Where this came into focus was during the discussions over street closures in connection with various races. Last night the races at issue were the Nations Triathlon, the Best Buddies Challenge Bicycle Ride, Bike DC, and the Marine Corps Marathon. Each of these events require a few streets in Georgetown to be closed for a few hours on their respective Sunday mornings.

Over the last couple years, the ANC has expressed increasing frustration over the proliferation of events calling for street closures in Georgetown. The heart of these complaints is that street closures, particularly those affecting lower Georgetown, “maroon” people in their homes during the closure. They’re “trapped”. They “can’t get out”.

These street closures can be an inconvenience, GM would just like to remind the ANC that nobody gets “trapped” by street closures, only cars do. People can still leave. They can walk a few blocks and catch a bus or a cab. Or they can just walk to the over 500 stores and restaurants right here in Georgetown. The point is that people and cars are not the same thing.

For the record, each event was approved by the ANC. They badgered a few of the applicants on whether they were charitable “enough”, but with the impacts so slight, the ANC didn’t hold anyone up over it.

Glover Park Streetscape Improvements

As discussed at an ANC meeting last November, Glover Park is currently undergoing a streetscape improvement project that will, among other things, widen sidewalks and reduce Wisconsin Ave. from six lanes to five lanes. This project has generated some anxiety among people who fear the reduction in lanes will lead to an increase in “cut through” traffic on 37th St.

The ANC decided not to object to the project last November, but requested that DDOT perform a traffic count before and after the changes to measure the effect on cut through traffic. Last night the ANC found, however, that the requested traffic count was not performed where they wanted it performed and, more damning from the ANC’s perspective, the “base” count was performed after construction started on Wisconsin. This, the ANC argued, would inflate the traffic count on 37th St. since people would already be avoiding Wisconsin Ave. traffic. Thus when the “after” number is compared to the base number, any increase in cut through from pre-construction numbers would be covered up. Paul Hoffman from DDOT responded to the criticism and stated that they would try to again to get a “base” number during a period of time without any lane closures.

The problem GM sees in this back-and-forth is this: so what if there is an increase in cut-through traffic? Right now Wisconsin Ave. between W Pl. and 34th is a serious hazard to pedestrians. The crosswalks at 35th and Wisconsin are death traps. Have you ever crossed Wisconsin at this intersection? You are seriously risking your life doing so. Even just crossing 35th along the west side of Wisconsin is incredibly dangerous. These conditions must be improved. If a slight increase in cut through traffic is the cost of eliminating the clear and present danger created by the current conditions, that is a cost we have to be willing to pay. Yes increased cut through traffic can create its own hazards, but they’re less than the hazards on Wisconsin right now, and they can be dealt with with other measures such as speed cameras or bulb-outs.

Friendly Estate

The never-ending construction site at the Friendly Estate at 31st and Avon is likely to continue for a while longer. A prospective new owner has emerged who is willing to buy the house, but wants even more additions approved before closing. But the prospective buyer is only buying the house on spec. He/She/It (GM is not sure who or what the potential owner is) only wants to buy the house as it currently is (totally gutted) and finish the plans Marc Teren originally received approval for, and then add even more so to make the property just right for what he/she/it thinks an ultimate owner would want. This new construction would take an additional year, which is on top of the five or so years of construction (or lack thereof) that have already passed.

The ANC and the neighbors expressed skepticism over the plans. Here is yet another investor-owner who wants to make big changes on the hopes that someone else will want it. Teren ran out of money trying to build such a house and has left behind a shell bereft of any interior historic detail. The neighbors probably can’t be blamed for fearing a repeat performance. The ANC passed a resolution approving work to complete the original Teren plans but opposing any further plans.

A Few More Things

• The new hotel on 31st St. where the old Trial Lawyers Association used to be is going to be crazy high end. The starting rate will be $800 a night.
• The secretive Vornado came back before the ANC with plans for exterior changes to the mall. The changes were actually pretty modest and mostly involved adding doors to the alley between the mall and Dean and Deluca and some windows to the back facing the canal. No hint at what will actually occupy the mall was offered.
• Taste of Georgetown is moving from October to June to avoid competing with other events. So make some room for paella.

“Life Is Very Short, and There’s No Time For Fussing and Fighting My Friend”

Last night the ANC met for its April session and near the top of the agenda was a possibly significant development regarding the campus plan issue. A couple of other items grabbed GM’s attention as well.

Campus Plan Mediation

Ron Lewis introduced the campus plan development by inviting to the podium Erik Smulson, GU’s VP for Public Affairs, Jennifer Altemus, CAG’s President, and Edith Cecil of the Burleith Citizens Association. These are the primary parties currently locked in the never-ending campus plan fight which is currently under review by the Zoning Commission. The joint message the four groups gave is that they are taking serious steps toward mediating a resolution to the fight outside of the Zoning Commission’s process. Zoning Commission chair Anthony Hood has repeatedly expressed a wish that genuine mediation between the parties would take place, and this appears to have finally started.

The groups filed a joint request to delay the Zoning Commission’s upcoming meetings on the plan by 60 days. During this time the groups hope to reach a negotiated resolution. What terms are on the table? GM has no clue (full disclosure alert: GM is the Secretary of CAG, but as he’s mentioned in the past, he isn’t really involved in this process and that hasn’t changed with this development) . And Ron Lewis wasn’t giving any promises that a resolution could be found. But that said, it’s an encouraging sign for those of us that just want this issue behind us and don’t want to spend the next 8 years until the next plan litigating the current one.

The Sporting Life

While we’re on the topic of Georgetown, sometime after the announcement on the mediation the University was back up to discuss its proposed new athletic training facility. The school apparently scaled back the size of the project somewhat and need to obtain fresh zoning approval.

The ANC began by discussing how it’s the commission’s general practice to support projects for which the school has already obtained approval under the campus plan, as is the case here. Notwithstanding that general support, the ANC was critical of the reduced scope for the project and challenged the school to incorporate more mixed uses into the project (i.e. dorm rooms).

GM’s not a GU athlete (obviously) but if he were, he might be a bit peeved about how much space in the new building is being dedicated to just a few athletic teams. In particular, the men’s and women’s basketball team appear to be receiving the bulk of the new space. Sure, these teams are probably the most high profile of the school’s teams, but it does seem like all the other sports are getting short shrift (particularly the tennis teams who are losing their courts). But like GM said, he’s not a GU athlete.

The reason for the limited scope of the project can be explained in one word: money. The school can probably raise oodles of money quickly (at least relatively speaking) for the basketball program. That’s not the case for the “lesser” sports and it’s even less the case for dorms.

