CAPITOL HILL CORNER

Construction of PA Ave SE Dedicated Bus and Protected Bike Lanes Starts in June

By Larry Janezich

Posted April 7, 2022

Greg Matlesky, project manager for the Pennsylvania Avenue Southeast Corridor study, told ANC6B’s Transportation Committee last night that DDOT will begin construction of the new PA Ave, SE, transportation plan in June.

The plan would proceed in two phases and provide curbside 5 foot separated bike lanes on both sides of the street, each with a three foot buffer, then a lane for off-peak metered parking which becomes a dedicated bus lane during peak hours, and two traffic lanes.  

Phase 1 concerns PA Ave, SE, between 2^nd Streets, SE, and 13^th Street, SE.  Construction of the bus platforms for boarding and discharging passengers – as pictured above – will begin in June.  Milling of the Avenue and installing the bike lanes will happen over the summer and will be completed during the fall of 2022 and spring of 2023.  Phase I ends at 2^nd Street, SE, where it runs into Independence Avenue which is – at that point – under the control of the U.S. Capitol Police Board, not the District government. 

Phase II will deal with PA Ave, SE, between 13^th Street, SE, and Barney Circle, SE, and will undertaken in 2024 and 2025 after funding is secured in a future budget cycle. 

DDOT reps said that one recurring problem in parts of the city with similar traffic control projects is vehicles blocking bus lanes.  DDOT will address this problem by installing cameras on buses which will enable automatic ticketing for violators. 

According to DDOT, the Pennsylvania Avenue Southeast Corridor Project will link Capitol Hill and Southeast neighborhoods to the National Mall and provide an east-west connection to the 4^th and 6^th Streets, SE paired bike lane corridors.  Separated bike lanes are regarded as an effective transportation measure that addresses safety and mobility issues along the project corridor.  Bicycle infrastructure is under-represented on the corridor and PA Ave SE is considered “uncomfortable for most bicyclists” based on DDOT data.

The goals of the project include providing safer multi modal options for all users, improving traffic control, providing continuous separated bike lanes as well as opportunities to prioritize buses. 

The plan also is part of the city’s moveDC long-range transportation plan to provide equitable and excellent transportation facilities and services and the Vision Zero Initiative to create safe streets for everyone.  For more or to comment on the plan, go here:  https://www.pennavese.com/

The Week Ahead…& Some Photos from the Past Week

by Larry Janezich

Posted April 3, 2022

Tuesday, April 5

ANC6B Planning and Zoning Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.

For information on joining the meeting, go here:  https://bit.ly/3DzjELM

Among items on the draft agenda:

• 2022 Capitol Hill Classic 10K, 3K, and Fun Run
• 428 11th Street, SE. Zoning Adjustment Application – Special Exception to construct a rear, two-story addition to an existing, attached, two-story with basement, principal dwelling unit
• 1415 Potomac Avenue, SE. Zoning Adjustment Application – Special Exception to construct a rear, two-story addition with deck, to an existing, attached, two-story with cellar, principal dwelling unit
• 912 G Street, SE. Zoning Adjustment Application – Special Exception to construct a roof deck on an accessory garage to an existing, attached, two-story with cellar, principal dwelling unit.
• 1350 E Street, SE. Zoning Adjustment Application – Special Exception to construct an animal boarding establishment in an existing, detached, mixed use building.   
• 135 Kentucky Avenue, SE. Zoning Adjustment Application – Exception to construct a two-story rear addition, and a second story garage addition to an existing, attached, two-story with basement, principal dwelling unit. 
• 745 10th Street, SE. Zoning Adjustment Application –   New accessory building in rear yard with roof deck
• 510 9th Street, SE. Historic Preservation Application – Partial third floor roof deck above existing house. New cellar windows and wells on front façade, front steps to be replaced. 
• 300 G Street, SE. Historic Preservation Application – Rear yard two story addition. 
• 321 D Street, SE. Historic Preservation Application – Concept: Construct a rear three-story addition; add a partial third floor on the existing house and renovate the existing house.
• Resolution requesting increased regulation of last mile delivery services (DashMart, GoPuff, etc.)

