Graham to Hold Hearings on Recent Snow Crisis
CM Jim Graham will hold hearings on the city's response to the recent snowstorms. Jim wants to hear your suggestions about street plowing, snow covered hydrants, downed trees and other matters of concern. I also want your input on a new law requiring residents to clear the portion of the sidewalk adjacent to their homes after a snow storm.
The hearings will be held Friday, February 26, at 11:00 am in room 500 of the Wilson Building (The Ceremonial Council Chamber); and Wednesday, March 10, at 1:00 pm in Room 123. Persons that wish to testify or send testimony should contact the Committee Office at 202.724.8195 or email ahawkinsmason@dccouncil.us.
|
|
| Dear MPNA,
Hello Mount Pleasant neighbors. MPNA Board members have been out in full force helping neighbors dig out, especially assisting the more fragile population who need our help. I hope everyone is finally thawing out. Please make sure you check for leaks as the Big Thaw continues.
|
|
March Membership Meeting
This notice is to follow up our January 26, 2010 public notice regarding Haydee's intent to convert her ABC license from a Restaurant license to a Night Club license. The neighborhood was advised through a public notice provided by the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration on Friday January 22.
MPNA will hold a meeting to seek public feedback on Saturday, March 6, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm in the basement of Tonic Restaurant, 3155 Mount Pleasant Street, NW. Agenda: Haydee's Restaurant - Night Club Application. Comments are welcome in advance. Please send to mpna@mtpleasantdc.org.
BACKGROUND
A restaurant license carries the following key provisions:
It must be known by the public as "primarily a food service establishment".
Food sales must account for at least 45% of revenue, or $2,000 annually per legal occupant.
Close no later than 2:00 am Sunday through Thursday nights, and 3:00 am on Friday and Saturday nights.
May provide entertainment, may charge a cover charge or provide dancing by applying for an "entertainment endorsement" and obtaining ABC board approval.
Any other provisions agreed in a Voluntary Agreement.
Key Differences in a Nightclub license:
Nightclubs are distinguished from restaurants and taverns in that they focus almost exclusively on providing entertainment and alcoholic beverages only.
Nightclubs not required to serve food.
There is no dance floor size limitations which means the entire establishment can remove all tables and chairs and become an exclusive dance venue.
The nightclub must have a security plan.
Entertainment, dancing and cover charge are allowed automatically and requires no endorsement or special action by the ABC Board.
May have illuminated signs advertising alcoholic beverages; however these signs cannot contain intermittent flashes of light.
Any other provisions agreed in a Voluntary Agreement.
As MPNA considers its position on this application, the following questions come to mind:
Why does Haydee's want to become a nightclub?
How will a nightclub license improve MTP, especially considering that the establishment will not be obligated to serve any food?
What will a Nightclub license do to enhance MTP when a Nightclub license allows the establishment to remove all tables and chairs and turn the entire establishment into a dance venue?
How will a Nightclub license change the operations of Haydee's (i.e, what do they plan to do differently and what aspect of their operations are they planning to change?
Many people believe that Haydee's is already a very special place, and an anchor of Mt Pleasant Street - most nights it is filled with folks, young and old, enjoying the warm, lively atmosphere and neighborhood vibe, why is there a need for a Nightclub license?
As a "Restaurant", all restaurants in the District of Columbia are required to ensure that food sales equal or exceed 45% of total revenue. In 2009, Haydee's achieved food sales ratios ranging from 66% to 69%. Why are they seeking relief from having to maintain a 45% food sales ratio?
How will modifying their license improve their business economics?
How will modifying their license sustain their business?
