CAPITOL HILL CORNER

Neighbors Dismayed Over Plan for 20 Condo Building Just Off Barracks Row

by Larry Janezich

Last night, the development company District Quarters unveiled plans to raze the Tried Stone Church of Christ across 9^th Street from Hill Center to construct a 23,000 square foot, four story plus a penthouse, 20 unit condo building with three surface parking spaces. The building is a block from Barracks Row’s retail, restaurants, and fire station. The project will be built “by right” under city regulations, meaning that there will be virtually no opportunity to change the scale or massing of the project. Since the church is a non-contributing structure in the Historic District, it can be razed, but the new building is subject to Historic Preservation review.

Evan Muchai, Associate Partner for Acquisitions & Development for the developer, revealed the initial concept for the project to about a dozen neighbors who gathered in the basement of the church.  The meeting to solicit feedback was called on what seemed to be unusually short notice, and only one week before the developers appear before ANC6B’s Planning and Zoning Committee to ask for its support of their Historic Preservation Application for the proposed concept.

Neighbors who attended the meeting were taken aback at the scale of the project – substantially higher than adjoining townhouses – and raised a number of concerns including scale, massing, parking, rodent and trash issues, impact of demolition and construction, HVAC issues, and light.  Muchai noted the concerns and said he would “get back to you” regarding how and if the company could address those concerns by next Monday.

Neighbors were dismayed at the prospect throwing up to an additional 17 parking vehicles into the mix in the hunt for parking in the neighborhood, where they say it is difficult if not impossible to park now.

Muchai said that under city regulations, they need to provide only three parking spaces, adding that they would like to provide more parking for their potential owners but held out little hope that more parking could be provided on site, although he said they would “look at it.”

When residents asked if the developer would agree to make condo residents ineligible for Residential Parking Permits allowing street parking, the developer said that in reality the city doesn’t enforce those contractual agreements between seller and purchaser.  He added, “We want to provide parking for people who live here – we don’t expect to ask people to give up parking.”  The developer downplayed the likelihood of adding 17 vehicles to the parking mix, saying that with close proximity to Metro people drive less and that he was a prime example, not having owned a car in four years.

Justifying the scale of the project, the developer said that without the proposed height and density, the project is not economically feasible.   One attendee said that the project was akin to “trying to fit a big peg into a limited lot – it’s not a fit – the lot and the neighborhood infrastructure doesn’t support this amount of density. It’s going to be a nightmare.”

District Quarters has not yet purchased the building, which is under contract, and contingent on getting approval for the building.

The developer’s timeline anticipates closing on the sale in June or July, followed by 3 to 5 month’s design work.  Construction would start in September and last 12 – 13 months, followed by a 3 to 5 month period for sales.  Muchai said the units will be mostly two-bedrooms or one bedroom and a den, with a few one-bedroom apartments and priced from $400,000-$1 million.

The building seems to be on a fast track for approval – the developers will appear before the Capitol Hill Restoration Society Historic Preservation committee next Monday, May 6 for concept review, and the next night will ask ANC6B Planning and Zoning Committee to support the Historic Preservation Application for the concept.  The committee’s recommendation will be considered by the full ANC a week later, on May 14.  The application then comes up before the Historic Preservation Review Board on May 23.

Residents complained that the process was “much too telescoped” and that the “compressed nature of the timeline undercuts the effort to work with us.”  They indicated they would carry their concerns to the various review venues going forward.  One resident pleaded, “Don’t forget there are people here – who want to live out their lives here. This is a really big thing to them – to all of us.”

District Quarters is a small development company by industry standards.  They develop residential units in the District – their website shows a number of projects between 2 and 9 units, and the current proposal appears to be their largest to date.  See here:  https://www.districtquarters.com/

Police To Address Hill East Residents on Homicide at Potomac Ave Metro Last Saturday

by Larry Janezich

On Wednesday, May 1, Chief Ronald Pavlik, Jr., Metropolitan Transit Police, will address the community regarding the homicide* which occurred at Potomac Avenue Metro Station last Saturday.  Also on hand will be MPD First District Commander Morgan Kane and other MPD officials – the Metropolitan Police Department is the lead investigative agency.

The previously scheduled community meeting (MPD First District Citizens Advisory Council) will be the vehicle for the briefing and discussion.

