Nichole Verdejo is the owner of the woman owned and woman operated Sole Wash at 427 8th Street, SE – Barracks Row.
New on Barracks Row – DC’s First Sneaker Cleaning/Restoration Outlet
by Larry Janezich
Sole Wash – a new sneaker cleaning and restoration service – is receiving a warm welcome from nearby residents of the 400 block of Barracks Row. The service is the first real non-food service retail outlet to open on the block in years.
Sole Wash – which opened last Saturday at 427 8th Street, SE – is female/Black/Latino owned, all three of those qualities personified in owner Nichole Verdejo. As an Afro-Latina female in a historically male dominated industry, Verdejo is the first female to own a sneaker laundry – and one that happens to be DC’s first.
The outlet was cultivated under Footage Society, a premier sneaker boutique in Laurel, MD, founded by Verdejo and two partners. Since 2015, with the support of her Footage Society co-owners, she has grown Sole Wash into a leading service provider, specializing in sneaker cleaning and restoration. In 2019, Sole Wash was officially established as a sister company to Footage Society and plans were laid to expand to the District. Verdejo said the choice of location was between H Street, NE, and Barracks Row and she ended up on Barracks Row, citing its friendliness to new retail.
Sole Wash also sells new sneakers and exhibits sneaker art – including a prototype for a high heeled sneaker and porcelain commemorative sneakers.
Here’s a creation commemorating Michael Jordan’s “Flu Game” on June 11, 1997 – Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz.
Here’s a creation by a colleague of Verdejo – the high heeled sneaker.
National Guardsmen leave DC at midnight Sunday. The East Front Plaza appears to be devoid of security personnel around noon on Sunday. The deployment of the last 2,000 National Guardsmen – the remainder of the 25,000 sent to DC after the January 6 insurrection – will end at midnight Sunday, May 23. For now, the fences will remain.
Thursday, DPMED held a virtual hearing at which developers presented their concepts for the Phase II development of 8 parcels comprising almost 500,000 square feet on Reservation 13. The parcels are up for development bids in two bundles. There are two bids on bundle one (left, above): Donatteli Development/Blue Skye Development and The NRP Group/Argos Group. There are three bids on bundle two (rigth, above): Home Team Community Partners, LDP (Jair Lynch), and R 13 Community Partners. Residents will have at least until June 4 (and at the request of Ward 6 ANC Commissioners probably until until mid-June) to submit comments. Submit to: daryl.thomas@dc.gov For links to the five presentations, go here: https://dmped.dc.gov/page/hill-east-district-redevelopment
Following the Mayor’s guidelines, as of Saturday, Sports & Health no longer requires masks for fully vaccinated guests working out in the gym. Also, the locker rooms and showers have reopened with the jacuzzis and saunas to follow in a week or so.
Scaffolding in front of the U.S. Supreme Court signals restoration work on the marble. Note the bicycle barricades are still in place. A single U.S. Supreme Court police officer was monitoring the front of the Court.
Here’s a shot mid-day on Saturday of the food court in front of Rumsey Aquatic Center next to Eastern Market.
Tuesday, ANC6B’s Capitol Hill Business Interest Working Group chaired by Commissioner Brian Ready held a virtual meeting to hear presentations from Artistic Holiday Designs and from One Fair Wage. Here’s a holiday concept from the former titled: Enchanted Forest Theme with a 32 foot Willow Tree.
Highlights:
Tuesday – ANC6A’s discussion of H Street’s Cru Hemp Lounge request for a Tavern License.
Wednesday – EMCAC’s May meeting.
The Week Ahead…Highlights…Photos from the Past Week
by Larry Janezich
Posted May 23, 2021
Monday, May 24
ANC6A Community Outreach Committee holds a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
Discussion of application by Toki Underground at 1244 H Street, NE, for a Class C Tavern License.
Discussion of request by Dangerously Delicious Pie Shop at 1339 H Street, NE, or modification of its settlement agreement to permit outdoor patio entertainment.