The one thing GM particularly likes about the plan is that the majority of that surface parking lot will be removed.

Circulator

A couple years ago, DDOT floated some fabulous plans to extend the Dupont-Rosslyn Circulator bus route up to U St. This would be a great addition since there really is no convenient bus route connecting the U Street corridor with Georgetown. The plans also contemplated a bus line that would go from Georgetown to the National Mall. Also great, although probably less useful to residents as opposed to tourists.

But these ideas never got beyond the planning stage because there was never money set aside to buy the new buses necessary. The ANC passed a resolution calling for the city to allocate money to this project. It’s far from a guarantee that money will be found, but sometimes just asking for something is a good way to get something.

Percy Plaza

The ANC took up the question of Percy Plaza. After a strong introduction by Bob vom Eigen of the Friends of Georgetown Waterfront Park, the ANC was ready to quickly support to effort. But Tom Birch raised an interesting question. He supports the renaming, but he worries that simply throwing up a few street signs isn’t enough to truly “rename” the intersection. He urged the groups involved to explore creative ways to more strongly brand the area as “Percy Plaza”.

GM thinks this is a great idea, but signage is probably the wrong tool for the job. The problem is that the intersection feels like an intersection, not a plaza. You need to make it feel like a “place” if you want people to notice what the place’s name is. That means making significant changes to the physical road layout. One idea that jumps quickly to GM’s mind is to cover the intersection with a different surface, perhaps large pavers. You need to make people notice the road, not the signs; then they’ll actually call it Percy Plaza.

Next week the ANC meets for its April session (and it’ll actually be in the respective month for once!). Here are some potentially interesting topics:

Senator Charles Percy Plaza

As described the other day, the Friends of Georgetown Waterfront Park are requesting that the intersection of M and Wisconsin be named after Senator Charles Percy, who was instrumental in the creation of the waterfront park. Jack Evans has legislation authorizing the change and the ANC is scheduled to discuss the proposal. It will likely pass.

It is interesting to consider that following the likely name adoption, the only politician formally recognized on the streets of deeply Democratic Georgetown would be a Republican. A Republican of the nearly extinct breed of liberal Republicans, but a Republican no less. Maybe in a small way it’ll help destroy the old cliche about the Georgetown dinner party-set.

ABC

As means to “enhance revenues”, the city is proposing to allow bars to serve liquor until to 3 AM on the weekdays and 4 AM on the weekends. This is not likely to be too popular in Georgetown. The reality is that it actually would not make that big of an impact because most bars are restricted by their voluntary agreements from serving after a certain hour, regardless of the legal maximum. This issue came up during the Obama inauguration when a lot of bars were restricted from taking advantage of the later last call that weekend.

But rather than rely on a hodgepodge of voluntary agreements, the ANC is likely going to object to the new hours. One other change that the city is proposing to allow liquor stores to open on Sundays. That would be great, if you ask GM.

Nike

As previously reported here, the Barnes and Noble is going to be replaced by a (goddamn) Nike Store. They’re coming for approvals of signage, among other things. GM fears that they will turn the large windows into a giant billboard, a la the tacky front of Sportszone. As long as the signs are set back from the windows, there’s not much that the city can do to prevent this, so hopefully GM’s fears are not justified.

Here’s the rest of the agenda:

GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E
3265 S Street, NW • Washington, DC  20007
(202) 724-7098  • anc2e@dc.gov • www.anc2e.com
ANC 2E Public Meeting
Monday, April 2, 2012
at 6:30 p.m.

We will be meeting this month at the Georgetown Visitation School, 35th and Volta Place, Heritage Room, first building on left by gatehouse, 2nd floor

Approval of the Agenda

•       Approval of April 2, 2012, ANC 2E Public Meeting Agenda

Administrative

•       Approval of  February 27, 2012 Meeting Minutes
•       Public Safety and Police Report
•       Financial Report
•       Transportation Report
•       DPW Report

Community Comment

•       Mayor’s budget meeting for Ward 2 – Thursday, April 19 at Sumner School
•       Introduction of the new president of the GU Student Association

New Business

•       GU Campus Plan update – Additional filings due April 12 and April 19, 2012
•       Request by the Friends of Georgetown Waterfront Park to support proposed legislation naming the intersection of K Street and Wisconsin Avenue, NW “Sen. Charles Percy Plaza”
•       Marine Corps Marathon, October 28, 2012
•       Funding for expanded Circulator service affecting Georgetown
•       Bike DC, Sunday, May 13, 2012
•       Proposed legislation that would extend ABC hours to 3 a.m. weekdays and 4 a.m. weekends

Zoning

•       3700 O Street, NW, ZC No.  07-23B, Georgetown University Athletic Training Facility, Application for approval of modifications of previously approved plans

DDOT – Public Space Committee

•       3029 Q Street, NW, Application No. 65604, Application for curb cut

ABC

•       1206 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, License No. ABRA-01758, Best Wing, Inc. operating as Blue Gin, Voluntary Agreement

Old Georgetown Board

PRIVATE PROJECTS:

1.      SMD 03, 1316 34th Street, NW, OG 12-163   (HPA 12-273) Residence, Front and rear parking pads, Permit
2.      SMD 03, 3417 P Street, NW, OG 12-182  (HPA 12-293) Residence, Rooftop mechanical equipment, Permit
3.      SMD 03, 3417 P Street, NW, OG 12-184,  (HPA 12-295) Residence, Alterations to fireplaces, replacement window, Permit
4.      SMD 05, 3040 M Street, NW, OG 12-154  (HPA 12-254) Commercial, Alterations to storefront, sign scheme for “Nike,” Permit
5.      SMD 05, 3299 M Street, NW, OG 12-164  (HPA 12-274) Commercial, Sign scheme for “Redfire Grill Kabob,” Permit
6.      SMD 05, 3333 M Street, NW, OG 12-173  (HPA 12-284) Commercial, Addition of pre-fabricated structure to Sweet Greens, Permit
7.      SMD 05, 3212 (3240) Grace Street, NW, OG 12-146   (HPA 12-243) Residential, New building, Concept – revised design
8.      SMD 05, 2800 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, OG 12-132  (HPA 12-229) Retail, Sign scheme and temporary construction sign scheme for Suitsupply, Concept
9.      SMD 05, 2800 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, OG 12-187  (HPA 12-298) Retail, Sign scheme and temporary construction sign scheme for Suitsupply, Concept – revised design
10.     SMD 05, 2800 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, OG 12-174  (HPA 12-285) Hotel, Awnings, green screen for ivy on clock and stair towers, Concept
11.     SMD 06, 1510 31st Street, NW, OG 12-066  (HPA 12-116) Commercial, Roof deck – existing, Permit / Concept
12.     SMD 06, 2805 M Street, NW, OG 12-166  (HPA 12-276) Commercial, New storefront, rear addition, sign scheme for “Shophouse,” Permit
13.     SMD 06, 2802 P Street, NW, OG 12-121  (HPA 12-204) Residence, One-story rear addition, garage off rear alley, Concept – revised design
14.     SMD 06, 3138 P Street, NW, OG 12-180  (HPA 12-291)  Residence, Two-story rear addition, Concept
15.     SMD 06, 2812 Dumbarton Street, NW, OG 12-147  (HPA 12-244) Residence, Reconstruct front wall and replace siding – in progress, Permit
16.     SMD 06, 1533 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 12-185  (HPA 12-296) Commercial, Rear addition, Concept
17.     SMD 07, 3210 R Street, NW, OG 12-160  (HPA 12-269) Residence, Rear porch, alterations, solar panels and HVAC on roof, Permit – revised design
18.     SMD 07, 1815 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 12-104  (HPA 12-179) Commercial, Roof top addition and deck, sign scheme for “Noodles & Company,” Concept – revised design
19.     SMD 02, 1669 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 12-155  (HPA 12-255) Commercial, Awning and blade sign for “Macaron Bee,” Permit – revised design
20.     SMD 02, 1600 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 12-165  (HPA 12-275) Commercial, Sign scheme for “Edible Arrangements,” Permit

