January 16, 2014 · 9:53 am

ANC6B Rejects DDOT’s Proposed Four Lane SE Boulevard

ANC6B Rejects DDOT’s Proposed Four Lane SE Boulevard

Will Launch Campaign To Engage Public Officials

by Larry Janezich

On Tuesday night, ANC6B voted unanimously to reject DDOT’s proposed four lane Southeast Boulevard between Barney Circle and 11th Street.  The proposal envisioned a broad thoroughfare with parking lots and no connections to the existing street grid other than at its extreme ends.  The Commission fears the proposed four lane Boulevard “would become a virtual freeway, creating an unsafe place for pedestrians and bicyclists.”

The ANC’s action – in the form of a letter to DDOT and other public officials – essentially asks DDOT to go back to the drawing board.  The Commission indicated tentative support for an alternative two way street fully connected to the surrounding traffic grid with a pedestrian and bicycle bridge to help open up surrounding land for recreational and economic uses. The Commission recommended a cautious approach to the re-design of Barney Circle, suggesting that the design take into consideration the effects of any direct road connection to 11th Street as well as the directing of traffic to arterial streets in a way that protects residential streets from cut through traffic.

The letter was highly critical of any inclusion of a multi-modal parking facility for tour buses and stated the ANC’s belief that the DDOT study suffered from a lack of neighborhood planning and the involvement of other government agencies.

The letter requests a meeting with DDOT to further discuss the proposal.  Commissioner Ivan Frishberg articulated the concern of the full ANC, saying “If DDOT continues to prove itself a sporadic public-engager at best, we need to involve other public figures.”  To that end, the Commission copied the Mayor and City Council members, as well as other planning and development officials.  It was the consensus of the Commission to seek meetings with some of these officials to further press their case.

See related postings here:    http://bit.ly/1b5SMgU,  http://bit.ly/1d9U8ae

1 Comment

Filed under Uncategorized

January 13, 2014 · 3:53 pm

Burst Water Pipes Begin the Demolition of Hine – Photos

Water Damage from Leaks on Upper Floor, East Side of Hine

Water Damage from Leaks on Upper Floor, East Side of Hine

Water Collects on the North Side of Hine's East Building

Water Collects on the North Side of Hine’s East Building

Sheets of Water Flow from the West Side of the East Hine Building

Sheets of Water Flow from the West Side of the East Hine Building

Wet Bricks on the 7th Street Side of Hine's West Building Show Water Saturation from Inside the Building

Wet Bricks on the 7th Street Side of Hine’s West Building Show Water Saturation from Inside the Building

DC Water Crew Confirms that a Valve They Thought Was the Hine Water Supply Is Shut

DC Water Crew Confirms that a Valve They Thought Was the Hine Water Supply Is Shut

DC Water Crew Uses Listening Device to Determine If a Second Valve Which Might Be a Hine Water Supply Is Shut

DC Water Crew Uses Listening Device to Determine If a Second Valve Which Might Be a Hine Water Supply Is Shut

Nature Begins Demolition of the Hine Buildings

Burst Water Pipes Cause Major Flooding and Damage

By Larry Janezich

Near record cold temperatures last week apparently began the demolition of the Hine buildings in advance of any development.  Yesterday, neighbors reported water pouring out of the building and collecting outside the building.  Today, water could still be seen dripping from the upper floors in numerous locations and running out from under the doors of both major buildings.

Matt Harris, Eastbanc’s project manager for the Hine development, told CHC that his team was still assessing the exact nature of the problem and would know more once the water to the building had been shut off.  DC Water responded to a call from Stanton/Eastbanc (SEB) yesterday and closed a valve on 7th Street, but that apparently failed to cut the supply as water continued to flow out of the building.

Called back today by Harris, a DC Water crew confirmed that yesterday’s valve had been shut and told CHC that their maps showed the valve as the only water supply for the building.  The crew closed another valve leading from the water main on 7th Street, but as of mid-afternoon today DC Water was unable to say whether they had solved the problem.

Harris said that SEB had requested DC Water to turn off supply to the buildings after SEB took control of the site in July, but either they had failed to do so or their efforts had been incomplete – a distinct possibility, given the reported difficulty the crew today had in determining where the water supply was coming from.

Harris said that his team would have to pump water out of the basement and dry the building out with fans.  Development of mold in the building resulting from the water leak would complicate the developer’s demolition once it begins.  As of now, Harris said they would proceed step by step to determine what is necessary.

