CAPITOL HILL CORNER

EMCAC Votes to Keep Eastern Mkt 7^th Street Closed to Traffic and Active – Pending a Strategic Plan

by Larry Janezich

Last Tuesday night, the Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee (EMCAC) voted to keep 7^th Street closed to vehicular traffic on weekends, and to continue unspecified activity on the 300 block after October 31, when the current licenses for the weekend flea markets on that block expire.  How the block is used after that date is up to the Department of General Services.  Both the Saturday and Sunday flea markets have asked the city for an extension to continue to use the 300 block in addition to their three year contracts with Stanton-Eastbanc for use of the newly opened C Street between 7^th and 8^th.

EMCAC board member Chuck Burger pushed hard to get EMCAC to recommend that the current “physical layout and format of vendors (on the 300 block) cannot continue” and to recommend that EMCAC oppose issuance of any request for proposals (RFPs) to program or sublease the street until such a proposal was incorporated in an agreed upon Strategic Plan.

ANC6B Commissioner Diane Hoskins, in whose single member district Eastern Market lies was having none of that.  Hoskins adamantly opposed the two proposals by Burger, insisting on dropping the language condemning the current physical layout as well as the recommendation on the RFPs.  Hoskins eventually prevailed on both points and the modified language was approved on a 4 – 3 vote, with Hoskins, Angie Brunson, Nikki Dean, and Monty Edwards voting “Aye.”  EMCAC Chair Donna Scheeder, Chuck Burger, and Bill Glasgow voted against.  Board members Jonathon Page, Tom Kuchenberg, Richard Layman and Susan Oursler were absent.

In reality, EMCAC is an advisory committee and DGS can legally do what it wants with the block.  It appears that other forces are already in play guaranteeing that the street will remain closed for another year.

Burger, who represents CHAMPS, the Capitol Hill mini-chamber of commerce, justified his proposed language by saying that it would probably be next spring before the Hine retail merchants were signed.  He said that the Hine developers had stated that their intention is to use the sidewalk fronting 7^th Street for café seating and service operations, and Burger said they should have input regarding use of the street.

Objections to the current configuration of vendors on the street (who are set up in front of the Hine project because the brick and mortar retailers on the other side object to tents being set up in front of them) could complicate future use of the block.  Carole Wright, manager of the Saturday flea operation says that there are ways to address this concern.

The recommendation calls upon DGS to determine a Strategic Plan for the Eastern Market Special Use District by March 1, or as soon as practical and that the city consult with community organizations and professional consultants to achieve that goal.  Community organizations would include ANC6B, EMCAC, Eastern Market Mainstreet (in which Stanton Development is a key player), DCRA, DDOT, MPD, the Fire Department and DC Homeland Security.

On Friday afternoon, a snafu developed when Scheeder initially sent to the city an incorrect version of the final recommendation which mistakenly included the controversial language stating that “the past physical layout and vendors cannot continue.”  Hoskins fired off an email to Scheeder noting that the letter contained some language not agreed to by the Committee and asking her to retract the letter.  Scheeder subsequently issued a corrected version on Saturday.

On September 12, ANC6B voted 10 – 0 in support of a letter to DGS requesting there be no change in the current use and operations of the 200 and 300 blocks of 7^th Street and that DGS work with community stakeholders before implementing any new policies that may include vending on 7^th Street.

To read the final EMCAC recommendation, see here:  http://bit.ly/2weZ0gl

Here’s the Breakdown on Eastern Market Expenses for 2016

By Larry Janezich

On September 4, Capitol Hill Corner posted a piece titled, “It Costs About $870,000 a Year to Run Eastern Market – Here’s Where It Comes From”.  http://bit.ly/2eExsh6

Here’s where it goes.

On Wednesday night, the Department of General Services released the Total Expenses for 2016 – the period applicable to the previously released income figures – as part of the Market Manager’s Report to the Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee.

