I had inquired about the status of 454 N St NW . After several phone calls a the project manager from DHCD called this AM to say that they finally have the necessary approvals to go ahead with work on the building. An MOU needs to be signed the project manager is optimistic that will happen and constuction will begin by the end of the month. The manager said she has been working on this for three years and doesn't really know why it took so long but that plans were lost a couple of times.I think the DC Government should use this as a case study to determine what the bottlenecks are in their business processes and take action to correct them. Not likely to happen but worth suggesting .

 Good morning NW1 Library neighbors!

February is a short month but a busy one! In addition to our regular storytimes, yoga, crafts, and game nights, we have free tax return preparation beginning February 10th - learn more at www.dclibrary.org/northwest.  

February is Black History Month and DCPL celebrates with exciting and enriching programs for all ages and interests through the city - and they are all free! Learn more at http://www.dclibrary.org/blackhistory. The library also provides great resources for research - explore scholarly articles, slave narratives and Historic Black Newspapers in online databases or visit the Black Studies Center to read periodicals like Ebony magazine on microfilm dating back to 1947 and vertical clippings about African American history, culture and literature.

And don't forget - DCPL's "Check it In!" Amnesty program ends on February 5th so return those dusty old library books fine-free or just come in to have your fines cleared!

See you in the library,
Bobbie @ NW1

**********
barbara 'bobbie' dougherty | library associate
northwest one neighborhood library
155 L St. nw | washington, d.c. 20001

w: www.dclibrary.org/northwest
p: 202.939.5946
e: barbara.dougherty@dc.gov
f: http://on.fb.me/northwestonelibrary
t: follow @dcpl for updates on DCPL news and events.
t: follow @Youth202 for information on jobs, internships, programs, events, and free stuff in the DMV for #dcteens.

Free Classes at Vida Saturday

DC Councilmember Jack Evans' current Evans2012 campaign advisor Tom Lindfeld is applying to bring a Medical Marijuana Dispensary to 1539 7th St NW in Shaw -- a neighborhood which is now a part of Ward 6 DC Councilmember Tommy Wells' portfolio.

“Last Two Years” by DINA VOLKOVA at Touchstone Gallery

February 1 – February 26, 2012

Opening reception: Friday, February 3, 6 - 8:30pm

“Last Two Years” by DINA VOLKOVA

Art work presented was painted in the duration of the past two years consists of three clearly distinguished themes: roads, figurative works and associative abstractions.

For more information please visit our website: www.touchstonegallery.com

Touchstone Gallery
901 New York Ave NW
Washington DC 20001
Tel: 202-347-2787
E-mail: info@touchstonegallery.com
www.touchstonegallery.com
Open: Wednesday-Friday 11-6, Saturday-Sunday 12-5

“COAST TO COAST” by CAROL LOPATIN at Touchstone Gallery

February 1 – February 26, 2012

Opening reception: Friday, February 3, 6 - 8:30pm

“COAST TO COAST” by CAROL LOPATIN

Exhibition will feature large plein air paintings, consisting of favorite locations throughout our homeland.  They are not about capturing a moment, but studying and soaking up some of the differences of our great land.

For more information please visit our website: www.touchstonegallery.com

Touchstone Gallery
901 New York Ave NW
Washington DC 20001
Tel: 202-347-2787
E-mail: info@touchstonegallery.com
www.touchstonegallery.com
Open: Wednesday-Friday 11-6, Saturday-Sunday 12-5

Touchstone Gallery Opening Reception: Friday, February 3, 6 - 8:30pm

February 1 – February 26, 2012

Opening reception: Friday, February 3, 6 - 8:30pm

“Last Two Years” by DINA VOLKOVA

Art work presented was painted in the duration of the past two years consists of three clearly distinguished themes: roads, figurative works and associative abstractions.

“COAST TO COAST” by CAROL LOPATIN

Exhibition will feature large plein air paintings, consisting of favorite locations throughout our homeland.  They are not about capturing a moment, but studying and soaking up some of the differences of our great land.