Discussion of application by Exotic Wine and Spirit, Inc. t/a Exotic Wine & Spirits at 801 Maryland Avenue, NE (ABRA #118158) for a Class A Retailer’s License.
Discussion of application by Cru Hemp Lounge at 816 H Street NE, for a Class C Tavern License.
Continued discussion of application by Master Liquors at 1806 D Street, NE, for renewal of its Class A Retail License.
ANC6B’s Executive Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
Coming to Barracks Row in June: Crazy Aunt Helen’s will move into the space formerly occupied by Finn McCool’s.
According to Eater DC, it sounds like the Finn McCool space is going to be radically transformed.
Crazy Aunt Helen’s Comfort Food is Coming to Barracks Row
by Larry Janezich
Eater DC’s Tierney Plumb reports the arrival of a new comfort food restaurant on Barracks Row. Shane Mayson and executive chef Mykie Moll will open Crazy Aunt Helen’s where Finn McCool’s used to be at 713 8th Street, SE. The new eatery hopes to open in mid-June.
According to Tierney, the menu will include brisket, Reuben sandwiches, roast chicken, and crab cakes and will open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, 7:00am until 9:00pm.
Finn McCool’s closed in February. Operator Tom Johnson, managing partner of the Hill Restaurant Group announced in August of 2020 that he was giving up the lease last August as the pandemic and lease issues required a consolidation. He also relinquised the lease on Orchid, which has since been re-born at Extreme Pizza.
The Hill Restaurant Group’s remaining restaurants on or near Capitol Hill include Hawk ‘n’ Dove, Lola’s, Tortuga, Boxcar, Ophelia’s Fish House and the former Willie’s, now Stadium Sports in Southwest near Nats Park.
Barracks Row Stabbing – This empty scene is on the 400 block of Eighth Street Monday morning, May 10. On Saturday, May 9, 29 year old Keith Frye – a nearby Capitol Hill resident – was fatally stabbed here. Monday night, ANC6B Chair Brian Ready told the City-wide meeting of ANC Commissioners that Frye lived a few doors away from Ready’s home and that Ready had talked to the family who were awaiting a police report. Ready said the perpetrator is still at large and he didn’t know why it had happened. MPD has offered a $25,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in the case.
New restaurant on Mass Ave NE? According to the broker for the property, there’s hope that the long-vacant former Romeo and Juliet (and before that, the White Tiger) may be the home of a new restaurant. Lisa Banusiewicz told ANC6C last Wednesday night that the building, at 301 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, is being looked at by a party with other restaurants throughout DC, and has moved the process for leasing the property “quite a ways forward”. Banusiewicz told the ANC, “You’ll be happy if this happens”. Her firm, Abeille, specializes in hospitality properties.
Santa Maria Taqueria. On a less happy note, residents near the corner of 3rd and Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, have raised issues with celebrity chef Spike Mendelsohn’s proposed relocation of Santa Maria Taqueria to the space formerly occupied by Pret a Manger at 301 Penn Avenue. They say Mendelsohn has not been abiding by a previous DOH rodent control order. Tuesday night, ANC6B voted 10 – 0 to support a letter to ABRA asking for a 30 day extension of the time to protest the move of the liquor license to the new location in order to allow time for negotiations with neighbors – they wants a commitment to indoor trash storage. If negotiations fail, ANC6B says they will protest the license transfer.
Felicity Lounge Update. Over on H Street, ANC6C is raising the alarm about Felicity Lounge at 707-709 H Street, NE. Felicity has indicated it wants to apply for an exemption to the city’s ban on smoking in bars and restaurants in order to offer hookahs. Commissioner Joel Kelty noted the District has a policy against smoking – “It’s a health hazard – “why would we promote an establishment promoting smoking”? The committee voted unanimously to write a letter to DOH opposing any smoking exemption for Felicity. The ANC is already protesting Felicity’s application for a liquor license renewal. In the background is the concern that requests for smoking exemptions look forward to the legalization of recreational cannabis.
