CAPITOL HILL CORNER

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Friends of SE Library (FOSEL) Campaign to Save the SE Library Book Sale

By Larry Janezich

Posted September 12, 2021

This weekend, Friends of SE Library (FOSEL) launched a “major public and political campaign to generate support” for continuing monthly book sales at Southeast Library.  The current plan for the renovation of the library, FOSEL maintains, will leave it without adequate space to continue managing the monthly book sale.  In a letter to Richard Reyes-Gavilan, Executive Director DC Public Library, FOSEL President Neal Gregory stated FOSEL’s position: 

• The monthly sale attracts thousands of visitors and raises thousands of dollars annually.  All of the funds are used to benefit the DC Library system – most are spent for children’s programs at SE Library but funds are also made available to other branch libraries and programs supported by DC Public Libraries.  
• FOSEL operates the book sale using space at the SE Library. The Friends’ room is about 175 square feet.
• The latest plan for the library renovation would allocate only 86 square feet of space for FOSEL after the renovation.
• All activities in the new library will have more space except FOSEL which will lose 50% of its space.
• FOSEL does not believe that the Library’s plan to restrict book donations to the week before the sale and allowing those donated books to be stored in a study room is a viable approach.
• FOSEL will continue discussions with Library management and states clearly that FOSEL’s goal is to end up with at least the same amount of space in the new library that it has in the old.
• FOSEL does not believe it is possible to operate a successful monthly book sale with less space than it currently has.

Copies of the letter went to Mayor Bowser, CM Charles Allen, and ANC6B Chair Brian Ready.

On Saturday, FOSEL started circulating a petition urging DC Library to grant them space at least the size of the space they now have.  In 24 hours, the petition garnered more than 400 signatures. 

Last July 21, DC Library officials told FOSEL that their allotted space for staging of the monthly book sales would be half of what they currently have.  At the time, the Friends told the design team it would not be nearly enough.  Designers said they were trying to maximize public use and that prioritizing others is the best use of the space they have. 

FOSEL member Bob Gellman told Capitol Hill Corner, “The reasons that management give for reducing the space for the sale don’t make much sense. In the course of a year, somewhere between 15,000 and 20,000 people participate in the sales as buyers, donors, or workers. The book sale is a major community activity that the library should welcome and support. Everybody likes a book sale, especially when most books are a dollar each. The Friends are not asking for more space. Other branch libraries have bigger Friends rooms, and some don’t use their space at all.”

Despite hopes that the renovation of Southeast Library could be finished before the library’s 2022 anniversary date, on March 5, 2020, officials announced that the start of construction had been pushed back to late 2022 making spring of 2024 the target for reopening the library.  The Library will remain open until late 2022 instead of closing in late 2021.

Chuck Wray, head of Quinn-Evans Architect’s library renovation design team, said that the complexity of the approval process for work on  the historic Carnegie Library caused the adjustment of the project timeline.

(Full disclosure:  The editor of Capitol Hill Corner is a member of FOSEL.)

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Update on Plan to Make PA Avenue SE Two Travel Lanes in Each Direction

By Larry Janezich

Posted September 10, 2021

Last Wednesday night, ANC6B’s Transportation Committee got an update on DDOT’s plan to reduce Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, from three travel lanes in each direction to two lanes in each direction between 2^nd Street, SE, and Barney Circle. 

DDOT considered several options and asked for community comment before selecting a plan which provides two travel lanes in each direction, a peak period bus lane in each direction with parking allowed during off peak hours, and a curbside bike lane.

The plan is at 30% design phase completion, which means that the major design elements which the public is most likely to care about are at a stage that they can be depicted and explained in some detail.  The plan has been transferred to the DDOT Traffic Engineering and Signals Division to carry the project to 100%. 

The project will proceed in two phases – Phase I will be from 2^nd Street, SE, to 13^th Street, SE, and is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2022.  Phase II will be from 13^th Street, SE, to Barney Circle and will be complete in 2024-2025.

The Committee agreed to a motion to support the project by a unanimous vote.  The full ANC6B is expected to follow suit at its next monthly meeting on September 14.  

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Jazz Artist Aaron Myers at Eastern Market Metro Plaza Friday Night – 5:00-6:30pm

By Larry Janezich

Aaron Myers – DC based jazz artist (4 albums), author (2 books), Obama activist, and WPFW Jazz Stories host – will bring his music and poignant cultural insights to Eastern Market Metro Plaza for an early evening performance on Friday, September 10. 

