1617 14th Street, NW by Hickok Cole architects-Informational Presentation on a proposed mixed-use (ground-floor retail with residential) project and one floor of below-grade parking.
14th & Corcoran (Zip Car Lot)-Samuel Zemui, owner and developer
Arts Overlay Committee-informational presentation by Andrea Doughty
Pitango Gelato, 1451 P Street, NW-Request for Public Space Permit for Sidewalk Café
I was disheartened, to say the least, when I learned that my colleague Nick Barron would not be running for reelection to ANC 2F.
Nick stated that his decision is driven by personal reasons that involve an exciting new chapter in his life. To that, I say “bravo,” and I wish him all the best.
Not only is Nick a class act for announcing far enough in advance of the filing period to find good potential candidates in his Single Member District (which will shift in the next election due to reapportionment), but he’s a class act, period. It shouldn’t go unnoticed when such a solid commissioner steps aside.
Even though Nick is only in his first term, he immediately distinguished himself on the commission. He has thrown himself entirely into the issues and energetically represented the views of his constituents. He has shown a remarkable desire to quickly become conversant in the important issues with which our ANC deals. And without complaint, he stepped up to assume the important duties of the ANC’s secretary when I became vice-chairman.
It also should be noted that he stands out for his communications with the community; he has far and away been the most prolific user of the ANC’s relatively new social media presences.
Residents often complain, and sometimes rightly so, about the overall role of ANCs in the District of Columbia and the specific actions of some of their commissioners. Fortunately, ANC 2F is known as one of the most functional and collegial in the city, and it’s rare to hear the kinds of negative sentiments that can be heard in other neighborhoods. You never want your credibility and effectiveness tainted by a few bad apples.
But ANCs play an important and useful role in the District. Not to play my violin, but commissioners are unpaid public servants doing an often complex and usually thankless job. You tend to hear from constituents who are unhappy, and the kudos are fewer and farther in between. Serving can be close to a full-time job if you let it, and usually on top of a paid full-time job and other commitments. If nothing else, Nick deserves credit for daring to be what Teddy Roosevelt called “the man in the arena.”
A tip of the hat, and my best wishes to you and Chad, Nick.
This morning I parked at a metered spot behind one of DC’s famous food trucks–Seoul Food, specifically. It too was legally parked.
It always warms my heart to see them, because District residents have so enthusiastically embraced them, and they symbolize the best of our entrepreneurial spirit. The thing was, though, that I was in Arlington, not D.C.
While Seoul Food’s website states that “Seoul Food has started serving in Arlington,” it leads me to wonder how much of this is a matter of expanding their customer base, or whether they are doing it out of necessity because of efforts in many quarters to kill the baby in the cradle with new taxes and regulations. Does anyone know if D.C. food trucks serving less often within the bounds of the District is a trend?
I understand the intentions of those who are trying to tax and regulate in ways the food truck operators disagree with, even though I find most of those intentions misguided. As I have served on the ANC, I have taken many positions that are essentially along the lines of “we all need to play by the rules,” and if we don’t, then unfairness and chaos ensue.
But I also believe those rules should make sense, and they should encourage–not discourage–entrepreneurship and economic development in the District of Columbia. And worst of all, rules should never be designed as incumbent-protection schemes. Another innovative, new entrant on the D.C. scene, the car service Uber, is facing similar problems.
Public policy is ill-served if changes in technology or the way services are delivered to the public cause policymakers to hammer square pegs into round holes, so to speak, rather than dealing with new issues in novel ways.
By the way, the food smelled terrific, but I was still full from breakfast.
I decided to serve on the ANC, filling an open seat representing ANC 2F02 in Sept. 2011, because I wanted to make sure my neighborhood had a voice on the Advisory Neighborhood Commission, and because I wanted to do my part in helping the community.
It is with both of these ideas in mind that I’m today announcing I will not seek reelection as ANC Commissioner.
To be a good commissioner, you need the ability of time and the heart of service. As I shift toward a new and personally exciting phase, I will be possessing less of either. There are personal goals and career ambitions I want to pursue. This does not involve at this time public service.
I’m letting you know of my decision now because it’s my desire to not have ANC 2F02 go without ANC representation when my time of service is through.
Filing for this fall’s ANC election begins July 9, concluding Aug. 9. While early July seems many hot, humid days away, I want to give anyone considering serving on the ANC plenty of time to think it over. And I know once summer takes hold, many of us may not be reading blogs or checking email.
So I put this announcement out there now to give ANC 2F02′s next commissioner time to think it over.
