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We've posted the minutes from our September General Membership meeting where we got a presentation on the 15th & V St development project by Jair Lynch, and other items of interest to residents.

U Street Neighborhood Monthly General Meeting Minutes
September 8, 2011; 7:00 pm; Source Theatre, 1835 14th St. NW, 2nd Floor

President's Remarks & General Business - Christine Szathmary, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• Introduction of Kevin Sampson as New Education Committee Chair
• Website update status – has been updated, encouraged folks to check it out (www.ustreet-dc.org)
• December Elections / Nomination Committee – Christine and Sharon have agreed to run the nominating committee
• Holiday Party will occur 2nd Thursday in December where we will also vote for the officers.  Location still being worked.
• ANC Redistricting – There is a proposal out there.  A series of meetings to get neighborhood input.  Schedule is on ANC 1B website.
• ANC1B02 Commissioner – Former commissioner has moved out of the neighborhood so there will be an out of cycle election.  Lemonswordling.com - ?   There will be a special election with date tbd likely end of September early October likely at the ANC 1B meeting.  S to V/9th to Florida

Treasurer's Report – Sharon Dreyfuss, Treasurer, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• Reported balance of $14,698.43 for current balance which includes $574 expense for liability insurance and $65 income for dues.  The balance for the Harrison Recreation Center fund is $10,134.23 which includes receipts of $5366.90 and disbursements of $3,289.41.

Historic Preservation and Development – Sheryl Walter, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• Jair Lynch – 15th and V Development http://www.jairlynch.com – Jair Lynch (President & CEO Jair Lynch) and Frederick S Hammann (WDG Architecture) presented their plans for development at 15th & V St. NW.  Jair Lynch is a neighborhood business, located on 1500 U St NW.   They worked with Paul Lawrence Dunbar Apartments residents association (171 units), have met with ANC Design, Meridian Hill Neighborhood Association.   They will be developing on the parking lot of the Paul Lawrence Dunbar Apartment.
• Current zoning is consistent with their desire – they will need no relief from the board of zoning.   Jair Lynch hopes to be in front of HPRB later this month.  They showed their design concepts taken from elements of other neighborhood design, and showed the current evolution of their design for the building.  The building would be situated on the NW corner of the piece of the property, north of the Paul Lawrence Dunbar Apartments, south of St. Augustine’s Church.   This would be a residential (tbd on apartment/condo) building with no commercial tenants.  Plan is for 95 units, 700-750 square feet.  There will be 8 or 9 affordable units.   Construction might would start 9-12 months after completing HPRB, expect construction to take 18 months.   There was discussion on if a motion should be made to support this with HPRB.   Residents expressed a desire to have more time to see this.  Vice President Jon expressed a desire that we encourage developers to send letters to residents nearby the construction area prior to coming to ask for support. 
• Steve Calcott will be coming to a future meeting to discuss HPRB.
• JBG – Utopia Groundbreaking Update, Award of WMATA lots, Atlantic Plumbing Update (will come in November).

Public Safety – Sushupta Sudarshan, Brian Card, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• Brian reported that after the shooting at the basketball courts at 11th & Rhode Island requests have been made for greater explanation on how a CSOSA monitored individual (wearing an ankle bracelet) could shot two individuals.  CSOSA has been unresponsive.
• Brian also reported that CM Graham has been working to coordinate between the section 8 housing projects to help alleviate the crime that is occuring in and around them, including coordinating barring notices, etc.
• CM is also pushing for more reimbursables along 1900 block of 9th St. NW.
• Neighbors were encouraged to be cautious due to increased number of robberies in the neighborhood (be cautious, alert, avoid talking on cell phones, use of ear phones, etc)

Friends of Harrison Recreation Center – Manisha Modi, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• Jon gave an update since Manisha wasn’t able to come.   TKF Foundation Open Spaces planning Grant for $50,000 which would create the planning of an open space with follow-on grants available for actual installation.   Nik Kushner with living city block is working on this.  Manisha is seeking a letter of support from USNA.  Application was submitted today.  CM Graham’s office said they would like to help on this if they need help with DPR, also CM Graham’s office asked that they be contacted for a letter of support as well.
• Motion was made to send a letter of support for Open Space planning Grant for Harrison Recreation Center application.   Motion carried.
• Playground Equipment Grant Update
• U Street Movie Series Update – last movie was scheduled for day of earthquake, so turnout on the makeup date was small.  Next film is Sept 20th.
• Lunchskins Fundraiser (reusable snack bags) – we have been selling these as a fundraiser, we have sold 30.

