Not ready for prime time yet – but soon: This year’s U.S. Capitol’s Christmas tree is a 63-foot Norway spruce. The tree will be lit on Tuesday, November 28, during a ceremony on the West Front Lawn beginning at 5pm. It will then be lit from dusk until 11 pm each evening through January 1, 2024.
Here are some photos of the U.S. Botanic Garden on Saturday afternoon. The Botanic Garden unveiled their holiday season decorations on Thanksgiving Day – the “Landmarks of DC” exhibit inside and the model train exhibit outside. The Landmark models are made from many different plant parts. Each piece is a unique plant-based masterpiece – architectural details are fashioned from hundreds of dried plant materials.
The Week Ahead…& Some Photos from the Past Week
by Larry Janezich
Posted November 26, 2023
Monday, November 27
ANC6A’s Community Outreach Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
Over the last five days three patrons of Eastern Market have reported being the victims of pickpockets. The latest incident occurred Wednesday, November 22. The victim was robbed around 1:15pm and by the time they got home the thieves had charged over $5000 to four credit cards. The credit card companies deleted the charges and cancelled the cards and the victim filed a police report.
Pickpocketing has become a recurring problem at the Market. Last weekend, a source told Capitol Hill Corner that two victims reported being robbed by pickpockets to Market management and that police believe the thieves are professionals rather than opportunists.
On November 11 – Veteran’s Day – the NYT featured Eastern Market as one of its destinations in a Travel Section piece on 36 Hours in DC. Pickpockets need crowds – and with destination status come the crowds that attract pickpockets. The Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee (EMCAC) has been pressing the city for more security personnel at the market and has established a public safety committee which has been discussing security protocols and needed public safety measures. EMCAC will meet next Wednesday at 7:00pm in the North Hall of the Market and the recent criminal activity will likely be part of the discussion.
Meanwhile, Market customers are advised to be aware of the threat and to protect all of their valuables when shopping at the Market.
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Here’s an architect’s rendering of the design for the renovated Southeast Library.
SE Library Will Close January 4 for Two-Year Renovation
by Larry Janezich
Posted November 20, 2023
DC Public Library announced today that the last day of service for SE Library at 403 7th Street, SE, will be Thursday January 4, 2024.
A community meeting on Thursday, December 14, featuring DC Library officials and the construction team of Whiting-Turner will provide an opportunity for neighbors to learn what to expect during the construction period scheduled to last at least two years. The meeting will be at SE Library from 6:30pm until 8:00pm.
The Interim Library for the Southeast Library during the modernization is the Northeast Library, located at 330 7th Street, NE.
The Interim Library Express Location will be at the Arthur Capper Community Center, 1000 5th Street, SE. The opening date for the Arthur Capper location and operating hours will be announced at the December 14 Community Meeting. The following services will be available at this location:
Holds Pick-Up
Item Return
Wi-Fi Access
Public Computers for Children, Teens and Adults (Desktops and Laptops)
Printing and Copying
Please note that there will be no browse-able collections housed at this location.
Weekly Story Time will be held at 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, (in partnership with Barracks Row Main Street).
The goals for $33 million transformation of the historic Carnegie library include:
Expanded space for children, teens and adults
More space for books, computers and seating
Preservation and restoration of the building’s historic elements
Universally accessible entrance (as well as maintaining the original historic entrance)
ICYMI, here are some images from last weekend’s 150th Anniversary of Eastern Market Celebration. Tommy Wells, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Policy and Legislative Affairs, recalled the fire which damaged the Market on April 30, 2007 – shortly after he was elected Ward 6 Councilmember – and the reconstruction of the Market thereafter. He said he had been awakened by MPD First District Commander Diane Grooms telling him that Eastern Market was on fire and that it was pretty serious. He recounted going to the market and watching as the flames engulfed the roof and the subsequent support of the community and the city which worked together to support the vendors and rebuild the Market.
