Category Archives: ANC

November 28, 2011 · 10:00 am

ANC Preview: Sticking Their Nose Into Glover Park’s Business Edition

Tonight ANC2E will meet for the final time in 2011. And the most important item on the agenda doesn’t even directly relate to Georgetown.

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. Continue reading →

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November 2, 2011 · 10:00 am

ANC Round Up: Crime and Punishment Edition

Photo by ThisisBossi.

At last night’s ANC meeting, crime was very much on the mind of the attendees. The ANC was scheduled to be visited by U.S. Attorney Ronald Machen long before the Halloween shooting on Monday, but the crime made his presence all the more apt.

But before Machen arrived, the audience was treated to an update on the Halloween crime from MPD Captain Jeffrey Herold. He recently transferred to the Second District from the Special Operations division. So while he is new to the neighborhood beat, his old assignment actually meant that he’s worked the Georgetown Halloween shift for over twenty years.

He said emphatically that he’s never seen the scene he saw Monday night. GM wasn’t there himself, but he’s heard from multiple people that the crowd was particularly bad this year. Herold reported that it seemed as if large groups of people (mostly teens) were simply roving the neighborhood appearing to try to start fights.

Along with this behavior came a spike in some rather alarming crimes. While most attention was focused on the horrible shooting, there were several muggings as well Monday night. But the thing is, you have to be a really stupid criminal to target Georgetown on Halloween. There is basically a cop on every corner. So all the muggings resulted in arrests. Even more disturbing: three guns were seized by the cops. One kid even was caught with a sawed-off shotgun.

Captain Herold told the crowd that he expects the shooting investigation to be “closed” in a matter of days. Continue reading →

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October 27, 2011 · 10:00 am

ANC Preview: 7-11 Edition

Photo by Thisisbossi.

Next Tuesday (NOTE THE DAY CHANGE DUE TO HALLOWEEN), ANC2E will meet for its November session. One thing you may not know about ANC meetings if you don’t attend them is that normally the most interesting stuff is right at the beginning. And this month, that rule continues to apply.

This month, in this slot are two developments that have grabbed attention recently: the 7-11 expansion and the West Heating Plant.

GM’s not sure what the ANC is going to have to say about either of the two items. The 7-11 doesn’t sell alcohol and isn’t subject to a voluntary agreement, so it’s not like it needs approval to expand into the P St. It will ultimately need OGB review for whatever signage or awnings they ask for, but that’s probably not what the ANC wants to talk about now. Either way, could be interesting.

As for the West Heating Plant, this is something a bit more in the ANC’s wheelhouse. They probably just want to make the public aware the the GSA is planning to sell it. GM’s heard nothing about any possible bidders, but it’s still early.

Another early treat: DC U.S. Attorney Ronald Machen and two of his AUSAs will speak. Last month: the Mayor. This month: the U.S. Attorney. How can they top this in December?

Among the other items, only one jumps out at GM as being potentially interesting. A new restaurant called M Cafe has applied for a liquor license. They propose to be located at 3236 Prospect St. Here’s what the application says:

Contemporary bistro serving Italian food and cuisine, including salads and desserts.  No Entertainment provided. Sidewalk Cafe with 50 seats. Seating capacity is 120. Total occupancy load is 140.

The outdoor cafe part of the plan sounds like it could be controversial, since Prospect street is one of those battleground streets where bars and neighbors are seemingly always battling each other. Look for round one to start at the meeting. Continue reading →

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October 4, 2011 · 10:00 am

ANC Round Up: Kissing Up Edition

Last year, Georgetown voted overwhelmingly for Adrian Fenty (84%) over Vincent Gray (14%) for mayor. And by most accounts, Jack Evans is somewhat on the outs with Gray for supporting Fenty. But you wouldn’t know either of those two things by attending last night’s ANC meeting.

In a rare occurrence, the mayor stopped by ANC2E’s meeting last night. He was introduced as some length by Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans (who does stop by ANC meetings once or twice a year). Despite the reported chilliness between the two politicians, last night it was all warmth.

And maybe it was simply out of respect for the office, but the crowd was similarly warm to Gray despite not voting for him, even giving him two standing ovations. Bygones were bygones last night.

As for the substance, GM posted the audio below if you want to listen, but in summation it was basically a typical stump-like speech touting the budget that was passed and some of his accomplishments in expanding universal pre-K and limiting special education costs, among other things.

But this being ANC2E, it wouldn’t be a community event without the issue of students being put to the forefront. But on this occasion, it was actually the students doing the pushing. Two students stood and asked a question during the mayor’s Q&A. The first asked him to weigh in on the controversial ANC redistricting. Gray punted, but then Evans stood up and basically explained the process that occurred and how it was open to everyone who wanted to participate. The message between the lines was “hey, you didn’t get enough people on the committee to draw the map as you wanted, so that’s why you’re disappointed.” Continue reading →

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September 29, 2011 · 10:00 am

ANC Preview: Georgetown Heights’ Time to Shine

North east Georgetown (which was historically called Georgetown Heights) doesn’t get talked about a whole lot at ANC meetings. There aren’t any bars there. There are hardly any students. And those two issues alone account for a large percentage of most ANC discussions.

