ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION
1B
Government of the District of Columbia
Columbia Heights /
LeDroit Park / Shaw / University Heights
7 August
2003, True Reformer Building, 1200 U
Street NW
Attending: Commissioners Guyot,
Spalding, Hammonds, Thomas, Houston, Butler, Glover, Skinner,
Esters, Wright
Absent: Commissioner Wilson
Quorum was achieved and meeting
began at approximately 7:10
PM. In the Secretary’s
report Commissioner Spalding reported on the success of the application for
landmark status for the First African
New Church. July minutes were introduced, and
Commissioner Guyot questioned the accuracy of the record of the debate on the DC
Street Furniture Act. Commissioner
Glover moved adoption of the minutes, and it was seconded and adopted
unanimously (8-0-0). In the
Treasurer’s report Commissioner Glover reported that there had been no change in
our balance since the last reporting period leaving us a balance of $82,269.02,
and the report was moved, seconded and adopted unanimously (8-0-0). Treasurer moved acceptance of a $3.00
bank charge for the most recent statement, and it was moved, seconded and
adopted unanimously (8-0-0).
Treasurer indicated that the DC Auditor had approved ANC1B’s third
quarter allotment of approximately $7,500.00 and that we should receive the
allotment in the next few weeks.
Treasurer moved reimbursement for secretarial expenses for the months of
June and July ($224.43) and it was seconded and adopted unanimously (8-0-0).
In Community Events and
Announcements Commissioner Guyot indicated that a list of speakers with the
Howard Dean campaign were available.
Commissioner Spalding reported that the Historic Preservation Review
Board had voted landmark status for the First African
New Church, and extended thanks and
congratulations to the Commissioners and community members involved in the
application.
Scott
Pomeroy of the 14th and U Main Streets Initiative
indicated that they would be starting the Safety and Maintenance Program soon,
and that this would be a demonstration program hopefully leading to a larger
program. Ten local individuals will
be hired to maintain the areas covered by the Main Streets program, and that
constituents should look for these individuals in green uniforms. Mr. Pomeroy also invited the community
to help celebrate Ben’s Chili Bowl’s 45th anniversary later this
month, and to participate in the ‘Dog Days of August’ sale & celebration on
August 23rd and 24th. Commissioner Guyot reported on the Help
America Vote campaign and its successes.
Mr. Clyde Howard reported on a “College Fair Financial Aid Seminar” being
offered by the Prince Hall Masons.
Maybelle Bennett, Bruce Costello
and architects introduced the changes projected for replacing Bethune Hall on
the Howard
University campus. The new Bethune Hall will be a 312 bed
female residence to be built on the exact site of the original Bethune
Hall. It will be the concluding
building in the eastern edge residential complex, and is designed to be
complementary to the existing structures in the complex. One block of College Street will
be turned into a pedestrian plaza; however, due to the massive infrastructure
below the surface of College
Street it will continue to be vehicle
accessible. Dan Bailey of the
architectural firm spoke to the issues of traffic and parking. The traffic and parking have followed
the guidelines of the 1998 master plan; however, amendments to the master plan
are projected. The current plan
calls for 4,700 parking slots across the campus as a whole, and currently there
are approximately 4,600 spaces identified.
By requirement with the zoning ordinances the projected changes in
Bethune Hall will necessitate an increase of two parking spaces, which can be
accommodated under the master plan’s overall parking scheme. Howard University would like to further
accommodate increased parking demand by razing 515 W Street and using the newly
created space for parking.
Commissioner Guyot stated that there is no recognition of a surplus of
parking either on the Howard campus or in the surrounding communities. Commissioner Guyot stated that the
modification of the campus plan is both timely and necessary, but more parking
should be built into any plans.
Commissioner Guyot offered a motion to support the application of Howard
University pursuant to 11 DCMR 3104.1 for a special exception under 210 to
replace the building known as Bethune Hall, with the request that Howard
University make increased efforts to relieve the parking crunch. The motion was seconded and adopted
unanimously (8-0-0).
