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Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Meeting Agenda for Thursday 17 May 2012 7-8:30PM
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Upcoming events and news
1. On Saturday from 2-3, the Pastor at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church will be a blessing of the animals, bring your pet! Just walk on over to the Church at 8th and N.
2. Kingman Island Bluegrass and Folk Festival 1-8pm
3. Waffles in Blagden Alley:
The sign at Blagden Alley’s Back Alley Waffles in Mount Vernon Square. (Justin Rude - The Washington Post)Right now, Back Alley Waffles is open from 7 a.m. until about 3 p.m., but Nelson may expand the hours. As of now, many of the restaurant’s operations are very rudimentary. High on the shopping list: a dishwasher. “Right now we’re serving on paper and washing everything by hand, which isn’t ideal, “ Nelson says.
2. Kingman Island Bluegrass and Folk Festival 1-8pm
Join some of the DC area's best local bluegrass bands for a day of music, food and exploration on Kingman Island to celebrate the revitalization of the Anacostia River.
Take a free tour of the river by canoe sponsored by the Anacostia Watershed Society. Enjoy food from nearly a dozen of DC's top food trucks and beverages from Sierra Nevada, Dogfish Head, and Heavy Seas. Sign up for bike giveaways and tours of the island from BicycleSPACE. And of course, enjoy the region's best in live bluegrass music from local bands.
When is the Festival?
The Festival is Saturday, April 28th, from 1:00 – 8:00 pm.
How to get to the Kingman Island Festival?
· The entrance to Kingman Island is off of the Anacostia River Walk Trail near parking lot # 6 at RFK Stadium.
· Free shuttles will run between Kingman Island and Stadium/Armory Metro Station (blue/orange lines).
· Abundant bicycle parking is available on Kingman Island and at the entrance (provided by DDOT and BicycleSPACE).
· MetroBus routes X1, X2 and X3 have a nearby stop located at the intersection of Benning Rd. NE and Oklahoma Ave. NE. The entrance is a short walk across the parking lot.
· Free car parking is available in RFK parking lot #6.
What does it cost?
The event is FREE. Food and beverage will be sold at the event. There is also a suggested donation of $5 that goes toward Living Classrooms, a non-profit that manages the island and provides environmental education to children in the DC metro area.
How do I learn more?
Follow us on Twitter @KIBluegrassFest
Visit us online: http://www.facebook.com/
Thanks to our Title Sponsor, DC Events and all the other sponsors that make this event possible, including Office of Councilmember Tommy Wells, Living Classrooms, BicycleSPACE, Sierra Nevada, Safeway, WAMU Bluegrass Country, Create DC and Scott McCarthy Design.
What's the schedule of participating bands?
· 1:00 – 1:50 - King Street Bluegrass - http://www.reverbnation.com/
· 2:00 – 3:30 - Patuxent Partners - http://www.patuxentpartners.
· 3:45 – 4:45 - Split String Soup - https://www.facebook.com/
· 5:00 – 6:00 - Hollertown - http://www.myspace.com/
· 6:15 – 7:15 - By and By - http://www.myspace.com/
· 7:30 – 8:00 - Jam session
3. Waffles in Blagden Alley:
Hot on the heels of Tim Carman’s story on the District’s second class status as a breakfast city, comes news of the opening of a small waffle and smoothie bar on Bladgen Alley named, appropriately, Back Alley Waffles. The intimate breakfast spot is located in co-owner Craig Nelson’s ground-floor art studio, and it was originally conceived as a way to bring attention to his mosaic work.
Though the self-taught waffle maker had no formal kitchen training, he entered the world of professional cooking with some key votes of confidence. “I knew I could make waffles,” Nelson told me. “My friends really love them. And this is a town of world-class wafflers, so that’s really saying something.”
The sign at Blagden Alley’s Back Alley Waffles in Mount Vernon Square. (Justin Rude - The Washington Post)Right now, Back Alley Waffles is open from 7 a.m. until about 3 p.m., but Nelson may expand the hours. As of now, many of the restaurant’s operations are very rudimentary. High on the shopping list: a dishwasher. “Right now we’re serving on paper and washing everything by hand, which isn’t ideal, “ Nelson says.
The menu is a concise four-items long: Belgian-style waffles served with butter and real maple syrup ($8), a house smoothie made from apple, orange, pineapple, carrot juice, strawberries, banana, yogurt, honey and aloe vera ($6), coffee ($2) and chai tea ($2).
Unfortunately, being a first-time customer might involve some luck. The restaurant, unprepared for the Internet-fueled rush of waffle-starved Washingtonians, ran out of ingredients early today. A note posted on the front door at 10:45 a.m. thanked Prince of Petworth and Urban Daddyfor the coverage and the resultant “9000% increase in business” and asked potential customers to try them again soon “when we have, like, TWO knives with which to cut fruit.”
