Meet the Candidates: Drew Ronneberg ANC 6A02

We have offered to post brief statements from all of the ANC candidates running for seats on Capitol Hill and the surrounding neighborhoods that we cover here on The Hill is Home.  These statements are not endorsements and have been posted exactly as submitted by the candidates.

Drew Ronneberg ANC 6A02

To the residents of ANC 6A02:

I was elected as ANC 6A02 Commissioner in February after working for 7 years as a citizen volunteer and 4 years as Chairman of the Economic Development and Zoning Committee.

Many times, I have been asked by residents to explain what our ANC does.  The ANC is the voice of the community and weighs in on issues like liquor licenses, zoning and economic development, as well as parking restrictions, traffic calming and other measures.  We also advise the City Council and DC agencies on pending legislation and regulations.

Since moving to my current residence in 2001, I have witnessed how ANC 6A has made a difference in our neighborhood.  For example, our ANC contributed heavily to the H Street Strategic Plan and H Street Transportation Study which helped attract private investments in new restaurants and bars as well as public investments in the H Street streetscape and streetcar system.  In addition, ANC 6A successfully advocated for banning the sale of “singles” on H Street — a policy that has reduced loitering and public drinking within our neighborhood.

We have a number of exciting developments over the next few years in our neighborhood, including:

1. There will be 3 restaurants in 6A02 (Smith Commons at 1245 H St NE, Kahn’s (Mongolian) BBQ at 1125 H St NE and The Atlas Room at 1015 H St NE by the end of the year.
2. A Capitol Bikeshare station will be installed at 11th and H in the next few months..
3. The H Street streetscape construction will be completed in 2011.
4. The Streetcar will start running in 2012.
5. The H street Connection strip mall will be redeveloped as a multi-story mixed use building with underground parking.
6. The sale of the Autozone site is pending.

As a citizen volunteer and now as ANC Commissioner, I have worked hard to make our neighborhood a better place:  Examples of my accomplishments include:

1. The H Street Connection Redevelopment (801 H St NE): For the last 3 years, I led the negotiations for the proposed redevelopment of the H Street Connection site.  The new building has a high quality, pedestrian and transit friendly urban design which will replace the current strip mall.  I strongly believe that the new building will attract new residents and businesses and will help catalyze the redevelopment of the central part of the H Street Corridor.
2. Police Station Redevelopment (525 9th St NE). I worked with the builder and immediate neighbors to ensure that restoration of this long neglected building will cause the least disruption to the neighborhood.  I am also pleased that this project is finally coming to fruition — ANC 6A has advocated for rehabilitation of the building (as well as the Old Fire Station on Maryland Ave) for more than 5 years.
3. Vacant Properties.  I led the identification and reporting of vacant properties in 6A02 and the rest of the ANC for two years.  Many of the worst vacant properties in our SMD (e.g. 637 10th St NE, 612 11th St NE) have been redevelop and reoccupied.  I will work to ensure that other vacant properties like 1203 Linden Place and 701 10th St NE are taxed at the vacant property rate to incentivize the reoccupation of these buildings.

If I am re-elected as your Commissioner, I will:

1. Increase available parking for residents by a) working with the police and H Street bars and restaurants to ensure that valets do not use neighborhood streets for parking; b) helping residents restrict parking on affected neighbor streets to resident-only parking; and c) working with parking enforcement to ensure that parking restrictions are enforced on neighborhood streets.
2. Implement traffic calming on residential streets.  Since Constitution Ave was converted to two-way traffic, more commuter traffic has been pushed into residential neighborhoods.  I will work with community aend DDOT to get stop signs and speed humps installed in order to slow commuter traffic.
3. Continue to advocate for appropriate development on H Street.  For example, the empty lot at 1113-1117 H St NE will soon be surplussed by the City and sold to a private developer.  I will work to ensure that the new development contributes to a vibrant and pedestrian friendly streetscape and that the new structure complements H Street’s historic buildings.  In addition, while H St has become a destination for restaurants and bars, we need more neighborhood-serving retail or risk being a nightlife-only Corridor.  I believe a cap on the number of H Street liquor licenses (based on a number higher than what is currently permitted), should be considered by ANC 6A.
4. Continue to work with Lieutenant Parker and other PSA 102 police officers to make our neighborhood safer.  Although crime in our neighborhood is down 50% compared to last year, I would like to encourage all residents of 6A02 to attend PSA 102 meetings and join the MPD-1D listserve.
5. Increase community involvement in the Sherwood Recreation Center.  The Sherwood Recreation Center is a valuable resource that is currently underutilized by residents of 6A02.  Recently, neighbors have organized an effort to beautify the Center’s grounds and become more involved in its operations and upkeep.  I will work with these volunteers to increase neighborhood utilization of the Sherwood Recreation Center.
6. Increase the number of citizen volunteers in ANC 6A.  I started out as a citizen volunteer and much of our ANC’s effectiveness is due to dedication and expertise of its citizen volunteers.  If you want to get involved, please let me know.

Drew Ronneberg
ANC 6A02 Commissioner
ronneberg6a02@gmail.com
202 431-4305