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The U Street Neighborhood Association had their General Membership Meeting November 10th, 2011 at 7:00 pm.  Candidates for officers gave speeches, and Level 2 Development gave an update on their project on 1919 14th St NW (@ Wallach Place) and their request for variances.

General Membership Meeting Minutes

11/10/2011; 7:00 pm; Source Theatre, 1835 14th St. NW, 2nd Floor Rehearsal Room

President's Remarks & General Business - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• ANC Redistricting Update – Christine shared an update that the office of planning is reviewing the maps before posting them online. The report is available. Public hearing is scheduled Nov 29th 10 am at the Wilson Building. Local blogger has been covering this - http://briannekn.com
• Officer Nominee Speeches – Each candidate gave a short address on their thoughts and what they would like to do in the next year.
  • Brian Card – President (unopposed)
  • Tucker Gallagher – Vice President (unopposed)
  • Christine Szathmary – Secretary (unopposed)
  • Sharon Dreyfuss – Treasurer (unopposed)
• Holiday Party & Auction– Thursday, December 8th 7-9 @ Local 16 – elections will be the only business that we will be doing at this meeting. Election expected to be around 8:00.

Treasurer's Report – Sharon Dreyfuss, Treasurer, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• Sharon reported $1,760 in receipts in October related to the Waiting for Superman Event (donations, sales of lunchskins and water, and sponsorships) and event disbursements of $868.84 as well. Ending balance for the month was $15,599.62. There was no activity in the account for Harrison Recreation Center with a balance of $11,221.73.

Committee Reports

Historic Preservation and Development – Sheryl Walter, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• 1919 14th Street – seeking support for BZA variances. Level 2 Development (David Franco and Jon Kardon) & Eric Colbert Associates (Eric Colbert) presented information about zoning variances requested. They gave a brief overview of the project and how the design evolved to the design HPRB approved in July 2011. Setbacks and other accommodations were made to better fit the large structure into the transition of the neighborhood on Wallach Place. They will be going on January 24th to their hearing for zoning variances. They will be presenting at ANC1B in December, and will be meeting with the ANC Design committee next week.
  • There are 144 units now which will be largely studios and 1 bedrooms (Average size 400 sq feet). Mr. Franco said that they are pursuing transportation related green initiatives - providing 98 bicycle spaces in garage; and plan to provide zipcar onsite if zipcar desires.
  • They are requested variances for:
    • 1. Exemption for roof structure height limitation
    • 2. Roof structure requirement. They are 6.5 feet above (83.5 feet).
    • 3. Court requirements (Mr. Franco stated this was required because of the setback that they made for the design)
    • 4. Offstreet loading requirements in the rear (55 foot and 30 foot loading bays required) – They want it to be 30 foot bay and 24 foot bay.
    • 5. They want 45% (40% is requirement) for compact parking spaces.
    • 6. Off street parking requirement is 80 parking spaces (72 residential along with retail). They are proposing 34 spaces. Level 2 Development is proposing only one level of parking which will include bike parking along with storage.
  • Mr. Franco mentioned that Wallach Street residents suggested that they work an arrangement with DDOT that restricts the building from getting parking permits zoned residential from DDOT. Mr. Franco stated that they don't' believe that they will need so many parking spaces and expect residents to use public transportation. They expect to offer discount to zipcar, bikeshare, and encourage residents to use metro with Smarttrip cards. ANC Estrada offered a comparison for number of parking spaces to residents and said that the Utopia project will meet the 1 parking space to 2 unit requirement.
  • A motion was made that the USNA support the variances requested by the developers provided that they create a RPP restriction covenant with DDOT that would prevent residents to park on the street. – motion Carried.
• Christine shared that the there will be a meeting on the Tuesday 11/15 @ 7 pm at the Reeves Building to discuss parcels of land to be developed (WMATA parcels). These are the southern parcels in the 700 & 800 block of Florida Avenue.

Public Safety – Sushupta Sudarshan, Brian Card, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• PSA 305 Update – Brian presented update on recent crime which has been a tremendous increase from all previous months in all areas of crime – robberies, burglaries, theft from auto. More detail can be found http://ustreet-dc.org/index.php/committees/public-safety/321-november-2011-psa-305-meeting-summary
• Q&A with MPD officer – Officer Gore was available to discuss some of the recent activities. He said increased crime is also being matched with increased arrests. Questions were asked about why there were so many crimes occurring on U Street. Officer Gore said a combination of opportunity, folks with less focused caution (drinking, etc) going thru alleys. Questions were asked about the recent robberies, front doors being kicked in. Question was asked about the bank robbery Citifirst Bank on U Drive – no arrest made that officer was aware of.
• John DeTaeye (CM Graham office) did say that the reimbursable effort in the 1900 block of 9th St NW is moving forward. He did share some of the concerns that the CM has with the juvenile system. He mentioned that the youth murdered October 31st in Georgetown was under the care of the DC juvenile system

Friends of Harrison Recreation Center – Manisha Modi, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• No update.

Business Development – Tucker Gallagher, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• Tucker described some recent activities including:
• Celebrity chef restaurant opening at 14/W.
• Smuckers market opening on 14th between W & Florida.
• Gym going in on 14th St between W & Florida.
• Shaw Tavern denied liquor license, may be selling.
• Owner of standard profiled in Borderstan.com this week.
• 8th & T proposed coffee shop.
• Church at 13/S St for sale (church is a converted residence)
• Old post office on 1400 block of T St is being planned for development (adding 2nd floor and putting in 2 level building in lot beside it).
• Utopia is scheduled for this next month for destruction (14th/U St). We hope to have them come and speak in January meeting.
• Post office in 1900 block of 14th St is closing in December.

Green – Vacant, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• Committee update
• Seeking Green Committee Chair

Education – Kevin Sampson, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• Final report on Waiting for Superman event – We believe we will be donating about $700 for net proceeds from this event to Greater DC Cares for work in neighborhood schools on MLK day in January. Kevin said he has been working with Amanda (Greater DC Cares) on which schools to work on.
• Upcoming Town Hall Meetings - Office of State Superintendent of Education will be having meeting for Ward 1 Nov 15th 6 pm, Columbia Heights Education Campus (3101 16th St NW) and for Ward 2 Nov 21 @ 6 pm at MLK Library (901 G St NW). For RSVP/information contact 202-741-0475.

Membership – Jay Murphy, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• Committee Update

Parking/Transportation – vacant, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• Committee update
• Seeking Parking/Transportation Chair
• Christine said that we will request information from DDOT on how each block can request the new parking permitting process.

Other

• Ramon Estrada – said that for his ANC they haven't had large changes for the redistricting in his ANC. Ramon also mentioned the impact of the new PSA 301 (formerly in 2nd district). He expressed concern that their current block captains be continued