| | | Northeast Capitol Hill commission (ANC 6A) opposes Liberty Tree, proposes crime fixes | | December 11, 2009 |  | | | This post has been updated with additional information
At its Dec. 11 meeting, the commission:
• voted 7-0-1, with commissioner Nick Alberti abstaining, to protest an Alcoholic Beverage Control Board application from Liberty Tree, 1016 H St. NE. The commission’s resolution allowed for the possibility that the commission's alcoholic beverage licensing committee could negotiate a deal with Liberty Tavern at its committee meeting next week. But commissioner Raphael Marshall said that “based on the behavior of the applicant,” a compromise at the meeting was unlikely. Commissioner Mary Beatty said many neighbors are opposed to the location. Liberty Tree is planning to serve brick oven pizza and some seafood, with 30 to 40 seats inside and an unknown number of seats in a summer garden.
The committee meeting is scheduled for next Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Sherwood Recreation Center.
• unanimously voted to either spearhead or partner with H Street Main Street to create the H Street Hospitality Group. The group would promote visitor safety, commerce diversity and the general “positive development” of the corridor into a “community friendly” destination, according to the resolution.
• unanimously voted to try to combat crime along the H Street corridor by requesting several city services from the city. The commission asked the city to review lighting on H Street and potentially install temporary lighting while construction on the corridor continues; deploy an “ economic development, hospitality-focused core team” to see how the city can “expedite anchor development” and draw visitors; review current construction barriers and how they might be contributing to “blind spots” where crime occurs; review parking options; and help the nonprofit H Street Main Street to identify and make creative use of vacant storefronts along the corridor.
• unanimously voted to adopt several juvenile crime prevention policies including mapping out existing youth services, raising awareness about available services, identifying missing services and creating a “summer neighborhood campaign.” The commission’s public safety committee has been charged with working on making the policies a reality.
• voted 5-3 to change language regarding valet parking and noise in outdoor cafes in the commission’s standard agreement with new establishments seeking liquor licenses. The agreement was changed to require licensees to hire only license valet parking services that are in compliance with city parking laws. In addition, outdoor café hours will be limited to 11 p.m. on weekdays and 12 p.m. on weekends for the first three months. If the licensee doesn’t get any complaints from neighbors, the hours will be extended to the licensee’s normal inside business hours. Alberti said he opposed the idea of limiting hours for the first months, but commissioner Mary Beatty said the reason for the new standard is because "it's so hard to pull ... back" the hours once they are set.
• voted 7-1, with commissioner Nick Alberti abstaining, to support an Alcoholic Beverage Control Board application for a rooftop deck with 99 seats at H Street Country Club, 1335 H St. NE. The commission also endorsed entertainment on the roof deck on New Year’s Eve, Halloween, Fourth of July and St. Patrick’s Day. The roof deck will also be allowed to stay open an extra hour on those holidays. Owner Joe Englert is also seeking similar support for a roof deck at the Rock & Roll Hotel, 1353 H St. NE.
• unanimously opposed a Historic Preservation Review Board application for 1020 Massachusetts Ave. NE. The applicant is proposing to enclose a balcony. The applicant’s representative said the Capitol Hill Restoration Society also opposed the plans, and felt the review board is also likely to oppose it. He said the applicant was “saddened and discouraged” because he wanted to enclose the balcony for health reasons.
• unanimously voted to support closing “paper” streets and alleys that run through the Rosedale Community Center site at 17th and Gales streets NE. Paper streets exist only in the city’s official street plan, but haven’t been actually built.
• unanimously approved a grant of up to $5,000 to the Rosedale Youth Institute for youth football uniforms.
• unanimously decided to advertise for 12 months in the Voice at a cost of $2,166, and the Hill Rag and Fagon Guide at a cost of $3,689. | | | | | Log in to comment on this article |
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