Lines and patience: Click for the photos. (Luis Gomez Photos)
See photos from around the Borderstan area on Election Day, November 6.
From Rachel Nania. Check out her blog, Sear, Simmer & Stir. Follow Nania on Twitter @rnania, email her at rachel[AT]borderstan.com.
It was a long election day in Borderstan as neighborhors to vote (and then for the results, which perhaps came earlier than expected at the presidential level. (We will have local ANC race results later today).
Tuesday (Election Day) can only be categorized as a very anxious (yet exciting) day in Borderstan. In the neighborhood, and throughout the city, thousands residents filed in to polling stations, some even waiting as long as two hours to vote.
During the morning and afternoon, lines snaked outside of buildings, leaving many residents stranded in cold temperatures and missing hours of work. In the evening hours, bars filled up and attracted residents with drink specials and flat screens covering the election tallies.
Here are some images of the election excitement, captured on Tuesday, November 6, 2012.
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From Rachel Nania. Check out her blog, Sear, Simmer & Stir. Follow Nania on Twitter @rnania, email her at rachel[AT]borderstan.com.
The new ANC 2F/Logan map for the 2012 election. (DC Board of Elections)
It’s time to meet some of the candidates running for Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) seats in ANC 2F/Logan: Districts 2F-01, 2F-02 and 2F-03.
On Tuesday, October 2, a forum for the candidates running in the three Logan Circle districts will take place from 7 to 8:30 pm at the Hotel Helix (1430 Rhode Island Avenue NW) in the Production Room. (The Logan Circle Community Association also held a previous candidate forum on September 12.)
The Logan Circle neighborhood had significant growth in recent years (two Single Member District seats were added to 2F to accommodate for this growth), with parking, development and restaurant zoning being the top issues facing the neighborhood.
Tuesday night’s forum gives residents the opportunity to ask the candidates questions related to these (and other) topics.
Candidates at Forum
Click on the links The candidates for this year’s race include:
- 2F-01: Peter Lallas.
- 2F-02: Adam Stempel, Walt Cain and James Baker.
- 2F-03: Chris Linn.
The election is November 6, 2012. For more information on the forum, email tehillard[AT]msn.com.
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From Rachel Nania. Check out her blog, Sear, Simmer & Stir. Follow Nania on Twitter @rnania, email her at rachel[AT]borderstan.com
Residential parking regulations for the Dupont area will be discussed Tuesday night. (Luis Gomez Photos)
A meeting with DC officials to discuss parking regulations is planned for Tuesday, October 2 at 7 pm at The Dupont Hotel (1500 New Hampshire Avenue NW).
The meeting is in response to a discussion held last April between Dupont Circle Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 2B and DC officials on parking and methods various neighborhoods are using to ensure the most efficient use of limited street parking spaces. Tuesday’s meeting will build on the previous discussion and focus on specific parking options for the Dupont Circle neighborhood.
Since last April’s meeting, DDOT started its parking sign pilot program in the ANC2F/Logan area that lengthens restricted hours for visitor parking. The new signs allow for only residents with Zone 2 permits to park on the designated side of a street block from 7 am until midnight.
Tuesday’s meeting is open to the public.
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February 3 at Judiciary Square: Eight candidates running in the April 26 special election to fill an At-Large seat on the DC Council participated in a candidate forum Thursday night. From left: Vincent Orange, Stanley Mayes, Joshua Lopez, Patrick Mara, Jacque Patterson, Sekou Biddle, Bryan Weaver and Alan Page. Biddle was appointed to the seat until the election. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Michelle Lancaster. Got news for Michelle? Send her an email.
Pickup Artist Alert: Dupont Circle
This Saturday, if someone asks if it hurt or compliments you on your dress you should probably just ignore them. You didn’t fall from heaven and your clothes do not need to be on his floor and these are not just bad lines. A master pickup artist is teaching classes, says We Love DC. There goes the gayborhood!
From Tom Hay
The proliferation of new businesses over the past few years continues to be one of the major stories in the Dupont-Logan-U Street area. Moreover, the fact that most are locally-owned, small businesses adds to the sense of community cohesion.
Read Borderstan’s 14 business profiles of 2010; list at bottom.
The opening of Room & Board at 14th and T Streets NW was an exception, while Point Chaude Cafe & Crepes (with one downtown location), Toucan Boutique on 9th Street NW and Well Built on 14th Street NW were more the norm in 2010.
The District Condos development on the west side of 14th Street NW between S and Swann Streets gets underway this year; completion is scheduled for 2012. (Luis Gomez Photos).
What Kind of Businesses in 2011?
Perhaps the big business story in 2011 for the neighborhood will be what kind of new businesses open, particularly on the 14th Street NW corridor — rising rents make it increasingly difficult for certain types of retail to flourish. With higher revenues, restaurants and lounges are often better able to pay the rent, Estadio and Masa 14 being good examples.
