Challengers Dominate Officer Elections for ANC6b

by Larry Janezich and Anna Riehle

Neil Glick was elected Chair of ANC6b tonight, with the support of the newly elected ANC6b Commissioners plus incumbents Green and Campbell.  The vote was 7 – 3.  Those voting for:  Glick, Campbell, Critchfield, Flahaven, Frishberg, Green, Pate.  Those voting against:  Garrison, Metzger, Oldenburg.

Subsequently, Ivan Frishberg was elected Vice-Chair, Jared Critchfield was elected Secretary, Carol Green was re-elected Treasurer, and Brian Flahaven was elected Parliamentarian.

Barracks Row Restaurateur and Retailers Oppose Moratorium

by Larry Janezich and Anna Riehle

At last night’s ANC’s Retail Mix Taskforce Hearing on improving the Barracks Row retail mix, Eastern Market corridor business operators stated their opposition to a liquor license moratorium. 

The Taskforce began functioning in the tense atmosphere created by ANC6b’s institution of what some call a de facto liquor license moratorium for Barracks Row.  The issue, though not on the table for the Taskforce, is one that continues to come before them, since proponents of the moratorium promote that issue as a remedy for the decline of mixed retail on the street.  Moratorium supporters heard little to confirm that view last night. 

The Taskforce heard first from Xavier Cevera, owner of Molly Malone’s, Lola’s, and the Chesapeake Room  He also plans on opening a new restaurant – Pacificos – in the space now occupied by Capital Video

Cervera told the Taskforce that support for a moratorium comes from residents adjacent to Barracks Row.  Though some restaurateurs on Barracks Row want a moratorium, not all do.  It can, he said, be a stigma even for retail wanting to come in.  Restaurants which opened most recently are doing well because they put enough money into their structure.  Some older restaurants which don’t have money to renovate and haven’t kept up with food quality are struggling. 

He faulted the ANC for being caught in a moratorium dilemma of its own making by rationalizing that since they opposed one license, they have to oppose all, and that leads to losing good people. 

One of the issues driving the moratorium is the impact of parking on residential streets.  Spaces in the under-the freeway-parking lot are underutilized, partly because people don’t feel safe.  Four restaurants on the street support valet parking, and that has helped restaurants and could help retail. 

Cervera soft-pedaled the idea that modified voluntary operating agreements could solve the concerns of residents, noting that people going to their cars late at night will be loud.  There will be additional foot traffic, rodents, and noise – this is a commercial corridor.  He said that there is not really a boiler plate voluntary agreement that will solve all the problems. 

Few ideas emerged about the kind of retail which would thrive on the street, although a bakery, a cupcake shop, and a hardware store were mentioned.  Cervera noted that neither the buildings nor their facades on Barracks Row were made for retailers.  Many existing storefronts were originally houses and it costs a lot of money to renovate buildings not built for commercial.  Establishing an enterprise zone and tax breaks would help, as would giving landlords money towards modifying facades. 

The Taskforce then heard from two retailers operating on the corridor, Kathleen Clayton, Labyrinth Games (on Pennsylvania Avenue) and Manuel Cortez, Groovy DC (on 8^th Street). 

Cortez said that a liquor license moratorium would be contrary to progress  and that more retail was unlikely to happen until landlords receive some incentive or tax credit for renting to retail.  Landlords are hoping for a restaurant and that’s why rents have gone up so much.  Retail won’t open until it can afford to.   He said he would like to see some sort of business loan made available to retail. 

Problems for retail include a lack of promotion of the corridor as a destination, the kind of foot traffic Barracks Row attracts, trash on the street, too many homeless people, and the Metro bus stop.  There is foot traffic, but bar and restaurant patrons or those who come to Marine Barracks events are often on their way somewhere else or don’t want to carry a bag.   It doesn’t help staying open later. 

Ms. Clayton, who recently opened a retail store on Pennsylvania, noted that she found a cool reception on Barracks Row when she inquired about opening there.  “No one would talk to me.…”  She opened on Pennsylvania Avenue and is “paying outrageous rent” and would love a tax incentive.   She also urged greater cooperation among both businesses and business organizations, noting the only Capitol Hill business organization that showed any interest in her endeavor was CHAMPS. 

She had no trouble finding financing for her business and noted that the Washington Investment Fund helps businesses find money.  She agreed with Cortez that lack of promotion is a problem.  She doesn’t think there should be a moratorium.

