Neighbor Gets Temporary Protection Order Against ANC Candidate

Edward Hanlon, a candidate for a contested seat on Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 2B/Dupont Circle, has been named in a Temporary Protection Order issued by a judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

Detail from the Temporary Protection Order

The documents orders Hanlon not to assault, threaten, stalk, harass, or physically abuse a neighbor or the neighbor's husband. It also orders Hanlon not to contact the neighbor, directly or indirectly, by telephone, in writing, by text, or by social media.

At the top of the document (see detail), Hanlon is told to stay 100 feet away from the petitioner's person, home, work place, vehicle, and husband. However, in a hand-written addition on the same page, the distance is reduced to 40 feet. Hanlon is also permitted to drive to and from his home by an alley, which presumably comes closer than 40 feet to the neighbor's home or property.

The order was originally set to expire on September 19. It was extended to October 9, and then, with Hanlon's consent (according to an annotation on page one of the document), to December 2.

The petition requesting the order says the neighbor "is fearful for her safety and for the safety of her husband", "is afraid to stay in her home alone and is forced to stay with friends or family when her husband is out of town", and "keeps her home security system on at all times of the day or night".

The petition also accuses Hanlon of unlawfully entering the neighbor's property on at least two occasions and interfering with outdoor construction work taking place at the neighbor's house. Hanlon also took pictures of the neighbor's house on at least two occasions, according to the petition.

On October 27, I sent Hanlon an email asking for comment. There was no reply. On October 28, I contacted Hanlon by phone. When asked for comment, Hanlon said: "It's all untrue." Hanlon said he did not have sufficient time to respond before publication, and that he wished to respond in writing. I promised to publish Hanlon's response in full when he sends it to me. 

See a copy of the six-page Temporary Protection Order here.

I have followed the wishes of the person who brought this document to my attention and I blacked out the name of the neighbor and the neighbor's husband, as well as the neighbor's address. I have also blacked out the name of another person, who (it appears) was named in an earlier draft of the complaint, and then removed.

Finally, I have blacked out Hanlon's address, but not his name.

Hanlon is running against incumbent Noah Smith for Commissioner from District 09. This district is bounded by 14th Street NW on the east, S Street on the south, and U Street on the north. Its eastern boundary is mostly New Hampshire Avenue. See a map of ANC2B, including this district, here.

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

Election Day is Tuesday, November 4, but early voting centers in nine neighborhood areas opened on October 25. There is also early voting downtown at Judiciary Square.

"Endangered" L Street Building to Be Retained, Moved

A part of 911 L Street NW in Shaw, a historically-protected Civil War-era building that made the DC Preservation League's 2014 "Most Endangered Places" list, will saved from the wrecking ball, preserved, and moved down the block. This was announced at an October 23 public hearing of the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB).

911-913 L Street (DC Preservation League, by permission)

The raze of the building, along with the building next door at 913 L Street, was endorsed by a committee of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 2F/Logan Circle on September 24, and then by the full ANC on October 1, before it appeared on the "Most Endangered Places" list, published on October 8.

Steve Callcott of HPRB staff said that the "transitional Greek revival townhouse" at 911 L Street was "a rarity" and "arguably the more important of the two" buildings, owing to its age. In a deal approved by the DC Preservation League and the developers of a complex of hotels and residences slated to go on the block where the building is located, the building will be retained "to a depth of 16 feet" and moved down L Street until it is adjacent with another historically-protected building. The facades of the buildings will be preserved, and the interiors renovated.

Screenshot of planned development from HPRB video archive

The picture on the left is a the architect's photoshopped vision of what the preserved building will look like as part of the completed hotel and apartment complex. The preserved and renovated version of 911 L Street is the three-story building with the black roof in the lower center.

913 L Street is still slated for complete demolition, however. The fate of both  buildings will probably remain on the November agenda of J. Peter Byrne, the Georgetown University professor of law who is also the Mayor's Agent for historical preservation. The Mayor's Agent has to approve the demolition of any building in a designated historic district. 911 and 913 L Street are located in in the Shaw Historic District.

