| January 2009 - Regular Meeting Minutes |
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| Written by U Street Neighborhood Association | |
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CSNA kicked of 2009 with its January 2009 general membership meeting at The Saloon (thank you Saloon for hosting). During the meeting, newly elected President Bryan Martin Firvida nominated new Committee Chairs and stated his goals of growing the presence, stature, and membership of CSNA. PSA 305 Lt. Jova spoke about policing plans during inauguration. Updates were also provided on several planned developments in the area, including the JBG project in the 1800 block of 14th Street, the Utopia development at 14th and U Streets, the Grimke building, and the Temperance Alley dwellings. John Guggenmos of Town presented their application for extended hours during Inauguration week. Liquor license applications were also discussed at the sites of Indulj and Maggie Moo's. Read on for more details!
January 2009 · CSNA General Membership Meeting MinutesThursday, 8 January 2009 · 7:00 – 8:30 PM The Saloon · 1205 U Street, NW Welcome and Introductions
· President’s Remarks, Bryan Martin Firvida, This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it o Bryan stated that CSNA Goals for 2009 include growing the presence, stature, and membership and CSNA o CSNA voted unanimously to approve Bryan’s nominations for Committee Chairs: § Phil Spalding, Business Development & ABC § Brian Card, Public Safety 305 § Cheryl Cort, Transportation & Parking
· Treasurer’s Report, Chuck Baxter, This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it o There is a total of $14,802.94 in the CSNA account. $10,320.70 is available for general use, and $4,482.24 is available for Dog Days.
· Membership Update, (No Chairperson), This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it o No update provided
Discussion / Presentation
· Update by Metropolitan Police Department on Impact of Presidential Inauguration on CSNA Areas, Lieutenant Alberto Jova, This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it , (202) 359-0922 (cell)
o 4,000 police officers from areas outside of DC will be coming to DC on 1/18 to assist with policing the inaugural parade, galas, and other activities associated with the Presidential inauguration on January 20, 2009 o Bridges from Virginia into DC will be closed after 3 pm on Monday, 1/19, and will reopen at 7 am on January 21 o 10,000 – 15,000 buses are estimated to be driven to and parked in DC. The primary parking area for buses will be south of K Street. o Up to 4,000,000 people are estimated to be in DC for the Inauguration. The largest crowd in DC in the past was 900,000. o There will be police officers stationed in neighborhoods responding to 911 calls o All DC MPD police officers will be working 12 hour shifts for 6 days straight o Cars parked on streets that will be closed for Inauguration will be ticketed and towed o Lt. Jova advised that visitors / guests not leave any visible items inside parked vehicles to avoid theft and break-ins o Scott Pomeroy said that he would put Lt. Jova in touch with Natalie Avery of the MidCity Business Association so that MBA’s Inauguration plans can be coordinated with MPD o ANC1B02 Commissioner Peter Raia advised that 6 ABC establishments with Voluntary Agreements have applied for extended hours during Inauguration weekend, including: Republic Gardens, Jin, Marvin’s, DC9, International Grill, and Asmara. o Bryan Martin Firvida said that he has asked ABRA for a list of establishments that have applied for extended hours during Inauguration weekend
· Discussion of Future PSA 305 Meetings, Lieutenant Alberto Jova, This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it , (202) 359-0922 (cell)
o CSNA members expressed a desire to separate future PSA 305 meetings into two meetings, one with a focus east of 9th Street, and the other with a focus to the west of 9th Street, to match with MPD’s separation of the two areas. o Bryan Martin Firvida asked Scott Pomeroy and Brian Card to work with Lt. Jova on how to reorganize and improve the future PSA meetings to focus more on issues west of 9th Street, which would encourage more residents and businesses within CSNA’s boundaries to attend the meetings. o Lt. Jova advised that in the year to date in 2008, crime in PSA 305 is down by 45%
· Update on Public Welfare Foundation’s Temperance Alley Dwellings
o Public Welfare has not yet presented the Temperance Alley Dwellings development to either HPRB or DCRA. o Bryan Martin Firvida agreed to draft a letter to the Public Welfare Foundation that requests a response to CSNA’s comments that were originally issued in a letter to DCRA and HPRB following the November 13 CSNA meeting. The comments are as follows: § CSNA supports the creation of more affordable housing in the Greater U Street area. To that end, CSNA supports building housing with front doors opening onto 12th Street where Public Welfare Foundation has existing surface parking. Such a project would significantly restore the fabric of the corner of 12th and U Streets. § CSNA is eager to work with the Public Welfare Foundation to create more affordable housing opportunities on the Foundation’s 12th Street parcels. CSNA would support variances needed to ensure that a sufficient number of affordable homes are built directly facing 12th Street. § CSNA opposed the development of housing in the parcels interior to the 12th Street block.
· Update on Proposed Curb Cut for the Utopia Project (1900 Block of 14th Street) – Phil Spalding
o The Utopia Project is on the HPRB calendar for 1/22/09, with a focus on the curb cut issue. Either Phil Spalding or Cheryl Cort will attend the HPRB meeting on behalf of CSNA.
