June 2017 | Volume 1: Issue 7
Greetings:
DCRA's commitment to being viable partners in the building
and construction industry has never been more evident. An example of this commitment is our Build It
In DC event. On Wednesday, July 19th, we are kicking off our third annual
Build It In DC event held at the Washington Convention Center.
Build It In DC is a one-day conference that brings
together the building industry – including aspiring entrepreneurs and small
business owners – to network, get access to permitting and regulatory
information, and ultimately learn from industry leaders. The event connects attendees to DC Government decision-makers, like Deputy Mayor
Brian Kenner, and is specifically designed to promote economic growth within the
construction industry.
We are also proud that Build It In DC is a great collaborative
effort. Our Small Business Resource Center has worked closely with the Washington
DC Economic Partnership on this event. We are also thrilled to have Smoot Construction as one of our
partners and Chrystal Stowe, Smoot’s Director of Community Affairs and Business
Development, as the keynote speaker. Also, our very own Lynn Underwood, Chief
Building Official, will be available in the Coffee and Connect Networking
Lounge ready to discuss his role and vision for overseeing the permitting and
inspection divisions.
We are confident that Build It In DC will demonstrate DCRA's commitment to the District’s momentum to
remain innovative and economically sound. Register today!
Sincerely,
Melinda Bolling,
DCRA Director
DC Metro Area: Home to the Most ENERGY STAR® Certified Buildings
Washington, DC has
earned the number one ranking on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s
(EPA’s) annual list of U.S. metropolitan areas with the most ENERGY STAR®
certified buildings. The ENERGY STAR award is given to buildings that
have high measured energy performance compared to their peer buildings. DCRA's Green Building Program is a major contributor to making sure these
buildings are designed and constructed for energy efficiency, setting them on the
right course for top energy performance throughout the life of the building. To read more, see the full press release here.
DCRA Inspectors Receive Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Training
DCRA actively promotes learning and innovation for District residents, visitors and our staff. On Wednesday, June 28th, DCRA Inspectors received introductory in-field training on Solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems. Solar cells, also called photovoltaic (PV) cells by scientists, convert sunlight directly into electricity. PV gets its name from the process of converting light (photons) to electricity (voltage), which is called the PV effect. Our Inspectors became more knowledgeable about PV and gained additional understanding of Article 690 in the National Electrical Code (PV installations). Along with the rest of the City's regulatory and economic development agencies, DCRA progressively promotes unique installations for the District of Columbia to be innovative, energy-efficient and sustainable.
DCRA
Launches New Online Permit Application
On May 23rd, DCRA launched a revision to its Online
Construction Permit Intake (OCPI) system. The upgraded OCPI
system allows most permit applicants to apply for and obtain a
permit entirely online - without a trip to the agency. Applicants for
intermediate and complex jobs are now able to submit their application entirely
online, upload plans through DCRA’s ProjectDox system, and pay for and
obtain a copy of the issued permit without setting foot in the
agency. Check
out our instructional
video to guide you through the new system. For questions,
users can reference the OCPI User Guide.
New Requirement for Mandatory Plan Review Meetings to
Improve the DCRA Permit Process
On June 29th, DCRA announced its Permit Operations Division is
now requiring permit applicants, registered design
professionals and owners who have submitted electronic plans through
ProjectDox and have been held for corrections after the second review
cycle, to participate in a mandatory meeting to address project-specific
comments and corrections that need to be made prior to a permit being approved
and issued.
Permit applicants will be notified and prompted to schedule their
30-minute mandatory review meeting. Visit dcra.dc.gov/page/about-permits to learn
more. Please contact dcra.planreview@dc.gov with any
questions.
June Housing
Bloom Workshop
June Housing Bloom is
Mayor Muriel Bowser’s annual month-long initiative that showcases how the
public and private sectors are partnering to both produce and preserve
affordable housing and revitalize neighborhoods across the District. On June
22nd, DCRA hosted a Housing Bloom Workshop panel discussion that provided
invaluable information and guidance on property rentals, housing complaints,
vacant properties, landlord rights, vacant property taxes from District
Government subject matter experts, and the DC Bar Pro Bono Center. DCRA had
75 people attend the workshop.
Wall
Checks: Know Your Building’s Location
Are you in compliance with District wall check requirements? Failure to comply with District wall check requirements may result in DCRA stopping the work on your project.
What is a wall check?
A wall check (also known as
a wall test or wall examination) is required by the District of Columbia
Building Code and is performed by an independent DC Registered Land Surveyor. A wall
check is performed to confirm that the location of the foundation walls, in
relation to the property lines, are consistent with the issued building
permit’s approved plat and plans. The
information is resulted in the form of a wall examination
report.
Why is a wall check needed?
Knowing where a building is located, in relation to the property
lines at the construction stage when only the foundations have been
constructed, will minimize the changes needed to avoid encroachments and/or
overbuilding on adjacent properties. A wall check is performed as part of
DCRA’s Building Permit Process by an independent DC Registered Land Surveyor.
