Burleith Newsletter September, 2000

This letter is being written before September 5, when the Board of Zoning Adjustment is scheduled to render a decision on the Georgetown University Ten Year Plan. (More details and background on the decision are elsewhere in this newsletter.)

Before any individual judgments are made or questions asked, I feel it is important for the residents of Burleith to know (and I hope appreciate) what we, along with the other communities surrounding the university, have been involved with this past year. And, although the media focus has been on our "opposition" to the plan, please know that we are in agreement with the University on many aspects of the plan. For example, we wholeheartedly support the academic goals, the building and design concepts, the planned open spaces, venues for more on-campus activities, and the Performing Arts Center.

The community objections were on those parts of the plan which have a direct impact us, specifically: an increase of 500 undergraduate students over present enrollment with no additional housing; an increase of 1300 graduate students; the unknowns in the MedStar purchase of the hospital; the lack of any additional response to continuing student disruptions and to traffic and parking congestion in the neighborhoods; and expansion of the university outside the campus boundaries. An issue of particular concern to Burleith is the proposed alignment of 38th Street and Entrance l; all of the north-campus communities are concerned about an increase of traffic on Reservoir Road because of the hospital, and West Georgetown residents want some control over traffic and parking in the neighborhood for events at expanded sports facilities and the new theater. These were the issues raised in the opposing testimony.

In making our case before the BZA, Burleith joined with the Citizens Association of Georgetown, Cloisters in Georgetown, Foxhall Community Citizens Association, Georgetown Residents Alliance and Hillandale Citizens Association. The united organizations gave coordinated testimony and submitted materials that clearly identified adverse impacts on these communities.

The citizens who represented their communities and worked on the "opposition team" are volunteers. They worked on this project for many months and did the research in addition to their full time jobs, home and family, and personal responsibilities; the many meetings were held on nights and weekends. The BZA gave us two hours to make our case, and as it turned out we were an impressive group, thanks to the commitment, organization, research and preparation of the community representatives. In support of these efforts, over three dozen residents from Burleith and West Georgetown took the time to write letters or give testimony at the hearing about the negative impacts of university operations, particularly student conduct.

It was an effective presentation, and at this time I do not know how the BZA will rule. I can only say that as residents you can be assured, that your representatives did their very best.

Some of you are asking "WHY"? What's the big deal? Are they at it again? The goal is to preserve our community and to ensure that we continue to enjoy a reasonable quality of life. Over the years, many residents, some still here, some moved away, have put forth an incredible effort to keep Burleith a viable, safe community. We commend and thank the individuals who worked on this project, the people who wrote the letters or gave testimony and the residents we consulted to help preserve this community - one more time.

The Board of Zoning Adjustment held two hearings over the summer on the Georgetown University campus plan. Complete transcripts from these hearings can be read on the Burleith Website. The addresses are http://www.burleith.org/BZAJune13.html and http://www.burleith.org/BZAJuly18.html.

Congratulations to Holly and Jim Dempsey on the birth, on August 23, of Beverly Joan Dempsey. (It took a while, but we're sure it was worth it!) Beverly has already had some experience with civic activism, having made a pre-birth trip in July to testify at the BZA hearing on the campus plan.

Don't forget to come this Sunday to the annual Burleith Flea Market, on 36th St between S and T Streets and in the adjacent alleys. Sellers are still welcome to stop by at 8 a.m. and get a spot. Buyers are welcome all day, but remember that the best bargains go early! Volunteers are also welcome all day, but are particularly needed for setup and take-down. Traditional refreshments will be sold: a Garden Club bake sale in the morning and grilled hot dogs for lunch.

For more information, call Marjorie Wolfe at 965-1699.

Bring your dull knives to the flea market

Marking a special appearance at this year's Burleith flea market will be John Vecchiarelli of Tony's Tool Grinding Service. John will sharpen knives, scissors, and other tools onsite. For 72 years, six days a week, tool grinder Tony Vecchiarelli, John's father, crisscrossed the alleys of upper Northwest Washington sharpening knives. Driving a van, he announced his availability a bell, and sometimes an entire family would come out with a collection of abused, mismatched knives. First with a 400-pound grinding wheel, then with a honing stone, he gave each knife a keen edge. He sharpened scissors and repaired umbrellas as well.

Tony died last October at age 87. This spring his son John plans to take the van back on the road on a limited basis. He is bound to be busy.