This one is one of the members of a cycling group called The Wheelmen demonstrating the tricky mount of a penny-farthing bicycle – so named because of the image of a much larger British penny next to the much smaller farthing. It was popular in the 19th Century but became obsolete in the 1880’s with the development of modern bicycles.
Inside the North Hall, world-renowned silhouette artist, Lauren Muney, founder of Silhouettes by Hand, demonstrates her artistry with a pair of scissors and a piece of paper.
One of the tours of the market – this one by Capitol Hill author and historian Robert Pohl (center) – ended up in the rarely publically accessible Market Master’s Office high on the east side of the market.
The Market Master’s office affords a view not only of 7th Street outside the market…
…but also an overview of the Market’s interior.
Here’s Triple Candies’ November exhibit in the space in front of the former Li’l Pub at 655 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. Triple Candie is a research-oriented curatorial agency run by art historian co-founders Shelly Bancroft and Peter Nesbett. Their purpose is to create alternative exhibition methods making that the object of critical focus rather than what is displayed (which for the most part does not include original artworks).
The Week Ahead…& Some Photos from the Past Week
by Larry Janezich
Posted November 19
Monday, November 22
ANC6A Transportation & Public Space Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
Saturday night, the Capitol Hill community came together to celebrate the annual lighting of the Capitol Hill Holiday Tree on Eastern Market Metro Plaza. Kathy Didden and her granddaughters, representing the family of George Didden, III – the community benefactor and founding president of the Capitol Hill BID in whose honor the tree was planted in 2007 – threw the switch which lit the tree at 6:00pm.
A moment before the tree was lit. Kathy Didden and the Capitol Hill BID Men and Women in Blue.
CM Charles Allen and media celebrities Tom Sherwood and Kojo Nnamdi, Masters of Ceremony.
Noting the size and enthusiasm of the crowd which numbered in the hundreds, CM Allen said the gathering represented the “beating heart of the community.”
MPD 1st District Commander Hall was on hand, keeping an eye on things.
The holiday tree in the aftermath of the ceremony which also included performances by Joyous Voices, The Capitol Hill Arts Workshop’s Suzuki Strings, and the Washington Youth Choir.
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CM Allen Intros Bill to Fine Developers Up to $100,000 for Unauthorized Demolition of Historic Homes
By Larry Janezich
Posted November 14, 2023
In the past five years, two historic townhomes* in ANC6B Commissioner Jerry Sroufe’s Single Member District have been demolished by developers who exceeded the scope of their building permits – with minimal consequences. The one pictured above at 326 A Street, SE, was demolished in 2019. A second demolition earlier this year at 639 A Street, SE, prompted Sroufe to seek a legislative remedy to prevent future demolitions. Tuesday night, at its monthly meeting, ANC6B voted to send a letter to CM Charles Allen urging stricter enforcement of Historic Preservation regulations and stronger penalties for unauthorized demolition.
It seems Allen had already gotten the message.
On Wednesday, Allen introduced legislation to protect historic homes from unauthorized destruction and demolition, enabled in part by existing fines with too low a maximum penalty to serve as a successful deterrent and with little ability for existing fines to allow for significant differences between small and severe violations.
The bill comes out of an examination of demolition records and fines for historic buildings, which made clear the existing fine structure was not deterring construction companies. In reviewing violations and infractions, few contractors were required to pay more than $3,000 for violations – a small fine for a project costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. Notably, the fine is the same for something smaller, such as repointing, as it is for larger, near-full scale demolition.
The bill from Councilmember Allen proposes a stronger and more flexible fine system to allow the Office of Planning and the Historic Preservation Review Board to take decisive action. The Protecting Historic Homes Amendment Act of 2023 would create scaled, higher fines for significant violations of the Historic Landmark and Historic District Protection Act of 1978, the legislation that created the District’s current framework for historic preservation. The new bill provides that penalties assessed by the Historic Preservation Board must vary by degree of severity of the damage, up to $100,000 per violation. Current violations are capped at a daily fine of $4,716 regardless of the severity of the infraction.