The meeting will be at 7:00pm at Liberty Baptist Church, 527 Kentucky Avenue, SE.

The full agenda for the meeting is as follows:

Metro Transit Police discussion on safety and crime at and around the Potomac Avenue Metro Station.

MPD First District Commander Morgan Kane will discuss the homicide as well as the Crime Report for Sectors I-III.

Community Outreach Report with support from MPC/CAC Partnership team.

US Attorney Prosecution Report – Doug Klein, DC US Attorney’s Office.

US Court Services and Offenders Supervision Agency (CSOSA) Report with Michael Bonds.

*The following notice was posted to the First District listserv on Sunday:

At approximately 11:45 p.m. on 4/28/19, First District officers were called to the Potomac Avenue Metro station to assist MTPD was an assault investigation.  On the scene, officers located an adult male suffering from stab wounds.  The victim was transported to an area hospital and pronounced dead after life-saving efforts failed.

The suspects have been described as black males, approximately 16-18 old, wearing black jackets and blue jeans.

This case is being actively investigated by members of MPD’s Violent Crimes Branch.  Should anyone have information or video regarding this incident, please contact the Metropolitan Police Department’s Command Information Center at (202) 727-9099.

Seth Anderson

Lieutenant, First District

Residents Air Concerns About New Burger Place Across from Eastern Market

by Larry Janezich

Hoping to head off a lengthy and contentious ANC6B Alcohol Beverage Control committee meeting, ANC6B sponsored a community meeting last night to hear residents’ concerns regarding a new burger joint opening across the street from Eastern market.

Some 40 nearby neighbors and Hine project residents turned out to express concerns about what the restaurant might bring to the neighborhood besides burgers, i. e., noise, rodents, odors, trash and a clashing aesthetic.

Owner Brandon Gaynor, introduced his concept, engaged residents, and assured them that he had anticipated their concerns or would move to remediate them as they arose, stressing his desire to be a good neighbor and a part of the community.

The neighbors’ greatest concern – aside from the on-going battle against rodents drawn to 7^th Street restaurants which residents have called upon the city to address with limited success – appeared to be noise; noise  well into the night from up to 60 patrons eating burgers and drinking beer seated outdoors.  The restaurant’s seating is primarily outdoors – seating for only 25 customers will be within.

Rodent concerns have been minimized in this case by indoor, temperature controlled, trash storage.

However, heightening the concern about – as one attendee put it, “raucous behavior” – the applicant is asking to serve alcohol until 2:00am.  Hours of operation and for serving alcohol are often scaled back by a voluntary settlement agreement in order to get ANC6B’s endorsement of the liquor license.  ABC Committee Chair Chander Jayaraman asked attendees to suggest appropriate limits for alcohol service before the ABC Committee considers the license in May.

Gaynor offered assurances that he had hired a sound engineer to address potential issues, and cited one planned mitigating measure – the use of broad umbrellas in the outdoor seating area to help contain noise of conversations.  There will be no music from outdoor speakers.  Residents appeared skeptical that this would fully address their concerns, and residents and Jayaraman urged Gaynor and his team to think more broadly about the issue.

EAT BRGA is a new model and the restaurant is Gaynor’s first foray into the hospitality industry. The concept setting it apart from its peers involves serving a “complex burger” – mixing and blending the ingredients into a locally- sourced chicken, beef, or veggie patty before cooking. Two examples Gaynor mentioned were a Greek burger and a Mexican burger. Buns, produced locally, will be delivered fresh daily. Also on the menu will be three beers and three wines as well as proprietary high protein, reduced calorie, all natural shakes – which Gaynor called a “little bit better for you product.” The restaurant will not offer table service or glassware – and will use all recycled material.

Gaynor anticipates 15 seats in front of the restaurant on Seventh Street and another 45 banquet seats  – read high end aesthetically pleasing benches and tables – alongside the restaurant on the sidewalk on C Street. The outside areas will be enclosed by planters and perhaps ropes.  Gaynor hopes to open in July.

One questioned the degree of Gaynor’s commitment to helping the community.  Gaynor cited the long history of contributing to charities nationally and internationally, and, referencing a local program under which restaurants donate food to homeless shelters said “will we will be part of that.”