Operating Expenses for Eastern Market, 2016

Advertising                                        $42,103.00

Security                                              $44,878.00

Extermination                                  $4,020.00

Trash                                                  $22,916.00

Interior Cleaning                              $208,019.00

Repairs and Maintenance              $92,564.00

Snow Removal                                 $5,081.00

Office Support                                  $5,693.00

Electric                                               $76,211.00

Water                                                 $26,602.00

Gas                                                     $7,886.00

HVAC                                                  $9,628.00

Total Operating Expenses              $547,600.00

Administrative Expenses for Eastern Market, 2016

Manager                                            $128,739.00

Asst. Manager                                  $104,806.00

Treasury Dept. Rent Collection    $2,265.00

North Hall Event Coordinator       $84,435.00

Total Administrative Expenses      $320,244.00

Total Expenses                                 $867,845.00

Net Income                                       $25,857

City Eyes Increasing Rents for Eastern Market Food Merchants/Vendors

by Larry Janezich

Earlier this year, the Department of General Services (DGS) contracted with Marcus Asset Group to conduct an appraisal of the 14 stall spaces within Eastern Market’s South Hall.  The study grew out of the DC Code requirement that rents reflect fair market rents and practices.  To assist them, Marcus Asset Group engaged the services of Market Ventures, Inc., a specialty urban planning and economic development firm.

The resulting report was made public at the end of August.   The range of recommended rents per square foot for each of the South Hall merchants are shown below, with the low to high figures showing the range in dollars per square foot per year.

Product/Service                Business Name                  Sq. Ft.          Low + High Base Rent

(PSF Annually)

Flowers                                 Blue Iris Farms, Inc.              279           $46 to $49.50

Dairy Products                    Bowers Fancy Dairy              337           $60 to $64

Produce and Grocery        Calomiris & Sons                   643            $38.50 to $42

Delicatessen                       Canales Deli                            665           $81 to $90

Grocery/Prepared Food   Canales Inc.                            309            $38.50 to $42

Meat                                    Canales Quality Meats         367            $35 to $38.50

Poultry and Eggs               Capitol Hill Poultry                 335           $35 to $38.50

Fruits and Vegetables      Paik Produce                           308           $38.50 to $42

Pottery Studio                   Eastern Market Pottery    1,152           $15 to $18

Baked Goods                     Fine Sweet Shoppe                755           $47.25 to $50.50

Restaurant                         Market Lunch                         938           $70 to $90

Poultry and Eggs             Market Poultry                        418            $35 to $38.50

Fish                                    Southern MD Seafood           864          $33 to $36

Meat                                   Union Meat                        1,091         $35 to $38.50

Total Rentable Space                                                      8,461

According to Margeson, the current South Hall rents range from $26 – $40 per square foot per year (excluding the basement space occupied by Market Pottery).  In comparison, rents for stall or vendor space outside the market are as follows:

South Hall Merchants                          $26 – $40 per square foot annually (except basement pottery studio)

Farmer’s Line                                         $28 – $44 per day

North Plaza Arts/Crafts                         $28 per day

7th Street Arts/Crafts                              $44 per day

Prepared Food Natatorium Plaza         $35 per day

Flea Markets                                             $2000 per month each

In a letter to EMCAC accompanying the report, Market Manager Margeson states, “Our plan is to use the average of the upper and lower limits of each stand’s appraised value in the form lease.”  The letter states that the rental rate would increase incrementally over three years until it reaches the appraised rental value (adjusted for inflation).

If the recommended rent increases for the South Hall Merchants are calculated using the average of the upper and lower recommended limits, total annual revenue from merchants and vendors would be $383,125 – $146,119 over the 2016 rent total for the South Hall at $237,006, according to figures released earlier and reported by Capitol Hill Corner here:  http://bit.ly/2eExsh6

In addition, DGS has contracted to for an appraisal to determine what the rents should be for stall space on the 300 block of 7^th Street, between Pennsylvania Avenue and C Streets, SE.  Those spaces are currently occupied by the Saturday and Sunday flea markets which are scheduled to move their whole operations to the newly reopened C Street between 7^th and 8^th Streets at the end of October.  Once that happens, the monthly $2000 the flea market managers pay to DGS will accrue instead to the Hine developers – Stanton-Eastbanc – since under an agreement with the city, they will own that block of C Street.  What happens to the 300 block of 7^th Street remains to be seen.  There is substantial community support for keeping it closed to traffic on weekends, and the current thinking of ANC6B and the Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee is that until a final determination is made by a broad selection of community stakeholders, EMCAC and the Eastern Market Manager should jointly determine usage of the block on a temporary basis.

