CAPITOL HILL CORNER

Schematic showing massing of proposed mixed use project for 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE

Details Emerge on CAS Riegler Plan for NY Pizza Site on Pennsylvania Ave SE

by Larry Janezich

The developers of the NY Pizza Site at 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, met with some 20 nearby residents Thursday night to discuss plans for development of the site and to get initial feedback from the community.

The developer is CAS Riegler, a DC focused development company with some 18 developments under its belt, many in DC Historic Districts.  CAS Riegler principal Kevin Riegler told attendees that the company wants to build a quality project that they will “own forever.”

Although the building is not yet in the design stage, Riegler said they are committed to respecting the character of the neighborhood, even though the site lies outside the Historic District.

The company will seek a Planned Unit Development (PUD) for the project, meaning they will seek a change in zoning to increase the density and height beyond what would otherwise be permitted in exchange for community amenities.  The amenities will be negotiated by ANC6B after consultation with and on behalf of the community.  Currently, 50 feet is the maximum building height for the site.

Other details of the project revealed Thursday night are as follows:

70 feet high

180,000 square feet

6 floors of 150 – 180 apartments – the mix of 1 and 2 or more bedrooms has not been determined

3 – 5 first floor retail spaces designed to appeal to local retailers – “hopefully food and beverage”

50 parking spaces

It will be 15 – 24 months before ground is broken

Construction will take 18 – 24 months.

The developers say they are “acutely aware” of what happened in the Hine PUD, and want to avoid that.  To that end, they have offered to meet residents “in a coffee shop or at your kitchen table” to address their concerns.

According to the developer, Thursday night’s power point presentation will be available shortly on the firm’s website, here:  Those who cannot attend may comment on the project at the firm’s website, here:  http://casriegler.com/projects/1401penn

Interested parties may also comment on the project at this site.

ANC6B Takes WMATA To Task – Urges More City Oversight

Says Failure to Conduct Security Exercises Puts Riders at Risk

by Larry Janezich

Last Tuesday night, ANC6B approved testimony critical of WMATA written by Commissioner Denise Krepp and subsequently delivered by Krepp before the City Council Committee on Finance and Revenue.  The thrust of the testimony was that WMATA had put and continues to put Capitol Hill Metro riders at risk by its failure to conduct regularly scheduled exercises with the participation of law enforcement personnel and emergency response providers.  Krepp’s testimony also urged the Mayor and the committee to take a greater oversight role in the day to day operations of the agency, saying, “On January 12th, one individual died and over 80 more were injured as a result of the electrical arcing incident at L’Enfant metro stop.  WMATA personnel were not properly prepared to respond to this incident and I am not confident they are prepared to do so today.”

The message seemed reasonable enough, but it was not an easy sell to some of the commissioners.  ANC Chair Kirsten Oldenburg said she objected “in several ways” to the testimony as representing the position of the ANC.  She said she had no problem if Krepp wanted to deliver the testimony as an individual commissioner representing her own single member district.  Commissioner Nick Burger echoed Oldenburg’s concerns, saying he didn’t think the testimony reflected the kind of feedback the ANC should be giving and that the remarks would better serve as being Krepp’s own view.

Krepp responded that she knew where of she speaks, since she had written the language requiring security exercises when she had served as Senior Counsel on the House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee.  “Are you telling me not to be concerned that WMATA has not done appropriate oversight?” she asked Oldenburg and Burger.

Tension in the room was broken when Commissioner Brian Flahaven, former ANC Chair and current Vice Chair stepped in to endorse the testimony, saying he didn’t see why it hurts to speak out on this issue and that he felt it was important to weigh in on the serious problems in WMATA which had resulted in the January 12 tragedy at L’Enfant Plaza.  “There’s no down side, he said, and “I am perfectly willing to support the testimony.”

Krepp accepted the suggestions of several Commissioners including Oldenburg to tone down the testimony which was then approved by a vote of 8 – 0 – 2, with Commissioners Flahaven, Krepp, Samolyk, Hoskins, Loots, Hagedorn, Chao and Jayaraman voting in support.  Commissioners Oldenburg and Burger abstained.

Krepp delivered the testimony – which concludes as follows – to Committee on Finance and Revenue yesterday.

