Elijah Balbed Performs Tonight at Eastern Market Metro Plaza. Photo: Elijah Balbed
Friday Night Live Jazz at Eastern Market Metro Plaza Features Elijah Balbed – Jazz/Go-Go Artist – 5:00p – 6:30p
by Larry Janezich
Posted: October 8, 2021
Elijah Balbed, who performs tonight at Eastern Market Metro Plaza, has been named Best Tenor Saxophonist and Best New Jazz Musician by the Washington City Paper, and has had several media features including Capital Bop, Smithsonian Magazine, OnTap Magazine (now District Fray), and The Washington Post.
Elijah and his band the EJB Quartet were the winners of the 2020 DC Jazz Prix for their performance of Elijah’s “The Karma Suite”.
In addition to Jazz, Balbed has a deep roots in DC’s indigenous Go-G0 music. In 2014, he founded The JoGo Project – a Jazz / Go-Go fusion band dedicated to promoting and preserving the legacy of DC’s unique art form. Since then, the band has become one of the only Go-Go bands today consistently writing and producing original music.
The schedule for the rest of the month includes performances by Zach Cutler, October 15; Amy Bormet, October 22; and Imani Grace-Cooper, October 29.
CM Charles Allen provided $150,000 in the current FY’s budget for programming for the Plaza for the next 12 months.
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Additional details on the homicide which occurred about 9:45pm Tuesday night on Watkins football field are now available. Some of these come from an email CM Charles Allen sent out last night:
“Wanted to share a quick update on a tragic event tonight. There was a shooting and homicide on the Watkins football field tonight. From what I’m being told, two people in the flag football league were having an argument throughout their game and when it ended, the argument continued. It seems one individual pulled a handgun out of his bag and shot the other individual while still on the field. That individual then fled the scene. However, MPD has already recovered the handgun and has very strong leads and details on a suspect. MPD leadership expects they’ll be on the field a good part of tonight to make sure they canvas and recover all shell casings and do the forensics work necessary. Their goal is to be done by the morning and have the entire site clear in time for staff arriving at the school. It’s possible however that they may need to come back and do a daytime canvass of the field to ensure they have all evidence and shell casings.
“This violence is absolutely inexcusable and all indications appear it was between two known people that escalated a conflict quickly, but I’m glad to see that MPD has recovered a handgun and has solid leads to close this case quickly with an arrest hopefully.”
Allen, Ward 6 Councilmember, is Chair of the Committee on the Judiciary & Public Safety.
Additional details – which CHC cannot confirm – came in response to CHC’s posting to community listservs of a link to a story on the shooting published by The Hill Rag this morning.
In response to that posting, CHC received an email from a Capitol Hill resident which stated that “the victim’s 2-year-old child was at the scene when the shooting occurred, according to the police scanner last night.”
ANC6B Chair Brian Ready told CHC that the ANC will ask MPD to update the community on the homicide next Tuesday, October 12, at the full ANC virtual meeting. Details on how to join the meeting will be posted Sunday night in the CHC feature, “The Week Ahead”. In addition, Ready said that he is planning to have a longer meeting with MPD on crime on Capitol Hill in mid-October. Details will be posted here and on the ANC website.
Gottlieb Simon, Executive Director of the DC Office of ANCs (OANC), abruptly announced his retirement at an on-line meeting of ANC Chairs last Thursday night.
That was followed by an email to all 300 ANC commissioners from CM Robert White, Chair of the DC Committee on Government Operations which oversees the OANC on Friday, October 1.
White announced that Simon was leaving the role of Executive Director after more than 20 years and commended him for his service. He said that on Tuesday, October 5, the Council would vote on appointment of Schannette Grant as Interim Executive Director. Grant was chief of staff to former CM Jack Evans.
Monday night, a citywide caucus of ANC commissioners, organized and coordinated by former ANC6B Chair Chander Jayaraman, discussed Simon’s departure during a virtual caucus.
Some commissioners suggested Simon had been forced to resign because Councilmembers lacked confidence in the office after failure to meet a fiscal year-end deadline for policy changes – including a plan for resuming hybrid/in person ANC meetings next February and a plan to increase communication with ANCs.
Commissioners expressed appreciation for Simon’s institutional memory but some expressed frustration that the Office of ANC was not being more supportive of the ANCs.