4. The new restaurant to be called Table at 903 N is moving forward. They have a few exterior changes to the facade including the addition of what will be the primary egress door to the left of the roll up garage door. Plans were approved by the ANC 2F CDC on Wednesday and now they head to HPRB. I have plans which I'll post on the blog as soon as I figure out how. The ground floor will be focused around the Chef and their will be tables upstairs as well. While they will serve beer and wine with meals there is no bar planned.
5. At the 19 April Blagden Alley, Megan Mitchell of Suzane Reatig Architecture presented the new plans for 926 N Street NW. We were all very pleased with the vast improvement in these plans which were also endorsed by the ANC 2F CDC on Wednesday night.
6. Here is the link to the Logan Circle Citizens Association Calendar. Note the Happy Hour at Veranda this Tuesday. http://logancircle.org/calendar
7. 10th Street Park Celebration:
10th Street Community Park Festival Saturday May 5, 2012
10am – 2pm
(Rain Date: May 6, 2012)
Join the Friends of the 10th Street Park for the Park’s 1st birthday! We have exciting events lined up for all ages.
10:00am YogainthePark Yoga will be led by Dominique Fernandez, the current President of the Board for Quincy Park Condos. Bring a towel, yoga mat and water for early morning yoga on the park’s lawn.
11:30am Storytime Join us for stories about gardening and springtime. Afterwards, meet at the park’s play feature for more fun with your neighbors. ~ Ages 6 months to 6 years old.
1:00 pm Gardening Chat
Join the 10th Street Park Friends Board Members to discuss future park enhancements and other issues impacting the park.
1:30 PM Happy Birthday 10th Street Park
We will have a birthday celebration for the park to commemorate the first anniversary of the park.
2:00 PM Music and Movement with Mr. Skip
Mr. Skip is veteran performer for children’s audiences. Come dance and frolic in the park to his youthful tunes. ~ Ages 6 and younger.
Sponsored by the Friends of the 10th Street Park &
www.acehardwaredc.com
For more information visit: www.10thstreetparkfriends.org
**Next Month's Meeting: Thursday May 17th @ Chatman's D'Vine Bakery and Cafe, 1239 9th Street (Convention Center) http://chatmansbakerycafe.com/index.html
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Thursday's Blagden Alley Naylor Court Association Meeting
When: Thursday 19 April 7 PM
Where: Independence Bank Conference Room 1301 9th Street NW
Note: Bank entrance is on 9th Street to the left of the ATM, if you find the big round clock, the door is right behind you.
Extra note: Due to security please plan to arrive between 7 and 7:30PM.
Agenda:
* Police
* Updated design for 926 N Street presented by Megan Mitchell of Suzane Reatig Architecture
* City Market at O Street Trucks
* Proposed Yard Sale
* Updated design for CasReigler (9th and N)
* Status of Mood Lounge
* Extended Hours Bar Bill
* Jack Evans legislation to force mandatory closure after 3 voluntary agreement violations (noise, trash, parking, etc.)
* Use of church lot for commercial parking and valet parking (1315-1325 10th Street) and valet parkers driving the wrong way up 10th Street
* Other upcoming meetings and events
* Related LCCA Event: May 1 Happy Hour @ Veranda 6-8PM 1100 P Street
* Next Month's Meeting: Thursday May 17th @ Chatman's D'Vine Bakery and Cafe, 1239 9th Street (Convention Center) http://chatmansbakerycafe.com/index.html
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Upcoming Events
Please register and attend the Blagden Alley Naylor Court Association / Logan Circle Citizens Association joint happy hour to be held at Tortino on Tuesday March 6 Complimentary appetizers will be provided along with drink specials from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Registration is free but appreciated so we have a good head count, find that at: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2370217384
Here is the link to Tortino Restaurant it is located at 1228 11th Street.
The next Blagden Alley Naylor Court Association meeting will be on Thursday March 15, 7-8:30 PM. Ron and Clarence have offered to host again, 1241 10th Street. At minimum we will hear from Frederik De Pue Executive Chef / Owner of 42cateringservices.com to discuss the new restaurant at 903 N Street and a return visit from
to discuss their proposal at 9th and N. They did get a full review at the CDC last week.
I am also hoping that we will hear again from the 926N architects although they appear to be pressing ahead with HPRB, they were unable to update their design before the last CDC meeting so I think we'd all be interested in seeing where things stand.
