Brian Flahaven

Last night, ANC 6B held its first meeting of the new term at Brent Elementary School. All 10 commissioners were in attendance. Here is a brief recap of major commission actions:

• ANC 6B elected a new slate of officers. Commissioner Neil Glick (6B08) was elected chair, new Commissioner Ivan Frishberg (6B02) was elected vice chair, new Commissioner Jared Critchfield (6B06) was elected secretary, Commissioner Carol Green (6B07) was re-elected as treasurer, and yours truly was elected as parliamentarian.
• Commissioners Ivan Frishberg and Brian Pate (6B05) asked that the commission add a new item to the agenda – a motion that ANC 6B send a letter to DC Public Schools Interim Chancellor Kaya Henderson in support of reopening Van Ness Elementary School (1150 5th Street SE). Commissioner Garrison objected to adding the item to the agenda, arguing that the request should go through the normal commission process for adding items to the agenda and that ANC 6B has not taken positions on education issues in the past. Commissioners Frishberg and Pate, along with Chairman Glick, noted that DCPS is expected to make an announcement on whether to re-open the school by Jan. 31 and said that the commission has taken similar action in past meetings. The commission voted to add the item to the agenda and, later on, voted to in favor of the motion to send the letter.
• The commission voted to support the application of a liquor license for the Bavarian Beer Garden (720 L Street SE) provided the owner sign a voluntary agreement with ANC 6B to reduce his hours of operation and the hours for live entertainment during the week. Commissioners Garrison, Metzger, who voted against the motion, voiced concern about potential noise and questioned whether the establishment was in keeping with the long-term vision of lower 8th Street SE. Commissioner Oldenburg noted that since the site is in a historic district, the building owner will have to build a permanent building that will have to be reviewed by ANC 6B and approved by the Historic Preservation Review Board at a later date.
• During the community speakout portion of the agenda, Eric Holzherr, owner of Wisdom (1432 Pennsylvania Ave. SE), asked for support in starting a neighborhood watch association in Hill East. I thanked Mr. Holzherr for his commitment to public safety and urged him to connect with the Barney Circle Neighborhood Watch Association and the other orange hat patrols in the neighborhood.
• The next full commission meeting will be on Tuesday, February 8, 7 pm at Tyler Elementary School (1001 G Street SE).

The full meeting minutes will be posted on the ANC 6B website. A special thanks to my colleagues on the commission for electing me parliamentarian. And, of course, thanks to residents of 6B09 for electing me to the commission!
 
I’m looking forward to the year ahead.

Last night, I attended ANC 6B’s Special Committee on Retail Mix forum to discuss whether a liquor license moratorium is appropriate for Barracks Row. Xavier Cevera, owner of Molly Malone’s, Lola’s and the Chesapeake Room, was the only Barracks Row restaurant owner that attended and was thus the only panelist for the first half of the meeting (Mr. Cevera also plans to open Pacifico, one of new liquor licenses being protested by ANC 6B). Two retailers – Kathleen Clayton, owner of Labyrinth Games & Puzzles on Pennsylvania Ave. SE, and Manuel Cortez, owner of Groovy DC Cards & Gifts on Barracks Row – shared their thoughts on a second panel. Here are a few of the key points made by the panelists:

• In general, they did not support a liquor license moratorium on Barracks Row. Noise and safety do not seem to be major issues.
• Parking is a major problem. Potential solutions discussed included encouraging more customers to use the parking lot under the freeway, providing a trolley to take customers from the freeway lot to the 400 and 500 blocks of 8th Street SE, and providing incentives for restaurant employees to park in the freeway lot.
• Mr. Cevera said that Barracks Row is a “different animal” from the Adams Morgan and Dupont Circle neighborhoods. He continues to open restaurants on the row because it serves an “older, more mature, more adult crowd.”
• While they would like to see more retail on Barracks Row, panelists said that the rent levels, building size/space and a lack of foot traffic beyond the 500 block of the row are obstacles to retail on the row.
• Landlords seek out restaurants because restaurant owners can pay higher rents than retailers. Tax credits or other incentives for retail could help “level the playing field.”
• Ms. Clayton said that her research determined that her business could not be successful on the 700 block of 8th Street SE due to a lack of foot traffic.
• Key Hill organizations – Barracks Row Main Street, CHAMPs, the BID – need to work together to improve advertising and create a sense that Capitol Hill is a destination. More signage that encourages people to visit retail and restaurants on various blocks would be helpful. 

Overall, it was great to hear the perspectives of the panelists. I exited the event even more convinced that a liquor license moratorium is not the appropriate solution for Barracks Row. The obstacles to more retail on Barracks Row – the higher rents that restaurant owners can pay, the size of the space available, limited parking and the lack of foot traffic necessary to make retail successful – would not be addressed by a moratorium. Instead, a moratorium could halt the substantial progress we’ve seen on Barracks Row. A better solution is for ANC 6B to work with Barracks Row businesses and residents to address concerns about noise, crime and parking and to encourage the city to consider tax incentives that level the playing field for retail. 

What do you think?

For those of you who haven’t been following this issue, I’ll post some background information shortly.

The ANC 6B Retail Mix Task Force is holding a forum this Monday, Jan. 10 on the issue of a liquor license moratorium for Barracks Row. The forum will be from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm at Brent Elementary School (301 North Carolina Avenue SE). Here is the program.

On Tues., Jan. 11, ANC 6B will hold its first monthly meeting of the new term at Brent Elementary School beginning at 7 pm. Here is the agenda. Four new commissioners (including myself) are joining the commission this year.

Hope to see you at one or both of these meetings! If you cannot attend, I’ll post brief recaps on this site.

Hello Neighbors,

Happy New Year and welcome to my new website! Please visit often to learn about the latest developments, news and events happening in our neighborhood. I plan to share my views on the issues affecting our neighborhood and Southeast Capitol Hill and hope you will do the same. The site includes a list of upcoming events. Please e-mail me any announcements about important neighborhood events or meetings and I’ll post them on the list. 

I’ll be adding content and making improvements to the site over the next few weeks.  If you have any comments or suggestions, please e-mail me (brianf6b09@anc6b.org).

Thanks again for your support – I’m looking forward to representing you on ANC 6B this coming year.

Brian