“Everyday, thousands of DC residents, Congressmembers, and other high level officials enter the WMATA system via Capital South, Eastern Market, Potomac Avenue, and Stadium Armory metro stops.  The WMATA personnel demonstrated on January 12th that they were not prepared to respond to an incident at these stations and they are not prepared to do so now.

I strongly encourage the Committee and the Mayor to conduct more oversight over WMATA to make sure they are prepared.  Proper preparedness prevents death and injury – surely a goal WMATA can accomplish.”

She delivered the same testimony today, before DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency.

Ugly Mug Retractable Roof Issue Settled as ANC Withdraws Protest

Tensions Still Simmer Between Restaurants and Nearby Neighbors

by Larry Janezich

Last night, ANC6B voted to withdraw its complaint against the Ugly Mug expansion with retractable roof, contingent upon owner Gaynor Jablonski signing an agreement the ANC had negotiated between him and nearby neighbors.  A last minute snafu – attributed by ANC6B Commissioner James Loots to his own carelessness – animated Commissioner Diane Hoskins to attempt to coax Jablonski to commit to an earlier closing of his glass roof on Friday night.

Loots had distributed the draft agreement to residential neighbors which lead some of them to believe that the Ugly Mug had agreed to close its roof at 10:30 pm on Friday nights.  That version was presented at the ANC meeting on Tuesday and Loots characterized the 10:30 pm reference as a typo, saying that it had always been the intent to treat Friday and Saturday the same with a 12 midnight closing time for the roof .

Commissioner Diane Hoskins from the adjoining single member district on Barracks Row seized the moment to ask Jablonski if he would close his roof at the earlier hour.

Jablonski said, “I can’t do that,” and explained the extra time on Friday night accounted for a lot of revenue and given the other concessions he’d made, including closing the roof during any live entertainment or karaoke, the later closing time on Friday was fair and reasonable.

Barbara Charles, one of the 20 nearby residents on Barracks Row itself, expressed her concerns to the ANC in a letter, which she read aloud to the Commission.  She stated what she believed to be the sentiment of the other neighbors that adding the retractable roof and the expanded seating would add considerable noise, as well as refuse to the alley.  She also expressed her disappointment to find that – despite Jablonski’s earlier agreement that all of the nearby second story residents on 8^th Street would receive the noise protection accorded to nearby residents on 7^th, I, and G Streets, the final draft Settlement Agreement excluded the residences with addresses on 8^th Street.  She also told the ANC, that the Settlement Agreement allows the Ugly Mug to begin operations a half hour earlier than the opening time specified on its alcohol beverage license.

The second story of the Ugly Mug used to house residents, as did the second floor of an adjacent building at 725 8^th Street, SE.  Intolerable quality of life issues forced both of those residential occupants to move, opening up space over the Ugly Mug for expansion, and opening up commercial space on the second floor next door for the offices of Capitol Hill Village.  The latter has expressed concern about the impact of the bar’s expansion on their ability to conduct business in their rented space.

7^th Street resident Linda Elliot asked the ANC to explain to residents why they would double the size of a (bar/restaurant) which had had numerous violations of the health code and a violation of the fire code.  DC law calls these transgressions “primary violations.”

Charles also pointed to recent changes in DC law which she said should concern the ANC (and all residents who unite to protest a liquor license to the Alcohol Beverage Regulatory Agency – ABRA).  That change provides that if an ANC withdraws its protest before ABRA regarding a liquor license, then any other protest lodged against a liquor license (except those of an adjacent neighbor) falls with it.  The dis-empowerment of residents by empowering the ANC works against the interests of residents since ANC’s – which are weak to begin with – are seldom willing to expose that weakness by going toe to toe with government agencies to back community concerns.

Charles commended Commissioner Brian Flahaven for addressing the Council Committee on Business, Consumer and Regulatory Affairs about the unequal status that ABRA has created for the ANCs.  She noted that the group protest currently pending against the Ugly Mug would fall if the ANC signed off on the proposed settlement agreement and said ANC6B may be the first ANC to use this power and in doing so, set a precedent for other ANC’s.

The final vote was 6 – 1 – 3, with Commissioners Samolyk, Jayaraman, Burger, Oldernburg, Chao, and Flahaven voting to approve.  Commissioner Hoskins voted to oppose, and Commissioners Krepp, Loots, and Hagedorn abstained.

Jablonski comes back before ANC6B next month to try to satisfy resident’s concerns about trash and rodent issues.