ANC6B will consider the alcohol beverage license application at its meeting on May 9, at 7:00pm in Hill Center.  The committee will make a recommendation which will then be taken up by the full ANC at its monthly meeting on May 14 – also at 7:00pm in Hill Center.

The Week Ahead… & Tio Javier Morphs into Tortuga Caribbean Bar & Grill on Barracks Row

by Larry Janezich

Monday, April 29

ANC6D Special Meeting, 7:00pm, 700 7^th Street, SW, Town Square Towers Party Room.  A special meeting of ANC6D has been called to discuss the following items:

Modification of consequence for the PUD for Audi Field to allow  the applicant to use Parcel B adjacent to the stadium as temporary surface parking.

Protest of applications for renewals of ABC licenses for La Vie and various vessels operated by Entertainment Cruise Ships.

Community Meeting Introducing New Hine Development Eatery – EAT BRGZ at 7:00pm, 777 C Street, SE, Club Lounge (Hine Project Residential)

ANC6B is sponsoring a community meeting to acquaint residents with a new restaurant, featuring hamburgers and a summer garden, proposed for the currently vacant business location at the corner of 7th and C Streets, SE.   The meeting will provide an opportunity to identify any issues that may come  before the ANC’s Alcohol Beverage Committee.

Representatives of EAT BRGZ will present their restaurant concept and operation plans and answer questions from the community.

Tuesday, April 30

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

Among items on the agenda:

Report on the Budget Hearing April 4th and update.

Finance Committee Report on Meeting held April 25th.

Rediscover Eastern Market celebration

Plans to date: Barry Margeson

Docent led tours: Monte Edwards

Lease update

Parking

300 block 7th street

Status of the Request for Proposals for the Market Study

Wednesday, April 26

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

Among items on the draft agenda:

520 Groff Court, NE – Zoning Adjustment application, special exception to permit construction of a two-story addition to an existing semi-detached, principal dwelling unit.

520 Groff Court, NE – Historic Preservation application for concept approval for a two-story addition to an existing semi-detached row dwelling.

1120 Abbey Place, NE – Zoning Adjustment application for special exception to construct a two-story, rear addition to an existing, attached principal dwelling unit.

111 Massachusetts Avenue, NW – Zoning Application for a modification of consequence, to an approved planned unit development previously modified. The proposed modification would revise the building footprint and ground-floor plan; add habitable penthouse space; and modify the exterior façade, including by adding balconies.

MPD First District Citizens Advisory Council meets at 7:00pm at Liberty Baptist Church, 527 Kentucky Avenue, SE. 

Agenda:

Resident safety concerns.

US Attorney Prosecution Report – Doug Klein US District Prosecutors Office.

US CSOSA Report with Michael Bonds (if available).

Crime Report lSectors I – II)I Commander Kane and team.

Community Outreach Report and Community Thoughts.

Thursday, April 25

Friends of Southeast Library meet at 5:30pm, Southeast Library, lower level. 

Bombay Street Food Coming to Barracks Row

by Larry Janezich

When one door closes, another opens.  And so, Bombay Street Food moves into the space formerly occupied until last January by Garrison on Barracks Row, at 524^th 8^th Street – as first reported by Eater and The City Paper.  The new restaurant is sister to the popular Bombay Street Food in Columbia Heights which opened just last December.

Bombay – now Mumbai – is known for its variety of relatively inexpensive street food hawked around the clock to a passionate cosmopolitan clientele. We are familiar with many of the offerings, but one of the things that distinguishes is the inclusion of the spice-laden Indo Chinese dishes which started appearing on Bombay streets in the 1980s and was incorporated into the city’s cuisine.

The most popular street food in Bombay is vada pav – a spiced potato puff slider – which may not sound like much, but Anthony Bourdain, is holding one in the tribute portrait on the wall of Bombay in Columbia Heights.  You’ll be able to try one for $7.  Here’s a link to a photo of the sandwich and the recipe if you want to try your hand at it: https://www.mygingergarlickitchen.com/vada-pav-recipe/

Perhaps the second most popular are a variety of kati rolls – an Indian flatbread folded around a filling (chicken, lamb, or cottage cheese along with egg, tomato, onion and ginger/garlic chutney).

The restaurant is the creation of restaurateur Asad Sheikh, a Bombay native.  He opened three Curry Mantra locations, London Curry House and 1947 in Northern Virginia before selling out and moving on to the Bombay in DC.