2 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

January 12, 2014 · 7:42 pm

The Week Ahead….

The Week Ahead….

by Larry Janezich

Tuesday, January 14

ANC6B meets at 7:00pm at Hill Center for its regular monthly meeting.

Among items on the agenda:

Election of Officers

Planning and Zoning Committee opposition to request for construction at rear of OXXO Cleaners at 405 8th Street, SE.  (See last two graphs of this posting http://bit.ly/1lBc5q5)

Request for variance to permit operation of coffee shop/café at 1247 E Street, SE (see http://bit.ly/1ghNoLq)

Request to approve historical preservation application for a second story on Barracks Row’s Tandoor Grill at 419 8th Street.  See previous posting http://bit.ly/1lBc5q5

Hine Community Advisory Committee Update

Letter to District Department of Transportation (DDOT) regarding Barney Circle/SE Boulevard Study

Wednesday, January 15

ANC6A Economic Development & Zoning Committee meets at 7:00pm at Sherwood Recreation Center – 640 10th Street, NE.

Among items on the agenda:

Variance regarding the planned construction of a sports bar at 1362 H Street, NE

Variance to allow renovation and conversion of the former Way of the Cross Church of Christ at 819 D Street, NE, into 30 residential units.  The former church is directly across the street from the former Edmonds School which is currently undergoing transformation to condos.  (See Urban Turf posting here:  http://bit.ly/1iDZ0tT

Variance for construction of a new 8 unit apartment building at 1717 E Street, NE.

Thursday, January 16

PSA 108 meets at 7:00pm at Liberty Baptist Church, 527 Kentucky Avenue, SE, featuring MPD Lt. Michael Thornton.

Comments Off on The Week Ahead….

Filed under Uncategorized

January 12, 2014 · 6:28 pm

DC General Counsel Affirms Order to DMPED to Release Hine Documents in Response to FOIA

 

DC General Counsel Affirms Order to DMPED to Release Hine Documents in Response to FOIA

by Larry Janezich

The Office of the General Counsel to the Mayor (OGC) has refused a request from the Deputy Mayor for Economic and Planning (DMPED) to reconsider the order to release documents related to the Hine development requested under FOIA.  The decision lets the order issued to DMPED on November 14, 2013, stand.  (For the story on the initial order, see: http://bit.ly/1j1Mtmz)

The FOIA request was filed by attorney Oliver Hall, counsel to the Hine Coalition, a group of Capitol Hill residents who have appealed the Zoning Commission’s approval of the Hine project  to the DC Court of Appeals.

After DMPED failed to respond to the FOIA, Hall filed an appeal directly to the Mayor’s office protesting DMPED’s denial of his request for documents related to the Hine project.  In its most recent decision – delivered in a December 31, 2013 email from Deputy General Counsel Donald S. Kaufman to DMPED’s Ayesha Abbasi – the OGC acknowledged that it had previously expressed willingness to entertain reconsideration, but it had directed DMPED to “detail the specific reason why a particular record is exempt from disclosure.”  In this most recent email, Kaufman wrote that DMPED did not “set forth particular records as to which would be exempt under the exemption.”

Initially, DMPED offered the Office of General Counsel some 378 emails which had been withheld from disclosure.  OGC reviewed all of the emails and found the vast majority of them did not contain proprietary information that would result in substantial harm to the developer.  OGC did make four exceptions to the order to disclose documents:  emails containing bank wiring instructions, legal arguments analyzing alternative legal structures for the condominium portion of the Hine project, insurance policy numbers, and emails to other DC government agencies.

A copy of the email from the OGC can be found in the Library on CHC.

1 Comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as ,

January 8, 2014 · 3:32 pm

ANC Committee Advances New Coffee Shop/Café Planned for Hill East Location

1247 E Street, SE, viewed from Peter Bug Shoe Repair Academy

1247 E Street, SE, viewed from Peter Bug Shoe Repair Academy

ANC Committee Advances New Coffee Shop/Café Planned for Hill East Location

by Larry Janezich

ANC6B’s Planning and Zoning Committee has given conditional approval to a plan to develop a new coffee/shop café at 1247 E Street, SE, diagonally across the corner from Peter Bug Shoe Repair academy.  Hatem Hatem, who owns the building, envisions a public space where the community can meet.  He will renovate the first floor of the building and provide coffee and other beverages, pastries, breakfast, lunch, and light dinners.  He told the committee that he will also sell “farmhouse products,” noting that during summer a weekly farmer’s market sets up across the street.