Ann Simpson Mason (manager of
DDOT neighborhood transportation program) introduced DDOT’s traffic calming
studies that grew out of the Office of Planning’s Snap plans. Two of the locations proposed for
traffic calming studies are in Ward 1—Euclid
between Sherman
and 14th, and 4th between Bryant and Florida Ave. Phil Braum & Greer Gillis discussed
the scope of work and timeline for the traffic calming studies. Commissioner Guyot praised the
timeliness and thoroughness of the study and appreciated the choice of
4th
Street as a target for calming studies. Commissioner Spalding commented on using
traditional heavy traffic time periods in a community that often has more
traffic at midnight than at
5PM. Ms. Gillis responded that the study
would start with 24 hour monitoring & that they would adjust to the results
obtained. Commissioner Wright
indicated that accurate counts might be difficult with the use of parts of
4th
Street as a short cut. Commissioner Butler asked why the study
of Euclid
Street stopped at 14th, and why they did
not consider extending the study to follow traffic on Euclid through to
18th
Street.
Callistus Nwadike (Ward 1 Transportation Planner for DDOT) responded that
the portion of Euclid west of 16th
Street would be included in currently planned Adams
Morgan calming studies.
Commissioner Esters inquired whether the study would include the
intersection of 4th/Florida/Rhode Island and whether the study could suggest improvements to
this troubled intersection.
Ms. Gillis responded that the
intersection would be included in the study of 4th
Street and that if the results indicated that changes
to the intersection were warranted, that the information would be forwarded to
the appropriate DDOT department.
Clyde Howard spoke to the history of traffic and parking along
4th
Street, and indicated that the street is too narrow
to accommodate parking on both sides of the street and two-way traffic. Mr. Howard also asked that consideration
be given to calming studies for the race track known as 13th
Street.
Commissioner Guyot moved that a support letter for the study be written
including the commentary from ANC1B’s meeting, and it was seconded and adopted
unanimously (8-0-0).
Alex Eckmann (Mass Transit
Administrator for DDOT) and Greg Walker (Project Manager for WMATA) and others
gave an overview of the DC Transit Alternatives Analysis project. The study will be looking at the next
generation of transit in the District, and from received input and analysis the
needs for additional methods to access currently underserved areas. Light rail transit is currently the
leading candidate to supplement existing bus and subway service. Two cross town routes, one major north
south route from Silver Spring, and an
Anacostia route have been identified as needed. One of the proposed cross town routes
would originate in Woodley Park, transit through Adams Morgan, move
across U
Street, and connect finally with the new convention
center site. The CSX Shepherd
Branch railroad track along the Anacostia is currently available, and will most
likely serve as the demonstration project initiating the light rail system. The actual choice of transit technology
will be contingent on study results (LRT, BRT, Tram, Streetcar), and choices may
vary between corridors. The study
is expected to continue through calendar 2004 and the representatives expressed
their desire to return to ANC1B with updated status reports. Commissioner Spalding asked for details
on continuing public involvement, and Mr. Art Lawson described a very proactive
effort to contact as many community groups as frequently as possible. Commissioner Guyot cautioned that the
Snap plans were suspect; however, the outreach to the ANC’s and community groups
was to be lauded. Scott Pomeroy said that the 14th and U
Main Streets Initiative has a parking and transportation subcommittee who would
be willing to meet on this topic.
Mr. Pomeroy also raised the issue of the failure to complete the
extension of the yellow line, which has meant to ANC1B’s constituents a
diminution of expected rail services.
Greg Walker indicated that he did not think that the extension of the
yellow line is currently a part of WMATA’s planning. Melissa Kramer asked whether WMATA was
ignoring the needs of the bus service, or at least downplaying the bus service
for the new light rail.
Representatives stated that the bus service needs are currently well
addressed, and that the light rail is seen as a replacement where bus service
cannot handle the projected loading.
Circulator bus routes are also in the planning stages for downtown
locations. Clyde Howard asked about the legal restrictions on overhead electric
lines, and Mr. Walker responded that these technical difficulties were still
issues that will need to be addressed.
