Category Archives: Uncategorized

July 9, 2011 · 8:52 pm

Neighborhood Group Files Formal Protest On Hill Center Liquor License Application – Wants New, Tougher Voluntary Operating Agreement

Neighborhood Group Files Formal Protest On Hill Center Liquor License Application – Wants New, Tougher Voluntary Operating Agreement

by Larry Janezich

On Tuesday, July 5, a protest letter signed by 27 nearby neighbors of The Hill Center was filed with the Alcohol Beverage Review Administration (ABRA).  Backing up the letter was a petition of support signed by some 150 neighbors who live around The Hill Center who will be affected by the Center’s business plan.  That plan includes raising a major portion of the Center’s operating funds by renting out space for receptions and weddings.  Well known Hill residents Jill Lawrence and Barbara Eck have been spearheading the protest effort and working to keep the community informed.  The full text of the protest letter is on emmcablog in a separate posting below..

The protest letter outlines the concerns the neighbors have to the licensing stipulations written on the Hill Center’s posted liquor license application.  (See emmcablog posting on June 1).

ANC6B lent its approval to the liquor license June 15, on an 8-0 vote after working out a voluntary agreement (VA).  (See emmcablog posting on June 15) . The protesters feel this VA inadequate.  The group is not working with the ANC now because they feel the Commission did not reach out to the neighbors prior to the ANC vote and because it endorsed the liquor license application with minor changes after hearing only objections to the license from the crowd of neighbors who spoke at the meeting.

Following the formal filing of the letter on Tuesday, protest group representatives contacted Old Naval Hospital Foundation President Nicky Cymrot and told her the protest had been filed to make possible the negation of a new VA that each side could live with.  Group representatives said Cymrot pledged to see what the Hill Center’s Board of Directors wanted to do and would let the group know.  As of posting time, no word had come from Cymrot.  The protestors hope to reach an agreement and get a VA signed and registered with ABRA even before the ABRA’s “Roll Call hearing” on July 18th.  If that is not accomplished, group leaders say that many more than the required five protesters will appear at the meeting to validate the protest.

In that case, the process for forging a new VA passes to the oversight of a mediator assigned by ABRA to work with both sides to craft an agreement.  Negotiations could begin immediately after the meeting, or the sides may agree to meet at a later date and time.  The two sides can agree to meet prior to a mediation to begin working on details, and the process continues for as long as it takes.

According to Barbara Eck, “ABRA often has multiple protests of a license that sometimes results in more than one VA with differing terms.  They strongly encourage the groups to combine terms into one VA to facilitate enforcement.  No applicant wants to be governed by more than one voluntary agreement.”

On Friday, the protest group met to consider what specifics the VA should cover.  They identified the items in the Hill Center operation plan posted on the website that the group wants written into the VA.  They also identified other items they want included in the agreement.

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July 9, 2011 · 8:39 pm

Text of Neighbors’ Formal Protest to Hill Center’s Liquor License Application

Text of Neighbors’ Formal Protest to Hill Center’s Liquor License Application

TO:                  Alcohol Beverage Control Board

FROM:            Near Neighbors of Hill Center Protest Group

RE:                  Protest of issuance of the following new license as described on the placard

DATE:            July 1, 2011

ABRA License # 086926

Old Naval Hospital Foundation

t/a The Hill Center

921 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE

C – Multipurpose

We, the undersigned residents of the neighborhood surrounding the Hill Center at 921 Pennsylvania Avenue S.E, protest the issuance of a Class “C’ alcohol beverage license with entertainment endorsement, and the operation of events in the gardens with 500 person occupancy. The issuance of such a license with its listed hours of operation (7a.m. to 2 a.m. and 3 a.m.) for dancing, occasional DJ and live music for special events, will impact adversely on the peace, order and quiet of the neighborhood. Moreover, it will have a significant adverse impact on residential parking needs, vehicular and pedestrian safety, and real property values.

