Monday, June 30, 2014

lost cat on the 1800 block of North Capitol Street NE

See this 06-30-3014 message:




I found a cat on the 1800 block of North Capitol Street NE.  It's very sweet and friendly, so I'm guessing it's a lost pet.  There's no collar.  It's a medium size, orange (ginger) cat.  If anybody wants to claim it, my number is 404 then 388 followed by 2915.

Here is an update on the cat:

From: 
Subject: Re: ... found cat
Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2014 06:53:08 -0400

Thank you - the owner reached out and is now reunited. Success!

Greater Greater Washington also weighs in on the DC Office of Planning pop-ups proposal

Click on the link to read the entire GGW post.

And be sure to read the long list of comments following the GGW post.


DC planners want to limit row houses from becoming condos

This proposal would apply to the zones now designated R-4, including neighborhoods like Capitol Hill, Trinidad, Bloomingdale, Logan Circle, Columbia Heights, and Park View. Today, it's legal to have two separate units in one of these row houses, but not more unless the lot is particularly large.
OP's proposal would take away the ability to have more than 2 units at all. It would also limit houses to 35 feet instead of 40 (though owners could go to 40 with a zoning hearing) and end the current policy allowing small "mezzanines" to not count as floors.
The Comprehensive Plan defines the R-4 zone as primarily single-family row houses (perhaps with basement apartments), not as apartment buildings. But in booming neighborhoods like Columbia Heights, OP planners say, developers have outbid individual families for houses with the expectation that they could get BZA exceptions to make the building into a multi-unit condo and add on to the top and back.
Zoning commissioners worry this may reduce housing
OP Associate Director Jennifer Steingasser presented this plan to the Zoning Commission, DC's part-federal, part-local board which has the final say on zoning, on June 9. Commissioner Marcie Cohen asked whether this change would reduce the amount of new housing that can get built in the city. She said,
A major concern that I have is the need for housing, and that's usually the need that's brought before us in the BZA cases. It's adding housing. And no one seems to appreciate density, yet we have the infrastructure in certain neighborhoods for density and I guess I'm in favor of taking advantage to provide the needed housing that we have in the city. How do we balance that?
Steingasser laid out the arguments, and said,
It's just a balance. We're trying to encourage housing, by all means, but we would rather it not be in the single family and at the expense of the historic row houses, that it be geared more towards these larger lots or into these higher-density, multifamily, commercial mixed-use areas.
Something of a debate ensued.
Chairman Anthony Hood: I'm glad to hear you say that, Ms. Steingasser ... While I understand the need, there are a lot of folks in this city who bought in their areas for a reason. ... Do we just throw everybody on top of them or do we kind of balance that out? ... While there is a need for housing, we have to be delicate with that because in this city who's been there a long time, they spent a lot of money in purchasing their homes which is their biggest investment, and they didn't buy into that.
Comissioner Rob Miller: That's why there are five members on this commission, because it is a changing city, it is a growing city, and where you tip the balancedoes two to three [units in a building] really change the character of a neighborhood? I don't think so. But maybe others do.
Steingasser: This is coupled with the new RF zones that we're proposing that do allow for more than 2 units. And where those get mapped will accommodate that. So it's not ensuring an amberification of all R-4, but allowing some areas to have more and some to have less.
,,,
Despite appearances, this doesn't deal with pop-ups very well
...
This specific proposal doesn't even address many of the complaints people have. This is mainly being billed in the press as a move to stop pop-ups. The lower height will deter some of the worst pop-ups, but it isn't going to stop people from adding a third story onto a 2-story row house in a place like Trinidad and the biggest objection is usually that the pop-ups are cheaply made and ugly. A design review process may be better than a zoning limit. Nor will this do anything about many of the more infamous pop-ups, likethe one on V Street, which is in an ARTS/C-2-B zone.
...

DC Office of Planning's Jennifer Steingasser summarizes the pop-up proposal

You all read my Saturday, 06-28-2014, assessment of the DC Office of Planning proposal on pop-ups, which would impact Bloomingdale?

I dropped Jennifer Steingasser of the DC Office of Planning an Email over the weekend to see if my assessment was accurate.


You can see her reply below:


From: jennifer.steingasser@dc.gov
To: scottroberts01@outlook.com
Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 08:17:52 -0400
Subject: RE: ... DC Office of Planning proposal addresses pop-ups in R-4

Scott,
                      
Thanks for the email.  You are accurate in your summary.  The OP proposal to amend the R-4 zone would:
                                                   
1)      Reduce matter of right height to 35 feet from 40
2)      Limit the number of residential units to two in residential buildings and allow conversion of non-residential buildings only by special exception
3)      Include mezzanines within the number of floors
  
The proposal did not include any changes to lot occupancy.
               
