6/12/00:
Well, the only bit of "news" news is from sources deep
inside Crate & Barrel: C&B anounced that they are
looking in Dupont Circle for a site for the local
launch of CB2 - their younger, cheaper, funner version
of C&B. (http://www.cb2.com)
New brewery, Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant, is
coming to 9th & F NW. Nearby, vacant Tarrif Building
(8th & F) has begun construction, slated to be a
boutique hotel.
See below for news release from DCCA regarding their
view of the JRs expansion issue. Next ANC2B mtg is
Wednesday (see below).
Much-improved Alban Towers will add to Catheral
Heights neighborhood - see http://www.albantowers.com/
Don't forget Thursdays are now "Art Night" - see
http://www.si.edu/activity/artnight/ for more info...
Visions Cinema & lounge will open late July... see
below for fun contest... Bistrot du Coin is now open
in old Food for Thought space... next new restaurant
will be Thaiphoon, in old Volare space on S St by Conn
Ave.
WBJ article on Lincoln Theatre, which might add a 300-
seat theatre next door: http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2000/06/12/focus7.html
Federal funding will assist exterior renovation of
historic Howard Theatre & Dunbar Theatre in Shaw.
However, interior of Dunbar is set to be shops and
office; Howard is owned by DC - plans will be
announced by mayor soon. (See more info below.)
See Times article on Grape Finds: http://www.washtimes.com/entertainment/default-200068214011.htm
See crime report at bottom.
Millenium March pix at
http://www.kestan.com/travel/dc/dup_cir/042900/index.htm
Interesting story in NY Times, "Blighted Areas Are
Revived as Crime Rate Falls in Cities," makes two
references to U/14th St neighborhood (http://nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/national/crime-rate-cities.html
- you must register to read)
Recent article in the Post: "A Fresh Approach in
Logan Circle"
(http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19984-2000May27.html)
An interesting article on sprawl which focuses on
Tysons Corner:
http://www.prospect.org/archives/V11-13/massing-m.html
Best regards,
Michael
Attachments:
******************************************************
Dupont Circle Citizens Association
PRESS RELEASE
Contacts: Mike Fasano (202-483-2820)
Frank Hornstein (202-319-7675)
JR'S BAR SAYS 'NO' TO RESIDENTS' COMPROMISE
A pro-business compromise offered by Dupont Circle
residents to resolve the expansion of JR's Bar & Grill
has, unfortunately, been rejected by JR's owner.
The compromise, offered by the Dupont Circle Advisory
Neighborhood Commission, the Dupont Circle Citizens
Association and a group of 160 nearby residents, was
designed to keep and promote a diversity of businesses
on 17th Street. It would have allowed JR's to expand
its capacity from 74 to 312, as had been requested by
JR's.
The compromise proposal would have put JR's expansion
on the upper floors of an adjacent building while
keeping a street level storefront for a non-alcohol
related business use. JR's has wanted its expansion
on the ground floor in the space formerly used as
Angie's Plant Shop.
"We hope that in the spirit of cooperation JR's will
reconsider what we believe is a more than fair offer,"
said Frank Hornstein, incoming President of DCCA.
For 12 years there has been a moratorium on 17th
Street through the ABC Board (which oversees liquor
licenses in the District) to protect neighborhood
retail stores from being overwhelmed by bars.
Residents feel that further expansion of alcohol
related business into space that could be used for
other purposes, such as a clothing or hardware store,
or a bike shop, undermines the intent of the
moratorium. The residents argue that if JR's expanded
its bar space on the street level, that would create a
precedent for future similar expansions that would
undermine the moratorium.
"We want to keep our food, hardware and home
furnishings stores and hopefully, attract new retail
uses on 17th Street," said Mike Fasano, a nearby
resident. Fasano cited the ProCare Pharmacy that
recently took over space previously used by Palmer's
Cafe as an example of how the moratorium can work.
"This mix of residents and businesses is what makes
17th Street and Dupont Circle a special urban
community. Alcohol related businesses currently make
up half the frontage on the 17th Street strip. That
is enough for what is supposed to be a neighborhood
shopping area", he said.
