ADVISORY
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION 1B
Government of the
District of
Columbia
Columbia
Heights / LeDroit
Park / Shaw / University Heights
MINUTES
6 March 2003, True Reformer
Building, 1200 U Street, NW
Attending: Commissioners Guyot, Spalding, Thomas, Butler, Glover, Skinner,
Esters
Absent: Commissioners Hammonds, Houston, Wilson,
Littlepage
Meeting was called to order by Chairperson Thomas at
approximately 7:15PM
Minutes of the October 2002 meeting have still not been
presented for approval
Minutes of the February 2003 meeting were adopted (6-0-0)
In the Treasurer’s Report Commissioner Glover reported that
our current balance is $80,541.92, and that there was no activity in the past
month, and also that the current quarterly report (10/1/2002 to 12/31/02) was done. Monthly and quarterly Treasurer’s report
was adopted (6-0-0). Motion to
reimburse the Secretary for stationery expenses of $46.66 was adopted (6-0-0).
Presentation by Thomas W. Branham, Director, Real Estate
Assessments, Dept. Tax & Revenue in regard to the release of new property
tax appraisals. Explanation was
given of the new yearly appraisal process, the 25% cap on increases, methods of
appeal, and useful forms and contacts in the Office of Tax and Revenue. Average increase (yearly) in 1B was
estimated at 30%. In response to a
constituent question, the 25% cap only applies to Homestead Exemption
properties, and may be influenced by improvement permitting. Class 3 properties (vacant &
abandoned, commercial or residential) identifying and inventory ongoing, and
currently has about 5,000 properties.
Hardship situations should approach Lesa Lee of the OTR, and cases are
reviewed on a property by property basis.
Presentation of National Minority Aids bid for WMATA parcel
Florida
Ave. between 8th and 9th
Streets. NMAC showed designs of a
four story office building with retail on the street level, and a small park on
the eastern parcel. NMAC would
occupy most of the office space on the top three floors & would sell their
current property at 13th & U. A request was made that we invite the
others bidders for this WMATA parcel dispersal.
Commissioner Skinner presented a design for a Ward 1 Town
Hall Meeting. There was discussion
amongst the Commissioners on whether the meeting should be ward wide or
concentrate on 1B’s territory, and also on the expense involved in putting the
meeting together. It was decided to
table the request (5-0-1), and for Commissioners to work towards an appropriate
design for an upcoming meeting.
In Community announcements: March 11th Business
Public Safety Summit at Cada Vez, 3rd annual Techno Rodeo March
15th at Cada Vez, March
29th 10th annual CleanUp coordinated with 14th
& U Main Streets Initiative.
Discussion of the Main Streets program led to a call for the
14th & U Main Street Initiative to address Commissioner concerns
at an upcoming meeting.
DC Taekwondo announced that their citywide championship has
been moved to April 26th.
Cardozo Shaw Neighborhood Association meets on second Thursdays at the
True
Reformer Building at 7PM.
DDOT request for approval of public space permit for Camino
Real (1833 14th Street
NW).
Proposed are two outdoor tables for café seating just outside the front
door of the restaurant.
Question was raised about the fact that it has taken nearly a
year for this process, and applicant stated that it just got bogged down in the
Public Space Dept. Support for the
application was given unanimously.
DDOT request for approval of the traffic control plan (TCP)
for 1290 U
Street.
Marvin Jawer of Jenco Group presented the finalized TCP. Suggestions were made for retail leases
(video store, Dunkin Doughnuts, ice cream parlor). Question on conflict with the Manna
project, and DDOT responded that the permit issued to Jenco would preclude any
site activities in the center of Square 0274 until Jenco no longer needed the
access and alley closings. Closing
of alley lane on 13th
Street and limitations of those closings were
discussed. Sidewalk on 13th
Street is site of major electrical & utilities
work, but as soon as possible they will reopen the sidewalk. Not permitted to obstruct the subway
opening at any time during regular operating hours. Question was raised about searching out
minority business ownership possibilities for the retail space being
created. Question was raised by
community member about the narrow sidewalk space currently existent on
U
Street.