Hatem does not yet have an operator for the shop but hopes to have one in the next few months and open, perhaps, by late summer.  He anticipates a 9:00am through 8:00pm operation but is trying to work out an agreement with neighbors to remain open until 9:00pm during the summer.  The ANC committee’s approval was conditional upon Hatem working out an agreement regarding summer hours before next Tuesday’s full ANC6B meeting.

Hatem will also remodel and continue to operate the four unit apartment complex on the building’s second floor.  The building, vacant since the end of September, was established as a commercial operation in 1898 and has gone through many iterations, including grocery store, candy store, headquarters for a rugby club, and offices for a world peace organization.

Hatem is asking ANC committee to support a variance from current use provisions to allow the coffee shop/café.  The variance was strongly supported by commissioner Nichole Opkins, who cited the popularity of the nearby Cupcake Café and the Pretzel Bakery on 15th Street, SE.

CHC reached out to Peter Bug who said he has been across the street for 37 years and fully supports the new venture, noting “it will be beautiful to have something on that corner besides what’s there now.  A coffee shop would probably be ideal for folks in the community.”  He said that the only problem he foresees is parking, noting Frager’s temporary store a half block down E Street as well as the school football leagues that practice and play on the field behind Watkins School across the street.  In the past, some residents of the 1200 block of E Street have expressed concerns about the activities which develop around the games.  Parents of the football players who drive their children to the field remain to watch them play and take them home – and in some cases host tailgate parties and even barbeques on the streets around the field.  Hateem told the Committee last night that he did not foresee any impact on parking.

4 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as ,

January 8, 2014 · 2:01 pm

Pot Belly Sandwich Shop Seeks Barracks Row Location

Tandoor Grill Wants to Move to a New Second Story and Lease First Floor to Potbelly

Tandoor Grill Wants to Move to a New Second Story and Lease First Floor to Potbelly

Pot Belly Sandwich Shop Seeks Barracks Row Location

by Larry Janezich

A plan for opening a Pot Belly Sandwich Shop on Barracks Row was revealed at last night’s ANC6B Planning and Zoning Committee meeting.

Consideration of two cases by the Committee, chaired by Commissioner Francis Campbell, revealed Pot Belly’s interest in expanding onto Barracks Row.  The chain restaurant serves sandwiches, salads, soups, chili, shakes, malts, smoothies and baked goods, and has several outlets in Northwest and one near the Navy Yard in SE.  Since its founding in 1997, the chain has spread to more than 280 locations.

One of the cases which touched upon Pot Belly’s interest was that of the Capitol Hill Tandoor and Grill at 419 8th Street, which is seeking ANC6B’s approval for a Historic Preservation (HP) application to permit a second story addition to the restaurant.  Tariq Hussein, owner of both the building and the restaurant, presented the plan in terms of expansion of the Indian-Pakistani restaurant.  Commissioner Ivan Frishberg – who admitted to being a frequent patron of the restaurant – expressed reservations, saying he suspected that the addition anticipated another purpose and expressed concern that it might be for a fast food restaurant.

Barracks Row currently has a ban on fast food venues – any additional establishment would require an exemption.  Hussein said that although he had had discussions with Pot Belly as a potential first floor tenant, no agreement had been reached.  Given the city’s tendency to give the benefit of the doubt to revenue-producing developments at the expense of the nearby community, ANC6B seems justified in its concern that the city will turn a deaf ear to their concerns.

As of now, the only issue before the ANC is whether or not the proposed design for the addition is compatible with the adjacent buildings and the architectural environment.  Commissioner Kirsten Oldenburg read notes from the CHRS Historic Preservation (HP) Committee which met on Monday night to consider Hussein’s Historic Preservation Application.  The HP Committee – which under CHRS bylaws speaks for the CHRS on historic preservation matters – found that the original structure is too new to be a contributing structure to the Capitol Hill Historic District and expressed the wish that the architect refine the design and be more adventurous and creative in planning the addition.  This finding actually gives the architect considerable flexibility in designing the second story – it also means that there are few historic preservation roadblocks which can be raised to prevent it.  The ANC’s Planning and Zoning Committee voted to take no position on the HP application, pending receipt of more detailed drawings from Hussein before next Tuesday’s full ANC6B meeting.

