Petition in Opposition to large Beer Garden at 1322 9th Street NW (for ABRA hearing 9 Dec 2015)

Dear Neighbor (apologies

to any non-neighbors on this list) :

We represent a group of

residents who are deeply concerned with a recent application for liquor license

at 1322 9th St. The applicants want to operate an all day,

386-person outdoor drinking space (described as a “beer garden” but it would

not be restricted to beer) on this vacant lot that backs up into the historic

Naylor Court alley. While the neighborhood has supported the revitalization of

9th St as a dining and entertainment destination, allowing an open

air drinking establishment of this size would be dramatically damaging and

irresponsible.

We have filed a protest

with ABRA and, along with our ANC representatives and adjoining property

owners, we will appear before ABRA on December 9 at 1:30 for a protest hearing

to have our voices heard and present evidence to show how the proposed

establishment will negatively impact the neighborhood’s right for quiet and

peaceful enjoyment, property values, safety and parking. 

We are reaching out to you for your support in filling out the

attached form to petition ABRA to deny this application based on the overwhelming potential negative impacts on our

community. In order to make a stronger case, we urge you to answer a few survey

questions that will provide the board with more specific concerns of our

community. 

In addition, if you want

to bring a unique perspective to the hearing, you can provide personal

testimony or a written statement/affidavit of objection that will be used as

evidence in the case (please contact evin Batteh at kbatteh@gmail.com/202.321.9311 or Paul Harrison at fifthandq@yahoo.com/202-270-5727 no later than Tuesday 12/1).

This is an open hearing

and will go on for several hours so if you are able, please appear in person at

the protest hearing (Wednesday 12/9, 4th

Floor, 2000 14th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20009)

Please come by 932 O Street anytime between 3–6 p.m. on Sunday

11/29 to drop off your petition, ask questions, hear more about the case, and

mingle with neighbors.

BACKGROUND

Applicants. The applicants, under

the company name Naylor Stables LLC (trade name TBD), have applied for a tavern

liquor license for an outdoor beer garden on 1322 9th St NW. They currently own

and operate two establishments on 14th street: Garden District, a

150 person outdoor beer garden and Etto, a gourmet pizza restaurant and outdoor

café. 

Location. The proposed location is an open lot measuring ~7,000 sq. ft.

with a ~500 sq. ft. building that stands on the alley. It is within the Blagden

Alley-Naylor Court Historic District and Naylor Court is on the National

Register of Historic Places. It is one of only two “H-style” interior alley

complexes remaining in the District, and is unique because of its primarily

residential and live-work space uses. Many of the residences have bedroom

windows directly on the alley with no yard to buffer them from noise. Several

of the alley residents have children under three.  

Proposed Operation. The application states seating inside for 8, sidewalk café

seating 16, summer garden space for 333 and a total occupancy of 386. We know

very little about their plans because they did not file architectural drawings

and operational details (security plan, traffic plan, etc.) with their

application. Despite several requests for more information, they have not

engaged with the community until recently after ABRA-required mediation. At the

recent ANC Alcohol Policy Committee meeting applicants explained that their

updated plans would use the structure onsite for food preparation and eight

bathrooms, appearing to mean that all customers would be in the open air. Trash

will be contained onsite and trash collection will occur through the emergency

exit in the alley. They will try to limit deliveries to 9th street

but there is no mention of this in their application.

As recent experience with Dacha has shown, once

allowed this use is liable to grow even larger. This site is three times larger

than Dacha and four times larger than Garden District, so if equivalent

densities were approved this site could hold over 700 people.  And, as

experience with Be Bar, then Mood Lounge, now Vida Lounge shows, assurances about

any particular operator can turn to dust when an operator sells the

establishment to another.

Best,

Paul & Kevin (representing protesting group

of 13 plus several others who have subsequently joined)

New Retail in the Convention Center, see below!!

Mayor Bowser, Events DC Unveil New Businesses at Walter E. Washington Convention Center

DC-based business leaders come together to highlight District’s thriving tourism, hospitality, and development sectors 

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser, At-Large Councilmember Vincent Orange, and Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans joined Events DC – the convention and sports authority for the District – to announce six new retail and restaurant tenants that will soon occupy spaces that have been vacant for years at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. These businesses will bring highly anticipated economic activity and jobs to Washington, DC, and more community services to the Shaw Corridor. 

“The realized potential of the convention center’s retail is yet another sign of DC’s economic vibrancy,”said Mayor Bowser.  “I’m excited to see District-based businesses bring new services to residents and tourists in the Shaw neighborhood.  My Administration will continue to work with our locally based businesses and the labor community to attract good-paying jobs and place more residents on a pathway to the middle class.”

By filling 100% of the available space at the Convention Center’s street-facing retail establishments, Events DC is demonstrating its dedication to the Shaw community, while contributing to the continued economic vitality of the District.  Collectively, the leases with these businesses represent a 10-year revenue of $7 million.  

“On behalf of Events DC, we are thrilled to activate and fill the Walter E. Washington Convention Center’s retail spaces with a blend of tenants that will serve the Shaw neighborhood, the rest of Washington, DC and our visitors from across the country and globe.  With this action, we will be linking the upper Shaw neighborhood to the north, with the exciting retail activity ongoing in the south—in short, connecting the neighborhood with this new retail experience,” says Max Brown, chairman of the board of Events DC.  “Our restaurant, boutique fitness center, lounge and market offerings fill a gap in the retail landscape in Shaw—and we are beyond excited to be part of the growth of this vibrant neighborhood.”