Commissioner Guyot requested that the Commission send a letter to
Councilman Graham concerning the extension of the yellow line, and that ANC1B
would like a response indicating when the extension will be operational. The motion was seconded and adopted
unanimously (9-0-0).
John Stephens (Ward 1 DDOT)
spoke to the need for a four way stop sign at the intersection of
11th and V Streets. A
number of recent accidents have spoken to the need to slow traffic through this
intersection, and also the intersection of 11th and W Street. Commissioner Thomas requested that the W
Street intersection be officially added to the request, and Mr. Stephens
complied. Commissioner Spalding
asked about a stoplight at 12th and U Streets, which is a more
dangerous intersection and has been a concern of the community for years. Mr. Nwadike indicated that DDOT was
currently reviewing the installation of a stoplight for 12th and U
and received applause from the congregants. Commissioner Butler requested that when
the stop signs are installed that signs indicating the nearby Garnett Patterson School be referenced. Mr. Stephens agreed that this should be
possible. Commissioner Spalding
moved that ANC1B support the stop signs at 11th and V,
11th and W, and additional signage indicating school crossing, and it
was seconded and adopted unanimously (9-0-0).
Iris Toyer of Parents United for
the DC Public Schools spoke to the recent controversy surrounding possible
school voucher programs for the District.
This is a local opposition group aligned with People for the American Way and
other organizations opposed to school voucher programs. Ms. Toyer gave an overview of the
shifting political alliances that has raised the voucher issue in the District,
and the position of the alliance of organizations opposing the use of school
vouchers in the District.
Commissioner Guyot offered a resolution opposing vouchers since they are
a direct economic attack on the
public education budget for the District of Columbia, and that the Congressmen
supporting school vouchers for the District do not support school vouchers in
their own Congressional districts because their own voters will not support
it. Ama Asante
speaking for the Committee for DC Youth said that the voucher system is another
move genocide against black men and boys.
Commissioner Guyot’s motion was seconded and adopted unanimously (9-0-0).
Nigel Gragg spoke on behalf of
the Howard Dean campaign.
Organizational details and meeting schedules were shared.
Jair Lynch spoke on behalf of
the Jair Lynch Companies and Triangle Two Development in regard to their
development of two NCRC parcels in Columbia Heights. These two condominium projects have been
presented to ANC1B earlier this year, and now are closer to being erected. They are hoping to conclude dealings
with NCRC in September, and to begin construction in October. Mr. Lynch described their ongoing
commitment to economic empowerment, and also to affordable housing. In the design phase they have taken the
input from the ANC’s and expanded the number of two and three bedroom units to
accommodate the backlog of larger families in search of housing. Commissioner Glover asked about the
sales process and schedule, and Mr. Lynch replied that until NCRC signs over the
land they can’t actively market the units. They do expect the marketing
campaign to begin in the fall and to be accepting contracts in the spring of
2004. An architect from Eric
Colbert Associates gave an updated view and explanation of the designs as they
exist at this point. Commissioner
Butler asked about the access to parking, and developer responded that in both
buildings the access would be through back alleys.
Ward Booker described his
application for Public Space approval of adding two front facing driveways to an
apartment building at 1419 Clifton
Street.
They are renovating the property and in order to accommodate sufficient
parking they are planning on using the existing basement space as the buildings
parking. Due to the grading of the
property, the normal rear access is not possible. One driveway will be for accessing and
the other will be for exiting.
Commissioner Butler asked about the location of the fire hydrant by the
exiting driveway, and developer explained that they would be moving the hydrant
to a safe distance from the exiting autos.
Commissioner Spalding asked about the current and projected use of the
building and the zoning, and developer responded that it is currently vacant and
would be developed into an eighteen unit building with sixteen parking spaces
provided. Commissioner Butler moved
support of the Public Space application, and it was seconded and adopted
unanimously (8-0-0).