Stanton and Greene – the Former Pour House at 319 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE – Opens Thursday

First Floor Interior

The Bar and Front Seating Section, Second Floor

Design Lead and Beuchert’s Co-founder August Paro Gives S-G a Name

The Week Ahead….and ‘Stanton and Greene’ née Pour House Opens Thursday

by Larry Janezich

Stanton and Greene at 319 Pennsylvania Avenue SE – Capitol Hill’s newest cocktail venue –  officially opens next Thursday with full service, though co-owner Jared Rager allows that a soft opening will begin on Monday with a limited menu.

The main attractions:  20th century cocktails, lots of space, classic American food, and an early 19th century-inspired interior design which pays homage to the to the historical character of the neighborhood.

A team comprised of principals from three other popular Pennsylvania Avenue food and drink venues are involved in launching Stanton and Greene.  Co-owners Rager and Elias Hengst also own Sonoma.  Design Lead August Parco owns Beuchert’s.  Erik Holzherr of Wisdom designs the signature cocktails.

The bar’s name salutes Stanton Park – named after Lincoln Secretary of War Edwin Stanton and the subject of its most prominent feature – the statue of Revolutionary War General Nathanael Greene.

The Week Ahead…

Monday, March 9

The less-than-transparent ANC6D meets 7:00pm at a new location: 200 I Street, SE.

As usual, the agenda is “still in formation.”

Tuesday, Marcy 10

ANC6B meets at 7:00pm in Hill Center.

Among items on the agenda:

Presentation:  Nuisance Properties Overview: Rashee Kumar, Neighborhood and Victim Services Section, DC Office of the Attorney General

The Ugly Mug Dining Saloon, 723 8th Street SE, substantial change request for expansion of second floor and addition of 144 seats, changing total capacity to 242, ABC Board protest hearing – Wednesday, March 25, 2015.

Surroundings – 1023 East Capitol Street SE, appeal from October 29, 2014, decision by Zoning Administrator, Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs to issue Certificate of Occupancy to allow first-floor retail establishment in R-4 District, BZA hearing – Tuesday, March 17, 2015

1220 Potomac Avenue SE, variance from minimum number of required parking spaces to construct eight-unit apartment building.  BZA hearing – Tuesday, March 31, 2015: Letter commenting on Eastern Branch Building redevelopment proposals.

Letter commenting on Eastern Branch Building redevelopment proposals

Tuesday, March 10

PSA 104 meets 7:00pm at J.O. Wilson Elementary School, 660 K Street, NE.

Tuesday, March 10

Working While Pregnant and Parenting: Know Your Rights Presentation – 6:30 pm, Southeast Library, 403 7th Street, SE.  Washington Lawyers’ Committee.  Topics covered will include rights under District of Columbia and federal law with respect to family and sick leave, as well as other protections for pregnant women and working mothers.

Wednesday, March 11

Barracks Row Main Street Annual Meeting Party, 6:30pm – 8:30pm at the Verizon Wireless Zone, 703 8th Street, SE.

Appetizer buffet by Banana Cafe, Cava Mezze, Matchbox, Trattoria Alberto, Yes! Organic Market, and District Doughnut. Beverages by Chat’s Liquors.  The reception is free of charge. All friends of Barracks Row Main Street are invited to attend.

Thursday, March 12

ANC6A meets at 7:00pm at Miner Elementary, 601 Fifteenth Street, NE

Among items on the agenda

Presentations:  MPD First District Commander Jeff Brown.

Presentation:  Monument Academy Public Charter School – new tenant for Gibbs Building.

Letter to DME/DGS re public input process for deeming city building surplus and releasing them for use by charter schools.

Letter to Mayor/DDOT requesting continued commitment to completion of streetcar line through downtown.

Thursday, March 12

Developer CAS Riegler hosts Community meeting regarding the major condo/retail mixed use project scheduled for the current NY Pizza site at 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, (first reported by CHC here:  http://bit.ly/1DCqmKW) 

All Month Long – Yoga Sunday at SE Library

Every Sunday afternoon in March, the Southeast Library will be offering a free yoga class at 1:30 pm. This class is appropriate for beginners – bring a yoga mat.

Frame of Mine Next to Go?

