Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

ANC2E Grants Liquor Licenses

At its November meeting, the 2E Advisory Neighborhood Commission on Monday evening granted alcohol licenses to four restaurants in the Georgetown area and debated the construction of a new shopping complex on the Prospect Street Lot. Around 35 people attended the meeting, held at Georgetown Visitation School.

The restaurants requesting alcohol licenses were J. Paul’s on M Street, along with Yummi Crawfish and two as-yet unnamed restaurants, all on Wisconsin Avenue.

A one new establishment will move into the space currently occupied by an antiques store at 1515 Wisconsin Ave., while the second establishment will be a pizza shop located at 1419 Wisconsin Ave. These three Wisconsin locations will be located directly adjacent to residents, prompting hesitation from the neighborhood residents.

“The neighbors are coming off some bad experiences,” ANC 2E Commissioner and Treasurer Jeff Jones said.

The ANC negotiated and unanimously passed agreements with each of the establishments to require early closures of the restaurants by 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 10 p.m. on all other days.

“The neighbors came to our meeting in August with some serious concerns,” District 2E Commissioner and Vice-Chair Tom Birch said. “There is nothing unreasonable in this agreement.”

J. Paul’s, a restaurant located at 3218 M St., currently serves alcohol but was submitting its agreement to renew its alcohol license and obtain permission to house live entertainment. The rules stipulated in the agreement would require J. Paul’s to close all its windows during a live performance and prevent the restaurant from using outside promoters to garner performers.

Though District 2E Commissioner Bill Starrels expressed his support for the agreement to start the discussion, the lack of any regulation on the use of “disc jockeys” or other amplified performances led to a heated debate about more extensive regulations. Without resolution on the issue, the commission postponed a vote.

The commission then discussed the proposal for a new retail complex on Prospect Street in a parking lot opposite Cafe Milano and Mai Thai. Located at 3320 Prospect St., the old lot will be reconstructed into a retail space with a large underground garage. The original proposal in September called for 27,600 feet of retail space with a 101-space parking garage. The updated proposal includes 103 parking spaces, a 10 percent reduction in height for the whole complex, a shorter wall facing the adjacent residence and four main fronts for retail windows.

Project architect Kevin Sperry noted that the additions to the design would limit the impact of the project on the neighborhood.

“You don’t see that parking bay at all from Wisconsin Avenue,” Sperry said.

Starrels had concerns about trucks stuffing up traffic around Prospect Street, but Jones reported that other business on Prospect Street were supportive of the new retail project. Sperry estimated the project would most likely take between 14 and 15 months of work.

The ANC2E meets the first Monday of every month at the Georgetown Visitation School on 35th Street. The next meeting will be on Dec. 1.

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