Also in the works is an appraisal for the vending spaces in and around Eastern Market, including the Farmers Line, the arts and crafts vendors on the 200 block of 7^th Street and the North Plaza, and the prepared food vendors in front of the Rumsey Aquatic Center on North Carolina Avenue.

A consensus seems to be building among stakeholders that rents for the merchants in the South Hall not be increased until the other appraisals are complete when any rent increases necessary to maintain and promote the market can be imposed taking all sources of revenue into account.  EMCAC will consider the appraisal and next steps regarding its implementation at their monthly meeting, Tuesday, September 19, at 7:00pm in the North Hall of Eastern Market.

Kings Court Community Garden Turns 20

by Larry Janezich

Sunday evening, some 30 gardeners who work the plots in Kings Court Community Garden gathered to celebrate the 20^th anniversary of the garden’s founding.

The Garden was founded in 1997 after a developer purchased the Kings Court alley lots only to find later that they could not be developed. A period of uncertainty ensured during which the developer attempted to donate the land to the community.  While the process was in limbo, community gardeners seized the initiative and began construction of what was to become Kings Court Community Garden.  The first year was spent fencing and preparing the land; the first serious gardening efforts began in 1998, with ten gardeners.  Nearby resident Pat Taylor was one of them.

No questions were raised until 2001, when the garden’s future came under threat in the form of unpaid taxes on the land.  Taylor received a notice from the city that $2200 in back taxes were owed on the land and unless paid, the lot would be offered for sale for back taxes.  She rallied fellow gardeners who donated money to pay the back tax bill.  This led to the property’s owner gifting the land to the gardeners but only under the condition that the new owner be a 501©(3) nonprofit corporation.

By 2003, the legal work was completed and Kings Court Community Garden – now a formal 501(c)(3) – held a deed to its 1/5 acre lot and became the first DC community garden to own its own land. Councilmembers Sharon Ambrose and Jack Evans got legislation passed granting the Garden tax exempt status.

This was the first of three initiatives by the non-profit – the Capitol Hill Community Garden Land Trust – to help Hill East residents start new community gardens. Next was the one-half acre Green Seed Community Garden, followed by the Green Field Community Garden – the last still in the process of acquiring its own land.  Both of these – like Kings Court – are located in the middle of their blocks.

Kings Court currently has about 50 gardeners.  Pat Taylor and other long-time gardeners took the occasion to commemorate King Court Community Garden’s founding gardener Maribeth Iler who was for many years the longest-serving member of Kings Court Garden.  Iler died in 2010. Gardeners honored her memory with a brass plaque attached to a birdhouse which will be installed in the garden.

Participating in community gardening is a multi-level contribution to the community at large.  The common ground and common interests shared by members provide a protective bond fostering commitment to –  and involvement in – the community at large.  And many who contribute to the community believe that to be in accordance with one of the rules for living well.

For photo essay, see here:  http://bit.ly/2buPdKI

 

The Week Ahead… Eastern Market Committee Votes Tuesday on Continuing 7^th Street Closure

By Larry Janezich

Monday, September 18

1. ANC-6D Special Community Meeting at 7:00pm, Arena Stage, to hear presentation by representatives of The Wharf regarding their Second Phase. Question and answer period will follow.  ANC6D will vote on this matter on October 16, 2017.  Zoning Commission hearings:  November 2, 6, & 9.
2. ANC 6A Transportation and Public Space Committee meeting usually held on this day has been cancelled. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 16, 2017 at 7:00 pm at Capitol Hill Towers, 900 G Street NE.