Myers:  “It is an artist’s responsibility to use their platform to shed light, bring about awareness, and thoughtfully engage others on the issues of the day.”

For more information, go here.  https://www.aaron2.me/

The performance is the second in a series of September Friday Night live events brought to the Plaza by Barracks Row and Eastern Market Main Streets, Champs, the Capitol Hill BID and the Hill Center as an on-going Plaza activating effort for the benefit of the community. 

The schedule for the rest of the month includes performances by Samuel Prather on September 17, and Herb Scott on September 24. 

Funding is being provided by the two Main Street organizations and the Capitol Hill BID.  CM Charles Allen was successful in providing $150,000 in next year’s budget for programming for the Plaza in   FY 2022.

Programming for September will feature more live music for kids and families on Saturday mornings from 10:00-11:30am.

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Capitol Hill Art League Members-Only Juried Art Exhibit thru Sept 25

By Larry Janezich

Posted September 8, 2021

The Capitol Hill Art League (CHAL) members show themed “Reflections” is hung in the gallery at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW) and will be there until September 25th. The exhibit may also be viewed online at: http://caphillartleague.org/2021-reflections  “Reflections”, literal and or abstracted suggests contemplative, evocative expressions that welcome the viewer’s curiosity, and perhaps recognition. “Reflections” may reflect one’s internal musing of the “real”, or imaged and/or depictions of the multiple reflections actually visible.  Below are some additional images of pieces from the show.  

CHAW is located at: 545 7th Street, SE, Washington, DC. 20003

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The end of the first day of school last Monday – this was the scene around 3:20pm on Monday in front of Watkins Elementary.

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The Week Ahead…and Some Photos from the Past Week

By Larry Janezich

Posted September 6, 2021

The Week Ahead…

ANC Highlight:

Wednesday, September 9, ANC6A:  U.S. Attorney’s Office for the DC representative Douglas Klein – Community Prosecutor for the First District – will make a presentation.  Seems like a good time to ask how the prosecution of insurrectionists is going and whether that East Capitol Street chiropractor has been charged with anything.  Klein usually responds that he can’t comment on ongoing investigations.  Still, it might be interesting.  

Wednesday, September 8

ANC6B Transportation and Public Safety Committee will hold a virtual meeting.

For information on how to join the meeting, go here: https://anc6b.org/calendar/ 

• Requests for Support of Speed Humps
  • 1500-1600 blocks of E Street, SE
  • 1100 block of D Street, SE—SR# 21-00312546 (6B04)
• Request for Support to Name Alley between 200 blocks of 10th & 11th Streets SE
• DDOT Update on Traffic Safety Request for Freeway Exit at 9th & I Streets SE
• Request for No Parking Zone in Front of SE Library
• Request for Contra-Flow Bike Lanes for 1200 block of G Street, SE & 1500 block of K Street, SE.
• Conversion of One-Way Blocks to Two Way (6B04)–NOI #21-204-TSED Installation of Mobile Roadway Vehicle Zone at 100 D Street SE (6B01) NOI 21-183-TOA
• Commercial Loading & No Parking Zones for 816/818 Potomac Avenue, SE.

Thursday, September 9

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

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

Among items on the draft agenda:

• Presentation: Jessica Sutter, Ward 6 State Board of Education Representative.
• Presentation: Principal Sah Brown, Eastern High School.
• Presentation: S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia Update – AUSA Douglas Klein, Community Prosecutor for 1D, AUSA Magdalena Acevedo, Community Prosecutor for 5D and Christopher Wade, Community Outreach Specialist for 1D.
• H Street Spirits at 1368 H Street, NE. Application for a Class A Retail License.
• Z Korner Store at 234 15th Street, NE. Application for a Class B Retail License
• Traffic calming. Letter of support to DDOT for consideration of speed humps and/or raised crosswalks.
  • 1600 block of Isherwood Street NE, amending the ANC’s resolution of July 10, 202.
  • F Street, NE, between 17th and 18th Streets, NE, and the Intersection of 18th NE, and E Streets, NE, and 18th Street NE from D to E Streets. NE, and E Street. NE, from 18th to 19th Streets, NE.
  • 700 – 1300 blocks of I Street, NE, including consideration of speed humps and/or raised crosswalks.
  • 1300, 1400 and 1500 blocks of East Capitol Street, NE, including consideration of speed humps and/or raised crosswalks.
  • 300 block of 19th Street, NE, including consideration of speed humps and/or raised crosswalks.
  • Intersections of 14th and A Streets, NE; 15th and A Streets, NE; and 15th Street and Constitution Avenue, NE.
• 1300 I Street, NE. Letter of support to BZA for a Modification of Consequence pursuant to previously approved plans (to add a penthouse enclosure, including a staircase, and roof deck at 1300 I Street, NE) with the caveat that the developer make best efforts to get letters of support from the neighbors on I Street and Florida Avenue, and that the developer change the treatment on the penthouse structure to match and flow with the rest of the building.. 
• 810 C Street, NE. Letter of support to HPA regarding a historic review of a project for the renovation and a 10 foot addition, add third story to two-story building, and reconfigure façade’s windows and door openings to an existing two-unit row house with conversion to a single family row house at 810 C Street, NE, in the Historic District. with the caveat that the developer make best efforts to get letters of support from the owners or occupants of adjacent properties at 812 C Street NE and 805 C Street NE.

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

For information on how to join the meeting, go here:  https://anc6b.org/calendar/

Among items on the draft agenda.

• G Street, SE. Case: BZA 20502. Special exception for lot occupancy.
• Letter in support of bills by Eleanor Holmes to remove to remove federal members of the DC Zoning Commission and to remove NCPC review of District-owned and private projects. The bill to reintroduce would remove CFA review for private projects. The last one uniquely affects ANC 6B (and 6C) in that ordinary permits for private properties close to the Capitol must go through an extra layer of review at the Commission of Fine Arts. For everyday permits that don’t require HPRB reviews, these are always approved without issue but are subject to delays from their staff as well as their meeting calendar. For larger projects, our local HPRB would retain review and jurisdiction.

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

For information on how to join the meeting, go here:  https://anc6b.org/calendar/

Among items on the draft agenda.

• La Casina DC, 327 7th Street, SE. Retailer’s Class “C” Restaurant liquor license, request to change/update Settlement Agreement.
• Crazy Aunt Helen’s, 718 8th Street, SE. Retailer’s Class CR License, request to change/update existing Settlement Agreement.
• BR Fine Wine & Spirits, 801 Virginia Avenue, S.E. Retailer’s Class “A” Liquor Store license.  Request to change name from BR Fine Wine & Spirits to Classy Corks Wine and Spirits. 

ANC6C will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.

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

Among items on the draft agenda:

• Presentation: Serve Your City/Ward Six Mutual Aid, Sarah Liebman
• Washington DC NOMA Operations, 1222 1st Street NE. Application for a new Class C hotel liquor license and a new Class B retail liquor license.
• King Street Oyster Bar, 22 M Street, NE. Application for a stipulated restaurant liquor license. 
• National Park Service, update on properties in ANC 6C.
  • Swampoodle II park at 3rd and L Streets NE, update.
  • Swampoodle II, park at 3rd and L Streets, NE, transportation safety features.
• 1133 North Capitol Street NE. Revised public space application.
• Circulator route, Union Station to Deanwood.
• Baltimore-Washington SCMAGLEV draft environmental impact statement.
• 6th Street between K Street NE and Florida Avenue NE. Request for speed bumps.
• 617 A Street NE. Application for Zoning Adjustment – accessory garage with roof deck.
• 200 K Street, NE. Zoning Application – PUD modification, retail use to be located at 2nd and L Streets, NE.
• 111 Massachusetts Avenue, NW. Zoning Application –PUD modification, of consequence and a waiver, university use.
• 227, 233-235, 237-239 Massachusetts Avenue, NE. Historic Preservation Application for Hillsdale College – penthouses and plazas.
• 300 New Jersey Avemue, NW & 51 Louisiana Avenue, NW. Zoning Adjustment Application for penthouse.
• 1173 3rd Street, NE. Revised BA application, new 3-story dwelling with roof deck.

Saturday, September 11

• Friends of Southeast Library will hold a book sale at Southeast Library from 10:00am until 3:00pm. More later. 

