17th & 19th Streets Project Progress Report

June 25, 2013

The District Department of Transportation has scheduled a June 27 meeting to provide a progress report on the 17th & 19th Streets Safety Improvement Project. Unfortunately, the meeting conflicts with the June 27 ANC 6B Hill East Task Force meeting on the future of the DC General shelter.

Since many Hill East residents plan to attend the meeting on DC General, DDOT was kind enough to share with me the information and handouts they plan to present and distribute on Thursday. Note that the final recommendations for the 17th & 19th Streets project remain the same as discussed last fall – DDOT will not announce any major changes at the meeting.

The big news is that the project is on schedule – the design phase is 90 percent complete with a deadline of Aug. 31, 2013. That means construction could begin by the end of the year. I’m also pleased that the project recommendations include the stretch of 17th Street SE between Potomac Ave SE and Barney Circle.  v

DDOT’s June 27 meeting on the project will take place from 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm at Pilgrim AME Church (612 17th Street NE).

1 Comment | 17th Street SE, 19th Street SE, Transportation | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

June 27 Meeting to Focus on Future of DC General Shelter

June 19, 2013

photo DC GeneralOn Thursday, June 27, ANC 6B’s Hill East Task Force will discuss the future of the DC General shelter at Reservation 13.

During the meeting, BB Otero, Deputy Mayor for Health & Human Services and David Berns, Director of the Department of Human Services, will provide an update on the status of the temporary shelter and the city’s plans moving forward. The meeting will take place from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm at St. Coletta of Greater Washington (1901 Independence Ave SE). Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions.

Earlier this year, I testified on behalf of ANC 6B on the need for the city to close the temporary shelter at DC General.

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Posted by bflahaven

Revised Plans for 732 15th Street SE

June 17, 2013
Revised plans for 732 15th Street SE.

Revised plans for 732 15th Street SE.

Three years ago, ANC 6B approved a lot occupancy and parking variance request for a proposed 5-unit condo building at 732 15th Street SE, currently a one-story laundromat. Owner Gary Cohen now plans to begin construction on the building soon, though he has notified the Board of Zoning Adjustment that he plans to make “minor modifications” to his design. The modifications relate to:

  • Facade Design – still preserves existing building but adds a more modern, setback addition on top,
  • Building Height – changed from 42 feet to 50 feet, which will match the expected height of the proposed building at 1500 Pennsylvania Ave SE,
  • Number of Condos – changed from five units to six units.

The variances related to parking and lot occupancy are unaffected by these changes.

On July 30, the BZA will decide whether to approve the minor modifications or ask the applicant to reapply for zoning relief.

Post your thoughts/comments below.

Sidewalk view - revised plans for 732 15th Street SE.

Sidewalk view – revised plans for 732 15th Street SE.

Cross-section view - revised plans for 732 15th Street SE.

Cross section view – revised plans for 732 15th Street SE.

1 Comment | Development, Penn East | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

ANC 6B June 2013 Meeting Recap

June 13, 2013

Reservation 13, a proposed doggie daycare facility, bylaws amendments and comments on the Penn-Potomac Ave Intersection Pedestrian Safety Study were among the many issues on ANC 6B’s June 11 meeting agenda. Here is a brief meeting recap:

  • The commission voted unanimously (10-0) to send a letter (pdf) to Victor Hoskins, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, urging his office to move forward with the Donatelli/Blue Skye proposal for parcels F1 & G1 of the Hill East Development/Reservation 13. The commission’s letter also includes specific comments on the Donatelli/Blue Skye plans and urges Mayor Gray and DMPED to take action now to prepare the remaining parcels on the 67-acre site for development. A big thanks to my commission colleagues and the many residents who provided feedback on the proposal and on early drafts of the letter.
  • I announced that BB Otero, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services and David Berns, Director of the Department of Human Services had agreed to discuss the future of the DC General shelter at a June 27 ANC 6B Hill East Task Force meeting. The meeting will be from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm at St. Coletta of Greater Washington, 1901 Independence Avenue SE.
  • After lengthy discussion and debate, the commission voted 9-0-1 to support a special exception and variance request that would allow City Dogs, a doggie daycare and boarding facility, to open at 1310 Pennsylvania Avenue SE. This was a very difficult case, particularly since one of the adjacent neighbors had converted her property from a commercial to residential use. City Dogs’ willingness to agree to additional operating conditions (pdf) with the commission ultimately persuaded me to support the case. I also agreed with the majority of commissioners that the commission should request that Board of Zoning Adjustment review the use after a certain period of time to ensure that all conditions are being met.  Kudos to Commissioner Nichole Opkins (6B06) for her hard work in getting to an acceptable compromise.
  • The commission unanimously supported sending a letter (pdf) to the District Department of Transportation outlining our views on the Pennsylvania-Potomac Avenue Intersection Pedestrian Safety Study. In the letter, the commission supports concept 3, which would create “T-intersections” and significantly improve pedestrian safety around the Potomac Avenue Metro plaza. Kudos to Commissioners Kirsten Oldenburg (6B04), Sara Loveland (6B07) and Nichole Opkins for their work on the letter.
  • Given my previous work on improving ANC 6B’s bylaws, I was extremely pleased that the commission overwhelmingly approved two amendments to the bylaws. The first amendment, which passed unanimously, clarified that Commissioners can only nominate resident members who live in their Single Member Districts (SMDs) to committees and task forces. The second, which passed 8-1 (7 votes needed),  finally allows resident members to vote in ANC 6B committees and task forces. Now residents who take the time to serve on committees can vote on recommendations to the full commission. A big thanks to Commissioner Brian Pate (6B05) for introducing the amendments.
  • On an 8-0-1 vote, the commission approved a package of letters on problematic vacant and blighted properties in the commission area. One letter (pdf), addressed to the Vacant Buildings Unit at the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, lists problematic vacant properties in each ANC 6B Single Member District, including 6B09. The commission will also send letters directly to vacant property owners urging them to improve their properties and comply with the law.
  • Commissioner Oldenburg provided an update on efforts to support Frager’s and the other businesses impacted by the June 5 fire. She mentioned the Friends of Frager’s website, where individuals can make tax-deductible contributions to support Frager’s through the Capitol Hill Community Foundation, and encouraged attendees to visit the Frager’s Garden Center “pop up” across from Eastern Market.
  • The commission heard a presentation by Juan Thompson of Serve DC, the Mayor’s Office on Volunteerism, who discussed the office’s efforts to emergency training preparedness efforts. The office is currently looking to recruit residents to serve in neighborhood corps, volunteers who would be able and willing to help neighborhood’s respond in the case of an emergency. You can read more on how to get involved in these efforts on the Serve DC website.
  • ANC 6B’s July meeting will be on Tues., July 9, 7 pm at the Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE.

2 Comments | ANC 6B, Development, Penn East, Potomac Avenue Metro, Reservation 13/Hill East Waterfront, Transportation | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

How You Can Support Frager’s

June 6, 2013

The Capitol Hill community is rallying around Frager’s Hardware and its employees in the aftermath of yesterday’s fire. The really good news is that store employees and customers made it out of the building without injury. We owe a big thanks to the firefighters who helped to ultimately put out the fire (three firefighters were injured but expected to fully recover).

The other good news is that Frager’s has insurance, plans to rebuild and (via CharlesAllenDC) will be using the old temporary site of Eastern Market to sell garden items this weekend.

Obviously, Frager’s, its employees and the other four businesses located in the Frager’s building will need our support as the rebuilding process begins. The Capitol Hill Community Foundation has created a special fund to provide help as needed in the aftermath of the Frager’s fire. You can visit the community foundation’s website to make a tax-deductible contribution. Soon there will be a dedicated “Friends of Frager’s” website that will direct visitors to the community foundation’s donation page.

In addition, Julia Christian, Capitol Hill resident and COO of the Anacostia Playhouse. has set up a Frager’s Fire Fund. Proceeds from the fund will go directly to Frager’s owner John Weintraub. Contributions to this fund are not tax-deductible.

If you can, please contribute to the rebuilding efforts of this beloved Capitol Hill institution. I’ll post further updates as new information becomes available.

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Posted by bflahaven

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