DC CODE 25-404 –INAPPROPRIATE SITE OF BUILDING AND GROUNDS      

The openness of the Hill Center building and grounds is inappropriate for large, late parties with amplified music and dancing. This use will harm peace, order, and quiet; and real property values.

The applicant’s request for occupancy of 500 people with alcohol service from 7 am to as late as 3 a.m., with amplified entertainment outdoors, is not compatible with this 90% residential neighborhood, which in much of the surrounding area is fairly quiet.

To the north the unbuffered, 8-lane-wide Pennsylvania Avenue corridor allows sound from the Hill Center to travel to the Butterfield House condos 1020 Pa Ave, 400 block of 10th, 300 block of 9th, and 800 block of D.

Directly to the south (E Street, South Side) are the front windows of row houses that are so close (approximately 60′), an average boisterous conversation on the back stairs of the Hill Center can be heard inside these homes.

DC CODE 25-404 LOCATION IMPACTS QUIET RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD

The surrounding blocks are over 85% Residential. Petitions signed by large numbers of homeowners and renters living in the neighboring 25 residential blocks between 8th and 12th and C and G, SE reveal the widespread concern of neighbors, many of whom currently enjoy peace, quiet, safety and reliable parking.

The nighttime activity in the area around the Hill Center is completely different to the east than it is directly south and west.  The northeast and southeast are currently calm and quiet with good parking. Also, to the east side, only 4 blocks are commercial and that type of commercial is small stores and offices that close at 7 pm. – no bars and no liquor stores.  This area will suffer extreme adverse effects of parking, noise and public safety from late, loud Hill Center activities.

In marked contrast is the situation currently faced by residents living to the south and west of the Hill Center.  They are already dramatically impacted by the number of bars and restaurants on 8th Street Barracks Row.  They have ongoing multiple issues with noise and parking currently.  With the addition of late night activities at the Hill Center, they will be surrounded on all sides  which will cause adverse effects for them as well.

APPROPRIATENESS STANDARDS – DC Code 25-313

Residents in the neighborhood expect the following four categories of adverse effects to result from issuing this liquor license with its current stipulations:

1. REAL PROPERTY VALUES

Neighborhood homes are known for quiet sidewalks and back yards, with birds, squirrels, outdoor patio tables and chairs, and auxiliary rooms where people work in home-based businesses.

Noise, parking, and safety problems due to loud, late parties with large numbers of people will adversely affect selling prices and rents and could increase the time on the market, causing monetary loss.  The reputation of the neighborhood would suffer as the word spreads about nighttime outdoor announcements and wedding bands. Many of us are nearing retirement or retired and rely on our homes retaining value or growing in value for potential sale in the future.

2. PEACE, ORDER AND QUIET

The requested alcohol service beginning at 7 am and extending to 2 am on weekdays and 3 am on week nights will result in disruption of the peace, order and quiet of the neighborhood and disrupted sleep for nearby residents. There are four issues:

A. Noise – Outdoor Amplification in the Summer Garden

With amplified music and dancing outdoors with up to 500 people, it is highly unlikely that amplified voices and music will not exceed the legal limits of 60 db at the fence line of the property, which is the sound level of a microwave oven.

The Summer Garden grounds are higher than surrounding sidewalks and roads, with no buffers of evergreens, hedges or abutting buildings to control or contain this sound. Because there is no other nightlife in the immediate vicinity, there is little ambient sound of traffic or hum of voices to mask sound from the Hill Center’s DJ’s, live bands or dancing.

B. Noise – Indoor Amplification with Bands, DJs and Dancing

The largest room available for events is in the middle of the back (south side) of the Hill Center along the 900 block of E Street, SE. The windows directly face neighbors’ bedroom windows.

Amplified sounds from behind the windows will be difficult to contain, especially live bands or DJs which tend to have thumping, rhythmic vibrations. Having entertainment continue past 10 pm on weekdays or past 11 pm on weekends would cause great hardship to the E Street neighbors, especially elderly and those with young children.