                                                                      ***

Wednesday, April 6

ANC6C Transportation Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm

For information on how to join the meeting, go here:  https://bit.ly/3j18K8c

Among items on the draft agenda: 

• Notice of Intent: Notification of the Installation of One-Way Protected Bikeways and Peak-Period, Peak-Direction Bus-Only Lanes on Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

                                                                         ***

ANC 6C Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 6:30pm.

For information on how to join the meeting, go here:  https://anc6c.org/hot-topics/

Agenda not available at press time.

                                                                         ***

Thursday, March 3

ANC6B Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm. 

For information on joining the meeting, go here:  https://bit.ly/3r0pbFT

Among items on the draft agenda:

• 1801 E Street, SE. Association for the Preservation of Historic Congressional t/n: Historic Congressional Cemetery – Application for a Multipurpose Class “C” liquor license. 
• 312 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. Young Chow Asian Restaurant.  License renewal Class “CR” Restaurant License. 
• 410 1^st Street, SE.   License renewal Class “CR” Restaurant License. 
• 629 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. La Plaza Mexican Restaurant.  License renewal Class “CR” Restaurant License. 
• 635 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. Sanphan Thai Cuisine.  License renewal Class “CR” Restaurant License. 
• 715 8^th Street, SE. Pineapple and Pearls.  License renewal Class “CR” Restaurant License. 
• 717 8^th Street, SE. Rose’s Luxury.  License renewal Class “CR” Restaurant License. 
• 735 8^th Street, SE. Sushi Hachi.  License renewal Class “CR” Restaurant License. 
• 513 8^th Street, SE. Bodegon Spanish Tapas.  License renewal Class “CR” Restaurant License. 

Out and About – Little Free Libraries and Blessings Boxes – A Photo Essay 

by Elizabeth Eby 

Posted April 2, 2022

This Little Library (above) is located on 19^th Street at the crosswalk leading to the northern end of the Stadium Armory Metro.  I never walk by a Little Library without looking inside.  It might be interesting to analyze a neighborhood by surveying the titles in and out over a 10 day period.  In any event, there’s almost always something worth examining inside.  This time I hit the jackpot!  An “original” 2X4 inch Yves Klein hand painted on corrugated cardboard AND a novel called The Art Forger.  A quick scan reveals that it is a novel about an unhappy love affair and contains useful information for art forgers.  There are dozens of Little Libraries on Capitol Hill. 

An official website, https://littlefreelibrary.org/  says Little Free Library is a nonprofit organization that started in Hudson, Wisconsin, and provides guidance on how to order or build one of your own.

Hill East has a smaller population of Blessing Boxes – a first cousin to the Little Free Libraries. A Google search provides many photos but no a national organization, indicating they are individually motived. 

Today I chatted with the woman who “runs” the Blessing Box on 14th Street, SE, pictured below.  She is the granddaughter of the woman who started the blessing box tradition at the house.  She had set up a 1950s style kitchen table by the sidewalk fence where she put out food for anyone who needed or wanted it.  Most of it was produce donated by her friends who had farms.  The granddaughter bought the house after her grandmother died.  At first she put the table away to make more play space on the patio but her neighbors objected so it’s back in its place of honor but empty.  The box had been up for at least 10 years when I moved to Hill East.  There is a list of suggested canned or packaged foods to donate, no pet food please; the owner told me she had neighbors who really need the food and a man who cannot read who took a can of cat food he thought was tuna. 

Out and About is an occasional photo feature by artist, photographer, and Capitol Hill resident Elizabeth Eby.  She finds vignettes while out and about on or near Capitol Hill. 