A sharp knife is a safe knife - applying excessive force in cutting.causes many kitchen accidents and increases the chance of injury. Thake this opportunity to bring in and renew your old knives.

The Duke Ellington School of the Arts has a new Principal and is developing its new collaborative programs, but still has problems with parking and trash storage. Burleith and ANC 2E responded to Ellington's parking problems last fall by voting to make spaces along the perimeter of Ellington and the Washington International School open for parking without a zone 2 sticker . DCPS, for their part, was asked to pave and landscape the rear of the school to provide on-site staff parking. Unfortunately, DCPS has not followed through (partly because of changes in administration) and the street parking spaces are being swallowed by commuter and student cars. The BCA has a committee that has been working to build closer ties with the school, and the group is planning to meet in the near future with Ellington Principal Mitzi Yates. Look for a report in the October Newsletter. For more information, call Charles Mallett at 337-6505.

You have until Thursday, September 14 to visit the Gelman Library at George Washington University to see the exhibition Home Base: The Neighbors and Neighborhoods of Washington, D.C. Burleith., Chinatown, Foggy Bottom and Shaw are the neighborhoods shown in words and in photographs.

Home Base features photographs, historical maps, documents and artifacts from the Washingtoniana collection in the Sepecial Collections Department of the Gelman Library. Burleith is well represented, with many photos showing people and locations which span many years, and articles, official docments, citations and even an old Burleith race-based restrictive covenant.

The Special Collections Department of the Library developed the exhibitition in coordination with the 34th Annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival. The department collects archives, artifacts and other memorabilia pertaining to the many neighborhoods of Washington. Several years aho, Burleith contributed its archives to the Library, and we continue to send them our Newsletter each month. Eventually, modern meeting records, resolutions passed, awards given, and so on will be added to the collection. We may also send them all of our documentation on the Georgetown University campus plan. The records now in the collection take up many boxes and are still being cataloged. They may be viewed at exhibits like Home Base or by prior appointment with the Department.

The Department welcomes contributions of photographs, paperwork or documents relating to community issues. What might you have tucked away in a drawer or in a box in a closet? Please call Pat Scolaro, 338-5321 who will be happy to serve as a collection point for items you wish to contribute.

Experts from AARP, the Social Security Office and the George Washington Health Insurance Counseling Project will provide information and answer questions about health care benefits for seniors. The session is on Thursday, September 14 from 2-4 p.m. at the GW Hospital auditorium, 901 23rd St, NW. To register or for more information call (888)-449-3627 or 715-4192.

A BCA Board meeting was held on August 16 with ten members in attendance. The meeting started with a discussion of the status of the proposed Georgetown University campus plan. A full report is elsewhere in the Newsletter (and on the Burleith Website).

Flea Market at Hardy. The Board felt the BCA position was misrepresented in an article in the Georgetown Current about a letter Pat Scolaro had written to DCPS. The letter expressed our concern about the possible side effects of granting a zoning exception on the property for the Flea Market (we want to make sure that the school never becomes a commercial property). The BCA position is that any zoning variance or exception should explicitly apply only to this specific market, only the parking lot and only on Sunday. The letter was not meant as opposition to the Flea Market. In fact, the BCA has actively supported, and continues to support, having the Flea Market at Hardy. A letter has been sent to Superintendent Paul Vance asking that DCPS renew the Flea Market. lease.

It was also suggested that a letter be written to the Principal of Hardy requesting that the enclosed playground be kept open on weekends.

Burleith Flea Market is on Sunday September 10 and Marjorie Wolfe is in charge. A doorstep flyer will be delivered throughout the community. This year we will have Tony offering tool grinding services.

Membership. Tom Bryant is the new membership chair and will work with a committee to develop a total program. A campaign will be launched in October. Cost permitting, a membership brochure may be printed and everyone agrees that having block captains is an important aspect of increasing membership. It was suggested that all new residents should be welcomed in the newsletter.

Tot Lot. The Corcoran has all permits and work is ready to start. The old equipment will be saved. (The red climber and the rocking horse bring back fond memories to those who built the Tot Lot many years ago.) A donation to Corcoran was suggested but no action was taken. Those benefiting from the Tot Lot may wish to become become individual donors of the Corcoran.

Calendar. The BCA calendar was established (see insert).

Committees. The BCA committee structure has been revamped and hopefully revitalized. Chairs were named for several committees that have been inactive: Public Service and Safety (Ed Solomon), Traffic and Parking (Charles Mallett), Zoning and Planning (Marilyn Reis), Education (Maggie Meenahan), Welcome (Guy Gwynn and Charles Mallett). Other changes can be seen on the insert in this month's Newsletter.