“Earlier this year a historic home in Ward 6 was nearly demolished when a construction project to add onto the home went way beyond the scope of the original permit. It drew attention to the fact that existing fines just aren’t enough to truly deter that kind of activity in historic neighborhoods,” said Allen. “This legislation will give the District more flexibility to enforce against bad actors for significant violations of historic preservation law. Right now, these companies can skirt the law and tear down history just by writing a small check to the city. And even excellent enforcement can only go so far, if the ceiling on fines for the worst behavior is about the same as the price of a few new doors and windows.”
The ANC letter passed Tuesday night offered two recommendations for addressing the current fining and enforcement procedures:
1) A legislative hearing would provide an opportunity to seek full understanding of the process of assigning fees, moderating them, and collecting them.
2) OP should be required to provide data about penalty violations, and the resulting consequences of discovered violations, to the Council annually.
It was not clear whether Allen’s bill addressed these additional concerns or whether Allen agrees they are necessary.
*“Embarrassed” Historic Preservation Board OK’s Rebuild of Illegal Demolition https://bit.ly/43cnQwV
*Demolition at 639 A ST SE – a “tragic and unfortunate development “– Gets Stop Work Order https://bit.ly/3nuZ6jk
A residence near the US Capitol on New Jersey Avenue, SE, being marketed as office space.
ANCs Push City on Illegal Use of Housing by Lobbyists & Others
by Larry Janezich
Posted November 14, 2023
Tuesday night, ANC6B joined ANC6C in sending identical but separate letters to the Mayor and other city officials asking for city action on the long standing issue of illegal use of residential buildings close to the Capitol by lobbyists, non-profits, and political organizations.
Last Wednesday, ANC6C Commissioner Joel Kelty called up a letter for consideration by ANC6C which voted 6-0-1 to send it to the Mayor and others. (Commissioner Jay Adelstein abstained because he wanted the letter posted on the ANC website for a brief period of time for constituents to see it and provide helpful comments before it was sent.)
On Tuesday night, in ANC6B, Commissioner Frank Avery introduced the same proposal for consideration by ANC6B. The Commission voted to support sending the letter by a vote of 8 – 1. The letter reads in part:
“The proximity of our neighborhood to the US Capitol and congressional offices makes the Capitol Hill neighborhood an attractive location for lobbyists, political campaigns and other companies and organizations seeking to influence Congress to establish offices and to host corporate events. These office and event uses are commercial occupancies as defined by the Zoning Regulations and are fundamentally incompatible with the designated uses in the RF and RA residential zones that make up the majority of our neighborhood.
Since at least 1985, residents of [ANC 6C/ANC 6B] have complained to the District government that residentially zoned properties in our ANC have been illegally converted to prohibited commercial uses. We again ask the Mayor to timely implement a coordinated, multi-agency approach to address existing illegal commercial uses and to develop systematic policies and procedures to prevent future conversions of residentially zoned properties to prohibited, non-residential uses.”
The letter requests immediate changes to address the non-residential use of residentially zoned properties and requests their immediate implementation…including revoking the certificate of occupancy for any unpermitted, non-residential use identified in a residential zone and ordering the immediate closure of any non-residential use that lacks the required certificate of occupancy.
Additional requests include:
Evaluate properties being investigated for use violations, also for construction code deficiencies…
Prevent the future conversion of existing residentially-zoned properties to non-residential uses…
Modify the 311.dc.gov website and 311 mobile app to provide a trackable means for citizens to report zoning violations, including the illegal use of a residential property for a nonresidential use.
Forward reports of properties that are misclassified as residential uses to the Office of Tax and Revenue for re-classification.
Provide an online dashboard that allows citizens to search for zoning and tax classification complaints and to track their resolution.