Wards 6 & 7 Task Forces Wrap ANC Redistricting Final Maps and Reports – Hill East Fights On

by Larry Janezich

Posted April2, 2022

Ward 6’s Task Force on Redistricting completed its work Wednesday night, agreeing on a final map to submit to the City Council’s Subcommittee on Redistricting.  The vote was 12 – 0.  The report accompanying the final map was forwarded to the Subcommittee without a vote.  Prior to the vote, final adjustments were made in ANCs A and D.  CM Charles Allen joined the meeting, thanking the Task Force for its work, citing the difficulty of the redistricting process after Ward 6 experienced the single largest shift of population in DC history. 

On Thursday night, the Ward 7 Task Force on Redistricting finished its work, agreeing to a report explaining its rational for the ANC and SMD Redistricting recommendations embodied in the map it agreed to earlier in the week.  The vote was 13 – 4 with 2 absent. 

Two areas of contention arose during consideration of the report.  The first was the listing of public comments on the process which seemed to be weighted in favor of those who supported creation of a standalone ANC west of the river.  After some Task Force members raised concerns these comments did not reflect the final action of the Task Force, Co-chair Tamara Blair and Task Force member Ashley Ruff agreed to revisit the public comment section to achieve a more balanced content. 

The other divisive issue concerned the minority report, representing the views of Task Force  members Tamera Blair, Francis Campbell and Brian Alcorn – all of whom supported a standalone ANC on the west side of the river.  After a discussion about the Task Force’s ability to amend the minority report and whether the majority could include a rebuttal, and then a rebuttal to the rebuttal, the group voted to attach the minority report as an addendum without additional explanations. 

Alcorn, who is currently an ANC6A commissioner and other west of the river residents, gave no indication they were ready to give up on the issue of a standalone ANC.  Alcorn distributed an email to his constituents and neighbors urging them to testify at upcoming Subcommittee Redistricting hearings in support of a standalone ANC west of the river, as well as contact individual council members.  ANC6B Commissioner Denise Krepp joined Alcorn in a similar appeal to Hill East residents. 

The schedule for rest of the ANC/SMD redistricting process is as follows: 

April 7, 2022:  First Council Subcommittee hearing on ANC and SMD boundaries.  Residents can sign up to testify for 3 minutes.

April 28, 2022:  Second Council Subcommittee hearing on ANC and SMD boundaries.  Another opportunity for residents to testify. 

May/June 2022: Subcommittee votes on ANC and SMD boundaries bill. 

June 2022: full Council votes on ANC and SMD boundaries bill.

For more information, go here:  https://www.elissasilverman.com/redistricting

Ward 7 Task Force Approves Redistricting Map – CM Silverman Makes Surprise Visit

by Larry Janezich

Posted March 29, 2022

The Ward 7 Redistricting Task Force approved a final map of new ANC and Single Member District boundaries for Ward 7 last night, with only minor changes in the discussion map it considered in recent meetings.  The only change for Hill East was the carving out of a separate Single Member District for the DC Jail in an amendment offered by Task Force member Max Richman.  The final vote on the map as amended was 14 ayes – 3 nays.  Two members were absent.  The amendment increased the number of SMDs west of the river from two to three.

Afterward, some Task Force members expressed concern that the City Council’s Redistricting Subcommittee might make changes in the map before forwarding it to the Council.  That fear was prompted by the surprise appearance at last night’s virtual meeting of the Task Force by the City Council’s Subcommittee chair CM Elissa Sllverman.  Silverman had scheduled the appearance with Task Force Co-chair Tamara Blair, earlier in the day. 

At the beginning of the meeting, Silverman said that the Subcommittee was expecting a report by the end of the week including a map that met the principles of redistricting and the statutory requirements.  The law requires ANC populations to be 2000 plus or minus 5%, with some discretion outside of those limits if rationalized.

She said she wanted to refresh everybody’s memory on the principles of redistricting:  first and foremost, equal representation and no dilution of minority voting. 

Then, she said, what she would be looking for in the map drawings:

• Are your boundaries compact and contiguous?
• Are they geographically sensible?
• Are communities of interest kept together?

Task Force member Dr. Marla Dean asked if Ward 7 was the only Task Force visited by Silverman.  Silverman said no, that she had joined other task forces, including those in Wards 3, 4, 8, and would join the Ward 2 meeting tonight.