Charity races have raised concern because they block streets and trap residents. There are also safety concerns about blocking access to the hospital. Unfortunately, city agencies require very little notice from event planners, and so have little influence over the route. The community often gets little or no notice. (See the Newsletter story on the Georgetown 10K race in October.). Peter Pulsifer is working with Scott Polk and Toni Ritzenberg (ANC 3B) to develop more reasonable regulations for these events.

Budget. There is a projected shortfall this year. Projected income is $5,905 and expenses are $6,255, including Campus Plan expenses of $500.

Newsletter Advertising. Ann Gallagher coordinates. Ads cost $125.00 for ten issues. Until this year, we have had enough (even too many) ads, but because of businesses moving or deciding not to renew we now are looking for advertisers. Income from ads should cover at least 50% of the cost of the newsletter. Board members were encouraged to approach local businesses to reach a goal of at least ten ads.

Meetings, Speakers. Proposed were Phil Mendelson, Jack Evans, David Catania, a joint meeting with other communities, and an open house on October 11 for new members. Georgetown marks its 250th anniversary of incorporation in May - a possible meeting event.

Lt. Burke replacement. A letter is to be sent to Chief Ramsey asking for a replacement for Pat Burke as commander of PSA 205. We have been without a supervisor in this PSA for several months.

The Corcoran School of Art has obtained the required permits for its planned renovation of the Burleith Tot Lot and the extension of the parking lot behind Fillmore. However, although the work was originally scheduled to start on August 14, there has still been no activity on the site. To great a delay might force the project to wait until a break in classes, possibly three to six months from now. Once begun, work might continue for up to six weeks.

Both parts of the project are good news for Burleith residents. The expanded lot will remove Corcoran student parking from Burleith streets (at the cost of losing some open space), and the renovated Tot Lot will be a beautiful addition to our community. The plan was strongly endorsed by ANC 2E in May, but there was a complication in the parking lot plans. The Corcoran had promised the neighbors that the renovated parking lot would be surrounded by a tall ornamental fence, but the fence was not in the plans. (The plans did include extensive landscaping.) Adding the fence added to the project cost, but the Corcoran was able to find an economical way to do this without reducing the scale of the Tot Lot.

More details on the delay and revised schedule should be available at the September 13 BCA meeting.

Registration for classes at the Guy Mason Recreation Center (3600 Calvert St) begins Saturday, September 9 and continues until classes start the week of October 1 These classes are bargains, giving everyone opportunities to increase your knowledge, hone your physical abilities, and develop your artistic talents.

Language classes include Modern Irish, as well as beginning French and Spanish as a Second Language. For children (ages 4-7) there is Ballet and Tumbling, and for adults there is aerobics, yoga, Qi Gong, Dancersize and ballroom dancing. Creative opportunities are the classes in art, pottery, china painting, and copper enameling.

Come take bridge classes twice a week, or take chess lessons for free. Join the Retirees Club, which sponsors dances every Wednesday afternoon.

To register, visit the Center or call Vincent Cain or Caryl King at 282-2180.

Alley removal: The Solid Waste Division of the Department of Public Works collects trash in alleys weekly. Pickup is on Fridays, although if there is a DC or Federal holiday during the week then pickup is on Saturdays. Without alleys: Where there is no alley, DPW collects trash from the curb in from of the house twice a week, normally on Tuesday and Friday. Collection is delayed by one day subsequent to a holiday within the week. Citations can be issued for violations of these guidelines:

• All trash should be inside a proper container (unenclosed bags are targets for animals and loose trash can blow or be scattered). The container may be a metal or plastic can of 20 to 32 gallon capacity or a much larger city-issued Supercan. Residences without alley pickup may use plastic bags, but every precaution must be taken to keep rats or other animals from getting into the trash.
• Trash should be set out no earlier than 6 p.m. the night before pickup and bring your empty trash containers in by 8:00 p.m. on collection day. Trash should not be stored in the alley.
• Yard waste and leaves must be put in heavy plastic bags and put out on your scheduled collection day. Tree limbs should be cut to four ft. length and tied in small bundles.

Fines start at $35 and go up rapidly with repeat offenses, to $1,000 for the fourth ticket.