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Friday Night Live Jazz on Eastern Market Metro Plaza Starts September 3

by Larry Janezich

On Friday, September 3, Deborah Bond, DC’s popular indie-soul song artist, will kick off a month of Friday night live music performances from 5:00pm until 6:30pm at the Eastern Market Metro Pavilion.  Her music references Anita Baker, Sade, and Chaka Khan and she cites inspiration by Luther Vandross, Whitney Houston and Stevie Wonder.

Bond is a veteran of performances at venues including the Warner Theater, 9:30 Club, Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, Blues Alley, Blue Note NYC, Cobb Performing Arts Center in Atlanta, and Jazz Café in London.

For more information and music videos, go here:   https://www.deborahbond.com/media

The complete schedule for the month is as follows:

• September 3: Deborah Bond
• September 10: Aaron Myers
• September 17: Samuel Prather
• September 24: Herb Scott

According to Charles McCaffrey, Executive Director of Eastern Market Main Street, Councilmember Charles Allen initiated the effort to program the events through the end of the fiscal year.  Barracks Row and Eastern Market Main Streets, Champs, the Capitol Hill BID and the Hill Center joined forces to consider what could be done quickly.  Capitol Hill Center’s relationship with Herb Scott of DC Jazz Fest enabled performers to be lined up for Friday nights in September. 

According to McCaffrey, the goals were to activate the plaza, reinforce the idea that DC is open, do things outside for the community, and encourage the community to patronize nearby businesses and restaurants.

Funding is being provided by the two Main Street organizations and the Capitol Hill BID.  Allen was successful in providing $150,000 in next years budget for programming for the Plaza in   FY 2022. 

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The series of murals promoting DC Statehood near the corner of 8^th Street and Virginia Avenue, SE, having reached the end of their year-long run, are being replaced.  MuralsDC – the DC Department of Public Works Graffiti Prevention Initiative – has commissioned a series of new murals for the site which will reflect the themes of unity and community featuring local references – landscape features and architecture.  http://muralsdcproject.com/

Capitol Hill Corner is documenting the creation of the three murals.  The first one completed is Hannah Atallah’s “Rootedness and Displacement’, based on a photo by Conrado Muluc.  See here:  https://www.hannahatallah.com/   https://www.instagram.com/conradomuluc/?hl=en

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The Week Ahead…and some Photos from the Past Week

By Larry Janezich

Posted, August 29, 2021

The Week Ahead…

Monday, August 30

ANC6C Alcoholic Beverage Licensing Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.

For info on how to join the meeting, go here:

Draft agenda:

• citizenM,1222 1st Street NE, application for a new retailer’s class C hotel liquor license.
• citizenM, 1222 1st Street NE, application for a new retailer’s Class B liquor license.

Tuesday, August 31

ANC6B Executive Committee holds a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.

For info on how to join the meeting, go here:  https://anc6b.org/event/executive-committee-meeting-8/?instance_id=115

Agenda:

• To set the agenda for the upcoming meeting of the full ANC on September 14.

Wednesday, September 1

ANC6C Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 6:30pm. 

For info on how to join the meeting, go here:  https://anc6c.org/september-2021-virtual-meeting-details/

Among items on the draft agenda:

• Reminder of non-standard date for this month’s full ANC meeting: Thursday, September 9
• 617 A Street, NE – Zoning Adjustment Application to construct an accessory garage with roof deck for an existing, attached two-story principal dwelling unit.
• 200 K Street, NE – Zoning Application of Toll DC II LP, for a modification of significance to a previously approved PUD to allow for use of approximately 6,950 square feet (of the 13,801 square feet of gross floor area devoted to retail uses) for animal sales, care, and boarding use in Phase II – i.e., the Union Place Apartments.
• 111 Massachusetts Avenue, NW – Zoning Application of Georgetown University for a PUD modification of consequence and a waiver, to allow the application to be processed as a modification of consequence (and thus without the need for a hearing) rather than as a modification of significance, for an existing building (authorized under the prior PUD orders for commercial, residential, and retail use).
• 227, 233-235, 237-239 Massachusetts Ave. NE – Historic Preservation application of Hillsdale College for concept approval for new penthouses and reconfiguration of plazas.
• 300 New Jersey Ave. NW & 51 Louisiana Avenue, NW – Zoning Adjustment Application for special exception relief, allow the construction of a penthouse addition that will serve an existing rooftop deck on the existing, detached commercial building.

Thursday, September 2

ANC6C Transportation and Public Space Committee holds a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.