Pot Belly’s interest in Barracks Row came to light as well in an earlier case heard by the ANC last night.  Maurice Kreindler – who owns several buildings in the 400 block of 8th Street – is seeking to build an enclosure at the rear of OXXO Dry Cleaners – ostensibly for storage.  Since OXXO’s lease is up in two years, building out the rear of the building could be a way to make it more interesting to potential tenants.  When neighbors expressed concerns that a new tenant might be yet another restaurant, Alan Kinney, representing Kreindler, said a new tenant would likely be retail and noted that Pot Belly Sandwich Shop had looked at the location for a possible establishment, but found it lacked the necessary space.  The ANC Committee told Kinney that they could not support the request for a variance to allow the construction because the property lacked the unique circumstances under which a variance can be granted.

Also last night, several residential and business neighbors were in attendance to cite trash and cleanliness problems associated with the area where Kreindler seeks the expansion, voicing fears that new construction would push the rat problems associated with the area onto their properties.  Commissioners pointed out that these were two separate issues, and while the rat problem was ubiquitous and needed to be addressed, it had to be considered separately from the question of granting a variance.  To the extent that the two issues are related, some commissioners told Kinney that they might try to find a way to support the variance if a proposed structure could be used to solve the neighbor’s concerns regarding the rodent problem.

7 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , ,

January 5, 2014 · 10:30 pm

The Week Ahead…..

The Week Ahead…..

by Larry Janezich

Tuesday, January 7

ANC6B Planning and Zoning Committee meets at 7:00pm at St. Coletta’s School.

Among items on the agenda:

Variances from rear yard requirements for off-street parking to allow construction of a rear addition to existing commercial building 405 8th Street, SE.

Variance from use provisions to operate coffee shop/café in first floor space within existing apartment 1247 E Street, SE.

Wednesday, January 8

ANC6B Transportation Committee meets at 6:30pm at Hill Center. 

On the agenda:

Recommendations on letter to District Department of Transportation (DDOT) regarding Barney Circle/SE Boulevard Study.

Discussion of DDOT plans to reopen 9th Street westbound exit from I-695.

Thursday, January 9

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

On the agenda:

Consideration of Alcoholic Beverage Control Board (ABC Board) requested modifications to Settlement Agreements for:

Pour House, 319 Pennsylvania Avenue SE

18th Amendment, 613 Pennsylvania Avenue SE

Trusty’s Bar, 1420 Pennsylvania Avenue SE

Bachelor’s Mill/Back Door Pub, 1104 8th Street SE

Thursday, January 9

ANC6A meets at 7:00pm at Miner Elementary School, 601 15th Street, NE.

Among items on the agenda:

The Commission will consider the nomination and election of its officers and members of the permanent Committees for 2014.

In addition the commission will consider a recommendation that the ANC not change its current policy regarding the closing times for public space patios and rooftop decks.

The ANC will also consider a recommendation that the ANC formally protest the liquor license application for Sin Bin Sports Bar & Restaurant at 1336 H Street, NE, unless a Settlement

Agreement is agreed upon and a recommendation that the ANC write a letter to BZA in support a requested variance from the floor-to-area ratio (FAR) requirements in connection with planned construction of a sports bar at 1362 H Street, NE.

Comments Off on The Week Ahead…..

Filed under Uncategorized

December 23, 2013 · 2:57 pm

Eastern Market Metro Park Redesign Concepts Now Online

Eastern Market Metro Park Redesign Concepts Now Online

by Larry Janezich

Barracks Row Main Street announced today that the website presenting the architectural concepts for the redesign of Eastern Market Metro Park is up and running after a week’s delay.

Visitors will have the opportunity to review the plans, make comments on features they like, and participate in an 11 question Transportation Survey.

Public comments will be used by the design team to give direction to a final plan for the park which will be revealed to the public sometime next spring.  The public comment period will last until mid-January.

The website can be found here:  www.easternmarketmetropark.org.

Comments Off on Eastern Market Metro Park Redesign Concepts Now Online

Filed under Uncategorized

December 15, 2013 · 10:06 pm

The Week Ahead…. (Fusion Grill to Reopen Soon above Medium Rare)

The Week Ahead….

Fusion to re-open as a Carry Out – same address – above Medium Rare (see photo caption)

by Larry Janezich

The Friends of Southeast Library held their annual Christmas dinner at Lavagna Restaurant on Barracks Row Sunday night. Stephen Cheung who runs Lavagna, announced tonight that Fusion Grill will re-open above Medium Rare (515 8th Street, SE) soon and focus entirely on Asian take-out.

