Advisory Neighborhood Commission
6D
Present: Commissioners
Hamilton, Litsky, Moffatt, Siegel, Skolnik, and Sobelsohn.
The meeting was convened at 7:04
p.m.
1. Agenda
Discussion
of the voluntary agreement with the Wine Cellar, an update on Marina View
Towers and a ratification of the community benefits agreement with Monument
Realty were added to the agenda. Motion: Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/ Commissioner Skolnik seconded the
approval of the agenda as amended. The
motion was approved without objection.
2. Special Election
The rules for the special
election for SMD 03 were read. Each of
the candidates, Ron McBee and Clarence Brown spoke, and the polls were opened
for the election.
3.
Community Comment
Gene Solon made remarks
about his Southwest/Near Southeast construction chart.
4.
Randall School/Corcoran
Gallery
Peter Greenhalgh, Christina
DePaul, and Jocelyn File of the Corcoran Gallery, Paul delVecchio and Russell
Hine of Monument Realty, Patrick Burkhardt of Shalom Baranes Architects and
Norman Glasgow of Holland and Knight, made a presentation of the plans to have
the Randall School be declared a landmark, and to raze several of the school’s
buildings, prior to a hearing at the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB)
on March 22nd).
After introductory remarks
by Mr. Greenhalgh, Ms. DePaul and Mr. Hine, who said that Mr. DelVecchio will
be the liaison with the community on the project. Ms. DePaul said they would be working with the schools, as well
as offering some continuing education along with their courses.
Mr. Burkhardt said that the
Corcoran School would be 115,700 square feet, with 430,000 square feet of
residential development. The project
will be E-shaped, and have 450 underground parking spaces. There will be landscaped space on 1st
Street. He said that the buildings they
want to raze were added on to the original structure and are less significant
architecturally. The residential
buildings will be scaled from 90’ at the rear to 70’ on the sides that abut the
historic buildings.
Concerns were raised about
the mass of the project, the shadow it will cast on the old Friendship Baptist
Church, and the impact on the neighborhood.
Mr. Glasgow said that the PUD will be filed within the next few weeks,
at which point the ANC the ANC will have the opportunity to comment on the mass
and height of the project. 2600 square
feet will be set aside for artists’ studios, and there was a difference of
opinion about the number of artists who had expressed interest in returning to
the building.
The projected timeline for
construction is that construction will begin at the end of 2008, and continue
through 2009. The first freshman class
at the school will be in 2011. Ms. File
said that Steve Tanner, the developer of the Friendship Baptist Church project
supports the project and will coordinate construction schedules with the
Corcoran. Other issues raised included
LEED certification, and a commitment by the Corcoran to open classes to local
seniors at reduced rates.
Motion: Commissioner
Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Skolnik seconded that the ANC support the
designation of the Randall School as a historic property, and the razing of
those portions not considered historic, but also expressing serious concerns
regarding the proposed density of the residential part of the project. The motion passed 5-0-1, with Commissioner
Hamilton abstaining.
Motion: Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner
Siegel seconded a motion to refer consideration of the next steps of the
project to the Development Committee.
It was passed 6-0.
5.
Old
Business
1325
South Capitol Street
Commissioner
Hamilton reported that the Applicant’s Proposed Conditions of Zoning Commission
Approval negotiated between the ANC and Camden Realty for 1325 South Capitol
Street had been modified by the Applicant from the original agreement to
require 94% completion of the project before the 50% discounted parking spaces
were available for residents of 2, 4, 6, and 8 O Street SW, and to add “based
on availability.” The ANC responded
that while the 94% completion condition was acceptable for making market rate
parking spaces available, there should be no requirement of 94% availability
for the four 50% discounted spaces. Motion:
Commissioner Hamilton
moved/Commissioner Sobelsohn seconded a motion that the Applicant’s Proposed
Conditions document be approved for inclusion in the Applicant’s submission to
the Zoning Commission with the proviso that the conditions for parking for the
four O Street residents is returned to its original language. It was passed 5-0-1, with Commissioner
Siegel abstaining.
Marina
View Towers
Commissioner
Skolnik reported that he had presented testimony on Marina Towers for the ANC
at the Zoning Commission hearing. He
said it was a five-hour hearing, with attention focused on the setback of the
building from M Street.
6.
New Business
100
M Street SE
Chip
Glasgow of Holland and Knight presented a request for support for modifications
to 100 1st Street SE, an office building already under
construction. The modifications include
narrowing the sidewalk from 34’ to 20’ feet, eliminating an outdoor seating
area, due to DDOT plans to widen the street to improve access to the new stadium;
the possible installation of a second door to accommodate a potential second
retail establishment on 1st Street; and the raising the level of the
building floor on the M Street side 6” to sidewalk level, and the use of a rear
portion of the retail space for a potential fitness center for a tenant. The building will be completed in October
2008. Motion: Commissioner
Siegel made/Commissioner Sobelsohn seconded a motion to send a letter to the
Zoning Commission supporting the modifications to 100 M Street SE. It passed 5-0-1, with Commissioner Hamilton
abstaining.
Potbelly
Sandwich Works
Commissioner
Sobelsohn reported on Potbell Sandwich Works’ application for a public space
permit for outdoor seating at its 3rd and D Streets SW
location. The Public Space committee
will consider this application on Masrch 22.
Motion: Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Litsky seconded
a motion to support Potbelly Sandwich Works’ application on condition that, by
March 22, the ANC 6D Development Committee approve Potbelly’s proffer of
community benefits. The motion passed
6-0-.
Southeast
Federal Center Streetscape
Alex
Nyhan, of Forest City Washington, made a detailed presentation of the planned
streetscape for the 42-acre Southeast Federal Center “neighborhood. He showed renderings of streets, street
furniture and several kinds of lighting that will be used.
Brain
Tumor 5 K Race
Nikki
Beddowe presented information of the 5K Brain Tumor Race, which will take place
on May 5th. Motion: Commissioner
Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Skolnik seconded a motion to support the race and
send a letter to the Emergency Management Office. The motion passed 6-0.
Resolution
on Legislation Eliminating NCRC and AWC
Commissioner
Litsky described legislation introduced by Councilmember Evans eliminating the
NCRC and AWC, saying that ANC 6D was heavily impacted by both
organizations. He presented a
resolution opposing the legislation, for reasons including the fact that each
entity should be considered separately; that the Office of the Mayor is
currently analyzing the functions of the organizations; that there is no clear
plan of what would become of the organizations; and no plan of what would
become of their projects. Motion: Commissioner
Litsky moved/Commissioner Sobelsohn seconded a motion to support the
resolution, to testify at the City Council opposing the legislation, and to
designate Commissioner Litsky to represent the ANC in the matter. The motion passed 6-0.
7.
Committee Reports
Community Outreach and Grants
St.
Augustine’s Episcopal Church
St.
Augustine’s Episcopal Church has applied for grant of $1000 to go toward the
construction of a ramp at its main entrance.
Commissioner Skolnik reported that construction is about to start on the
ramp, and that the building is mixed-use building, being used for community meetings,
concerts, etc. Discussion centered on
the fact that the church is a religious institution and the ANC cannot make
grants to religious institutions. Gottlieb Simon pointed out that there are two
opinions from the Attorney General’s office pointing that out, and Mr. Skolnik
added that it was not up to the ANC to decide what is religious and what is
secular. Committee chair Naomi Monk
pointed out that construction is to begin and the grant is time sensitive. Commissioner Litsky said that this issues
should be decided on a grant-by-grant basis, and that it should be sent to the
Office of the Auditor for an opinion, not the Attorney General. Motion:
Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Siegel seconded a motion
to send the grant proposal to the Office of the Attorney General for an
opinion. It passed 4-2, with
Commissioners Litsky and Skolnik in opposition. Motion: Mr. Sobelsohn
moved/Mr. Siegel seconded a motion that Commissioner Sobelsohn be authorized to
represent the ANC with the Office of the Attorney General in this matter. It passed 6-0.
Alcoholic Beverage and Licensing
Wine
Cellar Voluntary Agreement
Commissioner
Siegel reported that he had negotiated a strong voluntary agreement with the
Wine Cellar and Spirits, a class A liquor store at 1st and L Streets
SE. It includes a ban on single sales of malt liquor and bottles of less than
750 ml, and a ban on the sale of drug paraphernalia. Motion: Commissioner
Siegel moved/Commissioner Sobelsohn seconded a motion to approve the voluntary
agreement with the Wine Cellar and Spirits.
It passed 4-0-1, with Commissioner Hamilton abstaining.
Development
Monument
Realty Agreement
Commissioner
Sobelsohn reported on the Monument Realty agreement regarding alley closings in
Squares 700 and 701 (near the stadium site)—specifically that part of the
agreement in which Monument promises to contribute $50,000 to Jefferson Junior
High School and Amidon Elementary School for projects mutually selected by
Monument, the school principals and the ANC.
Monument and the two principals have agreed that $25,000 should go to Jefferson for instruments and
other supplies for its school band, and $25,000 should go to AAAmidon to make
its electrical system ready for air conditioning units, and to install several
classroom air conditioning units. Motion:
Commissioner Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Siegel seconded a motion to
approve the disbursement of funds worked out between Monument Realty and the
two school principals. The motion
passed 5-0.
8.
Election Results
The
election results were Ron McBee: 36 votes; Clarence Brown, 19 votes. A resolution affirming the result was
read. Motion: Commissioner
Sobelsohn moved/Commissioner Skolnik seconded a motion to certify the
election. The motion passed 6-0.
9.
Minutes
Motion: Commissioner Sobelsohn moved to table the February minutes
until the March meeting. It passed 6-0.
10.Treasurer’s Report
Commissioner Skolnik presented the Treasurer's Report for February
12, to March 12, 2007. A copy of his
report is attached to these minutes. ANC
6D has $43,759.78 in current funds. The
savings account has $5,129.24, including an interest payment of $1.97. The report includes expenses submitted for
approval staff salary, $554.10 (Check #304), $162.68 to Verizon for telephone
services (Check #305); $90 to St. Augustine’s Church for space rental (Check
#306); $15.02 to Mary Williams for reimbursement for keys (Check #307); and
$1,000 to Jefferson Jr. High School PTA for a community grant (Check #308) Motion:
Commissioner Skolnik made/Commissioner Sobelsohn seconded a motion to approve
the March report and to authorize payment of the expenses. The motion passed
6-0.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:55 pm.