The proposal is to the existing regulations, so the amendments would become effective sooner than the ZRR; and if adopted by the Zoning Commission, the amendments would also be reflected in the ZRR new regulations.
  
Jennifer
  
Jennifer Steingasser, AICP, Deputy Director
Development Review and Historic Preservation
DC Office of Planning
1100 4th Street SW, Suite E650
Washington, DC 20024                                                     
ph: 202-442-8808
fax: 202-442-7638

a message from newly sworn-in ANC 5E08 Commissioner Austin Pearl

A message from Bloomingdale resident Austin Pearl:
 
                    

I just wanted to let all know that I successfully petitioned to back fill Mark Mueller as ANC5E08 and was sworn in late last week. If anyone needs to reach me in my official capacity, please do so at 5E08@anc.dc.gov
  

If you are unsure under which ANC you fall, you can see a map here .
         
I also want to thank Mark Mueller for fighting on behalf of Bloomingdale--as he was and continues to be a huge asset to this community who I will lean on heavily in my new role.
                
Best,

Austin L. Pearl 
ANC5E08 
Bloomingdale

Washington City Paper's Aaron Wiener weighs in on DC Office of Planning's pop-up proposal

Click on the link to read the * entire * post.

You can read the earlier Bloomingdale Neighborhood blog post here.

Office of Planning Neuters Zoning Update, and Then Some

Bates Area resident & architect Greg Upwall: "News From Studio Upwall"


Subject: News from Studio Upwall
From: gu@studioupwall.com
Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 08:59:45 +0000

Showcasing our work on our new website!   
View this email in your browser
26th Street Residence

Greetings & Happy Summer 2014!

26th Street Residence, San Francisco - front view from street.

New Website

Studio Upwall has launched a newly designed website, thanks to our partners at Circle Group. The website sports a new look and feel that we are excited about because it beautifully represents our philosophy and passion for design.  We have added some of our more recent work, and will frequently update the site with our latest projects. Take a look here.








San Francisco House - Photos Up

The 26th Street Residence project was a complete retrofit and expansion of an existing house built in 1910 in San Francisco's Noe Valley Neighborhood. Located on a narrow San Francisco site, the interior of the existing house consisted of a series of disconnected dark compartmentalized rooms. The new design includes an enlarged 2 car garage and garden, master bedroom suite on the ground level, and a 650 square foot addition with two bedrooms and a full bath at the third floor. Continue reading...



26th Street Residence, San Francisco - view from rear.
26th Street Residence, San Francisco - interior.
U Street Office

Just a reminder that we have relocated our office to the epicenter of the exciting 14th & U Street NW neighborhood in Washington, DC. We are excited to be designing in this collaborative and creative space.
Please forward this email to colleagues, friends or family who you know are looking for an exceptional architectural design firm.





Greg Upwall, LEED AP

Studio Upwall








Studio Upwall · 1535 U St. NW · Suite 201 · Washington, DC 20009 · USA 

An Intro to "We-Practice" with Bennett Crawford at Samsara House 2023 -- Sunday, 07-13-2014

Subject: 7/13/14 An Intro to "We-Practice" with Bennett Crawford at Samsara House 2023, 4:00PM
From: wakeup@samsarahouse.org
Date: Sun, 29 Jun 2014 21:59:54 +0000

An Intro to "We-Practice" with Bennett Crawford at Samsara House 2023, 4:00PM Sunday 7/13/14
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An Intro to "We-Practice" with Bennett Crawford at Samsara House 2023, 4:00PM Sunday 7/13/14

Sunday, July 13, 2014 from 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM

An Intro to "We-practice"
with Bennett Crawford 
at Samsara House 2023

7/13/14 - 4:00 - 6:30 (starts promptly)