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

Among items on the draft agenda:

• Public Space Application at 1133 North Capitol Street, NE.
• Swampoodle II at 3rd and L Street NE. NoMa Parks Foundation is planning for Swampoodle II at the northwest corner of 3^rd and L Streets NE. The Committee will hear updates from the NoMa Parks Foundation, including proposed traffic calming measures and crossing design.
• Recommended Circulator Route from Union Station-Deanwood. DDOT’s Transit Development Plan 2020 update recommends a new Circulator route from Union Station to Deanwood;  The Committee will consider making a recommendation for the ANC to submit to DDOT.
• Baltimore-Washington SCMAGLEV Draft EIS. ANC6C submitted comments last May to the Federal Railroad Administration on the Baltimore-Washington SCMAGLEV Project draft environmental impact statement (DEIS). Since then, additional comments have been noted on the DEIS, including comments from the DC Office of Planning and the District Department of Transportation. The Committee will consider making a recommendation for the ANC to request Mayor Bowser and Chairman Mendelson to submit additional comments on the project.
• 6th Street NE between K Street NE and Florida Ave NE was reconfigured as a part of Florida Ave Project’s interim safety improvements, which included shifting 6th St NE to oneway northbound and including protected bike lanes on both sides of the streets. The Committee will consider making recommendations to the full ANC to request funding to complete 6th St NE improvements on the same timeline as the rest of the Florida Ave Project.

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Building Community through Guerrilla Gardening

by Larry Janezich

Posted August 27, 2021

Guerrilla Gardening is a form of urban activism where individuals take responsibility for improving unused and neglected public spaces and build community in the process.  As practiced by Capitol Hill based Guerrilla Gardeners of DC, it is more than organizing people to beautify the street and engaging community partners to provide the resources. 

The Guerrilla Gardeners of DC is a non-profit with a three member board and a core group of about a dozen volunteers that recruits ad hoc volunteers on projects as needed. 

One of those projects came together last year, when then-ANC6A Commissioner Kelly Waud and Naomi Mitchell (a neighbor who works in CM Charles Allen’s office) reached out to Jim Guckert of Guerrilla Gardeners for assistance with the two triangle parks on Potomac Avenue, SE, between 12th and 13th Streets.  The parks had recently been renovated with fitness equipment and a splash pad at the cost of some half a million dollars, but upon completion were left with no plan or money for maintenance.  Nature had taken over.  Guerrilla Gardeners couldn’t wait to jump in. Waud co-chaired the restoration project with Guckert, raised money and recruited volunteers.  Waud offered to match some donations from her own pocket which in the end, ran to several thousand dollars. The project kicked off last fall and community volunteers turned out in force to restore and plant. (see CHC post here:  https://bit.ly/33NN5bt) 

The Rumphius Foundation funded three summer internships for Potomac Gardens and Hopkins Apartments residents to assist in maintaining and enhancement of the parks.  Guerrilla Gardener’s plan for future maintenance involves founding a Friends of the Park group to take over maintenance with help from Guerilla Gardeners.  Guckert and Waud are also taking steps to activate the park.  They reached out to Aquarius Van-Ghasri – long time DCHA Commissioner and President of the Potomac Gardens Resident’s Council.  The three collaborate to implement programming for the parks.  Some of these upcoming events* include a “Children’s Book Reading” featuring local authors of three children’s books (Saturday, August 27),  “Unplugged in the Park” featuring the rhythm and blues band “Shug and Velvet Cover” along with DJ TKO and the poetry of Geraldine Jackson (Saturday, September 4).  Later in September, a Capitol Hill Sport & Health fitness instructor will her services for a “Just Dance” fitness class in the park for anyone who wants to attend. 

Guckert says the events are all undertaken with the “goal of connecting people with resources of community as much as possible – and if we are the catalyst, so much the better”.  He hopes to use the Potomac Parks template in other parts of city especially in underserved neighborhoods, i.e., establish affiliate groups then transition to a Friends of the Park to take over and manage their own maintenance and programming.

Guerrilla Gardeners will launch another major project this fall – “One Beautiful Mile” – which will tie a series of their projects together, starting at Potomac Avenue Circle and extending to Garfield Park. Those existing projects include the two Potomac Avenue Triangle Parks, the planting of the Marine Barracks corner at 9th and I, Winston Park at 8th and I, and the landscaped knoll on the north side of the freeway between 6th and 7th Streets.  The goal is to beautify the stretch and encourage the intervening homeowners and businesses to take responsibility for the public spaces and tree boxes in front of (or behind) their properties. 