Moving the bus shelter was forwarded as a partial solution. Commissioner Guyot added that this TCP
has been enacted without ANC input, and that changes requested by the ANC should
be instituted. DDOT added that the
requirement on sidewalk space is a four foot clearance. Commissioner Skinner asked for
cooperation on alleviating conditions that are having an impact on the
community. The developer agreed to
review the plans and to give back as much sidewalk as possible. DDOT spokesman said that they are
concerned with public safety, and that there is an ongoing process to remediate
problems with the TCP as they are discovered. Commissioner Skinner reinforced his
comments that public safety is being jeopardized, and that more than the
required minimum allowances might be necessitated by the unusual nature of the
site. Commissioner Spalding offered
a motion that ANC1B support the TCP as presented. Commissioner Guyot asked if the
resolution contained the changes reflected in the previous discussion. Commissioner Skinner requested to amend
the resolution to include a contingency that the bottleneck near the bus shelter
be addressed. Amended motion passed
unanimously (7-0-0).
ABC liquor license request for Temporary Stipulated license
towards a new CR license at 944
Florida Ave.
Coffee, deli and a small bar.
Applicant stated that their bartenders have been trained, and that they
have conducted an outreach to the surrounding residential community.
Applicant stated that they hope to be a networking node for
the entire community. Commissioner
Spalding moved support and it was adopted unanimously (7-0-0).
ABC liquor license request for renewal of a CT license for
Bohemian Caverns. There were no
questions of the applicant and no adverse comments from the community members
present. Commissioner Spalding
moved support and it was adopted unanimously (7-0-0).
ABC liquor license request for permission to change license
class from CR to CN for Republic Gardens. No representative from the applicant was
present, so the Commission did not take any action on the request.
ABC liquor license request for a Temporary Stipulated license
towards a new CN license for Between Friends located at 1115A U Street. Applicant said that her intention is to
run a straight friendly gay & lesbian nightclub. Other intended uses are as a fund
raising facility for community organizations. They have reached out to numerous
community organizations and also to the adjacent Lincoln Condominium
association. Commissioner Spalding
asked for the capacity of the club and the applicants expected use
capacity. The applicant stated that
the original capacity for the space was 897, but that in order to accommodate
that capacity they would have needed to add additional bathroom facilities. Their current configuration allows a
capacity of 650. Applicant was
asked about policing issues, and responded that the police had been stopping by
regularly, but that there had been no serious problems. Applicant was asked about parking
arrangements, and responded that they are currently using the U Street parking lot
on 12th
Street and were exploring using the Industrial Bank
lot on 11th
Street.
They are also exploring subleasing space to a barbecue restaurant. They are developing daytime activities
including yoga and aerobics classes.
Applicant was asked about employees and their management and liquor
training, and responded that there are currently 16 employees and that the
manager had applied for a managers license. Applicant was asked about hours of
operation, and responded that the nightclub would operate between 9PM and 3AM.
Commissioner Guyot asked if they would consider reducing the capacity
from 650 to 550, but withdrew the suggestion. Commissioner Esters asked if the
addition of the barbecue restaurant would affect the capacity, and applicant
responded that it would probably not change the capacity. Commissioner Spalding moved support and
it was adopted unanimously (7-0-0).
ABC liquor license request for a Temporary Stipulated license
towards a new CR license for U Turn located at 1101 U Street. Mr. Pappas as agent for the applicant
explained that the applicant currently has a CR license for operations on the
second floor, and that this was a request to extend the license to newly
acquired space on the first floor.
Applicant was asked if they were planning a club on one level and a
restaurant on the other, and responded that they would be operating an Ethiopian
restaurant on both levels. A
question was raised about access between the floors of the restaurant, and
applicant said that they were in the process of removing walls and adapting the
space to accommodate the change.
Applicant stated that the actual request is for expansion of the existing
CR license. Motion was made to
support the expansion of the existing CR license and it was adopted unanimously
(6-0-0).
ABC liquor license request for a Temporary Stipulated license
towards a new CR license for Enkutatash Ethiopian Restaurant located at
1909 9th
Street.
Applicant was asked if they had requested a change in the zoning and use
from residential, and responded that the change had already been made. Question was directed to applicant about
the historic façade, and responded that they would not disturb the façade in
changing use to a restaurant.
Commissioner Guyot moved support and it was adopted unanimously (6-0-0).
