The Week Ahead……. and ……Changes Coming to Barracks Row: Banana Café, Miracle Theater, Beer Garden

Preliminary Sketch of What Banana Cafe May Look Like in the Near Future

The Week Ahead……. and ……

Changes Coming to Barracks Row:  Banana Café, Miracle Theater, Beer Garden

by Larry Janezich

Monday, April 8

ANC6B Transportation Committee meets at 6:30pm in Hill Center. 

Among items on the agenda:

Letter to DDOT on Barney Circle and Southeast Boulevard Transportation Planning Study.

Tuesday, April 9

ANC6B meets at 7:00pm in Hill Center

Some items on the agenda: 

Historic Preservation Applications for:

Frager’s Infill on 11^th Street (see images posted last week on CHC)

Storefront alterations for Banana Café.  As depicted in the architect’s rendering above, the design will emphasize the restaurant’s Cuban cuisine.  No design changes to the interior are anticipated.   The rendering could be further tweaked as the application works its way through the bureaucratic process.  The project is being designed by Design Republica Architecture of 1909 19th Street, NW, whose past clients have included the Lebanese Taverna Restaurants and Nooshi. 

Site alterations for beer garden use at 720 L Street.  Investor Mark Brody has radically scaled back the beer garden concept, and currently envisions a seasonal summer garden which would operate from April to November.  Brody told the Planning and Zoning Committee that the original concept for the beer garden had grown so large that he couldn’t afford to build it.  He hopes to operate the scaled down version until proceeding with the original plan becomes feasible.  The commissioners had many concerns and questions, some about the appropriateness of the undertaking for that location and noted that these questions would be revisited when the application for a liquor license came before them.

Public Space Application for National Community Church, 535 8th Street SE.  As the Church moves forward to return it’s building to its original purpose as a theater (aptly named The Miracle Theater), they are applying for a public space permit to allow an addition to building façade of ticket/information booth.  National Capital Church representatives told the ANC Planning and Zoning Committee last week that plans are underway to develop a concessions area on the lower level of the church which will feature an accessible lift to that level.  In addition the plans include development of a smaller concession area in the theater’s lobby for soft drinks and packaged concessions.  Also envisioned is the installation of additional doors with more glass to show off the interior.  The Planning and Zoning Committee asked representatives of the Church to be prepared to demonstrate a strategy for managing crowds in front of the theater in order to prevent forcing sidewalk traffic into the street as they pass in front of the theater.

Letter to DDOT on Barney Circle and Southeast Boulevard Transportation Planning Study.

Also on the agenda are routine liquor license renewals for Good Stuff Eatery; We, The Pizza; Aatish On The Hill, Mr. Henry’s, Capitol Hill Club, Sizzling Express, Trattoria Alberto. Montmartre/7th Hill, Szechuan House, Lavagna, Café 8, Acqua al 2/Suna/Harold Black Bar, Sanphan, Tortilla Coast, Young Chow Restaurant, Sonoma, Belga Café, Hunan Dynasty, Kenneth H. Nash American Legion, The Silver Spork, Tash Restaurant, Nooshi,