Brian Flahaven

Please join us tomorrow night, Wed., August 31, 6:30 pm, for a meeting to discuss Douglas Development’s plans for the old KFC site at 1442 Pennsvylvania Avenue SE. The meeting will take place at Wisdom, 1432 Pennsylvania Avenue SE.

As I discussed in an earlier post, Douglas Development has plans to build a mixed-use retail/residential building on the site.

View the plans (pdf)

To move ahead, Douglas needs the Board of Zoning Adjustment to grant a parking variance and a special exception on roof requirements. They will be asking for ANC 6B’s support at the Sept. 6 ANC 6B Planning & Zoning Committee meeting and the Sept. 13 ANC 6B Full Commission meeting. Both of these meetings will be at 7:00 pm at St. Coletta of Greater Washington (1901 Independence Ave SE).

The Wed., Aug. 31 meeting is a chance for you to raise any issues or concerns you have about the proposed development. The goal is to see if we can reach a consensus prior to ANC 6B’s consideration of the project.

I hope to see you there!

Beginning today, the DC Department of Public Works will be collecting tree debris  through Friday, Sept. 2. See the full DPW announcement below for details on the when/where/how to place debris for collection.

1. If hiring a tree specialist or landscaping company to cut up fallen trees and limbs, please have your contractor remove all the debris, limbs and branches.
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2. From Aug. 29-Sept. 2 only, the Department of Public Works will remove from the treebox space(s) or next to the curb in front of residents’ homes, branches that are cut into 4′ lengths and tied into bundles no more than 2′ in diameter. After Sept. 2, these items can be placed where the resident’s trash is collected.

3. Please place debris, bagged or loose, in the treebox space, not the gutter or street so the gutters can remain clear and crews can run mechanical sweepers along the curb lanes and gutters. Also, DPW asks residents to resist putting the debris in the street to help prevent flooding in case of rain before the debris is collected. Do not include rocks, stones or concrete.

4. Hurricane season ends in November, so please hold onto your sandbags, just in case. If you cannot keep your sandbags, please mix the sand with the soil in your yard or potted plants to aerate it. Please do not put the sandbags into the trash or empty the sand into the gutters or catch basins.

I had a chance to walk around the neigbhorhood this morning and took a few photos of downed trees. All of the incidents pictured below have been reported to the city. Report any downed trees, branches by calling 311. City crews will be out clearing trees all day today.

Downed tree on the 1700 block of E Street SE.

Tree snapped in half on the 1800 block of D Street SE.Tree leaning on the 1800 block of D Street SE.

 

Downed tree takes the sidewalk with it on 1500 block of D Street SE. Parked car also damaged, though no one hurt or injured.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

View of 1500 block of D Street SE with downed tree.Branches dangling from a tree on the 300 block of 15th Street SE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A fence was blown over in an alley near the 1500 D Street SE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A large tree leaning on a house on the 1600 block of D Street SE. Again, no injuries.Another tree leaning on a house at the intersection of 15th and E Streets SE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With Hurricane Irene expected to bring significant rainfall and heavy winds to our area, here are some important phone numbers to have close by in case of an emergency:

• DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency Hotline – 202-727-6161. DCHSEMA will provide weather updates and shelter information. Make sure you sign up for the DC Alert emergency notification system. You can also follow on Twitter: @DC_HSEMA
• DC Water Emergency Line – 202-612-3400. Call to report storm drain back-ups and other water/sewer issues. I’ve already called to report the storm drain back-up at 17th St. SE and Potomac Ave. SE.  Follow on Twitter: @mydcwater.  
• Washington Gas – 800-752-7520. Call if you have an emergency involving natural gas or if you smell gas. Also call 911.
• PEPCO Power Outages – 877-737-2662.
• PEPCO Downed Wires – 202-872-3432.

Sandbags: The Department of Public Works is distributing five sandbags per household beginning at noon, Friday, August 26, at its New Jersey Avenue and K Street, SE site. The entrance is at New Jersey Avenue and I Street, SE and staff will be on hand to direct residents to the distribution point. Distribution will continue through midnight Friday, then resume at 8 am, Saturday, August 27, through midnight Saturday. Residents will be asked to show a DC identification. Be prepared to wait in a significantly long line to get sandbags.

Stay safe!

ANC 6B is hosting two meetings this week. As always, all  are welcome to attend and participate.

• The Outreach and Constituent Services Task Force is meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 7:00 pm at the ANC 6B Office (703 D Street SE). The task force will be discussing resident members, updates to ANC 6B website and outreach to the Congresswoman Norton and the DC Council.
• The Transportation Committee will meet on Thursday, Aug. 25, 6:30 pm at the Southeast Library (403 7th Street SE). A presentation on landscaping plans for the Eastern Market Metro Plaza and a discussion of criteria for evaluating proposals for Performance Based Parking funds are on the agenda.

Want to serve on a committee or task force? If you live in 6B09 and are interested in serving as a resident member of any ANC 6B committee or task force, please e-mail or call me by Monday, Aug. 29. Many thanks to those of you who have already expressed interest!