End of the Year Updates: Safety, New Committee for Wells, Res. 13, Condos, Contact Cards

December 28, 2012
  • This week, there have been two horrific violent crimes on Capitol Hill. On Monday, Dec. 24, a 28-year old man was fatally shot at 2 am at 12th and C Street NE. And just yesterday, another man was shot near the intersection of 14th Street SE and K Street SE at 3:30 pm in Hill East (he is in critical condition). MPD is working hard to solve these cases. If you have any information on either incident, please contact MPD at (202) 727-9099. In the meantime, stay alert and report any suspicious activity to 911. Read the December 2012 PSA 108 newsletter (pdf).  
  • Last week, Chairman Phil Mendelson announced committee chair assignments for the upcoming DC Council term. Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells was named chair of the Public Safety and Judiciary Committee, the committee with jurisdiction over MPD, Fire/EMS, Homeland Security and Emergency Management and Corrections. In a statement, Councilmember Wells said that he was excited about the challenge of chairing the committee, and noted that the committee would likely review potential plans to relocate the DC Jail.  Michael Neibauer of the Washington Business Journal has posted the full list of committee chair assignments.
  • The Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development’s office has announced a deadline extension for responses to the Hill East Development/Reservation 13 RFEI. Responses to the RFEI for Parcels F1 & G1 are now due by noon on Thursday, January 17 (the original deadline was January 7). You can read more about the RFEI in my Nov. 26 Hill East Task Force meeting recap.
  • Lock7 Development has posted renderings of their new condo building at 321 18th Street SE. It looks like it will be a great addition to the neighborhood. The project should be completed in spring 2013.
  • Weather permitting, I plan to distribute my annual contact cards this weekend around 6B09. In addition to my contact information, the cards include important city phone numbers and ANC 6B’s 2013 meeting schedule. Please look for the cards on your front porch.

Have a Safe and Happy New Year!

1 Comment | Development, PSA 108, Public Safety, Reservation 13/Hill East Waterfront | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

Should 15th Street SE Remain a Commercial Corridor?

December 17, 2012
Section of 15th Street SE that is zoned commercial.

Section of 15th Street SE that is zoned commercial (Source: DC Office of Zoning)

The recent discussion of plans for 401-403 15th Street SE has re-opened an old Hill East debate: Should 15th Street SE be zoned for commercial activity? Or should it be zoned residential?

The majority of Hill East is zoned R-4 for residential use. Most of the commercial areas in our neighborhood are clustered around Pennsylvania Avenue. The exception to this general rule is a stretch of 15th Street SE between Independence Avenue SE and D Street SE, an area that is zoned C-2-A for commercial use.

For most of the past decade, residents’ experience with retail along this corridor has been negative. In the early 2000s, residents complained about crime and loitering around the now defunct New Dragon restaurant. And some residents also voiced concern that developers were taking advantage of the commercial zoning to build tall residential-only buildings along the corridor (C-2-A allows buildings up to 50 feet high compared to 40 feet for R-4).

In 2003, ANC 6B supported a request made by several frustrated 15th Street residents to rezone 15th Street SE from the commercial C-2-A to the residential R-4.  While the Zoning Commission did not change the area’s commercial zoning,  the commission and residents successfully encouraging the DC Council to rezone the corridor in the city’s 2006 Comprehensive Plan.

In 2007, ANC 6B sent another letter (pdf) to the Office of Planning requesting that the Zoning Commission rezone 15th Street SE from commercial to residential. The Office of Planning responded that the issue would be considered in the agency’s planned rewrite of the city’s zoning regulations.

Fast forward to now and the Office of Planning is preparing to present its zoning rewrite to the Zoning Commission in 2013. But does the neighborhood still support rezoning 15th Street SE from commercial to residential?

This past year saw the opening of two popular food establishments along the corridor – The Pretzel Bakery and Crepes on the Corner. The Pretzel Bakery (340 15th Street SE) has been a huge hit. And while Crepes on the Corner (257 15th Street SE) unfortunately closed, most Hill East residents I’ve talked to enjoyed having a place to grab coffee and lunch in the neighborhood. Southeast Market (1500 Independence Ave SE) was also recently sold and renovated. All three of these establishments are or were positive additions to the neighborhood.

While 15th Street will never be a Barracks Row, I can certainly envision a future time when the corridor acts as a small neighborhood serving commercial zone located halfway between the heavier retail activity around Eastern Market and the future retail activity on Reservation 13. Rezoning 15th Street to R-4 would eliminate future opportunities for restaurants, cafes and shops along the corridor.