ABC liquor license request for a Temporary Stipulated license
towards a new CT license for College Café located at 1346 T Street. Applicant was asked about turning a row
house in the historic district into a tavern, and applicant responded that it
was allowed in the current zoning and that he was preparing to start the
renovations necessary for the conversion to commercial use. Lengthy debate ensued over the zoning and
use of the building. Question was
raised in regard to back property taxes owed on the building, and response from
applicant was that they were not aware of the situation & that it should not
impede their plans. Commissioner
Esters asked whether the applicant had solicited support from the nearby
residents, and applicant responded that there was ongoing negative sentiment
from the previous owners of what is now the St. Ex property, but that applicant
was not aligned with these previous owners. Commissioners Thomas and Spalding asked
about applicant’s interaction with the surrounding residential community
members. Commissioner Guyot asked
about applicant’s knowledge of the surrounding community, and applicant
responded that he had lived in the neighborhood but had recently moved to
Arlington. Commissioner Guyot asked whether
applicant had joined any local groups while living in the neighborhood, and
applicant responded that he hadn’t.
It was moved by Commissioner Spalding that the request be tabled, and
that applicant return with designs for the project and evidence of community
input. Commissioner Guyot expressed
a vigorous dissent from the standards applied by the Commissioners in reviewing
the application. The motion to
table was adopted (5-1-0).
Grant application submitted by Cardozo Shaw Neighborhood
Association to support costs involved in securing historic landmark status for
the church at 10th & V Streets. Bryan Martin Firvida presented the case
for applying for the historic status.
The property is currently vacant and abandoned and lies just outside the
footprint of the Greater U Street Historic District. The property is both architecturally and
culturally significant. It is one
of the few African American owned and operated churches in the District. The grant is for costs involved in
filing the application. The
designation as an historic landmark would prevent demolition or inappropriate
changes to the façade. The
designation would not prevent development use, but would restrict exterior
changes to those approved for historic landmarks. Commissioner Guyot expressed concern
over prejudging the intentions of the current owner, and the involvement of the
researcher involved. Applicant
responded that their intention is to save the structure no matter who the
current or future owner might be.
Commissioner Spalding moved to support the grant application in the
amount of $1800.00 and it was adopted unanimously (6-0-0). A separate motion was presented by
Commissioner Spalding asking DCRA to issue no permits that would not be allowed
to an historic landmark property until a decision on the application was
resolved, and the resolution was adopted unanimously (6-0-0).
Grant application from CHIME. Dorothy Marschak presented on behalf of
Community Help in Music Education.
Applicant was asked ‘You’re not headquartered in ANC1B, and none of your
programs appear to happen in ANC1B, so are you asking other ANC’s for
support?’ Applicant responded that
they are a citywide program, and that there are no venues to present inside the
boundaries of ANC1B, but that teacher training & use of tapes would be
happening in schools located inside ANC1B’s boundaries. There was ongoing discussion of the
appropriateness of funding from ANC1B to a citywide program with only loose
connection to the territory of ANC1B. Motion to oppose the grant application
was adopted unanimously (6-0-0).
Grant application from DC Taekwondo Association was heard
(tabled at our February meeting).
Questions were raised about the size of the grant, and Commissioner
Glover asked to reduce the grant from $6,600 to $5,000 but failed to receive a
second. There was discussion about
the size of the grant and effective use of ANC1B’s available funds. Applicant explained that the request of
ANC1B was for the portion of activities resident in ANC1B, and that it would be
raising funds from other city agencies.
Applicant asked for a letter of support from ANC1B to DC Sport. Commissioner Guyot moved support of the
grant application, and it was adopted unanimously (6-0-0).
Commissioner Thomas offered a motion to support requesting
that the office space previously allotted to ANC1B in the Reeves Center be pursued. Motion was adopted by a vote of
(5-1-0).
Commissioner Spalding offered a resolution to support the
letter from the Washington Regional Network for Livable Communities. Since the organization was not present
to discuss the resolution, Commissioner Spalding offered a motion to table. Commissioner Guyot said that they did
not need to be present for ANC1B to vote on the issue. The motion to table was withdrawn, and
Commissioner Guyot offered a motion to support endorsing the letter conditional
on the membership allowing an alternative motion at the April meeting. The motion to support was adopted
unanimously (7-0-0).
Commissioner Skinner asked for a working group on the issues
forum & a budget guideline. The
commissioners agreed that keeping the focus to ANC1B in place of Ward 1 was
desirable.
After discussion of the budget needed Commissioner Skinner
asked that the working group not delay funding and drag out the process, and
that ANC1B vote on a budget for the meeting at the April ANC1B meeting. Commissioner Thomas asked that the
budget specifics be presented to the Commissioners in a timely fashion.
Meeting was adjourned at approximately 10:30 PM.
Philip C. Spalding, Secretary