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At the April 2008 CSNA monthly meeting, we had a packed agenda! JBG presented conceptual plans for a mixed use hotel, residential, and retail project on the 1300 block of U Street. A discussion was held related to trash storage and hauling in Square 0361, surrounded by 9th Street, T Street, Vermont Ave., and U Street. The owners of The Republic presented plans to open a new upscale nightclub with a liquor license at the site of the former Republic Gardens. And finally, the architect of 1439 V Street presented plans for a new rowhouse adjacent to Union Row. Read on for more details!
April 2008 · CSNA General Membership Meeting MinutesThursday, 10 April 2008 · 7:00 – 8:30 PM True Reformer Building · 1200 U Street, NW www.csnadc.org Welcome and Introductions · President’s Remarks, Lynn Coffin,
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· Treasurer’s Report, Chuck Baxter,
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o There is a total of $18,579.85 in the CSNA account. $8,222.44 is available for general use, and $10,357.41 is available for Dog Days and other selected projects and events. · Membership Update, Phil Spalding,
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o There are a total of 180 members of CSNA. PN Hoffman management at Union Row has agreed to post CSNA flyers at the elevators in the building. o New members are encouraged to join CSNA.
Discussion / Presentation · 1300 U Street Development Proposal, JBG Co. , Sandy Stroud, Matt Valentini o The site is located at 1300 U Street, at the site of the existing Rite Aid and other retail in the strip shopping center. o The site is owned by the Jenco Group and was redeveloped in the 1980s. JBG is in negotiations with The Jenco Group, and is considering redeveloping the site through a ground lease. o The concept to redevelop the site as a mixed-use Planned Unit Development (PUD) that complements the neighborhood, potentially with ground floor retail, a boutique hotel above the retail, and four floors of residential above the hotel (10% of the residential would be affordable housing). Below-grade parking would be for residential and hotel use, and there would be valet parking for the hotel. It is also possible that there could be a roof deck and/or roof bar. o The proposed height of the building is 110 feet. It was noted that the height of The Ellington is 90 feet. o The proposed building would consist of 190 hotel rooms, 54 market-rate residential units, and 6 affordable residential units. o Prohibitive costs/burdens of the property are that 1) Rite Aid has a lease through 2026, and their rent is below-market, and 2) JBG cannot outright purchase the property, instead they would sign a ground lease. o Community benefits of the project being considered include meeting rooms for the hotel and community use, a sound studio to record music, gallery space, and affordable housing. o JBG spoke with Steve Calcott prior to drawing schematic designs, and he advised JBG to speak with the neighborhood groups to learn what the community desires to see on the site. o Ernest Springs noted that there is a concern of adverse traffic impact resulting from a cab stand at the hotel. o Ernest Springs expressed concern about existing retailers not being able to remain. JBG noted that it is possible that some of the retailers could lease space in the new building if they can pay market-rate rents. o Kamal Jahanbein, owner of The Saloon, expressed a desire for a public, paid bathroom that is well-managed to be included in the development. o Cheryl Cort requested that JBG provide an estimate of impacts on traffic and revenue to the U Street area. · Development Concerns in Square 0361 o ANC1B Commissioner Phil Spalding introduced issues of Square 0361, bordered by U Street, 9th Street, T Street, and Vermont Ave. The block is in a historic zone. o There are concerns with residents in the southwest corner of the block who do not have alley access. There are also concerns with truck turning radius problems in the alley. These concerns, however, are not to be addressed in full detail at this CSNA meeting, and continue to be addressed with the affected parties and DC government agencies. o The concern of tonight’s agenda is of an empty lot on 9th Street that has been sold to a private owner, Paul So. This lot is used to store and access trash dumpsters, which are used by restaurants and businesses on 9th Street. There is not sufficient alley access or loading behind these businesses for trash dumpsters, and the sidewalks on 9th Street are not wide enough for the storage of trash to be collected. o If the lot were fully developed without consideration of these dumpsters, then several establishments on 9th Street would not be able to store dumpsters, and it is likely that these businesses would have to close.o The concept for the development of the vacant lot is to have retail fronting 9th Street with office space on the upper levels, and to have a residential and arts use in a separate building on the rear of the lot. o Phil Spalding expressed that everyone who lives, works, and owns in the block should be involved in the process to determine the best way to proceed with trash removal planning. It is possible that a city-owned lot facing U Street could be used to services the 9th Street businesses. It is also possible that the business owners could cooperate with each other and with Paul So to determine a trash removal plan. o Emmanuel, the owner of 1928 9th Street, recommended that a narrow alley running east-west at the southern portion of the lot be designed for trash use. In response, the architect for the lot from Inscape Studio said that he did not agree with the design for the east-west alley through the lot. Instead, a solution could be that the six owners to the south of the lot could agree to a single time and single hauling company for trash pickup, and the owner of the lot could provide a central trash pickup location in a courtyard in the lot. Trash bins would not be stored in the lot, instead the trash would just get picked up on a weekly basis. o Phil Spalding advised that several businesses on the 1800 block of 14th Street have shared in the purchase of a trash compactor, which multiple businesses use. A compactor on this block could ease the trash concerns. o A follow-up meeting will be held on Monday, 4/14, at 7 pm, location TBD.
