Hill East Task Force to Discuss Future of RFK Site

October 22, 2013

ANC 6B’s Hill East Task Force will discuss the future of the RFK Stadium site during a meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm at St. Coletta of Greater Washington (1901 Independence Avenue SE).

Erik Moses, senior vice president and managing director of Events DC, the city’s stadium and convention authority, will discuss how his agency plans to consider alternatives for the site once DC United moves to a new stadium in Southwest. We’ve also asked Events DC to share how they plan to gather input from surrounding neighbors when evaluating alternatives.

I’ve shared my thoughts on future uses for the RFK site in a previous post. Please share your thoughts and or questions for Events DC in the comments below.

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Posted by bflahaven

Project Updates from Neighborhood Town Hall

October 14, 2013

A big thanks to everyone who attended my Oct. 10 Neighborhood Town Hall at Congressional Cemetery Chapel. We had a great turnout! For those who were unable to attend, here are some brief updates on major projects happening in the neighborhood:

  • Reservation 13/Hill East Waterfront – On Oct. 24, the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development’s Office announced that Donatelli/Blue Skye had been awarded development rights for parcels F1 & G1 at Reservation 13. DMPED and Donatelli/Blue Skye are now negotiating on an agreement that will allow the project to move forward (terms of land transfer, etc.). This agreement will need to be approved by the DC Council, most likely in early 2014. The Donatelli/Blue Skye proposal calls for two mixed-use buildings with a total of 354 apartments (248 market rate, 106 affordable) and 20,000-40,000 square feet of retail on the first floors, including the possibility of retail along the C Street extension. Donatelli/Blue Skye has also updated their proposal to remove the “traffic island” around the Stadium-Armory Metro plaza.
  • 1442 Pennsylvania Avenue SE (Old KFC site) – Construction has begun on this two-story retail building at the corner of 15th and Penn Ave SE. Douglas Development hopes to have construction completed by the end of the year. As for tenants, Douglas Development has not yet signed any leases though there has been interest in the site.
  • 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue SE (Used Car Lot – formerly 1550 Penn Ave SE) – NOVO Development hopes to begin construction on this 77-unit residential building by the end of the year or in early 2014. Greg Selfridge and the NOVO team plan to hold a community meeting soon to discuss construction and its potential impact on surrounding neighbors. I’ll share information on the meeting once it is scheduled.
  • 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue SE (Old Domino’s site) – Goldstar Group plans to build a 41-unit residential building at the old Domino’s site, with a mix of two bedroom, one bedroom and junior one bedroom units. While they plan to provide the required 21-parking spaces in an underground garage, Goldstar will probably have to ask the Board of Zoning Adjustment for zoning relief related to the size of the parking spaces (6-8 will have to be compact spaces). Goldstar is pushing the building as close to the 15th & Penn Ave SE intersection as possible to preserve some open space between the building and adjacent structures. The parking garage entrance will be off of 15th Street SE. Goldstar will present their plans and preliminary designs with neighbors at a community meeting in the coming weeks. I’ll share information on the meeting once it is scheduled.
  • 401 15th Street SE – Goodeon Kingston, LLC has begun construction on a 12-unit mixed-use retail-residential building at the corner of 15th & D Street SE. The big news is that they have now decided to include retail space on the first floor..about 1,000 square feet. Goodeon hopes to have concrete and foundation work completed by the end of the year. The building will have the six parking spaces required by zoning.
  • Barney Circle-Southeast Boulevard Project – The District Department of Transportation plans to hold its second public meeting on the Barney Circle-Southeast Boulevard Project on Thursday, November 21, 6:30 pm at Payne Elementary School (1445 C Street SE). At the meeting, DDOT and their consultant, CH2M Hill, will present options for public feedback. I encourage anyone who lives near Barney Circle to attend this meeting.
  • 17th & 19th Streets Safety Improvement Project – The good news is the design phase of the 17th & 19th Streets Safety Improvement Project is complete. The bad news is that DDOT has asked a consultant to do an additional environmental review of the project recommendations which will add another 6 months to the project timeline. We are now looking at mid to late 2014 for construction to begin. I plan to urge DDOT to move as swiftly as possible to complete the additional review and begin construction.