C. Noise – Loading of Equipment from and to Commercial Vehicles

With alcohol service closing times of 2 am or 3 am, the neighbors anticipate 2 subsequent hours of noise from trucks loading tables, chairs, heating and serving platters, alcohol, glasses, stages, structures and tent plus trash. Loading these trucks is very noisy (metal on metal – wood on wood) with loud clunking, banging and rolling as well as idling and beeping as they back up. These are inappropriate sounds after 11 on a weeknight or after midnight on a weekend.

The 7 am start time for a breakfast with alcohol would mean that the trucks would unload equipment as early as 5 am, potentially violating the DC noise ordinance.

D. Noise – Patrons exiting and roaming our residential side streets to their cars.

Any event with large numbers of guests loudly and energetically celebrating with amplified music and dancing until late hours under the influence of free liquor will result in disturbance of the quiet neighborhood in the middle of the night. Their voices will be boisterous – calling out, laughing, beeping car alarms, flirting, possibly fighting, crying, peeing, and throwing up—all taking place under the windows of sleeping neighbors.

Families, including children, retirees and hardworking adults live across the streets to the north, south, and west—the streets where guests of the Hill Center will seek free parking and return to their cars late at night, many of them drunk.

3. PARKING – ADVERSE EFFECT ON RESIDENTIAL PARKING NEEDS

The neighborhood near the Hill Center is in the Capitol Hill Historic District.  Few of the 1800s buildings have parking, and there are very few parking lots nearby – even of minimal size. Residents rely on the small amount of on-street parking that exists. Residents pay for use of this public space with our taxes. The Hill Center has not planned parking for the large numbers of guests listed on the application, except for a few handicapped parking spaces on the property. These are the major issues:

  1. Current Parking Congestion

To the southwest of the Hill Center, parking is very congested already due to the 8th Street Barracks Row restaurants and bars. Parking is already eliminated from the west side of 9th in the 700 block for weekly Marine events leaving residents with nowhere to park.

To the northeast, the ratio of cars to street parking spaces is comfortably full. Residents are currently able to safely and reliably park near our homes; however, there are no extra spaces left over once everyone is home.

  1. No Parking Lots

There are no nearby parking lots (within 3 blocks) of a size sufficient to accommodate a large, sudden influx of cars for an event. There is one small lot for an elementary school 2 blocks away, but it holds a limited number of cars and is already contracted for Friday evenings from mid-May to Labor Day for guests of the Marine event. These are the same months of high operation for the Hill Center garden and already traffic jams are common.

  1. Few Open Metered Spaces

On weekdays, the metered spaces in front of the Hill Center on Pennsylvania Avenue are already mostly full as used by the row house offices. On weekends, they are filled by visitors to Eastern Market, Barracks Row, Frager’s Hardware, CVS, and other commercial establishments. Additional spaces will be taken by teachers and students coming for classes.

  1. Residential Side Streets Used by Wider Ward 6 Visitors

The residential side streets of 9th, 10th, 11th G, E, D, South Carolina and C are legally open to any and all of the 75,000 residents of Ward 6 who have a Zone 6 residential parking sticker. The neighbors already suffer from the wide use of these spaces by people who live 10-20 blocks away who come to take Metro or visit Eastern Market businesses.

4. VEHICULAR AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY

If the Hill Center becomes known as a rentable, late-night party establishment, it could become a magnet for one-time hosts who have no reason to care about safety of the neighborhood.

A. Vehicular Safety

Drunk Driving

The later the party lasts, the more alcohol is consumed, the greater the drunk driving risk.

Traffic Jams

The Hill Center plans to use its side entrance on 9th Street, SE for everyone – all handicapped visitors, caterers, non-profit employees, event goers, teachers, classroom students, and staff. This will create a vehicular traffic safety issue. Use of the side entrance will bring increased traffic around on E Street to turn right to let passengers out at the gate.