Tuesday, September 19

1. ANC6A Alcoholic Beverage Licensing Committee will meet at 7:00pm in the Sherwood Recreation center, 10^th and G Streets, NE.

Agenda:

Discussion of request for change of sidewalk café hours by Nomad Hookah Bar, 1200 H Street, NE.

2. Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee meets at 7:00pm in the North Hall, Eastern Market.

Draft Agenda:

Report from the Nominations Committee: Chuck Burger

Election of Officers

Final Consideration of report to DGS on the status of 7th Street

Status of appraisal and leases

Consideration of final appraisal report and next steps

Parking fees for the closure of 7th street and MOU between DGS and DDOT

Market Manager’s Report

For background, see here:  http://bit.ly/2y0KkD1

3. Capitol Hill Restoration Society Board of Directors meets at 6:30pm, Capitol Hill Townhomes, 750 6^th Street, SE.

Wednesday, September 20

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

Agenda:

629-635 11th Street, NE):  Applicant seeks an area variance from minimum alley width and minimum lot area requirements to subdivide the existing tax lot into two record lots and construct two one-family dwellings in the RF-1 Zone.

226 12th Place, NE:  Applicant seeks support for HPO approval of plan to convert an existing two-story, two-unit row house to a single-family residence and do a 10-foot extension at the rear of the house.

1015 D Street, NE:  Informational presentation on the plans for redevelopment of the chapel located at 1015 D Street, NE.

2. Scouting Night at 6:30pm in Providence Park, 400 block of 2^nd Street, SE. (Inclement weather:  Peter’s Church Hall, basement)

Pack/Troop 380’s “Join Scouting Night” (JSN) for families interested in Scouting. Leaders and parents will be on hand to answer questions and assist families with completing applications. Representatives from the Scout Store will be selling uniforms as well. In addition, Boy Scouts from Troop 380 will be demonstrating skills such as fire building and knot tying.

Cub Scouts is open to boys age 5 to 10, or grades K through 5. Boy Scouts is open to boys age 11 to 17. Pack 380 is chartered by St. Peter Catholic Church located at 313 2nd Street, SE.  Pack/Troop 380’s Scouts come from a variety of backgrounds and schools including St. Peter’s, Maury, Brent, Two Rivers, SWS, and home school.  Scouts typically participate in one den meeting and one pack meeting a month. Pack 380 is focused on preparing boys for Boy Scouts through outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, and service projects.   Contact: Chris McIntire, Pack 380 Cubmaster at chris@mcintire.com.

3. CHRS Preservation Café meets at 6:30pm at the Northeast Library, 330 7th Street, NE, to hear a presentation by Paul K. Williams, President of the Historic Congressional Cemetery, entitled, “An Underground ‘Tour’ of Congressional Cemetery”. Still an active cemetery with plots for sale, this illustrated presentation will cover the cemetery’s fascinating history, and entertaining tales of goats, activities, unique fundraising, and some of the more unusual people buried in what the Washington Post describes as “America’s Hippest Cemetery.

Thursday, September 21

1. PSA 108 meets at 7:00pm, Liberty Baptist Church, 527 Kentucky Avenue, SE.

Saturday, September 23

1. Barracks Row Fall Festival

Barracks Row’s Ambar Restaurant Continues Brawl with ANC on Indoor Trash Storage

by Larry Janezich

Last Tuesday night, ANC6B stepped back from what appeared to by unanimous support for Ambar’s proposal to add a third story to the restaurant after owner Ivan Iricanin said – according to Chander Jayaraman (ANC6B Chair as well as Chair of the alcohol beverage committee) – that he would “never” provide inside access to a new indoor trash storage room.  A vote to oppose the expansion was 6 – 3 – 1.

