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ANC Supports Public Restroom Pilot But Questions Locations – ANC 6C Report
In Other Business
Commissioners unanimously supported the renewal of the class CR restaurant license for Ambar (523 Eighth St. SE) but pressed management on issues of trash and storage challenges at the rear of the property. “We have high standards,” Owner Ivan Iricanin said at the meeting . “We’ve been here for 11 years and it’s never been brought to my attention that there was ever a problem and we were non-responsive. I just want to make sure that what I think we’re doing, we are doing.”Commissioners said the concerns were a matter of maintenance and that Ambar needs to keep up their high standards, adding that this was the opportunity to discuss concerns. The license renewal was supported unanimously and included a reminder to keep the property and public space clean.
The commission voted to support a Class CR license renewal for Bullfrog Bagels (317 Seventh St. SE) u
ANC Supports Public Restroom Pilot But Questions Locations
ANC 6C RepoRt
by Sarah Payne
Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6C met virtually via WebEx June 8. Commissioners Christine Healey (6C01), Karen Wirt (6C02, Chair), Jay Adelstein (6C03), Mark Eckenwiler (6C04), Joel Kelty (6C05) and Drew Courtney (6C06) were all in attendance.
Commissioners discussed several issues around Union Station including a proposed public restroom pilot and the expansion project at the station.
Commissioners voted 5-1, to send a letter of support for a public restroom pilot program but opposition two proposed locations in their ANC, adding that they are open to other locations within the ANC.
Marcia Bernbaum, a member of DC Public Restrooms, a research organization dedicated to studying public restroom installation and promotion, spoke to commissioners about two pilot programs for the District that will install standalone restrooms in “high need” locations.
“Everyone deserves easy access to things like public restrooms; it’s a human right,” Bernbaum said. “We unfortunately have very few restrooms,” he added, “and businesses have been increasingly limiting restroom access.”
Bernbaum discussed creating a program to provide financial incentives xfor businesses to open their existing restrooms to the public: bikers, shoppers, tourists, families, children and those experiencing homelessness. She emphasized that the “community buy-in” is crucial to providing access for everyone.
“We’re passionate about this,” Bernbaum said of the project. “We want to do it right, we want to make sure the standard, so the ideal is the standalones are placed in places that meet the criteria.” Bernbaum said there are certain areas “that desperately need it over on the other side of the river.”
Commissioner Courtney (6C06) expressed support for the program and the increased need for public restrooms in the District, but acknowledged that Union Station may not be the best fit for a pilot program. “Frankly, I can think of better locations in our ANC that I feel like could really benefit,” he said.
Commissioner Kelty (6C05) expressed opposition to the program and advocated for a use of public facilities already in District metro stations that he says have been “intentionally made inaccessible”.
“My initial reaction to this was, rather than spend all this money building new toilets, why don’t we compel, encourage [or] pay metro to open up the toilets they have and staff them and address whatever concerns they have with making them available,” Kelty said. “You’ve already got all the utility connections there. It’s all built.”
Commissioner Healey echoed Courtney’s concerns about the placement of the pilot program and advocated that the ANC “express support for the idea of developing more public restrooms, but point out that these two locations in our ANC are not the best” for a pilot program.
Union Station Expansion Project
Commissioners unanimously supported sending a letter of appreciation to Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for changes made to plans for Union Station expansion and reiterating a need to continue conversations about the project.
Commissioner Healey (6C01) provided the commission with an update on the Union Station expansion. Healey noted that the FRApublished an environmental impact statement related to the Union Station expansion approximately two years ago that ANC strongly opposed. The commission registered their opposition with the National Capitol Planning Commission. Healey reported that these plans have been revised significantly since and expressed “appreciation” for the changes that have already been made including plans to implement a “world-class bus station.”
Courtney expressed support for the revised plans, particularly regarding pick up and drop off locations, but emphasized the importance of continuing to have a conversation about additional changes to the project.
“I think, by and large, I support that and I think we’ve gone a long way,” Courtney said. “I did have some concerns about what they presented. I was a little bit worried about some of the mock ups and I understand that they’re just mock ups.”
Healey agreed with the need for future dis-
cussion and providing feedback. She proposed that she work on a draft letter and circulate it among the commissioners of the ANC. Adelstein questioned the need for a letter or testimony given that the commission has not yet seen what the USRC or others have proposed. Healey disagreed and said she believes the ANC “can make a statement to make it clear to NCPC that we think that there’s been progress.”
Courtney echoed Healey and said writing out the proposal may be bene cial. “It feels to me like some of these issues can be written around to make clear that you know, there may be some changes we have some concerns about, but in principle, we’ve made a lot of progress,” Courtney said.
The commission voted unanimously to: • Support a new Alcohol Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA) class C hotel license at the Washington
Marriott Capitol Hill Hotel (1325 Second St. NE). • Support the ABRA renewal licenses of: the Phoenix
Park Hotel (50 N Capitol
St. NW), Café Berlin (332
Massachusetts Ave. NE),
Junction Bistro Bar & Bakery (238 Massachusetts Ave. NE),
Nando’s Peri-Peri (411 H St.
NE), Carving Room NoMa (130 M St. NE), Courtyard by Marriott Washington DC (1325 Second Street NE),
Fancy Radish (600 H St. NE),
Hyatt Place Washington DC (33 New York Ave. NE) and
Indigo-Indian Food on the
Go (243 K St. NE). • Support a concept approval for a two-story rear addition that would replace the existing deck at 663 Maryland
Ave. NE.
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