· Update on Proposed Development at 1800 – 1818 14th Street (14th and S) – JBG (developer) and Shalom Baranes (architect)
o HPRB reviewed the project at a December meeting, and the staff report mirrored many of CSNA’s concerns stated after JBG’s presentation at the November 2008 CSNA meeting. HPRB requested that JBG restudy their proposal and return to HPRB when appropriate. HPRB took issue with the design of the façade and the location of the garage entrance, and asked JBG to incorporate the history of the Whitman Walker use of the site into the new project.
· Update on Grimke Building Request for Development Process
o The Deputy Mayor’s Office for Planning & Economic Development has issued a Solicitation of Offers for 11 surplus public school properties, including the Grimke building at 1923 Vermont Ave., NW. o CSNA member Jeffrey Willis has formed a working group to express issues and challenges of the Grimke property that the government and bidders should consider in proposals. o The Soliciation of Offers can be viewed at: http://dcbiz.dc.gov/dmped/cwp/view,A,1365,Q,608821.asp o Proposals are due by February 27, 2009. o The proposal references that the Duke plan should be considered in offers for the Grimke building
· Security Concerns at the Site of the Future Perseus YMCA Redevelopment o Bryan Martin Firvida said that he would contact Perseus to request a security plan for the vacant properties. There have recently been multiple break-ins and fires at the site. o Scott Pomeroy said he would provide Bryan with contact information for Perseus.
· Inaugural Hours Extension Request from Town, John Guggenmos o Town has a Voluntary Agreement in place with CSNA and ANC1B. The agreement permits Town to operate on Friday and Saturday of Inauguration weekend under hours permitted in the Voluntary Agreement. On Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday of Inauguration Weekend, Town is proposing to serve alcohol until 3 am, and close at 4 am. The intention of staying open an hour after alcohol stops being served is to avoid pushing a large crowed onto the street. o Town will be hosting the premier of Showtime’s “The L Word” on Sunday 1/18 at 8 pm. Town will have its normal Saturday night DJ on Monday, 1/19. On Tuesday 1/20, cover charges will go towards the Human Rights Campaign. o During Inuauguration week, Town will have 7 – day trash collection, additional outdoor staffing, and a cab stand in an effort to minimize the impact of crowds on the neighborhood. Town is also encouraging its patrons to take mass transit or to carpool. o CSNA voted unanimously to support Town’s request for extended hours during Inauguration weekend.
· Green Team Neighborhood Investment Fund Grant Application, Scott Pomeroy
o Scott Pomeroy requested that Bryan Martin Firvida and Lynn Coffin collaborate to reissue the CSNA letter of support for the Green Team NIF grant, with updated specifics of the grant in the letter. o CSNA voted unanimously to support the Neighborhood Investment Fund grant application for the Green Team.
Committee Business and Regular Reports
· Councilmember Jim Graham Update o Councilmember Graham has reached out to Perseus about having security at the site of the future YMCA redevelopment. o Councilmember Graham no longer has oversight of the Department of the Environment.
· ANC1B02 Update – Peter Raia o New ANC1B officers include: § Brianne Nadeau, Chair § Meghan Conklin, Vice Chair § Juan Lopez, Treasurer § E. Gail Anderson Holness, Secretary o Maggie Moo’s is planning transform their establishment into a geato/dessert café that also serves breakfast in the morning. They are applying for a liquor license that would permit the sale of beer and wine, as well as dessert liquor. o Future ANC1B meetings will be held at the Reeves Center, at 2000 14th Street, NW o JBG has continued to meet with residents of Wallach Street to address concerns with the hotel at 13th and U Street
Committee Business and Regular Reports
o Business Development and ABC: Phil Spalding – This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it § CSNA voted unanimously to issue a letter to DDOT’s Public Space Permitting Department to see if there are permits issued for the pop-up ATMs in Public Space in the U Street area, and to encourage DDOT to issue fines for machines that have not been permitted. § Indulj, formerly Duke’s City, has applied for substantial change in liquor license classification from a CR (restaurant) to a CT (tavern), expansion to full alcohol service hours, an entertainment endorsement, and full alcohol service to a summer garden on the rear of the building. Phil expressed concern with noise from the summer garden. He also expressed that their dumpster should be located within private space rather than public space. Scott expressed that he would like for Indulj to continue to light the Duke Ellington mural. §· CSNA voted unanimously to write a letter to protest the license at Indulj on the basis of peace, order, and quiet, to gain standing, and to ask that Indulj present at the next CSNA meeting to address concerns. The letter shall be submitted to the Applicant, to ANC1B, and to ABRA. § There is a liquor license application for a new restaurant at 1119 V Street. Phil said that he’s trying to get the applicant to present to CSNA. § Next Door, operated by Ben's Chili Bowl, is now open at 1211 U Street, NW § There will be a clothing drive at Howard University at the end of January, Christine will find out more information
o Public Safety: Brian Card – This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it § Brian expressed that he is open to suggestions on how to improve PSA 305 meetings
o Clean & Green: Vacant – This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
o Historic Preservation: Vacant – This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
o Transportation: Cheryl Cort – This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it § Gabe Klein has been nominated as the new Director of DDOT
Questions, Comments, Concerns |
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