The Task Force went on to consider and adopt 5 amendments adjusting ANC and Single Member District boundaries.  Three Hill East or near Hill East Task Force members voted against the proposal for a separate SMD for DC Jail and against the final passage of the map as amended, apparently in protest against the configuration of the cross river ANCs and/or the lack of a standalone ANC west of the river. 

Afterward, near the end of the meeting, Dr. Marla Dean said that for her the process ended on a negative note and she was disheartened.  She felt the councilmember’s comments at the beginning of the meeting and her presence “were not neutral.”  Dean said she was concerned about what would happen at the next level – that the Task Force’s efforts would be undermined.

Task Force member and discussion map sponsor Keith Hasan-Towery joined Dean in expressing concern, stating that he felt Silverman’s comments reflected a feeling that a disservice had been done to some communities.  He said he was losing confidence in the process that looked like it was being undermined.  

The concerns seemed related to the controversy involved in the cross river ANC boundaries and Silverman’s emphasis on the redistricting principle that ANCs have compact and contiguous boundaries.  A look at the map shows at least one Ward 7 ANC which does not appear to meet those criteria, despite the assertion of some supporters of the final map that it does.  The proposed ANC7F sprawls awkwardly across the river with a narrow bridge connecting three single member districts west of the river with five single member districts east of the river in a three lobed configuration

The Task Force will meet again on Thursday at 5:00pm, to vote on the report which will accompany the map when it is submitted on Friday. 

ICYMI.  Change in command at the MPD’s First and Fifth Districts.  March 18 saw a change in command for both MPD First and Fifth Districts.  Fifth District Commander William Fitzgerald has retired from the Metropolitan Police Department.  He will be succeeded by former First District Commander Ralph McLean.  Inspector Tasha Bryant has been promoted to the rank of Commander and assumed command of the First District.  Contact: tasha.bryant@dc.gov and ralph.mclean@dc.gov

The Week Ahead…& Some Photos from the Past Week or So

by Larry Janezich

Posted March 27, 2022

Monday, March 28

ANC6A Community Outreach Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.

For info on joining the meeting, go here:  https://anc6a.org/community-calendar/

Among items on the draft agenda:

• Presentation:  Friends of Kingman & Heritage Islands, Lora Nunn, Vice President.

                                                                  ***

Ward 7 ANC Redistricting Task Force will hold a virtual meeting at 6:00pm.

Agenda:

• Final vote on Ward 7 ANC and Single Member District Boundaries

For info on how to join the meeting, contact Sheila Bunn:  sbunn@dccouncil.us   

                                                                   ***

Tuesday, March 29

ANC6B Executive Committee meets to set the agenda for the April meeting of ANC6B.

Go here for info on joining the meeting:  https://bit.ly/3iX6UVT

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Wednesday, March 30

Ward 6 ANC Redistricting Task Force will hold a virtual meeting at 6:00pm.

Register to watch the meeting here:  https://bit.ly/3KVtQAA                   

Agenda:

• Final approval of the ANC and SMD redistricting map and report

                                                                 ***

Thursday, March 31

Ward 6 Budget Town Hall Live and Virtual Meeting at 6:00pm.

Limited in-person seating available at the Southwest Library, 900 Wesley Place, SW.

RSVP for either in-person or live here:  https://www.charlesallenward6.com/budget23

Out and About – The Acme Mood Regulator on Independence Avenue – A Photo Essay

by Elizabeth Eby

Posted March 26, 2021

Here’s the Acme Mood Regulator.  It’s located on the north side of Independence, 1700 block. An unexpected joy.  Somebody spotted this metal box full of electronics to regulate traffic and not only imagined the Mood Regulator, but painted it to invite contemplation by passersby. 