The demolition of these buildings is a small part of a large land-use deal which  is part of a Planned Unit Development (PUD). See a short explanation of PUDs here and 21 pages of official PUD regulations here. The PUD is on the agenda for tomorrow's meeting of ANC2F's Community Development Committee, scheduled for 7pm at the Washington Plaza Hotel (10 Thomas Circle).

HPRB live-streams its meetings and then preserves them in a video archive. The discussion of the deal to preserve part of 911 L Street can be seen by going to this page and clicking on the link for the October 23 meeting, then clicking the tab labelled "Shaw Historic District".

ANC1B Commissioner Calls for Resignation after Committee Vote on 2724 11th Street Zoning

Mark Ranslem, Commissioner for district 08 on Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 1B/U Street, has called for the Chair of the ANC's Design Review Committee, Lela Winston, to resign. Ranslem first called for the resignation in an October 21 email which went to both a group of fellow ANC1B Commissioners and neighbors of a troubled Columbia Heights building (2724 11th Street NW).

October 5 rally of tenants and neighbors of 2724 11th Street

2724 11th Street is a rent-controlled building in serious state of disrepair and vermin infestation. The family who has owned the building for more than 50 years has recently gotten permission to raise rents by 31% and is also asking for zoning relief, including relief from parking minimums, to facilitate a building-wide renovation. On October 20, the Design Review Committee voted unanimously, with one abstention, to oppose the zoning relief -- see SALM blog post of October 24.

In his initial email, Ramslem was replying to a neighbor of 2724 11th Street who reported and praised the committee's decision. The email said:

As a commissioner, let me be very blunt. I think [the Design Review] committee has gone way outside its jurisdiction and overstepped. The committee has allowed itself to be drawn into the emotional part of this matter when it hasn't stuck to what its role is intended to be. 

While the plight of the tenants is very serious, the committee has made this situation almost unworkable. 

I also disagree with your assessment that Lela Wilson [sic] is an able chairperson. She has proven that she is is not. I call for her resignation.

On the same day, Winston replied to Ranslem and the other addressees:

I take high offense that you would call my capabilities into question regarding a case conducted by the Design Review Committee simply because a routine decision was not to your satisfaction.  I understand you are new to the ANC, but that is the democratic process, Mr. Ranslem.  

What's more, to suggest that emotion fulled the decision without actually having attended the meeting, further calls into question your claim.  Also, If I am correct, you are not the Commissioner for 1B09, where this property is located.  

Having been a member on this committee and now a chairwoman, I can say that such decisions happen often.  Just last ANC meeting you were on the forefront of a vote not to recommend by-right use of a rear yard simply because doing so would make rear access unavailable to neighbors, despite the fact that the owner had a right to build and it was his property.  Shall I call into question your judgement and capabilities?  

No.

Because I know that this a democratic republic of men and women who work together with the rule of law to make democratic decisions--who give their time to make their city better.  Because these are individuals, regardless of whether I agree with one decision or another, I respect, because they volunteer their free time to support our republic.  I know and understand that these decision will not always be to my satisfaction.  That is democracy and we have all pledged to be a part of that regardless of the outcomes.  We vote.  We all vote and that right should not be taken away--nor the right of the citizens of our good city to exercise freedom of speech and be heard by a government for the people and by it.

Quite frankly, I am not sure which I am more offended by--your unfounded and baseless call or your calling into question of our democratic process simply because a decision did not go the way you intended.  Quite frankly, sir, I am shocked and disturbed.

I sent an email to Ranslem asking if he had any further comment. His October 23 reply:

I stand by my call for Ms. Wilson's resignation. Aside from the fact she doesn't know how to operate under Robert's Rules of Order, things are out of control. It's heartbreaking to see what's taking place. These tenants live in deplorable conditions and deserve so much better. At the last ANC meeting, we heard from many of the tenants. Like the other commissioners, I was shocked to hear that problems were this bad.

