Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6D (ANC 6D) met on Jan. 9 via Zoom. Commissioners Bob Link (6DO1), Ronald Collins (6D02, treasurer), Gail Fast (6D03 Ashton Rohmer (6D05), Bruce Levine (6D06), Fredrica (Rikki) Kramer (6D07) and Rhonda Hamilton (6D08) were in attendance. Single Member District 6D04 remains vacant.
Petitions to run for the vacant 6D04 seat are available at Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions at www.anc.dc.gov.
The commissioners unanimously elected Ron Collins as Treasurer, Bruce Levine for Secretary, Bob Link for Vice Chair and Fredrica Kramer as Chair. All positions were uncontested. Former Commissioner Andrew Litsky officiated.
Greenleaf Gardens
DC Housing Authority (DCHA) Executive Director Brenda Donald briefed the commission on the latest plans for the redevelopment of the Greenleaf public housing complex. Block D, encompassing the Greenleaf Senior, is the first section slated for redevelopment, she said.
DCHA has selected a development team composed of Pennrose Properties, EYA and Paramount Development. That team is in the midst of a 120-day financing period. They must obtain funding by March 23, 2023, after which, they will submit an application for a Planned Unit Development (PUD) to the DC Zoning Commission and secure permits, Donald stated.
DCHA has held two Greenleaf Steering Committee meetings to date. The Steering Commission is comprised of staff, the developers and current residents. Another meeting is planned for the second quarter of 2023.
Addressing the elephant in the room, Greenleaf’s mountain of deferred maintenance, DCHA Deputy Director of Maintenance Jed Ader stated that the agency closed 1,308 work orders since June 2022. The agency had made real progress on fixing problems in residences, he stated. Adler gave an optimistic prognosis for the completion of any remaining repairs.
“We will make sure everyone unit is up to code. We are going unit to unit to make sure everyone lives in safe conditions.” Donald stated. “Money is not our problem, it is capacity.”
Commissioners took issue with their assessment. The maintenance for the properties has gone downhill, Commissioner Hamilton stated. The agency’s emergency phone number does not function, she claimed. Ader promised significant changes in the maintenance regime. “We are trying to create a more efficient response,” Donald concurred in support.
How many remaining work orders are still pending, queried Commissioner Collins? In Greenleaf Senior there are 14 open work orders, Ader responded. Greenleaf Gardens has a total of 673 work orders, he said. Ader could not confirm the number of vacant units.
“I feel like its Ground Hog Day,” observed Commissioner Fast wryly. “I hear the same thing over and over.” Fast criticized the amount of time taking to complete repairs. “You need to find a better place for residents to live while repairs are completed,” she added. There is a new quality control program commencing this month, Ader stated. Quality control assessments were not in place prior to this. There are 6,000 open work orders across all DCHA properties, he said. Repairs are proceeding slowly due to the agency’s limited inventory of spare materials and antiquate computer systems. The biggest challenges are the repair issues behind the walls, Ader said.
Commissioner Kramer asked about the relationship between DCHA’s new working group, which includes residents but no community or ANC commissioners, and the longstanding Greenleaf Stakeholder Advisory Group. Impacted Greenleaf residents requested a smaller resident-driven advisory group, Donald stated. The Southwest community will be informed of the project’s progress through DCHA communications. Kramer pointed out such a strategy does not include an exchange of views.
A full presentation of DCHA’s plans for Greenleaf can be found at www.dcha.us/img/guest_uploads/temp_BsW0B8nfHO16458147007ljuCjoih46RpyfBtvPo.pdf
Amidon-Bowen Update
As noted in last’s month report, the DC Public School System (DCPS) is creating a 33,000 sq. ft. Childhood Development Center (CDC) on the campus of Amidon-Bowen Elementary School. The new facility will be built on the grounds of the current playground, which will be relocated.
The CDC will be housed on the ground floor and two new pre-K classrooms will occupy the upper floor of two-story annex. Construction, originally slated to begin on Dec. 19, has been delayed to address the safety concerns of neighbors and parents. The CDC is slated to be completed in July of 2023.
807 Maine Avenue SW
Commissioner Link updated his colleagues on Millcreek’s application for a PUD at 807 Maine Ave. SW. In its December review of the matter, the DCZC had asked for one action item: whether the applicant had accepted in part or in full the six specific items required to obtain ANC support outlined in the commission’s testimony and correspondence.
The ANC requirements included
- Inclusionary Zoning of 21 percent
- $100,000 be awarded to Amidon-Bowen Elementary and Richard Wright Public Charter School rather than Habitat for Humanity;
- the project’s Floor to Area Ratio (FAR) be limited to 80 percent;
- all community cash contributions be made on the recording of the PUD;
- no administrative fees be charged for the proposed public arts project;
- a commitment to adhering to the tenets of the Southwest Small Area Plan;
- the proffer of construction traffic management and dog waste plans.
On Dec. 23, Millcreek filed a final application that included none of the commission’s requirements. The commission has until Jan. 19 to respond. The commission voted unanimously to affirm its demands and make one more attempt to reach out to Millcreek.
Other Matters
The commissioners appointed Travis Johnson, Michael Keen and Christine Spencer to its Alcohol and Beverage Subcommittee.
The commission voted to:
- authorize the commission to participate in the ANC Security Fund and required payment of $50;
- send a letter to DDOT Public Space asking to reopen the case for 1301 South Capitol Street of the pickup-drop-off zone;
- to request to a review of the new Fourth Street SW protected bike lanes with Councilmember Charles Allen (D) and the DC Department of Transportation.
ANC 6D meets at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of every month. Their next meeting is Feb. 13, 2023. For more information and links to join ANC meetings, visit www.anc6d.org.