Changes conducive to retail include tax incentives, more signs, more Barracks Row events, Second Saturdays, and a parking garage.   One of her concerns is groups of unruly teenagers who have committed acts of petty vandalism in her store. 

A third Taskforce hearing on January 17 will feature landlords, realtors, and representatives of business groups.  The invitation list for this hearing is not yet complete.  The meeting will be held at Brent Elementary School, from 6:30pm to 8:00pm.

Blog Examines Sociology of Ward Six – A Look at Income/Employment Disparities, Racial Discrimination, and Gentrification

by Larry Janezich

 Capitol Hill resident and sociologist, Johanna Bockman, a professor at George Mason University, is writing a blog to examine the sociology of Ward Six.

“While I love my neighborhood on Capitol Hill in DC, I clearly recognize many disturbing trends going on, especially around gentrification and the Great Recession.

This blog will present a wide variety of data about Ward Six (census, survey, historical, ethnographic, etc.), present a multitude of different perspectives (hopefully far beyond the business community’s views), and try to do public sociology, which in the words of Michael Burawoy ‘endeavors to bring sociology into dialogue with audiences beyond the academy, an open dialogue in which both sides deepen their understanding of public issues’.”

The blog asks the question “how can we use sociology to understand what these substantial differences mean for people in Ward 6?”

http://sociologyinmyneighborhood.blogspot.com/ or click on the link under “Links We Like” on the EMMCA website

Leadership Vote Will Indicate What Effect Elections Had on ANC6b

by Larry Janezich

One of the first items on the agenda of the January ANC6b meeting on January 11, will be the election of officers.  Positions to be filled include Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and Parliamentarian.  The Chairs of the Alcohol Beverage Control Committee and the Planning and Zoning Committee will subsequently be elected by the new Commission.

Who the candidates are for these positions is unknown.  The newly elected commissioners – three of the four having defeated incumbents – may feel they have a mandate for change, but what effect they will have on the process is uncertain.

The six incumbents and the positions they held for the last two year term of office are Dave Garrison (chair), Kirsten Oldenburg (secretary), Carol Green (treasurer), Neal Glick (parliamentarian), Francis Campbell (Planning and Zoning chair) and Norm Metzger (Retail Mix Taskforce chair).

The four newly elected commissioners include (in alphabetical order), Jared Critchfield, Brian Flahaven, Ivan Frishberg, and Brian Pate.

Recently, ANC6b has wrestled with a buzz saw of a de facto moratorium on liquor licenses for Barrack Row.  The ban was imposed following the election in which three incumbents were defeated and was interpreted by some as a belated reaction to constituent concerns. Others said it was an over reaction.  The moratorium had been supported by organized and vocal residents of ANC6b04 – east of Barracks Row – but widely opposed elsewhere in ANC6b and by business organizations – CHAMPS and Barracks Row Main Street

A majority of the new ANC could reverse the de facto moratorium.  Whether that happens or not, one of the first major pieces of business of the new ANC will be consideration of operational guidelines (which could become part of new voluntary agreements for the operation of ANC6b commercial corridor liquor license holders) which will be reported out of the Retail Mix Taskforce by the February meeting of the ANC.

Results of the election will be posted on emmcablog.org as soon as they become known.

Information on the meeting and the agenda follows:

Meeting Agenda

Location: 301 North Carolina Avenue, SE

Brent Elementary School

January 11, 2010 – 7:00 PM

Agenda

Adoption of Agenda

1. Election of Officers
2. Community Speakout
3. Community and Commission Announcements
4. Presentation
   1. ABC Committee

• Resolution of Bavarian Beer Garden License Protest –  This case will only be heard at the full ANC meeting on January 11, 2011

7.  Planning and Zoning Committee

• HPA # 11-106, 641 A Street, SE – Second story addition over an existing one-story addition
• HPA # 11-XXX, 300 9^th Street, SE – Moving entry door on 9^th Street, SE
• BZA # 18159, 627 G Street, SE – Special exception to allow addition to existing one-family semi-detached dwelling, not meeting side yard requirements in R-5-B district
• ZC # 08-06, CZR Review: Subtitle J: Production, Distribution and Repair Zones
• ZC # 08-06-15, CZR Review: Administration, Enforcement and Procedures

8.   Eastern Market Report

9.   Financial Matters

10.   Approval of Commission Minutes December

11.   Adjournment