Ms. Jennifer Parker has taken the reigns of the [2724 11th Street] property from her father in law and is starting over -- planning to renovate and make living conditions acceptable. Transitions aren't pretty. They had to start somewhere, and they can't do it without cooperation. That cooperation begins with partnering with the ANC and working through the parts to make this work. To mix the tenant rental negotiations and the design elements is comparing apples to oranges. Ms. Wilson refuses to accept this fact. She seems to see this as an opportunity to light the torches and grab the pitchforks and go to the top of the hill like in a Frankenstein movie and burn the monster alive.

This is in Chairman [James] Turner's SMD [meaning, "Single Member District", or ANC district -- in this case, district 09]. He and others have fought hard for a balanced approach. That means a win/win. Instead, this matter is headed into the ditch. So, instead of trusting in the process that was unfolding under Mr. Turner's leadership, Ms. Wilson seems intent on circumventing the ANC and to scold the developer. I think it's a lose/lose unless things are quickly turned around. Imagine: instead of redeveloping the property, the landlord just sits back and does nothing. The property falls in further disrepair and is ultimately condemned. Everyone loses. We need to point this in the right direction and give the developer the chance and the tools do right for the tenants. This doesn't mean not being critical along the way, there have been problems along the way. However, I've been to enough of committee to know where things have been headed. Nothing personal, Ms. Wilson is a delightful woman. I just think it's time for her to go.

The following day, Ranslem wrote a separate email:

The Design Review Committee is supposed to review designs and make recommendations to the ANC-- nothing more, nothing less. It is not-- and let me emphasize-- it is NOT-- a mini ANC. 

Any responsible chairperson at that committee meeting on October 21 might have said something like this, "The concerns of the tenants are at the very heart of why renovation is needed, the spirit of which was duly noted at the October ANC meeting. Therefore, it's doubly important to get it done right and urge that it be done expediently. The purview of this committee is limited. We are here to deal with zoning, architectural plans, and other related elements based on their own merits. With that said, please keep your comments focused on the subject at hand."

Winston has not commented further on the case.

Ranslem was not present at the portion of the October 20 meeting devoted to this case, but he has witnessed several earlier Design Review Committee meetings. I was present at portion of the October 20 meeting that dealt with this case.

Thanks to Ranslem and Winston for permission to quote their emails.

Winston was voted Design Review Committee chair in February -- see SALM blog post of February 13.

Ranslem has been ANC Commissioner since May. He ran unopposed in a special election.

(Photo credit: Amal Mimish, used with permission)

Interview with Colleen Costello, Candidate for ANC1A District 12

This is a written interview with Colleen Costello, who is running for Commissioner of district 12 of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 1A/Columbia Heights-Park View.

From ANC1A web site

Costello's opponent is Margaret Hundley. Normally I print interviews with both candidates. In this case, Hundley did not respond to emails sent October 10 and October 22 to the address she gave to DC election authorities. She also did not respond to a phone message left on October 22 at the phone number she gave to DC elections authorities.

District 12 is a compact, mostly residential district on the lower left of the map at right. It extends in an irregular rectangle from 13th to 16th Streets NW, and from Fuller Street to Columbia Road.

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

– Where can voters go to find out more about you?

I encourage voters to contact me at Costellofor1A12@gmail.com. I’m happy to answer any questions residents might have about my goals as their representative. I’ll also be knocking on doors again between now and the election and hope to meet more residents then!

– Sixteenth Street borders your district on one side. What do you think about the proposed 16th Street dedicated bus lane? Will a lane make 16th Street more congested, or less? Will it be easier or more difficult for commuters in your district to get to downtown jobs?

I applaud efforts by ANC member Kishan Putta and other advocates to address the increasing demand for public transportation along the 16th Street corridor by seeking a designated bus lane. Many 1A12 residents rely on public transportation along 16th (and 14th) Street NW to get to work. Unfortunately, we live near the lower end of the 16th Street route, which often means overcrowded buses and lengthy wait times, particularly during inclement weather when demand is high.

