Meeting recap, plus potholes

[Miller, Chris (SMD 6C05)]

Good evening, neighbors. I'd like to provide a recap of tonight's meeting on the 501 H construction, as well as put out a call for pothole repair recommendations. With regard to the latter, please let me know of any potholes that need to be patched up, even if they are outside the neighborhood. I will pass them on to DDOT and the mayor's office.

Re: the former, I'd like to thank the neighbors who were able to attend.  Present from the 501 H team was Charlie Liesfeld, the site superintendent for the construction general contractor, and Rei Takata, the architect. Chris Regan was unable to attend due to illness.  (I have added Charlie to the neighborhood email groups, and he is CC'd for those who would like his email.) 

The takeaways from tonight:

*Demolition began last week, with the overall project expected to take 18 months.  The next step, which should take only two days or so, is to install the water line. The current parking restrictions on the south side of H and 5th are for this water installation, and will be removed once that is complete.  There will be no parking restrictions north of H Street.  

*Dump trucks and others will not be allowed to stage on the construction site.  They will be staged elsewhere, and arrive on 5th Street via H.  

*After demolition, the next steps will be excavation and sheeting and shoring.  These will be done concurrently, and take about 2 months.  The current concrete slabs from the demolished building will be kept in place during pile driving, in order to try to prevent spring rain mud from brewing up on site and spilling over.  A crane will go up in ten weeks or so, and the building's concrete and steel will hopefully be topped out by September.  

*There was also a discussion as to whether the minimal parking/pro bike-and-public-transportation approach of the 501 H project was feasible.  Zoning wise, this is consistent with the new Zoning Code that goes into effect in September. I understand that people may disagree. However, I can say that this project has been before the ANC since September 2013, and many, many times since then. Mark Kazmierczak, my fantastic predecessor, held community meetings on this project in November 2013 and February 2014, and I had a meeting in March of last year, after I took office in January.  

*On a related neighborhood issue, it was suggested that DDOT put up a more visible "no trucks" sign at the north side of the 5th and H intersection. I'll pester DDOT on that one.

I hope you all have a great night. Let me know if there is anything else I can do.

Best,

Chris