Barracks Row ‘Frame of Mine’ Likely Next Victim of the Appetite for Restaurants

Retail on 8^th Street Continues to Succumb to Food and Drink Venues

by Larry Janezich

Frame of Mine’s lease on its space at 522 8th Street, SE, will not be renewed when it expires in September, according to sources.  Building owner Larry Quillian is reportedly seeking a restaurant to occupy the space.  If Qullian’s quest is successful, it will be the second popular retail space on 8^th Street to be displaced by a food and drink establishment so far this year.  Earlier this month, restaurateur Aaron Silverman announced plans to open a companion restaurant to Rose’s Luxury in the space next door to Rose’s, currently occupied by Homebody.

Frame of Mine, a family owned retail shop on Barrack Row since 1982, hopes to stay on 8^th Street, but so far has not found a location to serve its needs.  Barracks Row Main Street is working with owner Cissy Webb find the right space for the business to move to at the end of their lease.

Quillian owns other properties nearby, including Mr. Henry’s and the vacant lots surrounding 1230 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, currently leased to Frager’s for their temporary garden and landscaping business.  Frager’s closed their temporary location across from Eastern Market last month, after the Hine project got the go ahead from federal court and the developer announced remediation of the building would begin in March.

Also the owner of the controversial “Shotgun House,” Quillian has jousted with the city for decades over his desire to raze the structure at 1229 E Street, SE.  The structure – a darling of preservationists – apparently stands in the way of development of the lots currently leased to Frager’s.  Last June, ANC6B reluctantly endorsed the concept of a raze permit for the Shotgun House after expressing unhappiness with Quillian who bought the property in 1985 and, in the eyes of the ANC and many in the community, connived to raze the property for redevelopment using “demolition by neglect.”  See CHC posting here:  http://bit.ly/1qAicMC

The Shotgun House

Boys and Girls Club, Eastern Branch Building, 261 17th Street, SE

ANC Committee Nixes 100% Affordable Housing for Boys and Girls Club

Wants DGS to Issue a New More Flexible Request for Proposals

by Larry Janezich

Last night, ANC6B’s Planning and Zoning Committee voted to send a letter to the Department of General Services, the Mayor, and City Council members flatly opposing the agency settling on a development proposal from Dantes Partners/Menkiti Group to convert Hill East’s former Boys and Girls Club to 100% affordable housing units for seniors.  The draft letter, crafted by Commissioner Denise Krepp on behalf of the ANC, states in part:

“We are opposed to DGS settling on the Dantes Partners/Menkiti Group proposal.  We respectfully request that the current RFP be amended and re-issued with an extended lease period and that DGS work far more closely with ANC 6B to address neighbor concerns with the property.”

The letter states that the ANC had hoped the DGS would relax terms of the original Request for Proposals in connection with a call for Best and Final Offers (BAFOs) to allow the two bidding developers to “better address resident concerns.”  Instead, the letter says, “DGS further tightened the terms of the flawed RFP, including doubling-down on the 25-year lease restriction.”  The result was that the call for BAFOs eliminated a proposal for market rate housing put forward by Century Associates which many in the community favored over the Dantes/Menkiti 100% affordable housing proposal – though it was clear that the same percentage of the community preferred a mixed income project over either of the two bids proffered.

DGS, for its part, subsequently dismissed concerns raised by Commissioner Krepp after the BAFO’s had been made public.  In an email which read, in part, “. . .while the ANC is an advisory body, it does not participate in the deliberative process. The ANC’s role is certainly to provide comments to which the District is obligated to give “great weight” to decisions affecting its boundaries, but this is limited to areas that directly affect the ANC and its constituents, such as advising on the appropriateness of a facility, whether it supports the health and well-being of a community, and does not run counter to or disrupt community goals.”  It appeared to some observers that the statement reflected the long history of dismissiveness with which city agencies have treated the ANCs.

Commissioner Brian Flahaven, Chair of the ANC’s Hill East Task Force, called the response, “absurd” – saying that there is “no way the community is not affected” and that the ANC does not have the ability to “opine and weigh in.”  Flahaven said that the community has a 30 day period to respond to the BAFO, before DGS awards the bid and urged that a new modified RFP be issued because the “original RFP was flawed, because the community was left with only one choice, and because DGS did not provide flexibility in the RFP when it had an opportunity to do so.”

The Committee subsequently voted 11 – 0 – 1 to send the letter to the full ANC for consideration at its meeting next week with a recommendation of support.  Commissioner Oldenburg was the one abstention.  Oldenburg did not respond to an email asking her why she abstained.

