Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 1B held its monthly meeting for January on Thursday evening, January 5, 2023. This was the first meeting of the newly elected commission. Commissioners Larry Handerhan (1B01), Sean Holihan (1B02), Jamie Sycamore (1B03), Santiago Lakatos (1B04), Alan Kensek (1B05), Ashleigh Fields (1B07), Sabel Harris (1B08) and Tucker Jones (1B09) attended the meeting. The 1B06 seat is currently vacant.
Election of Officers
Commissioner Harris and Commissioner Kensek were nominated for the position of Chair. Harris was elected Chair with six votes, against Kensek’s two votes. Commissioner Handerhan was nominated for Vice Chair and elected without opposition. The position of Treasurer had two nominees, Commissioners Kensek and Lakatos. Lakatos became Treasurer with a vote of five to two. Commissioner Jones was unopposed for Secretary.
Election of Committee Chairs
After taking over as Chair, Commissioner Harris took up the assignment of committee chairs. Commissioner Houlihan became chair of the Alcohol Beverage Regulation Committee. There were three nominations for Community Engagement and Public Safety Committee, Fields, Kensek and Sycamore. Commissioner Fields was elected committee chair. Commissioner Handerhan was nominated to run the Economic Development Committee without opposition. Commissioner Lakatos was chosen chair of the Transportation Committee. Commissioners Jones and Kensek were nominated for the Zoning, Preservation and Development Committee. Jones won the vote for chair.
Zoning, Preservation and Development (ZPD)
1250 U Street NW. Planned Unit Development (PUD) discussed at past commission meeting. Commissioner Harris estimated that the commissioners, the developers and the community had spent over 100 hours of discussion on this case. The approval of the project was passed at the December ANC meeting. The developer said that there were $650,000 of community benefits in the PUD package. The developers were concerned that the Zoning Commission might require ratification by the new commission before their meeting in March. The ANC voted again to support the PUD.
621 Florida Avenue NW. Historic preservation review of plans to renovate building. The former Hall Brothers Funeral Home is being turned into a seven-unit apartment building. The ZPD is satisfied with the plans. A motion to support the project passed.
Economic Development
The biggest issue before the committee is the redevelopment of the Frank Reeves Center. The Request for Proposals for the redevelopment has been reissued with changes in project scope, with new proposals coming in soon. The ANC will have to review the proposals and make comments on them. The Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development wants a commission vote on the matter at the next ANC 1B meeting.
A question came up about the prospects for the redevelopment of the District-owned building at 17th and U Streets which houses the Third District police precinct and a fire station. This project is now in the jurisdiction of ANC 1B. The ANC is awaiting word from the Deputy Mayor’s office on plans for the redevelopment.
Transportation
There is a lot of interest in the proposed protected bike lane along 11th Street NW. A change of name for the committee is being considered to include its work on public space permits.
Alcoholic Beverage Regulation (ABR)
Cloak and Dagger, 1359 U Street NW. Voting on amendments to a tavern licensee’s previous settlement agreement. Changing the schedule for trash pickup was the most significant amendment. Also addressing queuing problems on the sidewalk and alley. A motion to approve the amendments passed.
Sports and Social, 1314 U Street NW. A restaurant license for a new establishment. Also applying for a sports gambling license, an interior entertainment endorsement and a sidewalk café. It is part of a chain of establishments in the DC region. Typically, the ANC votes to protest new licenses. A motion before the ANC to protest the license application based on adverse impacts on peace, order and quiet passed by vote of six yeas, one abstention.
Posh Lounge, 1924 U Street NW. A new tavern license request. The ABR Committee voted unanimously to protest the license. The community worries that there is a proliferation of liquor establishments in the area. Motion to protest based on peace, order, quiet, trash concerns, parking concerns and the number of liquor establishments in the area. The motion passed with six yeas, one no.
ANC 1B meets on the first Thursday of each month. Plans are to hold these meetings as a virtual conference. Visit www.anc1b.org for more information.
