Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6A was supportive of efforts to create a business improvement district (BID) along H Street NE. Organizers say a BID would complement rather than replace H Street Main Street.
Phil Coppage, the owner of Cynthia Bar and Bistro at 502 H St. NE, is spearheading a Greater H Street BID Association (www.hstreetbid.com). He said many residents mistakenly believe H Street already has a BID. The H Street Main Street provides business support and organizes events, including the annual H Street Festival. A BID would create a separate organization funded through an assessment on commercial properties to support services such as street cleaning, landscaping, public space improvements, marketing and government relations.
Coppage said the proposed BID is being organized differently from many existing BIDs because it began with small businesses rather than large commercial property owners. Organizers are considering a boundary from Third Street to 15th Street NE, from the Hopscotch Bridge up to but not including the Starburst Plaza, though the boundaries could change as outreach continues.
The Greater H Street BID Association has formed a 501(c)(6) organization and a founding board that includes Atlas Performing Arts Center executive director Jarrod Bennett, commercial property owner and developer Gail Montplaisir, Little Miner Taco owner Kathy Voss and Adru Pescod of Cane and St. James restaurants. Coppage said organizers are working with an urban planner to develop an assessment model and map before beginning the petition process required to establish a BID.
Councilmember Charles Allen included $100,000 in the FY2027 budget for an H Street BID feasibility study, which the association intends to request through the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED). The study could examine potential pilot projects and ways a BID could address issues including commercial activity, transportation, public space management, cleaning services and marketing.
A future BID budget could range from approximately $600,000 to $1 million annually. Coppage emphasized that the BID would work alongside H Street Main Street, noting that successful corridors in the District often have both organizations operating together. For example, Barracks Row and Eastern Market Mainstreets operate alongside the Capitol Hill BID.
Chair Amber Gove encouraged BID organizers to continue engaging with ANC committees, including potentially adding BID representatives to committee discussions. She said the commission could help amplify communications through its community forums and announcement lists. There was no vote.
Farewell to Commissioner Kolb
Commissioner Stephen Kolb is leaving Single Member District (SMD) 6A07 as of July 20, after his family purchased a home in Ward 7. DC Code mandates that commissioners live in the SMD they represent. Kolb said the ANC’s ABC Committee chair, Jeff Gierst, is preparing to qualify for the ballot.
Kolb was elected in 2024. His term ends with the calendar year. He thanked the commissioners for their work and Gove for her mentorship.
Capitol Hill Village Highlights Volunteer Work, Sidewalk Safety
Mary Bloodworth, director of operations for Capitol Hill Village (CHV), reminded residents that the organization helps older adults remain in their homes through volunteer support. She encouraged neighbors to check on seniors during extreme heat, ensuring that air conditioning and fans are working and helping with errands.
Bloodworth announced a vaccination clinic scheduled for Oct. 15 at Eastern Market’s North Hall, from 1 to 4 p.m., in partnership with Grubb’s Pharmacy. The event will offer vaccines to attendees who bring insurance information and identification.
She also discussed a CHV sidewalk safety advocacy. Bloodworth said the sidewalk safety committee reviewed District data from fiscal years 2021 through 2025 and found 22,013 sidewalk repair submissions during the study period. She cautioned that closure rates may be overstated because multiple requests can be submitted for the same location, and the data does not clearly show whether duplicate requests are removed.
DC Dank Cannabis Appeal Rejected
ANC Alcohol Beverage and Cannabis Committee chair Jeff Gertz reported that the District’s Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis (ABC) Board rejected an appeal from DC Dank, a proposed cannabis retailer at 712 15th St. NE.
The dispute centered on whether the location violated District law prohibiting new cannabis retailers within 400 feet of a school. The DC Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) had previously rescinded the establishment’s placard after determining the location was within the prohibited distance from Miner Elementary School. The ABC Board upheld that finding, meaning the proposed retailer cannot proceed unless there is a further appeal. There was no vote.
Transportation Committee Reviews Micromobility, Gold Line and G Street NE
ANC 6B Transportation and Public Space (TPS) Committee Chair Patrick Bloomstine discussed the Gold Line bus rapid transit proposal. Bloomstine said members remain concerned that early discussions have focused heavily on the portion connecting RFK redevelopment to downtown rather than building the full transit corridor envisioned by planners. The proposed line would eventually connect Benning Road to Georgetown.
Bloomstine said the committee will continue discussions on the Gold Line, including a possible future appearance by Councilmember Allen and WMATA representatives. The committee will also revisit a request to convert the 1400 block of G Street NE to one-way traffic, an issue residents and the ANC have raised with DDOT for several years. There was no vote.
Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6A met July 9 with chair Amber Gove (6A04) presiding. Commissioners Scott Burger (6A01, interim secretary), Roberta Shapiro (6A03, treasurer), Morgan Conley (6A05), Ben Hammer (6A06) and Stephen Kolb (6A07) attended. Kimberly Stanley (6A02) was not in attendance.
ANC 6A generally meets on the second Thursday of each month, except in August. The next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10. Visit www.ANC6A.org for meeting details.