The ANC meets for its next meeting on Monday. One of the bigger items on the agenda is our old friend Tudor Place.

As covered here in the past, Tudor Place needs to dramatically renovate its facilities to protect its collection of documents and thrive in the 21st century. Their proposals have been objected to by some neighbors who don’t like the scale of the changes. This is particularly the case with the 32nd St. neighbors who object to the proposed changes to the garage along the west side of the property.

Since Tudor Place last made a public proposal, they have hired a new architect and produced plans that have addressed most of the neighbors’ concerns. But some neighbors still object to the proposed changes to the garage. GM personally thinks the concerns are overwrought and that the proposal is not materially different than the current structure. But the neighbors are tenacious and will put up a fight. So come check it out.

Another interesting item on the agenda is on the topic of food trucks. DCRA release rules for comment a while back that would allow food trucks to continue to thrive while finally operating under rules designed for them. When DCRA director Bill Howland was at the ANC meeting last month, he was somewhat blindsided by a presentation by brick-and-mortar restaurant lawyer Andrew Kline, who railed against the proposed rules and requested that the ANC take a position against them. The ANC didn’t take all the bait that Kline laid out, but they indicated that they would probably object to allowing food trucks to operate on residential streets. The ANC is scheduled to talk about food trucks again on Monday, so expect a formal resolution on the matter of trucks on the residential streets.

Here’s the rest of the agenda:

GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E
3265 S Street, NW • Washington, DC  20007
(202) 724-7098  • anc2e@dc.gov • www.anc2e.com
ANC 2E Public Meeting
Monday, February 27, 2012
at 6:30 p.m.

We will be meeting this month at the Georgetown Visitation School, 35th and Volta Place, Heritage Room, first building on left by gatehouse, 2nd floor

Approval of the Agenda

•       Approval of February 27, 2012, ANC 2E Public Meeting Agenda

Administrative

•       Approval of  January 30, 2012 Meeting Minutes
•       Public Safety and Police Report
•       Financial Report
•       Transportation Report

Community Comment

New Business

•       Rose Park egg hunt special event
•       Food truck vending regulations
•       Restoring the right-turn arrow for eastbound M Street NW traffic turning south onto Wisconsin Avenue NW
•       Blocking the box at Wisconsin Avenue NW and M Street NW and at M Street NW and Key Bridge – installing red-light cameras, adding traffic control officers, and other measures
Zoning

•       1815 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, BZA Application No. 18328, Noodles & Company Restaurant, Application for a special exception to establish a fast food establishment  (Hearing Date March 20, 2012)

Old Georgetown Board

LARGE PROJECTS:

SMD 07, 1644 31st Street, NW, OG 12-135  (HPA 12-232) Tudor Place, Institution
Additions, alterations, new building at entry gate, Concept – revised design

PRIVATE PROJECTS:

1.      SMD 03, 3615 O Street, NW, OG 12-136  (HPA 12-233), Residence, Replace wood siding, remove front brick stoop, Permit
2.      SMD 05, 1101 30th Street, NW, OG 12-131  (HPA 12-228), Office building, Sign scheme for “DC Business Centers,” Concept
3.      SMD 05, 3251 M Street, NW, OG 12-134  (HPA 12-231) Retail, Sign scheme for “Sung lass Hut,” Permit / concept
4.      SMD 05, 3421 M Street, NW, OG 12-127  (HPA 12-224), Commercial, Sign scheme for “Café tu o tu Express,” Permit
5.      SMD 05, 3212 Grace Street, NW, OG 12-146  (HPA 12-243), Residentia;, New building, Concept
6.      SMD 05, 2800 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, OG 12-132  (HPA 12-229) Retail, Sign scheme and temporary construction sign scheme for Suitsupply, Concept
7.      SMD 05, 3401 Water Street, NW, OG 12-125  (HPA 12-222) Office building, Alterations, replace garage door, awning, handicapped access ramp, Permit / concept
8.      SMD 05, 1069 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 12-129  (HPA 12-226), Retail, Sign scheme for “Spices & Teas,” Permit
9.      SMD 06, 2802 P Street, NW, OG 12-121  (HPA 12-204) Residence, One-story rear addition and deck, garage off rear alley, Concept
10.     SMD 06, 3138 P Street, NW, OG 12-145  (HPA 12-242) Residence, One-story rear addition and alterations to roof deck, Permit For Review by Historic Preservation Review Board
11.     SMD 07, 2617 P Street, NW, OG 12-133  (HPA 12-230) Commercial, Sign scheme for “7-Eleven”, blade sign, light fixtures, Permit
12.     SMD 02, 1658 33rd Street, NW, OG 12-119  (HPA 12-194) Commercial, 2-story rear addition with basement – existing, Permit / concept
13.     SMD 02, 1609 34th Street, NW, OG 12-140  (HPA 12-237) Residence, Rear additions,
Concept  For Review by Historic Preservation Review Board

No Review At This Time by ANC 2E: The following additional projects, which are on the upcoming March 2 agenda of the Old Georgetown Board, have not been added to the ANC meeting agenda for OGB-related design review and we do not propose to adopt a resolution on them at this time.  If there are concerns about any of these projects, please contact the ANC office by Friday, February 24, 2012.