Mural Restoration: Piet Mondrian was the inspiration for a series of 13 murals on the walls of the 6th Street, SE, underpass painted by Byron Peck in 1988 during the administration of Mayor Marion Barry. The project was sponsored by the DC Commission on Arts and the Humanities. Remarkably, the works remain untouched by graffiti – but they have suffered from weather and time.
Now ANC6B Chair Brian Ready has pledged to undertake their restoration. He has enlisted the assistance of Guerrilla Gardeners of Washington DC and says restoration work should begin in a few weeks.
Southwest Library. The new library, located at 900 Wesley Place, SW in ANC6D, opened on Saturday, May 15.
The Week Ahead…Meeting Highlights…Some Photos from the Past Week
By Larry Janezich
Posted May 16, 2021
Highlights:
Thursday – DMPED Disposition Hearing on Reservation 13 Phase II
Monday, May 17
ANC 6A Transportation & Public Space Committee meets at 7:00pm.
Update on proposal to site a public bathroom on 17th Street and Benning Road NE, under the Public Restroom Facilities and Promotion Act.
Discussion of DDOT Notice of Intent to install on-way protected bikeways on the 800 and 900 blocks of West Virginia Avenue, NE.
Discussion of public space permit application for an outdoor patio at the Capitol Square Bar and Grill at 1500 East Capitol Street. Drawings: https://bit.ly/3frceyB
Update on Tennessee Avenue. NE, traffic calming. Will Handsfield from DDOT will present.
Discussion of public space permit application for an outdoor patio at Bullfrog Bagels on H Street, NE.
Discussion of fence permit at 1369 C Street, NE.
Discussion of installing a speed hump in the 1500 block of Isherwood Street, NE.
Discussion of converting stoplights to 4-way stops (time permitting).
Tuesday, May 18
The Capitol Hill Business Interest Working Group will hold a virtual meeting from 2:00pm until 3:00pm.
Discussion of the standard and approaches to be used for reviewing special exception requests to regulations that govern the building of a rear wall that extends more than ten feet past an adjoining property.
Thursday, May 20
DMPED will hold a virtual hearing regarding the disposition of Reservation 13 Phase II at 6:00pm.
ANC6A Commissioner Sondra Phillips-Gilbert (left) listens as First District Commender Morgan Kane addresses last Thursday night’s Safety Meeting near 17th and C Streets, NE.
ANC6A Commissioner Asks MPD for Help on 17th and Benning Road Trouble Spot
by Larry Janezich
ANC6A07 Commissioner Sondra Phillip-Gilbert says she has struggled to get the attention of MPD District 5 officials regarding trouble spots in her single member district including one at 17th and Benning Road. Last Thursday, at a safety meeting/walk following a shooting near 15th and C, NE, which left two wounded and residents alarmed, Phillips-Gilbert delivered an impassioned plea to MPD Officials asking for assistance in her own adjoining single member district. She asked First District Commander Morgan Kane and Assistant Chief Ashan Benedict to come to her single member district and walk with her on a tour of trouble spots. She spoke the hurt and pain she feels because she is unable to help the residents who come to her with their concerns.
Her single member district 6A07 in the northeast corner of ANC6A is bordered on the north by Benning Road and on the east by 19th Street, and largely by 16th Street on the west. The district lies in MPD District 5, outside of First District Commander Kane’s responsibilities. Benedict, an MPD Executive Assistant Chief, participated in last week’s meeting because he is a nearby resident. Fifth District Commander William Fitzgerald was not present at the safety meeting which was in the First District.
Phillips-Gilbert seized the opportunity to draw attention to her problems by inviting Commander Kane and Assistant Chief Benedict to come and walk with me her in the Rosedale Community and provide the same support that they were giving her neighboring ANC district.