Verify all non-person permit applicants are entitled to do business in the District of Columbia…
Require that all real estate sales transactions involving residentially-zoned property in the Capitol Hill Historic District and Capitol Interest Overlay Zone include a disclosure at settlement highlighting the allowable uses in the appropriate residential zone.
Coordinate with OUC and DOB to re-classify properties being used for non-residential purposes to reflect their actual tax classification and reassess those properties to reflect their actual value based on their commercial use.
Coordinate with DOB inspections to verify occupancy for residentially zoned properties. Reclassify any residential properties found to be unoccupied as vacant and tax at the vacant property tax rate.
Copies of the letters were sent to Councilmember Charles Allen; Director Brian Hanlon, Department of Buildings; Director Sara Bardin, Office of Zoning; Kathleen Beeton, Acting Zoning Administrator Glen Lee, Chief Financial Officer; Director Heather McGaffin, Office of Unified Communications.
The draft letter which was submitted for consideration by ANC6C included a list of 29 residentially zoned properties reported by constituents as being used for commercial purposes: See link below. ANC6B has a similar list of 22 properties and did not attach it to its letter but the list has already been forwarded to CM Charles Allen and to Brian Hanlon, Director of the Department of Buildings.
Jim Toole, 1937 – 2023 (photo: Capitol Hill Books)
Capitol Hill’s Legendary Bookseller Jim Toole Dies
By Larry Janezich
Posted November 12, 2023
Capitol Hill Books at 657 C Street, SE, on Sunday afternoon.
The shock of the death of Morton “Jim” Toole – legendary former owner of Capitol Hill Books – spread through the Capitol Hill book-loving community on Sunday.
Toole collapsed on his way home after having dinner at Tunnicliff’s on Saturday night. He was 86.
Toole owned and operated Capitol Hill Books from 1995 until July of 2018 when he sold the business to long time employees and friends of the store. According to their website, the new owners vowed to preserve the fiercely independent spirit of the bookstore and ensure it maintains its place as a literary hub of the community.
Toole was a retired Navy rear admiral – a veteran of the Vietnam War – with a degree in history from UCLA and a Master’s from American University. One of Toole’s long time friends noted that his death on Veteran’s Day was a fitting and poetic way to go.
Toole’s wit and finely tuned curmudgeoness enlivened the structured disorganization that characterized the nationally known eclectic bookshop.
Those qualities were evidenced by these 2014 photos of signage advising and admonishing patrons who browsed the three floors of used and rare books.
Capitol Hill Books was opened in 1991 by Bill Kerr, a graduate of Wayward Books – another beloved used bookstore located at 725 7th Street, SE. Wayward Books relocated to Maine in 1990. Kerr – who worked at the Washington Post – opened his own store around the corner at 657 C Street, SE.
New Medical Marijuana Dispensary Looks to Open on Barracks Row. Last Thursday night, ANC6B’s ABC Committee heard a presentation from attorney Meredith Kinner about the plan of her client – Barbara Bernabe of Virginia – to open a licensed medical marijuana outlet at 727 8th Street, SE. The space was previously occupied by Honey Made Boutique which closed in July of this year. Before that, it was the home for five years of Summit to Soul sports wear which closed in June of 2021. The ANC Committee is discussing a potential settlement agreement regarding the outlet’s operation prior to receipt of a request for support for the ABCA license needed to open at the location.
