Commentary: ANC 5D Meeting February 2022

There was a wrinkle in this month’s ANC meeting, when only Commissioners Sydelle Moore, Sauceda-Guzman, and Cobb made it for roll call. With Comms. Latoya Moore, Rhodes, Hoffman and Blacknell out, the Committee lacked a “quorum,” or majority necessary for voting. This is extraordinarily rare for this term — all seven commissioners have been present for most meetings. One or two voting actions were tabled for next month, but otherwise the meeting proceeded normally. The agenda is here, and the Youtube recording is here.

MPD Public Safety Report from Lt. Zunnobia Hakir: Crime is down overall, which is normal for this season. Lots of guns are being picked up locally in traffic stops. According to Lt. Hakir, guns are coming into the city in lots of ways, including guns from Virginia and Maryland that are being stolen out of cars, as well as ghost guns and 3D-printed guns. The Lieutenant claimed that MPD was “defunded” in fiscal year 2021, but the reality is a little more complicated. Commissioner Cobb pushed back on that, and the Lieutenant replied that the budget changes did impact hiring and training. A neighbor had a comment challenging the claims about hiring and officers sitting in cars. Overall, it was very civil!

Mayor’s Office report from Nokomis Hunter: There’s a new Ward 5 Covid Center, with lots of vaccination, masking, and testing resources, open every day except Monday. It’s located at 2300 Washington Place, NE, near the Rhode Island Metro. More info here. The indoor mask requirement is still in effect through the rest of the month. There are ongoing budget engagement forums.

Ward 5 Councilmember’s Report from Silas Grant: Grant said there was a fire in Ivy City yesterday (I can’t find any more information, please share if you have it). It’s budget season for DC Council. There is a survey so you can tell Councilmember McDuffie what you’re interested in for the city budget. Amusingly, there is an annual competition in the Councilmember’s office to see which rep can get the most survey responses, so if you want to help Silas win, be sure to respond here.

A presentation on 2229 M St. NE Senior Housing from Marcus Goodwin: This was presented by former DC Council At-large candidate Marcus Goodwin. This is a preliminary presentation for a 120-unit development meant to be entirely affordable housing for seniors 55+, just south of the closed-up National Arboretum entrance in Carver-Langston. (The Arboretum seeks to re-open that entrance to walking and biking, but does not have the work scheduled). 

The details of what specific levels of affordable housing will be determined later based on funding methods. Commissioner Moore noted that this project, at eight stories, would be dramatically taller than all the structures around it, and that as the process continues, the ANC might seek to have the design change to better fit in with the neighborhood. 

Presentation on 801 20th St. NE from Eric Teran: The developers of a rowhouse in Carver-Langston want permission to expand the building one floor up and about 8 feet further back, and make it into three units. This property is in Commissioner Sydelle Moore’s district, where there have been a few notable examples of illegal construction, some of which Teran cited as comparison properties. Comm. Moore took issue with this and escalating zoning precedents. “It’s not that we’re making a one-off decision, it’s a decision that affects 50 homes,” she said. She went further to say she wouldn’t approve this request as presented. 

Presentation on NoMa BID from Brian Smith: This was an update on the progress on a new entrance to the NoMa/Gallaudet Metro station from the Business Improvement District. It will provide more direct access to points east, including basically all of ANC 5D. It is in neighboring ANC 6A, which pushed the developer of a new building on 3rd Street, Armature Works, to make a “cut out” for the new entrance. The BID is asking for $50 million dollars in the next city budget (it had almost made it into previous budgets). They are seeking a letter of support from ANC 5D. 

There were a lot of questions about who’s paying for the work on the station. As someone who used to write a lot about transportation, in my opinion $50 million is not as much as it sounds like in terms of subway-building projects. Transportation is expensive, but by nearly every conceivable measurement, this stuff pays for itself over time. It makes sense to invest in improving our safe connections to Metro, even if it only seems like it saves a few minutes of walking. Also, I think it's worth supporting ANC 6A in the interest of local partnership and solidarity. (Couldn’t vote tonight due to lack of quorum)

Sports Betting at Union Oyster Bar: Tabled due to lack of quorum

Ongoing case 1961 H St. NE: According to Commissioner Moore, this triangle-shaped property keeps getting sold to new developers and the ANC and BZA keep rejecting each new plan. Sounds like a pyramid-shaped scheme!

Community questions and announcements:

• If you want to help your community and get paid to do it, you could get trained to report illegal construction as a DCRA resident inspector. 

• DC has a free mediation process provided by Community Mediation DC