A designated bus lane on 16th Street is just one of several ideas being considered by the D.C. Department of Transportation to meet commuters’ needs. DDOT has also begun to add longer buses to the route and optimize traffic signal times to keep buses moving along 16th Street, which has resulted in a small improvement in bus wait times and congestion.

We’re not out of the woods yet, though. While some of these improvements might address current demands, there’s no guarantee that they’ll satisfy future needs. DDOT has promised to study the feasibility of creating a buses-only lane along 16th Street during rush hour. I urge DDOT to quickly complete its feasibility study to determine whether a designated bus lane will meet both current and projected future demand without exacerbating congestion problems.

Commuters can also play an important role in easing congestion by using public transportation, walking, or biking whenever possible. DDOT should ensure that any solution to this problem will enable residents to safely and easily use multiple modes of transportation along 16th Street.

– Public safety is always a big issue. Can ANCs do anything to make the streets safer for people? Is there anything the police might try to improve safety?

ANCs can absolutely play a role in addressing safety and security concerns. When problems arise, ANC representatives should serve as liaisons between their constituents and the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department to ensure that MPD district commanders are aware of problems and develop a plan to address them. ANCs can also work closely with residents, community leaders, and District agencies to ensure that other safety problems—poor lighting, dense shrubbery, blighted properties, etc.—don’t contribute to increased criminal activity. ANCs should also identify opportunities to help build a stronger sense of community within their districts so neighbors feel comfortable relying on one another to be vigilant against criminal activity.

– Recently, the DC Office of Planning has proposed new regulations that would, if implemented, seriously cut back on the ability of residents to add “pop ups”, and for developers to buy rowhouses and convert them into multi-apartment units. Do regulations like that unfairly infringe on the rights of homeowners to do what they want (within reason) with property they own? If we don't allow people to create more housing, how can we expect the price of housing to become more reasonable?

Recently-proposed regulations would limit the building height restrictions for rowhouses zoned R-4, reducing height limits from 40 to 35 feet. Nearly 95% of the city’s R-4 properties currently stand at 35 feet or less; the proposal essentially seeks to keep these homes at or below that height. Parties seeking to build beyond that limit would have to request a variance from the Board of Zoning Adjustment — a process that could add additional costs to the project, which could in turn get passed along to renters and buyers. Before the city reaches a final resolution on this proposal, residents need to be given ample opportunity to learn how it will affect them and to weigh in with officials.

This proposal came as a result of concerns raised by residents about increased development in low-density neighborhoods, which is driving up the cost of single family homes and pricing out many would-be buyers. The city only has a finite supply of single-family homes, and costs are already too high for many buyers. I share these concerns, and I support efforts to preserve D.C.’s supply of affordable single-family homes.

At the same time, I believe that these initiatives must be carefully balanced with the growing demand for affordable rentals and multi-family housing. The city has made a compelling case for the need to preserve single-family homes, but I think it also needs to more thoroughly explain how these proposed changes will affect the cost and availability of new rental and condo units, and how this proposal fits in with the city’s Comprehensive Plan for planning and development. I hope to have the opportunity to raise this issue with officials on behalf of residents as the next ANC 1A12 Commissioner, and I will urge city officials to ensure a fair regulatory process that takes into account everyone’s concerns.

– Parking is always a hassle. Everybody wants on-street parking for free, but the fact is that there are more cars than there are places on the street. What role does the ANC have in making parking less of a nightmare?

Parking will always be a problem in D.C.’s congested neighborhoods. Unfortunately, our area is no exception. One of the most important responsibilities of an ANC is to listen to residents and ensure that their concerns are addressed. I look forward to working with 1A12 residents to find creative parking solutions. Those might include taking another look at mandatory parking minimums (for off-street parking) and finding ways to reduce the need for street cleaning (thus freeing up on-street parking).