Please post any comments or questions below.

6 Comments | 15th Street SE, 17th Street SE, 19th Street SE, Barney Circle, Development, Penn East, Reservation 13/Hill East Waterfront | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

ANC 6B October 2013 Meeting Recap

October 13, 2013

ANC 6B considered the Office of Planning’s Zoning Regulations Review proposal, potential locations for a new Marine Barracks Washington Bachelor Enlisted Quarters and liquor license renewals for a number of bars and taverns during the commission’s October 8 meeting. Here are the highlights:

  • The commission voted 6-3 to send comments (pdf) to the Department of the Navy and U.S. Marine Corps urging the department to focus its site selection for a new Marine Barracks Washington Bachelor Enlisted Quarters (BEQ) on two sites within the Navy Yard. The department is preparing to develop an Environmental Impact Statement on a number of projects related to MBW, including a new site for the BEQ currently located between I Street SE and the SE-SW Freeway.  ANC 6B also voiced strong objections in the letter to the use of two sites north of the Navy Yard for the BEQ, arguing that these privately-owned properties should remain in the city’s tax base and be privately developed. Michael Stevens, president of the Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District, reported that both of the privately-owned sites are being targeted for mixed-use development.
  • With the Office of Planning set to present their revised Zoning Regulations Review proposal to the Zoning Commission in November, the commission voted on a number of key provisions (pdf) in OP’s revised proposal. Most of the votes were unanimous with the exception of OP’s parking proposal. The commission voted 7-2 to encourage OP to stick with its original proposal to eliminate parking minimums in residential areas and transit zones. I voted with the majority because the revised policy is as ineffective and inefficient as the current one. Requiring developers to build or provide an arbitrary number of parking spots typically wastes building space and increases the cost of housing. In many instances, developers build parking spots that remain unused because it is much cheaper for tenants to pay $35/year for on-street parking.
  • Frustrated by the DC Council’s Oct. 1 vote to delay the election of an Attorney General until 2018, the commission voted 7-1 to send a letter to Mayor Gray urging him to veto the legislation.
  • The commission voted 9-0 in support of renewing the liquor license for Wisdom at 1432 Pennsylvania Avenue SE. Commissioner Nichole Opkins (6B06) worked with owner Erik Holzherr to update the establishment’s settlement agreement with the commission.
  • After a lengthy discussion about noise from dumping bottles, the commission voted 8-0 in support of renewing the liquor license for Tune Inn Restaurant at 331 Pennsylvania Avenue SE.
  • I announced that I would be holding a Neighborhood Town Hall meeting on Oct. 10 at the Historic Congressional Cemetery Chapel.
  • ANC 6B’s November meeting is on Tues., Nov. 12, 7 pm at the Hill Center (921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE).

Leave a Comment » | ANC 6B | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

ANC 6B Urges Veto of Bill Delaying Elected AG

October 13, 2013

With the federal government shutdown dominating the local news, a pretty outrageous move by the DC Council has flown under the radar.

In Nov. 2010, roughly 76 percent of DC voters voted in favor of a charter amendment that called for the election of an attorney general in 2014. Currently, the attorney general is appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the DC Council. Supporters of the amendment argued that DC’s attorney general should be independent of the Mayor, and voters overwhelmingly agreed.

Fast forward to earlier this month. On Oct. 1, the DC Council voted 7-6 to approve legislation that delays the election of an attorney general until 2018, effectively thwarting the will of DC voters. The excuses given by supporters of the delay – a lack of candidates, not enough time to set up the office, etc. – were particularly weak. This Washington Post article provides a brief summary of the debate.

During ANC 6B’s October 8 meeting, I asked my commission colleagues to support sending the following letter to Mayor Gray urging him to veto the bill. I’m not optimistic about a veto, but I am hopeful that the commission’s action will at least draw needed attention to this outrageous bill. I’m grateful that an overwhelming majority of my colleagues agreed to send the letter.

