Nw 04 19 2017

Page 1

The NorThwesT CurreNT

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Agency pushes for oversight of gas meters

Upgrades to ‘gateways’ pitched in Georgetown

ROCK-A-BYE RED

■ Beautification: BID plans

varied low-cost improvements

By BRADY HOLT Current Staff Writer

Amid complaints about gas meter installations across the city, including in designated historic districts, Washington Gas is pushing back against calls for additional oversight of such projects. The D.C. Office of the People’s Counsel, which represents ratepayers in matters related to utility companies, is asking the city’s Public Service Commission to develop stricter rules governing meter installations — and to block Washington Gas from installing more until such rules are in place. As Washington Gas replaces a series of large gas mains, the company has also been taking the opportunity to relocate indoor gas meters outside of a home. The exterior meters — strongly favored under D.C. regulations — provide quicker, less disruptive access than those located indoors, and can also be safer. But various D.C. residents have alleged that Washington Gas has made little to no effort to install See Meters/Page 5

By MARK LIEBERMAN Current Staff Writer

Five key “gateways” to Georgetown could see upgraded surroundings next year as part of the Georgetown Business Improvement District’s ongoing effort to redesign areas that currently create underwhelming first impressions of the historic neighborhood. The business group has hired design firm Beyer Blinder Belle — which has offices at 3307 M St.

Brian Kapur/The Current

The Washington Capitals started their playoff campaign to help newly born babies “rock the red” at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital during the team’s postseason run. Mary Elizabeth York Allen, held by her dad and Cleveland Park resident Bradley Allen, was presented last Wednesday with a Capitals blanket and hat.

By BRADY HOLT Current Staff Writer

Rendering courtesy of Saul Urban

The revised project would have 122 units and 21 parking spaces.

heeled young people who preferred just about any mode of transportation over owning cars. To assuage concerns by neighbors and the Board of Zoning Adjustment about the lack of parking, the developers initially agreed

NW, in the center of the neighborhood — to develop concept designs for small-scale improvements to the neighborhood’s primary “gateways.” The firm’s first step earlier this year was to identify those gateways, of which they found five: both M Street and Pennsylvania Avenue just west of the Rock Creek Parkway; K Street near its intersection with 29th Street; Wisconsin Avenue near R Street; and the Francis Scott Key Memorial Bridge. The exact nature of the improvements will remain up in the air until the end of the year. See Gateways/Page 13

Sidewalk cafe shuttered for lack of public space permit ■ Dupont: ANC supports

exception for popular spot By MARK LIEBERMAN Current Staff Writer

Blagden Alley project drops no-parking plan Planned “micro unit” apartments in Shaw’s Blagden Alley will have parking after all, after the D.C. Court of Appeals reversed an approval of designs that included no spaces for cars. Developer Saul Urban, previously known as SB-Urban, won approval in early 2015 for a 123unit project with buildings at 90 and 91 Blagden Alley NW, near 9th and M streets. The small apartments of less than 400 square feet each are planned as fully furnished for short-term leases, in two expanded buildings within the Blagden Alley Historic District. The units were crafted for well-

Vol. L, No. 16

Serving Communities in Northwest Washington Since 1967

to a host of strategies to ensure that tenants wouldn’t arrive with cars or choose to buy one while living there. These included informing prospective renters they couldn’t park at the site or on the street, and blocking tenants from ever obtaining a Residential Parking Permit. To provide alternative transportation options, the firm also agreed to fund a Capital Bikeshare station, set aside space for 42 bike parking spots and a bike repair facility, install electronic displays with real-time transit information, and provide free carsharing memberships to new tenants. Under Saul Urban’s latest proposal, all of those requirements See Blagden/Page 13

On a sunny day last October, “Gilmore Girls” devotees lined up for more than a block outside Three Fifty Bakery & Coffee Bar to grab free coffee at a pop-up Luke’s Diner installation, set up by Netflix to recreate one of the show’s iconic settings to promote upcoming new episodes. Some of those customers sat at the shop’s 16-seat sidewalk cafe. Such a scene wouldn’t be possible today. Owner Jimmy Hopper discovered last fall that he hadn’t secured a legally mandated permit for his 1926 17th St. NW shop’s outdoor space, and in mid-March, a D.C. Department of Transportation official ordered him to close the patio until his permit application is approved. Hopper says the order has cost him 15 percent of his weekly sales, and could cost him the location altogether. “It is hurting business,” he said at last Wednesday’s meeting of Advisory Neighborhood Commis-

Susann Shin/The Current

Three Fifty Bakery & Coffee Bar wants to restore outdoor seating.

sion 2B (Dupont Circle). “We would be doing quite a bit more business on the weekends.” Last fall, customers at the shop told Hopper they were impressed he had secured a permit for a sidewalk cafe on a largely residential street. Hopper replied that he hadn’t sought one when the store opened in 2014 — he hadn’t known he needed to. Hopper has been scrambling in the months since to put together a permit application. In the meantime, he recently renewed his lease for five years, with a caveat: If the sidewalk cafe can’t reopen by this June, Three Fifty will terminate its lease in summer 2018 See Sidewalk/Page 10

SHERWOOD

SPRING REAL ESTATE GUIDE

SPORTS

INDEX

Chicken flap

Wardman Tower

Big win

Calendar/36 Classifieds/46 District Digest/4 Exhibits/37 In Your Neighborhood/10 Opinion/8

Residents resist Department of Health crackdown on backyard poultry pets / Page 8

Storied residential building adding a new chapter in Woodley Park with luxe renovation / Page RE3

Visitation softball gets critical ISL victory with walk-off in extra innings this week / Page 11

Police Report/6 Real Estate/Pullout School Dispatches/7 Service Directory/44 Shopping & Dining/35 Sports/11

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