For more information please visit our website: www.touchstonegallery.com

Touchstone Gallery
901 New York Ave NW
Washington DC 20001
Tel: 202-347-2787
E-mail: info@touchstonegallery.com
www.touchstonegallery.com
Open: Wednesday-Friday 11-6, Saturday-Sunday 12-5

 Thanks Jefferson for taking the notes! (P.S. Jeff's term is up and he is not returning to the board, we need a replacement! Community service is highly rewarding...;)

MVSNA Meeting Notes – 2012-01-17

MVSNA officers: Rob Amos (President), Sam Shipley (1^st Vice President), May Chan (2^nd Vice President), Si Kailian (Corresponding Secretary), Ricky Williams (Treasurer), Jefferson Parke (Recording Secretary)

At Large board members: Lydia Goring, Marge Maceda, Erik Kugler, Stan Burgess, DeeDee Slewka

Attending: Rob, Sam, May, Si, Jefferson, Lydia, Erik

Public Safety Report – 1^st District (1D) Sgt. Brady - PSA 102

• Mt Vernon Triangle used to be in PSA 101. Now divided between 102 and 103. (MVSQ & Shaw is still 308 with half of the chimney added in) See the new Map: http://mpdc.dc.gov/mpdc/cwp/view,a,1239,q,543658,mpdcNav_GID,1534.asp

• Representing Lt. Mark Saunders (Mark.Saunders@dc.gov - 202-).

• Just joined the PSA this month.

• PSA 102 boundaries are 9^th NW, 4^th NW, Penn Ave, NY Ave.

• PSA 103 joins area at 4^th st. Includes Sursum Corda.

• Main crime is theft from retail.

• Main activity in area is in Chinatown.

• Don’t leave valuables in plain view. Consider leaving car unlocked to prevent broken windows and locks. Club is a good deterrent to auto theft.

• We’ll try to get representatives from three PSAs to this meeting.

• Lt. James (Bart) Dykes heads PSA 103 james.dykes@dc.gov. Lt Mark Saunders leads PSA 102 mark.saunders@dc.gov

• Q: How will the three PSAs work together?

A: PSA 102 and 103 communications are open between Sgts. Lts. from two districts also communicate. Any cross boundary crime can be handled through this communication.

C: There is definitely a concern in Yale about the three districts as far as who responded and how it’s being addressed. There was a mugging of a resident of Yale.

A (3^rd District (3D) Lt. Carroll): There have to be borders and there are going to be some gaps in communication. This association has always been split between three PSAs. As far as the mugging, it happened in 3D and the suspect was caught in the alley behind Yale.

C: There is a lot of cross border crime where a mugging will happen in our area and the suspect will cross to another neighborhood.

A (Lt. Carroll): Don’t walk around with your iPod and smart phones out.

Public Safety Report – 3^rd District (3D) Lt. Wingate - PSA 308, Lt. Carroll - PSA 307 (formerly 308)

• Lt. Carroll is leaving 308 and moving next door to 307.

• Lt. Linda Wingate is acting Lt. of 308. linda.wingate@dc.gov

• PSA 308 boundaries are NJ, NY, 9^th, S

• Past 30 days: Arrest for theft from auto at 4^th and M st., 1 sexual assault which was closed, 3 ADWs, 10 thefts, 13 thefts from autos, urinating in public

Introductions, Reports & Announcements

• Councilman Wells “office hours”: Thursday the 26^th, 8-9am, Azi’s Café on 9^th st.

• Feb 11^th, Convention Center, Mayor Gray’s One City Summit – town hall setting. Looking to get feedback on quality of life issues, investment in the neighborhood, etc. Ward 6 liaison Christopher Fitzgerald – Christopher.fitzgerald@dc.gov.

• ANC 2C04 Commissioner Nigro is partnering with Shaw Main Streets for a Shaw Art Walk at Convention Center (first nighttime tour of the collection) and the galleries on 9^th st. then meet up at The Passenger after. February 8^th at night.

• Transportation Subcommittee met over the holidays and are working of a draft plan for the area. Want to meet in February. If anyone is interested please contact Sam Shipley with ideas.

MVSNA Officer Nominations

• Officer elections next month.

• Please let us know if you’re interested in filling any of these positions.