She told Capitol Hill Corner, “My concern is that when public safety issues are presented, as Commander Kane stated, we must also include other agencies and resources to lend support to address these public safety concerns.
My concern is that the Rosedale Community does not get the wrap around support and strategy to resolve the chronic public safety concerns. We tend to receive what I call the Band-Aid approach whereby; they give you just enough support from one or two agencies to hold you together until the next explosion hits the community, and then you start the process all over again.
I want to see all agencies and MPD come together to sit down with me and discuss strategies on resolving the chronic public safety concerns at 17th and Benning Road, and other hot spot areas throughout the Rosedale community this year. It is my hope that by the close of the Summer Crime Preventive Program that I can speak on how effective the program addressed the concerns of the community and restored my hope and faith in them all.”
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Mayor To Lift Most Covid Capacity Restrictions May 21 – Masks Requirements Remain
by Larry Janezich
In today’s Situational Briefing, Mayor Bowser said she would order lifting of most Covid restrictions on May 21, as the rate of corona virus infections continue to fall in DC. Bars, nightclubs, large entertainment venues, and sports arenas will have to wait until June 11 before limits are lifted.
Residents, workers, and visitors will continue to be required to wear masks.
On May 21, there will be no capacity limits on the following:
Restaurants (bars will be allowed to operate at 50% capacity)
Weddings and special events
Business meetings and seated conventions
Places of worship
Non-essential retail
Personal services
Private at home gatherings
Libraries, museums, galleries
Recreation centers
Gym and fitness centers
Pools
Office space
Schools
Childcare
Large sports and entertainment venues will continue to operate under a waiver process
On June 11, there will be no capacity limits on bars and large sports and entertainment venues.
On June 7, 50% of DC government workers will return to work.
On July 12, all DC government employees will be required to return to work.
Here’s a link to Mayor Bowser’s PowerPoint presentation from today’s briefing: https://bit.ly/33tH3wH
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Southeast Library re-opened for limited service last week after closing in the spring of last year owing to the pandemic. The library will close for renovation at the end of 2022 and the renovated library will reopen in the spring of 2024.
Construction crews work on 7th Street in front of Southeast Library. Renovation of the Eastern Market Metro Plaza includes a “tabletop” – sort of an elongated speed bump in front of SE Library to facilitate the use of the Library as an extenstion of its outdoor activity space.
Classy Corks liquor outlet opened on Friday at the corner of 8th and L Streets, SE.
Owner Sam Patel said they are still stocking the shelves and called Friday’s event a “soft opening” with a grand opening to be announced.
The Fridge at 516 & 1/2 8th Street, rear alley, these very cool tee shirts with DC street artist Decoy’s signature image “dc”. For more on Decoy, go here: https://www.instagram.com/decoydc/ Gallery owner and director and Alex Goldstein curated the Gallery’s ongoing sticker art show.
Presentation: Department of Parks and Recreation – Summer Camps, DC Pools, and Recreation Centers – (Tentative)
Extreme Pizza, 520 8th Street, SE. Renewal Class C Tavern License.
Santa Rose Taqueria, 301 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. Request to transfer Class “C” Restaurant license from 301 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, to 313-315 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.
The Eastern Wine Bar, 360 7th Street, SE. Historic Preservation Application. Concept: add metal pergola structure for sidewalk café.
420 11th Street, SE. Historic Preservation Application. Rear addition and change in front façade from stucco to wood siding.
1525 K Street, SE. Zoning Adjustment Application for Special Exception to construct a rear, one-story addition with roof deck, to an existing, three-story, attached, principal dwelling unit.
313 9th Street, SE. Historic Preservation Application for a second story addition to existing two-bay garage.