Commissioner Wanda Stevens
Harris (6A01) requested support for a BZA use variance for the Church of the
Rapture located at 1840
14th Street. Commissioner Thomas asked if this is
located in ANC1B’s territory and if not why we are considering the request. Commissioner Guyot explained that the
property is located directly across 14th Street from ANC1B’s
territory, and that there was precedent for supporting requests in adjacent
ANC’s. Commissioner Harris
explained that the church wants to establish a child care center, and that she
had recommended to the pastor that both ANC’s be approached for support. Michael Drayton (pastor) explained that
they had been in the community since 1975, and that they own a townhouse
adjacent to the church building which is currently vacant. They hope to provide nursery service for
approximately 30 children if allowed the use variance & if they succeed in
obtaining a grant to renovate the property. Commissioner Thomas asked if they had
received support from ANC2B in which the property is located. Commissioner Ramon Estrada (2B09)
responded that ANC2B has not considered the request yet. Commissioner Spalding asked what type of
support letters they were eliciting from ANC1B, and the pastor responded that
they were specifically looking for support for the grant that they have applied
for to do the renovations.
Commissioner Esters asked whether the child care services would be
restricted to church members, or whether it would be extended to community
members, and the pastor responded that the intention is use by community
members. Scott Pomeroy explained that the grant being applied
for is the Commercial Property Acquisition and Development Program, and that the
14th and U Initiative could help with the grant process and
application. Commissioner Guyot
offered two resolutions (1) that ANC1B support the loan/grant application before
the Commercial Property Acquisition and Development Program, and (2) that ANC1B
support Church of the Rapture’s application for a use variance before the Board
of Zoning Appeals to provide daycare for infants. Both resolutions were seconded and both
were adopted by unanimous votes of (9-0-0).
Commissioner Thomas requested a
letter to DDOT asking for a postponement of repaving the 1400 block of W
Street. Chairperson Thomas
explained that a number of construction projects will be requesting blockages
and street cuttings in the next few months, and that it would be judicious for
DDOT to begin the repaving process once the construction had finished their work
in the streets. Callistus Nwadike
(Ward 1 DDOT) responded that they would consider the request to delay the
repaving. Chairperson Thomas
offered a resolution requesting that DDOT meet with the developers working in
the 1400 block of W Street, and coordinate the repaving schedule to accommodate
the developer’s street works.
Motion was seconded and adopted unanimously (10-0-0).
Vice Chairman Skinner spoke to
the ongoing negotiations towards a voluntary agreement with Harvard
Liquors. Commissioner Spalding
attended the August ABRA hearing, and the parties agreed to further negotiations
and appearing before ABRA on the morning of September 17th. Commissioner Skinner indicated that he
has met with the business owner about loitering and the sales of drug
paraphernalia, and that the owner was amenable to working towards remediation of
these concerns. Commissioner Butler
asked how this could be accomplished.
Grant request from Save Our
Youth was reconsidered. Mr. Akbar
Bilal representing Save Our Youth Inc. requested a grant for $8,000.00 to fund
“monthly workshops, radio advertisement, sound system, transportation, field
trips, supplies to include paper training tapes & videos, & a fall youth
conference to be held at Cardozo High
School”.
Commissioner Thomas indicated that there had already been discussion
about the nature of the grant, but that process issues still needed to be
addressed. Treasurer Glover
requested that a budget for the amount be attached to the grant request, and Mr.
Bilal complied. Commissioner
Skinner stated that the information had already been submitted. Commissioner Skinner requested that we
approve the grant and get him the money so he can get on with his program, and
we can clean up the details afterwards.
Chairperson Thomas reminded the applicant that she had counseled him to
get together with Commissioner Skinner and present the grant request
properly. Commissioner Skinner
stated that after the first presentation of the request at our June meeting Mr.
