Meeting Story at ANC Dupont

 

At the Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) of Dupont meeting Wednesday night, the recent snow crisis and local crime were discussed in detail but the surprisingly biggest issue of the night was burgers.

Two separate burger joints asked the panel of seven commissioners (usually there are eight but Commissioner Wexler is in Venice) for the ability to sell wine and beer at their restaurants. The first, Dupont BGR, on 1528 Conn., Ave. was unanimously granted a recommendation for a class D license, but the second, Rogue States: A Burger Grilling Company, on 1300 Conn., Ave. was unanimously denied.

The two seemingly similar restaurants were treated so differently because of operating hours. While Dupont BGR closes at 11:30p.m. Weekdays and 2a.m. on Weekends, Rogue States does not close until 5a.m., which worries residents about noise late at night.

A representative for the Jefferson Condos and surrounding neighbors, Archis Parasharmi, presented a petition of names pleading the ANC to deny the late-night burger joint a liquor license recommendation. Parasharmi said that unless the restaurant will agree to sign a Voluntary Agreement (VA) in which the restaurant addresses and eases citizen concerns, the community will continue to fight back. “We want peace and quiet,” he added.  

The lawyer representing Rogue States, Mr. Horowitz, claimed that the condos, which reside on 2000 N. St., are too far from the restaurant to be affected by the noise levels. This visibly upset Commissioner Meehan who raised his voice and said, “I don’t think it’s up to you [Horowitz] to decide the distance that people can and cannot speak out.”

Head Commissioner Mike Silverstein brought up another concern about safety. Silverstein said he used to think late night food restaurants were positive places in a neighborhood, helping people sober up and get home safely, but that the police warned him it is better to get clubbers home quickly. “If they have things to settle and they have a place to settle them, they will settle them there,” Silverstein said reiterating the police recommendation.

Silverstein’s concern comes from an issue brought up previously in the night by Public Safety Lieutenant Scott Dignan. According to Dignan all crimes are down five to six percent in Dupont except for assault, which is increasing. The reason, he claims, is the popularity of nightclubs where most arguments and assaults take place.

This disagreement highlights a bigger issue in Dupont, what Commissioner Will Stephens called the “oversaturation” of the area. He foresees this as the ANC’s biggest problem in the upcoming year. According to Stephens, more cases of liquor licenses have been brought to the council recently because more residents have been moving downtown and consequently South Dupont is becoming more commercial. This creates a big divide between commercial South Dupont and residential North Dupont.

When asked if she thinks Rogue States will eventually get a license, even after their set-back on Wednesday, Commissioner Bhavna Patel who’s district the restaurant resides in, said, “if they agree to a VA that is satisfactory then they will get it.” She believes that Horowitz is fighting a VA because it will put more rules and restrictions on the restaurant.

She explained, however, that though ABRA (Alcohol Beverage Regulation Authority) is the group that gives out the licenses they will not do so without ANC approval, and the restaurant cannot get ANC approval at this point without a VA with Jefferson Condos.

At the end of the discussion, Horowitz agreed to meet with Parasharmi and other residents around the area and come back to the ANC in order to seek a recommendation.

            The only other case denied a recommendation by the commissioners was another restaurant looking to change their liquor license restrictions. Masa 14 on 1825 14^th St. came before the ANC to get approval to build a rooftop summer garden. Since Dupont is an area of D.C. that takes pride in preserving its historical architecture, the owner appealed to the ANC starting with the fact that 100 years ago the same location used to have a rooftop garden where beer was served.

            Again another petition with 81 signatures from residents asked the board to deny a recommendation. The residents were worried that the seated garden could easily become club space and a noise problem to the residential high-rises next door. The board agreed with the residents and Masa 14 was denied a recommendation for a rooftop garden unanimously.

            Other issues that the ANC approved, all unanimously, were an amendment to the VA with the Palm restaurant; a letter of support for the American Society of Nephrology for tax exempt bonds to purchase space in Dupont; two inches of public space for façade renovations on L St.; letter of recommendation for L’Enfant Trust Historic Preservation to win an award of excellence as well as a few other renovation requests.

            The Dupont ANC meetings take place every second Wednesday of the month at the Brookings Institute at 1775 Mass., Ave. There are 37 ANC groups in D.C. each with approximately 2,000 residents. The next meeting with be March 10 at 7p.m. where some businesses will continue to come back or new ones will join in.