1.      SMD 01, 1738 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 12-149  (HPA 12-248) Residence, 2-story rear
2.      Addition, Permit – revised design
3.      SMD 02, 1609 35th Street, NW, OG 12-130  (HPA 12-227) Residence, Alterations to rear, balcony, alterations to carriage house, Permit
4.      SMD 02, 3323 Reservoir Road, NW, OG 11-265  (HPA 11-447) Residence, Alterations to front stairs – existing, Permit – revised design
5.      SMD 02, 3342 Reservoir Road, NW, OG 12-123  (HPA 12-220), Residence, Replace roof asbestos shingles with synthetic slate, Permit
6.      SMD 02, 3345 Reservoir Road, NW, OG 12-124  (HPA 12-221), Residence, Replace metal roof with asphalt shingles – existing, Permit
7.      SMD 03, 3240 P Street, NW, OG 12-061  (HPA 12-106) Commercial, Alterations to glass roof at rear, Permit – revised design
8.      SMD 03, 3412 P Street, NW, OG 12-128  (HPA 12-225), Residence, Replacement windows and transom above door, replace roof on pediment, Permit
9.      SMD 03, 3417 P Street, NW, OG 12-143  (HPA 12-240) Residence, Alterations to window openings, replacement windows on bayPermit – revised design
10.     SMD 03, 3417 P Street, NW, OG 12-144  (HPA 12-241) Residence, Alterations, replacement windows, Permit
11.     SMD 04, 3700 O Street, NW, OG 11-282  (HPO 11-492), Georgetown University – Athletic Training Facility, New construction, Concept – revised design
12.     SMD 05, 3236 M Street, NW, OG 12-122  (HPA 12-213), Commercial, Replacement standing seam metal roof (Anthropologie), Permit
13.     SMD 05, 3270 M Street, NW, OG 12-060  (HPA 12-104), Commercial, Rooftop antennas for Sprint, Permit
14.     SMD 05, 3248 N Street, NW, OG 12-108  (HPA 12-183). Residence, 2-story rear addition and alterations to rear, Concept – revised design
15.     SMD 05, 2810-12 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, OG 12-148  (HPA 12-247) Four Seasons Hotel – Eno Wine Bar, Rear addition with basement, window replacements, signs and awning, Permit
16.     SMD 06, 1210 28th Street, NW, OG 12-103  (HPA 12-178) Residence, 3-story rear addition, Concept – revised design
17.     SMD 06, 1425 28th Street, NW, OG 12-126  (HPA 12-223) Commercial, Sign scheme for “Stachowski Market,” Permit
18.     SMD 06, 1516 29th Street, NW, OG 12-141 (HPA 12-238) Residence, Partial demolition, 2-story rear addition, Permit – revision to permit
19.     SMD 06, 1312 30th Street, NW, OG 12-138   (HPA 12-235), Residence, Reconstruction of chimneys. Permit
20.     SMD 06, 3015 P Street, NW, OG 12-137 (HPA 12-234) Residence, Alterations to garage off Orchard Lane, Permit
21.     SMD 06, 3103 P Street, NW, OG 12-142 (HPA 12-239) Residence, Alterations and addition to garden wall, new window openings. Concept
22.     SMD 06, 3010 Dumbarton Street, NW, OG 12-063  (HPA 12-108) Residence, Replacement windows, alterations, gas light fixtures, rooftop HVAC, excavation, Permit – revised design
23.     SMD 06, 1329 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 12-054  (HPA 12-??) Retail, Sign scheme for “Comfort One Shoes” and “Mephisto,” Permit – revised design
24.     SMD 07, 1657 32nd Street, NW, OG 12-139 (HPA 12-236) Residence, Replacement front balcony, Concept
25.     SMD 07, 2500 Q Street, NW, OG 12-059 (HPA 12-099) Gateway Georgetown Condominiums, Replacement and new rooftop antennas and equipment for Sprint, Permit
26.     SMD 07, 3052 R Street, NW (also known as 3050 R Street, NW), OG 12-105  (HPA 12-180)  Residential, Alterations for condominiums, Permit – additional information

Last night the ANC met for its February session (apparently they have a time machine that made last night actually February). GM couldn’t stay long due to his new paternal responsibilities, but the bits he caught are worth passing on.

DCRA

The ANC invited the Director of DCRA, Nicholas Majett, to speak about his agency. Majett took his time to describe all the ways in which DCRA touches on DC citizens’ lives. From building permits, to corporation licensing, to inspections, DCRA is likely the agency you need to call when you have a problem.

While Majett’s presentation was interesting, the main draw for Georgetown was the situation with 1424 Wisconsin Ave. This property, which until last year hosted Ashhik clothes, was undergoing construction to become a Z-Burger. But on Thanksgiving day, half the building collapsed. Some have suggested that the cause of the collapsed was unauthorized excavation. Majett, however, suggested that if it was excavation that caused the collapse, it wasn’t unauthorized since the owner had a permit to dig.

Right now the parties seems to be engaged in a blame-sorting exercise. The ANC was a bit alarmed to find out that the structural engineer hired to determine the cause of the collapse was to be hired by the building owner. Tom Birch wondered whether that wasn’t a huge conflict of interest and that won’t the engineer be inclined to say it’s not the fault of the guy who’s paying him. Majett responded that it was the opposite of a conflict of interest since it put the responsibility on the building owner, not the government, to determine the cause. GM’s not quite sure that counts as “the opposite of a conflict of interest”, and the ANC remained skeptical too. They asked Majett to consider using an independent engineer to evaluate the collapse (particularly considering that the building owner in question has a history of building collapses in Georgetown).

After wrapping up the discussion on 1424 Wisconsin Ave., the ANC noted that there was another item on their agenda that touched on DCRA: food trucks. DCRA has proposed regulations governing food trucks, which up to this point have operated under the rules for ice cream trucks. The new regulations would address food trucks more directly and allow them to operate in any legal parking spot, under certain restrictions.

Andrew Kline, who is one of the city’s biggest ABC lawyers, showed up at the ANC last night to push the case of his client, the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington. These brick-and-mortar restaurants hate food trucks because the trucks take a lot of the business away from the fixed restaurants and get to keep a lot more of their revenues since they don’t have any overhead and the city doesn’t make them pay sales tax (they just pay a flat $500$1500 fee every year [again, it's because the rules the operate under assume they're selling ice cream, not $15 lobster rolls]).

