CAPITOL HILL CORNER

The Week Ahead…..

by Larry Janezich

January 29, Thursday

ANC 6B Executive Committee Meets 7:00pm – 8:00pm, in Hill Center. 

January 30, Wednesday

Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee meets 7:00m-9:00pm in Eastern Market’s North Hall. 

January 31, Thursday

Pennsylvania-Potomac Avenue Intersection Meeting, 6:30pm – 8:30pm at Payne Elementary School, 305 15th Street, SE.  DDOT will discuss plans to change the Penn-Potomac intersection to improve pedestrian safety.

Dc water officials are on the scene and speculate that diesel fuel was introduced into the sewer system.  Workers are now taking steps to mitigate the odor and will continue their investigation.

Firefighters Investigate on 10th Street SE

by Larry Janezich

A solvent-like smell detected in a range of home east of Eastern Market brought several fire trucks and a two-truck HazMat unit to Capitol Hill this afternoon.

Residents who discovered neighbors with the same problem decided to call the city authorities.  The homes affected range from 10th St. SE, Independence Ave, C Street SE, and South Carolina Avenue.  The bathroom was commonly reported as the site of the suspicious odor.

After investigating, firefighters could not determine the cause of the odor and referred the matter to DC Water Authorities (WASA).

Check this blog for updates.

150 People Turn Out for Community Meeting on Capitol Hill Power Plant Expansion

Community Turns Out on Capitol Power Plant Concerns – Wells Looks at Legislation to Ban Coal Burning in DC

by Larry Janezich

Almost 150 people turned out last night at United Methodist Church for Councilmember Wells’ community meeting on a permit requested by the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) to build two new cogeneration systems at the Capitol Power Plant (CPP).  The expansion could increase the level of emissions of the plant over the output of recent years, and continue the use of coal as a fuel – under limited circumstances.  Although invited to attend, the AOC declined to send a representative, leaving Steve Ours of the DC Department of Energy (DOE) to answer questions about what is currently at the facility, what the request for expansion entails, and what the community would get when it’s done. 

Wells opened the meeting, summarizing the situation to date, and announced he was “looking at legislation to ban the use of coal in DC.  We don’t want to interfere with the conversion, but this is the only place in DC which burns coal.”  Such legislation would have to survive a veto by Congress.

Steve Ours explained that the construction of the new systems would eliminate the right the CPP now has to burn as much coal as they want in the plant’s two largest boilers, and cited the increased efficiency and the lessened need to draw electricity – which is produced by coal fired plants elsewhere – from the grid. 

One of the major issues for the community is that the AOC wants to define its limits on emissions as those the plant experienced during the cold winters of 2007 – 2008, rather than the emissions in recent warmer years.  Steve Ours held out some hope that the baseline emission standard could be based on later years, further restricting the use of coal. 

Nearby residents of the plant voiced their belief that it is ridiculous that in 2013, the plant has to rely on fossil fuels.  The Sierra Club’s Jim Dougherty cited the suspicion that coal was continuing to be used for symbolic purposes under pressure from members of Congress from coal producing states.  He named specifically former Senator Byrd of West Virginia and current Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell from Kentucky.  Other environmentally active groups, including Greenpeace and the Energy Justice Network were also represented in the audience.  ANC6B Commissioner Ivan Frishberg urged the DOE to look at legal questions regarding health impacts on the neighborhood and nearby schools and urged Congressional consideration of the use of solar page.    

Wells asserted that “this neighborhood is not going to be a symbol for either side,” but stated he would not be part of a decision which will keep a coal-burning plant in DC.  “That’s why we need to address this issue with legislation,” he said.  “I don’t want to retain the capacity to burn coal, because you never know who is going to be in government who wants to make a symbolic point of burning coal.”

West Front of US Capitol, January 20, 2013, circa 3:00pm

The Week Ahead….

by Larry Janezich

Monday, January 21

Some neighborhood establishments will open early, close early, stay open late, or feature Inaugural Day specials.  A few follow:

Boxcar – Opens at 9:30am.  Brunch.

Cava – Opens at 5:00pm.  Dinner.

Chesapeake Room – Opens at 10:00am.  Brunch.