If there is too much trash for one Supercan, or if the Supercan is broken, you can normally order additional Supercans by calling 645-7160 or 727-4600 (DPW will deliver) - but see the next story!

Recycling items are picked up by a private contractor (not the city) on Fridays, in the same location as regular trash. Place recyclables in the recycling bins issued by the city, and bring the bins back by 8 p.m. on collection day.

For all sanitation inquiries call 727-4600. To report a sanitation violation call 645-6179.

The latest word from DPW is that they have run out of Supercans. Reportedly, a request has just been issued to prospective vendors for proposals to resupply them. Responses are due in 30 days, then DPW will have 30 days to evaluate the responses and 30 days to award the contract. We will probably not see any new Supercans until December at the earliest. In the meantime, DPW does have smaller green barrels with covers that they have been giving away. For more details, contact Charles Mallett at 337-6505, who might even have one or two small trash barrels to give you.

It was a busy summer for community activists as the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) held its two major hearings on the proposed Georgetown University campus plan. Every university campus in DC is required to have an approved campus plan, which is supposed to be a blueprint for campus development over its lifetime. No activity is permitted on campus that is inconsistent with the plan. Currently, GU is operating under a plan that was approved in 1990 for a term of 10 years; the new plan was also developed for a 10 year term, although now the University is asking for 8 years, the community 5 years.

Consideration of the plan gives the community a chance to review enrollment caps, building plans, transportation management strategies, and plans to deal with other impacts (such as noise and crowding). The legal requirement that must be met is that University activities should not be objectionable to neighboring property.

The schedule has been that there would be two hearings, then the parties would submit whatever supplemental materials were needed, and the BZA would make its decision in September. This schedule was kept remarkably well until the last step; On September 5, the BZA announced they were dissatisfied with the University's responses and demanded more information. No campus plan decision will be made until at least November.

Parties to the hearing were all the community groups surrounding the University except Cloisters West. Burleith was a party. The six parties were all "in opposition" to the plan, which meant they had serious objections to some aspects of it. They were permitted to cross-examine witnesses and were guaranteed to receive official hearing correspondence.

At the first hearing, on June 13, University representatives presented their plan and were questioned by the parties. At the second hearing, on July 18, government agencies (Office of Planning, DPW and ANC) gave their reports and the community had the opportunity to make its case. The six community organizations made a group presentation, for which they were given two hours in aggregate. In the opening statement,

1. Peter Pulsifer established the communities' positions on various elements of the plan;

2. Patricia Scolaro and Bonnie Hardy represented Burleith and addressed enrollment, housing and student behavior;

3. Scott Polk, of Foxhall, criticized the proposed 50% increase in graduate students;

4. Douglas Rixey, of Georgetown, spoke on campus boundaries, physical elements of the plan, traffic and student behavior;

5. Chuck Braun, of Hillendale, complained about excessive traffic on Reservoir Road and the poor quality of the traffic studies done for the campus plan, and expressed concern about the impact of Med-Star; and

6. Barbara Zartman, of Cloisters in Georgetown, summarized and presented the community proposals.

The BZA reaction was remarkable. Each member of the Board harshly criticized the University for failing to meet its obligations to the community. They directed the University to submit a comprehensive pro-active plan to address off-campus student behavior problems, and to provide much of the information that the community had complained was missing.

The University submitted the new student conduct management plan on August 10; they submitted a rebuttal to the community arguments and a closing statement on August 17. On August 24, both sides submitted their own version of what they wanted the BZA decision to say.

Most of the community arguments were printed in past Newsletters and can be found on the Burleith Website. The communities stressed their support for a strong University with top-quality students, for University growth in excellence but not in institutional weight. Remarkably, the community supports most elements of the plan, especially those few that improve on-campus student life. In fact, the community raised only slight objections to two changes that could make a large splash: the redesign of Harbin Field to add 1300 seats, and expansion of McDonough Gymnasium to allow Georgetown's nationally ranked basketball team to play home games there. The community has asked only that these large venues not be commercialized with musical performances or similar activities.

The main community recommendations can be summarized as follows:

1. Reduce the term of the plan to five years. After five years, the new University President will be established, the Southwest Quadrangle and Canal Road entrance will be completed, and MedStar will have properly assessed its needs and goals.

2. Don't allow any increase in the enrollment cap.

3. Request credible traffic studies, and for a traffic management plan for the north campus, and supply missing information about its on-campus activities.