This reality was recognized in 2010 when the DC Zoning Commission approved having up to 50% of store frontage space on the 14th and U corridor be eating/drinking establishments. The previous percentage for this area — part of the arts overlay district — was 25%.
A few of the food and beverage businesses in the pipeline include Pearl Dive restaurant in the 100% Mexico (closed) location, Peregrine Espresso in the former Flowers on Fourteenth (moved a few doors south) space and several dining spots coming to the northeast corner of 14th and U.
I predict in 2011 we will see more resident opposition to new or expanding restaurants and bars along 14th Street. Case in point is the already mobilized group of 30 residents protesting Pearl Dive’s liquor license.
What About the Arts Branding Project?
Speaking of the arts overlay district in the 14th and U corridor, what will happen with the DC Arts District branding project? The banners are up on U, 14th, 15th and 9th Streets NW. The project was funded by a $200,000 Neighborhood Investment Fund grant with the contract going to contractors via the MidCity Residents Association, Cultural Tourism DC, Logan Circle Community Association and the Constance Whitaker Maffin Memorial Fund.
Several graphic design firms collaborated on the design of the banners, with the final design by Julia Ames, owner of Spoolia Design. No word yet on future plans for the DC Arts District and it remains unclear how long the banners will remain in place in certain locations.
More Condos
New condominium construction appears to be having an early spring. After years of an unprecedented number of new units being built, the start of many projects came to a halt a couple of years ago, victims of the recession, tight credit markets and cautious developers.
This fall saw signs of movement along 14th Street, notably the unveiling of District Condos, a 125-unit building at the former Whitman Walker site at 14th and S Streets NW, which will also include ground floor retail.
Vincent Gray Administration
Will the business climate in the neighborhood change now that Vincent Gray is DC’s new mayor? Last month Gray announced he would not be keeping Department of Transportation head Gabe Klein — under whom we saw more bike lanes, the Circulator bus and the start of a streetcar system for the city. Also out is Linda Argo at Consumer and Regulatory Affairs. DCRA is the agency responsible for business licenses and building permits and it had made great strides in customer service in recent years.
Gray also appointed Ronald Collins to head the Office of Boards and Commissions. Collins held the post during the Anthony Williams administration (1999-2007) and the position assists the Mayor’s office in selecting members for the Zoning Commission, Alcoholic Beverage Control Board and the Historic Preservation Review Board, all of which handle issues of importance to businesses and residents in our neighborhood.
New ANC Commissioners
DC’s Advisory Neighbhorhood Commissions (ANCs) technically do not have regulatory or approval powers, but they can smooth the way or put up roadblocks for businesses. We will see some new faces on the three ANCs in the area: ANC 1B, 2B and 2F. Aaron Spencer won a three-way race for 1B02 which includes the east side of the 14th and U Streets intersection. He defeated incumbent Peter Raia and Tucker Gallagher. In 2B-Dupont Circle, Kevin O’Connor ran unopposed for the 2B02 post, which is on the western side of Dupont Circle.
Over in ANC 2F-Logan Circle, Emily Barton takes the 2F02 seat (she ran unopposed) while 2F04 and 2F05 are vacant and will have to be filled by special election early this year. There were no candidates on the November 2 ballot for either of these seats and the DC Board of Elections and Ethics was unable to fill these seats from write-in votes on November 2.
Commissioners represent approximately 2,000 people in single-member districts and are elected every two years. ANC 1B has 11 members, 2B has nine and 2F has six commissioners.
2010 Neighborhood Business Profiles
From Tom Hay
- Well Built: Style Meets Sustainability on 14th Street
- Scuba Store Opens in Dupont
- Toucan Boutique Adds Business Diversity to 9th St.
- Home Rule: Pioneer Going Strong After 11 Years
From Cecile Oreste
- B.fit studio Offers a New Type of Fitness Class
- Rue 14 Style: “Forward Thinking”
- An Entrepreneur Wannabe? Talk to 1905′s Tony Lucca
- Deals for Deeds: Discounts with a Charitable Touch
- BTI Dance Institute Opens Doors on 14th Street
From Borderstan
- Salon Rouge’s Salim: From Casablanca to 17th Street
- Miss Pixie: It Has to Be “My Own Show”
- Greater Goods Focuses on Sustainability, Green Products
- Paula Amt: Art and Business on the 14th Street Corridor
- 14th Street: Som Records Rides the Vinyl Resurgence
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From Michelle Lancaster
What a Gray Day
And with that, welcome to bad pun Friday! Mayor-elect Vincent Gray had a bang up first few days in ‘office’, DCist.com reports. Some already interesting decisions, from campaign party location to transition team names, were compounded when Gray was noticeably absent from the funeral of MPD office Paul Dittamo. TBD.com had the update that a “staff oversight” prevented Gray from attending, as he had “no idea” there was a police funeral today. I suppose no one on staff checks out the Washington Post…
Metro: What is Right and What is Wrong
What’s right with Metro may just be the commuters that use it day in and day out. We Love DC has a great story about the commuters who saved a man’s life last night after he fell onto the tracks from the platform. For you pessimists, though, here are the board meeting notes from today from DCist.com.