Business Development – Tucker Gallagher, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• Subway opened at 14th/U; Dunkin Donuts opening soon, VIDA trying to get a bar on roof in 1500 block of U St.
• Update of New Businesses - http://ustreetbeat.wordpress.com/author/ustreetbeat/
• Posted by UStreetBeat
• Jen Angotti my neighbor and a realtor is quoted in this nice article about the U Street area. It sounds a bit like real estate speak but it makes good points: http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/u_street_corridor_the_difference_a_decade_makes/4085?utm_source=DC_feed&utm_medium=keep_reading_link
• Here is the much talked about Pizza Place on T Street between 7/8th. We’ll have to try it: http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2011/09/pizza-doro-opens-in-shaw/
• Potbelly has come to Georgia Ave at V Street.  http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2011/09/potbellys-grand-opening-at-2301-georgia-ave-nw/
• PoP notes that the Ketcha Fire restaurant at 9th & U did not last long but I hear the owners just wanted a name that associated with them. It’s now called Jamaican Joe’s Famous Jerk Chicken.
• I am excited to see their new architecture / urban planning columnist, Troy Urman called Borderopolis. He will hopefully provide some much needed insight as our hood explodes with development. One item I might point out, He expects 700 apartments in the next few years, I would revise that upward to over 2000 new units of housing between 16th, Logan Circle, Belmont and 7th Street. It will be crazy. I look forward to Tory’s perspective on the proposed designs.
• Hot hints around the hood: I’ve heard the new Mova on 14th north of W is progressing with construction. I look forward to seeing it. Someone has noted that the stores across the street are in for renovation which should be interesting with the YMCA building / development going in behind it.

Green – Scott Pomeroy, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• Living City Block has ended activities in DC due to funding issues.

Education This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• Alice introduced the new chair (Kevin Sampson), Alice is moving out of the area.. 
• Kevin is a parent of a 3 year old at Garrison Elementary School at 12th/S St. NW.   Kevin is active in the Garrison PTA.  The education committee will be meeting with CM Graham Sept 19th to discuss issues, including state of the schools in Ward 1. 
• Waiting for Superman Screening and panel discussion - Update – October 22, 12 – 4:30 pm at Shaw at Garnett Patterson School (holds about 500).  There will 7 panelist – ANC Education Committee, DC School System, Education Board, Charter School representative, teacher from Cardozo High School, and a PTA president.  Proceeds from event will go to Greater DC Cares related to school improvements in the neighborhood.   Proceeds will come from sponsorships and donations, which will first be used to cover the event expenses.  
• Jon made a motion that the budget of $844.84 be approved for the expenses of Waiting For Superman Event.  Motion Carried
• Four representatives from City Year  who have been volunteering at Shaw Middle School at Garnett Patterson introduced themselves and their effort at Shaw Middle School.  They are helping with one to one tutoring, small group tutoring, and other efforts.   If you want more information they invited residents to 1875 Connecticut Ave NW headquarters for an information breakfast 8:30-9:30 this month on the 14th “Breakfast of Champions”    There are 13 schools in DC that City Year is working with.

Membership – Jay Murphy, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• Membership Count
• Membership Renewal Outreach – Jay shared a new mailer that he would like to send to new residents.  Jay is getting a listing of new residents and is offering to send modified mailers to these new residents.  Motion was made that funds up to $100 for membership mailings be made available.  Motion carried.

Parking/Transportation – vacant, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• No report