So the restaurants would like the food trucks to be lumped in with the hot dog vendors, which would mean sticking them in fixed locations, and at a very limited density. In other words, they want to kill vitality of the food truck business in DC.

Of course Kline swears up and down that squashing competition has absolutely nothing to do with it. “Restaurants don’t want to get rid of food trucks”, he asserts somehow with a straight face. They just really care about the public space of the city and don’t want the food trucks taking up too much of it. It’s aesthetics, not competition. (By the by, GM’s looking to unload an old stone bridge ideally located near Brooklyn, are you interested?)

Kline even threw out the horrible possibility that if these rules are adopted K St. could become a magnet for the food trucks. GM had to stand up and say, “God I hope so!” (in person, GM doesn’t speak in the third person).

But the ANC expressed concerns over food trucks being on the residential streets. GM doubts that’s likely, but the proposal to restrict food trucks from RPP spaces. GM thinks that’s probably a fair compromise, but it may be too late to change the proposed rule.

DCFDDCFEMS

Last year, the Chief of the DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services, Kenneth Ellerbe, issued an order banning all firemen from wearing anything with the acronym “DCFD”. You see, the agency isn’t called the DC Fire Department anymore. And Ellerbe, who also spoke at the ANC meeting last night, seems to still be interested in this issue.

While we all still think of it as the fire department, putting out fires is a small part of the agency’s duties. According to Ellerbe, DCFEMS received 161,000 calls in 2011. Of those, 130,000 were medical related calls. Only 900 were fire related, and of those, only about 500 were house fires. So it’s probably more accurate to use the DCFEMS name. But GM still thinks it’s a bit of an overreaction to throw away the history of the DCFD name.

One of those interesting topics is 1424 Wisconsin Ave. This is that building that basically collapsed a while back. The building did house Aashik, a clothing store. But it was in the process of being converted into a Z-Burger. Whatever they were doing (and GM hears it was likely illegal excavation), it wasn’t done well. Now the back half of the building is gone, and the neighboring buildings are condemned.

At the ANC meeting, the DCRA Chief Building Official, Rabbiah Sabbakhanon, will be present to discuss the property. It should be an interesting story, both how it happened and what’s going to happen next.

Also on the agenda is our old friend the GU Campus Plan. But don’t get too excited; it’s just an update. And GM can give you a brief preview: the Zoning Commission is meeting to decide the school’s fate on February 9th at 6:30 pm. The meeting is open to the public, but there is no more opportunity for public input. Theoretically the commission is going to discuss the plan and come to a decision, but there is no requirement that they actually come to a final decision that night. But the discussion should at least shed light on the commission’s thinking and how it is likely to decide.

Other than that, it’s most your run of the mill private projects. The only retail news from the agenda is that Noodles & Co. is coming to the new building just south of the Safeway.

Here’s the agenda:

Approval of the Agenda

•       Approval of January 30, 2012, ANC 2E Public Meeting Agenda

Administrative

•       Approval of  January 3, 2012 Meeting Minutes
•       Public Safety and Police Report
•       Financial Report –  1st 2012 Quarter Financial Report
•       Transportation Report
•       Public Works Report

Community Comment

•       Update from the DCRA Chief Building Official, Mr. Rabbiah Sabbakhanon, about the building collapse at 1424 Wisconsin Avenue – causes, assuring safety and stability at the site, next steps toward reconstruction
•       Pepco to address frequent power outages in ANC 2E

New Business

•       GU Campus Plan Update

Zoning

•       1623 28th Street, NW (the “Evermay” property), BZA Application No. 18315, Application of Evermay Georgetown, LLC, on behalf of the S&R Foundation for a special exception to establish a non-profit use

Old Georgetown Board

PRIVATE PROJECTS:

1.      SMD 02, 1609 35th Street, NW, OG 12-070  (HPA 12-123) Residence, Alterations to rear, Concept
2.      SMD 03, 3700 O Street, NW (also known as 3522 N Street, NW), OG 12-090  (HPA 12-149) Residential, Generator for LXR – Nevils Hall, Permit
3.      SMD 05, 2910 M Street, NW, OG 12-099  (HPA 12-174) Retail, Awning and signs for “Charm” – existing, Permit
4.      SMD 05, 1075 Thomas Jefferson Street, NW, OG 12-106  (HPA 12-181) Hotel, Rooftop addition and terrace, replacement windows, markee, Concept
5.      SMD 05, 3205 Prospect Street, NW, OG 12-092  (HPA 12-152) Restaurant, Internally-illuminated sign for “Georgetown Falafel & Koshary” – existing, Permit
6.      SMD 05, 1042 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 12-091 (HPA 12-151) Restaurant, Awnings, signs, lights – existing, Permit
7.      SMD 06, 1210 28th Street, NW, OG 12-103  (HPA 12-178) Residence, 3-story rear addition, Concept
8.      SMD 06, 3015 P Street, NW, OG 12-111  (HPA 12-186) Residence, Alterations to garage off Orchard Lane, Concept
9.      SMD 06, 3015 P Street, NW, OG 12-112  (HPA 12-187) Residence, Rear addition and alterations, Concept
10.     SMD 06, 3010 Dumbarton Street, NW, OG 12-063  (HPA 12-108) Residence, Replacement windows, alterations, gas light fixtures, rooftop HVAC, excavation, Permit
11.     SMD 06, 1413 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 12-087  (HPA 12-148) Commercial, Alteration to stucco wall, Permit
12.     SMD 06, 1525 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 12-   (HPA 12-) Commercial/Residential, Alterations to rear, Permit
13.     SMD 07, 2500 Q Street, NW, OG 12-059  (HPA 12-099) Gateway Georgetown Condominiums, Replacement and new rooftop antennas and equipment for Sprint, Permit
14.     SMD 07, 1815 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 12-104  (HPA 12-179) Retail, Roof top addition and deck, sign scheme for “Noodles & Company,” Concept

No Review At This Time by ANC 2E: The following additional projects, which are on the upcoming February 2 agenda of the Old Georgetown Board, have not been added to the ANC meeting agenda for OGB-related design review and we do not propose to adopt a resolution on them at this time.  If there are concerns about any of these projects, please contact the ANC office by Friday, January 27, 2012.