 Future tenants coming to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, include the following establishments:

·         Unconventional Diner, a locally owned and operated high-end diner concept and brainchild of two DC residents/business owners.   

·         Union Kitchen Grocery, a locally inspired corner market that will be expanding the brand’s footprint to the Shaw neighborhood.  Union Kitchen Grocery has an existing location in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. 

·         Smoked & Stacked, a fast-casual sandwich shop that will showcase in-house brined and smoked pastrami.

·         Morris, a craft cocktail bar, featuring notable DC-based chef and restauranteur, Spike Mendelsohn.  This cocktail bar will be an expansion from their Sheppard concept which had its original location in Dupont Circle.

·         Urban Athletic Club and Composition ID, a motivating and inspiring fitness marketplace and health diagnostic center. Urban Athletic Club has previously existing locations in both Georgetown and Glover Park. 

·         A Barbershop Concept that will relocate their pre-existing location in the Shaw neighborhood.  

Mayor Bowser continues to promote investment and economic growth in the District, as demonstrated by the recent economic development mission to China.  At today’s announcement, Mayor Bowser  was joined by several key business leaders and organizations, including those that joined her on the China mission –  to tout that tourism and economic development in the District continue to grow and are stronger than ever. The list of attendees included the Greater Washington Board of Trade, DC Chamber of Commerce, Destination DC, The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington, The Hotel Association of Washington, DC, and Local 25, a DC labor union which represents over 6,500 hospitality workers in the Washington metropolitan area.

Streetsense, a creative real estate collective based in the DC area and Events DC’s leasing representative, played a key role developing strategy and executing the re-envisioned retail programming at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in an unprecedented amount of time - with vibrant local businesses for both residents and visitors to enjoy.  

“Events DC is proud to partner with Mayor Bowser and DC-based hospitality leaders, to not only applaud District small businesses but to unveil future tenants coming to the exterior retail space at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center,” said Gregory A. O’Dell, president and chief executive officer of Events DC.  “As the official convention and sports authority, we believe that the power of these tenants will better connect the Convention Center with the community, helping to further activate the surrounding Shaw area with neighborhood-serving resources.”

  

Events DC also remains focused on long-term streetscaping plans that will not only enhance the façade of the Convention Center, but will also enrich the tree boxes and sidewalks to create a greater sense of place for the Shaw community.  Additional efforts include incorporating artistic elements, artwork and vertical plant installation.  Respective tenant and streetscape construction is expected to take place in 2016. 

These six new tenants will join the Walter E. Washington Convention Center’s existing tenant, Sbarro, who first opened their doors, with much success, to the Shaw community in the spring.

###

Social Media:

Mayor Bowser Twitter: @MayorBowser

Mayor Bowser Facebook: facebook.com/MayorMurielBowser

Mayor Bowser Website: mayor.dc.gov 

Events DC

Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia, delivers premier event services and flexible venues across the nation’s capital.  Leveraging the power of a world-class destination and creating amazing attendee experiences, Events DC generates economic and community benefits through the attraction and promotion of business, athletic, entertainment and cultural activities. Events DC oversees the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, an anchor of the District’s hospitality and tourism economy that generates over $400 million annually in total economic impact, and the historic Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square. Events DC manages the Stadium-Armory campus, which includes Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium and surrounding Festival Grounds, the non-military functions of the DC Armory and Maloof Skate Park at RFK Stadium.  Events DC also built and now serves as landlord for Nationals Park, the first LEED-certified major professional sports stadium in the United States. For more information, please visitwww.eventsdc.com.

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Follow us on Twitter @ConventionsDC

Theresa DuBois
External Affairs Manager
Office of the General CounselEvents DC 
801 Mount Vernon Place NW
Washington, DC 20001

P 202.249.3042 | F 202.249.3112tdubois@eventsdc.com www.eventsdc.com

Twitter: @tduboisEventsDC

The Walter E. Washington Convention Center is on Facebook!

Blagden Alley-Naylor Court Association Fall Meeting

Happenings Since Last Message

This is an update of the happenings in the Blagden Alley-Naylor Court Association area.  It is routinely sent twice a month when a meeting is scheduled.

It’s time for our Blagden Alley-Naylor Court Association Fall Meeting.

As indicated below, the meeting will be on Thursday Evening, November 5, 2015 at the Whitman Condominium Building at 910 M Street NW.  ANC2F06 Commissioner Charlie Bengal has arrange for our meeting to be held at the Condo.

The agenda will be developed as others provide me with their wishes.

For sure, we need to discuss any Holiday Gathering plan, if we wish to have any holiday event.  Most recently we have held a pot-luck social after Christmas, with so many office and other social gathering commitments.  Come prepare to express your preferences.  If you cannot attend sent them along for our discussion.

Also needing discussion is a working list of new meeting dates and hosts for the first part of next year.

Since you must be admitted to the Whitman by the Concierge Desk, we must provide a list of names attending prior to the meeting.
Please forward to my e-mail address below you’re the name and contact e-mail address if you wish to attend the meeting.  (I wish to have the e-mail address so I can sent any last minute meeting changes info to those that have said they plan on attending.)

I will send a second notice of the meeting with any updates two days prior to the meeting.

Richard Neidich
RGNeidich@aol.com


BANCA Meeting
Thursday, November 5, 2015, 7:00 PM
910 M Street NW