Well next meeting that changes. Northeast Georgetown is the subject of each one of the New Business items on the agenda (well, 4 out of 5 if you don’t count Rose Park as northeast Georgetown, which it isn’t quite).

Here’s what they are:

  • The Hurt Home is on the agenda to discuss widening the curb cut to the alley. Some neighbors think this is essential since the alley itself will be widened. DDOT, however, has said widening the curb cut isn’t appropriate.
  • The Friendly Estate was deemed to be vacant and blighted by the city, resulting in a gigantic tax bill. The new owner wants it reclassified back to occupied and not blighted. It’s not clear whether they will either: A) occupy it or B) make it not actually blighted, before they want the reclassification.
  • Proposed changes to late night bus schedules for D2 and G2 (OK G2 isn’t really northeast Georgetown either). The ANC has successful prevented cutbacks in the past, but GM’s not sure they can do that now.
  • 3029 Q St. apparently wants a curb cut, which both the ANC and DDOT has generally opposed.
  • Rose Park Master Plan

And that’s all just the new business! MRP Realty will be back with modified plans for their overhaul of Washington Harbour. That long promised boutique hotel on 31st St. will present its first plans. And, as always, plenty more.

Here’s the draft agenda: Continue reading →

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August 31, 2011 · 10:00 am

ANC Round Up: Picking Your Voters Edition

Monday night, the ANC met for its September session. This is normally an extremely long meeting due to the backlog of projects that builds up due to the July ANC break (or does it count as a recess?)

The room was packed, which normally means there’s one particular issue that has riled people up. And on Monday, that issue was redistricting.

GM has covered this issue already. In short: students want 3 seats on the ANC, and the non-students in charge want no non-students represented by students (if you want a more nuanced take than that, click the link).

Monday night was not about arguing over numbers or lines. It was a chance, primarily, for students to stand up and say that they don’t think this is right or fair. And several did just that. (And quite well GM might add). Mike Meany, president of the GU Student Association, did a particularly fine job making the case that this plan would be a violation of DC law and is against basic democratic principles.

But a chance to stand up and speak is about all it was. The ANC didn’t take a vote and the committee already chose the co-chairs’ plan. Nothing that happened Monday night will change that. The co-chairs’ plan will be sent to Tom Birch, he’ll approve it, and Jack Evans will submit it to the Council, where it will be approved (despite a Hail Mary from the students to make noise at the Council).

Obviously the non-student neighbors didn’t realize they already won. If they did, then somebody like Ed Russell from Burleith, who stood up and argued that people who pay property taxes should have more rights, wouldn’t have said something so stupid like that. Continue reading →

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August 25, 2011 · 10:00 am

Competing Redistricting Plans Propose to Carve Up Georgetown

As mentioned briefly the other day, a commission of volunteers has been putting together a plan for how to redraw the ANC district boundaries to reflect the new census numbers (those districts are called “single member districts” or “SMDs”). Two competing plans have emerged from the committee, although only one has gained a majority of support.

The Co-Chairs’ Plan:

The plan that received majority support on the commission has been dubbed the “co-chairs’ plan” since it was produced by the co-chairs of the commission, Ron Lewis (chair of the ANC), Jennifer Altemus (President of CAG), and Lenore Rubino (President of the Burleith Citizens Association).

Their plan makes only a couple significant changes to the current map:

The biggest change to the old map in the co-chairs’ proposal is that all the dorms will be put into two districts. Currently, the dorms are spread out across four different districts, only one of which is “student only” (SMD 4). By putting all the dorms into two districts, the plan would guarantee two student commissioners. (Both plans call for a new eighth commissioner to account for the fact that the ANC population grew about 800 people.)

The co-chairs’ plan has one glaring flaw: the population numbers are completely out of whack. According to the redistricting law, SMDs are supposed to contain 2,000 people and should not deviate by more than 200. Here’s what the population numbers of the co-chairs’ plan are:

  • SMD 1: 2,409 (Burleith)
  • SMD 2: 1,660 (Upper West Village)
  • SMD 3: 1,705 (Lower West Village)
  • SMD 4: 2,581 (First Campus District, exact boundaries to be decided later)
  • SMD 5: 1,710 (Lower Georgetown)
  • SMD 6: 1,836 (Lower East Village)
  • SMD 7: 1,983 (Upper East Village)
  • SMD 8: 2,581 (Second Campus District) Continue reading →

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August 23, 2011 · 10:00 am

ANC Preview: Back to Work Edition

Next week, ANC2E returns to action for its September session (yes, it will still be August, go with it). The first meeting after the August layoff is always long and painful, and this year is no different.

