February/March 2019

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February/March 2019 Newsletter

Hi {{FirstName or “Friend”}},

We are continuing to plug away at Smart Growth issues in our neighborhoods:

  • At the January Steering Committee meeting, we heard from the Interim Director of the Office of Planning, Andrew Trueblood. He cited passage of Comprehensive Plan amendments as a top priority, and he indicated that he is working with DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson to  push forward as best he can the proposed Framework Element amendment piece that includes language to reinforce the flexibility for Planned Unit Developments (PUDs). He noted that affordable housing creation is a mayoral priority and that only one percent is now located in Ward 3. We expressed our commitment to amendments that prioritize housing creation, increase density near transit, and facilitate PUDs.
  • On January 24, Susan Kimmel testified for Ward3Vision before the Zoning Commission in favor of the Valor Ladybird Project, a mixed-use development in Spring Valley. It will consist of over 200 apartments, townhouses and a grocery store (slated to be Mom’s Organic). John Wheeler represented Ward3Vision which had party status. The public hearing concluded February 6.
  • On November 14, Tad Baldwin testified for Ward3Vision before the Board of Zoning Appeals in favor of the Sunrise Project which proposes a new structure to house both and assisted living/memory care facility and the existing church.
  • We are happy to report that the program we sponsored with the Coalition for Smarter Growth last October on Accessory Apartments (aka Accessory Dwelling Units or ADUs) was a big success—including, and maybe because of, the Vace pizza we served. We had a great turnout to hear our panel of experts (architects, policy analysts, and zoning lawyers) and experienced residents. The panel addressed the challenges and rewards associated with adding these additional living units to single-family properties. (See pictures below.)

The Ward3Vision Steering Committee welcomes two new members: Matt Bell, an architect with EE&K/Perkins Eastman who is active in DC (he designed the renovated Cleveland Park Library) and a professor of architecture at University of Maryland; and Susan Linsky, former special assistant at DC’s Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning & Economic Development, who brings a great deal of experience with the PUD process.

If you are interested in getting more involved with Ward3Vision, please email us at [email protected].

—Ward3Vision Steering Committee


Audience listens to a speaker at the Ward3Vision Accessory Apartment program in October 2018 at the Cleveland Park Library. Photo by Ellen Bass.


Cheryl Cort of the Coalition for Smarter Growth introduces the first panel at the Accessory Apartment program, including (from left):  Louis Tenenbaum, Aakash Thakkar, and Bill Feeney. Photo by Ellen Bass.

Upcoming Events and Community Meetings
Coalition for Smarter Growth 
See Greater Greater Washington events calendar: https://ggwash.org/calendar

Tenleytown Main Street 
Events calendar: https://tenleytownmainstreet.org/events/

Van Ness Main Street 
Events calendar: http://vannessmainstreet.org/events

Other
Greater Greater Washington calendar: https://ggwash.org/calendar

Ward 3 ANC Meetings 
Note that each meeting’s date, place and agenda may change between today and the actual meeting, so please check the ANC’s website for updates.

ANC 3B meeting (ANC3B.org) 
Feb. 14 & Mar. 14, 7:00 PM (meets monthly on the second Thursday)
Stoddert Elementary School and Glover Park Community Center, 4001 Calvert St., NW 

This ANC covers Glover Park and Cathedral Heights.

ANC 3C meeting (ANC3C.org) 
Feb. 20 & Mar. 20, 7:30 PM (meets monthly on the third Monday)
Cleveland Park Library, 3310 Connecticut Ave., NW 

This ANC covers Cathedral Heights, Cleveland Park, Massachusetts Heights, McLean Gardens and Woodley Park. The ANC includes planned redevelopments of the former Fannie Mae and other commercial buildings on Wisconsin Ave. and a new family shelter on Idaho Ave., near the 2D police station.

ANC 3D meeting (ANC3d.org) 
Feb. 6 & Mar. 6, 7:00 PM
Wesley Theological Seminary, Kresge Bldg, rm K-106, 4500 Massachusetts Ave. 

The ANC covers A.U., Berkley, Foxhall, Kent, New Mexico/Cathedral, Palisades, Spring Valley and Wesley Heights. This ANC includes American University.

ANC 3E meeting (ANC3E.org) 
Feb. 13 & Mar. 14, 7:30 PM (generally meets monthly on the second Thursday)
Feb. 13:  AU Spring Valley Bldg, 4801 Massachusetts Ave. Rm 602;
Mar. 14:  AU Law School, 4300 Nebraska Ave. Rm NT08 

This ANC covers the Tenleytown area along Wisconsin Avenue.

ANC 3F meeting (ANC3F.com) 
Feb. 19 & Mar. 19, 7:30 PM (meets monthly on the third Tuesday)
UDC, 4200 Connecticut Ave., Building 44, room A03 

ANC 3F covers the Van Ness area and north along Connecticut Avenue.

ANC 3G meeting (ANC3G.org) 
Feb. 11 & 25; Mar. 11 & 25, 7:00 PM (meets monthly on the fourth Monday)
Chevy Chase Community Center, 5601 Connecticut Avenue, NW 

This ANC covers the upper Connecticut Avenue area in Ward 3.


Fun, interactive objets d’art at Art All Night on September 29, 2018, sponsored by Tenleytown  Main Street. Photo by Ellen Bass

News and articles you may have missed 
DC Council to take up Comprehensive Plan amendment proposal in 2019: Washington Business JournalCurbed DC

Affordable housing and development: CityLab

Neighborhood development and urban planning: Greater Greater Washington

Minneapolis 2040 plan will encourage more dense housing development in single-family neighborhoods: CityLab

Background to enactment of Minneapolis’s zoning law to increase permitted residential density in single-family zones: WedgeLive

2018 was the year of the YIMBY in cities nationwide: CityLab