Public Space for Private Use
The March meeting of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6A revolved around several questions of public space use and the “confiscation” of public space for private use. Commissioners debated three related issues: curb cuts for driveways, a church’s expansion into a public park and the proposed construction of an elevator on public land.

The Transportation and Public Space Committee recommended support of a curb cut application for 1900 Constitution Ave. NE, but even committee members were ambivalent about the prospect. Commissioner Nick Alberti said he has a high standard for new curb cuts: “Does the lack of a curb cut present a unique inconvenience to the owner?” Although that side of the street currently does not allow curbside parking, it could in the future, and “we would be giving this homeowner his own parking spot at the expense of all of his neighbors. It’s really giving away public space for private use.”

The house in question is a four-unit building, and TPS Committee Chair Omar Mahmoud mentioned that the curb cut would provide more parking spaces off-street than it would potentially take away from the street. Commissioner Bill Schultheiss advocated for a “moratorium on curb cuts” but voted in favor of this one, stating that a moratorium would need to be coordinated with neighboring ANCs. Commissioner David Holmes cast the only other “no” vote in addition to Alberti’s, saying that “each curb cut is another threat to pedestrians who have to cross that driveway.”

The second debate over public space was more heated. Architectural historian Angie Adams appeared at the meeting at the behest of Brown A.M.E. Church. The church seeks to build two additions to its structure, one of which would expand into public land. The new porch and accompanying walkways the church is hoping to construct, would build on land in L’Enfant’s Plan, a national historical landmark. Adams claimed that there was no problem building on L’Enfant’s Plan since it would not block any vistas, and it would only occupy, according to architect James Jordan, about 240 square feet.

Chair Joseph Fengler told the church applicants that they needed to apply for a public space permit before going to the Historic Preservation Review Board or the ANC.

Fengler stated his reluctance to support the application, especially since the rules that would block this construction are the same rules that are holding up the construction of the streetcar lines “that will bring huge economic benefits to this community.”

Elizabeth Nelson, chair of the North Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association, said that the association had voted unanimously to voice concerns about this extension. “There’s no difference between chopping a piece of L’Enfant’s Plan off and chopping off a piece of the Washington Monument or the Capitol dome,” she said.

Other community members in the audience also stood up in turn, voicing their objections to the expansion into public land.

Alberti added fuel to the fire by bringing up a number of previous community grievances against Brown A.M.E. Church, including their disrespect for the city’s zoning laws, their failure to apply for permits for major demolition and construction work, and more. “Anything we approve is subject to being violated when they actually do the construction.” The commission voted unanimously in favor of sending the letter voicing concerns with the extension.

Finally, well after the scheduled closing time of the meeting, the commission took up the issue of Pilgrim Baptist Church’s application to build an elevator on public space adjoining their property on 700 I St. NE. Marshall said the church was “historically not good neighbors.” A motion to send a letter to the District Department of Transportation Public Space Committee was approved unanimously, though Alberti expressed his disappointment that there was not a draft letter for them to approve.

Assistance for Older Folks
Judy Canning, on the board of Capitol Hill Village, asked the ANC to help identify residents in need of the Village’s services. CHV is dedicated to helping people stay in their homes as they get older. For an annual fee, which can be subsidized if necessary, members receive help with home maintenance, personal care, entertainment programs and more. Contact 202-543-1778 or www.capitolhillvillage.org.

Narrow Water Pipes = Fire Hazard
Fire Chief William Flint warned the community that the cast-iron water mains in the ward are 100 years old and too narrow to supply the amount of water needed for a bad fire. The fire at Jimmy’s Tire required 3,000-4,000 gallons of water, and the fire department ran out of water and had to tap into another grid. The new hydrants with reflective bands are hooked up to larger mains capable of greater discharges.

Illegal No Parking Signs
Commissioner Stephanie Nixon (6A08) announced that WASA has illegally posted Emergency No Parking signs. For a sign to be legal, it needs to be posted 48 hours in advance and by the Metropolitan Police Department. Non-police issued signs cannot be taken as anything more than a request and are unenforceable. Contact Elsie McCray (Elsie.Mccray@dc.gov) at DPW if you see illegal “No Parking” signs. She will rescind all tickets issued in relation to those signs.

TIF Tiff
The commission approved a recommendation from the Economic Development and Zoning Committee to send a letter to Mayor Fenty, DC Council Chair Vincent Gray and Councilmembers Tommy Wells (Ward 6) and Kwame Brown (At Large), asking that the current H Street TIF (Tax Incremental Financing) RFP be withdrawn. “This TIF goes against what we’ve been trying to achieve on H Street … it’s completely anti-small business and anti-H Street,” said Schultheiss. The TIF states that the $25 million promised for H Street can only be allotted to properties of over 10,000 square feet – the equivalent, said Schultheiss, of five row houses. Only large-property owners can receive the money, which is taken from the taxes paid by all.

Transitional Housing Opposition
The commission decided to send a letter to Pilgrim Baptist Church protesting transitional housing proposed for 820 Eighth St. NE on the grounds that “the criminal element, loitering and littering associated with transitional housing is a significant impediment to the H Street NE corridor’s economic revitalization,” contributing to a “perception and, in most cases, the reality of an unsafe neighborhood.”

Roll Call
Present: Raphael Marshall (6A01), Chair Joseph Fengler (6A02), David Holmes (6A03), Nick Alberti (6A04), Mary Beatty (6A05), Bill Schultheiss (6A06), Gladys Mack (6A07) and Stephanie Nixon (6A08).

Also present: community resident chairs Omar Mahmud of the Transportation and Public Space Committee, Drew Ronneberg of the Economic Development and Zoning Committee and Elizabeth Nelson of the Community Outreach Committee.