To my 1950’s mind it recalls images of computers and fear of how in the future they would control everything, including us.  However, a friend sees it as a symbol of our ability to master our moods and the triumph of science over mythology.  Whichever way you go it is a triumph of imagination and filled with enough details such as the Start Keyhole to launch you on your own journey as you walk around it.  Note the Ward 6 designation which causes me to wonder if it is a commentary on local rather than universal humanity.

However you interpret it, it is an invitation to interact with the environment.  A reminder to look at the objects we usually walk by without a thought and possibly do not even see.  I started to think of this in terms of a question: how does the object look back at me?  A question I started to toy with when I lived in Chicago and a potential boyfriend suggested we meet “at the North Lion.”  He was way too cool for me to risk asking exactly where that was.  Fortunately I figured it out in the nick of time—the northernmost of the two lions that guard the entrance to the Art Institute.

Here are some photos to stimulate your thinking. And if you choose to give it a pass you can pick a book from the adjacent little library.

Out and About is an occasional photo feature by artist, photographer, and Capitol Hill resident Elizabeth Eby.  She finds vignettes while out and about on Capitol Hill. 

 

Ward 7 Task Force Moves Redistricting Map Forward – Final Vote Next Week

by Larry Janezich

Posted March 24, 2022

The Ward 7 Redistricting Task Force met Wednesday night and began the tweaking Keith Hasan-Towery of ANC7E’s discussion map setting new boundaries for Ward 7ANCs and single member districts (SMDs).  Despite the protests of west of the river Task Force members Francis Campbell and Brian Alcorn there was no inclination to further consider a standalone ANC for Hill East. 

Task Force member Mandla Deskins said that what he was hearing was similar to what he heard when the Task Force was looking at the ANC 6A and ANC6B area in a previous meeting and sounded like a re-litigation of the cross river ANC proposals.  At that meeting, he noted, there were a lot of negative comments from Hill East residents, adding “We have a map in front of us that we are supposed to be tightening up – not re-litigating … we have already voted on this map.”  He asked that the conversation be about how to make this map work

As the map stands, the former ANCs of 6A now part of Ward 7 will be incorporated into ANC7A in a 4:4 split with four SMDs on each side of the river.  ANC7A has RFK within its boundaries. 

On the south side of Hill East, the former ANCs of 6B or parts of them which are now part of Ward 7 will be incorporated into ANC7F.  The number of SMDs is not settled yet but it appears that there will be 6 SMDs on the east side of the river and either two or three on the west side. 

There is considerable tension within the Task Force over what many members see as an attempt by Hill East to assert control over development of Reservation 13. There is concern among residents of Hill East that commissioners from east of the river will not care about the issues (homeless encampments, traffic issues, bike lanes, etc.) that Hill East residents deal with on a day to day basis. 

Underlying these tensions are suspicions that the real issues concern race and class.  Dr. Marla Dean spoke eloquently of how those issues have played out in her own ANC on the east side and their “unwillingness to send a message that 7B01 does not want people of a certain means in our community.”  She said, “You cannot pretend that issues of race and class are not playing out in front of us, because they are.” 

The meeting adjourned without making progress on the configuration of 7F single member districts west of the river around Reservation 13.  There is uncertainty about the number of residents in the area and growing awareness that it may not be possible to meet all of the criteria regulating the setting of boundaries in these SMDs.  Keith Hasan-Towery invited the stakeholders in Hill East SMDs to “have a real conversation about how this can be done.”

The Task Force will convene again on Monday, March 28, at 6:00pm for final consideration of and vote on the map.  Following the meeting the co-chairs and select Task Force members will write the report to accompany the map which must be submitted on April 1 to the City Council Subcommittee on Redistricting. 

Ward 7 Redistricting Task Force Splits Hill East into Two Cross River ANCs

by Larry Janezich

Posted March 21, 2022

Monday night, the Ward 7 Redistricting Task Force expressed a strong preference for absorbing the former Ward 6 ANCs east of the Anacostia into two ANCs lying east of the river.  The decision came as the Task Force voted on the three outstanding maps which had not been yet considered.  Task Force members were asked to vote to accept a whole map for advancement, or to accept a map in part for further advancement, or to decline to advance a map. 