Bilal was given an informal lesson in how to prepare his grant application. Chairperson Thomas responded that at the
second presentation at our July meeting the application was still faulty and
that she again sat down with Mr. Bilal to explain how to present his request,
and suggested that he work with Commissioner Skinner to get the presentation
done correctly. Treasurer Glover
stated that he was now in possession of the needed documentation; however, he
was not inclined to act on a large grant request without time to review the
request. Commissioner Glover also
indicated that the size of the request was troubling since it amounted to more
than our quarterly allotment going to one organization. Treasurer Glover reminded the
Commissioners of the grant to the Lincoln Theatre a few years back that was
disallowed by the DC auditor, and therefore caused ANC1B to lose a quarter of
its yearly allotment. Commissioner
Guyot stated that the Commission has a fine Treasurer, but that the Treasurer
does not make financial policy decisions for the Commission. Commissioner Guyot moved that the grant
application be cut to a total of $4,000.00 and fund it. Commissioner Esters asked the applicant
if he had secured other sources of funding for this project. Mr. Bilal responded that they have two
foundations that support them as well as ongoing projects in the community. Commissioner Esters asked about the
number and scheduling of workshops and Mr. Bilal responded that they are doing
workshops on a daily basis.
Commissioner Esters asked about the participation and projection of
“30-40 youth” mentioned in the application, and Mr. Bilal responded that he
thought it could be more.
Commissioner Esters asked about the youth conference at Cardozo High and
whether it would be 1B youths involved, and Mr. Bilal responded that it would be
1B youths involved. Commissioner
Butler asked about Save Our Youth’s building & whether it was a residential
facility, and Mr. Bilal responded that they do not house youths but the entire
building is the Alliance house for field operations. Commissioner Butler asked about other
programs working out of the facility, and Mr. Bilal explained that there are a
number of programs like their prison outreach that have been going on for the
past ten years. Commissioner
Spalding commented that he was still not in receipt of a copy of the grant
application, and that to be presented with a substantial grant request and no
time to consider it is unacceptable.
Mr. Bilal stated that he had been more than fair in coming to ANC1B for
the past two meetings, and Commissioner Spalding replied that he still did not
have enough information to make a reasonable judgment, and that despite asking
for that information at both previous meetings it had still not been
provided. Commissioner Skinner
stated that Commissioner Spalding could read the request in a minute. Commissioner Skinner stated that the
Commissioners were badgering the applicant whose only desire was to help the
neighborhood. Commissioner Skinner
stated that ANC1B had given money to films and ice cream socials, and that this
might prevent people getting shot on our streets, and that he took it
personally. Commissioner Skinner
said that he comes up emotional because if someone else gets shot today because
they didn’t have an opportunity to participate because this bs we didn’t waste
eight thousand dollars.
Commissioner Spalding asked Mr. Bilal to explain his relationship with
the Million Youth March scheduled for September 6th. Mr. Bilal said that he had no
relationship, but that he supported any activity that helped the youths. Commissioner Spalding asked Mr. Bilal if
he was just a supporter, and Mr. Bilal responded that he was just a
supporter. Commissioner Spalding
asked if it was true that a donation made to the Million Youth March would be
directed to the same Save Our Youth program that was requesting the grant, and
Mr. Bilal responded that they are not interrelated. Commissioner Spalding read from a flyer
for the Million Youth March “this site is the exclusive property of the Million
Youth March organizing committee….. send donations to: Save Our Youth, Inc.
PO Box 4481 Washington, DC
20017.” Mr. Bilal responded that that was
another division within Save Our Youth, this project inside Save Our Youth; it
is not the entire Save Our Youth.
The Million Youth March is another project under the umbrella of Save Our
Youth. Mr. Bilal referred back to
the ‘raised eyebrows’ over the $8,000 requested, we’re getting 30K for the
march. Chairperson Thomas asked if
these were two separate projects, and Mr. Bilal responded that yes these are two
separate projects. Commissioner
Spalding asked what is the organization, is Save Our Youth the umbrella
organization, and is it national or local.
Mr. Bilal responded that Save Our Youth is a local organization tied to a
national organization. Commissioner
Spalding asked if there was a national organization, and Mr. Bilal responded
that the organization was in DC, New York and
New
Jersey.