818 Potomac Avenue, SE. Zoning Adjustment Application. Modification of Significance to change the principal use of and add special exception relief for the approved project at 818 Potomac Avenue, SE. [6B consideration delayed until June. New BZA Hearing Date 6/30/2021]
21-261 232 10th Street, SE. Historic Preservation Application for Concept Review and Zoning Adjustment Application for Special Exception to construct a three-story with cellar and roof deck, rear addition, to an existing attached, two-story with cellar, for a principal dwelling unit. [BZA and HPRB cases delayed until after ANC 6B June meetings. ANC 6B review delayed until June]
900 South Carolina Avenue, SE. Historic Preservation Application for Concept removal of awning and bays at front and add two new door openings; add two window wells at west elevation and larger basement areaway at rear; new window openings at rear second story; new openings and cladding at rear one-story addition; new openings at one-story garage. [Case will be considered in June; New HPRB hearing date 6/24/21 or 7/1/21]
13 7th Street, SE. Bureau of Zoning Adjustment for Area Variance to construct a rear addition to an existing, attached, two-story with basement, principal dwelling unit. [Case will be considered in June; BZA Hearing rescheduled for 6/23/21]
Pennsylvania Avenue Streetlights Project – Update on Traffic Signals. (Tentative)
220 H Street, NE, Senate Square. Zoning Application. PUD modification to an approved PUD to allow required affordable housing units to be rented rather than sold.
200 K Street, NE. Zoning Application. PUD modification to waive the 35-day waiting period between filing and set down.
Presentation: MPD Summer Crime Initiative – Captain Paul Hrebenak, MPD.
Presentaton: Anthony Diallo, Ward 6 Account Manager, Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs , Celeste Duffie, Community Relations Specialist, Department of Public Works.
Presentation: Rank the Vote DC – Casey Watts.
Master Liquors at 1806 D Street, NE. Renewal of Class A Retail License. Recommendation: ANC6A protest the application on the grounds of negative effect on peace, order, quiet, and property values, and that the ANC authorize the chair and vice-chair of the ANC and the – of the ABL to represent the ANC in this matter.
Capitol Square Bar and Grill, 1500 East Capitol Street, NE. Application for a Class C Restaurant License. Recommendation: ANC 6A protest the application on the grounds of negative effect on peace, order, and quiet, and on vehicular and pedestrian safety, unless a satisfactory settlement agreement is finalized before the protest deadline, and that the ANC authorize the chair and vice-chair of the ANC, the commissioner in whose SMD the establishment is located, and the co-chairs of the ABL to represent the ANC in this matter.
New H Wine & Spirits, 914 H Street, NE. Renewal of Class A Retail License. Recommendation: Take no action.
Jumbo Liquors at 1122 H Street, NE. Renewal of Class A Retail License. Recommendation: Take no action.
Grand Liquors at 409A 15th Street, NE. Renewal of Class A Retail License. Recommendation: Take no action.
River Mart, 250 11th Street, NE. Renewal of Class A Retail License. Recommendation:
Resolution on the Negative Impact of Fencing Around the U.S. Capitol on Local Transportation.
Letter to DDOT in support of a dedicated parking spot for HIPS in front of their location at 906 H Street, NE, from 11:00 pm – 6:00 am, seven days a week, with the option of a PUDO (pick up/drop off space) during other hours.
Suggested Motion: ANC6A approve a Resolution in opposition to the proposed siting of a public restroom pilot at 17th Street and Benning Road NE.
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First District Commander Morgan Kane addresses ANC Commissioners and residents.
Executive Assistant Chief Ashan Benedict emphasizes MPD’s commitment to the goal of making it safe to walk in the community.
MPD to Act After Street Fight Gunfire Hits Two Homes on 15th Street NE
Posted May 8, 2021
by Larry Janezich
Thursday evening residents near 15th and C Streets NE turned out for a discussion and safety walk with MPD after violence erupted last Saturday afternoon and a spate of gunshots resulted in the wounding of two individuals and bullets penetrating the interior of two nearby homes and striking the fence of a third.
MPD officials who came out to the meeting included Executive Assistant Chief Ashan Benedict (who has lived in the community for 20 years and who brought his wife and three daughters to the walk), First District Commander Morgan Kane, and Lt. Daniel Dyn.