Rendering of the  Rear of Rose’s Luxury and Proposed Enclosed Roof Deck with Sliding Glass Roof. The Near Image Shows the Roof in the Open Position. The Far Image Shows It Closed.

Owner and Chef Aaron Silverman Tells ANC6B’s Planning and Zoning Committee of His Plans for Rose’s Luxury.

First Look at Rose’s Luxury’s Sliding Glass Roof

Owner’s Presentation to ANC Committee Prompts Squabble Over Process

by Larry Janezich

Rose’s Luxury owner and chef Aaron Silverman presented his plans for enclosing his roof top dining area complete with a sliding glass roof to ANC6B’s Planning and Zoning Committee last night.

Silverman told the Committee that the plans had already been approved at the staff level by the Historical Preservation Office (HPO), which came as a surprise to the Committee since the plans had not been submitted to them for their review.  Oldenburg characterized the proceeding as “bizarre.”

The presentation was described as a “courtesy” by ANC6B Chair Kirsten Oldenburg at last week’s Executive Committee meeting where it was placed on Tuesday night’s agenda.  Last night, Oldenburg told the Committee “Maybe we made errors in how we processed this.”  She said it had been handled at the Single Member District level, implying that it was the responsibility of the appropriate Single Member District commissioner to request the issue be placed on the ANC’s agenda.  The entire west side of Barracks Row where Rose’s Luxury resides is represented by Commissioner James Loots, who was not present at tonight’s meeting.

Commissioner Chander Jayaraman said he was troubled that the sliding glass roof for Rose’s Luxury had not received the same scrutiny as the controversial sliding glass roof for The Ugly Mug.  See here:  http://bit.ly/17gR4hY

Resident Member Ivan Frishberg sought clarification about the intent of the Executive Committee in putting the presentation on the agenda tonight and said he thought the Committee should be proactive in weighing in on the issue.

Oldenburg offered to call HPO the next day and ask what the status of the Historic Preservation case is and determine whether the case should go through the regular approval process. Frishberg said that the Committee should decide now – either recommend that the ANC review the case or say “this is done.”  Commissioner Chao wondered whether the ANC is setting a precedent by how it handles this case, noting the ANC may have more cases like this.

Chair Nick Burger said, “We are setting a precedent.  HPO should have sent us the case, but we’ve got to decide this tonight.” (See * below)

Commissioner Jennifer Samolyk summed up what came to be the consensus of the Committee, saying, “I don’t think we need to take action tonight.  This was a courtesy presentation and Rose’s Luxury and the Ugly Mug are two entirely different situations – apples and oranges.”

With that, the hour being late, the Committee threw up its collective hands and agreed no action would be taken when the full ANC6B meets next Tuesday.

Earlier this month, Silverman announced he would open a second Barracks Row restaurant in the space next to Rose’s – that space currently occupied by the popular quirky art, gift, and notions shop, “Homebody.”   Open weekdays only, and in a departure from SOP at Silverman’s yet unnamed new place will take reservations and feature a $100 price fixe menu.

*Editor’s note:  Committee chair Nick Burger subsequently clarified what his thinking and intent had been, as follows:

Understanding “Affordable” Housing: the Cases of​ Hine and the Boys and Girls Club

by Larry Janezich

Affordable housing can mean any number of things, from workforce housing (affordable to those who live on what Mayor Bowser sometimes calls a “regular salary”) to low income housing.  It does not necessarily ​mean​ ​housing subsidized by the government.​

Inclusionary Zoning​ (IZ)​​, for example, places the onus on the developer to find a way to fund affordable housing.  I​Z​ requires new or substantially rehabilitated multiunit housing projects of 10 or more units to contain 10% affordable housing (often in exchange for increased density)​, defined as affordable to those who make 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) or less​.  ​Recent legislation stipulates that if new construction or rehabilitation is on city land declared surplus, the project must contain 30% affordable housing.

In contrast to privately financed affordable housing, in two prospective​ Capitol Hill projects​ – Hine and the Boys and Girls Club – a​ subsidy is being made available directly through the federal government’s Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program (LIHTC)​.​

LIHTC housing is for residents with income up to 60% Area Median Income (AMI).

​DC uses an​ AMI ​of ​$107,500​, which includes some surrounding wealthy counties in its calculation.  Actual median income from just the District is closer to $60,000.