1.      SMD 01, 3800 Reservoir Road, NW, OG 12-102  (HPA 12-177)  Georgetown University – MedStar Hospital, Storage sheds within Oxygen Tank Courtyard, Permit
2.      SMD 02, 3219 Volta Place, NW, OG 12-052  (HPA 12-082) Residence, Replacement windows, Permit
3.      SMD 03, 1513 33rd Street, NW, OG 11-285 (HPA 11-495) Residence, Alterations, dormers, partial demolition, Permit
4.      SMD 03, 1408-10-12  36th Street, NW, OG 12-085  (HPA 12-139) Residences, Door surround, transom, window casing, Permit
5.      SMD 03, 3240 O Street, NW, OG 12-100  (HPA 12-175) Church, Replacement roof, Permit
6.      SMD 03, 3254 O Street, NW, OG 12-110  (HPA 12-185) Residence, Alterations to rear of main house, remove chimney, Permit
7.      SMD 03, 3240 P Street, NW, OG 12-061  (HPA 12-106) Commercial, Alterations to glass roof at rear, Permit – revised design
8.      SMD 03, 3417 P Street, NW, OG 12-107  (HPA 12-182) Residence, Alterations to window openings, skylights, Concept
9.      SMD 03, 3522 P Street, NW, OG 12-114  (HPA 12-189) Residence, Replacement windows, Concept
10.     SMD 03, 1432 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 12-025  (HPA 12-041) Retail, Sign for DC Jewelry Center, Permit
11.     SMD 03, 1436 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 12-096  (HPA 12-171) Commercial, Sign for “Express Alterations,” Permit
12.     SMD 03, 1510 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 12-082  (HPA 12-136) Commercial, Alterations to storefront, sign scheme for Luigi Parasmo Salon, Permit
13.     SMD 05, 1050 31st Street, NW, OG 12-116  (HPA 12-191) Office building to hotel, Site work along the C & O Canal, Permit – additional information
14.     SMD 05, 3111 K Street, NW, OG 12-109  (HPA 12-184) Theatre, Sign scheme for “AMC,” Permit (Loews sign reviewed : )
15.     SMD 05, 2934 M Street, NW, OG 12-098  (HPA 12-173) Commercial, Alterations to storefront and to rear, sign scheme for “Little Viet Garden,” Permit – revised design
16.     SMD 05, 3299 M Street, NW, OG 12-117  (HPA 12-192) Commercial, Alterations to fenestration, Concept – revised design
17.     SMD 05, 3248 N Street, NW, OG 12-108  (HPA 12-183) Residence, 2-story rear addition and alterations to rear, Concept – revised design
18.     SMD 05, 2810-12 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, OG 12-014  (HPA 12-014) Four Seasons Hotel – Eno Wine Bar, Rear addition with basement, window replacements, signs and awnings, Concept – additional information
19.     SMD 06, 1322 30th Street, NW, OG 12-093   (HPA 12-166) Residence, Alterations to rear, Permit
20.     SMD 06, 3047 N Street, NW, OG 12-115  (HPA 12-190) Residence, Alterations to windows, Concept
21.     SMD 06, 1239 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 12-101  (HPA 12-176) Commercial, Sign scheme for Loft, rooftop mechanical equipment, Permit – revised design
22.     SMD 06, 1267 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 12-118  (HPA 12-193) Retail, Alterations to storefront, sign scheme for “Jonathan Adler Furniture,” Concept
23.     SMD 06, 1329 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 12-054  (HPA 12-??) Retail, Sign scheme for “Comfort One Shoes” and “Mephisto,” Permit – revised design
24.     SMD 07, 2617 O Street, NW, OG 12-095  (HPA 12-170) Residence, Replacement roof at front, Permit
25.     SMD 07, 2617 O Street, NW, OG 12-094  (HPA 12-169) Residence, Replacement roof at rear, Permit
26.     SMD 07, 3052 R Street, NW (also known as 3050 R Street, NW), OG 12-105  (HPA 12-180) Residential, Alterations for condominiums, Permit
27.     SMD 07, 3120 R Street, NW, OG 12-065  (HPA 12-113) Residence, Replacement windows, Permit / concept
28.     SMD 07, 3210 R Street, NW, OG 12-097  (HPA 12-172) Residence, Rear porch, alterations, replacement windows, solar panels and HVAC on roof, Concept
29.     SMD 07, 3033 Dent Place, NW, OG 12-053  (HPA 12-084) Residence, Rooftop solar panels, Permit

Tonight the ANC is meeting for the first time in this futuristically sounding year of 2012. While there are a headache-inducing amount of private projects on the agenda, some more interesting items are near the front and worth coming to see if you’re interested.

The first among those issues is the West Heating Plant (seen above). This gigantic property is being surplused by the federal government and will soon be put out for bids. Some Georgetown-based developers, including Richard Levy, are preparing bids and are vying to take the lead with plans to convert the property to high-end condos. But GM has heard some rumors that the staff of the Old Georgetown Board have made it known that condo-conversion would not be acceptable. This doesn’t leave much in the way of economically viable options for the building, absent some mythical and extremely well-endowed museum that wants to use the cavernous space for art (like GM and others have suggested).

The ANC is not likely to take any particular position or approve any motion. It just likes to take the time to announce big projects like this in a public forum for those that don’t read totally awesome and informative websites…

Here’s the full agenda:

GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E
3265 S Street, NW • Washington, DC  20007
(202) 724-7098  • anc2e@dc.gov • www.anc2e.com
ANC 2E Public Meeting
Tuesday, January 3, 2011
at 6:30 p.m.

We will be meeting this month at the Georgetown Visitation School, 35th and Volta Place, Heritage Room, first building on left by gatehouse, 2nd floor

Please note that ANC 2E Public Meetings usually meet on Monday but because of the New Year holiday, the meeting has been moved to Tuesday this month

Approval of the Agenda

•       Approval of the January 3, 2011, ANC 2E Public Meeting Agenda

Administrative

•       Approval of November 28, 2011 Meeting Minutes
•       Public Safety and Police Report
•       Financial Report
•       Transportation Report – O & P Street update
•       Public Works Report
•       Officers and areas of particular interest in 2012
•       2012 meeting dates
•       Standing resolutions
•       Security Trust Fund

Community Comment

New Business

•       West Power Plant update – GSA plans and procedures for disposition (This item will come up before 7:00 p.m.)
•       Friends of Volta Park designated as the official community representative for Volta Park
•       GU Campus plan update
•       Safeway traffic issue

Old Georgetown Board

PRIVATE PROJECTS:

1.      SMD 07, 2516 East Place, NW, OG 12-067 (HPA 12-120) Residence, Alterations to rear, retractable awning, shutters, Permit
2.      SMD 01, 1738 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 12-026  (HPA 12-053) Residence, 2-story rear addition, Concept – revised design
3.      SMD 02, 1609 35th Street, NW, OG 12-070 (HPA 12-123) Residence, Alterations to rear, remove 2-story rear porch, Concept
4.      SMD 03, 1408, -10, -12  36th Street, NW, OG 12—85  (HPA 12-139) Residences, Door surround, transom, window casing, Permit
5.      SMD 03, 3254 O Street, NW, OG 11-162  (HPA 11-255) Residence, Partial demolition, reconstruction of garage with enlarged footprint, Concept – revised design
6.      SMD 03, 3254 O Street, NW, OG 12-083  (HPA 12-137) Residence, Alterations to rear of main house, remove chimney, Concept
7.      SMD 03, 3240 P Street, NW, OG 12-061  (HPA 12-106) Commercial, Alterations to glass roof at rear yard, Permit / concept
8.      SMD 03, 1432 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 12-025  (HPA 12-041) Retail, Sign for “DC Jewelry Center”, rolling grille, Permit / Concept – revised design
9.      SMD 03, 1510 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 12-082  (HPA 12-136) Commercial, Alterations to storefront, sign scheme for “Luigi Parasmo Salon,” Permit
10.     SMD 05, 3288 M Street, NW, OG 12-073 (HPA 12-126) Retail, Deck, Permit
11.     SMD 05, 2810-12 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, OG 12-014 (HPA 12-014) Four Seasons Hotel – Eno Wine Bar, Rear addition with basement, window replacements, signs and awnings, Concept – revised design
12.     SMD 06, 2624 Dumbarton Street, NW, OG 12-062  (HPA 12-107) Church, Handicapped access ramp, Concept
13.     SMD 06, 3010 Dumbarton Street, NW, OG 12-063  (HPA 12-108) Residence, Replacement windows, alterations, gas light fixtures, rooftop HVAC, Permit

No Review At This Time by ANC 2E: The following additional projects, which are on the upcoming November 3 agenda of the Old Georgetown Board, have not been added to the ANC meeting agenda for OGB-related design review and we do not propose to adopt a resolution on them at this time.  If there are concerns about any of these projects, please contact the ANC office by Friday, December 30, 2010.

1.      SMD 02, 1522 33rd Street, NW, OG 12-068  (HPA 12-121) Residence, Replacement rear fence, Permit
2.      SMD 02, 1615 34th Street, NW, OG 12-058  (HPA 12-097) Residence, Replace rear fence, Permit
3.      SMD 02, 1675 35th Street, NW, OG 12-081  (HPA 12-135) Residence, Rear additions and alterations to side, new window wells on front, Permit – revised design
4.      SMD 02, 3219 Volta Place, NW, OG 12-052  (HPA 12-082) Residence, Replacement windows, Permit
5.      SMD 03, 1513 33rd Street, NW,  OG 11-285  (HPA 11-495) Residence, Alterations, dormers, partial demolition, Permit
6.      SMD 03, 1525 34th Street, NW, OG 12-079  (HPA 12-133) Residence, Relocation of front door to side, alterations, Permit
7.      SMD 05, 1050 31st Street, NW, OG 12-076  (HPA 12-130) Office building to hotel, Alterations, Permit
8.      SMD 05, 1037 33rd Street, NW, OG 12-074  (HPA 12-127) Commercial, Sign scheme for “Flor,” Concept – options
9.      SMD 05,  3067 M Street, NW, OG 12-072  (HPA 12-125) Alterations to storefront, sign and banner for “Rag & Bone,” Permit – revised design
10.     SMD 05, 1059 Thomas Jefferson Street, NW,  OG 12-078  (HPA 12-132) Residence, Alterations to front and rear, deck, fence, Permit – revised design
11.     SMD 06, 1248 30th Street, NW,  OG 12-069  (HPA 12-122) Residence, Alterations to garage, Permit
12.     SMD 06, 1235 31st Street, NW (also known as 1231-35 31st St, NW),  OG 12-080  (HPA 12-134) Residence, Alterations and conservatory addition at rear, Permit
13.     SMD 06, 3043 N Street, NW, OG 12-055  (HPA 12-093) Residence, Replacement brick garden wall at rear, Permit
14.     SMD 06, 3130 O Street, NW, OG 12-056  (HPA 12-094) Church Parsonage, Replacement tin roof, Permit
15.     SMD 06, 3127 P Street, NW,  OG 12-077  (HPA 12-131) Residence, Alterations to front yard and light fixtures on side, Permit – revised design
16.     SMD 06, 2908 Dumbarton Street, NW, OG 12-084  (HPA 12-138) Residence, 2-story rear addition, Permit
17.     SMD 06, 1329 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 12-054  (HPA 12-??) Retail, Sign scheme for “Comfort One Shoes” and “Mephisto”, awnings, Permit
18.     SMD 07, 1601 28th Street, NW, OG 12-057  (HPA 12-096) Residence, New opening for garage door at basement of historic house, Permit
19.     SMD 07, 2823 Q Street, NW,  OG 12-075  (HPA 12-128) Residence, Rear alterations, Permit
20.     SMD 07, 3120 R Street, NW, OG 12-065  (HPA 12-113) Residence, Replacement windows, Permit / concept
21.     SMD 07, 1669 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 12-071  (HPA 12-124) Commercial, Alterations to window, awning and blade sign for Macaron Bee, Permit – revised design

27 December 2011 – 3:30 pm

The ANC met for the final time in 2011 on Monday night (sorry for the delay in the report, but yesterday GM wanted to pump the CAG meeting). The agenda was short and the proceedings efficient, so there’s really not much to report, but here goes.

Glover Park

The biggest item on the agenda was the issue of Glover Park’s planned streetscape improvements. Part of those improvements call for lane reconfiguration, which frightens a lot of people. The fear is that by limiting lanes on Wisconsin Ave., the drivers will take the side streets instead.

As GM reported on Monday, the ANC is concerned about this. Glover Park, however, didn’t take too kindly to the possibility that ANC2E might derail the project. So Chair of the Glover Park ANC, Brian Cohen, showed up at the Georgetown ANC meeting to testify in favor of the changes and to argue that it would not negatively affect Georgetown (DDOT representatives were also at hand to make the same case, but the bureaucratese they used didn’t do a great job selling the project).

In the end the ANC (the Georgetown one, that is) passed a motion simply asking DDOT to keep in mind the possible effects this project could have on Georgetown and to include Georgetown in the discussions going forward. For the record, GM predicted Monday that Commissioner Bill Starrells wanted to “derail” the project; in fairness GM must report that Starrells since assured GM that he never intended to try to stop the project, and just wanted to air his concerns about the project.

Macaroon or Macaron?