The meeting/walk was organized by ANC6A08 Commissioner Brian Alcorn whose single member district is divided by the boundary between MPD Districts 1 and 5. ANC Commissioners from abutting or nearby single member districts turned out for the meeting, along with more than 30 residents.
Neighbors say that there are two sites on or near C Street, NE, between 15th and 16th Streets, where troublemakers gather to gamble, drink and do drugs – empty lots off the alley on the north side of C Street in the same block and the triangle park at the intersection of 16th and C Streets, NE. These activities, the neighbors say, have continued despite many 911 calls for police assistance and that the on-going proliferation of a number of minor incidents culminated in the shooting last Saturday.
One neighbor has called 911 “hundreds – probably thousands” of times to little or no effect with respect to resolving the problem. Some neighbors say they feel intimidated and terrorized by the activities. One neighbor whose home was struck by a bullet said that Saturday’s shooting left him and his family feeling threatened inside his own home.
Kane told the group before leading a walk to the trouble spots that she works closely with MPD 5th District Commander William Fitzgerald and that one of the things police need to do is to disrupt gambling activities – “that’s one of the strategies we employ.” Part of the difficulty in enforcement is that some of the activity occurs on privately owned vacant lots and part because these activities happen on either side of an MPD District dividing line. She spoke of the importance of bringing other city agencies to the table to address issues – including crisis response teams, substance abuse teams and parking enforcement.
Executive Assistant Chief Benedict backed up Kane’s commitment to the goal of making sure all residents are able to walk safely in their community, saying he has lived in the community for 20 years and was here today with his family because “this is my community and I wanted to be here”.
A walk to the scene of last Saturday’s shooting is led by ANC6B Commissioner Brian Alcorn and Commander Kane.
The first stop was the scene of Saturday’s shootings – the intersections of C Street and the alley on the south side of the street. Two homes were struck by bullets.
The group stopped next at a series of vacant lots in the alley running north from C Street which serves as a gathering spot.
The safety walk ended at the triangle park at 16th and C Streets, NE.
In a closing conversation with residents, MPD officials said the meeting had been productive and scheduled another walk in a month with residents and city agencies – including the Department of Public Works, the Department of Behavioral Health, and the Department of Environmental Services, to address the collective activities which provide a catalyst for violence. In the meantime, MPD pledged to increase patrols in the area.
In a follow-up conversation. Commander Kane told CHC on Friday that “I heard them and I feel them and I assure them that we’ll address their issues”. She said DPW was out there today to clean up the empty lots in the alley, adding, “We’ll do our part – the criminal part. It’s a diverse area and a diverse group of people. We need the help of other agencies.” She said that The Credible Messengers https://bit.ly/3xS1kds and the Violence Interrupters https://bit.ly/33qG0he would be deployed to intervene – to talk with those in the community and mediate to stem violence. She said, “We’ll do a follow-up walk in a month with different folks from some of the agencies”.
Here’s a map of ANC 6A. The red dot locates C Street between 15th and 16th NE.
A cross section of the new SE Library. The Library will have three floors and three separate customer bases: top floor for adults, middle floor for community, bottom floor for youth and family. There will be restrooms on each floor and access to each floor by stairway and elevator at the west end of the building. The historic main entrance will also provide access to the top floor. Natural light will be drawn in by means of a skylight – harkening back to the building’s original roof – and a light well extending all the way to the lowest level, with light-scattering glass panels providing daylight to every floor of the building.
Councilmember Charles Allen – who joined the virtual meeting – said he had had a preview of the presentation, and had found it “phenomenal” and “stimulating – filled with space and light”, adding “I think you’ll be super excited to see where we’ve landed.”