Not clear on how soon they hope to open but when they do, diners in the 75 indoor and outdoor seat venue will be looking at the same menu featured in Bombay in Columbia Heights. Here’s a link:  http://www.bombaystreetfood.us/our-menu.php

The Week Ahead….CM Charles Allen’s Ward 6 Budget Town Hall Tuesday – Taste of 8th on Saturday

by Larry Janezich

Monday, April 22

ANC6A Community Outreach Committee meets at 7:00pm, Eastern High School, 1700 East Capitol Street NE in the Parent Center.

Agenda not available at press time

Tuesday, April 23

Ward 6 Budget Town Hall 2019 – 6:00pm – 7:30pm, Arthur Capper Community Center, Upper Room, 1000 5th Street, SE.

Agenda:

CM Charles Allen will discuss the budget process, break down the Mayor’s recommendations, share his budget priorities, and hear from residents what they think needs to be funded.

Saturday, April 27

Volunteer Capitol Hill 2019 Event at Hill Center, 10:00am – 1:00pm.  Exposition of volunteer opportunities throughout the area – make an impact on your community. 

Taste of 8^th – Barracks Row – 1:00pm to 4:00pm. 

Over 20 of Barracks Row restaurants will serve appetizer-sized samples of their best known or newest dishes. Participants this year include:

Ambar · Belga Café · Betsy · Brick Lane · The Brig · Cava Mezze · Chat’s Liquors · DCanter · District Doughnut · Finn McCool’s · Las Placitas · Lavagna · matchbox · Medium Rare · Nooshi Sushi · Ophelia’s · Orchid · Spring Mill Bread · Souk · Sushi Hachi · Sushi Torai · Sweet Lobby · Ted’s Bulletin · Tortuga Caribbean Bar & Grille · Trattoria Alberto · Valor.

According to BRMS, each taste is a sample size, similar to a tapas portion. Most people purchase a pack of 5 tasting tickets so they can sample their favorite 8th Street restaurants. Starting Saturday, April 6th, regular online advance ticket sales are 5 tasting tickets for $20. Day-of tickets will be 5 tasting tickets for $25, and will be available on site, cash or charge.

Purchase advance tickets at Barracks Row Main Street website here:  https://www.barracksrow.org/tasteof8th

MPD Nixes Police Substation for Barracks Row – But Tries Something New

By Larry Janezich

A Tuesday night’s meeting of ANC6B’s Barracks Row Working Group, MPD First District Capt. Aubrey Mongal threw cold water on the idea for an MPD substation on Barracks Row.  The proposal had come out of the first meeting of the Working Group last month, and Barracks Row Main Street had gathered a petition of some 500 signatures supporting the move.

Mongol said, flatly, “We don’t sponsor that.”  The police abandoned the idea of mini-stations years ago, he said, because officers spent too much time inside and got completely away from the street.  He said that the presence of a police station is not a deterrent and will not put more officers on Barracks Row – “We deploy on the basis of violent crime – not on quality of life.”  He added, “We don’t have violent crime on Barracks Row…we have violent crime near Nats Stadium in SW and on H Street.”

While dampening the Working Group’s enthusiasm for a substation, MPD announced a new initiative to deal with what it sees as the primary problems on Barracks Row – panhandling and the side effects of substance abuse – especially on the troubled 400 block.  The hoped for salvation comes in the form of Officer R.J. Mazloom (Maz), who is now the “Barracks Row Bike Cop” and whose job is to clean up the street’s noisome problems.  His approach will be a mixture of old-fashioned neighborhood beat policing and social work engagement, and his aim is developing a rapport with denizens of the street, being as inclusive as possible.  One goal is to lay down ground rules for behavior using conversation and incentives to personalize the accountability expected of habitués of the block.  Mazloom says he even engages the supplies of K2 – gathering intelligence which “hard charging officers will use in another way.”

He describes his approach as a compassionate one, but one that discourages panhandling.  He advocates “building an economy of positive engagement and work on that model.”

Mazloon will be on the beat from 3:00pm to 1:00 or 2:00am – a ten hour shift.