Said incoming DCCA President, Frank Hornstein, "The
ABC Board, the Mayor and the City Council all have
realized there is an over-concentration of liquor
related businesses in our residential neighborhood.
The residents' proposal recognizes that JR's is a
successful business and would allow it to expand
substantially -- but not at the expense of the
overall business mix on 17th Street.
--- Dupont Circle Citizens Association
wrote:
ANC 2B Dupont Circle
PUBLIC MEETING
Wednesday, June 14, 2000
7:30 pm
St. Thomas Church
1772 Church St. NW (at 18th)
TENTATIVE AGENDA
(sequence TBD)
1. Police Crime and Safety Update
2. Presentation on the June 27 School Board Reform
Referendum
3. Presentation by the U. S. Park Service on Dupont
Circle Park improvements
4. Public Space application for Starbucks Coffee, 1301
Conn. Ave (at N & 18th Sts)
5. BZA Application 16584, variance to allow a 2nd
floor addition to a non-conforming structure of an
existing single family dwelling at 2208 1/2 Q St
6. BZA Applicaiton 16585, variance to max. lot
percentage for an addition to an existing garage at
2119 S St N.
7. Comment will be received on new Class B ABC
license, Fresh Fields, 1440 P St NW
8. Comment will be received on the following ABC
licenses which are pending renewal:
Class CR (restaurant)
WrapWork,s 1601 Connecticut Ave
Polo India Club, 1736 Connecticut Ave
Fuzio, 1630 Connecticut Ave
The Bombay Club, 815 Connecticut Avenue
Fran O'Briens Steak House, 1001 16th Street
Luigi's Restaurant, 1132 19th Street
Recessions, 1700 K Street
Bravo Bravo, 1001 Connecticut Ave
Otello, 1329 Conn Avenue
Sam and Harry,s 1200 19th Street
Tequila Grill, 1990 K Street
Oodles Noodle, 1120 19th St
The Oval Room, 800 Connecticut Avenue
Delhi Delhi, 1926 I StreetSol/Cobalt, 1639 R St
Mediterranean Blue, 1910 18th St.
also expand ABC to 20 sidewalk cafe seats
Class CX (private club)
The Mansion on O Street, 2020 O Street
Class DR (beer/wine only)
Pizzeria Paradise, 2029 P Street
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2B meets on the
second Wednesday of each month. There is an open forum
at each meeting for discussion of issues not on the
regular agenda. For further information, call (202)
296-7333 or email ANC2B04@aol.com.
***************************************************
NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 17, 2000
Mayor Williams Announces Efforts to Restore Howard and
Dunbar Theatres
Award from White House Millennium Council Means Access
to Federal Funding for Historic Landmarks Washington,
D.C. - Mayor Anthony A. Williams today announced
efforts to restore the historic Howard and Dunbar
Theatres in the Shaw community, and accepted an award
recognizing the Howard Theatre as the 500th Official
Project of Save America's Treasures, a public-private
partnership between the White House Millennium Council
and the National Trust for Historic Preservation to
preserve America's irreplaceable historic and cultural
treasures. This designation makes the theatre eligible
for federal funding to restore its historic exterior,
making the site significantly more attractive for
developers.
"I welcome these partnerships to save the Howard and
Dunbar Theatres," said Mayor Williams. "The
redevelopment efforts will create new jobs, eliminate
blight, restore two much-needed cultural arts venues,
and attract visitors to the Shaw community. It is
another step forward in our efforts to invest in our
neighborhoods."
"The Howard and Dunbar Theatres were an important part
of the District's cultural arts history, and with the
newfound interest to renovate the theatres, the rich
history and culture of the theatres will be preserved
and shared with future generations," said Othello
Mahone, Interim Director of the Department of Housing
and Community Development.
The Peoples Involvement Corporation (PIC) will
redevelop the Dunbar Theatre. The theatre will be
renovated to include office suites on the top two
levels and retail space on the bottom two levels. DHCD
provided $70,000 to PIC for acquisition financing
and a Neighborhood Initiatives Support Program Equity
Grant for $144,472 to offset the equity capital and
predevelopment costs associated with redeveloping the
Dunbar Theatre.