The comprehensive map which was advanced for further consideration was named “Ward 7 Strongly Together,” (above) offered by Keith Hasan-Towery of ANC7E.  The proposal received 11 votes to advance it vs. 7 to accept it in part.  The concept is to have two ANCs – A and F – each with single member districts on each side of the river.  (Ed. Note.  Update.  Originally this post reported that the intent was to have four SMDs on each side of the river for 7A and 7F.  While this was true for 7A (7D02 is mislabled and should be 7A01), 7F has only two SMDs on the east side of the river.  One of those, 7F07 has too many residents for one SMD and not enough for two.  If 7F can form three SMDs on the west side of the river and everything else remains the same, 7F would have a total of six single member districts on the east side of the river in a very irregularly shaped ANC7F.  The Task Force will consider this map again on March 23.)  

A partial map (above) by Ebony Payne of Kingman Park named “West of the River,” received 11 votes to decline vs. 5 to accept in part. She told the Task Force that the city would like a cross river ANC and made a case for keeping Hill East, Kingman Park and River Terrace together as sister communities with the same environmental impact interests. 

Rob Coomber of Kingman Park’s comprehensive map named “Minimum Change” received 14 votes to decline vs. 3 votes to accept in part.  The map would keep Hill East together and like Payne’s map, include Kingman Park and River Terrace in one ANC.  Coomber said that community familiarity was critical, people without cars will have trouble attending cross river ANC meetings, and that cross river ANCs “sounds like it might be a good idea but one which we have seen doesn’t work.” 

Prior to the votes, Task-Force co-chair Tamara Blair advised the Task Force that none of the proposals were perfect and that any maps which were advanced were subject to further modification. 

Also prior to the vote, Task Force member Dr. Marla Dean said that the redistricting had been a process of adjusting to community feedback.  She added, that “many people are upset in many parts of the Ward – that means we did a good job, because every part of the ward has sacrificed.” 

The Task Force will continue its work of tweaking the map when it meets at 5:00pm on Wednesday. 

…and across H Street and on the corner, The Big Board’s liquor license remains indefinitely suspended.  After raising about $58,000 on two fund raising sites in the past 6 weeks, donations have slowed to a trickle. 

The Week Ahead….& Some Photos from the Past Week

by Larry Janezich

Posted March 20, 2022

Monday, March 21

ANC 6A Transportation & Public Space Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.

To join the meeting, go here:  https://anc6a.org/community-calendar/

Among items on the draft agenda:

• Review and Discussion of DDOT Notice of Intent for North Carolina Avenue NE from 13th Street to 14th Place, including Separated Bike Facilities, Raised Crosswalk, and Parking Changes
• Protected bike lanes connecting the 1400 block of Maryland Avenue NE to National Arboretum/Bladensburg Road project
• Traffic calming at 300 block of 15th Street NE
• Traffic calming at West Virginia Avenue NE
• Capitol Hill Classic race permit and street closures
• Closed session to discuss Committee business

                                                                      ***

Ward 7 ANC Redistricting Task Force will hold a virtual Roundtable at 5:00pm

• This Roundtable will determine the ANC and SMD boundaries for Ward 7 for the next ten years. Current Ward 6 residents who live east of 15th Street will be affected.

Go here to register in advance to watch this webinar:  https://anc6a.org/community-calendar/

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinars.

                                                                     ***

Tuesday, March 22

ANC6A Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.

To join the meeting, go here:  https://anc6a.org/community-calendar/

Among items on the draft agenda: 

• Discussion of application by Taqueria Al Lado II at 809 12th Street NE for a Class C Restaurant License.

                                                                ***

Ward 6 ANC Redistricting Task Force will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm

Register to watch the meeting here:  https://bit.ly/3KVtQAA

Agenda:

• Final approval of the map and report

                                                                ***

Wednesday, March 23

Ward 7 ANC Redistricting Task Force will hold a virtual meeting at a time TBA.

Info on how to join the meeting:  TBA