ANC 3/4G-05 Updates, June 10, 2024

Jul 15

Good Neighbors one and all!

The ANC meets both virtually and in person at the Community Center tomorrow night at 7pm. The meeting link is here. Our next summer meetings are on June 24, July 8, and 22.

The commision will vote on a Commissioners Gosselin and Sherman's proposal to the Office of Planning on zoning changes to Connecticut Avenue and the Chevy Chase Civic Core. That can be found here. I believe, as do many of my constituents, that current outdoor capacity should be maintained at the Civic Core. The current buildings take up about 40 percent of the lot space. While well meaning, the plan gives way to the potential loss of 20 percent of the outdoor space. Even in it's modest condition the space is used frequently. The outdoor space is community land that could be improved. It will be essential for current residents and future generations of residents that will ultimately come to this neighborhood with new zoning changes. I will request that the proposal be amended to maintain the 40 percent lot coverage.

I am growing skeptical of the city's vision for the Civic Core. For example, Commissioner Gosselin and I met with developers from Rift Valley Partners. They envision 150-280 units at the Civic Core. They also said they would max out the building space at the site. A range of unit affordability was talked about in a way that doesn't match the initial concept of housing at the site, which often leaned towards complete affordability. The La Reine building where I live has 93 units. Try to imagine La Reine, and a community center, and a library, and the outdoor amenities currently at the Civic Core. We have been told often that we are not experts, and this is true, but common sense is making it hard to imagine this all fitting. I hope to be surprised at the upcoming RFPs.

The Civic Core RFPs are due on June 15th. From my time on the Community Advisory Committee of the Small Area Plan, to campaigning for this seat, and throughout DMPED's OurRFP process, I have said the same thing. Many in this community would welcome the same or enhanced use of the community center, library, and outdoor space, while adding additional housing that doesn't tower over neighboring homes. I hope developers and DMPED can make that happen, and will continue to advocate for that.

In May I met with Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton to talk about sites that could be used for much needed housing. Their office's response was basically that they need to hear from the Council and the Mayor first.

This ANC has requested the city look into purchasing the Chevy Chase Wells Fargo site. Councilmember Matt Frumin and State Board of Education representative Eric Goulet, as well as several ANCs, have pushed for the purchase of Intelsat. Jackson Reed administrator Marc Minsker has advocated for community space at Fort Reno's Chesapeake House. Other areas at Fort Reno, which go unused and underutilized, offer housing opportunities as well. All these potential places, and others in the Friendship Heights area, don't have valued community centers and libraries in the mix. Some sites are owned by the federal government. In the case of Fort Reno, housing would directly address the history of displacement in that happened within the past 100 years.

Speaking of which, if you missed the RASE and Undesign The Redline event, you can check on it here. The password is !?jjy602. Thanks to Joy Bates Boyle for her work and presentation.

On Monday we will receive an update about the bioretention beds planned for the area. Thanks for Chair Gore and Chair Duncan of ANC 3D for writing a letter to DDOT and DOEE that asks for the plans to be cancelled without adequate funding to maintain the bioretention beds. Unless there is proper upkeep the beds won't work. I share the view of ANC 3D that the beds shouldn't be installed without the guarantee of proper maintenance.

If you're traveling this summer, or weighing in on campaigns around the country, check out the DC Statehood Scorecard. Please let your out of state friends and family know about our lack of representation. The unjust interference in our local democracy is just getting started. Statehood is the only solution.

The League of Women Voters is one of the leading nonpartisan organizations advocating for DC Statehood. Consider joining or supporting their work.

I'm not running for a second term. We need people to step up. If you have any questions about the ANC role, I am more than happy to speak with you. If you know a qualified neighbor, ask them to consider running for the seat.

Blue 44 is going out of business. One issue that will need serious attention is encouraging the Council and Mayor to craft policy that will help our small, often family owned businesses survive. I recently learned that not only does Scrabble club take place at the Avenue, but so does a mahjong group. At Art, Sound, Language pop up concerts bring people together in a way the Arcade has rarely ever seen before. These small business operations help bind up our community in ways that larger chains do not. We should do everything we can to protect them.

If you are interested or have ideas about ways in which the city can further support these businesses, please reach out.

Thanks so much to the neighbors who came out with Commissioner Ferguson and myself for a neighborhood clean up. We can do good things when we come together.