CAPITOL HILL CORNER

The Week Ahead…..

by Larry Janezich

It’s a quiet week ahead as we slide into the dog days of August when there will be no meetings of the community organizations regularly covered by Capitol Hill Corner and likely very little news as newsmakers leave the city. 

The National Capital Planning Commission and the DC Office of Planning has announced a public meeting for next week on the work underway for the joint Height Master Plan for Washington, DC.  For the benefit of those in the community following that issue:

Wednesday, July 24

The Planning Commission meets from 10am – noon at the Commission’s offices, 401 9^th Street, NW, Suite 500N.  The results of the visual modeling study and economic feasibility analysis will be presented.  There will be no public testimony at this meeting.

Pizza Bolis Ordered To Close by DC Department of Health

DC Department of Health Shuts Down Barracks Row’s Pizza Bolis

by Larry Janezich

On Monday, neighbors complained about ongoing rat, garbage and noise issues at Barracks Row’s Pizza Bolis at 417 8^th Street, SE.  Today, the carryout was closed by order of the DC Department of Health after an inspection revealed several critical and non-critical violations resulting in a summary order to cease and desist all operations immediately.  A compliance inspection will be conducted after corrections are made and an inspection report will be posted within five days for viewing.  The complaint went to Food Safety and Hygiene Inspection Services, DC Department of Health; ANC6B commissioners; and the Executive Director of Barracks Row/Main Street. 

The complaint specified “uncontained garbage and plastic food bins” behind Pizza Bolis and cited the “many, many years” of ongoing problems with rats and noise pollution from the carryout.  An inspection in January of 2013 following neighbor complaints found numerous violations but a follow-up inspection indicated the problems had been corrected. 

However, as of Monday, the neighbors said, Bolis was storing garbage in open and lidless dumpsters behind the restaurant, which “are creating real health issues, particularly in light of the current heat wave.”  Neighbors also point to the pizza place as the source of a prevalent rat problem evidenced by burrows in the back of neighboring businesses.  In contrast to Pizza Bolis, the neighbors applauded Chipotle, saying “that the garbage disposal procedures (there) are currently very good.”

First Place. Caroline Checking on the Quiches. Artist: Christina Batipps

Second Place. Modern World 14. Artist: Glen Kessler

Third Place. Wintry Mix. Artist: Joe Beddall

The Week Ahead …. And Winners, Hill Center Art Regional Juried Show

by Larry Janezich

The first, second, and third place prize winners in the Hill Center Galleries Regional Juried Art Exhibition are pictured above.   The exhibit was juried by Jack Rasmussen, Director and Curator of the American University Museum at the Kazten Arts Center.

The Week Ahead…….

Monday, July 15

ANC6A Transportation & Public Space Committee meets at 7:00pm in Sherwood Recreation Center, 10^th and G Streets, NE

Tuesday, July 16

ANC6A Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee meets at 7:00pm in Sherwood Recreation Center, 10^th and G, NE

Wednesday, July 17

ANC6B Outreach & Constituent Services Task Force meets at 7:00pm in Hill Center.

Wednesday, July 17

ANC6A Economic Development and Zoning Committee meets at 7:00pm in Sherwood Recreation Center, 10^th and G Street, NE

ANC6B Special Call meeting at 8:00pm in Hill Center.

Agenda:

Office of Planning/Historic Preservation Office Proposed Prevention of Demolition by Neglect Regulations

ANC6B’s Quarterly Financial Report

Thursday, July 18

PSA 108 meets at 6:30pm at First Baptist Church, 527 Kentucky Avenue, SE

Tommy Wells Hosts Second Community Meeting on Saturday Morning at Hill Center

Working Groups Discussed Possible Features for the New Design Concept

Wells Pointed to the “”Guerrilla Playground” which has emerged in the Park Near 9th and D
as an Example of a Needed Feature in a New Design

Eastern Market Metro Plaza

Aerial View of Six Parts of the Metro Plaza and Park Redesign Effort

Tommy Wells Kicks Off $500,000 Planning Effort to Redesign Market Metro Plaza

by Larry Janezich

Last week, two public meetings were held to solicit community idea for redesign of the Eastern Market Metro Plaza and parks.  Barracks Row Main Street has $500,000 in congressionally appropriated funds for planning the redesign of the Plaza which must be spent by the end of the fiscal year – September 30.  Esocoff & Associates Architects (Hine Development architect Amy Weinstein’s firm) has been given the contract to provide a design concept following an opportunity for community input.  The planning funds also cover contracts with Oehme van Sweden Landscape Architects, transportation engineering planners, and Minerva Marketing Public Relations. David Perry, head of Barracks Row/Main Street, said an additional $1 million in congressionally approved funds are available to begin implementing whatever plan is decided upon.  These funds are not subject to termination at the end of September but will remain available for an indeterminate period.    

Wells told the two meetings – one last Monday night attended by about 50 people and one on Saturday morning attended by some 25 people, that there is no current plan for the new design, but there are some guiding principles about what should be done and some limitations on what can be done.  The main guiding principle, Wells said, is that the Plaza and associated parks around it should be “pretty.”   The limitations include the practical impossibility of subterranean tunnels or street levels, the presence of the Metro itself, and oversight by both the National Park Service – which controls the median on Pennsylvania Avenue – and city agencies.  Wells said that how much the community decides to do will determine how much outside money will be needed.