Officer Ulysses Fernandez owns the morning shift on Barracks Row.  Fernandez, well known to many residents, says K-2 is a very bad drug and MPD is trying to get control of it.  In response to a question from ANC6B Chair Chander Jayaraman, he said that there are 7 to 10 regulars (not necessarily homeless) on the 400 block and noted an uptick in K-2 related activity in the last 3 to 6 months.  Fernandez says he works closely with Community Connections to help determine whether substance abusers are their clients.  He points to the limited ways agencies can help a substance abuser.  Often, first responders called to administer aid to an unresponsive person find a fully conscious person when they arrive, one who declines hospital treatment, since the effects of the drug last some 15 minutes.

Jayaraman asked about the effectiveness of making arrests to control the drug activity on the block.  It turns out that there are clear disincentives for making arrests of suppliers of K-2.  Capt. Mongal replied that an officer needs a probable crime in order to conduct a search of an individual – and the officer needs to witness the crime, rather than take someone’s word for what they saw.  When an officer makes an arrest it takes him off the street for a period of time, and the arrestee is back on the street the next day.  Another disincentive is that it’s rare that a substance recovered in connection with an arrest will test positive for being controlled substance, as the formula is continually changing in order to stay ahead of the law.

Mazloom said that MPD presence makes a block “hot” and makes people move away – people who don’t want to be “hot” move somewhere else.  ANC6B Commissioner Brian Ready who chairs the Working Group along with co-chairs on the business side of Barracks Row, said that pushing the problem somewhere else was in opposition to the inclusive DC ethos, and warned of opening the door to unintended consequences.  Mazloon seemed to acknowledge an acute awareness of the difference between enforcing the law and over-policing.  He said, “We walk a fine line. We have to.”

One of the goals of the Working Group is to create a marketing plan for Barracks Row, and Working Group Co-Chair and business owner Gaynor Jablonski (The Ugly Mug) is taking the lead on creating a comprehensive marketing plan for 8^th Street as well the commercial corridors around the Metro Plaza.  Referring to the effectiveness of marketing plans being employed by competitors – H Street, Capitol Hill Riverfront, NOMA, The Wharf – Jablonski said that no one sells our area like these others sell theirs.  Jablonski is heading up a Discovery Committee to work on a marketing plan and looking toward engaging a firm to provide public relations and articles on a monthly basis. The committee will discuss costs and how to make it an ongoing effort – he says, “We can’t wait, because were becoming less and less relevant.

The Working Group’s agenda also included presentations from two organizations providing outreach to the homeless:  Capitol Hill Group Ministry and Community Connections.  Both attempt to connect the homeless with the city’s homeless programs, and both have staffers who work directly with the homeless on 8th Street and the city, though Community Connections outreach ability will be reduced at the end of the month owing to lack of grant funding.  Group Ministry concentrates on homeless families.  They also have an outreach team that checks on the welfare of Capitol Hill’s homeless, who tend to be single individuals, and provides assistance at Shirley’s Place – the Group’s Day Center at 1338 G Street, SE, which is open weekdays, 8:00am until 6:00pm.

The Week Ahead & Construction Update on Emilie’s – a Restaurant Coming to the New Frager’s

by Larry Janezich

Monday, April 15

ANC 6A Transportation and Public Space Committee meets at 7:00pm at Capitol Hill Towers, 900 G Street, NE. 

Among items on the draft agenda:

Development of a plan to solicit recommendations for additional bike share station locations and ascertain public support for same.

Development of an initial list of local/local intersections where 4-way stops are desirable (but do not already exist). This list will be presented to the commissioners for comment and a recommendation finalized at the May 20, 2019 TPS meeting.

Possible bikeshare locations as identified by commissioners (and others), to date:

1. 1. Intersection at 8th & H Streets NE, proximate to streetcar, X2 & 90 bus;
   2. Intersection at 11th and C Streets NE;
   3. Triangle at 10th Street and Massachusetts Avenue NE;
   4. North side of East Capitol Street NE, in front of Eastern High School, proximate to Metro

Local/Local Intersections:

(Local roads are a technical term, using functional classification of roads by DDOT and the Federal Highway Administration. Local roads receive no federal money for upkeep or control. Because of this, DDOT can make changes to these intersections without clearance form FHWA.