Eat DC-3 – Opens at 8:00am.  Serving the “egg”- nauguration dog.

18^th Amendment – Opens at 9:00am. Brunch.

Hanks – Opens at 11:00am.  Brunch.  Extended hours, open as late as traffic permits.

Hawk & Dove – Opens at 11:00am.  Brunch.

Matchbox – Opens at 8:00am.  Brunch.

Monmartre – Opens at 11:00am.  Lunch.  Closes at 5:00pm.

Pour House – Opens at 10:00am.

Peregrine – Open regular hours, starting at 7:00am.

Sonoma – Opens at 9:30am with extended hours.  $29 three course prix fixe menu.

Ted’s Bulletin – Open regular hours starting at 7:00am.

Tune Inn – Opens at 8:00am.  Hours extended, kitchen open until 4:00am.

Tunicliffs – Opens at 11:00am. Viewing party, brunch, beers from Chicago Goose Island Brewery.

Yes! – Opens at 5:00am.  (Five am)

Zest – Opens at 8:00am.

American Legion, Post 8, 3rd & D Street SE will be open all day starting at 7:00am to serve as a rest stop for the community going to and from the Inaugural.

7:00 am – Coffee/Donuts/Soda/Water available, and Lounge Bathrooms Open

10:00 am – Bar Open, hot dogs and chili available

10:30 am – Big Screen TV on in Event Hall

Tuesday, January 22

ANC 6B Special Call Meeting on Standing Rules.  7:00pm at Brent Elementary School, 301 North Carolina Avenue, SE.

Thursday, January 24

ANC6B Zoning Regulation Task Force meets at 6:30pm in Hill Center to continue working on recommendations to the Zoning Commission regarding proposed changes.  See: https://capitolhillcorner.org/2013/01/12/revision-of-zoning-regulations-carriage-houses-alley-lot-houses-and-english-basements/

Thursday, January 24

Developer of the proposed five story residential building at 401-403 15^th Street will answer questions from the community regarding the project at 7:00pm at Liberty Baptist Church, 527 Kentucky Avenue.  Meeting sponsored by ANC Commissioners Brian Flahaven and Nicole Opkins.

Thursday, January 24

Councilmember Tommy Wells hosts a community meeting to discuss the planned continued use of the Capitol Power Plant to periodically burn coal, despite the fact it can operate on natural gas.   6:30pm to 8:00pm, United Methodist Church – 421 Seward Square SE.   See: www.dcrecycler.blogspot.com and https://capitolhillcorner.org/2012/12/18/residents-outraged-over-on-going-use-of-coal-planned-increase-in-emissions-at-capitol-power-plant/

Residents Turn Out For Crime Meeting at Maury Elementary

Councilchair Mendelson and Councilmember Wells. Chief Lanier Looks On.

Wrapping Up The Week

Crime – Stuart Hobson – Eastern Market Legislation – CHRS’s $250,000 – Info Hub

by Larry Janezich

Crime Meeting

Almost 200 community members turned out for Wednesday night’s Public Safety Meeting hosted by Councilmember Wells (new Chair of the Public Safety and Judiciary Committee), at Maury Elementary School.  MPD was represented or accompanied by a host of officials, including Chief Lanier, Deputy Chief Grooms, 1^st District Commander Hickson, 5th District Commander Solberg, Lt. Kaufman of the Homicide Unit, city attorneys, and officials from the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency.  The large turnout of public officials was apparently meant to demonstrate the city’s commitment to solving two recent community-alarming crimes on Capitol Hill:  the murder of Jason Emma and the shooting at 14^th and K.  Chief Lanier detailed the status of these investigations, but divulged more details on the latter.  

Police continued to be close-mouthed about the Emma shooting, but acknowledged that the community had generated 70 or 80 phone calls offering information.   Police also pointed to a distinctive outer garment worn by one of the two persons of interest caught on Maury Elementary schools camera who are being sought in connection with the crime, and they asked the public to be alert for the jacket.  

Council Chair Mendelson who attended to announce his support for $2.8 million in funding for hiring 90 officers this year – news those present welcomed with applause – but there were no updates on the issues which could have more to do with reducing crime on Capitol Hill: namely the expired police contract, a commitment to gun-focused enforcement, and a strategy for dealing with juvenile crime and detention.