The Hine project’s North Building​ has exclusively ​LIHTC units​ as does the current proposal to develop the Boys and Girls Club.​  Both LIHTC applications have been put forward by the firm of Dantes Partners, run by Buwa Binitie, a former member of the DC Housing Finance Agency Board which approves LIHTC eligibility.​

The Hine project will include a total of 158 residential units.

The North Building will have 34 units funded by LIHTC, designated “affordable” and reserved for seniors (29 units at 60% Area Median Income (AMI) and 5 units at 30% AMI).  The maximum income for those eligible to rent one of the 29 units is $45,150 for a one person household and $51,600 for a two person household.  The maximum income for those eligible to rent one of the five units would be $25,058.

The South Building of the Hine Project has 124 units, some​ of which will be “affordable” under Inclusionary Zoning.  Occupancy of these units will be limited to singles with a maximum income of $60,200, couples with a maximum income of $68,000, and three person households with a maximum income of $77,000.  A lottery is held among eligible applicants for occupancy or purchase of these units.

The current proposal for development of the Boys and Girls Club would provide 49 affordable units which will be reserved for seniors, and constructed with LIHTC funds.  46 of the units are reserved for single seniors with a maximum income of about $45,150, or couples (assuming a couple could live in these small units) with a maximum income of about $51,600.  To be eligible for the remaining three units, the maximum income for a one person household would be $25,058.

How are residents selected for “affordable” housing?

The selection process is handled by a property management company that developers routinely hire to manage affordable housing projects.  The availability of the units and associated income limits is advertised, prospective tenants apply, and the management company selects tenants based on the same criteria any tenant must meet with the goal of providing stable long term occupancy.

For previous posts on the Boys and Girls Club Development, see here:  http://bit.ly/1DvMw1W and http://bit.ly/1KXZYxd

Eastern Market North Hall, circa 3:00pm, Sunday, March 1

The Week Ahead…Ugly Mug – Rose’s Luxury

by Larry Janezich

Monday, March 2

ANC6C ABL Committee meets at 7:00pm at Kaiser Permanente Capitol Hill Medical Center, 700 Second Street, NE

Among items on the agenda:

New licenses for Addis Restaurant, 707 H Street, NE

New license for Union Kitchen/Bertie’s Market, 538 Third Street, NE

Monday, March 2

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

Tuesday, March 3

ANC6E meets at 7:00pm, at Shaw Library, 7^th and R Street, NW

Tuesday, March 3

ANC6B’s Planning and Zoning Committee will meet at 7:00pm at St. Coletta of Greater Washington, 1901 Independence Avenue, SE

Among items on the agenda:

146 13th Street SE, concept/rooftop addition

P&C Market, 1023 East Capitol Street, SE appeal from decision by Zoning Administrator, Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs to issue Certificate of Occupancy to allow first-floor retail establishment in R-4 District

1220 Potomac Avenue, SE, variance from minimum number of required parking spaces to construct eight-unit apartment building in R-5-B District

Comments on Eastern Branch Building redevelopment proposals

Rose’s Luxury, 717 8th Street, SE, informational presentation regarding proposed retractable roof for existing roof patio

Tuesday, March 3

ANC6C Parks and Events Committee meets at 7:00pm, Kaiser Permanente Capitol Medical Center, 700 2^nd Street, NE

Among items on the agenda:

Reservation 84 redesign

Dog Parks

Peace Corps Commemorative

Tuesday, March 3

North Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association meets at 7:30pm at Maury Elementary School, 13th and Constitution, NE

Tuesday, March 3

Capitol Hill Cluster School hosts a reception to toast the new arts wing at Stuart-Hobson Middle School, 4:00pm – 7:00pm at Stuart Hobson, 410 E Street, NE.  Music, and drama performances and light refreshments.  All invited.

Wednesday, March 4

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

Among items on the agenda:

Department of Public Works parking enforcement

District Department of Transportation response regarding ANC 6B request for crosswalks on 11th Street, SE

Wednesday, March 4

ANC6C Planning, Zoning & Economic Development Committee meets at 7:00pm Kaiser Permanente Capitol Medical Center, 700 2nd Street, NE

Among items on the agenda:

411 H Street, NE– Application of Guggan Datta/Masala Dosa, LLC, for a special exception to establish a fast food restaurant in two existing row dwellings.