4. Disclose nearby University off-campus operations.

5. Regulate MedStar's Medical Center operations so that they have no more impact than a University medical center (consistent with MedStar's stated intentions).

6. Find a way to objectively evaluate the University's community impact, especially that from students and traffic.

For more information, see the Burleith Website, http://www.burleith.org.

To help compensate for the in on-campus parking spots taken from academic users by the MedStar acquisition, the University has greatly increased its shuttle bus service. Last year, the GUTS bus system carried nearly a million passengers (only GU employees or students are allowed to ride, although those without an ID can ride to campus for a $1.00 fare). This year there are six routes:

All routes that use Prospect St to exit, except the Law Center bus, return via the Canal Rd entrance.

The TGIF series of lunch talks continues at Grace Church, 1041 Wisconsin Ave. Talks are 12:30-1:30. Call (301) 961-7108 for more information. On the agenda are the following.

Wednesday, September 13, 7 p.m. Washington International School

Fall kickoff meeting-learn about summer activity with Georgetown University & Tot Lot.

Meet your neighbors, share your opinions!

All are Welcome - Refreshments served

The effort by DPW, MedStar, Georgetown University and ANC 2E to improve traffic flow on Reservoir Road and adjacent streets is moving forward. (See the June Newsletter-available on the Web-for a full report). The DPW official in charge of the project, Ken Laden, presented preliminary plans at the September 5 ANC 2E meeting. All of the first steps will be done by DPW administrative action, which normally requires at most a 30-day advance publication in the DC Register.

Most of the immediate actions involve replacing missing signs (notably on 35th, 36th and 37th Streets and Reservoir Rd), adding parking meters to 39th St, eliminating some parking spaces to allow enough room for buses, left turns and through traffic, and increasing parking enforcement, particularly at rush hours.

As part of the second stage, DPW is considering other changes as needed, including moving bus stops. To better assess the problem and effectiveness of the changes, they are planning a detailed traffic study of Reservoir Rd and connecting streets between Foxhall Road and 35th St.

The initiative grew out of the University campus plan process but is independent of it. With the involvement of MedStar and the University, however, the process will hopefully lead to a later assessment of how changes in on-campus circulation patterns can improve traffic on city streets. For example, the draft campus plan calls for building an on-campus connection between Entrances 1 and 4 which might divert some University-bound Reservoir Rd traffic.

DC Action for Children is sponsoring a series of dialogues on child and youth issues in DC, held on the first Wednesday of the month from noon to 2 p.m. at 1616 P St, NW in the 7th floor conference room.

Topics include the following. October 4: Building resiliency in children and youth; November 1: Children's access to health care; December 6: Mental helath in children and youth. No reservations are required. Call 234-9404 for more information.

The 21st annual Georgetown 10K running race is scheduled for Sunday, October 1 from 9 am to 1 pm. The race is an athletic event that also donates proceeds to charity; the beneficiary for this year's event has not been reported. The top 10 males and top 10 females will receive prizes of $50 to $250 in merchandise. The race organizer reported to ANC 2E at the September 5 meeting that last year's race gave about $12,000 to charity, but that the race is "not fiscally sound." The event has several sponsors, notably J. Paul's restaurant, Georgetown Park, and Coca-Cola.

The problem is that the course blocks off much of our access to the outside world. An earlier route surrounded Burleith and closed Reservoir Rd, blocking access to the Hospital. The present route is a loop along Canal Rd, Reservoir Rd, 49th St and Foxhall Rd, which traps much of Georgetown Reservoir and Foxhall Village communities and blocks Burleith's western access. Worse, the start/finish line and post-race party on M St will close Key Bridge all morning. This will create special hardships for churchgoers coming to Georgetown from Virginia-and, as it happens, October 1 is also during Rosh Hashanah.

The community opposition that is developing may well cause significant route changes to avoid blocking public roads. Discussions are going on with the Office of Emergency Management and the Metropolitan Police Special Operations Division, who must approve the route. If nothing changes, be prepared for some road closings on race day.

Additional picnic pictures follow (Web exclusive!)

The membership year for your Burleith Citizens Association begins on July 1. It is now time to renew your membership (unless you joined at the June picnic; if so, your dues were applied to the new year). Please help our new Membership Chair, Tom Bryant, to start his tenure with a bang. Clip the coupon below and send it with your donation to the address listed! If you can also volunteer to help with membership activities, such as by serving as a block captain, please give Tom a call. It's a great way to contribute to your community while getting to know your neighbors better. Thanks!