Because 9th Street is very narrow and cars approach from both directions, and are likely to let off passengers on both sides, blocking access for disabled patrons to use parking spots on the grounds. Across the street a gas station has two driveways and an alley that need to be accessible for customers and fuel truck deliveries. Congestion on both E and 9th streets will lead to bumper-to-bumper blocked roadways with predictable honking and possibly road rage.

B. Pedestrian (and Guest) Safety with Large, Late-night Crowds

Crowd Control on Neighborhood Side Streets

Extreme overcrowding of the neighborhood roadways and sidewalks would occur if 500 people came to one event and most of them left simultaneously in the early morning hours.

Summer Garden Small Size Creates Overcrowding Dangers

Overcrowding the grounds is a problem for pedestrian safety in case of an emergency exit needed for fire, fight, or other incident.  People inside the required tent in the Summer Garden have no fence opening or gate on the eastern side of the property through which to exit in a hurry. There is potential for injuries during an emergency due to the tall ornamental iron fence with few openings. If hundreds of people spill into the streets, there is significant risk of injury from traffic.

Insufficient Room Inside the Building

The largest inside room has occupancy of slightly over 100 people.  Even the entire 2nd floor can’t hold 500 people if severe weather forces people inside.

Minors’ Access to Alcohol

Overcrowding can also lead to underage drinking even if minors are not being served, because people leave drinks unattended, and managers simply cannot monitor a dense crowd.

SUMMATION

The Hill Center’s nearest neighbors applaud the renovation of the Old Naval Hospital to become an educational and cultural non-profit. We want to help them raise needed funds without shouldering an unfair burden from seeing, hearing, feeling and cleaning up after its parties.

To reduce the adverse effects on the near neighbors, we request that the license for the Hill Center specify no amplification outdoors in the garden at all and we request that the license restrict the number of visitors and restrict event hours to end before Metro closes, so that Eastern Market Metro is a viable transportation option.

Sincerely,

Name (Print)                           Address (Print)                                   Signature

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July 5, 2011 · 11:45 pm

ANC Planning and Zoning Committee Clears Way for Chipotle Mexican Grill on Barracks Row – Vote by Full ANC Scheduled for July 12

The Ayes Have It As All Ten ANC6B Commissioners Vote for Chipotle

ANC Planning and Zoning Committee Clears Way for Chipotle Mexican Grill on Barracks Row – Vote by Full ANC Scheduled for July 12

by Larry Janezich

Tuesday night, ANC6B’s Planning and Zoning Committee, chaired by Commissioner Francis Campbell, voted 10 – 0 for a special exception to the ban on fast food restaurants on Barracks Row for Chipotle Mexican Grill.  Chipotle will open an outlet at 413 8th Street, SE, in the space currently occupied by Dollar + Continental.  The building’s owner, StreetSense Development, has given Chipotle a 20 year lease on the building.  The development company’s representative announced that China Wall, which occupies adjoining space, also part of the StreetSense property, is not expected to stay.  As part of the deal, StreetSense pledged – should they seek to place a fast food restaurant in the China Wall space – to apply for a separate special exception for that location rather that utilize the fast food license that transferred with the property.

The Committee vote came on the motion to approve the special exception, but with a request that the Bureau of Zoning Adjustment limit the exception specifically to Chipotle.  This restriction is apparently unprecedented, but not prohibited by the regulations.  The ANC made clear that their support was not contingent on the proposed BZA limitation.  .

In ANC6B, all commissioners are members of the standing committees, taskforces, and the executive committee.  Tonight, all ten commissioners were present for a show of hands in support of Chipotle.  The vote forwards the issue to the full ANC meeting for a vote on July 12.  It is likely that the vote by the full commission will be the same as tonight’s vote.

