Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6D met on November 18. Commissioners Gail Fast (6D01, Chair), Ronald Collins (6D03, Treasurer), Andy Litsky (6D04, Vice Chair), Edward Daniels (6D07) and Anna Forgie (6D02) attended. Rhonda N. Hamilton (6D06, Secretary) was absent.
An election was held to replace Anthony Dale (6D05), who had resigned. Fredrica D. Kramer won the special election. She received 65 votes. Her challenger Roger Moffatt garnered 58 votes. The election was overseen by Gottlieb Simon, ANC coordinator for the District of Columbia.
Lansburgh Park Renovations
Tommy Johnson, chief of external affairs for the DC Dept. of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and Lisa Dickson, a project manager for the DC Dept. of General Services (DGS) briefed the commission on plans to renovate Lansburgh Park. Working with a $900,000 budget, DGS has awarded a design-build contract to repair the park’s sidewalks, historic pavilions, seating and lighting.
Construction is slated to commence in early 2020 and be completed by the third quarter of 2020. The agencies will hold a community meeting this coming June. Johnson assured commissioners that the residents would still have use of the community garden and dog park during the construction. The main arenas of the park, however, will not be accessible.
Commissioner Forgie requested planned updates on the project. She reiterated the need to minimize any impact on the adjacent community garden and dog park. “I want to get an assurance that there is some priority on this project,” she said.
Reducing Parking at 300 K St.
Bernstein, the developer of 300 K St., requested the commission support its application for a modification of consequence. The zoning change would eliminate the ground floor of the project’s parking garage reducing the overall number of spaces by 39. Instead, the floor would be repurposed to create additional residences.
The developer stated that the existing garages at the neighboring buildings were under utilized. Vice Chair Litsky requested they consider renting to non residents. Chair Fast requested Bernstein draw up a Memorandum of Understanding with adjacent Waterfront Towers. The commission decided to table the matter.
Other Matters
MPD officers briefed the commission on the Fall Crime Initiative to which they attributed a significant reduction in violence in and around the public housing south of M Street SW. Violent crime, in general, they reported, was down last month. There continue to be increases in thefts from automobiles. They also were unable to provide any update on the misdemeanor sexual assault that occurred at midnight on Oct. 31 at the intersection of Sixth and I Streets SW. A young women was inappropriately touched by a yet-to-be identified male assailant.
The commission voted unanimously to comment on the DC Department Of Transportation’s (DDOT) Notice of Intent to install protected bike lanes on Fourth Street between Independence and I Streets SW between the parking lane and sidewalk. Commission will request in its letter that the metered parking spaces under the highway bridge be re-designated Residential Parking Permit (RPP); and that a bikeshare station be installed at the intersection of G and Fourth Streets SW.
The commissioner unanimously resolved to:
• Send a letter supporting Eagle Public Charter School’s relocation to 1900 Half St. SW;
• Send a letter to the Dept. of Public Works (DPW) requesting an increase in parking enforcement in ANC 6D;
• Send a letter supporting the temporary street closure to accommodate crane construction at 88 K St. SE;
• Approve an amended community agreement for Mission, 1221 Van St. SE, which reduces the establishment’s hours for recorded music on the sidewalk café and second floor summer garden;
• Support a CR license with an indoor entertainment endorsement for ABC Pony, 2 I St. SE and approve a community agreement;
• Support a stipulated license and community agreement for Roy Boys, 1025 First St. SE;
• Table any consideration of a license for Walters, 20 N St. SE;
• Approve the privatizing of the alley behind the Meridian on First in return for the developer designating five workforce housing units;
• Send a request to DDOT for a comprehensive traffic flow and transit plan for ANC 6D.
ANC 6D’s next meeting will be held on at 7 p.m. at the offices of DC Water at 1385 Canal St. SE. Visit www.anc6d.org/ for more information.
