- Late last week, The Washington Post reported that Georgetown University is looking at Hill East/Reservation 13 as a potential site for a new campus. According to the article, a request for proposals issued by the university mentions the institution’s desire to relocate the school’s “Medical Center Zone,” a reference to the GU hospital and medical campus. It is an interesting idea that could spur development at Res. 13, though the city would certainly have to amend the Reservation 13 master plan to make it happen. I’m eager to learn more and to get reaction/feedback from residents.
- A reminder that DDOT’s two public charrette meetings on the 17th & 19th Streets Safety Improvement Project are on Monday, July 30, 6 pm – 8 pm at Eastern High School (1700 East Capitol Street NE) and Tuesday, July 31, 6 pm – 8 pm at Pilgrim AME Church (612 17th Street NE). Please plan to attend one of these two meetings. DDOT will be asking for resident feedback on various traffic calming strategies for these two corridors.
- ANC 6B’s Bylaws Review Working Group will hold its final meeting tonight, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm at the Hill Center (921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE). The working group will be finalizing a major revision to the ANC 6B bylaws. I’ll plan to post the revised bylaws and other key documents by the end of the month. The Commission will consider the revised bylaws and proposed standing rules during a special call meeting on Monday, September 17. More information to come.
- Mark your calendars! The residents of the 1500 and 1600 blocks of D Street SE will be holding their annual block party on Saturday, August 4. I’ll post additional details as the date approaches.
Note that ANC 6B will not be holding meetings in the month of August. The next full commission meeting will be Tuesday, Sept. 11, 7 pm at the Hill Center (921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE).
Brian Flahaven 
Brian, as usual, thanks for keeping us informed on these issues. And thanks for requesting feedback regarding the possibility of Georgetown University expanding to Hill East Waterfront. I welcome the opportunity to hear about their plans and think that they might be a wonderful addition to the neighborhood. I also firmly believe that welcoming them or being open to their proposal is different than welcoming or being open to a plan that proposes a campus style building pattern, which would isolate them from being a full partner in the overall neighborhood and quite possibly restrict access to the river and riverfront, which is a key element of the master plan. A campus style facility, again I’m talking about building and site layout, was soundly rejected during the many community and expert involved meetings and processes that took place in laying down the master plan and its subsequent refinements. A university developing a transit-oriented, urban-grid mixed use facility could be just the boost the site needs. The use of a university is not necessarily at odds with the master plan — care must be taken, however, to continue to go back to master plan to make sure that whatever is proposed respects the plan.
Thanks! Colleen Garibaldi
1850 Potomac Ave SE