Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6D met on Oct. 15 via Zoom. Commissioners Bob Link (6DO1, vice chair), Ronald Collins (6D02, treasurer), Gail Fast (6D03), Andrea Pawley (6D04), Chearie Phelps-El (6D05), Fredrica (Rikki) Kramer (6D07, chair) and Rhonda Hamilton (6D08) were in attendance. Bruce Levine (6D06, secretary) was absent
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Lt. Elias Danho and Lt. Yusuf Edwards briefed the commission on public safety. The past week has been “pretty violent” around the Greenleaf area, Dano stated. His report included:
There was a homicide involving two armed individuals in a parked car at South Capitol and N Street SE which resulted in a murder of one of them, he said. There are good leads, but the case remains open.
There have been several robberies. The first occurred on Sept. 19 at 399 M St. SW, a man was walking in a park on Maine Ave. with his phone in his hand. Two juveniles snatched the phone and ran. On Sept. at 791 Wharf St. SW, a young woman was approached by armed man who held her up and stole her watch. On Oct. 11 on the 200 block of N Street SW at 1:30 a.m., a cyclist was deliberately hit by a car and then robbed. A second robbery occurred at 465 M St. SW in the rear alley on Oct. 12 at 4:50 p.m. Three juveniles robbed a man unloading a U-Haul. They stole the victim’s keys and ran toward the metro station.
On Oct. 13 at 203 N St. SW, two victims were shot randomly walking back from Audi Field. On Oct. 11, at 3:24 p.m., MPD was alerted by citizens and the shot spotter to three gunshots across from the First District station on M St. Officers saw one of the shooters going into a row house on the 200 block of K Street SW with an object in his hand. Officers contained and cleared the house. Detectives obtained a search warrant and recovered two guns. The case remains open, but police arrested two individuals, he said.
“This is very alarming. There were 100 rounds fired,” said Commissioner Hamilton. Many people are afraid to use the recreation center, she continued. She asked for a community meeting with the First District.
“We need to figure out working with you how we can make seniors and children safer around the rec center,” she said. Other commissioners echoed her concerns.
The police are shifting resources to focus on the area around Greenleaf Rec Center, said Danho.
25 Potomac Avenue SE
MRP, the developers of 25 Potomac Ave. SE asked for the commission for a Modification of Consequence (MOC) for their submitted Planned Unit Development (PUD) filed with the DC Zoning Commission (DCZC), which is at its second stage as well as a public space application for a proposed dog park filed with DDOT. The site is adjacent to Buzzard Point, which awards the commission standing before DCZC.
The MOC involves a change in use from a hotel and retail to two residential buildings that will be 130 ft in height and together house 600 residential units. Nearly an acre of the property will be dedicated to publicly accessible areas including a dog park located partially in public space.
The DCZC has not set a hearing date. There will be a hearing on the public space application in mid-November.
The commission voted to the the project, reserving judgement on the review by ANC 8F and also the full design details.
Club Volo
Volo Sport & Social Club is located on a lot located on the corner of Potomac Avenue and Half Street SE across from Parcel B on Buzzard Point that is owned by Steuart Investment Company. Volo organizes sports leagues in DC (volosports.com).
The owners are seeking a tavern license to allow alcohol sales for the spectators of their pickleball and volleyball adult and kids leagues. The facilities will be available for community rental. The planned capacity is 5,000 with 2,500 seats. The courts will be lighted. The facility will be secured behind a fence. On game days, the parcel will operate as a bar, owners stated.
Commissioners Hamilton and Fast raised the impact of the new sports facility on the scarce public parking in Buzzard Point. Full capacity will be a very rare event, owners stated. Most of their current players use public, bicycle or public transit.
Commissioner Pawley expressed her appreciation for the Ward 6 roots of the owners. “I don’t hear you (the owners) talking specifically about transportation,” Pawley said.
Pawley stressed the need for owners to have a plan to communicate the transportation constraints on Buzzard Point to their patrons. She stressed they also need to coordinate with the stadiums and the city’s special events taskforce.
Vice President Link advised owners to redraft their entire application, particularly with concern to operating hours. Commissioners really objected to plans to operate as a game day open bar, similar to the Bullpen.
The commission voted to protest the Volo license on the grounds of peace, order and quiet.
Other ABC Matters
Absent a settlement agreement, the commission voted to protest the license application of Brisa located at 2121 First St. SW on the grounds of peace, order and quiet.
The commission voted to protest a medical cannabis dispensary license for Love 420 at 39 Q Street SW. Owner Dean Smothers promised extensive armed and unarmed security including an MPD detail as well as extensive cameras. The commission voted to protest the license in absence of a community agreement on the grounds of peace, order and quiet. Smothers pledged to start negotiating an agreement with the commission’s Alcohol Beverage and Cannabis (ABC) Committee.
The commission voted to approve the settlement agreement and withdraw its protest of the liquor license for The Fish Shop at 610 Water St. SW.
Other Matters
Pepco’s External Relations Manager Linda Greenan provided updates on the company’s three Buzzard Point projects. The first, the replacement of the switchgear for the substation, is expected to finish in 2025. The second, an action plan for emptying the steam plant building in advance of moving the outside adjacent substation indoors, will be completed in 2026. Lastly, the company is installing a security fence around the neighborhood substation, Greenan stated. Commissioners had many questions regarding the environmental remediation of the steam plant’s interior and adjacent parcel. It was too early in the process to answer, Greenan stated.
DDOT has issued their draft guidelines for a permanent streetery program, stated Vice President Link. Most importantly, the new rules provide for less ANC input. Link is preparing a letter to be voted on at the next meeting.
The District has created a 211 line for services and referrals during business hours, stated Commissioner Fast.
The commission voted to write again to the DC Housing Authority regarding Greenleaf. The letter asked for the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the agency and their development partners; requested a specific map of all units detailing their status regarding renovation; outlined the commission’s concerns about maintaining senior housing at Greenleaf and specifics of the future plans in this regard; and reiterating the importance of a Build-First approach to redevelopment and the specifics of that plan. The commission also, at Commissioner Fast insistence, voted to FOIA the MOU.
DDOT has issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) to install loading zones on First and Second Streets SW on Buzzard Point to accommodate the expansion of DC Central Kitchen. Both streets are cul-de-sacs that end at the river. First Street is extremely congested due to ground floor dining establishments. The commission opposed the First Street plan, but the reconfiguration of Second Street.
ANC 6D meets at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of every month. The next meeting is Nov. 12. For more information, visit www.anc6d.org.
