C St. NE Traffic Safety Discussed

ANC 7D REPORT

by Sarah Payne

Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 7D met June 13 via Zoom. Commissioners Siraaj Hasan (7D01), Wendell Felder (7D03, chair), Mike Davis (7D04), Ebony Payne (7D05), Marc Friend (7D06), Brett Astmann (7D07, treasurer), Brian Alcorn (7D08, vice chair), Ashley Schapitl (7D09, secretary) and Brianne Ebony (7D10) were in attendance. Single Member District 7D02 remains vacant.

The DC Dept. of Transportation (DDOT) C Street NE Project (ddot-cp-c-st-ne-dcgis.hub.arcgis.com), aimed at improving the safety of pedestrians, motorists and cyclists, has raised the concern of commissioners and residents due to the lack of a left arrow signal at the intersection of C Street and 21st Street NE in Kingman Park.

Neighbor Malissa Freese supported the implementation of this signal. She highlighted the chaotic current status of the intersection and noted that, due to the “landlocked” nature of the River Terrace neighborhood, a signal at this intersection is key for residents.

Cars speeding along Constitution Avenue and 19th Street NE, she noted, also present a public safety issue for nearby schools.

Citing tra c concerns, Commissioner Ebony Payne spoke in favor of a resolution by the commission that would implement this protected turn and launch a tra c study into nearby streets and intersections.

The current absence of an arrow signal in the intersection is “detrimental,” President of Friends of Kingman Park, Lisa White said.

The commission voted to support a resolution to install a left arrow signal for vehicles turning left from east bound C St. NE onto Oklahoma Ave NE and to support a tra c study on 19th St. NE, D St. NE the intersection of 21st St. and C St. NE and Oklahoma Ave to Benning Rd. NE.

Other Matters

Mike Davis has been elected the commissioner for the previously vacant SMD 7D04. Community Engagement Director for the O ce of Attorney General (OAG) Aaron Jenkins spoke about his agency’s goals, responsibilities and public safety. Jenkins highlighted Attorney General Brian Schwalb’s work to prevent ghost guns from getting into the community and his role juvenile o ender accountability. Jenkins encouraged community members to take advantage of the District’s security camera rebate program.

The commission voted to:

• adopt the revised ANC 7D bylaws which can be viewed at https://60879684-d088-4aeb-bdcaa406ec028ba5. lesusr.com/ugd/1016

9b_9d8c6f6e6c20486d8c69902ac525 aa5b.pdf.

• support the DC Department of Energy and Environment (DDOE) plans for a public playground in Parkside, 685 Kenilworth Ter. NE;

• support plans by Apogee Farms and Rosedale Urban Farm to convert a vacant lot into an urban farm;

• support a historic designation for Eastern High School, 1700 East Capitol St. NE.

ANC 7D will meet next on July 7 at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. Learn more at https://7d0761.wixsite. com/anc7d-1.

Sarah Payne is a reporter for Capital Community News. She can be reached at sarahp@hillrag.com. u

DC Reps Grilled on Parking and Congestion

ANC 8F REPORT

by Andrew Lightman

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 8F (ANC 8F) met on June 27. Commissioners Nic Wilson (8FO1), Rick Murphree (8F02, treasurer), Brian Strege (8F03, secretary), Edward Daniels (8F04, chair), Clayton Rosenberg (8F05, vice chair), were in attendance.

The commission questioned representatives from the DC Dept. of Transportation (DDOT), DC Dept. of For Hire Vehicles (DFHV), the Dept. of Motor Vehicles and the DC Dept. of Public Works (DPW) to answer questions on congestion, parking and other transportation issues.

What is the protocol for afterhours enforce- ment against cars blockings alleys and driveways? asked Secretary Strege. DPW is a 24-hour operations and enforces parking rules after hours, stated DPW Parking Enforcement Manager Preston Moore.

DPW parking enforcement workers do not work any place they feel unsafe, Strege pointed out. In such situations, the matter is referred to the police Moore stated. “To be honest, it is hard to get vehicles towed afterhours,” he said. Private towing services which work afterhours are not regulated.

Commissioners complained about DDOT employees parking illegally in Capitol Quarter. There aren’t enough spots in the DDOT building, the DDOT Ward 8 Specialist Ciara Boderick replied. Strege pointed out the irony given DDOT’s push to reduce underground parking in the neighborhood’s new developments. What is the plan when the existing surface lots are developed, queried Treasurer Murphree rhetorically.

Murphree turned the commission’s attention to illegal pickup and drop o activities by For Hire Vehicles (FHV) on Van Street SE. “People are playing frogger trying to cross the street,” he stated. FHV enforcement ocers are there, but not conducting enforcement, he said. FHV ocers will allow illegal drop/pickup if it is safe, replied the agency representative. “We make sure they don’t stand there,” he added. What about geofencing? Murphree asked. Representatives had no answer.

Chair Daniels raised the issue of illegal parking by DMV workers on sidewalks on Half Street SE. Staff has been instructed not to illegally park, said DC DMV Director Gabriel Robinson. He promised to enforce illegal parking by employees with towing.

The commission asked agency representatives what their approach was to nding tra c ne absconders. There has been a signi cant expansion in the city’s boot teams, replied Robinson. However, he pointed out the difculties in locating absconder vehicles for enforcement. Many of these drivers, particularly commuters, do not park in publicly accessible curbside, but rather in private garages, which limits enforcement, he said. Even if the car is identi ed on a city street, it must remain there long enough to be identified and booted, he added.

Does DMW check license plates of illegally parked vehicles against a database for either stolen or criminally involved vehicles? asked Commissioner Wilson. Moore a rmed this was the case. He asked for increased enforcement in Capitol Quarter.