I also hope to work closely with residents to identify smart solutions to the increased demand for public transportation and other alternative modes of transportation. D.C. has some of the best walk, bike, and transit scores in the country, and the 1A12 district is among the top 10% most accessible neighborhoods in the city. That’s a statistic we can be very proud of. As ANC, I will work hard to ensure that public transportation continues to be a viable option for residents who want or need to forgo reliance upon a car.

– How are the relations between liquor licensees and residents in your district? Do you think the current method of community input through ANCs for liquor license applications and renewal is working OK? Do residents have the ability to make the system work in the case of “bad actors”?

ANC 1A12 is almost entirely residential and, to my knowledge, has no liquor licensees. Although there are liquor licensees in bordering districts, 1A12 residents have told me that their chief concerns are affordable housing, development, noise, crime, trash, and safety issues. As ANC, I hope to help give voice to these concerns in ANC meetings, policymaking deliberations, and by engaging regularly with D.C. agencies and other stakeholders on behalf of 1A12 residents.

– Is there any question that I should have asked you but didn't?

What motivated you to run for this position?

I love our neighborhood and I want my neighbors to know they have someone they can rely on who will respond to their needs and solve problems when issues arise. 1A12 is a very diverse district, not unlike the broader Columbia Heights neighborhood, and I hope to find a way to address the concerns of both longtime residents and newcomers in a way that preserves the fun, vibrant character of the community.

End of interview.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 4, but early voting centers in nine neighborhood areas (including Columbia Heights) opened on October 25. There is also early voting downtown at Judiciary Square.

Thank you to the candidate for responding to my questions.

1108 16th Street: Renovation of Former Planned Parenthood Building Moves Forward

At its regular monthly meeting October 8, Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 2B/Dupont Circle endorsed the redevelopment of 1108 16th Street NW. The building, formerly the DC headquarters of Planned Parenthood, is to be transformed into a mixed-use commercial office and residential building.

1108 16th Street

Planned Parenthood has sold the building and is moving to H Street NE.

The ANC endorsed both the historical preservation aspects and requests for zoning relief by separate votes. Both votes received unanimous approval by the six commissioners present at the time of the vote.

Attorney Christine Roddy of the law firm Goulston Storrs and Jane Nelson of Nelson Architects led the team of presenters. The presenters said that the building started its life as three buildings in 1880s, was renovated to make it a single flat-front building in the 1920s, and then was "inexpertly renovated" (the presenters' words) in the 1950s.

The facade of the first two floors of the building (see photo) will be retained as is, according to current plans. Six additional stories will be added.

There will be four stories of commercial space and four stories of residential space. The current plan calls for 20 residential units.

The project requires zoning relief in three areas. The area that received the most discussion was parking. Normally, zoning would require 14 parking spaces for this building. It currently has five. It would have three if the proposal goes through as presented. The ANC discussed if there would be sufficient parking for deliveries as well as for handicapped accessibility. The presenters said there would be -- at least one of the spaces would be, as required, extra wide to accommodate people with special needs.

There are few residential neighbors, and none of them have any objection, according to ANC2B Commissioner Abigail Nichols (district 05). The project is in Nichols' district.

"This is perfect for what you are going to do," said Commissioner Mike Silverstein (district 06).

The historical preservation aspects of this case are on the October agenda to be reviewed during one or more of the scheduled meetings of the HPRB. The meetings are scheduled for October 23 and 30. See the HPRB staff report on the historical preservation aspects of the renovation here.

The case of 1108 16th Street is on the BZA's calendar for consideration on December 2.

Documents related to the request for zoning relief, including plans and drawings for the building, can be seen by going to the Interactive Zoning Information System and entering case number 18866 in the search bar.

See previous reporting on this project from the blogs District Source here and Urban Turf here.

Cheater's Guide to Dream City -- Part 22 (Epilogue)

This is the twenty-second 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.

Epilogue
 
The epilogue of this book was written in 1993 or 1994. It suggests some possible futures for the city, but first it describes the crime and violence-ridden atmosphere under then-Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly.