1250 4th Street, NE (Union Market Development) –  Revised application of 1250 4th St. EDENS LLC for the consolidated review and approval of a Planned Unit Development and Map Amendment for the property known as 1270 4th St. NE.  The related Map Amendment proposes to rezone the site (approx. 67,200sf) from the C-M-1 to C-3-C. The project includes a “cut through” for Neal Place from 4th to future 3rd Street, NE.

Thursday, March 5

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

On the agenda:

The Ugly Mug Dining Saloon, 723 8th Street SE, substantial change request for expansion of second floor & addition of seats, ABC Board protest hearing – Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Thursday, March 5

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

Agenda not available at press time.

Thursday, March 5

PSA 107 meets at 7:00pm, Southeast Library

Thursday, March 5

CHRS Zoning Committee meets at 7:30pm, at Kirby House, 420 10th Street, SE.

City Pushes 100% Affordable Housing Proposal for Boys and Girls Club in Hill East

Only the Dantes/Menkiti Proposal Meets the Narrow Requirements of DGS

by Larry Janezich

Yesterday, the Department of General Services (DGS) released the developers Best and Final Offers (BAFOs) for the former Hill East Boys and Girls Club at 261 17^th Street, SE.  Only two proposals were submitted for developing the city-owned building:  Dantes/Menkiti’s would be 100 percent affordable housing financed by the federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC); Century Associates’ would be 100 percent market rate units financed conventionally with no government subsidy.  DGS asked the developers for their BAFO in response to concerns raised by residents during community meetings to consider the proposals.  See here:  http://bit.ly/1KXZYxd

One of those concerns was that DGS had stacked the deck in favor of Dantes/Menkiti by limiting the lease to 25 years – effectively limiting financing to public funds, since private equity needs for a major overhaul would be impossible on such a short-term lease.  In addition, DGS ruled that developers must comply with a new District law requiring 30% affordable units in projects on property surplused by the city, a law that passed after the initial request for bids to redevelop the Boys and Girls Club was issued.

ANC Commissioner and Hill East Task Force Chair Brian Flahaven reacted to the BAFOs as follows:  “Based on the BAFO response summary, it is pretty clear that DGS is down to one proposal for the site – Dantes/Menkiti. Instead of providing additional flexibility in the BAFO, DGS essentially doubled-down on their original RFP terms, including the ridiculously short lease requirement. I’m extremely frustrated that this process has led to a choice of one.”  For Flahaven’s full statement on the BAFOs, see here:  http://flahaven6b.com/

ANC6B10 Commissioner Denise Krepp pulled few punches in her reaction, sent to DGS today, and copied to Councilmember Allen’s office, among others.  Krepp said, “This document does not provide the specific information Commissioner Flahaven and I requested.  In the meeting earlier this month, we told you that we needed more financial data and you promised to provide it.  DGS failed to live up to this promise.

This document is full of generic information that makes me doubt DGS’ commitment to sound financial planning.  We still don’t know how the applicants plan on financing construction.  Similarly, we don’t have any information on the applicant’s past performance on DC projects.

Absent more specific information from DGS, I will recommend that the ANC send a letter to the Mayor expressing outrage over the way in which DGS operates.  As a taxpayer, I expect more from DGS.  As an ANC Commissioner, I intend to make sure your office provides the ANC with quality data.  The document you sent yesterday doesn’t meet this definition.”

Separately, two neighbors of the Boys and Girls Club, Hill East residents Denise and Greg Daniel, distributed a survey that they formulated to 286 neighbors within 1 to 2 blocks of the Boys and Girls Club site.  Of the 81 households that responded, 51% preferred the Century Associates proposal, 32 % preferred neither, and 17% preferred Dantes/Menkiti.  The Daniels have filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) with DGS to require disclosure of “any and all emails” between DGS and the developers as well as any and all emails related to limiting the lease to 25 years, community preference for the property, low income set aside requirements for the property, exceptions to the minimum square footage for the units, and those related to zoning variance requirements.

ANC6B Planning and Zoning Committee will meet Tuesday, March 3 to craft a response to the BAFOs. Flahaven told other commissioners at Tuesday night’s ANC 6B’s Executive Committee meeting that he expects that the Planning and Zoning committee will not recommend a developer, but will comment on the RFP process and state what the committee likes and doesn’t like about the two proposals.