Pacci’s Trattatoria needs expansion to 2nd Floor to survive says owner. ANC6B’s Planning and Zoning Committee heard from Spiro Goldasis, owner of Pacci’s Trattatoria at 106 13th Street, SE, that the restaurant needs to expand to the second floor in order to survive. The owner says that the restaurant’s dining space in the basement has not proven to be “desireable.” The problem is that zoning regulations require the second floor to be residential – and getting around that is problematic. ANC6B and ANC6A are lining up to support a zoning adjustment to solve the problem, but the outcome is uncertain. Concerned neighbors can reach out to Commissioner Chander Jayaraman to lend their voices to his upcoming testimony before the Zoning Adjustment Board. His contact info is 6b06@anc.dc.gov
New Images of Conservative Partnership’s Plans for Alley Closing behind former Capitol Lounge. On Thursday night, ANC6B’s Planning and Zoining Committee heard a presentation from attorney Christine Shiker of Holland and Knight regarding the latest plans for the use of 229, 231, and 233 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, the future headquarters of the Conservative Partnership. The purpose of the presentation was to solicit the input from ANC6B on mondifications to the façades of the buildings to satisfy a community feedback requirement of the Commission on Fine Arts which reviews changes to historic properties facing major gateway corridors to the US Capitol.
The applicants also shared renderings of the latest plan for the still-pending application to close the alley behind the Capitol Lounge and additions to the rear of the three buildings. The drawings show that the alley space could be event space – which appears to be the anticipated use of the roof top of the several connected garages (also owned by the Conservative Partnership) bordering the proposed closed alley. Or the space could be used for outdoor seating for the restaurant that the Partnership intends to establish in the space formerly occupied by the Capitol Lounge. The Committee voted 15 – 0 to recommend the full ANC support the changes to the façade and to note that they haves concerns about noise and privacy issues regarding the event/outdoor seating space at the rear of the properties.
Sunday was the 150th Anniversary of Eastern Market – one of the longest continuously operating market’s in the country. Councilmember Charles Allen and Council Chair Phil Mendelsohn were on hand at a 12 noon ceremony to mark the event.
Allen closed the event by ringing a cow bell – a tradition used by farmers markets across the country to announce the opening and closing of the market.
ANC6B’s Southeast Library Task Force met Sunday afternoon, chaired by Commissioner David Sobelsohn (center left). The Task Force discussed DC LibraryExecutive Director Richard Reyes-Gavilan’s response to a letter from ANC6B concerning the operation and facilities which will be provided at an interim library services site at the Arthur Capper Recreation Center duing the SE Library renovation. Commissioner Frank” D’Andrea moved to authorize Chair Sobelsohn to draft a letter for consideration by the full ANC seeking clarification on some issues which are still unclear, especially regarding the services available at the interim site and the hours which the interim site will be open to library patrons. This was the groups first use of the new hybrid meeting system, simultaneously in-person and virtual, utilizing “Meeting Owl” – a 360-degree camera, mic, and speaker device (shown in the middle of the meeting) that captures a panoramic view of surroundings and allows remote viewers to see all participants. The Task Force will next meet on Sunday, December 3 at 3:00pm at 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, 2nd Floor.
Chris Williams– President & CEO of Anacostia Watershed Society
Scott Kratz – 11th Street Bridge Park Director
Alcoholic Beverage & Cannabis Committee
Dos Toros Taqueria 215 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. Application for a new restaurant liquor license.
Omakase of Barracks Row, 522 8th Street SE, 2nd Floor. Application for a new restaurant liquor license with entertainment endorsement.
Radici, 310-303 7th Street, SE. Application for the renewal of a Retailer’s Class “B” Grocery Liquor license
Rose’s at Home, 721 8th Street SE; Application for the renewal of a Retailers’ Class “B” Internet
Trader Joe’s #622, 750 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. Application for the renewal of a Retailer’s
Café 8, Class “C” Restaurant License; Establishment requesting a substantial change to their existing liquor license.
Discussion Items:
Opposition to Renewal of Harris Teeter Liquor License
I Egg You Protest and Lessons Learned
Notice to Cure for Establishments on the 500 Block of Barracks Row
ACBA Law Review and Revision Upcoming this Fall
Cannabis Retailers Licensing
Transportation Committee
DDOT Presentation on D Street Alternatives for 8th Street Bus Priority Project (At Committee Meeting)
DDOT Presentation on Pedestrian Crossings at 14th/D/Kentucky SE Intersection Near Safeway
Traffic Concerns Near Watkins Elementary
Resolution on Parked Dockless Scooters and Bikes Impeding Sidewalk Access
Planning and Zoning Committee
Pacci’s 106 13TH Street SE, Project: BZA Application to expand an existing restaurant use to the second floor, of a semi-detached, two-story with basement, commercial building in the RF-1 zone.