Dear All,

My name is Bennett Crawford, and if you do not yet know me, I am one of the volunteers who helps coordinate meetings and speaker events which are related to the study and application of
Integral Theory through the
DC Integral Emergence Meetup group. Ever since my experience as a participant at the last extraordinary Thomas Hubl Event in DC--An evening with Thomas HublI've been compelled to start something called a We-practice group in DC.  The "We-practice" that I would like to share is a model and framework ofconscious we-spacesthat has been influenced by many spiritual teachers such as Thomas HublDustin DipernaAndrew CohenCraig HamiltonTerry Patten and David Dieda to name a few.
I have been engaging with Dustin Diperna, and a few other integral leaders who are also hosting We-practice groups in their respective areas and I have been really inspired about what I have been learning.
Currently, I am receiving coaching and training from Dustin, who has a great deal of experience in We-practice and therefore will be mentoring me as I proceed with the launch and development of We-practice DC.  I am planning to have three open experiential informational sessions this summer to connect with at least ten to twelve dedicated practitioners to form the first closed group.  The experiential information sessions will be held from 4pm-6:30pm on June 15, July 13, and August 10 and then the first We-practice DC group will begin September 14.
I would love for you all to join me!
Love,Bennett

About Wepractice DC 
Are you interested in awakening and bringing it into the world of relationship and culture?
Are you interested in joining with spiritual practitioners who not only care about their own awakening and embodiment process but also care about the evolution of human consciousness and culture?
For years, I have had my own spiritual practice and as important as it is, I realize that it is not enough. Personal spiritual practice is vital but in and of itself it does not take you far enough especially in this modern and postmodern world. Personal spiritual practice needs to include collective spiritual practice.
How many of you experienced a strong presence of blissful stillness on the pillow, and yet when you are faced with challenging exchanges and dynamics with others, the experience of stillness escapes you? This is why I believe it is so crucial to connect with others who are also inspired and called to bring awakening into the world. What we need in the world are individual spiritual practitioners who can embody their awakening. I believe a collective spiritual practice group will help and support that.
I have also been longing to be in a group that has the desire to tap into a collective awakened field and express and reflect all that we are so our divinity can truly shine, radiate and be embodied both individually and collectively. This is what I have been inspired to create here in DC. Therefore, my intention is to provide an opportunity and space for those who are passionate about awakening and embodiment to come together and co-create new possibilities of being and becoming in an awakened, evolutionary we-space.
In order to share more about my intentions about what I envision about bringing a conscious we-space practice into the DC area, I would like to introduce a framework that highlights the important elements that make up a healthy, vibrant integral evolutionary conscious we-space. This framework, developed in We-practice, San Francisco is Wake up, Grow up, Clean up and Show up. Many of you may already be familiar with this framework if you have been involved in integral and evolutionary circles.

What is We-practice?
We-practice is a group of collective spiritual practitioners who come together in a conscious we-space or intersubjective relational space to cultivate deeper and higher degrees of awareness that includes personal, interpersonal, and transpersonal. Currently, there are emergent we-practice groups in the US such as San Francisco (www.wepractice.org), New York (http://www.integralalignment.org/wepractice.html) and Minnesota in addition to emerging groups in Europe.
 
What is We-space?We-space is an integral theory term that has been shared in various integral and evolutionary communities. It means “intersubjective” or the shared meaning space between two or more people. Other terms for conscious we-space practice for example are intersubjective “relational” practice. The developments of conscious we-spaces is a new emergence that has been influenced by many spiritual teachers such as Thomas Hubl, Dustin Diperna, Andrew Cohen, Craig Hamilton, Terry Patten and David Dieda to name a few.

How will We-practice operate
I will be structuring the we-practice group similar to the way other groups in the US are operating. There will be three open sessions, followed by 6-8 closed sessions. The purpose of having closed sessions is to create an opportunity for the group to deepen. Length of time of group will be two and a half hours.
Embody your awakening by joining me in a conscious we-practice group so that we can develop together and serve as mirrors in field of love, care, compassion and evolution.
-Develop the capacity to bring awakening into the world
-Become skilled at becoming a steward for the emergence of collective intelligence and wisdom
-Create more transparency and authenticity in your relationships.
-Stay connected and inspired!
(RSVP Required)

Location: 36 R Street NW (approx. half-block from Big Bear Café)
CostAt least eleven bucks, $11  ($1 goes to Samsara House 2023 to cover utilities.)
 
What to bring: Warm socks if needed, we'll be sitting on the floor on cushions.  Tea will be served.




About Samsara House 2023

 "Samsara House 2023" at 36 R Street NW is an Awareness-based shared space where world-shifting communities are meshworked to experience and spread what's emerging.  Samsara House 2023 rapidly prototypes models for the new world to ignite a revolution in consciousness within ten years.Samsara House 2023’s strategy is to exemplify a gift-economy over the current market economy, one that values giving over having. While all events cost at least one dollar to cover utilities, any additional contribution will go towards periodically giving half back to a socially responsible organization or cause in need in the community that you also help identify. Going together as a river, we build a thriving community of communities and pave the way for a new world. Samsara House 2023 is a Holacracy powered organization founded by Cullen Kowalski at a row house in Bloomingdale, New Washington, D.C.