The Friends of Southeast Library held their annual Christmas dinner at Lavagna Restaurant on Barracks Row Sunday night.  Stephen Cheung who runs Lavagna, announced that Fusion Grill will re-open above Medium Rare (515 8th Street, SE) soon and focus entirely on Asian take-out.

Monday, December 16

ANC 6B meets at 7:00pm in Hill Center for its regular December meeting (originally scheduled for last Tuesday)

Among items on the agenda:

Letter to DDOT on alley behind 500 Block of 8th Street, SE

Liquor license renewals for:

Cava Restaurant and Pennsylvania Avenue Market

Discussion of Barney Circle/SE Boulevard alternatives

Sidewalk repair list

Revisions to Public Safety Report

Updated vacant & blighted properties list

Retention of Hine Site for Temporary Use by Frager’s Garden Store

Monday, December 16

ANC 6A Transportation & Public Space Committee Meets at 7:00pm in Sherwood Recreation Center

Among items on the agenda:

DDOT officials to update community and committee, and answer questions, regarding pending transportation projects that directly impact ANC 6A, including the C Street redesign, the 17th/19th Streets redesign, the Maryland Avenue redesign and the G & I Streets bicycle lanes/cycle track

Monday, December 16

ANC6B05 Single Member District meeting from 6:30pm until 8:00pm at the Corner Store.

Agenda:

6:30 – 7:00pm – PEPCO reps on recent outages and grid reliability improvements

7:00 – 7:30pm – Update on neighborhood projects Hine, Metro Plaza, SE Boulevard, Public Safety, 2014 priorities

7:30 – 8:00pm – Q & A

Tuesday, December 17

ANC6A Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee meets at 7:00pm at Maury Elementary School (1250 Constitution Ave. NE) – note different location

Among items on the agenda:

Update on status of XII and Ben’s Chili Bowl protest hearings.

Discussion of new license application for Sin Bin Sports Bar & Restaurant at 1336 H Street NE

Community discussion regarding public space patio and rooftop deck hours in ANC 6A.

The majority of this meeting will be devoted to discussing the ANC’s stance on closing hours for public space patios and rooftop decks of restaurants and bars in ANC 6A.  The ANC currently asks establishments to agree to close their public space patios and rooftop decks at 11pm on weeknights and 12am on weekends.  There have been many requests for the ANC to revisit this policy, so the ABL Committee will take it up at this meeting with the goal of making a recommendation to the ANC.

Wednesday, December 18

ANC6B Executive Committee meets at 6:30pm in Hill Center to set the agenda for the January meeting of ANC6B.

Wednesday, December 18

ANC6B Outreach and Community Services Task Force meets at 7:00pm in Hill Center

Wednesday, December 18

ANC6A Economic Development & Zoning Committee meets at 7:00pm, in Sherwood Recreation Center, 640 10th Street, NE

Among items on the agenda:

Trent Smith of Insight Property Group will give a brief presentation on the current status of the Murry’s Redevelopment project (616 H Street, N.E.)

Developer will give an informational presentation and solicit Committee feedback regarding planned redevelopment of existing church for residential use at 819 D Street, NE

Variance to permit construction of a new 8 unit apartment house at 1717 E Street, NE

Variance to permit construction of a new sports bar at 1362 H Street, NE

Saturday, Dec 21

The Official Fridge Holiday Arty Party, 7pm-12midnight (Open to the public)

Comments Off on The Week Ahead…. (Fusion Grill to Reopen Soon above Medium Rare)

Filed under Uncategorized

December 12, 2013 · 4:30 pm

Lil Pub To Close on January 6 – Fashion Boutique Opens Near Eastern Market

Lil Pub To Close on January 6 – Fashion Boutique Opens Near Eastern Market

Popville Reports that the Lil Pub has been sold to CVS and will close January 6.  Last year, CHC reported that the sale was pending and subsequently fell through.

http://www.popville.com/2013/12/lil-pub-closing-january-6th-on-capitol-hill/

Popville also reports the opening of a new fashion boutique in the space formerly occupied by The Village Art Gallery, around the corner from City Port Java which is across from Eastern Market.

http://www.popville.com/2013/12/new-boutique-opens-near-eastern-market-in-former-the-village-art-gallery-space/

 

 

 

1 Comment

Filed under Uncategorized