Ambar came to the ANC last March with a proposal to add a third floor and a retractable roof to their existing building. That proposal would have added 53 seats to the restaurant. The ANC was unable to wrest an agreement for indoor trash storage at the time and voted to take “no position” on Ambar’s Historic Preservation Application.  Subsequently, a group of neighbors fighting the area’s exploding rat population lobbied Iricanin and convinced him of the necessity of indoor trash storage.  See here:  http://bit.ly/2nxD3oQ

Going forward with negotiations, ANC 6B, backed by neighbors, offered to support an extension of Ambar to the rear property line, expand the second story to the rear, and add a third full story, on the condition that Iricanin create indoor trash storage space with access from inside the restaurant. The ANC’s plan would allow Ambar to increase its seating from the planned 53 to a total of 88 new seats.

According to Jayaraman, Ambar agreed to the ANC proposal with the exception of an interior door leading to the trash room.  This was a deal breaker because in the long history of managing trash and fighting rats attracted to Barracks Row restaurants, it has been amply demonstrated (according to neighbors) hauling trash to an indoor trash storage through an exterior door simply does not work.  ANC6B has fought hard to address Barracks Row’s rat problem by requiring new restaurants in the ANC’s commercial districts – and those undergoing renovation – to provide indoor trash storage.

Jayaraman met with the architect and the owner on the Friday before Tuesday’s ANC meeting expecting to work out an agreement on the inside door.  Instead, the owner stated flatly that he cannot do an interior door.  Jayaraman says he told the owner, “That’s not going to work.  If you want the support of the ANC, revise your plan and provide for inside access to trash storage.”  He invited the Ircanin to make his point before the full ANC Tuesday night.  The owner failed to appear.

Although this stage of the permitting process is limited to the concept for a Historic Preservation Application, Jayaraman maintains that the additional elements regarding trash storage are a valid point to consider.  Commissioner Nick Burger, Chair of the ANC’s Planning and Zoning Committee maintained that the issue would be better addressed when Ambar comes back before the ANC with a zoning adjustment request to extend the building to the rear lot line.

But a majority of the Commission agreed with Jayaraman, in effect firing a warning shot across Ambar’s bow.  A vote against the issue as part of the Historic Preservation Application where it may be marginally relevant sets the stage for future votes if and when the matter comes back to the ANC as a zoning issue and again, if and when it comes back to the ANC for support for a substantial change in the liquor license.

Neighbors strongly support taking a tough position, noting that the new owner of the old Phase One building next door agreed to a much more difficult installation for indoor trash storage.

ANC6B Charges Washington Gas with “Predatory Tactics” on Meter Replacements in Browns Court

by Larry Janezich

Last Tuesday night, ANC6B charged Washington Gas (WGL) with using “predatory tactics” regarding the replacement of gas meters in Browns Court in SE Capitol Hill.  The ANC seized upon WGL’s post facto application to install protective “bollards” for meters and lines to protest the high handed manner with which the company deals with residents as well as to remedy their decision to use unsightly pipes – little more than steel fence posts – for the protective devices.  The application to install bollards in public space is being processed through the DDOT’s Public Space Committee.  The ANC requested DDOT to “require revisions in cooperation with residents and Capitol Hill Historic District guidelines. “

The letter conveying the Commissions opposition states, in part, “WGL representatives threatened to cut off natural gas service – supplying heat during winter – if impacted homeowners would not permit the WGL crews to [enter] their homes.  These predatory tactics left homeowners with little opportunity to provide input into the project before work was completed.”

In addition, the letter charged, “…WGL’s work on Browns Court has been fraught with problems including: interior floor damage, exterior house and fence damage … post-construction pipe leaks, unfinished pipe seals and braces where pipe exits the front of house, failure to replace brick planters … and failure properly supervise contractors resulting in poor workmanship and harassment of residents.”

Adding insult to injury, the permit is being processed through DDOT’s Public Space Committee, post facto, after the work has been complete, providing an additional grievance against the company – and DDOT.