Click on the link below to see a map of functional classifications; if a road is not colored in it’s a “local” road)

https://ddot.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/ddot/publication/attachments/FunctionalClass_2016.pdf

Tuesday, April 16

Barracks Row Main Street Working Group Meets at 7:00pm, 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, 7^th Floor Conference Room. 

Agenda:

Presentation:  First District MPD representatives

Safety: 

400 Block Metro Police Station Project.

Improved Outreach to our homeless community.

Additional Ideas for Improvements.

Aesthetics:

Parking Letter for Funding.

Sidewalk Repair.

Update on the power washing of 400 block of 8th Street.

Neighborhood Clean Up Plan.

Spring/Summer Plantings.

Additional Clean Funding.

Additional Ideas for improvements.

Positioning/Marketing:

New Marketing Plans for the Main Streets.

The Marines Summer Event Collaboration.

Additional Ideas for Improvements.

Possible Future Agenda Items

How Barracks Row can take better advantage of our alternate modes of Transportation.

Marketing Barracks Row Main Street to the Greater Washington Region.

Collective Snow Removal.

Eastern Market Metro Park Transportation Study Review.

Wednesday, April 17

ANC 6A Alcoholic Beverage Licensing Committee meets at 7:00pm at Sherwood Recreation Center, 10^th and G Streets, NE.  Note that this day is different than the usual ABL meeting day due to the Emancipation Day holiday on Tuesday, April 16.

Among items on the draft agenda: 

Discussion of renewals of the following licenses:

Dangerously Delicious – 1339 H Street, NE. Restaurant license.

Choongman Chicken and Seafood – 1125 H Street, NE. Restaurant license.

Sally’s Middle Name – 1320 H Street, NE. Restaurant license.

RedRocks – 1348 H Street, NE. Restaurant license.

Chupacabra – 822 H Street, NE.  Restaurant license.

Cusbah – 1128 H Street, NE. Restaurant license.

Granville Moore’s Brickyard – 1238 H Street, NE. Restaurant license.

Smith Commons- (1245 H Street, NE. Restaurant license.

Atlas Performing Arts Center – 1333 H Street, NE. Restaurant license.

Imm On H – 1360 H Street, NE. Restaurant license.

Stable DC – 1324 H Street, NE. Restaurant license.

ANC6A Economic Development & Zoning Committee meets at 7:00pm as Sherweed Recreation Center, 10^th and G Streets, NE. 

Among items on the draft agenda:

 1323 Rear Linden Court, NE.  Zoning Adjustment Application for special exception to construct a rooftop deck for a dwelling in the RF-1 zone.

Rep. Norton, CM Allen, and SE Library Update – News You Might Have Missed Last Week

by Larry Janezich

Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton  came to last week’s meeting of ANC6D, touting her effectiveness as DC’s representative to Congress, and listing her accomplishments.  The desultory monologue was followed by a Q&A which featured questions on the future of RFK Stadium, affordable housing issues and transportation debacle in SW at The Wharf which overwhelmed enforcement efforts on the April 6 weekend featuring Petalpalooza.  On RFK, Norton cited her sponsorship of a bill working its way through Congress which would allow the District to buy it from the federal government, and then the city will decide what to do with it.  She said affordable housing was a problem in all big cites, and Congress has not been able to come up with a solution.  She said regarding developers, “You can’t tell them where to put housing in a market economy.”  Her response to the traffic issue was that she was holding a Congressional hearing the next day on traffic safety issues, without addressing specific concerns raised by the Commission.

Councilmember Charles Allen

CM Allen:  Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen was at ANC6D last Monday and at ANC6B the next day, Tuesday.

At both meetings, he announced that he would hold the Ward 6 Budget Town Hall on April 23 from 6:00pm – 8:00pm at the Arthur Capper Community Center to hear from residents about what they want in the budget.

At ANC6D, Commissioner Andy Litsky raised the issue of the traffic issues at The Wharf on the weekend of April 6, calling it a “perfect storm” of a Nationals Park, DC United, and Petalpalooza traffic which created a traffic jam making it impossible for emergency vehicles to penetrate, and warning, “Someone’s going to die” if it’s not solved.  Allen said it sounded like a complete failure and said he would convene a group of DC agencies to follow through to strategize on preventing a recurrence.