Commissioner Spalding asked what type of organization it was, non profit,
501C3? Mr. Bilal responded that
they are specifically a youth organization that benefits the community that has
a track record. Commissioner
Spalding asked if Save Our Youth was a nonprofit or a corporation, and Mr. Bilal
responded that they are an independent organization that functions from
foundations we have not completed our dot org status, but our parent
organization the Alliance of Concerned Men is a non profit concern. Commissioner Skinner stated that ANC1B
had given money to all sorts of organizations and projects like making sure the
tree boxes were safe, all kinds of ice cream socials, and now we have a proposal
in front of us where the biggest mistake we might make is some kids might get
helped by it. Commissioner Skinner
stated that if ANC1B wanted to help Mr. Bilal prepare his taxes, then our
questions about his organizations tax status might be relevant, but if we’re
asking these questions to undermine or demean what this man has said he’s going
to do for our community, then that’s just wrong and off base. Commissioner Guyot reintroduced his
compromise support at the $4,000 level, and Commissioner Esters seconded. The grant was awarded on a vote of
(7-3-0).
Commissioner Guyot introduced a
resolution coauthored with Scott
Pomeroy concerning the projected changes in the PSA
boundaries. Mr. Pomeroy gave an
overview of the history of the PSA boundaries and the difficulties in
establishing appropriate new boundaries for the new projected PSA’s. Mr. Pomeroy explained that the new
boundaries had been derived from the Office of Planning’s clusters, which may
not be suitable as policing boundaries.
The natural boundary at 16th Street should be maintained
in the new alignment, which has run into opposition from the residents in the
blocks bounded by 16th and 14th and S and U. It has been proposed that these blocks
be included in the Dupont PSA in recognition of their political ties to Ward 2
and its ANC’s. Commissioner Skinner
asked if that meant that the corner of 14th and U would be considered
Dupont, and Mr. Pomeroy responded that that indeed was being proposed. Commissioner Guyot read the proposed
resolution: ANC1B resolves to
request that the Metropolitan Police Department maintain the current boundary of
16th
Street for the new PSA 304. There are proposals to move the area
bounded by S St. on the south, U Street on the
North and 14th
Street on the East and 16th
Street on the West into a much larger Dupont Circle
PSA 305. This resolution opposes
that change and seeks to maintain the current western boundary at 16th
Street as is consistent with the principals of
Community Policing. This area was
until eight months ago a part of ANC1B until it was redistricted to Ward 2. While redistricting relied upon census
numbers to adjust boundaries, the PSA system relies upon community
boundaries. We recognize that the
area defined above comprises a small neighborhood unit that is part of the
greater 14th and U
Street community, not Dupont Circle. The 14th & U community
has its own strong and unique heritage and evolving future of which the
intersection of 14th and U is the heart. Dividing the corridor down the two major
commercial corridors of 14th and U Streets would result in poor
management of police resources and compromised statistical data when assessing
the crime problems of 14th and U. 16th Street is a major commuter
and vehicular artery that has far fewer crime issues than a commercial
corridor. Motion was seconded and
adopted on a vote of (9-1-0). A compatible resolution was presented to align
the PSA boundaries with the ANC boundaries was tabled for consideration at a
future meeting.
Dan Driscoll and Beverly
Duvall-Riley requested support for renovation and expansion of the Easter Seals
facility at 13th and Girard Street. They have submitted an
application to the DC Department of Housing and Community Development for
financial support in renovating the building. The total project costs will run to
approximately $700,000 and they have already secured nearly half of that
amount. The renovations would allow
Easter Seals to double the number of slots available for infant care. Commissioner Skinner moved support, and
it was seconded and adopted unanimously (9-0-0).
Commissioner Spalding requested
support letters for DC Healthy Start’s use of the 1800 block of 12th
Street on Wednesday, August 27th from
10 AM to 4 PM.
This will be a combination of DC Department of Health and DC Department
of Education mobile vans doing immunizations and other required back to school
activities. They will need either a
temporary street closing or a relaxation of the parking restrictions to work
from the Thurgood
Marshall Building on 12th
Street.
Commissioner Guyot seconded the request and it was adopted unanimously
(9-0-0).
Commissioner Skinner moved
adjournment, and it was seconded and heartily endorsed. Meeting closed at 10:05 PM.