Brian Flahaven

On July 22 at 10 am, I’m hosting a meeting to discuss options for improving the intersection of 18th Street SE and Potomac Avenue SE. The meeting will be held at the intersection which is located right in front of the main gate at Historic Congressional Cemetery.Representatives from the District Department of Transportation will be on hand to listen to resident concerns and share what can be done to improve both pedestrian and vehicular safety at this extremely dangerous intersection.

Numerous vehicle accidents have taken place at 18th and Potomac, primarily due to Potomac Avenue’s transition from a two-way to one-way street at 18th Street SE. When traveling east on Potomac Ave, vehicles often move over to the left lane prior to its conversion to a two-way street, leading to collisions or near collisions with vehicles turning right onto Potomac Ave from 18th Street.

Additionally, numerous pedestrians with dogs cross this intersection daily to access the main gate of Congressional Cemetery. Vehicles rarely yield to pedestrians and drivers often honk or yell if a pedestrian attempts to cross Potomac Avenue. Pedestrian and vehicle traffic at the intersection tend to be high during the same times (morning and evening rush hour), exacerbating the situation.

All are welcome to attend the July 22 meeting.

The DC Office of Planning has released the final report of the Southeast Boulevard Planning Study. The full study and a variety of presentations can be accessed on the Office of Planning’s website:

• OP Southeast Boulevard Planning Study

As I’ve said before, the concepts presented in the final report are a vast improvement over the District Department of Transportation’s initial concepts for the Barney Circle-Southeast Boulevard project. The goal should be to connect the neighborhood to the waterfront and OP’s concepts accomplish this goal in slightly different ways.

DDOT is currently reviewing the OP concepts to determine their feasibility. Once this feasibility study is complete, the Barney Circle-Southeast Boulevard transportation study will resume.

Representatives from both OP and DDOT will provide an update on the Barney Circle-Southeast Boulevard project during ANC 6B’s July 8 Transportation Committee meeting, 7 pm at the Hill Center (921 Pennsylvania Ave SE).

On Thursday, June 25, ANC 6B’s Hill East Task Force will meet from 6:30-8pm at St. Coletta of Greater Washington (1901 Independence Ave SE).

Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen will be in attendance to share his views on the issues affecting Hill East and to take questions.

The task force will also hear about the city’s plans to close the temporary emergency family shelter at DC General from Deputy Mayor for Health & Human Services Brenda Donald and Laura Zeilinger, Director of the DC Department of Human Services.

I’m hosting a Neighborhood Town Hall meeting this Thursday, May 28, 6:30-8 pm at Historic Congressional Cemetery Chapel (1801 E Street SE). Representatives from the Goldstar Group and NOVO Development will be on hand to provide updates on their projects at 1500 and 1600 Pennsylvania Ave SE, respectively. Washington Gas representatives will also provide an update on the gas line replacement happening on 17th and D Streets SE. And I’ll provide updates on Reservation 13, Eastern Branch Building, 17th Street Safety Improvements and other issues.

Please bring your questions and concerns to the meeting. Use the main gate located at 18th & Potomac Ave SE to enter the cemetery.

Hope to see you there!

Here is a brief recap of major actions at the May 12, 2015 ANC 6B meeting:

• The commission voted unanimously to send a letter (pdf) to the District Department of Transportation and the District Department of Environment asking the agencies to include Freedom Way SE in the District’s Green Alley Program. A big thanks to John Cochran and Caryn Ernst, residents of 15th Street SE, who have helped organize this resident-driven effort.
• ANC 6B voted unanimously to send comments (pdf) to the Marine Barracks Washington voicing support for Alternatives 4 and 5 for the new site of a Bachelor Enlisted Quarters (BEQ) for the Barracks. Alternatives 4 and 5 are located on sites already on federal property (Alternative 4 is located in the Washington Navy Yard while Alternative 5 is located at the current site of the Marine Annex). ANC 6B strongly opposes Alternatives 1,2 and 3, sites ripe for retail and residential development. You can read more about MBW’s plans for a new BEQ at http://www.mbweis.com/.
• The commission voted unanimously to support a new liquor license (pdf) for Elaine’s One, a new restaurant by the owner of Rose’s Luxury slated to open at 715 8th Street SE. The commission and the applicant signed a settlement agreement outlining key issues related to hours, noise and trash.
• The commission voted to support a number of liquor store liquor license renewal requests, including renewals for World Wine & Spirits (1453 Pennsylvania Ave SE), S&J Liquors (1500 Massachusetts Avenue SE) and Albert’s Liquors (328 Kentucky Ave SE). All three of these applicants agreed to sign settlement agreements with ANC 6B. You can review the letters and settlement agreements of all the May cases on the ANC 6B website.
• Metropolitan Police Department First District Commander Jeff Brown shared an update on public safety and crime trends in the neighborhood. Commander Brown referenced an increase in burglaries in PSA 108, which covers a good portion of Hill East (and all of 6B09). MPD is putting additional resources into areas seeing a spike in crime, particularly violent crime. As always, MPD encourages attendees to call 911 if they see anything suspicious.
• After an attendee said she was put on hold by 911 after hearing gun shots near her home, Commissioner Denise Krepp (6B10) asked the commission to add a letter to the Office of Unified Communications, which oversees 911, to the agenda, to relay this troubling incident. The commission voted unanimously to send a letter (pdf) to OUC. Representatives from Mayor Bowser’s office and Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen’s office also said they would follow-up on the issue.
• ANC 6B’s June meeting will be on Tues., June 9, 7pm at the Hill Center (921 Pennsylvania Ave SE).