Perhaps you have thought about serving. Perhaps you know someone who has, or someone you think could make a good commissioner. Encourage them. Spread the word to others in the community.
For anyone considering serving 2F02, I’m happy to answer any questions as you decide whether or not to run. You can email me at 2f02@anc.dc.gov.
In the meantime, I will do my best to fulfill my duties through the rest of my term while the wheels of change propel me toward the next chapter of my life.
As for this website, the best thing I can say right now is to just watch this space. As my life will be transitioning, so will this site. In the coming weeks NickBarron.co will change from the online home of ANC 2F02′s commissioner to its next iteration, currently in development. What I can say is that this site will no longer be a source of ANC or Logan Circle news and information.
For those of you who’ve followed this blog, thank you. Staying informed is the frontline of community service. To anyone interested in serving ANC 2F02, spend these next weeks thinking about it, being mindful of the Aug. 9 filing deadline.
To all of you, it’s been a pleasure. I’ve tried to do my best to represent the majority’s interest before the Commission. I’d love to stay in touch even as I slip back into regular citizenry.
ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION 2F REGULAR MONTHLY PUBLIC MEETING Wednesday, May 2, 2012 – 7:00 PM
WASHINGTON PLAZA HOTEL—10 THOMAS CIRCLE, NW
AGENDA
COMMUNITY FORUM
Call to Order 7:00
Commissioner Announcements
Report from Executive Office of the Mayor
Office of Jack Evans, City Council Member, Ward 2-0
Community Announcements 7:20
-10 Minute Recess-
Business Meeting
Approval of Agenda
Approval of Minutes of Meeting of April 4, 2012
DCHSEMA/Street Closures 7:35
Komen Global Race for the Cure-National Mall on June 2, 2012
2012 National Race to End Women’s Cancer – Sunday, November 4, 2012
ABRA 7:45
Del Frisco’s Grille, 1201 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Retailer Class “C” Restaurant and Stipulated License with a Summer Garden endorsement-Patton Boggs LLP.
Café-Bar at 14th, LLC, t/a M Café, 1634 14th Street, NW, Retailer Class “C” License (the Aston building under construction at the corner of R)
Gordon Restaurant Group, LLC, 1529 14th Street, NW-Retailer Class “C” License (former site of ACKC)
Crime and Public Safety Committee (Christopher Linn, Chair) 8:25
Community Development Committee (Matt Raymond, Chair) 8:30
1400-1402 Street NW, HPRB Design Concept Proposal
Height restrictions in the District (based on recent comments by Rep. Issa and Mayor Gray)
903 M Street,NW- Request for support for design for HPRB, Frederik De Pue
Discussion on Bethany Baptist Church at 10th and N Street use of parking lot
926 N Street, NW-Design Concept Proposal
1622 14th Street, NW-HPRB Design Concept Proposal
New Business 8:45
Public Hearingon Removal of Ban on ANC Litigation on Saturday, May 12, 2012
Treasurer’s Report (SamGoekjian, Treasurer)
Approval of Expenditures
Adjournment 9:00
NOTICE: The agenda attached to this notice of meeting is provided by ANC 2F in advance of its public meetings contains matters that are expected to come before the meeting. It is, however, subject to formal adoption by the ANC at the meeting, which may result in additions or deletions to the draft. Individuals who may have official business before the ANC or persons with interests in specific matters are advised to contact the Executive Director or a Commissioner in advance of the meeting. See www.ANC2F.org for contact information.
At our March meeting, I tested out recording our proceedings on audio, but the app I used compressed the file so much that it was practically unusable.
This month I tried again with a new app, so here is the audio of our meeting. We hope to make this a regular occurrence, and hope that it might spur additional community involvement in ANC2F.
The following is a rough approximation of the times at which we considered each agenda item:
00:00–Community forum (joined in progress)
36:25–Business meeting begins–Approval of agenda and minutes from March
39:48–DCHSEMA street closures
45:36–ABC Task Force and Mayor Gray’s proposals
1:08:09–USDA Farmers Market
1:11:15–Studio Theatre comments on Residential Parking Permits
NOTICE: The agenda attached to this notice of meeting is provided by ANC 2F in advance of its public meetings contains matters that are expected to come before the meeting. It is, however, subject to formal adoption by the ANC at the meeting, which may result in additions or deletions to the draft. Individuals who may have official business before the ANC or persons with interests in specific matters are advised to contact the Executive Director or a Commissioner in advance of the meeting. See www.ANC2F.org for contact information.
3. 1625-1631 14th Street NW (Gospel Union Mission Building) – Eric Colbert, AIA – Request for support of design refinements (HPRB). Project was given conceptual approval for the massing and general design of this project’s addition by HPRB. BZA variances that were approved are not expired.
4. Peregrine Expresso 1718 14th Street, NW-Presentation for Public Space Permit-Ryan Jensen
5. 1250 9th Street NW-HPRB concept proposal–Kevin Riegler, CAS Riegler
6. 1630 14th Street NW-HPRB concept proposal–Molly Scott, Architectural Design Studio
ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION 2F REGULAR MONTHLY PUBLIC MEETING Wednesday, March 7, 2012 – 7:00 PM WASHINGTON PLAZA HOTEL – 10 THOMAS CIRCLE, NW
AGENDA
COMMUNITY FORUM
Call to Order – 7:00
Commissioner Announcements – 7:00
Report from Executive Office of the Mayor – 7:00
Jack Evans, City Council Member, Ward 2-0 – 7:00
PSA 307 Report – Metropolitan Police Department, 3D – 7:10
Office of the People’s Counsel (OPC) announcement regarding the PEPCO $42.1 million rate increase, smart meters and other hot topics concerning DC consumers – Presentation by Cheryl Morse, OPC – 7:25
Community Announcements – 7:30
-10 Minute Recess- Business Meeting
Approval of Agenda – 7:40
Approval of Minutes of Meeting of February 1, 2012 – 7:40
DCHSEMA/Street Closures – 7:50
Walk MS DC – Saturday, April 21, 2012 – Request for Support by Nancy Wlodarski, The National MS Society
15th Annual Cassidy Turley Race for Hope – Sunday, May 6, 2012 – 5K 2012 – Request for Support by Danielle Rosenscruggs, Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure (ABC2)
Bike DC – Sunday, May 13, 2012 – Request for Support by Rick Baumann, Bike DC
DC Triathlon – Sunday, June 17, 2012 – Request for Support by Danny Serpico, Washington Sports & Event Management, LLC
37th Marine Corps Marathon – October 28, 2012 – Request for Support by Isabelle Thompson, Marine Corps Marathon
ABRA – 8:00
HGH 1610 ,LLC – 1610 14th Street, NW – Application for New Class “C” Retailer’s License – Presentation by Sheldon Scott – ANC 2F Vote to protest and enter a Voluntary Agreement
1541 Q, LLC – 1541 Q Street, NW – Application for New Class “CR” Retailer’s License – ANC 2F Vote to protest and enter a Voluntary Agreement
Mood Lounge – Update on request for Show Cause Hearing
Capital Bikeshare – Relocation of Bikeshare station at the intersection of 15th & P Streets, NW
Residential Parking Program Ward 2 – Proposal by Office of Jack Evans – Proposal for a test program in ANC 2F, where successful businesses (such as the 14th Street corridor and around the convention center) have led to greater demand for parking. The proposal would create RPP only parking on one side of the street six days a week, 24 hours a day. Individual blocks would be able to ‘opt out’ if a majority of the residents do not want it enforced on that block.
Crime and Public Safety Committee (Christopher Linn, Chair) – 8:25
Community Development Committee (Matt Raymond, Chair) – 8:30
926 N Street, NW – Suzanne Reatig Architecture – Request for support of concept and massing (HPRB) of a new building in the Blagden Alley-Naylor Court Historic District
1250 9th Street, NW – CAS Riegler Construction – Request for support of concept and massing (HPRB) and various variances/special exceptions (BZA) of a new building in the Blagden Alley-Naylor Court Historic District
1625-1631 14th Street NW (Gospel Union Mission Building) – Eric Colbert, AIA – Request for support of design refinements (HPRB)
NOTICE: The agenda attached to this notice of meeting is provided by ANC 2F in advance of its public meetings contains matters that are expected to come before the meeting. It is, however, subject to formal adoption by the ANC at the meeting, which may result in additions or deletions to the draft. Individuals who may have official business before the ANC or persons with interests in specific matters are advised to contact the Executive Director or a Commissioner in advance of the meeting. See www.ANC2F.org for contact information.
ANC2F CDC Meeting Agenda for May 23, 2012: ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION 2F COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE M... http://t.co/D0HdWq3H -- 1 week ago
Losing One of the Good Ones: I was disheartened, to say the least, when I learned that my colleague Nick Barron ... http://t.co/2TfbZOXz -- 3 weeks ago
Random Thought of the Day: This morning I parked at a metered spot behind one of DC’s famous food trucks–Seoul F... http://t.co/cLt5ZfbO -- 3 weeks ago