Stuart Hobson Middle School

Stuart Hobson is adding a major museum/arts addition and the initial concept design was sent back to the drawing board by HPRB for additional work.  Initially, both ANC6C and the Capitol Hill Restoration Society had issues with the design.  After design modifications were made for an upcoming HPRB reconsideration (though it is not on HPRB’s schedule for January 24), the ANC signed off on it, and the CHRS (really its Historic Preservation Committee) backed off slightly from opposing it to not supporting it.  HPRB staff has found the design “not inconsistent” with the historic district.  Neighbors of the school and parents of children attending are extremely anxious about moving the project forward and have brought some pressure on CHRS to not do anything to delay the project.  Last week the board voted to send a letter to the Stuart Hobson PTA saying in effect, they are one voice among many and the final decision lies with HPRB.

Eastern Market Legislation

Councilmember Wells plans to reintroduce his bill to create a new managing authority for Eastern Market.  Last year’s bill died at year’s end, unable to find the light of day after Mayor Gray announced his opposition.  The new bill will be tweaked before being reintroduced, but no indication yet what that tweaking will involve.  The resolution of the flea market issue is still outstanding; efforts at finding a solution having stalled last fall prior to the general election. 

CHRS Receives $250,000 As Part of the PUD Settlement for H Street NE Project

Several years ago, a protracted negotiation with Louis Dreyfuss Property Group over the PUD application for the company’s development between 2^nd and 3^rd Streets on H Street, NE, ended with a settlement under which CHRS was granted $83,000 to support historic preservation efforts outside of the historic district.  That money was devoted to the “Beyond the Boundaries Project.”.  Another part of the agreement pledged $250,000 to be allocated by the developer for two programs: $150,000 for repairs within view of public space to homes between 2^nd and 4^th and F and H Streets, NE.  Another $80,000 would be to increase energy efficiency and other improvements to the homes.  CHRS was awarded $20,000 to administer the programs.  CHRS has not yet set up a process to determine which projects would be funded, but one suggestion at Tuesday night’s CHRS board meeting was that CHRS appoint a committee of residents in the square to determine how to allocate the money.  Another suggestion was that CHRS use its $20,000 to expand the Capitol Hill Historic District to that area. 

Info Hub for Eastern Market Metro Back on Track

After stalling last year, the Eastern Market Metro Hub seems to have its wheels back on and it’s likely Chuck Burger will be able to announce that a memorandum of understanding has been reached with the city that will allow the project to go forward this year.  The endeavor has seen stop and go progress since it was first put forward in December of 2010. 

Firefighters Respond to Fire on grounds of Hine Jr. High Tuesday Night

Photo credit:  Jonathan Page

Firefighters Respond to Fire at Hine Jr. High

by Larry Janezich

Firefighters responded to a fire at the former Hine Jr. High School about 11:30pm on Tuesday night.  The fire apparently was caused by a homeless person who started a campfire behind the shrubs on the property facing 8^th Street.  According to neighbors, police have been involved several times previously on this issue.

Concerned neighbors have written to Councilmember Wells to inquire who is responsible for cleanup of burned debris along 8^th Street and removing remaining shrubbery to prevent reoccurrence of this problem. 

Neighbors are understandably concerned about fire, many residents remembering the early morning 3 alarm fire that all but destroyed Eastern Market on April 30, 2007.

The Hine building is scheduled to be demolished starting sometime this fall to make way for Stanton-Eastbanc’s mixed use development.

The Week Ahead…..

by Larry Janezich

Tuesday, January 15

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

Wednesday, January 16

Councilmember Tommy Wells hosts a public security meeting featuring Police Chief Cathy Lanier and Commander Daniel Hickson, 7:30pm, Maury Elementary School – located at the intersection of Constitution and 13^th Place. 