You never change things by fighting the existing reality.  To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete. ~ Buckminster Fuller
                                                 Be the change you wish to see in the world. ~ Gandhi
                                                                         
Samsara House 2023
36 R St NW
WashingtonDC 20001
Events powered by EventBrite
Copyright © 2014 Samsara House 2023, All rights reserved.
Your e-mail address was added to the Samsara House Mailing List as a result of having attending one or more events in the past.
Our mailing address is:
Samsara House 2023
36 R Street NW
WashingtonDC 20001

Yoga for Beginners with Deb Koolbeck at Samsara House 2023 -- four Wednesdays in July -- starts this Wednesday, 07-02-2014

Subject: REMINDER: Starts July 2nd - Yoga for Beginners with Deb Koolbeck at Samsara House 2023, Four Wednesday's in July
From: wakeup@samsarahouse.org
Date: Sun, 29 Jun 2014 15:59:35 +0000

Yoga for Beginners with Deb Koolbeck at Samsara House 2023, Four Wednesday's in July, Starts July 2nd
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Yoga for Beginners with Deb Koolbeck at Samsara House 2023, Four Wednesday's in July, Starts July 2nd

 

Wednesday, July 2, 2014 from 7:00 PM - 8:15 PM
Yoga for Beginners
with Deb Koolbeck 
at Samsara House 2023

4 consecutive weeks for 4 people,
starting July 2nd 7:00pm - 8:15pm 

Curious about Yoga or Want to Start Doing Yoga, but not ready to go to a Yoga Studio?

Then this small (4 person), 4 week introduction to yoga class is for you. 

The class is taught by registered and insured Yoga Teacher  Deb Koolbeck (Yoga Alliance RYT 200 Profile), who specializes in and enjoys introducing adults and kids to yoga in a friendly, fun, and safe way.  Beyond teaching yoga, Deb is an experienced educator with years of experience in formal and informal educational environments, focusing on making learning fun and engaging.

The 4 person class allows for personal attention in a safe community of learners, and 4 weeks of class is enough to try yoga and see what your next steps will be – including being comfortable enough with yoga and yourself to consider joining a yoga studio. 

Classes are 1.25 hours, which includes time for questions and discussion, as well explorations of breath work and meditation. 

Classes are July 2, 9, 16, 23 at Samsara House, 36 R Street NW (the Bloomingdale neighborhood). Some street parking is available; the Red and Green metro lines are within safe walking distance (Shaw or NoMa), and the P6, 80, 92, 93  Buses stop within a block or so of Samsara House 2023. 

Cost is $60 for all 4 classes and is non-refundable.   Yoga mat not required.

Waivers are required before the class starts. You will be emailed the waiver to fill out and bring it with you to the first class.  

Please feel free to email Deb with any questions (koolbeck@gmail.com).

(RSVP Required)

Location: 36 R Street NW (approx. half-block from Big Bear Café) light blue house with Tibetan prayer flags over the door.
What to bring: Yoga mat not required.




About Samsara House 2023

 "Samsara House 2023" at 36 R Street NW is an Awareness-based shared space where world-shifting communities are meshworked to experience and spread what's emerging.  Samsara House 2023 rapidly prototypes models for the new world to ignite a revolution in consciousness within ten years.

Samsara House 2023’s strategy is to exemplify a gift-economy over the current market economy, one that values giving over having. While all events cost at least one dollar to cover utilities, any additional contribution will go towards periodically giving half back to a socially responsible organization or cause in need in the community that you also help identify. Going together as a river, we build a thriving community of communities and pave the way for a new world. Samsara House 2023 is a Holacracy powered organization founded by Cullen Kowalski at a row house in Bloomingdale, New Washington, D.C.

You never change things by fighting the existing reality.  To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete. ~ Buckminster Fuller 

Be the change you wish to see in the world. ~ Gandhi
                                                                         
Samsara House 2023
36 R St NW
WashingtonDC 20001
Events powered by EventBrite
Copyright © 2014 Samsara House 2023, All rights reserved.
Your e-mail address was added to the Samsara House Mailing List as a result of having attending one or more events in the past.
Our mailing address is:
Samsara House 2023
36 R Street NW
WashingtonDC 20001