Commissioners also complained about the Freetomove cars parked alongside Canal Park.

Eighth Street Bus Priority Project

DDOT Transportation Planner Andrew Grinberg briefed the commission on the agency’s evolving plans for priority bus lanes on Eighth St. SE. The agency has identi ed 51 major bus corridors across the District for improve-

Happy Independence Day

From your neighbors with the CAPITOL HILL RESTORATION SOCIETY! Look for us at the CAPITOL HILL 4TH OF JULY PARADE

TUESDAY, JULY 4TH, 10 AM ON BARRACKS ROW

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN OUR MOTHER’S DAY HOUSE & GARDEN TOUR.

WE’LL BE OFFERING GUIDED WALKING TOURS AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER.

CONNECT WITH US!

Visit www.chrs.org

Email CapHRS420@gmail.com or call 543-0425 Follow us on @CapHRS CapitolHillRestorationDC

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6C P.O. Box 77876 • Washington, D.C. 20013-7787 www.anc6c.org

Next meeting Wednesday, July 12, 2023. Information will be posted on the ANC 6C website.

Anc 6c Commissioners Anc 6c Committees

6C04@anc.dc.gov ANC 6C05

Joel Kelty 6C05@anc.dc.gov

ANC 6C06

Patricia Eguino 6C06@anc.dc.gov

Contact: anc6c.tps@gmail.com

ANC

ANC 6C07

Tony Goodman 6C07@anc.dc.gov

Grants

Last Thursday, 7 pm

Contact: torylord@gmail.com Twitter: @ANC_6C_Grants

Environment, Parks, and Events

First Tuesday, 7 pm

Contact: jgmccann@gmail.com

Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development First Wednesday, 6:30 pm

Contact: 6C04@anc.dc.gov ment. The objectives are to increase bus speeds, service reliability and safety, employing signal treatments, bus stop rebalancing and relocation, bump outs, curb extensions, improved curbside management and bus only lanes to accomplish these objectives, he said. Any new plan will operate with the constraints of the existing curbs.

DDOT is currently analyzing existing conditions. The agency will move into concept design this fall. It will issue a Noti cation of Intent in early 2024. Construction is planned for Fall of 2024. More information can be found at www.buspriority.ddot.dc.gov.

Public Safety

MPD Lieutenant Kenneth Taylor briefed the commission on public safety. Motor vehicle theft is up over 520 percent the last 30 days, he reported. Hyundais and Kias are the main targets. MPD is giving away free steering wheel locks, he said.

Robberies have also increased in the Navy Yard. Taylor asked community members to keep cell phones and earbuds out of sight. It is important to remain aware of ones surroundings, he said. The good news, he added, is in the last 30 days there were zero burglaries and homicides. Of the four homicides this year, three have been closed with arrests, he said.

Chair Daniels expressed concerns about the nightly sidewalk gatherings next to the courtyard at Third and L Streets SE. Crowds number in the hundreds on summer evenings, he said. Tensions have resulted in two shootings, he pointedly reminded the lieutenant. Police enforcement options on private property are limited, Taylor said. Taylor advised calling 911 to remove any cars blocking driveways.

“We don’t have o cers showing up to address the low hanging elements,” Daniels said.

“It’s a slow process,” responded Taylor. “There is no one x. I can’t send my most aggressive o cer over there to clean house and go away.” Police cops are also frustrated.

“The way this department is holding itself together now, piecemeal would be the best description. We are holding on by a thread, trying not to lose the streets,” Taylor said. “Juveniles feel they are immune to prosecution,” he added.

“The crime is so brazen these days. It’s almost as if the criminals have a sense of impunity,” said Taylor.

Vice Chair Rosenberg pressed Taylor on the role of community engagement and con ict resolution.

“One thing is not going to x it,” said Taylor. “I am all for con ict resolution. We absolutely try everything that I can imagine,” said Taylor.

Since COVID, criminals are masking to avoid identi cation, Taylor stated. “If you see a [masked] group of kids walking down the street and it is 80 degrees outside, it is not going to lead to a good outcome,” Taylor said.

Other Matters

The commission voted to support the private installation of a plaque commemorating the re at Cinema Follies, formerly located at 37 L Street SE. The blaze killed a half dozen gay patrons. Their support was predicated on a greater involvement of the local LGBTQ community in the project led by the Mayor’s O ce on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Affairs.

Atlas Doghouse asked the commission to support its zoning request to the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) for a modi cation of use and a special exception. Located at the Novel, 2 I St. SE, it is a new state-of-the-art, 3,873 sq ft space dog boarding, daycare, walking and training facility. All pickup and drop-o s will occur on the property, the owner stated. There will be a secure, multi-door vesti- bule. Sound proo ng will exceed regulatory requirements. Dog activities will be restricted near residences. Dedicated pee drains and other odor mitigation strategies are in place. The facility will be supervised round-the-clock and cage free. The commission supported both requests unanimously.

The commission voted to request the DC Council to change its northern border to align with the median of I-695. This would transfer the Bark & Go Dog Park and several parklets and green spaces adjacent to the southern side of the highway into the commission.

The commission voted unanimously to protest the application of El Rey, 79 Potomac Ave. SE, for a new liquor license in absence of cooperative agreement.

Treasurer Murphree reported the commission’s bank account is now open and that it has received its rst deposit from the O ce of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions.

ANC 8F generally meets on the fourth Tuesday on the month. The next meeting is scheduled for July 25 at DC Dept. of Transportation Headquarters, 250 M Street SE. For more information and links to join ANC meetings, visit www.ANC8F.org. ◆