The Pretzel Bakery at 340 15th Street SE has been a welcome addition in Hill East.

The Pretzel Bakery at 340 15th Street SE has been a welcome addition to Hill East.

Over the next 2-3 months, ANC 6B will have an opportunity to comment on the Office of Planning’s proposals for the zoning rewrite. Just this month, ANC 6B created a Zoning Regulations Review Task Force that will help the commission craft a response and position on the proposed rewrite. During this process, I plan to ask the task force and my commission colleagues to weigh in on whether 15th Street SE should remain a commercial corridor.

What do you think? Should 15th Street SE remain a commercial corridor? Or should it be rezoned residential? Post your comments below.

Note that the first meeting of ANC 6B’s Zoning Regulations Review Task Force will be this Thursday, Dec. 20 from 7:30 pm-9:30 pm at the Hill Center (921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE).

50 Comments | ANC 6B, Development | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

ANC 6B December Meeting Recap

December 13, 2012

On Tuesday evening, ANC 6B held its final full commission meeting of 2012. It was also the final meeting for Commissioners Jared Critchfield (6B06), Neil Glick (6B08), Carol Green (6B07) and Norman Metzger (6B03). At the end of the meeting, I introduced a resolution (pdf) on behalf of my colleagues thanking the four departing commissioners for their service on the commission and commitment to Capitol Hill. I will certainly miss serving with Jared, Neil, Carol and Norm and have enjoyed working with each of them.

Here is a recap of other major actions:

  • After a lengthy discussion, the commission voted 8-1-1 to support a raze permit for the vacant commercial building at 401-403 15th Street SE. The developer plans to build a five-story residential building at the site and hope to begin construction in March/April of 2013. Unfortunately, the developer has abandoned plans to include first floor retail in the building.  They also do not anticipate having to come back in front of the commission with variance or special exception requests.
  • I voted to support the raze permit despite my disappointment that the developer has been unwilling to share construction plans with the community and surrounding neighbors. When I asked Sheldon Jones of Goodeon Kingston why he requested that the commission keep the plans confidential, he replied that the plans were in the concept stage, likely to change and expressed concern that competitors would be able to view the plans/design. In response, I said that developers share initial construction plans/concepts with surrounding neighbors all the time and specifically pointed to the commission’s experience with the old KFC site (Goodeon Kingston is actually using the same architect that designed the mixed-use  retail/residential building that Douglas Development proposed and then withdrew for the old KFC site). Mr. Jones did commit to holding two public meetings with the community in January and said that the company would incorporate the comments/views of surrounding community in the plans. Given this commitment and the reality that the current vacant structure is not adding any value to the neighborhood, I warily voted to support the permit.
  • Soumya Dey and James Cheeks from the District Department of Transportation discussed the agency’s rationale for installing a traffic signal at 10th and Pennsylvania Avenue SE. Apparently, a request made by a resident years ago triggered a DDOT signal warrant analysis for the intersection. The results of the analysis led DDOT to decide to install a signal at the intersection. The ANC and community first learned of the new signal when installation began earlier this year. According to Mr. Cheeks, DDOT has now added an ANC notification and community outreach component to the process and will ask for ANC input in the future. Commissioners expressed frustration at the lack of community outreach and noted DDOT’s lack of action on commission requests for signals at other intersections on Capitol Hill. The commission voted 9-1 to support a resolution (pdf) urging DDOT to seek the views of the commission and community before final design and funding decisions are made on future road/signal projects.
  • Following two deadlocked 5-5 votes on competing motions, the commission ultimately voted 7-3 to take no position on a proposed rooftop addition to a rowhouse at  426 11th Street SE. After commissioners voiced concern about views of the addition from public space, the owner revised his plans and lowered the roof line. Despite these changes, a small portion of the roof can still be seen from public space.  The commission will likely see this case again – both the Historic Preservation Office staff and the Capitol Hill Restoration Society are set to oppose the rooftop addition in front of the Historic Preservation Review Board.
  • On an 8-1 vote, the commission approved a resolution (pdf) urging DDOT to replace the pedestrian activated signals with fixed-time signals at the intersections of 8th & E and 8th & G Streets SE on Barracks Row. If implemented, fixed-time signals would automatically display the walk signal at these busy pedestrian intersections.
  • On an 9-0-1 vote, the commission voted to support a new liquor license application for Rose’s Luxury, a new restaurant coming to 717 8th Street SE on Barrack’s Row.
  • I provided a brief report on the Hill East Task Force’s November 26 meeting on Reservation 13 development. Bidding development teams will likely present their development plans for parcels F1 & G1 to the commission in February 2013.
  • The next ANC 6B meeting will be on Tuesday, January 8, 2013, 7 pm at the Hill Center. This will be the first full commission meeting for four new commissioners – Chander Jayaraman (6B08), Sara Loveland (6B07), Nichole Opkins (6B06) and Phil Peisch (6B03).

