Brian Flahaven

Last Thursday night’s meeting  was the final PSA 107 meeting of the year…and the final meeting of PSA 107 as we now know it. On Jan. 1, MPD’s new Police Service Area boundaries take effect and most of the current PSA 107 (including all of 6B09) will become part of PSA 108. View the new PSA boundaries for MPD’s First District (pdf).

Here are some highlights from the meeting:

• Year-to-Date (Jan. 1 – Dec. 13), total overall crime is down 12 percent in the PSA compared to 2010. Violent crime is down 39 percent while property crime is down 6 percent.
• Burglaries and thefts from auto have seen small  increases in 2011 (7 percent and 6 percent, respectively), though the increases represents 3 more burglaries and 6 more theft from autos this year.
• Thefts from auto have been on the rise in the last month,  though they have declined in the last week with some significant arrests made by MPD. Individuals are targeting vehicles with small triangular side rear windows. PSA 107 Lieutenant Michael Thornton encourages residents to continue calling 911 if they see suspicious individuals and to keep valuables (GPS systems, etc.) out of vehicles.
• Lt. Thornton will continue to be the Lieutenant for our PSA when it changes from 107 to 108. A majority of the current PSA 107 officers will also continue on as PSA 108 officers.
• In response to an ANC 6B request, MPD also provided some updated statistics on crime at Reservation 13. Year-to-date, there has been an increase of 11 crimes on Res. 13 (22 in 2010 to 33 in 2011), for a 50 percent increase. However, most of the new crimes are theft from autos, which went from 3 in 2010 to 13 this year. Violent crime is down 25 percent at Res. 13.
• Lt. Thornton also reported that there were 140 arrests at Res. 13 in 2011, though a majority of the arrests seem to be  jail warrants (incarcerated individuals being served warrants for additional crimes while at the DC Jail). It was unclear how many of the arrests were related to actual incidents happening on the site itself. Attendees were also confused about how simple assaults are reported at Res. 13. Lt. Thornton said he would look into these issues and report back in January.
• While I still have questions, I do appreciate First District Commander Hickson’s and Lt. Thornton’s responsiveness to our neighborhood’s request for additional data from Res. 13. This also seemed to be the general sentiment of meeting attendees.
• The next PSA meeting will be on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012, 7 pm at Liberty Baptist Church (527 Kentucky Avenue SE).

Last night, ANC 6B worked through a relatively light agenda during our monthly commission meeting. Here are the highlights:

• The commission voted unanimously to support increasing the number of seats allowed in the 18th Amendment Bar & Grill’s sidewalk cafe after receiving written assurance from the owner that he would make sure the cafe was in full compliance with the law. Several commissioners noted that the current sidewalk cafe at the 18th Amendment (613 Pennsylvania Avenue SE) routinely encroaches on pedestrian space. DC law requires that there be at least 6 feet between a sidewalk cafe and an existing tree box. ANC 6B plans to ask the same of other establishments with sidewalk cafes to ensure that they are complying with the law.
• ANC 6B took a position on the contentious internet gambling, or “iGaming” issue. The commission unanimously passed a resolution supporting the immediate repeal of the “Lottery Modernization Amendment Act of 2010” and a moratorium on further efforts to implement iGaming in DC until the DC Council considers the idea through its normal process (stand-alone bill, public hearing, etc.). Prior to the vote, commissioners removed specific references related to the substance of iGaming, deciding instead to focus on concerns related to the process by which the original legislation was passed. Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells and Councilmember Phil Mendelson have introduced legislation that would repeal iGaming.
• A bill before the DC Council that would require notification to Advisory Neighborhood Commissions of potential community-based residential facilities that will be located in their commission area received unanimous support. The commission will also request that the bill be amended to provide for 60-day notice instead of 30-day notice. The DC Council’s Committee on Aging and Community Affairs will hold a hearing on the bill on Monday, Dec. 19.
• On a 9-0 vote, the commission supported a request by the owner of 1200 Potomac Avenue SE for two variances to open a coffee shop and pet supply store in an area zoned residential.
• ANC 6B unanimously supported sending a letter to the DC Department of General Services requesting that the department review how it is enforcing the District’s 2008 Lead Rule. Commissioner Brian Pate (6B05) drafted the letter after learning of an incident where a contractor working at Maury Elementary School may have failed to follow appropriate procedures.
• I provided a brief recap of the recent Hill East Task Force meeting on the future of the Eastern Branch Building.
• I also announced the formation of a working group to do a comprehensive review of ANC 6B’s bylaws. The working group will be charged with recommending changes that will update, streamline and strengthen the commission’s bylaws. As ANC 6B’s Parliamentarian, I’ll be in charge of managing the working group and will post the dates and times of working group meetings. If you are interested in helping with this effort, please let me know.
• The commission will be holding a Special Call Meeting on Monday, Dec. 19, 7 pm at the Theater Church (535 8th Street SE) to consider and vote on a resolution pertaining to Councilmember Tommy Well’s Eastern Market governance legislation.

On Dec. 10, ANC 6B's Hill East Task Force held a meeting on the future of the Eastern Branch Building.

