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Articles
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| ANC 6C OKs Dreyfus project |
VOICE writes, "ANC 6C OKs Dreyfus project
BY AMY DOOLITTLE
The Near Northeast advisory neighborhood commission Sept. 25 supported a major mixed-use development at 200 H St., NE.
At its Sept. 11 meeting, the commission voted to delay the vote until this week's special meeting. Architects Rick Cook and Mark Fox had presented current project designs and building plans, which have changed drastically since developers first presented the project to the commission last year. The team had been in negotiations with city-designated mediator Lee Quill and community members over the size and scope of the proposed building."
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Current plans are for a 390,000-square-feet building, compared to original plans for 432,000 square feet, developers said. The project will be no more than 100 feet tall at its highest corner, which will match a building opposite the project, on the north side of H Street.
Community members worried that granting relief from H Street design guidelines would set a precedent allowing equally tall buildings on the corridor.
But Quill said the District would grant developer Louis Dreyfus Properties its planned building height because unique aspects of the project would be virtually impossible to imitate elsewhere on H Street, thereby not setting a precedent.
At the Sept. 25 meeting, commissioners supported upzoning because of the site's uniqueness, Commissioner Karen Wirt said.
She said the amenities and benefits packages from the project include funding for the Clean and Safe program to improve the H Street corridor, funding for a historical survey that could lead to an expanded historic district, and microloans for home improvements around the project.
NE election Oct. 10
The commission announced a special election at its next regularly scheduled meeting to replace commissioner Terry Heubert, who resigned at the Sept. 11 meeting.
Heubert has said he is moving outside his single-member district to the neighboring commission.
Tom Hamilton, Brendan Danaher, Katja Eichinger and J. Bradley Jansen will be on the ballot. Only registered voters in Heubert’s district (Fifth to Eighth streets and F Street to Massachusetts Avenue, NE) can vote.
Walks for the community
• The 21st Annual AIDS walk will take place at 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 6. It will begin and end at Freedom Plaza, blocking off portions of Pennsylvania Avenue throughout the morning.
The commission agreed to support the walk, but commissioner Charley Docter urged organizers to start the event one hour earlier next year to avoid traffic delays.
• Chuck Brodskey presented plans for the National Triathlon, scheduled for Sept. 29. The race will include a swim down the Potomac River, bike ride and run through the city and will cause traffic delays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The commission agreed to support the event, with commissioner Charley Docter exhorting organizers to start the event one hour earlier next year.
• Thomas Gallo said he is organizing a group to install a Heritage Trail along the H Street Corridor. The project, funded by Cultural Tourism DC, would display signs detailing the history of the H Street neighborhood in key locations both on and just off the street [see related story on p. 9].
Commissioners suggested Gallo apply for a community grant if he needs extra funds for the project.
• Harrison Wilder, a pastor with Capitol City Church, announced that the church is renting space on Sunday mornings in Stuart-Hobson Middle School on E Street, NE. To ease parking concerns, the congregation plans to use off-street spaces provided by the school and utilize public transit.
Other actions:
The commission also voted to:
• Delay approval of a license to serve liquor for The Source by Wolfgang Puck restaurant at the Newseum at 575 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, until the Sept. 25 special meeting.
• Support an effort by Kerry Silverman, president of the Mount Vernon Square Neighborhood Association, to lobby the city to take final steps to shut down Fun Fair Video-Movie in the 900 block of Fifth Street, NW. City officials said Fun Fair operates illegally under a family-oriented video store license but is an adult video store and arcade.
A neighborhood rally to close the store was held Sept. 17.
• Support the construction of a rear addition at 627 Lexington Pl., NE, to the Historic Preservation Review Board.
• Support an application for outdoor seating at Oyamel D.C. at 401 Seventh St., NW.
• Support a rear addition to National Center for State Courts at 111 Second St., NE, to the Historic Preservation Review Board.
• Support the complete closure of an alley at Square 749.
• Support the appointment of community member Gerald Morrissey to replace commissioner Terry Heubert as chair of the commission’s Alcohol Beverage License committee
• Form a committee to examine transportation issues and appoint commissioner Anne Phelps as chair.
Roll call
Commissioners Alan Kimber, Charley Docter, Terry Heubert, Ryan Velasco and Anne Phelps were present. Commissioners Karen Wirt, Keith Silver, Mark Dixon and Lena Brown were absent.
The next meeting begins at 7 p.m. on Oct. 10 at National Public Radio, 635 Massachusetts Ave., NW. For information, visit www.anc6c.org.
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Posted on Sep 26, 2007 17:51pm.
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