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| | | Near Northeast commission (ANC 6C) loses battle over Oasis on H Street | | January 18, 2010 | | | | Voice Correspondent | | At its Jan. 13 meeting, the commission:
heard commissioner Anne Phelps, chair of the alcoholic beverage licensing committee, report on the committee’s unsuccessful endeavor to prevent Oasis Liquor on the H Street corridor from reopening. However, she said, the committee successfully drafted a voluntary agreement with the business to change its name to “Oasis Market,” remove its pay phone, remove billboards on the building and prohibit employees from parking in public space.
unanimously voted to send a letter to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority protesting its planned weekend closure of the south entrance to the New York Avenue Metro station. With upcoming developments in the adjacent NoMa Business Improvement District, an estimated 1,300 more residents will use the entrance, commissioner Anne Phelps said. “And now is not the time to cut service,” she added.
unanimously voted to send a letter to the District Department of Transportation requesting that it change the one-way direction of traffic on Morris Place NE.
Both Morris Place, north of F Street between 6th and 7th streets NE, and the adjacent G Street direct traffic east to west, causing confusion for local motorists, the commission said. Twenty-one residents have signed a petition supporting the change.
unanimously re-elected Karen Wirt as commission chair, Mark Dixon and Charley Docter as co-vice chairs, Tony Richardson as treasurer, and Anne Phelps as secretary.
unanimously re-elected all committee chairs, except for commissioner Tom Hamilton, who has resigned as youth and education committee chair.
The commission will reach out to residents, area schools and parent-teacher organizations to recruit a new chair. The commission also noted that Jon Kelly will resign as transportation committee co-chair in June.
heard Amanda Molson, a Capitol Hill reviewer from the D.C. Office of Historic Preservation, discuss the recent streamlining of the review process for modifying historic structures. Homeowners of historic buildings who wish to modify windows, retaining walls, and other building features will now be able to contact preservation staff directly to receive permits more quickly.
heard commissioner Tony Richardson announce that Ethiopic Restaurant. 401 H St. NE, has drafted an acceptable voluntary agreement and the commission is awaiting its approval from the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration.
heard a proposal from commissioner Ryan Velasco to change the commission’s bank account from a national bank to a local bank or credit union.
“We are unhappy with our current bank, and we should invest in a D.C. institution,” Velasco said. He stressed the commission’s need to support local options. Velasco said he has researched area alternatives and will have more information at the commission’s February meeting.
heard a representative from the D.C. Public Library’s new Northwest One branch at 155 L St. NW, which opened in December, announce that the branch will host a grand-opening celebration Jan. 21 from 1 to 8 p.m. Library staff will host a story time for toddlers at 1 p.m., and author discussions at 1:30 p.m. The staff also will demonstrate the new online homework-help program.
heard commissioner Tom Hamilton explain that he is stepping down as youth and education committee chair because he did not feel the committee he created has become as valuable as he envisioned under his leadership. The committee has attracted many interesting speakers, including representatives from the Board of Education and the chancellor’s office, he said, but there has been poor attendance by local residents. The commission will reach out to residents, area schools and parent-teacher organizations to recruit a new chair.
approved, with two abstentions, additional security installations at 450 5th St. NW, which is currently occupied by the anti-trust and civil divisions of the Department of Justice. Commissioners Tony Richardson and Charley Docter abstained. Andrew Brophy from Brophy Properties Inc. and Thomas King from the Justice Department spoke about the developments, which will include adding a driveway, bike racks, bollards, planters and a guard booth.
unanimously supported renovations to 647 C St. NE, which include replacing the deck with a screened porch and adding a floor above the existing garage for an art studio. The commission conditioned its support on the property owners getting separate support if they want to use the new studio space as a separate housing unit in the future.
unanimously supported renovations to 216 Morgan St. NW, which will include the addition of a third floor, a porch and excavation of the basement. These developments will make the residence’s appearance consistent with those of the adjacent houses.
unanimously approved a two-year delay on construction at 318 I St. NE. The original owners who applied for the construction permits lost the property in foreclosure, and the new Ohio-based owners wish to examine all possible options before commencing redevelopment.
heard planning, zoning and environment committee chair Rob Amos express his confidence in the new Golden Rule apartment complex between New Jersey Avenue and 1st Street NW. Construction will begin in May and should be completed within a year.
heard a report by Juliette Tahar, founder and president of Healthy Living Inc. She described her program’s four-year history of teaching healthy cooking and nutritional and kitchen practices to people in the community, at local Boys & Girls Clubs, and at homeless shelters, including Cavalry Women’s Shelter and Pathways. She had received $2,500 from the commission for books and equipment, and she recently completed drafting a cookbook. | | | | | Log in to comment on this article |
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