ANC Redistricting

GM will probably write something about this this week, but in short: the lines of the ANC’s individual districts (the Single Member Districts, or “SMDs”) need to be redrawn to reflect the new census numbers. The committee formed to recommend a new map has made its initial decision. The proposed map is mostly similar to the old one except that all the students who live on campus would be in two student-only district. The only other significant change would be to stretch SMD 5 (which is mostly Georgetown below M St.) up into the East Village.

An alternative plan has also gained support on the committee, but failed to win a majority of support. It was drafted by Georgetown Voice blog editor John Flanagan. It also creates two student-only districts, but then takes some of the dorms that are outside the gates and joins them with homes in the West Village. This would result in mixed district that would have the potential to result in a third student commissioner. (Both plans call for the addition of a new eighth commissioner.)

Each plan has it’s strengths and weaknesses, and as mentioned, GM will go into them a bit more later this week. But either way, the ANC will present the draft plan (i.e. the first one) for public comment. It does not plan to propose any resolution on the plan, however.

The Streets of Georgetown

A new concept store called “The Streets of Georgetown” is coming in to the space recently vacated by Reiss. Here’s how the Post described it:

Housed in the former Reiss clothing store at 1254 Wisconsin Ave. NW, the Streets of Georgetown is to feature the assorted collections of brands such as Hickey Freeman, Hart Schaffner Marx and Bobby Jones.

Each label has its own unique style and price point to appeal to a broad audience. Whereas a Hickey Freeman suit can run anywhere from $1,300 to $3,000, shoppers can pick one up by Hart Schaffner Marx for $700 to $900. And for those men who only wear suits to funerals and weddings, there will be an array of polos and chinos.

It’s a silly name and GM’s not so sure about the concept, but it could work well as it tries to cash in on the growing men’s fashion market in Georgetown. Along those lines, Jack Spade is going to move in to where the atrocious Ed Hardy store used to be.

Cecil Place

As reported by GM, a new building is planned for the corner of Cecil Place and Grace St. The neighbors are concerned about the size and the blank wall it would present to the street. This project will receive its first ANC consideration this meeting.

 

 

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July 20, 2011 · 10:00 am

City Releases ANC Redistricting Data

To assist in the necessary redistricting of the ANCs, the city released a raft of data. All of the source data is from the Census and was released a while ago. In fact, GM already has had his say on the implications of the new data. But the city has put it all in one handy place. And the data confirms that ANC2E will need to add a new commissioner.

Here are the final pre-redistricting populations (GM had it a little off in his earlier post due to misestimating the dorm populations):

  • 2E01   – 2,449
  • 2E02   – 1,541
  • 2E03   – 2,216
  • 2E04   – 3,300
  • 2E05   – 2,529
  • 2E06   – 2,308
  • 2E07   – 2,122

While GM had the individual districts a little off, the overall numbers were right. Under the law, each district (called an “SMD”)  needs to have 2,000 residents, plus or minus 100. The Georgetown districts currently average 2,352, which means it’s impossible to redistribute the population amongst them in such a way to have them all below 2100.

The City added approximately 30,000 residents since 2000. So it should be adding approximately 15 ANC commissioners across the city, including one for ANC2E (which added the ninth most new residents of any ANC).

Where to put it? With so much of the population concentrated on the campus, the focus needs to start there. GM’s suggested that simply adding another “student only” district is one option. According to the Census (which is the only count that matters) there are 3,900 residents behind the gates, so they could easily fill two districts. The other districts could easily shift around to get them up or down to the right level.

Continue reading →

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June 30, 2011 · 10:00 am

ANC Preview: Bread Edition

Photo by Kidmissile.

Next week, the ANC meets for its July session before it knocks off for two months. GM is actually going to be out of town, so it will be the first ANC meeting in almost three years that he’s missed. Hopefully nothing terribly exciting will happen in his absence.

Bakery Proposed

One item that jumped right out at GM is the proposal to bring a bakery to 34th St. Specifically 1227 34th St., which, last time GM checked, is where Govinda Gallery is. And GM’s not heard anything about them closing, but maybe this is the first sign.

A new bakery could be a nice addition, but it probably wouldn’t be worth losing Govinda Gallery to get.

Accessory Dwelling

Back on the agenda is 1679 35th St., where the owner is requesting permission to build an accessory dwelling unit in his house. What this is is essentially an apartment within the house, that the owner plans to rent out in order to allow him to continue living in the house. These are quite common in Georgetown, but many of them are illegal. There is an effort underway by the city to make it easier to get permission for these units, based upon certain conditions. The most significant condition is that the owner has to live in the house and the accessory dwelling must not be too large.

But those rules won’t come into effect for a while. So the owner is requesting permission under the current rules, which make it difficult to obtain the permission. Last month the ANC cited the possibility of the new rules and the “uncertainty” caused by the Campus Plan hearings, and requested that the application be delayed. Neither of these reasons are particularly valid. The new rules may not come into effect for a year, and the possible impact of the Campus Plan on this property is remote and speculative. Continue reading →

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