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July 4, 2011 · 10:35 am

EMCAC Part II: Will City Close Eastern Market’s North Hall on Weekdays? – Issue May Be Tossed to the New Market Governing Authority

Eastern Market North Hall, Friday Morning

EMCAC Part II:  Will City Close Eastern Market’s North Hall on Weekdays? – Issue May Be Tossed to the New Market Governing Authority

by Larry Janezich

Some members of the Eastern Market Citizens Advisory Committee (EMCAC) continue to pressure Eastern Market Manager Barry Margeson to close the Eastern Market North Hall during the week.  Margeson has resisted, pointing to city regulations which define the North Hall as community space.  Committee members cite energy costs, liability concerns, and potential damage to the building.  Weekdays, the space has been a go-to place for children and their caretakers seeking like company and a cool/warm/safe environment.  A look at the Eastern Market website event calendar shows regularly scheduled Thursday morning events providing entertainment for children and others.

Committee members are concerned that use of the space by the public during the week will be an established expectation when EMCAC hands over the reins to the new governing authority for Eastern Market provided for in upcoming legislation which will be introduced by Councilmember Tommy Wells.

At last Wednesday’s EMCAC meeting, Chair Donna Sheeder announced that Councilmember Wells is reviewing draft legislation to provide the new governing authority for Eastern Market.  She said that he wants to introduce the bill before the Council begins its summer recess on July 15.  ANC6B could hold a special call meeting on the legislation before the end of July; ANC6B has no meetings scheduled for August.

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July 1, 2011 · 10:52 pm

Pitango Gelato Is Open

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July 1, 2011 · 10:40 am

Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee Update – Part I; Food Trucks – Info Hub – Weekday Farmer’s Market

Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee Update – Part I;  Food Trucks – Info Hub – Weekday Farmer’s Market

by Larry Janezich

Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee (EMCAC) met on Wednesday, June 29, in Eastern Market’s North Hall.  The following items were among the issues discussed at the meeting. 

Food Truck Trouble?

The popular food trucks which appear on weekends both at Eastern Market and at curbsides on 7th Street near the market and around the Metro Plaza are troubling nearby food outlets and vendors at the Market.  The complaints concern  the competition, parking spaces taken up by the trucks, and queuing which interferes with pedestrian traffic.  One business operator who spoke during the public comment part of Wednesday night’s meeting said that DC currently has 100 food trucks, but New York and Los Angeles have thousands.  EMCAC Chair Donna Sheeder said that EMCAC will consider the issue.   Being discessed are regulations about where and how long the trucks can operate around the market.  Vendors at the market and others are calling for stricter city regulation of the trucks. 

Info Hub

EMCAC member Chuck Burger reported that final conceptual sketches on the Info Hub planned for the Eastern Market Metro Plaza should be finished in the next week.  The schematic will show the precise location of the structure and what would be around it as well as “what is going on inside.”  Construction could begin this fall. 

Burger announced that CHAMPS has set up a non-profit organization – “Celebrate Capitol Hill” – to spearhead a fundraising effort to provide operating expenses for the project.  To kick off this effort, a fund raising party – possibly at the end of July – will be announced soon.  The goal will be to raise $50,000 in pledges – enough to cover operating costs for the first three years. 

Weekday Farmer’s Market Back on the Table

The idea of a weekday farmer’s market one day a week at Eastern Market is once again being discussed by EMCAC.  The new impetus is being driven, in part, by weekday farmer’s markets in NOMA and Penn Quarter.  Watch for a notice on the Eastern Market website soliciting community input.  :http://www.easternmarket-dc.org/

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June 30, 2011 · 7:04 pm

Preservation Review Board Approves Height, Massing, Scale of Signature Hine Buildings; Ignores Recommendations of ANC and Community Groups

No Show of Hands Necessary as HPRB Casts Voice Vote in Favor of Hine Buildings

Preservation Review Board Approves Height, Massing, Scale of Signature Hine Buildings; Ignores Recommendations of ANC and Community Groups

by Larry Janezich

Despite opposition from ANC6b and community organizations, the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) unanimously approved the height, scale, and massing of the signature proposed Hine Project buildings put forward by Stanton/Eastbanc, declaring the 8th Street Residential Row, 8th and D building, and 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue building compatible with the historic district and surrounding neighborhood.  The Board informally recommended minor tweaking, including efforts to minimize the story-and-a-half mechanical room penthouse on the 7th Street Office Building and opening up the entrance to the 7th Street commercial corridor to make it more inviting when viewed from the Metro Plaza. 

ANC6B Commissioner Brian Pate presented the statement on behalf of ANC6b, calling for reducing the height of the entrance of the 8th Street residential building, further refinement in the design of the 8th and D Street building, and creatively reducing the height of 7th and Pennsylvania.  The strength of his statement was undercut to some extent by the testimony of ANC6B Commissioner Dave Garrison, who urged the Board to “find that no further concessions to the nearby neighbors are needed.”  Garrison found the two buildings facing the Eastern Market Metro Plaza “entirely appropriate and historically compatible,” and – in the first time this recommendation has been heard – stated that the entire fronts of the two buildings from 7th to 8th should be retail.  The last point has been particularly sensitive to some community groups who want the current residential zoning of the 8th and D Street corner to remain.  He went on to say that his remarks also represented the views of Commissioners Oldenburg and Metzger. 

The neighborhood groups – EMMCA, Eyes on Hine, The 200 Block of 8th Coalition, and the Capitol Hill Restoration Society – all pushed for greater compatibility with the historic district and reduced density, as in lower height and/or mass. Much has been made of the density aspect of the project – touted by supporters as a city-required given.  Even the name “smart growth” trotted out in support of greater density in this project, makes questioning it seem counterintuitive.  And yet little has been made of the relevance, let alone the wisdom, of “smart growth” development for a historic district.  HPRB Chair Buell struck a cautionary note which might have reflected this point when she said that this building should not be regarded as a precedent.

Stanton/Eastbanc cited support for the project from some individuals and neighborhood groups, including the 7th Street Merchants Association, Barracks Row Main Street, DC Preservation League, former Councilmember Sharon Ambrose, DC Village, and The Coalition for Smarter Growth, among others.  Representatives from some of these organizations testified in support of the project.  The supporters included a few who represented themselves as merely residents.  Much of the testimony from these individuals had little to do with historic preservation aspects of the project, but concerned the perceived benefits the project would bring to the community.  The Board showed more lenience than in their previous hearing, where remarks straying from historic preservation subjects were curtailed or cut-off. 

The vote represented a victory for Stanton/Eastbanc who faces a rigid timeline in the project’s land disposition agreement.  Stanton/Eastbanc will be back before the Board next month with the remaining two portions of the project which have not yet been approved by the Board:  the 7th Street residential building and the C Street residential building. 

To view the latest designs approved by HPRB today, go to:  http://hineschool.com/vision

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June 29, 2011 · 10:21 am

Pitango Gelato Shoots for July 4 Opening

Pitango Gelato Shoots for July 4 Opening

by Larry Janezich

Noah Dan, owner of the new Pitango Gelato which occupies the 7th Street space next to Peregrine Espresso,  said this morning that he hopes to open by Monday, July 4.  Dan told emmcablog that he is awaiting city permits that will make that possible.  The confectionary also has outlets in Penn Quarter and Logan Circle.

According to Pitango’s website, in addition to espresso, cappuccino and caffe latte, they serve Italian hot chocolate, choro-latte (just what you’d expect), marocchino (equal parts expresso and hot chocolate), and affogato (espresso with hazel nut or chocolate gelato).

Building owner Kitty Kaupp said today that she and Stanton Development welcomed Pitango’s arrival, commenting that it would do much to enhance the character of the block.

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June 26, 2011 · 11:26 am

Hill Center Reveals Business Plan – 25% of Operating Revenue To Come from Special Events

Hill Center Reveals Business Plan – 25% of Operating Revenue To Come from Special Events

by Larry Janezich

Saturday afternoon, a dozen Hill Center (HC) neighbors met with Hill Center officials in the first of  a series of meetings designed to open up a dialogue with the community regarding HC operations.  Among the neighbors present were well-known Hill residents Barbara Eck, Paul Malvey, and Jill Lawrence.  Diana Ingraham, Executive Director, and Catherine Smith, Director of Special Events, represented HC. 

Saying “we want Hill Center to be the heartbeat of the community,” Ingraham went on to acknowledge that Hill Center has been criticized for not releasing its business plan.  She then revealed that plan to the group. 

The annual operating budget is $750,000.  There are four revenue streams to account for that.

Rental of the carriage house (about $50,000 annually) to a café vendor and rental of office space (about $62,000 annually) to non-profit organizations together will account for 15%  ($112,500) . Among the organizations seeking office space in HC are ANC6b, Capitol Hill Village, and the Capitol Hill Restoration Society.    

Third party program providers who will rent additional space to expand their programming will provide 60% of the funding ($450,000).  These will include organizations like CHAW and the Folger, as well as other independent operators offering classes in the arts and technology, or physical training classes such as yoga.  No contracts have been signed yet; that must wait for HC to obtain a certificate of occupancy. 

Rental of space for special events will account for the remaining 25% ($187,500) – about $15,000 a month.  A conference room can be rented for half a weekday for $350, but the largest spaces, such as the entire second floor will cost $1500 for half a weekday and $5000 for a full day and evening on weekends. The garden will rent for $500 for half a weekday and $1250 for a full day on weekends.    

Hill Center representatives distributed a list of Frequently Asked Questions regarding Special Events, recently posted on Hill Center’s website.  The document gave the clearest picture yet about how HC intends to operate under the limitations they agreed to in the voluntary agreement negotiated with ANC6b during the liquor licensing process.    

When compared against the voluntary operational agreement, the FAQ sheet shows special events will be limited to 250 participants inside (the entire second floor) and outside (the summer garden).  The voluntary agreement had set the limit at 300.

The FAQs document states sale of alcohol in the garden will stop at 8:00pm weekdays and 9:00pm Friday and Saturday – each an hour earlier than in the voluntary agreement

The sale of alcohol inside will cease at 11:00pm daily, down from 1:00am weekdays and 2:00am Friday and Saturday.

Entertainment in the garden will stop at 8:00pm weekdays, and 9:00pm Friday and Saturday – no change from the voluntary agreement. 

Entertainment inside will stop at 11:00pm daily, instead of 1:00am on weekdays and 2:00am Friday and Saturday. 

 Ingraham said HC Neighbors will be invited to participate in decibel level tests, judging from their own homes what is too loud regarding entertainment both inside and outside Hill Center.  Ingraham also clarified where the summer garden will be located; it will be on the east side of the building, nearest 10th Street. 

Neighbor Paul Malvey led a discussion between the neighbors and HC officials, raising a number of concerns and proposed solutions which neighbors had formulated in a meeting a week earlier.  Among these were parking and valet parking, occupancy levels, special event security, loading and unloading, trash, amplification of sound in the garden, and communication with neighbors.  Elliott noted each of the specific concerns and proposed solution. 

At meeting’s end, Barbara Eck commented that she had been working to save Old Naval Hospital long before the idea for a hill center had been broached and had been a strong supporter and advocate for Hill Center since then.  But, she said, much of the neighbors’ good will had been lost when they were “blindsided” by the terms of the liquor license (see emmcablog, June 1).   She said that the voluntary agreement negotiated with the ANC needs improvement and “we want it in writing.”  Eck went on to say petitions are being circulated “to let HC know it’s not what people are saying on the blogs – that we’re just NIMBYs.  There’s widespread feeling on this and we want Hill Center to know lots of people want something better. “

Other neighbors stressed that the purpose of the letter of protest the group will file with the Alcohol Beverage Review Board (ABRA) prior to the July 18 hearing on HC’s application for a liquor license is to give them legal standing to negotiate a new voluntary agreement. The neighbors hope to negotiate the new agreement before the ABRA hearing. 

The neighbors will meet the first week of July to finalize the details of what they would like the new voluntary agreement to contain and then seek a meeting with Hill Center’s Board of Directors to negotiate the terms of that agreement.  Neighbors will also meet again with HC officials in a month as part of an on-going dialogue between the Center and the community.

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June 25, 2011 · 6:14 pm

Hill Center Neighbors Press for New Voluntary Agreement on Sale of Liquor

Hill Center Neighbors Press for New Voluntary Agreement on Sale of Liquor

by Larry Janezich

A group of near-by neighbors of the Hill Center (THC) met Saturday on one part of a three track plan to ameliorate their concerns about the part of THC’s business plan which has the potential for greatest impact on their quality of life – leasing out indoor and outdoor space for social functions.  The group is led by neighbors from the blocks immediately surrounding The Hill Center. 

The group gathered in Southeast Library Saturday morning to hammer out a new voluntary agreement designed to make THC function successfully in a way that would minimize the effects to the surrounding residential areas.  . 

It was the consensus of the group that they were not trying to block THC from getting a liquor license. The goal is to be constructive and offer solutions to what neighbors see as potential problems. 

Under the Alcohol Beverage Review Administrations (ABRA) guidelines, neighbors have standing to elicit changes to an establishment’s operations in the following areas:  hours of sales and service, occupancy limits, noise, public/pedestrian safety, litter/trash, parking, and communications with neighbors

On June 14, ANC6B voted 8-0 in favor of THC’s application for a liquor license with a voluntary agreement.  That agreement limits:

sale of alcohol and entertainment inside to 7:00am – 1:00am Sunday through Thursday, and from 7:00am – 2:00am Friday and Saturday; 

sale of alcohol in the summer garden from 7:00am – 9:00pm Sunday through Thursday, and 7:00am – 10:00pm on Friday and Saturday; 

entertainment in the summer garden from 7:00am – 8:00pm Sunday through Thursday, and 7:00am – 9:00pm on Friday and Saturday.

In addition, THC agreed to reduce the number of outside summer garden patrons to 300 for night time events and to limit amplification of sound outdoors to no later than 8:00pm Sunday – Thursday and 9:00pm Friday and Saturday.  Valet parking would be required for events involving more than 30 passenger vehicles. 

The nearby neighbors view this as inadequate, noting that neither ANC commissioners nor Hill Center staff live within four blocks of the Center and were unable to appreciate what the needs of the neighbors would be.  The group hopes to reach an agreement with the Hill Center prior to the ABRA hearing on the Hill Center’s license application scheduled for July 18.  Hill Center neighbors are being encouraged to attend the hearing. 

Final language of the new agreement was not available, but it appeared that the final document would be more comprehensive than the one negotiated by the ANC. 

The second of the three track approach is a protest letter which will be filed with ABRA by July 5.  The purpose of the filing is not to oppose the application for a liquor license, but to give the neighborhood group legal standing to negotiate a new voluntary agreement. 

The third track is to gather signatures from neighbors in the blocks surrounding the Hill Center on petitions as a means of informing the neighborhood of the conditions of the current voluntary agreement and as a measure of the concern of the nearby residents regarding the potential impact of Center activities on the neighborhood.  As many as twelve people are actively seeking signatures. 

Representatives of the Hill Center were scheduled to meet with neighbors Saturday afternoon in an effort to engage them and to listen to what their concerns are.   More on that to follow. 

 

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