The murder of Jason Emma on Christmas Eve happened nearby.  Neighbors have been demanding more police on the streets.  Last Thursday, Council Chair Mendelson explained why more police on the streets is not necessarily the answer, that there is nothing the city council can do in the short term to address what some see as a crime spike on Capitol Hill, and said it was the job of the Mayor and the police department to deal with the crime problem.  He also alluded to a morale problem on the force, and noted that police officials and the Fraternal Order of Police have not yet been able to negotiate a police union-city contract which expired two years ago.  Residents are likely to be looking for more than calls for greater public participation in being the eyes and ears of the police force and advice about how they can avoid becoming victims.  Commander Hickson has excelled at police/community public relations in the past, but here he will be dealing with an alarmed and demanding audience.

Revision of Zoning Regulations:  Carriage Houses, Alley Lot Houses and English Basements

ANC Narrows Focus on Changes Affecting Capitol Hill Residents  

by Pat Taylor

Thursday night, ANC6B’s Zoning Regulations Revisions Task Force held its second meeting which was devoted to listing and summarizing the proposed zoning regulation changes most likely to affect Capitol Hill residents. 

 A list of the regulation changes of most concern is as follows:*:

•  Alley carriage houses and apartments in rowhouses.   Rowhouse owners will have the right to have a total of 2 “dwelling units” on their lots, providing lot dimensions are large enough.  The second dwelling unit can be in the rowhouse itself, (including English basements) or (new – such as a carriage house on the alley) – as a matter of right).  If the rowhouse owner already has a garage on the alleyway of her/his lot, the garage can be converted to a carriage house (i.e., dwelling unit) as a matter of right [providing certain conditions are met].  If the rowhouse owner already has an illegally rented carriage house, it can become “legal” providing the relevant conditions are met.  The carriage house can be rented; to up to 6 unrelated persons or any number of related persons can live in the carriage house. There is no requirement for off-street parking spaces for occupants of newly built carriage house occupants.  Carriage house occupants, under current DC law, are eligible to purchase Zone Residential Permits.
• Alley lot houses  (especially of interest to Hill East residents).   Under existing code, residences can be built on alley lots as a matter of right only if the lot is located on a 30 foot wide alley (with street access through a 30 foot wide alley).  Residential use is prohibited in narrower alleys.  The proposed new code would allow residences to be built on lots located on narrow alleys, providing some easily satisfied special conditions are met.  Some of those conditions include a minimum alley lot size of 450 square feet;  on lots over 1800 square feet, there are lot occupancy requirements.  The maximum height permitted is 22 feet/2 stories.  There are additional conditions.  There is no requirement for parking spaces on the lot.  [Note: in most alleys, parking is prohibited on the alleyway roadways.]
• Parking – proposed changes:  reduction or elimination of requirements for parking spaces in new buildings close to metro stations and high-service bus corridors and in new alley carriage houses and houses built on empty alley lots.
• “Corner stores” would be allowed as “a matter of right” but with many conditions. These changes are many and complicated.  Here, the devil is in the details.   If you want to learn more, the best source is http://www.dczoningupdate.org/  
• The definition of “residential” has been broadened to include “single dwelling unit, multiple dwelling units, community residence facilities, retirement homes, substance abusers’ home, youth residential care home, assisted living facility, floating homes and other residential uses.” The inclusion of substance abusers’ home and youth residential care home is a major change from the existing code where these were defined as part of Community-Based Residential Facilities  (see below) and subject to certain conditions.
• “Community Based Institutional Facilities” (CBIF) is a new category that replaces the old categories of Community Based Residential Facilities with major changes.  [Note:  it is unclear whether Boys Town would have been categorized as a youth rehabilitation home and subject to conditions, or a youth residential care homes (residential, as allowed as a matter of right.]

The next meeting will be Thursday, January 24, in Hill Center from 7:00 – 9:00pm.  The meeting is open to the public, and residents are encouraged to participate.  That meeting will be devoted to developing comments and recommendations on the proposed zoning changes.  The Task Force will report these to the Planning and Zoning Committee which will make recommendations to the full ANC.  Ultimately the ANC will deliver its comments and recommendations to the Zoning Commission sometime this spring.

* If you are interested in more information on these changes, the best place to find it is on the Office of Planning’s zoning update website:  http://www.dczoningupdate.org/      and click on “document center”   All or at least most of the regulations of interest are in Subtitle C and Subtitle D.