ANC 1B

by Pleasant Mann

two developer presentations. Proposals had been submitted earlier, but the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) issued a new request for proposals (RFP) in December 2022.

Handerhan noted that the new RFP was so detailed that both of the new proposals were very close in what they were o ering. He also noted that it is a “by right” zoning project, so it has no package of community bene ts.

e rst proposal was from Reeves CMC Partners, which includes MRP Realty, CSG Urban Partners and Capri Investment Group. eir project would total 536,000 square feet, with 100,000 square feet being o ce space. Tenants would include the headquarters of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and a Dave Chappelle Comedy Club. ere would be 322 units of housing and a residential hotel as part of the project. Plans call for a Frederick Douglass Plaza and a Marion Barry Amphitheater. e garage would have 366 parking spaces. e project would also bring back the Farmer’s Market previously operating on the Reeves site’s plaza. Legacy Community Partners, which includes Dantes Partners, the Menkiti Group and EB5 Capital, would have a building with 100,00 square feet of o ce space, including space for the NAACP and DC agencies. e 299 housing units would provide senior housing and include multifamily units. Plans include a Marion Barry Square, an outpost of the DC Central Kitchen and the return of the Farmer’s Market. e Moxy Hotel would have a ag there with 150-180 beds. e garage would have 147 parking spaces.

A resident asked CMC if by reducing the parking the number of housing units could be increased. Answer: unlikely since all parking is underground.

Someone suggested changing the name of the comedy club since the District’s LGBT center had been moved out of the Reeves Center and owing to past statements made by Chappelle regarding the LGBTQ community.

Legacy Community Partners was asked if the planned food court would compete with existing businesses in the area.

e question came up whether the developers will adhere to the District law to incorporate bird-proof glass. ey both will.

A representative from DMPED was asked about the timeline for the project. e development award will be announced in mid-March, with negotiations on a contract to follow. Construction is expected to start in the summer of 2025, with completion in 36 to 48 months.

Transportation Committee

e committee had to consider a notice of intent (NOI) from DDOT to create a loading zone on the 900 block of W Street NW. e proposal would change three areas of the block to create a loading zone on W Street, with an area of two-hour parking changed to residential permit parking spaces to restore any on-street parking lost in the neighborhood.

Sycamore noted that a number of nearby residents had submitted written objections to the NOI. ey believed that the project would not alleviate current business loading issues on that section of Florida Avenue and would be too disruptive to the neighborhood.

Kensek asked if the commissioners could defer consideration of the issue. Lakatos responded that they had to submit a response in February for DDOT to consider their input. He noted that trucks are currently parking in the middle of the street in order to make deliveries. Two residents voiced their opposition to the NOI.

A vote to support the NOI received a vote of four yeas, two nays and two abstentions, which meant that the motion passed.

Alcoholic Beverage Regulation (ABR) Committee

Maydan, 1346 Florida Ave. NW, petitioned the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to terminate the settlement agreement with the commission. Lakatos argued to protest the move. e commissioners voted to protest.

A signed settlement agreement was presented for Pop Fizz Bar, 2106-2108 Vermont Ave. NW. A motion to approve the settlement agreement was passed by the ANC. Commissioner Holihan announced that he had reached a settlement agreement with Nellie’s Sports Bar, 900 U St. NW, that included provisions for security. He asked the commission to approve the agreement at this meeting to avoid starting the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board protest process. e ANC passed a motion to approve the settlement agreement with Nellie’s.

ANC 1B scheduled its next meeting on ursday, March 2, starting at 6:30 p.m. Plans were to hold this meeting as a virtual conference. Visit www. anc1b.org for more information.

Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 2G held its monthly meeting for February on Tuesday evening, Feb.

9. Due to the restrictions on public meetings caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, the meeting was held as a virtual conference. Commission Chair Alexander M. “Alex” Padro (2G02) called the meeting to order. Commissioners Anthony “Tony” Brown (2G01, treasurer), Alex Lopez (2G03, secretary), Steven McCarty (2G04), Sheena Berry (2G05) and Rachelle P. Nigro (2G06, vice chair) were in attendance. e commission had a quorum to conduct business.

Third Police District Report

Lieutenant Fleming of the ird Police District noted that statistics for crime were down in most categories. Ongoing concerns are thefts of cars left running or being stolen by “Kia Challenge” techniques. e police have started a mountain-bike patrol to stop thefts from autos and porch piracy. Nigro asked when these patrols occur. Fleming replied that they start around 3 p.m. and continue until midnight.

Northeast Boundary Tunnel Report

DC Water came to report on the progress of its Northeast Boundary Tunnel (NEBT) project. e project will end the use of a combined sewage and wastewater system that is unable to deal with stormwater and prone to ooding neighborhoods.