At ANC6B, Allen addressed an April 30 incident when images of a ten year old boy in handcuffs flooded Twitter and FB after an armed robbery in the 200 block of Massachusetts Avenue, NW.  Attorney General Karl Racine later issued a rare statement saying the youth was totally innocent.  Allen called the video of the incident a “punch in the gut” and said that though MPD were following internal procedures, he would work with MPD to rethink about how to do it in a different way, holding out the possibility of legislative changes as well.  Allen chairs the City Council’s Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.

Asked about the development of RFK, Allen cited the 5,000 signatures his petition to oppose a new stadium at RFK had gathered, and cited Representative Norton’s work on legislation allowing DC to buy the land.  Allen said, “We don’t need to bail out a billionaire with your tax dollars.  We need housing and recreation that will connect the community to the river.” Here’s Business Journal’s story which has a link to the petition. http://bit.ly/2PaABTn

When one commissioner asked about Allen’s degree of confidence that there will be money available to finish the redesign of Eastern market Metro Plaza beyond the initial $5.9 million launch effort, Allen said flatly, “I will find the money for this project.” The final price tag will be around $20 million.

Allen was far less positive about the possibility floated by the ANC’s Working Group on Barracks Row enthusiasm over establishment of an MPD substation on the raucous 400 block of Eighth Street.  He called the block a significant challenge.  He said he had walked to block with MPD, and they were opposed to a storefront substation since their station house was two blocks away and because “they were on the 400 block all the time.”  Allen said such a move was likely to result in what has happened in the Salt Lake City model – that the targeted activity was displaced a couple of blocks away.  He said a substation would not solve the underlying issue, and suggested pulling together Barracks Row Main Street, the ANC Working Group, MPD, and the Department of Behavioral Health to work on ways to address the issues. Allen said of the latter department that is was “floundering” and suffered “deep issues which prevent a rapid response.”  Last week, Mayor Bowser appointed DC mental health veteran Barbra Bazron to take of the directorship of the scandal plagued agency.  See Washington City Paper story here:  http://bit.ly/2G6mXwo

Southeast Library Renovation

In other news:  Last week, after a meeting with DC Library officials, Capitol Hill Community activists Pat Taylor and Jill Lawrence reported that DC Library is on the cusp of issuing a Request for Qualifications for renovation of Southeast Library.  The request anticipates responses from design/build firms expressing interest in the project which will allow the Library to determine a group of organizations deemed qualified to undertake the project.  A Request for Proposals will be issued to that group, and once a finalist is selected, that designer will conduct the due diligence on the site to determine suitability regarding subterranean conditions and existing underground infrastructure.  Once that is determined and a plan developed on how much space will be available, the community will be consulted regarding what the community wants in the renovation.

 

“Raising Spirits” – a Jolting Exhibit at The Fridge

By Larry Janezich

As an artist I know remarked, “There’s a big difference between art and the art market.  The market is fashion.  I don’t care what level you’re talking about.”

Nic Zimbro’s art jolts the imagination at his show “Raising Spirits” at The Fridge.

Two huge collage installations dominate the exhibit, one a Tyrannosaurs Rex; the other Tyrannosaurus of art, Picasso.  The former is mediation on violence – the latter a meditation on the art market.

Zimbro: “There’s never been a time in my life when there wasn’t art.”  He studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, and his mentor there, he says, advised him to stay away from the market – just continue developing.  He says he followed that advice – once living in a trailer with no electricity while he developed his craft.  In his youth he was attracted to graffiti art but has left that far behind and now admits to the influence of Goya in his work.

Zimbro – Muralist/Painter/Collagist/Assemblage-ist – participated in The Fridge’s 2018 Street Sticker Expo creating a wall-sized collage portrait from stickers which took him a week to create in place.  His current exhibit includes a selection of smaller paintings – about 100 pieces in all.  It will be on view through April 28, 2019 and is free and open to the public. For more of his work go here:  https://insta-stalker.com/profile/mr.zimbro/

E-mail owner and Gallery Director Alex Goldstein for an appointment or inquiries. alex@thefridgedc.com

The Fridge is located on Barracks Row at 516 1/2 8th Street, SE (rear alley) Washington, DC 20003

Hours: Tuesday  Closed, Wednesday Closed, Thursday 1–7PM, Friday 1–7PM, Saturday 12–7PM, Sunday 12–5PM, Monday Closed.