In August, the caucus of ANCs through ACTOS – its committee to advise the Office of ANC – sent a detailed letter to Simon with a wish list of things OANC could do to help the ANCs – but as one commissioner put it Monday night, “nothing was done that we can see.” That letter requested :
Procurement of software to assist commissioners with outreach and engagement with their constituents
Language accessibility for those whose first language is not English and supplemental communication access services for those with disabilities
Funding to support remote meeting technologies, audio-visual technology and services, printing services and website assistance
There was a consensus of the group in Monday night’s meeting that the ANC’s should have a voice in the selection of the new Director, and there are indications CM Robert White is amenable. It’s unclear what role the ANCs would play in the process, but a letter to White is being circulated within the caucus regarding a advice to the CC about the direction the OANC should go in the future. That letter will be circulated to all ANC commissioners in the city with a request to sign on to the recommendations.
A rendition of proposed redevelopment of The Eastern Branch Boys and Girls Club looking northwest.
Update on Hill East Boys and Girls Club – A New Developer with a New Plan
by Larry Janezich
Posted October 6, 2021
Tuesday night, DMPED Development Manager Chris Todd introduced Morningstar Community Development as the new developer of the Hill East Boys and Girls Club. The occasion was the virtual meeting of ANC6B’s Planning and Zoning Committee, chaired by Commissioner Corey Holman.
Morningstar succeeds Century Associates who was first awarded the contract but who was not able to find a way to make its proposal economically viable before the City Council-imposed time limit ran out. When that happened, DMPED turned to the second responder to their 2017 RFP.
The new plan anticipates redevelopment of the site as condos for multi-generational families. Morningstar is proposing 32 to 35 units (11 affordable at 50% and 80% AMI), 2000 plus s.f. of commercial space for community use, and 11 below grade parking spaces. The developer calls the entire project workforce housing; the balance of the units will and top out at 120% AMI, a price range which Morningstar says is typically below market value.
The breakdown of all the units is as follows:
8 – One bedroom
14 – One bedroom with den
11 – Two bedroom
2 – Three bedroom
Pricing of the 30% – 50% affordable housing breaks down as follows:
Commissioner Alison Horn Horn questioned the developer about the lack of 0% – 30% AMI affordable units. The architect for the project said that they had found homeownership very challenging for units under 50% AMI; that expenses related to maintenance and repair tend to exceed family budgets below 50% AMI – especially from 0% – 30% AMI.
Since the disposition authority for the city-owned land has expired, the project will have to go back before the City Council to renew that authority – DMPED says they hope to do that by year’s end. After that, the project will require a change in zoning, since the current RF-1 zoning limits conversion to apartment use.
Other projects which Morningstar developed include Stanton Tower Condos (the converted church overlooking Stanton Park), Parkway Overlook Apartments in Congress Heights, and Chapman Stables in NOMA.
Coming to Barracks Row: Han Palace – Dim Sum & Cantonese Restaurant
by Larry Janezich
Han Palace, a new dim sum & Cantonese restaurant will open on Barracks Row this fall in space formerly occupied by Frame of Mine at 522 8th Street, SE. The venture belongs to restaurateur Chris Zhu who has sister restaurants in Rockville and Tysons. The opening comes in conjunction with a second new restaurant opening in Woodley Park at 2649 Connecticut Avenue, NW. Han Palace will reportedly offer 60 seats indoors and out. Zhu hopes to open in December, but odds are the permitting will take longer than expected.
According to ANC6B Commissioner Kirsten Oldenburg, a liquor license has been applied for, but it is not yet on the ANC’s agenda.
The Quillian family, (update: former) owners of 522 8th Street, did not renew Frame of Mine’s lease on its space when it expired in 2015. At the time, the owners were reported to be seeking a restaurant to occupy the space. The frame shop has since relocated across the street to 545 8th Street, SE.
The building next door – Extreme Pizza, space also owned by the Quillians – has been in limbo since shortly after it opened. Word is that it awaits new management.
Draw the Curtain by Nicolas Party envelopes the Hirshhorn during renovation of the building’s exterior.
Last Wednesday, a 1979 Lamborghini in a glass case was on display of the National Mall. It was the 30th classic auto to be exhibited as part of a series – Cars at the Capital – which showcases inductees of the National Historic Vehicle Register – sponsored by the Hagerty Drivers Foundation in partnership with the US Department of the Interior, Historic American Engineering Record, and LOC Archives.
The Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee met last Wednesday. The Committee re-elected its officers and Chair Donna Scheeder announced that DGS is inching closer to laying out a plan for implementing the recommendations of a $300,000 study to ensure for the survival of Eastern Market. Some of those recommendations would affect the makeup of a future governing body for Eastern Market.
This was the scene on Thursday afternoon at the U.S. Capitol. Demonstrators in front of the House wing were demanding passage of the $3.5 trillion Build Back Better Reconciliation Bill before voting on the $1.5 trillion infrastructure bill. The latter has passed the Senate but progressives are holding up a House vote pending action on the former. It’s also the former – the Build Back Better Bill – that’s stuck in the Senate over the recalcitrance of Democrat Senators Manchin and Sinema. Manchin wants to reduce the price tag from $3.5 trillion to $1.5 or maybe $2 trillion. To the frustration of Senate leadership, nobody knows what Sinema wants.
The East Building of the National Gallery of Art has some of its finest works of modern art in its collection on exhibit. The museum is open daily, 10am – 5:00pm. Timed admission tickets are no longer necessary.
Last Friday night, jazz artist Aaron Meyer brought his music to Eastern Market Metro Plaza as part of an on-going Friday Night Live jazz performances from 5pm to 6:30pm. Next up this Friday: Tenor Saxophonist Elijah Balbed.
The Week Ahead…ANC Highlights…Some Photos from the Past Week
by Larry Janezich
Posted: October 3, 2021
The Week Ahead
ANC Highlights
Update on Boys and Girls Club – ANC6B Planning and Zoning – Tuesday
The Brig adds a deck – ANC6B Planning and Zoning – Tuesday
New buildings for Capital Crossing – ANC6C Planning and Zoning – Wednesday
152 11th Street, SE. Zoning Adjustment Application for Special Exception to construct a two-story garage with accessory apartment to an existing, attached, three-story with cellar, principal dwelling unit.
1227 E Street, SE. Zoning Adjustment Application. Special Exception to construct a rear, two-story addition to an existing, attached, two-story with cellar, principal dwelling unit .
1713 D Street, SE. Zoning Adjustment Application for Special Exception to construct a third story addition and a three-story rear addition to an existing, attached, two-story, principal dwelling unit.
1241 Independence Avenue, SE. Zoning Adjustment Application for Special Exception to construct a roof deck addition to an existing, detached, accessory garage.
1007 8th Street, SE. Historic Preservation Application – Permit Review for deck addition in existing yard at The Brig;
WEDNESDAY, October 6
ANC6B Transportation and Public Space Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
638 East Capitol Street, NE. Zoning Adjustment Application to construct a three-story rear addition to an existing attached four-story principal dwelling unit.
227, 233-235, 237-239 Massachusetts Avenue, NE. Historic Preservation Application. Revised application of Hillsdale College for concept approval for new penthouses.
Capitol Crossing. Zoning Application – Second-stage PUD application for the Center Block of the Capitol Crossing development project to construct a mixed-use building. The Center Block is Square 566, bounded by F, G, 2nd and 3rd Streets NW. This application is for the last two buildings in the project. It includes a commercial building which will be developed with a hotel and ground floor retail, and a residential building which will include 50 affordable housing units and ground floor retail.
521 Florida Avenue, NE. Zoning Adjustment Application. Special exception relief to construct a third-story addition to and second-floor railing atop the porch of, an existing attached, two-story principal dwelling unit.
Union Market & 6th Street, NE. Zoning Application of Gallaudet University and JBG/6th Street Associates, LLC, for a modification of significance to the first-stage PUD approved by the Zoning Commission, specifically the applicant proposes to make numerous modifications detailed in the hearing notice.
THURSDAY, October 7
ANC6B Alcohol Beverage Control Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
Association for the Preservation of Historic Congressional Cemetery, 1801 E Street, SE. Retailer’s Class “CX” Multipurpose Facility Liquor license. The applicant is an active cemetery which hosts special events. The events include funerals, weddings, movie nights, festivals, roving theatrical performances, goat yoga, guided and group tours, and group gatherings partnering with food trucks and caterers to provide food on-site. Seating Capacity of 5,000 patrons. Total Occupancy Load of 15,000 patrons.
Tortuga Caribbean Bar & Grille, 514 8th Street, SE. Request to expand existing Entertainment Endorsement to the rooftop Summer Garden; Retailer’s Class “C” Restaurant.
