I’m always looking out for ephemera related to the neighborhood, and recently I found some interesting advertising ink blotters for the Arcade Sunshine cleaners that were once located on Lamont Street between Georgia and Sherman. Other items I’ve found include matchbook covers and golf tees.
The site is currently being converted into 225 new housing units for the community.
(3549 Georgia Avenue is located on the east side of Georgia between Newton and Otis)
According to a notice I’ve received from ABRA, placards will go up on August 10th for a new tavern to be located Georgia Avenue. Below are the relevant details from the notice.
Notice is hereby given that this licensee has applied for a new license under the D.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control Act and that the objectors are entitled to be heard before the granting of such on the Roll Call Hearing date on October 9, 2018 at 10 a.m., 4th Floor, 2000 14th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20009. Petition and/or request to appear before the Board must be filed on or before the Petition Date. The Protest Hearing date is scheduled on December 5, 2018 at 1:30 p.m.
NATURE OF OPERATION
A tavern that is requesting a Summer Garden with seating for 13 patrons. Interior seating for 20, with a Total Occupancy Load of 24.
HOURS OF OPERATION FOR INSIDE PREMISES AND SUMMER GARDEN
Sunday through Thursday 7am – 2am, Friday and Saturday 7am – 3am
HOURS OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE SALES, SERVICE, AND CONSUMPTION FOR INSIDE PREMISES AND SUMMER GARDEN
Sunday through Thursday 10am – 2am, Friday and Saturday 10am – 3am
The Lock7 Development project at 705 Irving Street, NW, is moving along quickly. In checking out their blog site the project is describe as featuring eight new units and, when completed, will feature six 1BR/1BA units and two 2BR/2.5BA units. You can see the rendering of the completed design below.
The renovations at 3661 Georgia Avenue are complete, and Park View now has another option for coffee. Amen Coffee & Juice recently opened in the neighborhood and is located between Ace Check Cashing and Reliable Tavern, just south of the Georgia Avenue Metro. I haven’t had a chance to check it out yet, but look forward to doing so soon.
Kraken Axes is located in the former Murray’s at 3400 Georgia Avenue.
Kraken Axes hasn’t even gotten into full swing and it appears that trouble is already brewing. Kraken Axes opened in mid-December 2017 and is centered on the the sport of axe throwing in which the competitors throw an axe at a target, attempting to hit the bulls eye as near as possible, much like darts, but with axes.
In April, Kraken applied for a license to serve alcohol, both inside the establishment and on the parking lot, which they explained would be reconfigured as a Summer Garden. This drew a lot of concern from nearby neighbors leading to a negotiated Settlement Agreement with ANC1A which the Commission approved in May and the ABRA Board approved in June 2018.
Unknown to the ANC or community at the time of negotiation, ABRA was investigating Kraken Axes following ecomplaints they had received, leading to a hearing on June 27th before the ABRA Board (transcript here). The ABRA Board issued an ORDER REQUIRING APPLICANT TO DEMONSTRATE FITNESS FOR LICENSURE UNDER§ 25-301 AND ORDER on August 1, 2018, as a result of June hearing (full order here). In that order, Kraken Axes and D.C. Field House (both operated by the same owners), are directed to appear before the ABRA Board to demonstrate their qualifications for licensure. The hearing is scheduled for August 15, 2018, at 1:30 p.m. at ABRA in the Reeves Building.
A review of the ABC Board order states that “The Board seeks the DENIAL of the applications filed by Kraken and D.C. Field House based on 23 DCMR § 401.1, and the Board’s determination that the Applicant, Anna Veloro, is unfit for licensure under D.C. Official Code§ 25-301(a)(l).”
The order lists the following three counts for their action with supporting information listed in their Order:
COUNT I: Denial of the application filed by Kraken Axes is warranted where the Applicant allowed, permitted, or engaged in various violations of the law that merit denial of the application under 23 DCMR § 401.1.
COUNT II: Denial of the application filed by D.C. Field House is warranted where the Applicant allowed, permitted, or engaged in various violations of the law that merit denial of the application under 23 DCMR § 401.1.
COUNT III: The Board may deem the Applicant unfit for licensure pursuant to D.C. Official Code§§ 25-301(a)(l) and 25-301(a-1) based on the Applicant’s conduct, or if any of the violations identified above are sustained.
The findings of fact are serious, indeed, and this is a case of great concern to ANC1A and the community. We’ll need to see the outcome of the August hearing to determine what, if any, next steps need to be taken.
WAMU posted a nice feature on the Armed Forces Retirement Home today authored by Martin Austermuhle (read/listen to it here). What I enjoyed is that it does a good job of providing insight into what life it like there for the retirees, provides some history of the home, mentions the challenges the home is facing, and provides a glimpse of their vision into the future.
The Soldiers’ Home is a gem and one that many residents would like to see greater access too. When the surrounding neighborhoods of Park View and Petworth were constructed, the grounds were open to the public. By the 1920s restrictions on use began to appear and with the creation of the Washington Hospital Center in the 1950s (built on land originally belonging to the Soldiers’ Home), the home began closing access to the home to prevent drivers from cutting through the grounds. This included the closing of the Randolph Gate in 1953 and closing the Park Road gate in 1955.
Based on the WAMU story, the Soldiers’ Home indicated that they are interested in exploring more public access to the grounds at some future date, but currently are focused on the development of their 80 acres at North Capital and Irving Street and restoring the financial health of the institution.
(The Soldiers’ Homes Scott Building in the ca. 1860s)
(The northeast corner of Georgia and Irving, NW)
According to permits issued on April 19, 2018, the property at the 3101 Georgia Avenue has been razed so that a new 8-unit multifamily building can be constructed on the site. The building will be just shy of 50 ft., which is the maximum by-right height allowed in the MU-4 zone. Other aspects of the project can be found in DCRA’s March 14, 2018 Determination Letter (read here).
Below is a rendering of the new building, and the full plan set is available here.
(Rending of new building designed for 3101 Georgia Ave., NW)
ABRA has posted notice that Tsehay Ethiopian Restaurant has applied for a liquor license at 3630 Georgia Avenue. The new restaurant will serve Ethiopian food. The application is also for use of a Summer Garden with 20 seats in addition to 42 seats inside and a total occupancy load of 62. The applicant is also requesting full hours of operation as well as an Entertainment Endorsement to provide live entertainment inside the premises and for the summer garden (read ABRA otice here).
It is not uncommon for our community to repeated see illegal dumping, especially around the first of the month as people move. Its especially all too common to see mattresses leaning up against litter cans in the neighborhood.
So I’m excited to share that tomorrow, in an effort to deter illegal dumping, the Mayor’s Office of the Clean City, Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services, and Department of Public Works are hosing a Roll-Off Day in Columbia Heights on Saturday, July 28th, from 1pm-4pm in front of the 14th and Girard Street Park.
You can bring your bulk trash and other debris to 14th & Girard Streets NW on Saturday, July 28, for FREE disposal! While no hazardous materials or electronics will be accepted you can take those to the Fort Totten Transfer Station for disposal.
If you live in the neighborhood and need assistance moving items, you can call 202-442-8150 to RSVP for volunteer help.
"The territory comprising Park View extends from Gresham Street north to Rock Creek Church Road, and from Georgia Avenue to the Soldiers' Home grounds, including the triangle bounded by Park Road, Georgia Avenue, and New Hampshire Avenue" (from Directory and History of Park View, 1921.)
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Park View, D.C. 