“Sharon Kelly wasn't much of a field marshall, but even if she'd been George Patton, she would have had little chance of winning the war. The police force she inherited was not prepared to fight, because her predecessor, Marion Barry, had wrecked it” (Kindle location 5749).

“For all his achievements and failures, the dispirited and desperate  state of the city's police department in a time of turmoil was perhaps Barry’s most damning legacy” (l. 5750).

“Given the uniqueness of the setting, Barry had the opportunity to create a modern urban center that worked.... Expecting Marion Barry and [his allies] to make the city function at an ideal level may be unrealistic, but there's no reason it had to sink to the level of poverty, infirmity and fear that it occupies today” (l. 5762).

“...[T]he District of Columbia had become a mesmerizing mirror for black and white America's inability to integrate African-Americans -- economically, politically, and socially” (l. 5773).

“In essence, the poor parts of the city were becoming unhitched from the upper and middle class sections of the capital -- and from the rest of America” (l. 5786).

"As Mayor Kelly and other politicians jockeyed for position in the 1994 mayoral and council campaigns, wealthy whites and middle class blacks were voting with their feet. The District’s population in 1993 dipped below 600,000 for a 25 percent loss from the high of 800,000. Nearly 50,000 black Washingtonians had left during the 1980s, and the exodus picked up momentum in the early 1990s” (l. 5801).

“Thus the conundrum: Washington, D.C. won’t die because it’s the capital city; but if it weren't the capital, it might not be in such dire straits. If it hadn't been under the thumb of racists in Congress for a hundred years, it might have developed politics such as those in Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, or other cities” (l. 5810).

“Lacking clear divisions of power and identity, the city and its residents have become addicted to the blame game. No one is responsible for his or her actions -- not the people, not the politicians, not the criminals. The well-healed whites of Ward Three have little stake in the city, and most don't care about the politics or the government. What happens across the Anacostia River doesn't concern them. African-Americans often pin their problem on racism and blame Ward Three” (l. 5814).

The authors (again, writing in the mid-1990s) imagine two possible futures for the district.

“One leads gradually toward true home rule, independence, and possibly statehood. This would require the kind of incremental change envisioned by Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, as opposed to any quick fixes” (l. 5822).

The authors consider a possible deal with Congress. It proposes, as possibilities, the hiring of a professional city manager, doubling the size of the city council but halving its salary, and increasing city control of finances, the judiciary, and criminal systems. These include the local election of an attorney general, and the election of judges, or perhaps appointment of judges by the city council and the mayor.

“To spur economic development, laws could be changed to make the city into a haven for corporate headquarters, similar to Delaware. Or it could become a tax free zone that would promote jobs and development on hundreds of acres of prime vacant land, much of it east of the Anacostia” (l. 5834).

“On the other hand, the federal government could tighten its control over the city. As we finish our work, there is growing unease about the financial stability, of the local government, even as the city's social problems draw the attention of both demogagic and well meaning members of Congress” (l. 5835).

“We've argued that Washington is unique, but we can argue the other side, as well. It is enough like other cities with financial and racial strains to be a barometer for how well the nation tends to urban America. The problem of race -- so evident in the District -- is the paramount domestic problem facing America” (l. 5842).

The original version ends at this point. The newly-released revision continues the story up to 2014 in an Afterword.

Cheater's Guide to Dream City continues

Further installments will appear on successive Fridays. All posts are 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.

2724 11th Street: Opposition to Zoning Relief Recommended

At a regular monthly meeting on October 20, a committee of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 1B/U Street voted to oppose zoning relief for the owners of 2724 11th Street NW, a rent-controlled Columbia Heights apartment building. The vote was unanimous, with one abstention.

2724 11th Street a few weeks ago

The motion said the committee would reconsider its opposition if the owners could show they had arrived at a "concrete agreement with the tenants" about how the renovation would proceed.

The matter was referred back to the Design Review Committee of ANC1B from the full ANC at its last meeting on October 2. The petitioners failed to provide the full ANC with promised drawings and documents to support their request in time for the previous meeting, so consideration of the request was taken off the agenda at the last minute. However, residents and neighbors who had come to the meeting in anticipation of a vote were allowed to tell the ANC about the state of advanced disrepair into which the building had fallen -- see SALM blog post of October 8.

