There will be two key reviews at the CDC meeting tomorrow night Wed 27 August: 7PM at the Washington Plaza Hotel. ANC2F.org
First the architect for 928 O Street will present their plans. I can email the package to anyone that wants to see it and will send it to the O Street list. We met to discuss at the BANCA/O Street meeting on Thursday the 21st and received generally positive remarks. If you feel differently please show up at the CDC and voice your opinion.
Next the developers at 9th and N Street, the Colonel 1250 9th Street, did not use the stucco finishing materials they were supposed to on the sides and rear of the structure. As documented on the Blog, a group of neighbors meet with them to discuss options for correction. The developer will present their options to the CDC, their recommendation will go to HPO for a final decision. I can email those options to any who wants to see them.
Last the BANCA annual picnic will be on Saturday 13 September at 930 O Street NW (same location as last year). Time is 3-7PM. The Association will provide the basic cook out food and drink, please bring a dish to share and if you like your favorite beverage. Hope to see you there and I would expect a number of political candidates to stop by given the November elections.
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Concert @ the Tenth Street Community Park Friday 22 August 5:45PM to 6:45PM
10th Street Community Park (1100 Block of 10th)
Presents: Red Dirt Rangers
in a Family-Friendly Concert
A blues, bluegrass, honky tonk, folk, and rock 'n' roll band from Oklahoma that can usually be found playing at Hill Country BBQ. These guys make music so unique and fun!
Friday ~ August 22, 2014
Band to Play - 5:45pm to 6:45pm
(No Rain Date scheduled)
Bring a lawn blanket or camping chair to the park and enjoy the fun live music. The friends of the 10th Street Park will be providing water but feel free to bring your own goodies!
Find out more about the Red Dirt Rangers at:
http://www.reddirtrangers.com/
Donations are always appreciated!
For more information visit: www.10thstreetparkfriends.org
Follow us on Twitter! @Friendsof10th
Monday, August 18, 2014
Next meeting: 7-8PM Thursday 21 August 1327 10th Street NW
There are several typos I have corrected - the Colonel is at 9th and N, also the lot I am discussion is at 925 M Street not O street. Sorry for the confusion.
This will be a combined BANCA/O Street meeting to review plans for 928 O Street. This is a non-contributing building so they intend to demolish it and construct a new building, please see the HPO guidance at the end of this message. Since we last heard from them, the developer/architect has met with a small group of neighbors, some of whom are design professionals, as well as the Historic Preservation Staff. This is an important meeting for neighbors to attend and key for providing your inputs and concerns before the design goes forward. The next step after this meeting will be the Community Development Committee meeting on Wed August 27 and the full ANC will review 10 September. Assuming the design is endorsed, then it will go forward to HPRB to request approval.
Following this the owner of 910 O Street will present her renovation plans.
Since no one came forward to host the meeting I will. I'll provide some beer and wine and would appreciate if others bring a few snacks.
Other items of interest:
The Colonel at 9th and N - I am still waiting for an update from HPO staff on this building where fake wood siding was installed instead of the required stucco on many of the sides and back of the building. HPO stays they will handle this - stay tuned.
I was just contacted by the new owner of 925 M Street, next door to George's house and met with them this evening. This piece of land is zoned R4 residential and given its size, can be two units as a matter or right. They own only the grass part of the lot, the brick area at the rear is owned by George and is zoned C2A commercial. Their intent is to build a residential building. When they have a preliminary design ready a meeting will be held with the community to review the design before proceeding to the CDC/ANC and then HPRB. They have had an initial dialogue with HPO staff. Anyone who wants to talk with them now, let me know and I will connect you.
We usually have a picnic in September. Working on the date and location. More to come.
This will be a combined BANCA/O Street meeting to review plans for 928 O Street. This is a non-contributing building so they intend to demolish it and construct a new building, please see the HPO guidance at the end of this message. Since we last heard from them, the developer/architect has met with a small group of neighbors, some of whom are design professionals, as well as the Historic Preservation Staff. This is an important meeting for neighbors to attend and key for providing your inputs and concerns before the design goes forward. The next step after this meeting will be the Community Development Committee meeting on Wed August 27 and the full ANC will review 10 September. Assuming the design is endorsed, then it will go forward to HPRB to request approval.
