Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 7D met April 8 via Zoom. Commissioners Artilie Wright (7D03), Ebony Payne (7D05), Marc Friend (7D06, vice chair), Brett Astmann (7D07, treasurer), Brian Alcorn (7D08, chair), Ashley Schapitl (7D09) and Dev Myers (7D10, secretary) were in attendance. Single Member Districts (SMD) 7D01, 7D02 and 7D04 are currently vacant.
In an effort to minimize delays in opening the Kenilworth Elementary swing space at 1300 44th St. NE, DC Public Schools Project Specialist Mars Eagleson urged the commission to an after-hours construction permit. Eagleson briefed commissioners on development and construction at the site and detailed the steps necessary to facilitate a timely completion of the project.
According to Eagleson, “bureaucratic delays” with the Department of Buildings (DOB) have created a “tight timeline” for construction, which began in 2021. Despite the delay, DS is “still pushing to try and finish this project as soon as possible,” Eagleson said, noting the goal of completion prior to the start of the 2025-2026 school year.
The project is currently operating under a standard permit from DOB which allows work to take place Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The project is seeking an extension of these hours to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and to add working hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
The extension would add one additional work hour, to 8 p.m. followed by two hours of “quiet work” until 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday. “Quiet work” hours would also be implemented on Sunday mornings at 9 a.m. with normal work resuming from 12 to 5 p.m. According to Eagleson, “no heavy machinery will be used” during the quiet hours which will include cleaning, maintenance and hand-held tool tasks. These hours “would not have a great impact on the community in of noise and activity,” he added.
This revised permit proposal follows from a recent community survey. The original proposition extended normal work hours to midnight Monday through Saturday with additional hours Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on federal holidays as needed. The revised proposal reduces the extension of hours, denotes some morning and evening hours as “quiet work” hours and eliminates the possibility of work on federal holidays.
Alcorn acknowledged DS’s compromises, but also noted concern about the extension from some of the community. One neighbor, Eastland Gardens Civic Association Member Peter Clare, attended the meeting and voiced his opposition to the after-hours work in the neighborhood.
“We’ve generally sought to be as ive as we can while taking into community input and concerns,” Alcorn said of the commission’s perspective. “We all live in an urban space, so a thoughtful and negotiated plan is certainly called for.”
Commissioner Wright questioned the impact on students if the project falls behind schedule this summer. Eagleson noted that the current “bubble” utilized by students will remain functional until the new space is finished.
When completed, students and parents can expect an expanded and renovated space. In addition to providing additional multi-purpose spaces for students, the project will also improve accessibility through the addition of a new stop to the elevator, create an outdoor classroom, update the lobby and create a welcome center, implement stormwater retention measures and more, Eagleson reported. “We’re creating a really welcoming and beautiful swing space for all of our Ward 7 students that we’re really excited about,” he said.
The commission voted to send a letter of to DOB for extended “quiet work” hours Monday through Saturday 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. noting that no additional hours may be added on federal holidays. The project will return to the commission’s agenda in May, Alcorn said, in order to give the Eastland Gardens Civic Association an opportunity to review the proposal and provide .
Other Matters
Commissioner Mike Davis (7D04, vice chair) stepped down as the commissioner for 7D04 on April 1. Commissioner Marc Friend (7D06) was unanimously elected to serve as the new vice chair.
Commissioner-elect for 7D01, Josh Taborn, was in attendance. He will represent Kenilworth and Eastland Gardens after his victory over opponent Charles Boston in a special election on April 5. According to Alcorn, the delay in his official swearing in ceremony relates to the publishing date in the DC .
The commission voted to:
- a Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) application to construct a third story with roof deck and a three-story rear addition to an existing, attached, three story principal dwelling unit with a special exception from lot occupancy requirements at 1513 D St. SE;
- update the settlement agreement (SA) associated with the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis istration (ABCA) class “B” beer and wine store license for Economy Market (411 18th St. NE) to reflect their change in address as they relocate from their D Street NE location. If a revised SA is not finalized prior to May 5, the commission will issue a letter of protest.
- update the settlement agreement (SA) associated with the ABCA application for Langston Bar and Grille (1831 Benning Rd. NE) to reflect the establishment’s request for a substantial change in their hours of operation and alcohol consumption. The proposed new hours of operation, and alcohol beverage sales and consumption, are: Monday through Thursday from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m., Friday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 3 a.m. and Sunday from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. If a revised SA is not finalized prior to May 5, the commission will issue a letter of protest.
ANC 7D will meet next on May 13 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. You can learn more about the commission and to attend at 7d0761.wixsite.com/anc7d-1.