Commissioner Diane Hoskins, in whose single member district Browns Court resides, says “The application is for undesirable and unsightly bollards that are in violation of relevant codes and regulations and that should never have been permitted ….  Also, there are dozens of other errors presented in the application….  Furthermore, the work for which Washington Gas & Light Co. seeks approval is work that … [was] completed by deliberately bypassing the proper permitting process.”

ANC6B is opposing the permit and urging DDOT to require WGL to work with neighbors to revise the bollards to conform to specifications consistent with the recommendations of the Capitol Hill Restoration Society and the Historic District.

DDOT’s Public Space Committee has a long record of riding roughshod over the city’s regulations requiring ANC opinion to be given great weight.  This appears to be yet one more example in a long list of complaints against city agencies working hand in glove with outside companies and casually dismissing the legitimate need for resident input.

Owners of Pennsylvania Avenue Building Move to Close In Arcade Housing Homeless

by Larry Janezich

Last night, ANC6B endorsed the Historic Preservation concept for the extension of storefronts of the Bernstein Building (Citibank) at 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E.  The extension will come at the expense of a number of homeless who sleep under the arcade that will be filled in to extend the store fronts to the sidewalk.

During last week’s presentation before the ANC’s Planning and Zoning Committee, Porter Page, Senior Vice President of Commercial Property Management for Bernstein Management said that the project was proposed “to address the homeless issue.”  She cited the number of homeless people sleeping  under the arcade which makes rental of two of the several vacant offices difficult.  The US Postal Service occupies one of the commercial spaces and will be enlarged by the construction.   Commissioner Dan Ridge pointed out that the project was not “addressing the homeless issue, but moving it.”

Page said the company had tried using video cameras to monitor the space but “the problem is way bigger that that”.

Rui A. Ponte, with the Penney Design Group, said that the timeline envisioned is to have everything in place to begin a phased construction in January, with work being complete on one half of the arcade before beginning work on the other half.

The Committee recommended that the full ANC support the historic preservation design concept by a vote of 7 – 1.   The full ANC voted to support the project without objection Tuesday night.

There are several reasons for homelessness, and many have mental illness or substance abuse at its root.  A Washington Post article by Peter Jamison from May 10, 2017, numbered the city’s homeless at 7,473.  The article reported that Kate Coventry, a senior policy analyst at the DC Fiscal Policy Institute, said that the problem driving many families into homelessness is a lack of affordable housing.  See here:  http://wapo.st/2f7fh3N

Push to Continue Closure of Eastern Market 7^th Street Gains Momentum

by Larry Janezich

The Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee (EMCAC) seems poised to recommend to the city that both the 200 and 300 blocks of 7th Street remain closed to weekend car traffic.  Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen has already gone on record in support of the closure.  Eastern Market Main Street – the 7^th Street business organization – sent a letter to the city earlier this summer endorsing the closure.  And an analysis of the 55 emails sent to EMCAC regarding the status of the 300 block of 7th Street, SE, received between August 9 and September 6, reveals considerable neighborhood support for continued closure of the block to vehicular traffic on weekends.  Of the 55 emails received during the four week period, 49 supported keeping the street closed, while 6 urged reopening the block to traffic.

EMCAC – charged by statute to review and comment on retailing on public property in and around Eastern Market – will vote on Tuesday, September 19, at its September meeting, on a carefully crafted recommendation to continue the street closure with additional language that attempts to address the concerns of the various stakeholders.   (The meeting will be at 7:00pm, in the North Hall of Eastern Market.)

EMCAC’s support for the closure is contingent on the Eastern Market Manager establishing a validated parking location and possibly establishing a delivery service for South Hall merchants to alleviate issues arising out of lack of customer parking.  The most vocal opponents of continued closure of both the 200 and 300 blocks have been the South Hall food merchants, largely based on their perception that the lack of parking is responsible for the decline in the food business in the South Hall.

One way the lack of parking could be addressed is by Eastern Market subsidizing validated parking for a number of spaces in the Colonial Parking lot right across C Street from the Market ($8 a day on Saturday and Sunday).  There are also 193 paid public parking spaces in the Hine Project, 50 of which will be reserved for vendor’s vehicles at 50% of the daily rate (yet to be established).  That would leave 143 spaces for paid public parking.