630 G Street SE, Project: BZA Application to construct a new, three-story rear addition, and penthouse with roof deck, to an existing, detached, three-story flat in the RF-1 zone.
630 G Street SE. Project. Historic Preservation Application to construct a new, three-story rear addition, and penthouse with roof deck, to an existing, detached, three-story flat in the RF-1 zone
231 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, Project. Commission on Fine Arts Review re Conservative Partnership’s planned renovation and expansion of existing buildings on 200 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. (Sqaure 762, Lots 842, 843, 823).
Update on Alley Closing in Square 762.
Letter Regarding Enforcement of Historic Preservation Regulations and Vacancies on Zoning Committee, Bureau of Zoning Adjustment and Historic Preservation Review Board.
Joint Letter from ANC 6B and 6C to Acting Director Hanlon and DC Council Regarding Commercial Use of Residentially-Zoned Properties.
Other business
Report of Southeast Library Task Force.
Letter Regarding the Closing of the Southeast Library.
Report of the Southeast Library Task Force.
Report of the Public Parks and Recreation Spaces Task Force.
Report of the Public Parks and Recreation Spaces Task Force.
Report of the Special Committee on Public Safety.
Report of the Special Committee on Public Safety.
Report of the Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee.
Mayor’s Office of Community Relations & Services (MOCRS).
Office of Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent Gray.
Community Presentations
Michael Halvin, President, Friends of the DC Streetcar DDOT (pending).
Public Safety Committee
October Report of the Committee.
Other Business
Proposed Motion – ANC 7D to send a letter to Verizon concerning property at 580 23rd Place, NE.
ANC 7F Letter to DDOT Concerning Unresolved TSI Requests.
ANC 7D Letter to Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) Concerning Economy Market (License #0094127) .
ANC 7D Letter to DDOT Concerning NOI 23-106-TESD to Reduce Speed Limit to 20 miles per hour (TBD).
Saturday, November 18
DC Tutoring & Mentoring Initiative meets from 10:30am to 12:30pm at Southeast Library, 403 7th Street, SE.
The organization’s partner with tutoring & mentoring organizations and schools that need help. DCTMI connects tutoring and mentoring volunteers with organizations according to the volunteer’s availability.
Vandals Strike Chapel at Historic Congressional Cemetary
by Larry Janezich
Posted November 7, 2023
Last Saturday, the chapel at Historic Congressional Cemetery was vandalized, according to the following email addressed to the members of the cemetery’s K9 dog walking community by the cemetary staff.
Date: Sat, Nov 4, 2023 at 6:57 PM
Subject: Chapel Vandalized Saturday 11/4
Dear K9 Community,
We are sending this email to ask for your help.
This afternoon during a private event, someone entered our chapel and vandalized this historic space. The offender(s) used the fire extinguisher inside and sprayed its contents all over our funeral equipment, chairs, and nineteenth century furniture. We have filed a police report and are currently reviewing security footage.
If you were on the grounds between 2 and 5 PM and saw anything suspicious, please report it to us by emailing staff@congressionalcemetery.org.
Sincerely,
Historic Congressional Cemetery
A staff member told CHC that the chapel is usually locked but had been opened prior to an event. (A souce told CHC that the event – which did not directlty involve the chapel – was scheduled to begin at 3:00pm and that the vandalism likely occurred prior to the event.) The staffer said the vandalism was “strange” because there was no way that someone would know in advance that the chapel would be unlocked. The chapel has been cleaned up and it does not appear that the incident will affect on-going cemetery activities or events. There is no new information regarding the identity or identities of those responsible.
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CAPITOL HILL CORNER 