to neighbors’ quality of life.

Commissioner James Loots summed up the feeling of a majority of commissioners: “I can’t in good conscience oppose the variance on the basis of damage done the neighbors,” noting that he is sympathetic to the neighbors but that the question before the ANC is not directly related to their concerns.

The final vote on the motion to take “no position” on the request for a variance was as follows:

In favor, Commissioners Oldenburg, Loots, Flahaven, Burger, Hagedorn, and Hoskins.  Those opposed: Commissioner Jayaraman, Krepp, and Symolyk.  Abstaining:  Commissioner Chao.

Editor’s Note:

The Capitol Hill Restoration Society voted to oppose the request for a variance to continue the sideyard on the west side of 1015 E Street, citing the 24 foot wall cutting off light to the 11^th Street properties.

Gary Petersen, Chair of the CHRS Zoning Committee, said that he thinks that the extension of 1015 could be built as a matter of right without the variance, but “for whatever reason” the developer wants the continue the sideyard – perhaps for windows and light and to provide access to the rear of the property.