Ongoing city-sponsored appraisals of retail spaces in and around Eastern Market to satisfy the statutory requirement that rents will be at or near market value would seem to guarantee an increase in market revenue, necessary not only for market maintenance, but also to assist in marketing and promotion to keep the Market competitive (read Whole Foods, Union Market, Trader Joe’s).  The likely increase in rent for the South Hall merchants and outside vendors would be more palatable if part of the increase is used for a parking subsidy.

The other major consideration in the event of continued closure is what will happen to the 300 block of 7th after the weekend flea markets move to the newly reopened (but private) C Street between the north and south buildings of the Hine project?  The move is currently expected in mid-October.

EMCAC Chair Donna Scheeder says, “If the street remains closed, it cannot possibly be under the same conditions as it now,” citing safety, economics, unified market management, and competition between vendors and the brick and mortar retail outlets on the 300 block.

The EMCAC proposal addresses this concern by recommending that any usage of the 300 block not be determined until there is a stakeholders’ meeting from a broad array of community organizations, including the ANC6B, DDOT, DGS, Stanton-Eastbanc, Eastern Market Main Street, Market Row Merchants, and that there be no request for bids regarding usage of the 300 block until a strategy is developed for best use and value to the market and the community – possibly by an organization such as the Project for Public Space.  Coupled with that, is a likely stipulation that any temporary usage of 7th Street between the moving of the flea market to C Street in mid to late October and the enactment of any recommendation arising out of a study, will require joint approval of EMCAC and the Eastern Market Manager.

It appears that Eastern Market and DGS anticipates keeping the 300 block closed through the middle of next summer, and according to some sources, a permit for closure has been issued and payment to the city for lost parking revenue for the 200 and 300 blocks has already been made, or is in the works.

ANC6B will consider a recommendation to close the street expected to be proposed by Commissioner Diane Hoskins at its regular monthly meeting Tuesday, September 12, at 7:00pm in Hill Center.  The matter is scheduled to come up near the end of the meeting and is not likely to be voted on that night.

The Week Ahead…

by Larry Janezich

Monday, September 11

1. ANC6D meets at 7:00pm, 1100 4^th Street, SW, 2^nd

Among items on the draft agenda:

Public Safety Report- First District MPD (PSA 105 & PSA 106) Lt. Robinson, Lt. Black.

100 K Street, SE – Zoning Application for Special Exception from GH Group.

L’Enfant Plaza/International Spy Museum – Public Space Application for Street Planter Boxes.

Chipotle Mexican Grill – Public Space Application for Sidewalk Café.

RASA, 1242 1st St, SE – new restaurant liquor license.

ROTI, 1251 1st St, SE: new liquor license.

Potomac Distilling, 1130 Maine Avenue, SW: new CT distillery license.

Chloe, 1331 4th Street, SE: new restaurant liquor license.

Potomac Riverboat, Alexandria, VA: DX Marine Vessels – new restaurant liquor license.

Homewood Suites, 50 M Street,SE:  modification to restaurant liquor license.

Anchor, 709 Wharf St, SW: new Class B food market w/marine supplies + tastings .

1215 Carrollsburg Place, SW – Zoning application for Special Exception/Variance.

1550 First Street, SW – Zoning Application for Design Review.

1900 Half Street, SW – Zoning Application for Design Review, Modification of Significance.

1000 South Capitol Street, SE – Zoning Application for Special Exception/Variance.

25 M Street, SE – Zoning Application for Modification of Consequence.

2. ANC6C Alcoholic Beverage Licensing Committee meets at 7:00pm, at Kaiser Permanente, 700 2nd Street, NE.

Agenda:

600 H Street, NE, new restaurant license application from VSTDC,LLC d/b/a V Street.

Tuesday, September 12

ANC6B meets at 7:00pm, at Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

Among items on the agenda:

Presentations:  Events DC presentation on updating the ANC regarding the development of RFK Stadium site.