DCRA’s Office of the
Zoning Administrator (OZA) will review the wall check to ensure the foundation walls
are consistent with the issued building permit’s approved plat and plans.
Still have questions about whether your project requires a wall
check?
Contact DCRA’s Office of the Zoning Administrator at (202) 442-4576
for more information. Also, visit dcra.dc.gov/service/surveyor-wall-checks for
additional information about the wall check process and to view a list of DC
Registered Land Surveyors.
Skip
the Trip to the Surveyor’s Office
On June 20th, we released the Building Plat Digital Certification System. You can now skip the trip to our agency and digitally sign your building plat to complete the approval process! Learn how here. When you
apply for a building permit to do exterior work on your property (such as
building an addition or adding a deck), you must include a building plat – a
plat map that includes drawings of all existing and proposed property
improvements such as the house, the driveway, the deck you want to build, etc.
The plat should also show all trees that measure at least 4.5 feet above ground
and have circumferences of 12 inches or more. You may order a building plat
from our Office of the Surveyor or online here. Learn more about the process at dcra.dc.gov/service/get-building-plat.
ProjectDox Bi-Monthly Training
Join us for a training on how to use and operate our ProjectDox plan submission system. Beginning June 7th, training sessions are held on the first and third Wednesday of every month from 12 - 1 PM at DCRA (1100 4th Street SW, 5th Floor). Reserve your seat now.
Chimney
& Vents Training
On June 29th, DCRA’s National Capital Region Building Code Academy (NCRBCA) hosted a Chimneys and Vents training for Trade Professional & Contractors. The free training covered the review of IRC Chapter 18 Vent Components, Chimney and Vent Connectors, Vents, Masonry and Factory-Build Chimneys, Appendix B of the IRC Sizing of venting Systems serving appliances equipped with draft hoods, category I appliances and appliances listed for use with Type B vents.
Board of Barber and Cosmetology 11th Annual Practitioners Forum
On June 26th, the District of Columbia’s Board of Barber and Cosmetology held its 11th
Annual Practitioners Forum that was held at Gallaudet
University’s Kellogg Conference Hotel. Each year, this conference is held to
promote continuing education – and to recognize the outstanding achievements
performed in the industry. This year’s forum title, “Excellence: Educate, Equip
& Execute” was suitably chosen since it highlights how well prepared these
professionals have been in their field.
Mayor Muriel Bowser commenced the forum with her remarks of encouragement and sheer astonishment from all that has been achieved by those in the Barber and Cosmetology industry. The conference wrapped up with an awards ceremony that honored five outstanding professionals: St. Paul Davis, Barber honoree; Kelina Baltimore, Cosmetology honoree; Tim Corun, Body Artist honoree; and Dennis and Ann Ratner, Industry honorees.
This year’s workshop topics included
“Postsecondary Institution Licensure,” “General Licensing Law: Chapter 28,”
“Occupational Licensing Perceptions,” and “Mastering the Art and Science of
Hair.” By attending the educational sessions at the District of Columbia’s Board of Barber and Cosmetology 11th
Annual Practitioners Forum proves just how devoted these professionals are
in honing their skills.
Currently, Washington, DC has 603 active licensed barbers, 5,389 active licensed cosmetologists; and for the first time, 33 active licensed body artists. To keep up with the current and rapidly changing trends in the industry, these experts have to be innovative and constantly improving themselves to excel even further in their fields.See more pictures from the event here.
MBSYEP
Kicks Off Its 38th Year
Summer is officially here, and that means thousands of young
Washingtonians are busy participating in the Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer
Youth Employment Program (MBSYEP) and 40 SYEP program participants are with us here at DCRA. On June 26th, Mayor Bowser
kicked off the 38th year of MBSYEP at Madame Tussauds, where several participants will have their summer work
experience. In 2015, Mayor Bowser introduced legislation to expand
MBSYEP to include young Washingtonians between the ages of 22 and 24, and this
year, the expansion became permanent. This summer, nearly 13,000 participants
ages 14 to 24 will work in over 800 private sector and government
worksites across the District.
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Register Today: DC Hires Vets
On Wednesday, July 19, the Bowser Administration, in
partnership with the DC National Guard, will host a hiring event for veterans
in DC. DCRA will be one of
the agencies represented at this event sharing available jobs with veterans. This event offers veterans and transitioning military members the
opportunity to participate in professional development workshops and connect
with District, state, and federal agencies as well as private-sector companies
looking to hire. Learn more and register here.
Form-a-Palooza
On Saturday, July 22nd,
DCRA will participate in Form-a-Palooza
where The Lab @ DC and the general public will put pen to paper and rework five high-profile District forms with design and
behavioral science experts. DCRA’s form to be redesigned is the Basic
Business License EZ Form, which certifies that a business is licensed to
operate legally allowed to operate in the District. The event will feature
welcome remarks by Mayor Muriel Bowser, City Administrator Rashad Young, and
experts such as Cass Sunstein, David Yokum, the Center for Plain Language, and DC government staff. All are welcome. No prior
experience needed. Register to attend the first-ever, Form-a-Palooza here.