Bike Network Updates: 1st St NE Cycletrack and K Street NE Underpass DDOT will give two updates to the bicycling network within ANC 6C. The first update will be on the 1st Street NE cycletrack, which currently ends at M Street, NE. The limits of the Dave Thomas Circle project on 1st Street, NE, ends at N Street, NE. DDOT will present some preliminary cross-sections to extend the cycletrack to eliminate the gap between Union Station and the Metropolitan Branch Trail area in Eckington. The second update will be on the analysis for safe bicycling routes under the K Street NE underpass, which the committee and full ANC requested in April 2021. Representative: Will Handsfield and Mike Goodno, DDOT
Public Space Usage for Georgetown Law Construction | DDOT TOPS # Georgetown University is constructing a new building at E and 2nd Streets, NW, and needs space for setting up construction trailers. Construction managers propose to use public space along 2nd Street, NW and E Street, NW.
H Street, NE, Bridge Replacement Environmental Assessment. DDOT in conjunction with the Federal Highway Administration has released the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the replacement of the H Street NE Bridge (Hopscotch Bridge). The replacement is needed to address structural deficiencies. The EA evaluates the proposed replacement, documents alternatives considered, and the potential impacts and strategies to mitigate them. The EA is available at www.hstreetbridgeproject.com .
Written testimony for the confirmation of Acting DDOT Director Lott. The Council’s Committee on Transportation and the Environment will hold a public roundtable on Tuesday, October 26, 2021 on PR24-326, “the Director of the District Department of Transportation Everett Lott Confirmation Resolution of 2021.” PR24-326 would confirm Everett Lott as the Director of the District Department of Transportation. Full text is available at https://lims.dccouncil.us/Legislation/PR24-0326 . The committee will discuss and potentially make recommendations for the full ANC to submit written testimony on this matter.
Written testimony for amendments to the statute on abandoned and dangerous vehicles. The Council’s Committee on Transportation and the Environment will hold a public roundtable on Tuesday, October 26, 2021 on B24-302, “the Removal and Disposition of Abandoned and Other Unlawfully Parked Vehicles Reform Amendment Act of 2021.” Bill 24-302 would revise the definitions of abandoned and dangerous vehicles for purposes of determining when such vehicles may be removed from public and private space. It also removes imprisonment as a possible sentence for leaving an abandoned or dangerous vehicle in public space. Full text is available at https://lims.dccouncil.us/Legislation/B24-0302 . The committee will discuss and potentially make recommendations for the full ANC to submit written testimony on this matter.
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October 1 Friday Night Live Jazz at Eastern Market Metro Plaza: Jazz Artist Aaron Myers – 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, October 1. (The performance, orginally scheduled for September 10, was cancelled at the last minute owing to a medical emergency on Eastern Market Metro Plaza.)
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.”
The performance is the part of a series of October 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 Elijah Balbed, October 8; Zach Cutler, October 15; Amy Bormet, October 22; and Imani Grace-Cooper, October 29.
CM Charles Allen provided $150,000 in the current FY’s budget for programming for the Plaza for the next 12 months.
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Construction crew working on the Pennsylvania Avenue Streetlight Upgrade Project at 8th and PA Ave SE
This Is Why DDOT Is Tearing Up Pennsylvania Avenue, SE
By Larry Janezich
Posted September 28, 2021
What you are seeing is the $19.5 million Pennsylvania Avenue Streetlight Upgrade Project.
The project will improve existing streetlights and traffic signals along Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, and extends from 2nd Street, SE, to 14th Street, SE. The streetlight and traffic signal upgrades will improve overall lighting and enhance transit safety for vehicular traffic, cyclists, and pedestrians, as well as bus operation and local business foot traffic along the corridor. Since Pennsylvania Avenue is a historic street according to the DC Streetlight Policy Guidelines, it requires special treatment in the lighting and operations of the avenue.
The section of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, beyond 14th Street will receive streetlight upgrades as part of the Penn-Potomac Intersection Project.
The project will feature:
Cobra head lighting fixtures and pendant post
Washington Globe fixtures (LED luminaires)
Enhanced lighting distribution
Upgraded traffic signals along project corridor
Improved roadway safety for pedestrians, motorists and cyclists
ADA compliant intersections
DDOT and AASHTO streetlight policy guidelines
Upon completion, DDOT will begin installation of the project to reduce Pennsylvania Avenue SE’s current three travel lanes in each direction to two lanes in each direction. The plan anticipates the addition of bicycle lanes and peak hour bus lanes which accommodate street parking during off peak hours.