Letter to DDOT re: WGL’s work on Browns Court, SE, in the Capitol Hill Historic District.

602 E Street, SE: Historic Preservation Application to permit construction of new building at rear of lot.

622 C St., SE:  Historic Preservation Application re Concept/construct new rear two-story addition.

600 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE:  Historic Preservation Application re concept/installation of storefronts.

Letter to DDOT in support of the Pennsylvania Ave. Streetlight Upgrade Project.

SkillZone, 709 8th Street, SE:  New Retailer’s Class “D” Tavern License, Private Club w/ 70 seats, Total Occupancy of 174 person, “Members-Only” Social events for parents; Serve Beer & Wine Hours sought: Mon-Thur. 9 am – 6 pm; Fri & Sat. 9 am – 7:30 pm; Sun. 9 am – 7 pm No other endorsements.

Hanks on the Hill t/a Hanks Oyster Bar, 633 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Protest Withdraw.

220 2nd St., SE:  Zoning Adjustment re Lot Area Variance to add 13th apartment rental unit in basement of existing apartment house.

26 A Street, SE:  Historic Preservation Application re concept/new three-story side & rear additions.

226 Kentucky Ave., SE:  Historic Preservation Application re updated plans for 3rd Story addition to existing flat.

418-420 7th St., SE:  Historic Preservation Application re updated plans for proposed condo conversion.

400 D St., SE:  Historic Preservation application re updated plans to construct 5 new townhouses.

523 8th Street, SE (Ambar):  Historic Preservation Application for 3rd Story rooftop deck w/ Retractable Roof & Rear Addition.

Marine Barracks Washington Multiple Projects Programmatic Agreement.

Report out on follow up action from ANC 6B’s Special Call Meeting on the continued closure of 7th Street, SE.

Wednesday, September 13

POSTPONED UNTIL TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19.  ANC 6C meets at 7:00pm at the Heritage Foundation, 214 Massachusetts Avenue, NE.

Thursday, September 14

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

1300 H St, NE:  Construction update – Brendan Whitsitt, Insight Property Group.

RFK Campus short-term redevelopment update – Events DC.

U.S. Attorney’s Office update – Doug Klein, Community Prosecutor.

Monument Academy – Emily Bloomfield.

Nomad Hookah Bar – Suggested Motion:  The ANC protest the request by Nomad Hookah Bar (1200 H Street, NE) for expanded sidewalk cafe hours unless the ABL Committee determines at its September 2017 meeting that a protest is not needed.  The reasons for protest may include non-compliance with existing Settlement Agreement, and impact to peace, order, and quiet.

1362 East Capitol Street  – Recommendation: ANC6A send a letter of support to BZA for a special exception from the rear yard requirements to construct a two-story rear addition to an existing one-family dwelling at 1362 East Capitol Street.

321 Twelfth (12th) Street, NE – Recommendation: ANC6A send a letter of support to BZA for a special exception from the lot occupancy requirements to construct a two-story rear addition at on condition that best efforts be made to get letters from support from the tenants at 1203 D Street NE, 1201 D Street, NE, and providing there is no light or air impact on the house behind the property at 321 Twelfth (12th) Street, NE.

237 Warren Street, NE –  Recommendation: ANC6A send a letter of support to BZA for a special exception from the rear yard requirement and the upper floor addition requirements to construct a rear and third-story addition at 237 Warren Street, NE, on condition that the applicants make best efforts to get letters of support from neighbors at 239, 232, 230, 234, 236 and 238 Warren Street, NE, and 228 Fourteenth (14th) Street, NE.

225 Tennessee Avenue, NE – Recommendation: ANC6A send a letter of support to BZA for a special exception from the rear yard requirements to construct a three-story rear addition at 225 Tennessee Avenue, NE on condition that the applicants make best efforts to get a letter of support from the neighbor at 223 Tennessee Avenue, NE.