We have all seen the plans for the three new townhouses, the Stables, to be developed at 1321-1325 Naylor Court NW. The hearing will be on Tuesday March 6 at One Judiciary Square
441 4th Street, NW start time is 0930 although this is case is listed third: Case # 18318, Application of KB Developers (that is Kevin Batteh). Here is the specific language: (Area Variance) Pursuant to 11 DCMR § 3103.2, for a variance from the lot width and area requirements under subsection 401.3, and a variance from the lot occupancy requirements under subsection 403.2, to allow the construction of three one-family row dwellings on alley lots in the R-4 District at premises 1321 Naylor Court, N.W. (Square 367, Lot 862).
If you haven't seen it here are the plans from the developers web page: http://www.opaldc.com/naylorcourt.html
Since we voted to support it months ago I submitted the following letter in support of the requested variances, updated from what was sent some months ago for the preliminary review:
Here is the link to Tortino Restaurant it is located at 1228 11th Street.
The next Blagden Alley Naylor Court Association meeting will be on Thursday March 15, 7-8:30 PM. Ron and Clarence have offered to host again, 1241 10th Street. At minimum we will hear from Frederik De Pue Executive Chef / Owner of 42cateringservices.com to discuss the new restaurant at 903 N Street and a return visit from
I am also hoping that we will hear again from the 926N architects although they appear to be pressing ahead with HPRB, they were unable to update their design before the last CDC meeting so I think we'd all be interested in seeing where things stand.
We have all seen the plans for the three new townhouses, the Stables, to be developed at 1321-1325 Naylor Court NW. The hearing will be on Tuesday March 6 at One Judiciary Square
441 4th Street, NW start time is 0930 although this is case is listed third: Case # 18318, Application of KB Developers (that is Kevin Batteh). Here is the specific language: (Area Variance) Pursuant to 11 DCMR § 3103.2, for a variance from the lot width and area requirements under subsection 401.3, and a variance from the lot occupancy requirements under subsection 403.2, to allow the construction of three one-family row dwellings on alley lots in the R-4 District at premises 1321 Naylor Court, N.W. (Square 367, Lot 862).
If you haven't seen it here are the plans from the developers web page: http://www.opaldc.com/naylorcourt.html
Since we voted to support it months ago I submitted the following letter in support of the requested variances, updated from what was sent some months ago for the preliminary review:
29 February 2012
Board of Zoning Adjustment
RE: 1321-1325 Naylor Court NW
I am writing as the President of the
Blagden Alley Naylor Court Association, which represents owners and businesses
in the area between 9th and 11th and Mass Avenue and P
Streets NW, located in ANC2F06. Also I
reside at 1327 10th Street NW, which backs onto Naylor Court directly across
the Court from 1321-1325 Naylor Court. In addition I own an adjacent
Carriage House at 1330 Naylor Court NW, which is also directly across from the
subject property.
The association and I fully support KB
Developers proposal to construct three single-family townhouses on the R4 lot
at 1321-1325 Naylor Court NW. We have a strong interest in bringing more
residential life to residentially zoned Naylor Court. The proposed
density of these three townhouses is appropriate for what is allowed
on a 4750 square foot residential zoned R4 lot. I also
support the granting of all three minor BZA variances required for
this project to proceed for lot area, lot width and lot occupancy. Given the
extra hardships and challenges involved in developing a residential property in
an alley/court, and I have great experience with such challenges from
developing 1330 Naylor Court, I would appreciate any extra cooperation and
support that DC agencies can provide KB Developers as they move forward to
develop this property. These are
reasonable and very minor variances, which do not create any precedence given
the unique location with an historic court. The proposed designs are
exceptional and frankly more than any of us in the neighborhood could have
hoped for.
An additional compelling reason for
approving this development as quickly as possible has to do with safety. As a parent, Naylor Court remains of
questionable safety for my 11 and 13 year old children to walk to and from the
metro (typically on their way to/from school) or to just do things as simple as
throwing the football around. Quick
development of the dilapidated properties at 1321-1325 Naylor Court will add
three additional households which will at least double the number of residents
in Naylor Court whose eyes and ears will contribute to the residential fabric
and enhance the livability and safety for all. Please grant quick approval so the project may
proceed in haste to add these additional residential properties to our
neighborhood, making a substantial enhancement to the tax rolls, and increasing
our day-to-day safety.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
926 N Street
To guide tonight discussion I would like to provide
two pieces of information zoning and historic. The Architect and Property
owner will be in attendance with new drawings for our review and comment.
As a matter of right in a C2A zone:
** Can build to 50 feet in height with no limit to
the number of stories.
** Can occupy 60% to 100% of the lot depending on
the use
** I think the lot size is about 8000 square feet.
If so they can build a 20,000 square foot building of that 12,000 square
feet can be for C2A use. (This reflects a FAR of 2.5 with 1.5 for C2A)
** I will bring a list of C2A uses that are a
matter or right. These are detailed in section 721 of the code.