In 1986, the Government of the District of Columbia
purchased the Howard Theatre from the Howard Theatre
Foundation. The restoration of the Howard Theatre is
one part of the Mayor's soon to be announced plan to
spur economic development along the entire Georgia
Avenue corridor. With this designation, the
administration will begin in earnest to review and
explore all options to restore the Howard Theatres.
Mayor Williams was joined by Congresswoman Eleanor
Holmes Norton; Susan Eisenhower, Co-chair of the
White House Millennium Committee to Save America's
Treasures; and Andre Gandy, Chief Executive Officer
of the Peoples Involvement Corporation.
**************************************************
Dear Visions Subscribers:
Our opening day is fast approaching! We are pushing
hard for late July. It's exciting!
One of the really cool things we have done at Visions
was to sponsor a contest for a local artist to paint
the mural which is going in the lounge. It will be
huge! We got numerous submissions from all over the
Greater DC area. The winning artist is Scott Brooks
of Arlington, VA. His mural depicts an audience of
diverse movie goers watching a film. The emphasis is
on the faces. This needs to be a timeless mural, so we
want it to be packed with detail.
Scott will start painting in early July. We thought
it would be neat if we could tie some of the faces
into our - and our members and customer's - favorite
films. Who will be sitting in that audience? Will it
be Hugh Grant from Notting Hill with his swim mask on?
What about Mickey Rourke from Diner? Should we
include local pols?
We would really like your suggestions! So, here's what
we'll do:
Send us your recommendations for who you would like to
see in the mural by way of email reply to this
message. Be specific: state the actor AND the film.
It's best if you can think of films with scenes inside
cinemas, like the two examples above. If we end up
using your suggestion in the mural, we will give you a
FREE ticket to an upcoming film. Pretty easy, right?
We will put up a section on the website for the mural,
and those who made suggestions that end up being used
will be credited accordingly.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Cheers!
Andrew Frank, President
Visions CinemaBistroLounge
**************************************************
The following memo was released from the Third
District on 5/22 regarding recent Dupont Circle area
robberies from 4/18 thru 5/17. It is especially
alarming that some of these robberies have occurred
during daytime and early evening hours:
---------------------------------
Recently a rash of robberies have occurred in your
area. The suspects are armed with a handgun and
therefore are considered dangerous. Listed below are
the locations, dates, and times of the offenses. We
would appreciate your assistance in identifying these
individuals. Anyone having information on a suspect
or identifies individuals in this area matching the
descriptions should contact Investigator David Swinson
from the Third District at 202-673-6914. In case of an
emergency or if an individual is on the scene matching
the description of a suspect, call 911.
1800 Block of 16th St., NW
4/18/00, 10:30 p.m.
Black Male, 20s, 5'2", 115#, Dark complexion
Black Male, 20s, 5'4", 160 #, Dark complexion
Black Male, 20s, 5'4", 160#, Dark complexion
1800 Block of Corcoran St., NW
4/26/00, 9:00 p.m.
Black Male, 6'5", 190#
Black Male, 6'4", 180#
1700 Block of R St., NW
4/27/00, 6:15 p.m.
Black Male, 30s, 6', 185#, Medium complexion,
goatee
1800 Block of Corcoran St., NW
4/28/00, 1:10 p.m.
Black Male, 16-17, 6'1", 160-170#, Dark
complexion
Black Male, 16-17, 6'1", 165#, Dark complexion
1300 Block 19th St., NW
5/1/00, 10:30 p.m.
Black Male, 20s, 5'10", Medium complexion
Black Male, 20s, 5'9", Dark complexion
2000 Block of N St., NW
5/11/00, 4:50 p.m.
Black Male, 18-20, 6'2", 175#, Medium complexion
Black Male, 20-25, 6'4", 185#, Medium complexion
New Hampshire & W St., NW
5/12/00, 10:35 p.m.
Black Male, 20s, 5'10"-5'11", 170-180#, Dark
complexion
1445 Swann St., NW
5/17/00, 12:15 a.m.
Black Male, 20s, 6'1", 105#, Dark Complexion,
Dread Locks
Black Male, 19, 5'6", 180#, Dark Complexion
Black Male, 25, 5'10", 165-180#, Medium
Complexion
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