The general election may not have gone the way we wanted it to go, but maybe if we focus on hyperlocal politics, we can find our groove again. Thank you to Kirsten Oldenburg and Denise Krepp for sending updates along. If you are an ANC commissioner and would like to share your SMD updates, send us an email at thehillishome@gmail.com.
Do you need help finding out which is your ANC or who your commissioner is? You can find useful tools in this post from before the election. –MHC
The DC flag. Photo by María Helena Carey, via Instagram.
Depending on your block, 2016 Leaf Collection begins in Ward 6 somewhere between November 7 and December 4. DPW has divided up the Ward into 5 sections and given them the names of the 5 ANCs. Unfortunately, the DPW sections do not conform to ANC boundaries. For instance, I live in 6B but my pickups are during service in section 6C. That’s November 21 to 25 for the first pickup and December 27 to December 31 for the second. Find your pickup dates here:http://dpw.dc.gov/service/leaf-and-holiday-tree-collection
PEPCO UPDATE
After the service interruption of November 1st, I have been in discussions with Pepco to understand why their contractors are digging so many large rectangular holes at 12th and Pennsylvania Ave, mid-1100 block of Pennsylvania Ave, in the sidewalks along the 1000 block of Pennsylvania Ave and 1100 block of E Street SE, along the 300 block of 11th Street SE, and at the corners of 12th and D Streets SE. All of this work is disruptive of vehicle and pedestrian movements and takes away curbside parking, both residential and commercial. It’s a mess. And, the neighborhood ought to have been given more notice than the 72-hour requirement for posting Emergency No Parking signs.
So, Pepco is preparing a fact sheet that I will distribute but in the meantime, this is what I know. Not all these individual diggings are linked to one another but they are all about upgrading electric power in the neighborhood. The current work involves laying conduits through which new cables will eventually be pulled. The 11th Street/D Street work is directly connected to the Buchanan Park project at 13th and D. The 12th and Pennsylvania work is apparently connected to upgrades Pepco is doing at Buzzard Point. Most of this initial work is due to end by the end of November. Maybe.
PROGRESS AT 900 11th SE CONDO PROJECT
This project took a while to get started but is now moving along quickly. Each time I am in the area, I take a status photo and post it on my blog under an article titled Construction Progress: 900 11th Street Condo. The most recent photo is from November 8th and shows one of the two elevator shifts.
ANC 6B NOVEMBER MEETING
The Commission’s November meeting lasted 2-1/2 hours. Washington Gas and the Office of People’s Council appeared to discuss the gas meter replacement work on the Hill that has been described as extremely sloppy and not in adherence to Historic Preservation guidelines. Commissioner Hoskins, in whose SMD much work has been done, is taking the lead on gathering further information. If you encounter a meter installation problem, contact her and/or Doreen Hope dhope@washgas.com and Cheryl Moore at the Office of People’s Council cheryl.moore@dc.gov. On a more uplifting basis was a presentation from Emily Franc on the Anacostia Riverkeepers. This organization educates about and advocates for the Anacostia River.
Meeting votes in support went to a zoning appeal case, text amendments to zoning regulations, 2 DDOT public space cases (Safeway & Skillzonedc), a letter to the Mayor about lead painted infrastructure, and 3 tavern license renewals. The ANC also voted to protest 1 tavern license renewal (Cava) and to ask for a continuance of the protest date on two others (The Brig & Phase I). This latter action will bring these renewals back for a vote in December or later.
At the meeting, we also appointed a new Resident Member to the Planning & Zoning Committee and another to the Transportation Committee. BTW, on November 8th, all but one 6B Commissioner was reelected and will be returning to ANC6B in 2017. Commissioner Chao decided not to run for reelection so we will welcome a new 6B07 Commissioner, Aimee Grace. So that you can get more information on what we did at the November meeting, I am going to try to get all of the letters from the November meeting posted here by sometime tomorrow.
11TH STREET BRIDGE PARK
The Bridge Park has announced that pre-construction work has begun in collaboration with DDOT and the Park’s design team. Further info on the park at http://bridgepark.org
UPCOMING EVENTS … starting tomorrow!
- Wednesday, 16 Nov, 5:30p.m. to 7 p.m. Community Connections Fall Open House, 801 Pennsylvania Avenue SE. Opportunity to “talk with CC staff, do an art project with your child, and take part in the Community Giving Tree”
- Wednesday, 16 Nov, 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. CSX Coffee with Chuck. Presentation on VAT project status at the CSX Community Office, 861 New Jersey Avenue SE
- Thursday 17 Nov, 6:30 p.m. Registration begins for DPR 2016-2017 Winter Programs. Go here to register and for an index of programs.
- Friday 18 Nov, 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. CM Allen Community Office Hours in Hill East. Location Pretzel Bakery
- Saturday 19 Nov, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. 11th Street Bridge Park’s Power to the People: Community Land Trusts & Anacostia seminar. Info here
- Sat 19 November, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. DOEE Paint Drop-Off Event for residences and businesses at RFK Lot #3. Info about this event and new DC program at https://www.paintcare.org/district/
Update from Denise Krepp, ANC 6B10
The following is a quick update on:
- RFK
- 7-Eleven
- Inauguration Day
- WMATA Crime Stats