Chair Amber Gove (6A04) convened the July 9, 2020 meeting of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6A via WebEx with Commissioners Marie-Claire Brown (6A01), Phil Toomajian (6A02), Mike Soderman (6A03), Ruth Ann Hudson (6A05), Stephanie Zimny (6A06), Sondra Phillips-Gilbert (6A07) and Brian Alcorn (6A08) all in attendance.
Florida Avenue and Dave Thomas Circle Project Updates
Amanda Stout, Deputy Chief Officer for Project Delivery at the Department of Transportation (DDOT) reported that the Florida Avenue street scape project has progressed to 90% design completion which includes widening the sidewalks under the rail bridge at 2nd and 3rd Streets and changing the previously planned 2-way protected cycle track to one-way protected lanes on either side of the street from 2nd to H Streets. Though plans for work to Dave Thomas Circle at the intersection of New York and Florida Avenues are only at 65% completion, they already include extending these protected bike lanes through the intersection to Eckington Place NE. DDOT is working with the NoMA BID and NoMa Parks Foundation to help design the three new public spaces created by this redesign. More information on either of these projects can be found at floridaaveproject.com.
Department of Justice Pandemic Fraud Hotline
Assistant United States Attorney Doug Klein presented on the Department of Justice’s Covid-19 Pandemic Fraud Hotline. The number is 202-252-7022. Information provided via this hotline is sent directly to the Attorney General’s office. Mr. Klein also provided tips for identifying potential scams encouraging folks to independently verify any information received in e-mails or found on websites. Many scammers will set up websites or send e-mails from addresses that are very close to that of a legitimate operation. Additionally, he suggests not clicking links in e-mails sent from unfamiliar sources, keeping one’s antimalware software up to date and always researching an operation’s validity, such as a charity, before sending a donation. For more information pertaining to potential Covid-19 related scams, visit www.sec.gov.
School-Within-School @ Goding Modernization
Diana Halbstein, the project Coordinator for the Facility Planning and Design for District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS), reported on the coming modernization occurring at School-Within-School @ Goding (SWS). This redesign is focused on catering to the needs of this school’s specialty programming including a major renovation altering the building layout, plus an addition targeting space for approximately 350 students, a small increase over the current facilities capacity. The project is currently nearing completion of the concept design phase and soon to be entering the schematic design phase. Construction is planned to begin in January 2021 with an anticipated finish date of August 2022. In the meantime, a temporary campus will be constructed in a field near Phelps High School.
DCRA: Shifting to Digital
The Ward 6 Account Manager from the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA), Anthony Diallo,
introduced the ANC to scout.dcra.dc.gov, a resource hub for answering questions and finding information regarding local businesses, permitting, owner resources and more. Mr. Diallo also updated the ANC on the DCRA’s current operating status. The agency’s goal is to operate entirely digitally and while they have not yet achieved this goal, Mr. Diallo reported that even though DCRA’s physical offices are not open, the agency has approved as many, possibly more permits than is typical and they are continuing to keep up with inspection and other licensing as per usual.
Motions and Recommendations
- The Commissioners voted, unanimously, to send a letter of support to DDOT for Mozzeria’s public space application for an outdoor patio at 1300 H Street. NE including conditions standard to similar agreements reached with other area businesses.
- The Commissioners voted, unanimously, to send a letter of support to the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) for a special exception from the rear addition requirements to construct a two-story rear addition to an existing attached principal dwelling unit at 229 14th Street, NE (BZA #20301) in the RF-1 Zone.
- The Commissioners voted, unanimously, to approve the revised ANC 6A Residents Guide and to post the document to the ANC 6A.org website.
- The Commissioners voted, unanimously, to establish a Facebook page for the Commission and that the page be administered by the ANC 6A Community Outreach Committee (COC).
- The Commissioners voted to take no action on the application of DC Culinary Academy, LLC, t/a The Outsider at 1357-1359 H Street NE for renewal of its Class C Tavern License, and no action on any application of DC Culinary Academy, LLC, t/a The Outsider at 1357-1359 H Street NE for a change of trade name.
- The Commissioners voted, unanimously, to authorize Amber Gove, Phil Toomajian and David Levy to represent ANC 6A for discussions with DDOT regarding the establishment of an outdoor H Street NE “Streatery” district.
- The Commissioners voted, unanimously, to send a letter to DDOT in support of the proposed designation of 12th Street NE (from East Capitol to K St), G Street NE (from 2nd to 15th Streets) and Gales Street NE (from 15th to 21st Streets) and authorize Gove to represent ANC 6A for discussions with ANC 6B and ANC 6C to identify additional roadways that should be designated as “slow streets” under the DC Slow Streets Initiative.
Visit www.anc6a.org for a calendar of meeting times, meeting agendas and other information.