The process, now that the preliminary meetings have been held to request community input, will be as follows. 

As of, Saturday, July 13, 2013 and until August 6, a display and suggestion box will be placed in the North Hall of Eastern Market to solicit input from those unable to attend either public meeting this past week. 

On July 17, an interactive website will be available at www.easternmarketmetropark.org.  The website will allow the viewer to click on a specific location on an aerial map of the plaza, the adjacent parks, and the two portions of the median strips between 7^th and 9^th Streets, numbered 1 – 6 in the photo above.  Clicking on a spot will open up a comment box that will allow the viewer to leave a remark about that specific location. 

By August 10^th, according to David Perry, there will be a Taskforce Meeting to analyze the input from the public.  The Taskforce will be made up of groups of stakeholders which will include – but not be limited to – the ANC’ (representatives of ANC6B and ANC6A attended the public meetings), the residents and businesses facing the Plaza and parks, Eastern Market Row (7^th Street) businesses, Celebrate Capitol Hill, Capitol Hill BID, CHRS, Barracks Row/Main Street, Capitol Hill Community Foundation, Capitol Hill Garden Club, National Capitol Church, and Friends of Southeast Library.  One glaring omission from the list was Community Connections, which fronts on the triangle park across from Dunkin’ Donuts. 

Initially, Wells said, “my admonition to (the organizers) is to don’t make the Taskforce Meeting a Town Hall meeting.”  Asked later if there was a way to open up the Taskforce deliberations to the public and press without making it a Town Hall meeting, Wells replied that “as Councilmember, I would ask that the deliberations be open” and beyond that, he said, it might mean that practically it would be open to “anyone communicating to the public by some device.”  It was the understanding of those present that this meant members of the accredited press as well as unaccredited bloggers. 

The Task Force report should be available two weeks after the Task Force concludes its meeting(s).  The recommendations of the Taskforce will be submitted to Amy Weinstein and Oehme Van Sweden and the transportation engineers who will produce a design concept and mock up in about two months – late October – which will then be presented to a large community meeting.

Community feedback will again be sought, and that information will be used to refine the plan until a final concept can be created upon which Requests for Proposals (RFPs) can be based.  Wells said that how quickly the RFP stage can be reached depends on how quickly money becomes available. 

Some proposed features for the design concept which emerged from the working groups at the two meetings last week include:  shade, a water feature, better maintenance, a playground, attractive seating and lighting, making Southeast Library a feature of the design, bike parking, public art, a community gathering space, chess tables, an environment that will attract people, prevention of jay walking across the median, a mosaic, an information center, a gazebo, a sustainable rain garden, preserving the rights of marginalized citizens to use public space, a concert space, attractive trash cans, a fence, underground irrigation, a history kiosk, planters, removal of publication vending machines and bike coffins, unimpeded access to Metro (relocating the bus stop next to Metro), and directional signage. 

ANC6A Weighs In To Support Miner Principal Fired Last Month

by Larry Janezich

ANC6A has joined the more than 325 people who signed a petition calling for the reinstatement of former Miner Principal Taliaferro–Bunch who was let go on June 28, 2013.  More than 500 have written letters in support of the principal which have been submitted to the city government.

School officials do not comment on personnel matters, but some residents suspect the firing came about after Taliaferro-Bunch strongly resisted the entry of school officials who were attempting to remove the school “zoo” – a collection of small animals kept at the school. 

School officials were reported to have said at the time that the zoo was against school policy. 

Miner Elementary is at 601 15^th Street, NE.  The school and the former principal both have wide support in the community and among the parents of students.  Taliaferro-Bunch has been praised for her ability to include the community in the education efforts at the school and for emphasizing the arts in the education program. 

ANC6A sent DC Schools Chancellor Henderson a letter requesting reinstatement of Taliaferro-Bunch as Principal of Miner Elementary School.  In an accompanying note which stated the commission’s vigorous support of the principal, ANC6A Chair Holmes added a personal note.  “I have observed her since 2007, as Vice Chair, Commissioner, and Chair of ANC 6A. I’ve watched her interact with her students, staff, and teachers.  She is very effective, a strong leader. She originated the Men of Miner to bring strong male role models to her students.  Though it’s been a matter of contention with DCPS, I can only praise her attempt to provide learning about, and familiarity with, her small ‘zoo’.  The kids love it.”

The text of the letter from the commission follows:

Dear Chancellor Henderson,

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6A has found Principal Lavonne Taliaferro-Bunch to be extremely competent, a source of strength for our community, able to bring about increasing neighborhood involvement, a woman who adds depth to her students’ educational experience, a supporter of the ANC, a firm disciplinarian of her students, and in command of her staff.  She has encouraged the growth of the PTO, helped create positive experiences for her students with the police, and has been fiercely protective of the children in her charge as they go to and from the school. 

The School has been improving with better PTO participation and better test numbers despite the problem/opportunity of so many school lunch children and so many challenged and homeless students because of the proximity of the homeless shelter.

Her departure will be a major loss to the community and to this ANC.  You should not let her go.

The letter was authorized to be sent to you by a vote of the Commission taken last night at its regular publicly[1] announced monthly meeting.  The vote was 7-0, Commissioner Mahmud neither present for this matter nor voting.

For the Commission,

David Holmes

Chair