• Slate as of today:

Position	CY 2011 (outgoing)	CY 2012 (upcoming)
President	Rob Amos	Sam Shipley
1st Vice President	Sam Shipley
2nd Vice President	May Chan	May Chan
Recording Secretary	Jefferson Parke
Corresponding Secretary	Si Kailian	Marge Maceda
Treasurer	Rickey Williams	Rickey Williams
At-Large	Lydia Goring	Lydia Goring
At-Large	Marge Maceda
At-Large	Erik Kugler	Erik Kugler
At-Large	Stan Burgess
At-Large	DeeDee Slewka	DeeDee Slewka

460 NY Ave. NW – Jeff Utz and Duncan Slidel - Bozzuto

• Bozutto based out of Greenbelt and has been developing for 25 years.

• Build apartments, condos, any residential in DC, MD, VA area. Also do property management, including Yale West. Also do contracting for other developers.

• Project: three story warehouse building at NY and L, across from Safeway. Building on top. Condos.

• Originally presented to the association in 2007 for BZA relief then again in 2009 for an extension.

• Previously had three reliefs granted: high occupancy lot coverage due to 100% occupancy of current building, number of parking spaces, size of loading area.

• Relief is not changing just being reconfigured.

• Will provide 36 parking spaces, through car lifts that fit multiple cars in one spot. Mostly on ground floor, basement and 2^nd floor. We’ve done this before and it’s cost effective from a maintenance perspective. Trying to figure out how to do bike storage and car charging.

• Residential will start on 2^nd floor. 7 units per floor. 63 units total. Mixture of one bedrooms, one bedroom with dens, and studios.

• Retail isn’t included. building has very small 6300 sq ft footprint.

• Hoping to start in fall (not likely) and it’s a 15 month project.

• Met with DDOT regarding public space improvements and transportation plan along L st.

• Wish to do LEED certification. Too early in the stages to say whether this will be feasible. Have been looking at all concerns about runoff, sediment, waste disposal, etc but details are undetermined at this time.

• Will dig down enough to support additional structure above. There are a lot of costs in the bracing and supports of the existing building.

• Will have roof deck. Looking at ratio of interior and exterior space on roof.

• Seeking a letter of support regarding the requested changes to variance.

• Motion to support the project and latest changes: vote to support passed.

“Village” - aging in place – Dick Munn – Resident on Morgan St.

• Network of senior citizens and supporting people to allow aging in place.

• One source for information rather than call somebody and get forwarded and forwarded.

• Network of approved providers such as handymen, drivers, etc.

• Social aspect too. Younger people are involved as volunteers. Pre-retirement age people are interested in options for their own future.

• AARP has a template for how to start a Village.

• Captial Hill, Dupont Circle, Palisades, and three more areas have Villages in DC. 300+ Villages around the country. Started in Boston.

• Dick Munn is interested in becoming a focus person to get such an effort underway.

• Should take idea to Downtown Neighborhood Association and Convention Center Civic Association.

• blog post coming soon and interested neighbors should contact Dick or any mvsna board member

3^rd St. Church of God – Razing three vacant houses on NJ Ave.

• Church wishes to raze houses and use the space for surface parking lot.

• Historic Board approved taking off the rear of the houses and preserve façade. Church hired inspectors said that this plan isn’t structurally sound.

• Church is appealing to the Mayor’s agent to reverse HPRB decision and allow full demolition. (If they are denied, they will abide by HPRB. this means they will demolish the rear of the three houses and make the effort to keep the front facades standing.)

• Plan is to build annex on existing building this year. Permitted for this already.

• Near term plans only include annex and using the area generated by demolishing the rear of the three houses for surface parking. No longer term plans for what to do with the facades in the future. Maybe rebuild for affordable housing but no commitment.

• There is an outstanding question about whether the house lots can be used for parking as an “accessory lot.”

• Previous association vote to express disapproval of razing the buildings at all still stands.

Hoagie House – 4^th and N

• One Ministries requested an extension to the exemption from vacant tax rates earlier this year.

• They ultimately decided after 6 months in to a 1 yr exemption to sell. they sold to Abbas Fathi who plans residential and possible retail for the first floor. One

  (rumor)

  thrown out was single slice pizza.

• Ideas: Café, bakery, coffee shop would be an option.

• Using space for DCPS entrepreneurial project in partnership would be an option.

• Should do blog post to see what people want to see at that corner.

Adjournment

Does anyone know about the changes going on at 450 M St. NW ?  Apparently, the mission has shifted and a new management is in place.  Currently they are putting out as much stuff as they can in the front yard. And today, a lady said they will soon have signs posted to invite the public in to take whatever they want.