Donate
Today: District Book Bag & Swag Drive
Help prepare all students for the first day of school by donating school supplies and uniforms to the ongoing Book Bag and Swag Drive. This drive will ensure that children living in shelters have all the supplies they need to succeed in the coming school year. Contributions are needed by Monday, August 7th and may be dropped off at any Department of Human Services service center location or the DC Public Schools office located at 3535 V Street, NE.
DCRA Names Lynn Underwood as Chief Building
Official
 On June 15th, DCRA announced the selection of Lynn Underwood as Chief Building Official (CBO) for the District of Columbia. As CBO, Underwood will oversee permitting and inspections for private construction and non-federal construction across the District. Underwood brings 30-plus years of experience to the role and has worked in jurisdictions across the country and internationally. Prior to joining DCRA, Underwood served in a variety of high-level building department positions including Building Code Expert for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, Code Official for Norfolk, Virginia, and Building Official for Arlington County in Virginia. He’s also worked for building departments in Arizona, Washington, and New Mexico. Underwood has earned more than 10 certifications from the International Code Council, including Certified Building Official and Master Code Professional. He holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Engineering Technology and a Bachelor’s of Arts in Journalism from New Mexico State University. Underwood is also a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. DCRA excitedly welcomes Underwood to the agency.
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DCRA SYEP Highlight: The Communications Team
DCRA has 40+ summer youth learning from and
assisting full-time employees with hundreds of tasks and services including Jasmine Gatten, Kiara Hill and Rico Smith; who are the three summer youth
directly assigned to DCRA’s Communications Team.
Jasmine is 22 years old, a recent graduate of Dickinson College in
Pennsylvania, and a 2013 graduate of a private, all-girls high school in Bethesda,
MD in 2013. Rico, 17, starts the 12th grade this fall in Anacostia and
attends the highly acclaimed Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter High
School. Kiara is 20 years old, attends North Carolina A&T State
University and graduated from the pride of Capitol Hill, Eastern Senior High School. All
three are veterans of the Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program
(MBSYEP).
Jasmine, Kiara, and Rico adore their mothers and want to
succeed with future endeavors for them.
“I was born in Queens, N.Y. but was adopted by my grandmother (a
District government employee who works at Child and Family Services
Administration) when I was four. Since then, it has just been
me and her,” Jasmine said proudly. They reside near Catholic University
in the Brookland community.
Jasmine graduated this past May after majoring in international
business and management with a minor in East Asian studies. She has
traveled to countries like Italy and Japan and speaks Japanese.
Rico is interested in attending Howard University in the future,
where his mother is currently employed, so he can major in film and/or
photography and be close by to aid mom with his siblings. He takes the
job of being a role model seriously.
“All my life I wanted to be an NBA player before I got into doing
videography and photography. Now I will take pictures in and out of
school at different events, not for pay, but just as community service.
My mom, I love her, but she was strict when it came to school,” Rico stressed
while describing the dynamics of his Anacostia home that includes his mom, a
stepfather, 16-year-old brother and a 12-year-old sister.
“I came from an amazing family and was raised by my mother to be
the best I could be. I was always told that if I continue reaching for the
stars, all of my dreams would come true. I knew taking my education to the next
level would be the best thing for me and A&T was the place where all my
dreams would be put into effect,” Kiara said positively.
Kiara is going into her junior year where she is studying Mass
Communications and Psychology. She will be working for the school newspaper as
the Senior Copy Editor. In the future, she plans to have her own talk show and
help people around the world accomplish their dreams in whatever way she can.
Perhaps the best quality that all three of them share is ambition. Jasmine plans to return to Japan this summer after
her time at DCRA. She will be teaching English to
natives and become further emerged in the culture. Rico plans to return
to Thurgood Marshall, to continue to participate in after school programs and
enrichment activities with his brother, play basketball after his
homework is completed and start a photography business with a close friend. Kiara plans to
return to A&T to continue her success on the Dean’s List and write
for her newspaper as the Senior Copy Editor. DCRA wishes you the best in your future endeavors!
This is your centralized data section of the newsletter to access permit issuance information in seven different categories for all eight wards across the District. We hope these stats provide a better insight into developments happening in and around your respective communities.
Permitting Data
General Business Licenses Data
Vacant and Blighted Property Data
Zoning Determination Letters
Below see the Zoning Determination Letters from June 2017:
Ward 1: 3411-3413
Georgia Avenue NW, 1665
Harvard St NW
Ward 2: 3255
Prospect Street
Ward 3: 2602
29th St NW,
4339 Harrison St. NW
Ward 4: No Letters Issued
Ward 5: 3018
12th Street NE, 41
T Street NW
Ward 6: 328
Kentucky Avenue SE, Square
982, Lot 70 (1107 H Street,NE)
Ward 7: No Letters Issued
Ward 8: 4016
S. Capital Street SE
We'd love to hear from you! Let us know if there is anything you would like to see in future newsletters by completing our short survey.
If you have any questions regarding this newsletter, please email DCRACommTeam@dc.gov.
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