· The Republic, 1355 U St NW o Damali Neal (co-owner), Ayoya Jack (co-owner), Ron Deeberry (Bar Manager), and Dawn Jackson (attorney with Baylor & Jackson) presented the concept of The Republic, a new upscale nightclub that is planned to open soon in the location of the former Republic Gardens, which closed in 2007. o The target demographic of The Republic is the ages of 25 – 45, but anyone over the age of 21 can enter the bar. It will be an eclectic crowd of professionals. There will be a strict dress code. o The occupancy will be 382 people. o The hours of the bar will be from 5:30 pm – 2:30 am on weekdays, and from 5:30 pm – 3:30 on weekends. o There will be six different bars, a VIP area, and a den with plasma screens. There are plans to have entertainment, comedy, and live jazz at The Republic. There will be themed nights such as 80’s night, karaoke night, comedy night, and there will also be private events and holiday parties. o In the next few weeks, The Republic would like to host a tour of the nightclub for community members.o The Republic presented the plans for their bar at the April ANC1B meeting. o In January, the owners of The Republic began meeting with ANC1B to discuss their liquor license application, and they have been working to obtain it since January. Having worked with Phil Spalding, The Republic has entered into voluntary agreements to address concerns with security, trash, lines (there will be no staggered openings that would cause long lines), parking, and other issues. The agreement also includes a Safety and Security Plan. The owners are planning to complete the voluntary agreement prior to the May 1 ANC meeting. Phil Spalding said that if anyone has comments about the voluntary agreement, that comments should be forwarded to him at
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. o ANC1B voted at the April Meeting to approve a stipulated license for The Republic to start doing business. The conditions of a stipulated license are such that if a group of 5 or more individuals, a community association or ANC protest the license, the stipulated license could be removed. The formal license would be issued after the stipulated license is issued and ABRA determines that it is suitable to issue a formal liquor license. o The owners of The Republic said that they applied for the stipulated license because of financial constraints, and they wanted to open as soon as possible.o Ernest expressed concerns that the owners of The Republic did not present to CSNA prior to presenting to ANC1B, and that ANC1B voted on the stipulated license without hearing the opinions of CSNA. The owners of the Republic responded by saying that there were conflicts in February as the CSNA meeting was held on Valentine’s Day, and their application was not ready to be presented to CSNA in time for the March meeting. o The owners are not planning to cover the front window with plywood, as the previous owners did. o The owners said that all bartenders and door staff would need to be certified in Training for Intervention Procedures (TIPs). The door staff would be trained and would meet regularly with management to address security procedures. o The owners said that they would be open to installing signage informing patrons that there are residents and other businesses nearby and to be considerate of them.o Ernest Springs motioned that CSNA draft a letter to ANC1B to request standing on all issues within CSNA boundaries prior to the ANC taking a position on issues. CSNA voted 7-1-5 to approve this motion, and Ernest will write the letter.
· 1439 V Street HPRB, Arcadia Design Services o Ernest Springs met with PN Hoffman, the owner of 1439 14th Street, currently a vacant lot. The design is to construct a single family dwelling on the lot, across the alley adjacent to PN Hoffman’s Union Row. The design was already voted on and approved by ANC1B. The building is a single family dwelling adjacent to PN Hoffman’s Union Row project. o Arcadia designed PN Hoffman’s first 14 projects. o The lot will be a two story rowhouse in the front, and there will be three stories in the rear. There will be a trellis on the top of the building, there will be a modern glass bay front window. The line and proportions of the building will match the other homes on V Street. o The project is on the HPRB agenda at the end of April, 2008, for concept approval. o CSNA voted to support the project by a vote of 12-0-0. Ernest Springs will write the letter of support.
· Cherry Tree Planting o On April 19, there will be a planting of cherry trees on the Vermont Avenue triangle.
Committee Business and Regular Reports o Business Development: Jean Homza –
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§ CSNA voted by a vote of 10-0-0 to support the DC Council’s version of the tax relief bill because oppressive taxes could change the face of the U Street neighborhood, and the Council’s version would help to preserve the small businesses in the neighborhood.
o Public Safety: John Solomon –
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o Clean & Green: Brooke Clagett –
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o Historic Preservation: Ernest Springs –
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o Transportation: Cheryl Cort –
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Questions, Comments, ConcernsREMINDER: Please Pay Your Dues for 2008 (Pay Online @ WWW.CSNADC.ORG or Check/Cash by Mail) |