** Since it is in an Historic District they do not
have to provide any parking.
** The existing building is not a contributing
historic structure, so it can be torn down.
If the proposal complies with the things above, we
do not have a say. If they propose commercial uses that aren't a “matter
of right” than they will have to get a variance which will give us a say.
There is an HPO publication on New Construction in
Historic Districts and this is where we do have an input that we can provide
direct to the Architect and Owner tonight as well as though the ANC to HPRB.
The key to the design of a new building that
enhances the existing environment is its compatibility with neighboring
buildings. Compatibility is achieved through careful attention to the
following design principles:
**Setback - Respecting the existing setback is
important when locating a new building in a historic district
**Orientation - The orientation should respect that
of its existing neighbors, that is face the street.
**Scale - should respect the prevailing human scale
of other buildings in the neighborhood
**Proportion - Should be compatible with that of
its neighbors. Think in terms of the relative proportion, size, location
of windows and doors in the existing Victorians that surround it.
**Rhythm - Heights of roofs, cornices, towers and
other projections establish a rhythm of the street.
**Massing - Matching the general bay front design
of the existing buildings on the street
**Height - Should not be significantly higher or
lower than its neighbors
**Materials - Since all the buildings on this
street are made of brick, the new building needs to respect that including
size, texture and finish (glazed vs unglazed, etc.)
**Color of materials should complement those of
surrounding buildings
**Roof shape, should be consistent
**Details and Ornamentation - a contemporary interpretation of historic
details and ornamentation can be a good way to differentiate a new from a
historic building
Mayor level meeting today over ABRA/Mood situation
My understanding is that there will be a meeting today in the Mayor's office to discuss ABRA, Mood Lounge, etc. I am hoping that they will address why an entire community has to spend a year fighting a bad actor with a process that takes many months to adjudicate complaints. The system is clearly stacked to ensure the revenue operation stays in service (with actions that impede revenue operations being turned around in days or weeks) while local citizens whose lives are made miserable by the behavior have to go through a slow moving process that takes months if not years to get any action. The ABRA process is stacked against getting any action and seems to have been designed to wear out local residents (and I should note local businesses too who have suffered from the bad behavior).
Finally that is compounded by the ABRA Board, who for the most part, don't seem to understand what it is like to live in an urban environment especially this one where their liquor laws have allowed a night club to operate immediately adjacent to a residential community.
I read the findings on the Bar over at 5th and Florida who opened without a liquor license and the owners were found unsuited to have a license so they had to start all over with a new business owner. I believe ABRA's position here, while very strict, were appropriate. I have also read the official findings by the police and the ABRA board (so far) and I must say if the same standards were applied Mood Lounge would be similarly found unsuited to possess a liquor license. Maybe they feel more freedom to take action before a business is officially open. All I can say is that anyone who read the police report would immediately conclude that this is not a business who should possess a liquor license. Mood and other's are celebrating their license renewal as a finding of "not guilty" but that is not the case. As I read the ABRA report they were found "guilty" of the offenses but ABRA did not assess the violations to require the loss of license (and gave them considerable direction and homework to do if they wanted to keep the license).
Hopefully that is what will be discussed today and James "Freddy" Bulger, the Ward 2 Constituent Service Liaison for the Mayor, is planning to come to the meeting tonight and give a report on what happened.
One more entry to come in preparation for the 926 N Street discussion tonight.
Finally that is compounded by the ABRA Board, who for the most part, don't seem to understand what it is like to live in an urban environment especially this one where their liquor laws have allowed a night club to operate immediately adjacent to a residential community.
I read the findings on the Bar over at 5th and Florida who opened without a liquor license and the owners were found unsuited to have a license so they had to start all over with a new business owner. I believe ABRA's position here, while very strict, were appropriate. I have also read the official findings by the police and the ABRA board (so far) and I must say if the same standards were applied Mood Lounge would be similarly found unsuited to possess a liquor license. Maybe they feel more freedom to take action before a business is officially open. All I can say is that anyone who read the police report would immediately conclude that this is not a business who should possess a liquor license. Mood and other's are celebrating their license renewal as a finding of "not guilty" but that is not the case. As I read the ABRA report they were found "guilty" of the offenses but ABRA did not assess the violations to require the loss of license (and gave them considerable direction and homework to do if they wanted to keep the license).
Hopefully that is what will be discussed today and James "Freddy" Bulger, the Ward 2 Constituent Service Liaison for the Mayor, is planning to come to the meeting tonight and give a report on what happened.
One more entry to come in preparation for the 926 N Street discussion tonight.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Update Meeting Notice for Thursday 16 Feb
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