Chair, 6C04), Joel Kelty (6C05), Treasurer and Drew Courtney (6C06).
Read her story at CapitolHillHistory.org
Photo by Gayle Krughoff
Dorothy Garris loved hats and hugs. She was an elementary school teacher and steadfast partner of her husband, the Rev. Grant Garris, as he built his Capitol Hill congregation. In 1963, they founded the New United Baptist Church, initially holding services in her husband’s barber shop on 11th Street SE, and later in a new church building at 14th and South Carolina Avenue SE. Read Dorothy’s oral history at CapitolHillHistory.org. Help preserve Capitol Hill history by becoming a volunteer.
AN INITIATIVE OF THE CAPITOL HILL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION.
Building Smart from the Start
ANC 6C generally meets on the second Wednesday of the month. The next meeting of ANC 6C is scheduled for a Thursday, 7 p.m. Oct. 13. Meetings will remain virtual through at least December, pending further evaluation of the public health situation. ANCs are required to meet in person as of February, 2022 when special legislation allowing for virtual meetings will expire. ◆
WC Smith Development Ignores Affordable Housing ANC 6D REPORT by Andrew Lightman
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Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6D met on Sept. 13 over Zoom. Commissioners Andrew Bossi (6D01), Jared Weiss (6D02, Secretary), Ronald Collins (6D03, Treasurer), Andy Litsky (6D04), Fredrica (Rikki) Kramer (6D05, Vice Chair), Rhonda Hamilton (6D06) and Edward Daniels (6D07, Chair) were in attendance.
R
epresentatives from developer WC Smith (www.wcsmith.com) asked the commission’s endorsement of their plans for 850 South Capitol St. SE, just north of the Novel South Capitol. Due to its location in the Capitol Gateway Overlay District (CGOD), the parcel is subject to design review by the DC Zoning Commission (ZC). Zoned D-5, it is exempted from the requirements of Inclusionary Zoning and permitted to tower over 100 feet in height. Smith envisions a high end apartment building with no ground floor retail oriented towards South Capitol Street. Smith has recently purchased the
adjacent Splash Car Wash property for its project. This parcel includes a narrow right of way behind the Novel that permits access from I Street SE. Smith plans to use that for southern, mainly pedestrian and bicycle access. The roof will be reserved for residential amenities. Windows on the building’s eastern side remain at risk if development proceeds on the neighboring coal yard. No neon lighting accents are planned. Space under the freeway will be used for a public dog park, stated the Smith team. The Smith team provided no details on the unit mix. They assured commissioners that studios would not form a significant element, pointing to the company’s historical preference for larger apartments in their developments. Attorney Leila Battles of Holland & Knight led the Smith team’s presentation. The building was being built as a “matter of right” and was not subject to the requirements of inclusionary zoning, Battles stated. Only matters related to the structures design could be raised as part of the commission’s review, she argued. To buttress her contention, another team member lectured the commissioners at length on the specifics of zoning law and the limitations placed on commission objections. Only the project’s design components merit comments, he opined. The Smith team’s presentation incensed the commissioners. “Thank you for that diatribe on affordable housing and IZ. We so appreciated it,” observed Treasurer Collins sarcastically. “Understand that you are part of the problem by offering no affordable housing,” stated Chair Edwards. “You are flaunting this project as if it is doing something for this community. It is not,” observed Commissioner Hamilton, who termed the presentation “disrespectful.” “There is no benefit to the community. None! None! None!” added Commissioner Litsky. “I appreciate your schooling us on what are legal responsibilities are, but that ignores your moral responsibilities to help solve this com-