What’s Next with ANC Races?
Have we mentioned that ANC races are important? Forgive us for belaboring the point, but the fact of the matter is that where you eat, drink, play and buy are determined by the people in these seats, and there are over 30 that had not a single candidate running in the district. For shame! Of course, if you have yet to meet your quota for shame and sad feelings about elective politics, TBD.com has a great explanation of the whole process.
The Only Reason You Should Care About the Wizards
I’ll tell you – ait’s to watch awkward, wealthy sports owners do a ridiculous dance and look even more awkward and ridiculous. John Wall, on the other hand, looks kind of awesome. John Wall is news in this town, people, and that’s why this is here from WTOP.
Top row, from left: Tucker Gallagher, Deborah Thomas and Mike Benardo. Center row, from left: Sunit Talapatra, William Girardo and Peter Raia. Bottom row, from left: Ramon Estrada, Kate McMahon and Aaron Spencer. (Luis Gomez Photos)
For most states, November 2 will be one of the most contentious election days in recent memory. Here in DC, though, Election Day tends to be viewed as just another day, with few races that are contested. DC certainly is a one-party city, with registered Democrats constituting about 74% of all voters, and the primaries are the election where winners are usually decided.
But, here’s why you should pay attention, vote and buck the D.C. Election Day malaise: the elected offices that determine the future of your neighborhood are in play. Advisory Neighborhood Commission seats are critically important to the development of businesses, residential areas and cultural spots near your homes. (Check out Lydia DePillis’ post today over at the City Paper’s Housing Complex Blog: Building a Better ANC.)
ANC 2B-Dupont is one of three ANCs in the Dupont-Logan-U Street area; the others are ANC 2F-Logan and ANC 1B, which includes the U Street area. (Image: ANC2B website)
One of the local governmental institutions that seems to generate the most confusion among Washingtonians, especially newcomers, is that of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, or ANCs.
This is ironic since ANCs are actually the unit of government closest to DC residents. For example, each single-member district of ANC 2B-Dupont has about 2,000 people–governmentally, that is as local as it gets in a city of 600,000.
In the Dupont-Logan-U Street area, ANCs tend to be newsworthy when a restaurant or bar wants to open or expand or have outdoor seating. But, what do ANCs do? What is their role in DC Government? If you don’t know, you are probably in the majority in DC.
This is part one of a two-part series–today is the basics, the mechanics of ANCs. On Friday we will have Q&A with four ANC commissioners from the three ANCs in our neighborhood: ANC 2B-Dupont, ANC 2F-Logan and ANC 1B, which includes the U Street area. (more…)
Borderstanians vote at the Fifteenth Street Presbyterian Church, northeast corner of 15th and R NW. (Image by Luis Gomez.)
Good morning, Borderstanians. The almost-two-year presidential campaign is almost at an end. Vote tomorrow, Tuesday, November 4–and remember to vote in those down-ballot races for D.C. slots. Don’t just vote for president and run out of the polling place. DC polling place hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
City Council Races. For example, remember that there is a hot race for two At-Large D.C. Council seats. The Washington Post has an article today on the race, “Final Push For Council Highlights D.C. Rivalry.”
ANC Races. If you live in ANC 2B-09 (outside Borderstan to the north), your ANC seat is being contested between incumbent Ramon Estrada and challenger Doug Rogers. The Borderstan posting on the race is here: “ANC Races: 2B-09 Hotly Contested.”
Voter Guides and Polling Places
- The Washington Post DC Voter Guide.
- D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics: Election Year 2008.
- Polling Places. All Borderstanians vote at the Fifteenth Presbyterian Church at the northeast corner of 15th and R Streets NW; the entrance is on R Street. If you live outside Borderstan, you can find your polling place here.
Please plan to attend the Borderstan public safety meeting this Wednesay at 6 p.m. at the 15th Street Presbyterian Church (15th and R) in the basement (entrance on R Street, the polling place). Asst. Chief of Police Diane Groomes, Council Member Jack Evans (Ward 2) and 3rd District MPD Commander George Kucik will attend. There will also be representatives from the 2nd Police District as well as ANC commissioners from 2B and 2F: Jack Jacobson, ANC 2B-04, and Charles Reed, ANC 2F-01.