Here Are the Latest Design Concepts for SE Library
by Larry Janezich
Posted May 6, 2021
On Wednesday night, DC Public Library held a virtual community meeting on the $23 million renovation of the Southeast Library, and Quinn Evans Architects gave Capitol Hill residents a look at the latest schematics for the plan. Representatives of Quinn Evans took attendees through a PowerPoint presentation.
The Upper Floor Plan: Here is adult collection, the media collection, a study room, and a staff workroom. The floor will be accessed through the original 7th Street entrance and the west stairwell/elevators via a new entrance on South Carolina Avenue.
Here’s a rendition of the Upper Floor looking toward the 7th Street entrance, showing the skylight and the light well. Furniture is notional and may not reflect what will finally be placed.
The Ground Floor Plan will feature a large meeting room, a study, a conference room, community computing, holds and new books, a circulation work room and storage. Friends of Southeast Library will have a storage room here to hold books donated for book sales.
Here’s a rendition of what the Ground Floor will look like from the 7th Street side conference room looking to the west end of the library. The “goldenrod” painted stairwell and elevators will permit access at the west end of the library, again via the new South Carolina entrance. Access is also permitted via interior stairwell descending from the main 7th Street entrance.
The below grade Lower Floor Plan includes: the elementary collection, spaces for programs and activities, the picture book collection, the early learning collection, and the teen collection. It also has staff rooms and the manager’s office. Natural light from the light well will be supplemented by a skylight running the length of the building over the underground extension of the below grade floor on the library’s south side. This level will be accessed directly from the new entrance on South Carolina.
Here’s a rendition of the Lower Level showing the underground southern extension lit by its own skylight as well as the central light well.
And here’s a rendition of the new entrance from South Carolina Avenue.
The Overall View.
Designers say the renovation will provide:
25% more meeting/conference spaces
Almost 50% more computer space
Double the space for adult seating
3 times the space for children and families
Collaboration opportunities
3 bookable group rooms
Ground floor meeting story hour space
Entry level access for children’s programs
Age specific active learning spaces
Nine fold increase in children’s seating
Children’s collection increased more than 50%
The current library is closing at the end of 2022 and the renovated library will reopen in the spring of 2024.
Here’s a rendering of 818 Potomac Avenue, designed by Capitol Hill based PGN Architects. The building at the left is 816 Potomac Avenue, “Callisto” operated by Sonder. Here a link to Sonder’s “Callisto” webpage. https://bit.ly/3h81
Hotel/Airbnb Disrupter Sonder Expands Operation off Lower Barracks Row
by Larry Janezich
Posted May 5, 2021
Murillo/Malnati Development Group is changing the use of what was to be a 49 unit apartment building overlooking Virginia Avenue Park at 818 Potomac Avenue, SE, to what will functionally be self-service hotel. In its new incarnation, the building will be managed by the billion dollar disruptive hospitality startup Sonder, and the 49 units will join 32 short term rental units in an adjacent building at 816 Potomac Avenue also owned by Murillo/Malnati and already being operated by Sonder.
The change comes as a matter of right, but the developer has to come back to the city via ANC6B because they need a special exception for not having required loading. Although scheduled for next week’s meeting, 6B’s consideration was postponed until June, when the Zoning Adjustment Application will come before the BZA.
Sonder is a short term hospitality company that operates like a combination Airbnb and hotel. The company offers apartments like an Airbnb but in buildings they own or lease which are licensed as hotels. The rentals operate on a self-sufficiency model, but the company claims they offer the best of both of the hospitality worlds they target. Units have ready-to-cook-in kitchens and washers and dryers. So far, Sonder has apartments in 26 cities here and abroad. Sonder also operates The Avenue Flats in Del Ray, Alexandria and The Grace in Old Town, Alexandria.
As to the name: “sonder” is a Portuguese word meaning – among other things, “to probe”. But it probably comes from John Koenig’s forthcoming The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows (Simon & Schuster, November 16, 2021), i.e., “the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own”. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dictionary_of_Obscure_Sorrows
CAPITOL HILL CORNER 