Following this the owner of 910 O Street will present her renovation plans.
Since no one came forward to host the meeting I will. I'll provide some beer and wine and would appreciate if others bring a few snacks.
Other items of interest:
The Colonel at 9th and N - I am still waiting for an update from HPO staff on this building where fake wood siding was installed instead of the required stucco on many of the sides and back of the building. HPO stays they will handle this - stay tuned.
I was just contacted by the new owner of 925 M Street, next door to George's house and met with them this evening. This piece of land is zoned R4 residential and given its size, can be two units as a matter or right. They own only the grass part of the lot, the brick area at the rear is owned by George and is zoned C2A commercial. Their intent is to build a residential building. When they have a preliminary design ready a meeting will be held with the community to review the design before proceeding to the CDC/ANC and then HPRB. They have had an initial dialogue with HPO staff. Anyone who wants to talk with them now, let me know and I will connect you.
We usually have a picnic in September. Working on the date and location. More to come.
HPO information on a non-contributing structure and its replacement:
Existing building is non-contributing. At the time the historic district was approved in 1990 by HPRB, 928 O Street was identified as a non-contributing building (see attached map from the nomination). The survey supporting the nomination identified 928 as an 1830’s structure, much altered, and the victim of a recent fire. There is no new information that would change its non-contributing status. As a non-contributing structure, it can be demolished at the Staff level and the question of demolition does not require HPRB. Here are the pertinent sections of the HP regs:
701.4 A contributing or non-contributing determination made at the time of a historic district or historic landmark designation shall be presumed to retain validity unless a re-evaluation is warranted due to physical change, the availability of new information, or the passage of time since the designation was made.
705.1 Upon receipt of an application to demolish a building or structure that the Board determined to be non-contributing when it designated the historic district, the staff may certify the building as non-contributing on behalf of the Board and may process the demolition permit accordingly.
Primary question is one of new construction in a historic district. The gable massing and setback position of 928 O are remnant characteristics of the building’s historic form. If an owner wanted to reconstruct that, the Board could approve that as compatible with the district. But reconstruction is not the standard for new construction. Rather, new construction just needs to be not incompatible with the character of the district, which for street lots, generally means a rowhouse at the front property line.
There’s a lot of design work to do. I do have concerns already about the materials, height and massing of the rowhouse form the architect is starting with. The centered, all-glass bay contravenes the standard of off-center bays for rowhouses. The dark, rough masonry is a stark contrast. While 3-stories is not completely foreign to the Blagden HD, this side of the street is distinctly 2-stories. But the other side of the street has enough 3-story buildings that that height is not completely foreign to the block. There are ways to mitigate a three-story building so it less ominous (like make the bay only two stories).
How important is the rear setback. Alley buildings generally sit on the rear property line. This lot doesn’t have that condition. Does the new project need that to be compatible with the other alley buildings? Does this need a garage or brick garden wall? The owner has zoning issues regarding this question. It’s the sort of academic question we’ll consider as an office during peer review after the case is filed.
Friday, July 18, 2014
Result of the meeting to review the use of horizontal clapboard vs stucco for 9th and N
Sent this to HPO:
First, the conclusion was to use the Stucco originally specified if possible but a compromise was agreed to below by the community present last night.
(1) The CAS Riegler suggested compromise to use stucco on the floors 5 and 6 and the horizontal clapboard appearing material (that they have installed on parts of the building) was rejected by all. CAS Riegler said that they would be presenting this option to you. This will leave far too much building area using the clapboard material visible from the alley. The solid wall facing south is particularly unattractive and noted by all (the wall to the south away from 9th). One only need stand at that point to see the view north of this new building and the view south of the original brick rear facades along M Street to know how wrong this approach will be and what a negative legacy of deciding on this choice.
(2) CAS Riegler characterized an HPO staff suggested option of alternating vertically between the stucco material and the horizontal clapboard material, we were told this was to mimic kind of a townhouse width/spacing. No one found that to be particularly compelling - certainly such an alternating vertical approach was used say on 910 M street but the building was designed for this and the spacing there makes sense. In this case the spacing of the windows, etc., was not designed for this and we just don't see that as a viable alternative. CAS Riegler said they would come back and present this option to you. In fairness this option is more difficult to visualize and perhaps once a rendering is made it might be more compelling.
(3) The option that everyone present agreed with was based on the first option above however we want stucco on floors 4, 5 and 6. The floor 5 and 6 approach works from a perspective of 9th and N Streets, no one can see the horizontal clapboards (I think). However stopping at the 5th floor falls apart when standing in several locations along Blagden Alley either the north south alley or in the central area near rogue 24 where the clapboard are currently quite prominent. If you take the stucco down to the 4th floor and only use the horizontal clapboards for floors 1, 2, and 3 then the material is minimally visible (the only place you can see it is through a 4 foot opening on the southwest corner of the property and from Frank Asher's back yard the first townhouse West of the Project on N Street).
All felt this was a reasonable compromise. CAS Riegler said they would prepare drawings of all 3 options including the one we recommend for your next meeting. Please keep us posted and we request that we be engaged should HPO conclude some other path then the one we are recommending. A number of neighbors would also like to see these new rendering when CAS Riegler produces them. I will ask them to send that to us electronically at the minimum.
Note that we do not care what they use in the interior courtyard unless it is visible from the alley or the street(which could be an issue at the top 2 floors towards the south side of the interior courtyard as the building to the south is only 3 stories high). At present the interior courtyard is almost completely finished using the horizontal clapboard material and painted grey.
Thanks
Greg
(note I held this meeting as the President of the Blagden Alley Naylor Court Association although this is also my SMD as ANC2F06)
PS there was some discussion of stucco vs a cement panel which has grid lines. I am not sure how the later is any better (as a commercial type material) than the horizontal clapboards for the view from within Blagden Alley where the material is not appropriate. We would appreciate some clarification on the use of this material.
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Update for Thursday nights BANCA meeting
Update: HPO and CAS Riegler met today to discuss a resolution of the wood siding vs stucco issue at 9th and N. CAS Riegler is on the hook to formally respond to HPO with updated plans that reflect the HPO/CAS Riegler discussion.
Therefore the nature of the BANCA meeting has changed. CAS Riegler will walk us around the building showing the different vista's and then present the updated plan that HPO has agreed in principle to approve (subject to seeing the formal submittal from CAS Riegler). Our role is to review these plans and then provide HPO with any feedback - agree, disagree or recommend some motifications. HPO has agreed to consider any neighborhood input before making the final agreement with CAS Riegler. Following that approval CAS Riegler will make any changes required by HPO.
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Blagden Alley Naylor Court Association Meeting Thursday night
The meeting will be at 7PM on Thursday night July 17.
The location will be the corner of 9th and N Street, yes we will just meet on the corner by Reformation Fitness.
This meeting's sole focus will be the wood appearance siding that CAS Riegler has installed on the sides and rear of the new construction building "The Colonel."
BANCA and the CDC/ANC worked pretty hard on the facade for this building as it transitions from the Historic parts of the neighborhood and then interfaces with the convention center across the street. I believe we ended up with a good result for the 9th and N Street facades. That said the permits and historic review for this building specified a stucco finish on the sides and rear, given it is a wood frame construction above the ground floor. I raised this issue with the Historic Preservation Office as clearly they did not approve the wood appearance siding material. HPO can go to the Office of Administrative Hearing and attempt to have a stop work order issued and force the contractor to comply but HPO says that OAH will not process these cases without an attempt at mediation. So this meeting is the communities opportunity to review the current materials, examine options and recommend an approach to CAS Riegler and HPO.
We will start at the corner of 9th and N, then go inside the buildings courtyard to see the siding material in its painted condition (this area is not visible from the street or alley) then walk around inside to the Blagden Alley view. CAS Riegler will have some renderings and we'll take it from there. I have no preconceived compromise other than I have told him that universally no one in the neighborhood likes this siding style finish. Weather should be good so I believe a meeting outside will be fine.
The location will be the corner of 9th and N Street, yes we will just meet on the corner by Reformation Fitness.
This meeting's sole focus will be the wood appearance siding that CAS Riegler has installed on the sides and rear of the new construction building "The Colonel."
BANCA and the CDC/ANC worked pretty hard on the facade for this building as it transitions from the Historic parts of the neighborhood and then interfaces with the convention center across the street. I believe we ended up with a good result for the 9th and N Street facades. That said the permits and historic review for this building specified a stucco finish on the sides and rear, given it is a wood frame construction above the ground floor. I raised this issue with the Historic Preservation Office as clearly they did not approve the wood appearance siding material. HPO can go to the Office of Administrative Hearing and attempt to have a stop work order issued and force the contractor to comply but HPO says that OAH will not process these cases without an attempt at mediation. So this meeting is the communities opportunity to review the current materials, examine options and recommend an approach to CAS Riegler and HPO.
We will start at the corner of 9th and N, then go inside the buildings courtyard to see the siding material in its painted condition (this area is not visible from the street or alley) then walk around inside to the Blagden Alley view. CAS Riegler will have some renderings and we'll take it from there. I have no preconceived compromise other than I have told him that universally no one in the neighborhood likes this siding style finish. Weather should be good so I believe a meeting outside will be fine.
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Street closure on Wednesday night 6:45PM to 1 AM see below
Please note that the square around the Carnegie Library will be closed to traffic from 6:45PM to 1AM on Wednesday night 16 July.
Events DC | Conventions & Meetings
Traffic Alert
July 10, 2014
The Walter E. Washington Convention Center will host Microsoft’s 2014 Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC) over the official dates of July 13-17, 2014. Total attendance is projected at 15,800. Additional details about the event are included in the attached press release.
Daily WPC activity hours are as follows:
Sunday, July 13
|
8:00 am – 9:00 pm
|
Monday, July 14
|
7:00 am – 6:00 pm
|
Tuesday, July 15
|
7:30 am – 6:00 pm
|
Wednesday, July 16
|
7:30 am – 6:00 pm
|
Thursday, July 17
|
8:00 am –11:00 am
|
Monday, July 14 and Wednesday, July 16 (11:30 am)
Vision Keynotes will take place at the Verizon Center. Attendance for the keynotes is projected at 10,000. At the conclusion of the keynotes (approximately 11:30 am), the attendees will move en masse to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Arrangements have been made through the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) to provide Traffic Control Officers (TCOs) at key 7thand 9th Street NW intersections between the Verizon Center and Convention Center.
Wednesday, July 16 (6:45 pm – 1:00 am):
Temporary Road Closure
WPC has arranged, with the District of Columbia, to temporarily close the 700-800 blocks of K Street NW (between 7th and 9th Streets) to motorists and pedestrians for the WPC Celebration. This special event, for registered WPC attendees, will encompass the grounds of Carnegie Library, the 700-800 blocks of K Street NW and Techworld Plaza. The hours of the closure are from 6:45 pm – 1:00 am. Microsoft has submitted a traffic control plan to the District which includes the hiring of a reimbursable detail from MPDSOD and the hiring of DDOT TCOs to staff their traffic control plan. In the event of inclement weather, the celebration may be moved inside the Convention Center.
Shuttle Service
Throughout the WPC event, morning and afternoon shuttle service will be provided on both sides of the 700 – 800 blocks of L Street NW (between 7th and 9th Streets) and outside of the Convention Center on the east side of the 1000 block of 9th Street NW (between L Street and Mount Vernon Place) .
Shuttle hours are as follows:
Date / Date
|
Hours / Details
|
Sunday, July 13th
|
11:00 am – 7:00 pm Shuttles from Dulles Airport and Reagan National Airport
|
Monday, July 14th
|
Service from various hotels to the Verizon Center.
***Coaches may stage at the Convention Center in the event of inclement weather.
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
|
Tuesday, July 15th
|
7:00 am – 9:00 am
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
|
Wednesday, July 16th
|
7:00 am – 9:00 am Service from various hotels to the Verizon Center
***Coaches may stage at the Convention Center in the event of inclement weather.
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
5:45 pm – 6:30 pm Sales Ach Shuttle
7:00 pm – 11:00 pm Celebration Shuttle
|
Thursday, July 17th
|
7:30 am – 9:00 am
11:00 am – 12:00 pm closing shuttles
|
Special Notes
– The L Street crosswalk will be staffed by Events DC transportation personnel and officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
– You may anticipate an enormous demand for taxis and much greater than usual pedestrian and vehicular traffic outside of/near the Convention Center.
– The taxi stand on Mount Vernon Place will be staffed by Events DC transportation personnel and MPD officers.
We appreciate your patience and understanding. Please join us in welcoming The Microsoft World Partners Conference to our community.
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