Around 15-20 residents attended Saturday’s ANC 6B Hill East Task Force Meeting to discuss potential uses for the Eastern Branch building (261 17th Street SE). Six Hill East Task Force members were in attendance – Commissioners Jared Critchfield (6B06), Brian Pate (6B05) and myself along with Resident Members Nick Burger (6B06), Jack Colhoun (6B06) and Kate Wall (6B09). A big thanks to Mt. Moriah Baptist Church for hosting the meeting.

Here is a brief recap:

• A community tour of Eastern Branch has been postponed until the DC Department of General Services can clean bird waste from the second floor of the building. Hopefully, this will happen sometime in spring 2012.
• Chuck Burger, chair of Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells’ Eastern Branch Task Force, provided a brief summary of the task force recommendations and discussions. He reminded attendees that the building has 46,000 sq. ft. of space and it would be unlikely that any one tenant or program could fully support and maintain the property.
• Burger was asked to clarify the source of the $13 million estimate for renovating the building. Burger replied that the estimate was done by Forrestor Construction at the city’s request and that the estimate included a total “gutting” and complete refurbishing of the building (completely new roof, pool, basketball court, elevator and entrance). The city could minimally fix the building for a lesser amount but would still not have the funds necessary to operate and maintain the facility. Burger added that the city would probably want to lease the land and anyone taking control of the property would need a long-term,  30 year lease in order to borrow and/or justify making capitol improvements. 
• Given the expenses involved and the facility’s challenges, there was some discussion about whether the building should be demolished and replaced with a new, state-of-the-art building. Attendees agreed that the city should get the views and perspectives of neighborhood residents before considering such an option. There was also some talk about demolishing the building and preserving the land as open green space, though Spielberg Park sits right across the street.
• After a general overview of the building, attendees were asked to provide feedback on how programs in the building could meet the needs of various demographic groups.
• Aging Population: Representatives from Capitol Hill Village urged the task force and neighborhood to consider using the space for “Green Houses,” a new residential concept that allows people to “age in place.” The concept envisions the Green Houses being developed at facilities where other programs and activities serving all ages are offered. Potential funding sources are available. Meeting attendees were interested in the idea, particularly if the residential units would only be one use for the building.
• Parents: Daycare was identified as a potential use of the building that would benefit parents, though attendees pointed out that  two day care facilities already exist near the 1300 & 1400 blocks of C Street SE. Pre-K and afterschool programming were also suggested as potential uses. The city does envision potentially offering pre-K and afterschool programming at neighborhood schools once the facilities are modernized.
• Children & Teens: Attendees felt there was clearly a need for recreational and sports facilities for youth in the neighborhood and that the building could play a role in meeting this need. However, full size basketball courts and outdoor space exist at Payne Elementary and Eastern High Schools. A lack of resources prevents these existing recreational spaces from being used in the evenings and on weekends. Meeting participants suggested examining if there was a way that existing youth recreational programs could partner with the local schools to open the facilities on weekends, thus allowing the Eastern Branch building to provide other programming. But if school recreational facilities remain unavailable, the city should consider offering recreational activities at Eastern Branch.
• Community & Office Space: Accessible space for community meetings and events is lacking in the neighborhood. Providing incubator office space for attorneys and other professionals could also be a revenue generating use for a portion of the building.
• As for next steps, the Hill East Task Force plans to:
• Conduct an inventory of facilities, programs and services already offered in the blocks surrounding Eastern Branch,
• Develop a survey to get additional feedback on potential uses for the building, with a particular emphasis on gathering responses and input from residents living around the building,
• Plan to invite groups interested in leasing the building to share their ideas at a future meeting on Eastern Branch. The task force will also encourage these groups to put their ideas in writing with details and cost estimates.
• The meeting adjourned at 12:15 pm.

ANC 6B’s Hill East Task Force will be holding a follow up meeting on the future of the Eastern Branch Boys & Girls Club Building tomorrow Saturday, Dec. 10, 10 am – 12 pm at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, 1636 East Capitol Street NE. Here is a link to the meeting agenda:

• ANC 6B Dec. 10 Hill East Task Force Agenda (pdf)

The goal of the meeting is to get neighborhood feedback on potential uses for the building. I hope to see you there!

And please post any comments and suggestions you have for the building below.

ANC 6B has a packed agenda of meetings this week. Here is the list:

• Tonight, Dec. 6 – Planning & Zoning Committee Meeting, 7 pm, St. Coletta of Greater Washington, 1901 Independence Avenue SE. One particular case will focus on variance requests to put a pet supply store and coffee shop at 1200 Potomac Avenue SE (this was postponed from last month’s agenda).
• Wednesday, Dec. 7 – Transportation Committee Meeting, 6:30 pm, Hill Center, 3rd Floor Conference Room, 921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE. Representatives from the District Department of Transportation will be on hand to discuss sidewalk repairs.
• Thursday, Dec. 8 – Alcoholic Beverage Committee Meeting, 7 pm, Hill Center, 3rd Floor Conference Room, 921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE. The committee will be discussing whether to support the expansion of the sidewalk cafe at 18th Amendment Bar & Grill (613 Pennsylvania Avenue SE).
• Saturday, Dec. 10 – Hill East Task Force, 10 am – 12 pm, Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, 1636 East Capitol Street NE. The task force will be seeking neighborhood feedback on potential uses for the Eastern Branch Building located at 17th and C Streets SE.

You can review the agenda for each of these meetings on the ANC 6B website. I’ll post the Hill East Task Force meeting agenda in the next day or so.