The owners ask again for relief

The petitioners, lead by Martin Sullivan of the law firm Sullivan & Barros, appeared with drawings that more accurately reflected their revised plans. However, Sullivan didn't think the referral back to the Design Review Committee was necessary.

"I didn't think we needed to come back," Sullivan said.

The original proposal (see SALM blog post of June 23) added 11 new basement units to the 25-unit apartment building. The revised plan will result in a net gain of eight units. One above ground unit would be eliminated to create a trash disposal room, and nine units would be added to the basement. This revised proposal was first presented to the Design Review Committee last month -- see SALM blog post of September 17 -- without appropriate drawings.

The architect, presenting the September 17 proposal once again, said the new design created a "neighborhood-friendly" and "street-friendly" building.

"We plan to do rather a lot of landscaping," he said.

The architect said the proposed new basement units would be "more of a terrace unit" with direct access to the outside. The proposed new design would improve handicapped access, he said.

"It's a terrific way to save the building," he said. "It makes it economically feasible."

Attorney Sullivan then asked for committee endorsement on two zoning variances, the most significant of which is the requirement to add three addition parking space for the new units. The variance, he said, would qualify for zoning relief as it met the legal requirement of "no substantial detriment to the public good".

The tenants and neighbors testify

One tenant testified about the infestiation of rats, mice, and other vermin that the tenants have to deal with every day. He said that the owners had, last year, proposed a renovation and suggested that, if the tenants didn't agree, they should move out.

The tenant characterized the renovation as "a tool to try to push people out".

Speaking next, Janet Laskin, a student attorney representing the tenants, said the last year's deal referred to by the tenant above was part of a proposed condo conversion deal which was now "taken off the table".

Laskin said some repairs are now being done.

"Our legal team has just begin to speak with the owners," she said. "It's a bad, bad, bad situation."

One neighbor testified that an unauthorized renovation last year, started and then abandoned, left a big hole by the side of the building that filled up with water when it rained. This showed the owners had a bad track record on construction, she said.

Other neighbors concentrated on the effects the proposed variances might have on the neighborhood. One said the parking relief would create more cars wishing to find on-street parking where it was already very difficult to do so. Another said a proposed trash pick-up area on the rear alley would block the alley for service and emergency vehicles.

An owner responds

A woman who said she was a member of the family who owns the building had a chance to respond.

"There are so many untruths here," she said about the testimony of the tenants and neighbors.

"You may think we're rolling in dough, but we're not," she said.

About the renovation, she said: "We want to make this a beautiful building. You have drawings in front of you -- it could be a beautiful building."

Committee comments on the motion to deny

Committee member Joel Heisey made the motion to deny endorsement, and said there was "no compelling interest for the community".

"I agree this building needs to be renovated," Heisey said, but the owners were not entitled to "special treatment due to deferred maintenance".

Other committee members announced themselves against the motion, with one exception: Patrick Nelson.

"I'm at a total state of frustration," Nelson said. "For me, that's a lot of BS. There's stuff that's being brought in that has absolutely nothing to do with it [i.e., the zoning variance request]."

But others disagreed.

"Everybody wants to see the building renovated," committee member Tony Norman said. Norman commented on the testimony of tenants and neighbors: "I think all of this is relevant."

Norman also quoted ANC1B chair James Turner, who said that the tenants and neighbors should continue to come to the relevant meetings if they wished to influence the process.

Turner is commissioner for district 09, where 2724 11th Street is located.

The request for a zoning variance will probably be considered once again at the next meeting of the full ANC, which is scheduled for Thursday, November 6, at 7pm, at the Reeves Center (14th and U Streets). The zoning variance request for 2724 11th Street is on the calendar for consideration by DC's Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) on November 18 at 9:30am. The BZA holds open meetings at its offices at 441 4th Street (Judiciary Square).