Guerrilla Gardeners has expanded its reach to support non-gardening ways to build community.  Guckert is building a team of volunteers and neighbors to participate in Congressional Cemetery’s annual fundraiser, the 5K Deadman’s Run on October 29.  Those who join the team and register for the race will get a free Guerrilla Gardener’s tee shirt– the only way to get one without volunteering and getting your hands dirty.  Other examples include Guerrilla Gardeners’ support for the 6th Street mural restoration project headed up by ANC Commissioner Brian Ready and a project led by neighbor and former HPRB member Nancy Metzger to restore fire call boxes.   

Guckert says, “What Guerrilla Gardeners does is a good thing to do.  If you see something that somebody should be taking care of, maybe that should be you.  That’s the spirit I try to infuse in others.”

Guerrilla Gardener’s Board is comprised of Jim Guckert, Karl Kindel, and Pat Startt.  Guerrilla Gardener’s funding comes from donations and a grant from the Capitol Hill Foundation.  The group was formally organized as a non-profit 501C3 in September of 2019.  Donations are tax deductible. 

*To learn more, check the upcoming events, donate, suggest a project, or volunteer, go here:  https://guerrillagardenersdc.org/

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The Week Ahead…Cannabis Festival at RFK…and Some Photos from the Past Week

by Larry Janezich

Posted August 22, 2021

Tuesday, August 24

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

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

Among items on the draft agenda: 

• Discussion of application by H Street Spirits at 1368 H Street, NE, for a Class A Retail License.
• Discussion of application by Z Korner Store at 234 15^th Street, NE, for a Class B Retail License.
• Discussion of application by Daru at 1451 Maryland Avenue, NE, for renewal of its Class C Tavern License.

Saturday, August 28

Saturday, August 28

National Cannabis Festival, 11:00am – 8:00pm, Festival Grounds, at Lot 6/7 at RFK Stadium, 2400 East Capitol St NE, Washington, D.C

• Proof of full vaccination is required – masks will be encouraged.
• More than 20,000 attendees expected.
• “National Cannabis Festival is a yearly, one-day event held at the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium festival grounds with a focus on the music, advocacy, education, and activism related to Cannabis in Washington, D.C.” Wiki.
• More here: https://nationalcannabisfestival.com/

Building Community Through Gardening – More on Capitol Hill’s Community Gardens

by Larry Janezich

Posted August 21, 2021

Community gardening is a global phenomenon and like its cousin, guerrilla gardening, it sprang from a grass roots movement.  Both provide an additional dimension to the social fabric of the community and act as largely unacknowledged agents of community development, building community through legally sharing – or appropriating – common ground in a way that sustains the environment and improves neighborhoods.  Capitol Hill community gardens tend to focus on food production.  Guerrilla gardens focus on the ornamental.  Both provide ways to make a meaningful contribution to the community.  During the pandemic, many Capitol Hill gardeners found relief from social isolation in the community gardens.  Some of the gardens have to be sought out – like Pomegranate Alley Community Garden; some are hidden in plain sight like the 13th Street Community Park and Garden and 1200 Potomac Avenue Community Garden.

Last week, CHC posted photos of four of Capitol Hill’s eleven Community Gardens – Hilton, King’s Court, Pomegranate Alley, and Virginia Avenue.  Here are photos of the remaining seven.  There are waiting lists for most garden plots; below, find contact information for all eleven. 

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Previously featured on CHC:

Hilton Community Garden. 6^th Street between Constitution and C Streets, NE. 35 plots.    mary.lifcher@gmail.com    

King’s Court Community Garden  34 plots.  In center of block bounded by 14^th and 15^th Streets and C Street and South Carolina Avenue, SE.  Margaret.mook@gmail.com

Pomegranate Alley Community Garden  20 plots  911 11^th Street, behind Ginko Gardens.  mark@GinkgoGardens.com

Virginia Avenue Community Garden.  80 plots.  In Virginia Avenue Park, 9^th andVirginia Avenue, SE.  This garden is part of the DPR Community Gardens program and maintained in part by DPR.  See here for more information. https://dpr.dc.gov/page/community-gardens  – contact commgarden@yahoo.com