If the Mayor doesn’t veto the bill, it could be thrown out in the courts. Former Council candidate Paul Zukerburg has filed suit against the Council and the DC Board of Elections arguing that delaying the AG election violates DC voter rights.

Here is how Councilmembers voted on the bill:

FOR the AG Delay: Marion Barry, (Ward 8), Anita Bonds (At-Large), Muriel Bowser (Ward 4), Mary Cheh (Ward 3),  Jack Evans (Ward 2), Jim Graham (Ward 1), Vincent Orange (At-Large)

AGAINST the AG Delay: Phil Mendelson (Chairman), Yvette Alexander (Ward 7), David Catania (At-Large), David Grosso (At-Large), Kenyan McDuffie (Ward 5), Tommy Wells (Ward 6)

Text of ANC 6B’s letter below:

October 9, 2013

The Honorable Vincent C. Gray
Mayor
District of Columbia
John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC

Dear Mayor Gray,

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6B strongly urges you to veto Bill 20-134, the Elected Attorney General Implementation and Legal Service Establishment Act of 2013. ANC 6B voted 7-1 to send this letter at a properly noticed meeting with a quorum present on October 8, 2013.

During the November 2, 2010 General Election, DC voters overwhelmingly approved Proposed Charter Amendment IV, the Elected Attorney General Proposed Charter Amendment. More than 90,000 DC residents voted in favor of the proposed charter amendment (roughly 76 percent of voters), including more than 12,500 voters in Ward 6. At the time, voters were told that if the amendment was approved, they would begin voting for an attorney general in 2014.

On October 1, 2013, a narrow majority of the Council of the District of Columbia voted 7-6 to approve Bill 20-134, legislation that thwarts the intent of Proposed Charter Amendment IV by delaying the election of an attorney general to 2018. During the Council debate, supporters of the legislation claimed that the city is not yet ready for an elected attorney general and pointed to a lack of announced candidates.

ANC 6B notes that the city had four years to prepare for an elected attorney general, plenty of time to organize the office and outline its responsibilities. In addition, there are currently a number of DC Council seats up for election in 2014 without declared candidates. We believe that all elected positions in 2014 – including attorney general – will have qualified candidates if allowed on the ballot.

We are most outraged at the thought that seven of our elected Councilmembers, all of whom claim to support DC voting rights and statehood, would vote to overrule the wishes of DC residents using the same rhetoric and excuses given by DC voting rights opponents. The District of Columbia, like any other state, is more than ready for an elected attorney general.

Again, ANC 6B strongly urges you to respect the will of DC voters by vetoing Bill 20-134.

Sincerely,

Brian Flahaven
Chair, ANC 6B

cc:
Chairman Phil Mendelson
Councilmember Yvette Alexander
Councilmember Marion Barry
Councilmember Anita Bonds
Councilmember Muriel Bowser
Councilmember David Catania
Councilmember Mary Cheh
Councilmember Jack Evans
Councilmember Jim Graham
Councilmember David Grosso
Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie
Councilmember Vincent Orange
Councilmember Tommy Wells

1 Comment | ANC 6B, DC Council | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

Take Part in a Neighborhood Town Hall on Oct. 10

October 4, 2013

On Thursday, October 10, I’ll be hosting a Neighborhood Town Hall meeting from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm at the Historic Congressional Cemetery Chapel (1801 E Street SE). During the meeting, I’ll provide updates on key Hill East projects, including:

  • Next Steps on the Reservation 13/Hill East Development
  • Penn Avenue Projects (1442, 1500 and 1600 Penn Ave SE)
  • 17th & 19th Streets Safety Improvement Project
  • Major actions by ANC 6B and issues on the horizon

Attendees will also have an opportunity to share concerns about other issues affecting our neighborhood. And it will be a great way to meet and catch up with neighbors.

To attend the meeting, you can enter Congressional Cemetery at the main gate (18th & E Streets SE) or the west gate (17th & H Streets SE).

Hope to see you there! And a big thanks to the folks at Congressional Cemetery for hosting the meeting.

1 Comment | ANC 6B | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

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