So if you’re not “with it” you might not realize that cupcakes are totally done-zo. The new thing is macaroons. What’s a macaroon, you ask? It’s like a tiny hamburger made with sugar instead of meat. See, the prices will remain the same, it’s just they’ll keep convincing people to line up for smaller and smaller food items until tourists will be willing to wait hours to be served $5 puffs of scented air. Don’t believe GM? Fine, just don’t be surprised when the next big thing is artisanal pixie stix.

But DC is always a few years behind the trends, so the macaroon is only just starting to crest on these dowdy shores. And Georgetown is the site of the first macaroon shop in the city (as far as GM knows, at least). Or rather that should say the first macaron shop. In the space at 1669 Wisconsin Ave. (two doors up from the Bean Counter) a couple is going to open a shop called Macaron Bee. According to their architect, George Gordon, the couple plans to sell macaroons (or macarons, whatever) out of the front window of the shop.

The ANC commissioners expressed some reservations about the idea of selling food out of the front window. They feared the shop eventually turning into a pizza slice restaurant. In the end, the ANC decided to support the request with a (probably unenforceable) condition that the window not be used for any other type of food product.

GM’s prediction is that these sort of windows never work out. People would rather just come in to the store. GM hopes the store thrives and drives more foot traffic to upper Book Hill, but it’ll be because people like the food, not the convenience of sidewalk service.

Cady’s Alley II

The very last item on the agenda was the innocuous sounding request to make alterations to the rear of 3259 M St. (where the Coach is). This property is owned by EastBanc, and the neighbors to the rear believe that EastBanc is plucking up properties on the block with the intent to turn the small alley behind the M St. properties into a new Cady’s Alley. Intriguing theory.

Well EastBanc wasn’t on hand to confirm nor deny the conspiracy theory. And the ANC took a motion against the plan. But if EastBanc really does have grander plans than a simple rear alteration, expect this block to get a lot more attention in the future.

As you may have read in the Current, Glover Park has worked with DDOT to reconfigure Wisconsin Ave. through that neighborhood. These changes came in response to two recent pedestrian fatalities and a serious injury, all of which have come on the stretch of Wisconsin Ave. through Glover Park. And in particular, the stretch of Wisconsin south of W Pl. is very dangerous to pedestrians because it is unnecessarily wide, which encourages cars to drive unnecessary fast, and it has several crosswalks without crossing lights. While increased enforcement can make a minor difference in driver behavior, the most effective way to change drivers’ behavior is to change the road. This is the approach that Glover Park’s leaders took.

So they worked with DDOT to develop a plan to widen the sidewalks (which are way too narrow) and limit Wisconsin Ave. to one lane in each direction. Parking would be limited during rush hour to provide an extra traffic lane during those hours. (Update: The changes are even better. They’ll include a traffic median and some left turn lanes. Here are the plans: http://anc3b.org/issues/roadway-streetscape-pedestrian-safety/) These are changes that have been public and long discussed among Glover Park residents and leaders, and its perfectly reasonable for Glover Park to take these measures in response to the clear and present hazard created by the current situation.

So enter ANC2E, or more specifically, Commissioner Bill Starrells, who objects to these changes. The stated concern is that by limiting traffic on Wisconsin Ave. it will encourage more traffic in the side-streets. This is a baseless fear. Wisconsin Ave. is only one lane in each direction from R St. down to Q St. And the rest of Wisconsin Ave. through Georgetown has essentially the same traffic configuration that Glover Park is proposing to extend up through to their neighborhood: one travel and parking lane in each direction. Thus this change does not add a bottleneck, it simply moves the bottleneck up the road. If anything, this will smooth the flow of traffic since much of the congestion on Wisconsin Ave. in front of the Safeway is caused by the merging of two lanes down to one. Whatever congestion benefits arise from having four traffic lanes for a short stretch of road are eliminated by the delays caused by the merger.

Moreover, DDOT’s engineers looked specifically at the question of congestion and cut-through traffic and concluded that the change would not result in an material increase of either.

Yet nonetheless, Starrells wants the ANC to derail the process of how another neighborhood decides to deal with a hazardous problem in its own midst. One can just imagine how ANC2E would feel if the Glover Park ANC tried to do the same to Georgetown.

It’s worth mentioning, that the commissioners of the districts that would be most affected by an increase in cut-through traffic (Solomon and Lewis) won’t be at the meeting.

The meeting starts tonight at 6:30. Here’s the rest of the agenda:

To undercut this argument, the ANC just issued a supplemental submission to the Zoning Commission. The ANC writes:

GU’s grudging, small-scale responses to community concerns throughout this case have been  disappointing. Instead of responding meaningfully to Chairman Hood‟s suggestion to the  University that it propose truly new, large, and effective approaches to the neighborhood issues, GU has instead come back with small-scale tweaks to existing off campus student programs.

The ANC takes a particularly cynical view of GU’s quality of life measures:

GU reserves the right to modify any and all of its student conduct measures at any time… And GU certainly cannot expect us to believe that any 11th-hour clamp-down it may have attempted over the past several months – in the spotlight of an impending Zoning Commission decision – will or could be sustained by GU over the long run.

In the no-good-deed-goes-unpunished category, the ANC addresses GU’s new trash pick up program:

By the University’s own count, as GU has informed ANC 2E commissioners, a trash truck it sends around the student-centric areas of the community daily at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. has been picking up over one and a half tons of trash every day…The University, after years of turning a blind eye, has belatedly taken some remedial action. But the University does not seem to appreciate that during the 20 or so hours every day when the GU trash truck is not picking up the trash, another 1.5 tons of trash is dumped outside for all in the community to experience. The trash truck proves beyond a doubt the existence of a serious problem. It clearly does not sufficiently mitigate, let alone solve, the problem. In an odd way, it may even exacerbate the undisciplined seven-days-a-week strewing of GU-related trash in the community.

This echoes somewhat a comment GM made recently. By picking up the students’ trash in bags, the school fails to discourage students from leaving bags of trash out on the street. Residents often get fined for this since it encourages rats, so there’s no reason to treat students differently.

But one thing this complaint fails to do is to put the 1.5 tons into context. That’s 3,000 lbs. Or somewhere between 2-3 lbs. of trash per off-campus student. The EPA estimates that the average American produces 4.4 lbs of trash a day. Presumably some amount of trash the students are producing doesn’t end up in their houses’ trash (e.g., a cup of coffee they buy and throw out at a coffee shop) so it’s not like this is evidence that they’re big recyclers, but it doesn’t do much to say that 1.5 tons of trash is to be unexpected from so many people. It’s seems that the issue shouldn’t be how much trash students are producing, but rather how they are handling it.

Anyway, that’s just a couple of points they raise. Here’s the document: