 On Thursday, May 14, 2009, at 7 pm, CSNA held its regular meeting at The Saloon, 1205 U Street, NW, 2nd Floor . Agenda items included discussion of the JBG Companies' proposed "U Street Hotel" project and its specific impact within the Greater U Street Historic District, an update on CSNA's Dog Days efforts and call for volunteers, and other neighborhood items. Read more for the complete meeting minutes. May 2009 · Regular Meeting - Agenda Thursday, 14 May 2009 · 7 PM The Saloon • 1205 U Street, NW • 2nd Floor www.csnadc.org Welcome and Introductions Welcome andIntroductions President’s Remarks: Bryan Martin Firvida,
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- Thanks to neighbors and businesses who supported the Vermont Ave. planting party. Over 50 volunteers worked on the planting at the Vermont Ave median. Thanks to Urban Land, Duffy’s, 9:30 Club, and Ben’s Next Door, who each generously donated to the planting effort.
- For those interested in helping support the Friends of Harrison Recreation Center, please contact Lydia Charles.
- Bryan nominated Lynn Coffin as Membership Chair. CSNA voted by acclamation to support Lynn Coffin as membership chair.
- Bryan proposed an amendment to change the Bylaws so that the membership period is changed from a calendar year to a 12 month period from the start of each membership. The proposed amendment was seconded, and will be up for a vote at the June CSNA meeting. During discussion about the amendment, it was suggested that CSNA should offer multiple year memberships and auto-renew membership options.
- Text of amendment: "Section 3 - Admission of Members
Applicants shall be admitted to membership upon payment of annual dues as specified in the following sections of this Bylaw. The term of membership is for 12 months; the membership term shall end 12 months later on the last day of the month in which dues were paid."
- For those interested in helping plan CSNA’s U Street Community Festival as part of the Dog Days 2009 event, please contact Jon Kardon at
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Brian Card mentioned that the Shaw Dog Park, at 11th Street between R & Q, is celebrating its 6 month anniversary. Brian will post the event information to the U Street listserv.
CSNA Committee Reports and Discussion Public Safety - Brian Card, Chair:
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- The PSA 305 Meeting Notes are posted on CSNA’s website in the Public Safety section.
- MPD arrested an individual who has been responsible for many thefts in autos.
- Mayor Fenty will be doing a walkthrough and press conference at 14th and W Streets in response to the recent violence in the neighborhood.
- Please contact Brian Card to become involved with the Public Safety Committee.
Treasurer’s Report - Chuck Baxter, Treasurer:
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- There is a total of $17,301.35 in the CSNA account. $11,769.11 is available for general use, $4,482.24 is available for Dog Days, and $1,050 is available for the Vermont Avenue planting project.
Membership Report - Lynn Coffin, Chair (pending):
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- As of tonight's meeting, there are 105 CSNA members.
Transportation and Parking - Cheryl Cort, chair:
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- The 14th and U northbound bus station has been replaced with a new station further to the north so that buses do not hang over the intersection.
Business Development and ABC - Phil Spalding, chair:
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- The first Business Development Committee meeting was recently held. The next meeting will be scheduled for May 30, 2009 at 12 pm.
- New proposed valet parking regulations are on the DDOT website
- Nellie’s – Substantial change from CR to CT, 900 U Street, NW
- Doug Schantz presented plans to change from a CR (restaurant) license to a CT (tavern) license. He explained that it is difficult to maintain a 45% food sales amount as a restaurant license, and they don’t want to be penalized for not meeting this regulation. Phil Spalding advised that only recently has the DC government been enforcing the 45% food sales requirement. He foresees about 6 more applications to change from a CR to CT license over the next 3-4 months.
- CSNA voted in a clear majority in favor of the motion to support Nellie’s substantial change from a CR to a CT license.
- The Business Development Committee wrote a letter to ANC1B Commissioner Peter Raia expressing the desire for nicer liquor stores with a better selection in the area. Several Class A liquor stores are up for liquor licenses renewals, including Florida Liquors, Serve-U Liquors, Boston Liquors, and Best Way Liquors.
- Red Lounge has adjusted their liquor license to recognize the 2nd floor of their establishment on their license.
- Abiti at 1909 9th Street has applied for an entertainment endorsement for ethnic music.
- U Street Café at 1301 U Street has applied for a stipulated CR license that would enable them to start operating without an official license. Their outdoor garden would not be used for liquor sales. ANC1B voted to approve the stipulated license.
- DC Housing Finance Agency Parking
- Councilmember Jim Graham is setting up a meeting to talk with the DC Housing Finance Agency and community leaders about using the DC HFA parking garage for nighttime and weekend parking, similar to the Reeves Center.
- CSNA voted in a clear majority to issue a letter of support to use the DC Housing Finance Agency as a parking garage open to the public on nights and weekends.
Historic Preservation and Development - Sheryl Walter, Chair:
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- JBG's U Street Hotel Project - Sheryl Walter led a presentation about CSNA’s Historic Preservation Committee’s comments about the JBG U Street Hotel project at 13th and U Streets. The comments are intended for JBG’s presentation at the May, 28 Historic Preservation Review Board meeting, at which HPRB will consider the impact of the building as an architectural structure on the historic district. The project will be a PUD, and at later stages, other aspects of the building beyond the historic district concerns can be discussed.
- After the presentation, a question and answer session was held:
- Dan noted that a group of people on Wallach Place have only a 10’ alley separating their houses from the building, and the building will dwarf their houses especially since they are in such close proximity.
- Ron noted that the building that was at this location prior to the Rite Aid development was a 4 story building in the Victorian / Federalist style. He’d like to see a new Federalist style building with red brick.
- Jon Kardon asked whether the Committee has a recommendation of an acceptable height of the building. The response was no, the Committee has not recommended an acceptable height.
- Scott Pomeroy asked what area was considered when determining whether the height is too tall. The committee responded that the study area was from the True Reformer Building to the Reeves Center, along U Street. Scott noted that there are several other tall buildings outside of this small study area, but that are within the historic district. These buildings should be included in the study area. Also, he noted that the committee failed to mention the high level of detail included in JBG’s designs.
- Robin Schuster asked what HPRB considers in the areas of context and transition. Bryan responded that HPRB is looking for context within the entire district, and transitions primarily with adjacent buildings.
- Ramon Estrada, Dupont Circle ANC2B09 Commissioner, commented that in the Utopia and Whitman Walker HPRB reviews, the board mentioned that the Reeves Center should not be used as a reference point, instead the Ellington at 1301 U Street should be used as a reference point.
It was asked whether shade studies have been conducted. JBG responded that yes, they are available on the CSNA website .
- Representatives from JBG thanked the committee for the presentation and for the comments. They noted that they have been presenting to the public for a long time, and have been very open about the plans. They noted that the site is right next to a Metro Station, and the DC Government is in favor of the highest and best use of land near Metro Stations. The project is feasible as designed, and it is not feasible at a smaller scale. In response to comments that the building has no setbacks, JBG noted that the building is designed so that the first 2 floors are set to the property line with a 15 foot sidewalk in front. Above the 2nd floor, the building is setback 12 feet in 2 places. Nowhere does the building go up to a height of 103’ from the property line. Instead, the height goes to 83’ before the setting back in multiple locations.
- CSNA voted 19 – 16 in favor of submitting a letter to the Historic Preservation Review Board and Historic Preservation Office stating:
- The Cardozo Shaw Neighborhood Association (CSNA) supports appropriate development consistent with the DC Government’s Historic Preservation Guidelines at the site known as 1310 U Street, a.k.a. 'The 13th Street Hotel' or 'JBG Project', which site is located in the Greater U Street Historic District;
- The CSNA supports use of the site as a hotel in an appropriately designed building;
- The CSNA believes that several of the design elements currently proposed by JBG are appropriate for inclusion in the Greater U Street Historic District; CSNA would like to note special appreciation of the level of detail and design JBG has shown to all four of the building’s facades;
- The CSNA believes that the scale, height, massing and proportions/lack of transition elements of the current design are incompatible with the historic nature of the Greater U Street Historic District neighborhood, and incompatible with the District of Columbia Historic Preservation Office guidelines for new construction in the U Street Historic District.
Community Reports and Announcements Community Reports and Announcements - Office of Councilmember Jim Graham: On Wednesday, May 20, there will be a public hearing on bills for parking.
Please note that agenda items may change. |
