Councilmember Graham Encourages Approval of Park Morton Redevelopment
In a Jan. 17 press conference, Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham encouraged the City Coucil to support the Park Morton New Communities Plan that seeks to revitalize the Park Morton neighborhood in Ward 1.

The area included in the Park Morton development plan is bounded by Georgia Avenue to the west, Warder Street to the east, Park Road to the north and Lamont Street to the south.

The plan calls for phased rebuilding of the 3.7 acre 174-unit low-income housing complex on Morton Road into a 523-unit, mixed-use, mixed income neighborhood including condominiums, town homes, and retail development. In addition to 174 replacement units for existing residents, the plan also calls for 317 market rate and home-ownership opportunities for low-income residents. Replacement units are slated to be priced for families earning at or below 30 percent of the Area Median Income ($27,000 for a family of four.)

"This project can truly be called a catalytic investment," said Mayor Fenty. "Not just because we are building hundreds of new homes and encouraging much needed retail on Georgia Avenue, but because we are investing in the lives of the residents who live here."

When asked by DC North why he has supported the redevelopment project, Councilmember Graham said, "There is definite need for improvements in Park Morton."

Graham also said that all residents will be guaranteed a right to return upon completion of the redevelopment.

"I think we can make the quality of life better for everybody who is there. There is no question about it. Everyone is going to be a winner in this scheme," said Graham.

Also included in the initiative is a human services component for residents, a 10,000 square foot park, a 4,000 square foot community center, underground parking, and new retail along Georgia Avenue.

The Park Morton redevelopment initiative is a partnership between the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development and the District's Housing Authority.

About where Park Morton residents will go during the construction, Councilmember Graham said, "That has yet to be determined," adding that "there is money available for rent supplements."

The Park Morton New Communities plan is pending approval by the City Council.

For more info on the Park Morton New Communities plan visit www.planning.dc.gov or contact Alicia Lewis at 202-724-7210, by email at Alicia.Lewis@dc.gov

Former Bi-Rite Building in Columbia Heights Leased and to be Reconstructed
3DG LLC, owner of the former Bi-Rite supermarket building in Columbia Heights, has announced that leases have been secured for the property located at 3400 11th Street NW.
 
The building is slated to under-go a complete reconstruction, including renovation of the first floor and the addition of a second floor structure. The first floor tenant will be a new restaurant and bar called Meridian Point, offering European and American cuisine and Belgian beer. The second floor will be occupied by Solimar International, an eco-tourism company, and 3DG LLC, an architecture, design, and development firm. Construction is set to begin in late spring, with Meridian Point slated to open by the end of the year.

The vacant site had also been eyed as a potential venue by the Warehouse Next Door, a café, theatre and music venue formerly located on 7th Street in Mount Vernon Square who recently closed their doors citing rising property taxes as the reason. According to Columbia Heights Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Anne Theisen, 3DG and the Warehouse Next Door have been in negotiations about leasing the space, but nothing final had been set. 3DG could not be reached for comment by press time.

A presentation on the development project will be given at the upcoming meeting of the North Columbia Heights Civic Association, a date has not yet been set. For more information, please contact 3DG at info@3dgllc.com.

Ward 1 ANC News Briefs

ANC 1A-Columbia Heights, Pleasant Plains
At the January meeting of ANC 1A03, commissioners accepted new member, Kraig Jennett, as Commissioner for ANC1A03 and officers were elected for 2008 reports Commissioner Anne Theisen. Commissioner Dotti Love Wade was elected as Chairperson, Commissioner Anne Theisen was elected Vice Chair, Commissioner Lenwood Johnson was elected Secretary, Commissioner Janisha Richardson was elected Treasurer, and Commissioner Kraig Jennett was elected Vice Treasurer.

ANC 1A's schedule for 2008 was set, with meetings continuing to be to held monthly from January through December on the second Wednesday of each month in the cafeteria of Harriet Tubman Elementary at 3101 14th Street, NW.  

Commissioner Theisen also reports that standard operating procedures were amended to allow notice of public meetings through posting on a soon to be operating ANC1A website, as well as or through public service announcements. The budget was amended to increase spending on the website line item.

Commissioners approved filing information in support of their appeal requesting that the building permit for 1432 Monroe Street, NW be found to have been issued in error as plans for the project exceed the R-5-B zoning code. Filing information against Central Union Mission's BZA application for a special exception to allow the construction of a mixed-use building with community-based residential facility and ground floor retail was also approved. Commissioners passed a resolution approving funding for the New Communities Initiative for the redevelopment of the Park Morton residential development.

ANC 1C-Adams Morgan, Kalorama Heights, Lanier Heights
At the January meeting of ANC 1C, five commissioners voted against a voluntary agreement put forth before the ANC by Chloe restaurant and bar on 18th Street and two commissioners abstained reports Commissioner Wilson Reynolds. Chloe is seeking to convert to a tavern license and has requested an entertainment endorsement to have live music. As per the voluntary agreement proposed by Chloe, live music is allowed but dancing is prohibited. However if there is dancing, it is not the responsibility of the clubowner, says Reynolds.

1D-Mount Pleasant
ANC 1D held two monthly meetings in January and officers were elected for 2008. Commissioner “Stormy" Scott was elected Chairperson, Commissioner Gregg Edwards was elected Vice-Chair, Commissioner Jane Zara was elected Treasurer, and Commissioner Jack McKay was elected Secretary. Newly elected commissioner, Oliver Tunda, was appointed to fill the vacancy in 1D02. The following resolutions were passed: ANC1D will ensure that all of its Voluntary Agreements are truly voluntary on the part of business owners and will withdraw any ANC1D protest of any Mt Pleasant liquor license application, liquor license renewal or entertainment endorsement if the business owner does not voluntarily accept the Voluntary Agreement; Regular monthly meetings of ANC1D will, unless special conditions favor a change, be held on the first Tuesday of each month, namely: February 5, March 4, April 1, May 6, June 3, July 1, August 5, September 2, October 7, November 4, and December 2, January 6 (2009). Second monthly meetings will be scheduled for the third Tuesday of each month. Ordinarily these meetings will be informal meetings with the public, but may in some cases function as committee meetings or formal business meeting; ANC1D advises the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) to use permeable pavement in all newly rebuilt sidewalks in Mount Pleasant, specifically, in the reconstruction of the sidewalks of the 1600 block of Park Road; ANC1D advises DDOT to increase the width of narrow sidewalks, wherever feasible, to ADA compliance; ANC1D calls on all Mount Pleasant groups with so-called "voluntary agreements", in place or proposed, to make the contents of those agreements public by publication on the sponsoring group’s Web site, the ANC1D Web site, and the Mount Pleasant Forum, within 30 days of the agreement having been presented to the licensee for signature; ANC1D advises the Historic Preservation Review Board to approve permit application HPA #08-121, for a front basement entrance at 1709 Irving Street NW; ANC1D advises the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to permit termination of all voluntary agreements entered into by Mount Pleasant restaurants prior to 2007, upon request of the alcoholic-beverage establishment. The existing agreement should then be replaced by one better reflecting current conditions in Mount Pleasant.