Last year much effort was put into helping create a new neighborhood-based "Responsible Hospitality Zone" in which all agreed to discuss issues inside the community before going to ABRA or the DC City Council. MPNA was an active and constructive participant. Haydee's, whose owners also live in the neighborhood, applied for this substantial change in their license on December 17 without prior notification or discussion with the community. When notice of their application was sent out by ABRA, no one involved with the Responsible Hospitality Zone had heard of their plans. This was the first chance for the Responsible Hospitality Zone to work on a neighborhood issue. Are the liquor license holders on Mt Pleasant Street really dedicated to the Responsible Hospitality Initiative?
More broadly, does MTP desire to become a Night Club district or to remain a Restaurant environment? If Haydee's becomes a night club, which establishment will be next?
What impact, (peace, order and quiet) will a nightclub on residents who live behind this establishment and on Mt. Pleasant Street?
How do the tenant associations feel about this, especially the ones in the buildings recently converted from rentals to tenant ownership?
How would a conversion to a Night Club impact the current MPNA Voluntary Agreement? Would it transfer? Could it be terminated?
At this point there are many unanswered questions and MPNA will seek to get as many answers to them as possible and to then take a position on Haydee's application. In the meantime, we ask for your feedback.
Please email us at mpna@mtpleasant.org and join in on the discussion at http://www.mtpleasantdc.org/forum.
|
Market Study is Finally Out!
Last fall the DC Office of Planning, as part of the Small Area Plan project for Mt Pleasant commissioned a consulting study to evaluate the Mt. Pleasant Market. Their final report is attached and provides a good overview of many topics related to Mt Pleasant Street and the Neighborhood overall.
A few interesting excerpts include:
· Based on our site observations, we have concluded that the street's retail market approaches equilibrium - where demand equals supply.
· Mt. Pleasant Street is a remarkable retail district that exists against conventional wisdom. Located two to three blocks west of DC USA/Columbia Heights, one of the largest retail clusters in the District, Mt. Pleasant Street thrives in relative obscurity.
· Mt. Pleasant Street does not have the infrastructure necessary to serve as a destination retail location. As a neighborhood route, Mt. Pleasant Street does not have the dimensions or the capacity to support destination-oriented traffic. Parking concerns, including limited site availability for new parking construction, would also place severe limitations on the street's ability to draw from and serve a larger trade area.
· Looking to the future, it is critically important to recognize the current and potential strength of Mt. Pleasant Street as a one-of-a-kind neighborhood retail center. The district fits this model so completely that it even meets the Urban Land Institute's definition - a grocery-anchored retail center of less than 100,000 square feet.
Recommended Retail Strategy
· Mt. Pleasant Street is a vibrant retail street that has endured despite unbelievable obstacles. The fact that this shopping district even exists, much less prospers on any level, requires suspension of many conventional rules of retail markets.
· The reasons for its continued existence are fragile and complicated. Setting aside the traffic and wayfinding difficulties, attracting a larger customer base will compromise the small, local customer base. Retail character and clientele will become less "Mt. Pleasant-oriented" and less special. The foundation of the street's prosperity would almost certainly be compromised by clogged roadways and parking lots.
· Efforts spent marketing Mt. Pleasant Street to regional and national retailers will go unanswered, as more established and concentrated retail centers compete for these tenants - especially in the current economic climate where vacancies reduce lease rates to more affordable levels.
· Closing Mt. Pleasant Street to vehicular traffic, either full- or part-time, would be disastrous for restaurants that have no other access point for loading and servicing. Non-food retailers would not able to weather the diminution of visibility caused by this radical alteration.
· Mount Pleasant would benefit from a concentrated retail district that clustered retail uses close together where shoppers would be encouraged to patronize more than one store. The amount of retail space that exists up and down Mount Pleasant Street exceeds the amount that can be supported long term. This analysis suggests that retail activity should be concentrated between Park and Kenyon streets, focusing on ground-level spaces primarily
· Non-retail commercial users should be encouraged to locate in the area south of Irving Street to take advantage of existing first-floor space without undermining the activity levels needed to sustain a vibrant retail district. This should include a cluster of professional offices providing services to local residents and businesses. |
|
|