The project will take approximately 20 months to complete, weather permitting – currently the construction period is likely to end in late 2022 or early 2023. Daytime construction hours are from 9:30am – 3:30pm, Monday through Friday.
Sweet Crimes – the coming-soon gluten free bakery at 1238 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE – is showing promising signs of life in the kitchen. For the gluten free, it can’t come soon enough.
A new restaurant for Montmartre’s former space. Here’s Chef Andrew Markert in front of the former Montmartre at 327 7th Street, SE. In December, Markert – who is chef/owner of Beuchert’s Saloon/Fight Club – will open Newland, an informal restaurant featuring farmer-to-table elevated New American cuisine. The name comes from the Baltimore address where Markert lived growing up. Eater DC has more here: https://bit.ly/3CKSdNi
There’s also visible activity inside Harvest Tide, the steakhouse coming soon to 212 7th Street, SE, the former home of Acqua al 2, across from Eastern Market. Executive chef/owner Danio Somoza brings dry-aged prime steaks, freshly sourced seafood, local produce and a casual atmosphere from the sister restaurant in Bethany Beach, Delaware.
Last Monday night, ANC6A’s Transportation and Public Space Committee voted in favor of rank order preferences for the installation of bike lanes on the 1300 block of North Carolina Avenue, NE. Six alternatives were presented by Will Handsfield, DDOT Bicycle Program Specialist. DDOT is completing a continuous connection between RFK field, Eliott Hine MS and the larger Hill community. The full ANC will vote on the preferred alternatives at its next meeting on October 13. The committee voted for the designs in the order of preference below. (For more, see GGW post by ANC6A Chair Amber Gove, here: https://bit.ly/3ucxDm5 )
First choice – Alternative B. One-way west bound with Protected Bike Lanes. Retains parking.
Second choice – Alternative E. One-way west bound with Protected Bike lanes. Retains Parking.
Third choice – Alternative C. One-way west bound with Buffered Bike Lane. Retains Parking.
The Week Ahead…and Some Photos from the Past Week
by Larry Janezich
Posted September 26, 2021
The Week Ahead…
Monday, September 27
ANC6A Community Outreach Committee holds a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
Mayor Bowser at today’s Situational Briefing on Schools and Covid
Bowser’s Situational Update – School Vax Mandate & Booster Shots – Main Takeaways
by Larry Janezich
Posted
Mayor Bowser and members of her administration held a situational briefing on Monday, September 20. Here are some of the main takeaways from the briefing.
By November 1, all adults regularly in schools and child care centers must be vaccinated against covid. No test out option. This includes DC public schools, DC public charter schools, private schools, parochial schools, child care facilities regulated by OSSE.
After November 1, all student athletes 12 and over must be vaccinated to participate in school-based sports. This does not apply to athletics at DPR facilities or private club sports and athletics unless they train or compete at DC school facilities.
Currently, third doses of Pfizer vaccine are only approved for certain immunocompromised individuals – those over 65 and those at risk for severe illness. (Health care providers and pharmacies are now providing booster shots for qualifying residents if eight months have elapsed since their second Pfizer shot.)
The CDC Advisory Committee is meeting on September 22 and 23 to make recommendations on the clinical use of the Pfizer vaccine.
It is not expected that the CDC recommendations will apply to persons receiving Moderna and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
If and when third doses are approved for additional populations by the FDA and the CDC, eligible individuals will be able to take their vaccine card to any vaccination site and receive their third dose.
Residents should expect recommendations of risk of severe illness to mirror conditions in the original vaccine rollout. New data may influence these decisions. (Presumably, this means that barring new information, if third doses are approved, distribution will be authorized in the same order as the original vaccine was.)
Residents can get ready for the distribution of third doses by:
Locating their vaccination card
Calling their health care provider to discuss options
If residents can’t find their vaccination cards, consult DC MyIR (a web-based portal that gives District residents secure, easy access to their official COVID-19 vaccination records) here: https://dchealth.dc.gov/page/dc-myir
For the Mayor’s PowerPoint presentation at today’s briefing, go here: https://bit.ly/3CzuFen
CAPITOL HILL CORNER 