2 Comments | ANC 6B | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

ANC 6B to Consider Raze Permit for 401-403 15th Street SE

December 10, 2012
Current building at 401-403 15th Street SE. The owner wants to raze the current structure and replace with a retail-residential building.

Current building at 401-403 15th Street SE. The owner wants to raze the current structure and replace with a retail-residential building.

During Tuesday evening’s (Dec. 11) commission meeting, ANC 6B will consider whether to support a raze permit application for the commercial building at 401-403 15th Street SE.

Property owner Goodeon Kingston LLC wants to raze the building and build a 5-story mixed-use retail residential building on the site. The property lies directly across from residents in my Single Member District (6B09) and from Payne Elementary School. Since the parcel is zoned commercial C-2-A, the owner does not anticipate having to come before the commission in the future with variance or special exception requests. The owner has expressed interest in holding a future community meeting to discuss plans for the site.

If you have questions or concerns about this project, I encourage you to attend tomorrow night’s ANC 6B meeting. The meeting begins at 7 pm at the Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE. Looking at tomorrow’s agenda, my guess is that we will discuss this case during the 8:00 pm hour.

4 Comments | ANC 6B, Development | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

More Info on Upcoming Barney Circle-SE Boulevard, Penn-Potomac Projects

December 3, 2012

Two weeks ago, the District Department of Transportation announced that environmental planning studies are underway for the Barney Circle-Southeast Boulevard and the Pennsylvania-Potomac Avenue intersection projects. The studies will help DDOT determine how best to design these two projects to increase pedestrian safety and traffic connectivity.

A number of residents have asked me for additional information about these two projects. Unfortunately, DDOT’s Anacostia Waterfront Initiative website does not include proposed plans nor drawings. The best renderings I’ve been able to find are included in DDOT’s 200+ page  2005 Middle Anacostia River Crossings Transportation Study (MAC Study). I’ve pulled out the sections of the study that relate to each project and posted them below with a few thoughts:

  • Barney Circle Project – DDOT recommends Option BC-2 in the MAC Study, which would make Barney Circle a true traffic circle with a connection to the new Southeast Boulevard. Traffic traveling on Pennsylvania Avenue in both directions would have to travel around the circle. 17th Street SE and Kentucky Avenue SE would connect to the circle, though Kentucky Avenue would remain one-way going north. One controversial aspect of the this plan is connecting the new circle to the proposed “Park Drive” – a road that would extend the existing RFK service road to Independence Avenue SE. As I mentioned in a previous post, this road is a really bad idea, particularly since it would divide Reservation 13 from the waterfront. MAC Study Barney Circle Project (pdf).
  • Southeast Boulevard – DDOT is in the early stages of construction on the new Southeast Boulevard, a four-lane divided stretch of road that will connect the new Barney Circle with the new 11th Street Bridge freeway access. While the MAC study proposes a number of options, including the construction of a raised deck, DDOT has decided to raise the grade of the sunken freeway between 11th Street SE and Barney Circle and convert it to the boulevard. It is unclear if 13th, 14th and 15th Streets SE will connect to the boulevard or if the boulevard will only connect 11th Street SE and Barney Circle. MAC Study Southeast Boulevard (pdf).
  • Pennsylvania-Potomac Avenue Intersection – DDOT proposes to make the Potomac Avenue-Pennsylvania Avenue SE intersection a traffic oval. Pennsylvania Avenue traffic would proceed around the oval and new cross walk locations and a median crossing area would enhance pedestrian safety. While the MAC study envisions two “decorative crosswalks” that would cross the middle of the circle, making it easier for pedestrians to access the metro plaza and Jenkins Row, DDOT removed the proposed east-west cross walk in plans presented to ANC 6B in 2009. MAC Study Potomac-Penn Intersection (pdf).      

DDOT plans to hold a public meeting to discuss the Barney Circle and Potomac-Penn projects in early 2013. ANC 6B will also have an opportunity to weigh in on DDOT’s recommendations. I’ll post new information as it is released.

Leave a Comment » | Barney Circle, Penn East, Potomac Avenue Metro, Transportation | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven