No Parking for 132 Microunits at 90-91 Blagden Alley: "This Is Wishful Thinking"

CORRECTION: When first published, this article did not specify the date of the meeting. Apologies.

On September 24, committee of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 2F/Logan Circle told developer SB-Urban, supported by parking consultants Wells & Associates, that it could not endorse its plan for absolutely no parking or loading area for its proposed 132-microunit residential building at 90-91 Blagden Alley NW. The parking issue was tabled until the next scheduled meeting of ANC2F's Community Development Committee (CDC) in late October.

Proposed view from across M Street, from BZA files

The developers sought ANC endorsement for a handful of zoning variances and special exceptions (see pages 4 and 6, respectively, of document here for definitions) that it wants from DC's Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA). The cold comfort for the developers was that the CDC approved all of the requests apart from the parking. For example, the CDC did not object to the proposed roof structures (one is a five-foot-tall elevator overrun, set back 10 feet from the edge of the building), or the lot occupancy (the proposed footprint of the building will take up 89% of the property, whereas zoning allows 75%).

According to information on PropertyQuest, 90-91 Blagden Alley is zoned category C-2-A. Under current zoning regulations, there must be at least one parking space for each two dwelling units, or 66 spaces.

The argument for no parking spaces

SB-Urban's argument was that they could only fit eight parking spaces on the property, and to do so would require putting a ramp in a historic building. The presenters said their target demographic was car-free young professionals. There is a metro stop, a Circulator bus route, several conventional bus routes, 19 car share spaces, and two bike share stations, all within a quarter-mile of the building.

SB-Urban's representative also said they would offer a series of amenities to encourage bike use, including 42 spaces of bike parking, a "real time transportation board" (which would show, among other things, availability at nearby bikeshare stations), a maintenance space for bikes in the basement, a complimentary Capital Bikeshare membership for new arrivals, and ten helmets on hand for residents to borrow.

SB-Urban presented a very similar package of bike-friendly amenities to ANC 2B/Dupont Circle in March when they convinced the ANC to endorse a car-free micro-apartment concept for the Patterson Mansion (15 Dupont Circle) -- see SALM blog post of March 18.

The push back

The committee raised many objections. A committee member said expecting every inhabitant of 132 units to be car-free was unrealistic. Even a small number of tenants with cars would put an additional burden on an area with insufficient parking.

"Even if only 10 percent have cars, that's another 13 cars," said committee member Joel Heisey.

"There's got to be some other way than zero," Heisey said.

"We can't guarantee that zero percent of the people will have cars," a presenter said.

CDC Committee Chair Walt Cain (Commissioner for district 02) brought up "the loading question". There is no loading dock in the proposal, and no place for delivery trucks to park legally.

Presenters said all of the units would be furnished, so tenants would not arrive with truckloads of furniture to be unloaded.

Committee members and residents pointed out that the type of people who live in micro-units are also likely to shop on-line, meaning UPS and Fedex trucks visiting frequently, as well as deliveries of food from services like Peapod. One of the presenters said tenants wouldn't order food online because there was a newish Giant grocery store nearby. Members of the audience begged to differ.

"There's not even a place for a trash truck," a committee member said.

"Where is the trash going to be?" another committee member asked.

"On the sidewalk," the presenters replied.

There was an audible gasp from some members of the audience at this assertion. The discussion continued over the practical upshot of garbage from 132 units, however small, being picked up curbside on M Street. The presenters said garbage could be taken out to the curb and away in five minutes. Listeners were skeptical.

"This is wishful thinking," one resident said of the proposal.

The consensus seemed to be that there needed to be some parking for deliveries and loading, at the very least. The alternative, Commissioner Cain said, was an outright rejection of the request by the committee.

The presenters agreed to return with a revised proposal at the next CDC meeting, scheduled for October 29, 7pm, at the Washington Plaza Hotel (10 Thomas Circle). Normally, if the CDC endorses a proposal, it is considered by the full ANC at its next meeting, which in this case would be on the evening of November 5.

SB-Urban has a BZA hearing scheduled for the morning of November 5, i.e., before the ANC meeting. So the presenters asked if the ANC could agree at its October meeting to take the extraordinary step in this case of granting the CDC power to endorse a zoning request without full ANC consideration. Cain said he would try to work some arrangement out with the full ANC. 

The vote to endorse zoning relief requests except the special exception for parking passed the committee unanimously.

Ninety and 91 Blagden Alley are actually two unconnected properties, one of them (90) fronting on M Street, the other facing the Washington Convention Center across 9th Street. The proposal joins them by an elevated pedestrian bridge over Blagden Alley. They are being considered by the BZA as a single property.

This proposal was previously heard by the CDC in March when SB-Urban sought endorsement for an application to DC's Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) -- see coverage by the blogs Urban Turf and District Source. It received an unfavorable review from HPRB staff in July before receiving approval by a 4-3 vote by the full Board, according to District Source.

The documents pertaining to the application for zoning relief, including detailed plans and drawings of the project plus a 47-page transportation study, can be viewed by going to the BZA's Interactive Zoning Information System and entering case number 18852 in the search bar.

Cheater's Guide to Dream City -- Part 18 (City on Trial)

This is the eighteenth installment of a series (see the first installment here) summarizing the 1994 book Dream City: Race, Power, and the Decline of Washington, D.C.by Harry Jaffe and Tom Sherwood. This book has recently been republished as an ebook and a paper book. HBO has plans to use material from the book to make a movie about the life of Marion Barry.

Chapter 15: City on Trial (three of three)

After the dramatic premiere of the videotape showing Marion Barry smoking crack at the Vista Hotel, the prosecution laid on ten witnesses who testified that they used drugs with Barry, along with dealers and non-drug-taking witnesses.

Barry's attorney "Ken Mundy put on a perfunctory defense that lasted only a few days" (Kindle location 5113).

"Based purely on the facts, Barry's defense looked weak mesured against the government's overwhelming evidence.... It was clear that he went to great lengths to obtain the drugs and conspired to buy it.... It was also quite plain that he'd lied about his drug use.... Witness after witness had described using narcotics with the mayor, and the government introduced the mayor's own phone logs that proved that he made calls to many of the people who testified. If the jurors believe only half of the evidence, there was enough to convict Barry on most of the counts, including the felonies" (l. 5120).

"But there was much more than simple evidence at work in this case. The larger issues of race and politics and government power loomed over the courtroom and permeated every piece of evidence. When the testimony was complete, power shifted to the jury" (l. 5121).

"The case of U.S. v. Barry went to the jury on August 2, 1990" (l. 5139).

"But from the first hours of deliberation, the twelve jurors were deadlocked -- some frozen in their divergent views as were the people of Washington, D.C. There were two separate realities: One accepted and trusted the American system of justice; the other believed in a conspiracy against blacks. Across that chasm, consensus would be hard to reach" (l. 5148).

"In the end, after eight days of frustrating debate, the jurors cut a deal. On eleven of the fourteen counts, including three felony charges, they were hopelessly deadlocked by scores of 7-5 and 6-6. They didn't vote on the conspiracy count. But on two counts they decided to strike a balance." (l. 5167).

"The outcome had more to do with horse-trading than with weighing the evidence. The antigovernment, pro-Barry bloc denied the prosecution its felonies and gained acquittal on one misdemeanor. The other jurors saved face and some integrity by hitting Barry with one misdemeanor. It was a political rather than a judicial verdict" (l. 5168).

"The jurors sent a note to Judge Jackson at 4:25 p.m., August 10, a Friday" (l. 5169). The jury foreman said the jury had found Barry not guilty of one misdemeanor count, and guilty of one misdemeanor count. The judge send the jurors back to try again. A short while later, the foreman sent a note saying the jury was hopelessly deadlocked.

"Eight minutes later [Judge Thomas Penfield] Jackson called the jurors back and declared a mistrial" (l. 5177).

"Marion Barry wept.... He thought there was little likelihood of a jail sentence. He had taken on the government and won. His supporters in the room cried and grabbed him. He hugged Mundy and left the courtroom amid a throng of wellwishers" (l. 5178).

"Word already had spread outside.... The mayor walked from the side door around to the front in a victory march that thrilled his waiting fans but apparently infuriated Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson. In front of the courthouse, the crowd erupted in a chant of 'Ba-rry, Ba-rry, Ba-rry!' The mayor soaked it in for a few minutes and headed off into the late summer evening" (l. 5184).

"When [US Assistant Attorney General and lead prosecutor] Jay Stephens tried to hold a press conference on the steps, the raucous crowd booed and shouted him down. Horns of passing motorists honked along Pennsylvania Avenue. Not since the Washington Redskins won the Super Bowl had the town seen such spontaneous celebration" (l. 5186).

Cheater's Guide to Dream City continues next week

Further installments will appear on successive Fridays. All posts will be cross-posted on the ad-hoc "Cheater's Guide to Dream City" blog.

Full disclosure: I have a commercial relationship with Amazon. I will receive a very small portion of the money people spend after clicking on an Amazon link on this site.

This is a great book and well worth reading in its entirety.

2131 N Street: ANC2B Asks for Delay, but Historic Preservation Goes Ahead with Approval

At its regular monthly meeting on September 10, Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 2B/Dupont Circle voted to ask for a delay in the consideration of the case of a two-story rear addition at 2131 N Street NW. But DC's Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) went ahead and gave it tentative approval anyway on September 18.

(Google Street View)

Like most properties in Dupont Circle, 2131 N Street is in a historic district -- in this case, Dupont Circle Historic District. Significant changes to the exterior of the building require the approval of HPRB.

The owners and their representatives from architecture firm Soe Lin & Associates appeared before ANC2B's Zoning, Preservation and Development (ZPD) Committee on September 3. They showed drawings and described the proposed addition, which will extend the house a further 10 feet, 9 inches, to the rear. The highest point of the building will be 4 feet, 3 inches above the current height. However, the added height will be completely in the rear of the building and will not be visible from N Street.

The addition would be built in an area which currently has a walk-out deck. Behind the deck, there is a parking space. A trellis would also be added over the parking space.

Density, whether up or behind, is always an issue in this area.

"Do we want more rear additions?" a committee member asked.

The committee also asked if the neighbors had been consulted. The applicant said they had tried to contact one neighbor, but the neighbor worked for the World Bank and was out of town for a long period.

One member of the committee suggested support for the project if the applicant provided evidence that the neighbors were contacted.

Commissioner Mike Silverstein (district 06) was concerned that there were no pictures provided of the view down the alley. 2131 N Street is in Silverstein's ANC district.

In the end, the ZPD Committee voted to table a decision until October, and ask the applicant to come back both with evidence of consultations with the neighbors and with more pictures showing what the project might look like when completed.

This decision was ratified by the full ANC, as mentioned above. All six Commissioners present at the full ANC meeting voted in favor of the motion.

The letter sent by ANC2B to HPRB, dated September 16, can see seen here. It asks for "additional time for neighborhood input".

On September 18, HPRB staff recommended approval to the project -- see document here. HPRB staff found the "overall concept" of the renovation consistent with historical preservation but suggested the architect revise some of the details, including those involving materials and windows.

The project will be back before the ZPD Committee anyway. Assuming that the HPRB management signs off on the staff's recommendation, the next step will be for the homeowners to get a zoning variance for lot occupancy from DC's Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA). According to DC Zoning code, the footprint of this building should cover no more than 60 percent of the lot. With the new addition, it will cover nearly 70 percent.

ANC input is solicited for zoning variances. This will give the ANC another chance to see if there was any consultation with the neighbors and address other concerns.

The zoning variance may be considered at the ZPD Committee's next meeting on Wednesday, October 1, at 7pm, at the Dupont Circle Resource Center (9 Dupont Circle). Any decision made would then be considered by the full ANC, scheduled to meet at 7pm, October 8, at the Brookings Institution (1775 Massachusetts Avenue).

A BZA hearing on 2131 N Street is on the BZA calendar for October 28.

Plans, including architectural drawings of the proposed addition, submitted by the owners in support of their request for a zoning area variance can be seen by going to the BZA's Interactive Zoning Information System and entering case number 18844 in the search bar.

Interview with Ellen Nedrow Sullivan, Candidate for ANC1B District 02

This is a written interview with Ellen Nedrow Sullivan. Sullivan is a candidate for Commissioner in district 02 of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 1B/U Street.

Sullivan is running against Jennie Nevin. An interview with Nevin appeared here yesterday.

District 02 contains some of the fastest-developing territory in the U Street NW corridor. It extends from 12th Street in the west to 8th Street in the east. The southern border is S Street. The northern border is a jagged line, mostly defined by Florida Avenue. See bottom center of the map at right.

Don't know your ANC district? There are two search tools: one by the DC government, the other by Code for DC.

-- Tell a little about your online presence. What will voters find there? What other ways can potential voters find out about you?

Voters can find me online at my Facebook page, Ellen Nedrow Sullivan for ANC 1B02. There I’ll be posting about issues that matter to our community, hearing directly from neighbors, and giving campaign updates. I really enjoy getting out and talking with people so I’ll be knocking on doors and hosting a meet and greet on Oct. 19th. When I collected signatures to get on the ballot, it was a family affair with my husband, our toddler, and our dog joining me (our cat declined) so I hope to do that again though with cooler weather this time.

-- At the last ANC meeting, Commissioners agreed that your district is the one generating the most work -- liquor licenses, historic preservation requests, zoning. How will you balance your volunteer responsibilities as a Commissioner with your day job?

If I am elected as the Commissioner for ANC 1B02, it will be my day job. I will start a long planned break from working in the Senate at the beginning of January and that flexibility will allow me to work for our neighborhood during business hours and not just when I can fit it in.

I have also been an active member of our ANC’s ABC committee for two years and as a homeowner, I have worked with both the historic preservation and zoning offices. I know that these issues areas are time intensive and need someone who can attend the daytime meetings where the decisions are being made.

-- Your district has a lot of retail in it, and parking is always a problem. What, if anything, can ANCs do to help businesses get the local parking that they need?

I live on 9th right off of U St. NW so I see the fight for parking every day with businesses and residents both wanting more. While we work on big solutions like zoning regulations for parking requirements in new developments, resident only parking and a visitor pass system, and improving our mass transit system we also need to focus on how to make improvements now. Small things affect someone’s decision whether to drive or not- is the bus going to be late, is the metro escalator out, is the sidewalk so broken that using a wheelchair, granny cart, or stroller is impossible? If we work on these issues and improve street lighting and crosswalk safety while adding bike racks then we can decrease the number of cars inching along looking for a parking space.

 -- There is push back now against density in residential area, particularly in favor of limiting “pop ups”? What do you think about these proposed new regulations? How is it possible to have more affordable housing if it is so difficult to add to the housing stock?

Density, pop-ups, and affordable housing are three separate issues to me. DC is not going to solve the need for affordable housing through pop-ups; it will take a partnership between our government and developers to build mixed income housing. Pop-ups, like all matters of zoning, should be clearly regulated and so I think reviewing the current regulations and exploring the need for new ones are the right first steps. Increased density has positive and negative impacts and they deserve their own debate. As a founding co-chair of the Westminster Neighborhood Association’s Business Improvement Group (WNA BIG), I have worked for two years with neighbors, developers, and business owners to find the right balance and type of density in our part of the neighborhood. We surveyed our neighborhood association members and brought their opinions directly to the ANC meetings and the developers pushing for amenities like a grocery store that will benefit all of us for years to come.

-- Several liquor licensees in your district are the targets of chronic noise complaints from the neighbors. How can the ANC and the district government more adequately address these complaints?

I have been an active member of the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Committee for our ANC for two years during which every liquor license in our ANC came up for renewal so I’m familiar with these issues. We discuss ways to prevent noise issues with every establishment that comes before the committee and most are very willing to work with us because they don’t want complaints from neighbors. So they close windows, don’t dump bottles in the middle of the night, have their security keep things more orderly as people wait in line, close outdoor areas a little earlier, etc. and the noise levels improve. I feel the committee has been successful in brokering these types of compromises especially with new applicants so I think things are improving and will continue to do so.

The cases like the ones I think you are referencing are normally about bigger problems than just noise. These are the establishments that require the neighbors, the ANC, the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA), and in very unfortunate cases the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) to work together to build a case and either make the punishment harsh enough and frequent enough to change the behavior of the owners or as a last resort to take away their license. With this type of case it is important to have an ANC representative that can attend all of the ABRA hearings and meetings that take place during business hours and keep the pressure on ABRA.

-- What is your position on the proposed Reeves Center land swap? If the deal goes through, what would be the best use of the current site of the Reeves Center?

I grew up playing soccer and have been playing in a DC area league since 2006, my dad played, my brother played, and we have already started our son in a neighborhood toddler soccer group. It is a great sport. But this is a major financial decision for the city and it needs careful consideration and not just an emotional response. I would need to see all of the details before making a decision.

If the deal were to go through, I would like to see a development that combined daytime use such as offices and retail with residential so that we would see benefits from it 24 hours a day. To me, the Reeves Center was built as a symbol of promise and any new development on that corner should aim to do the same.

 -- Why vote for you, and not the other person?

Seventeen years ago I came to Washington, fell in love with the city and politics, and chose to make this my home. My husband and I moved to Shaw five years ago and we are raising our son in a home and community we love.

Community matters to me. It is why I have worked in the US Senate for thirteen years for Senators who fight to improve healthcare, transportation, and education. It is why I have enjoyed serving on the ABC Committee for our ANC. It is why I founded and co-chair the Westminster Neighborhood Association’s Business Improvement Group, working directly with business owners and developers as our neighborhood changes. We all have a responsibility to be involved and work together because that is how our community will flourish. I hope to be given the chance to put my experience and commitment to our community to work as your representative on our ANC.

I have been impressed with Jennie Nevins’ involvement with the ANC and with her quickness in becoming involved after moving to DC. I look forward to getting to know her as we both campaign and to working with her in the future.


End of interview

ANC1B, in addition to U Street, includes all or part of the following neighborhoods: Columbia Heights, LeDroit Park, Pleasant Plains, Shaw, University Heights, and lower Georgia Avenue.

The election will take place on Tuesday, November 4. Thanks to all candidates for responding to my questions.

200 Block of N Street: Discord over Parking

Two recent incidents along the 200 block of N Street NW illustrates how the fight for limited on-street parking space sets neighbor against neighbor.

"It's a bit of a sad situation for the 200 block of N Street," said Commissioner Rachelle Nigro (district 04), referring to the first of the two incidents described below.

(From the Facebook site of Commissioner Rachelle Nigro)

At the last meeting of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6E/Shaw, a request for a dedicated on-street handicapped parking space for the resident of a single-family house at 216 N Street was discussed. The resident at 216 N Street apparently applied to the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) for a designated handicapped parking space in front of her home. The space was granted. There was "negative feedback" from some neighbors. But it is too late to un-grant the handicapped parking space.

DDOT is supposed to notify ANCs of requests of this type. DDOT says it did so, specifically, that they mailed a letter on June 4. But, by the September 1 meeting, the ANC had never received any communication, paper or electronic, about the application for a handicapped parking space. A Commissioner said this was the second time communication concerning handicapped parking spaces did not reach the ANC.

ANC6E Chair Alexander Padro (Commissioner for district 01) expressed exasperation at DDOT's apparent inability to mail a letter so that it arrives at its intended destination.

"We get notices from the District government about proposed actions every day," he said.

Another Commissioner was skeptical about the letter's existence.

"Let us read the proof," said Commissioner Marge Maceda (district 05). "We have never received this."

The ANC passed a motion to send a letter to DDOT telling them their letters do not arrive at their intended destination.

ANC6E videos its meetings in their entirety and post them on its YouTube channel in 30-minute segments, but the section of the meeting which contained the discussion of this topic was missing from the channel at the time of this writing.

There was also some discussion at the meeting because the property was apparently listed as for sale on the real estate web site Zillow. However, on the same day as the ANC meeting, the listing was removed from Zillow, although the attendees of the meeting apparently didn't know it.

The asking price for the property was $1.3 million.

The second parking dispute occurred in August, according to information from the Facebook site of Commissioner Nigro. On August 7 and 8, there was a two-day teacher development event at nearby Dunbar High School (101 N Street). Apparently someone at DC public schools issued several official-looking "parking permits" (see above) in the name of the Office of the Deputy Chancellor Institute of DC Public Schools. The permits claimed it allowed the bearer to park in "the two-hour restricted zone" (i.e., on-street parking for residents) while the development event took place.

As Commissioner Nigro pointed out in a Facebook comment, DC public schools are not authorized to issue on-street parking permits, and there apparently was some confusion about who exacting authorized and produced the "permits".

Nigro also wrote on Facebook that she had asked for an explanation from various parts of the DC government about the incident, but as of this writing had not posted any response.

Interview with Jennie Nevin, Candidate for ANC1B District 02

This is a written interview with Jennie Nevin. Nevin is a candidate for Commissioner in district 02 of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 1B/U Street.

Nevin is running against Ellen Nedrow Sullivan. Read an interview with Sullivan here.

District 02 contains some of the fastest-developing territory in the U Street NW corridor. It extends from 12th Street in the west to 8th Street in the east. The southern border is S Street. The northern border is a jagged line, mostly defined by Florida Avenue. See bottom center of the map at right.

Don't know your ANC district? There are two search tools: one by the DC government, the other by Code for DC.

-- Tell a little about your online presence. What will voters find there? What other ways can potential voters find out about you?

You can find my website for my campaign at www.jennienevin.com. There, I’ve put up a brief biography as well as a description of my thoughts on several of the major responsibilities of the ANC Commissioners. My hope is that by reading my commentary and my personal story, voters can get a sense for what really matters to me and how I will approach the issues they care about. My website contains my email address—jennieANC1B02@gmail.com--which voters are welcome to use to contact me to find out more.

-- At the last ANC meeting, Commissioners agreed that your district is the one generating the most work -- liquor licenses, historic preservation requests, zoning. How will you balance your volunteer responsibilities as a Commissioner with your day job?

This is definitely true; ANC1B 02 is a busy place! I have thought about this issue long and hard, and I think the key is to concentrate and delegate. By concentrate, I mean picking certain issues where I will be able to devote significant time and effort, such as a development proposal (e.g. the Grimke School) or a certain policy topic (e.g. the zoning rewrite). By delegate I mean two things. One is recognizing the role that other officials—such as the Councilmember for Ward 1—can play in handling my community’s concerns and relying on their expertise and staff and influence to advance my constituents’ needs. The second way I will delegate is by involving constituents in helping me keep abreast of issues that matter to the community. I will rely on active and involved citizens of ANC1B, many of whom I already know, to take a leadership role in some of the issues that matter most, and I will work with them to accomplish the community’s goals.

-- Your district has a lot of retail in it, and parking is always a problem. What, if anything, can ANCs do to help businesses get the local parking that they need?

Concern about being “underparked” is very real for many businesses in this district. Short of insisting that the zoning ordinance contain reasonable parking requirements for new developments in the area, a Commissioner can be helpful to businesses by assisting with more creative parking solutions. For example, U Street Music Hall has partnered with Parking Panda to offer spaces that customers can reserve before shows so that they have a spot when they arrive to park. As a Commissioner, I would work with businesses to pursue these kinds of solutions to make the most of existing space in the area.

-- There is push back now against density in residential area, particularly in favor of limiting “pop ups”? What do you think about these proposed new regulations? How is it possible to have more affordable housing if it is so difficult to add to the housing stock?

I am not in favor of limiting pop ups. It is impossible to deny that the District is in the throes of an affordability crisis, with thousands of residents unable to afford a place to live, and thousands more spending far too much of their income on housing. Often the influx of new “Class A” residential units in large apartment buildings is cited as a possible solution to affordability. But this is not a sufficient solution; after all, those buildings are a reality because their developers know they can turn a profit by charging high rents. To drive down housing costs, the answer is ultimately about increasing supply of all kinds, and there are only so many ways to do that in a city where heights are limited. As a result, I am in favor of all creative building types, from tiny houses to English basements to pop-ups.

My single member district includes what is commonly referred to as one of the most dramatic pop ups in the City and a symbol for all that is “evil” about unrestricted popup development. But at the end of the day, what we are talking about isn’t “evil”, it’s just “ugly.” I believe that if we are going to build a DC that has room for all of us, we must be prepared for change and be accepting of a different skyline. I’d like to borrow from an Atlantic Cities article on this topic: “By the Office of Planning's own accounting, demand will greatly outstrip supply in D.C. if the status quo is maintained. The city needs to stop talking about whether pop-up condo conversions are "ugly"—full stop. That…debate over aesthetics implies mutual interest. But really, only one side wins when the rules are made to stop development to protect a[n existing] homeowner.”

-- Several liquor licensees in your district are the targets of chronic noise complaints from the neighbors. How can the ANC and the district government more adequately address these complaints?

Noisy bars and residential communities make naturally difficult neighbors. Because their needs are often in direct conflict, I believe that the best approach to achieving peaceful coexistence is one grounded in compromise, mainly through negotiating settlement agreements. These agreements can lock establishments in to terms that are realistic for both parties, particularly regarding operating hours, outdoor activity and vermin control. Beyond these specific agreements, the issue becomes about enforcing the laws that govern noise in the District. As an ANC commissioner, it is important to be willing to express the concerns of citizens to the agencies that are responsible for enforcing the law and responding to noise complaints. I promise to be an advocate for my neighbors in engaging District government when it is required to enforce controls on noise.

-- What is your position on the proposed Reeves Center land swap? If the deal goes through, what would be the best use of the current site of the Reeves Center?

My views on the Reeve’s Center swap have evolved significantly over the course of the debate. Along with many residents of our neighborhood, I initially reacted to the proposal with deep skepticism. The Reeves Center site is clearly one of the City’s crown jewels, and the prospect of relinquishing control of that asset without a solid understanding of what would replace it—or whether it will be valued appropriately—is concerning.

Overall, however, I do agree with many of the assumptions underlying the deal. The Reeves Center was originally constructed in its current location to serve as a catalyst for economic development in a troubled area. It has clearly served its purpose, and the prospect of relocating the center to a place where its 800 employees might help spur similar development is compelling. While our businesses will need to adapt to a shift in demand from new uses at the site, I believe that moving this asset to Anacostia to complement existing government buildings would benefit our City as a whole. Similarly, I believe that linking the Southwest Waterfront with the existing Nationals Stadium area would support beneficial development at Buzzard Point, and while the loss of potential housing in that area is concerning, existing conditions do not indicate that there is a real possibility of residential development there without this kind of sea change.

Ultimately, I think the deal comes down to two questions: is the District getting a “good value” for the land, and what is the planned use of the 14th and U property. Fortunately, the District has invested a substantial sum in an independent evaluation of the former point, which will hopefully clear up competing claims about the true costs of the deal (including the opportunity cost of not acting). I remain concerned about the valuations of the Reeves Center, but I understand that while a higher price might come from auctioning the property, there are elements of the swap that only work as part of this larger deal, and I know from my own work that an alignment of interests that make a deal of this scale possible are hard to come by and valuable for that reason. Unfortunately, to my knowledge the report commissioned to investigate the costs of the deal has not yet been released. Pending that, and pending a more solid commitment from the developer and the City to lock-in an appropriate, community-supported use for the 14th and U site, I am not in support of the deal. My opinions, however, may change as these two points come into greater focus.

I would like to see the 14th and U site be a residential property with some ground floor retail but also some significant space dedicated to daytime uses and public benefit (perhaps a small start-up incubator or a one-stop career center); I am fully supportive of requiring affordable housing units in the building to the greatest extent possible.

-- Why vote for you, and not the other person?

I have a proven track record of a multi-year voluntary commitment to serve the ANC, which sets me apart from other candidates. Far too many people who run for this office don't understand the hard work, long nights, and difficult decisions for which they are signing up. I know exactly what this commitment means, and I have thought long and hard about making it. I'm in this for the right reasons, and I have the right skill set for the job. I have worked in local government for my whole career, and I have a base level of knowledge about the details of issues like development, liquor, stormwater, transportation, etc. that will help me hit the ground running as a Commissioner. My combination of proven local government experience and proven commitment to the ANC set me apart, and I believe I am the strongest choice for ANC1B 02.

End of interview

ANC1B, in addition to U Street, includes all or part of the following neighborhoods: Columbia Heights, LeDroit Park, Pleasant Plains, Shaw, University Heights, and lower Georgia Avenue.

The election will take place on Tuesday, November 4. Thanks to all candidates for responding to my questions.

2031 11th Street: One of the Oldest Houses in the Neighborhood Gets a Renovation

The owner of 2031 11th Street NW says parts of his home date from 1857, although on-line information says the house was built in 1890. In support of the 1857 claim, the homeowner showed the Design Review Committee of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 1B/U Street a copy of a yellowing section of a 19th-century map. The maps shows the area between 7th and 16th Streets, and R Street and Florida Avenue.

2031 11th Street last week

A lonely black dot sits in a sea of undeveloped grid squares. This, the homeowner said, is his home.

This house is wood-framed. The homeowner was not able to find another wood-framed house of this age in the neighborhood.

The homeowner said he had bought the house in 2010. It was in "catastrophic condition", he said. Some of the 150-year-old wood was "completely rotted out". He has spent time since improving the interior of the house.

The homeowner now wants to renovate the facade and is starting the slog through the historical preservation process to get the necessary permissions. The house is located within the U Street Historic District, so the homeowner will first need to get approval from DC's Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB). He came before the Design Review committee on September 15th to get ANC endorsement of the general idea for the renovation, which he needs before he goes to HPRB.

The homeowner said he has already been in discussion with HPRB. He would like to replace the current facade (see photo) and restore the wood frame. Perhaps the new facade might be stucco. The homeowner thought maintaining the bay window might be a good idea.

"I'd like a porch," he said.

A member of the Design Review Committee said that a porch was not appropriate for the house and he would not support it. Further, he said, HPRB would not support it.

The homeowner said he had talked to a neighbor in an abutting row house. The neighbor has no objections.

"He's a very easy-to-get-along-with guy," the homeowner said.

The Design Review Committee voted unanimously (one abstention) to support most of the concept of the renovation, including the bay window, but not the porch.

The homeowner a few days later said he had been in touch with HPRB. The person he talked to there said there would be no objection to a porch.

The renovation of 2031 11th Street will probably be considered by the full ANC at its next meeting, scheduled for Thursday, October 2, at the Reeves Center (14th and U Street NW).

According to on-line information, 2031 11th Street was sold in December 2010 for $560,000.