H Street NE May Cap its Clubs
Just when you thought H Street NE was finally safe for nightlife, Frozen Tropics notes that local residents are considering a cap on tavern and nightclub licenses.
Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Mary Beatty says some residents who live nearby are concerned that noise from the bars could one day become a problem. “It’s not a problem at this point,” she says. “We want to get ahead of the issue.” The neighborhood recently instated a moratorium on single sales of beer and liquor, which went into effect Oct. 1.
Joe Englert, who owns five bars and clubs along H Street, says he thinks capping the area’s liquor licenses might be a good idea “if it’s smartly done, not puritanically done.” He thinks there should be no more than 40 or 50 bars or clubs allowed within 15 blocks. Beatty says she and her fellow commissioners have not come up with a number for the cap yet and are eager to hear neighbors opinions at a Nov. 20 public hearing.
Bryan Weaver, an advisory neighborhood commissioner in Adams Morgan, says H Street should view his neighborhood as a kind of cautionary tale. “They’re like Adams Morgan in the 1980s,” he says. “They’re trying to create an entertainment district. We’re just trying to keep the circus in the tent.” Adams Morgan residents passed a similar moratorium last year, and D.C. Council approved it in July.
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11:00 pm
A smarter idea than capping the number of bars/clubs, is capping the number of total seats/block. Cap and trade is the way to go. Otherwise, getting a handle on density/POQ will be elusive.
9:10 am
I still can’t believe that people actually WANT to go out in the H Street corridor. I worked a few blocks away for a year, and just going to the Subway for lunch during the day would put me on edge. And I’m originally from New York! Neighborhood revitalization is definitely needed there, but not by putting bars and clubs in. Focus on the store owners and residents first! They’re the ones that live and work there, and have to deal with the neighborhood on a daily basis. Put too many bars and clubs there, and we end up with another Adams Morgan . . . and when the residents get pissed about the noise, debauchery, and public drunkeness, don’t be surprised when our headlines read about an increase in violence in the area.
10:28 am
Former H Street Area worker you really should come back to visit. They area has changed dramatically. You will find theatres, coffee shops, yoga studios and art galleries along with the new bars and restaurants.
There are still a ton of boarded up empty buildings but there are a lot of people who live and work in the area who are working very hard to make this place a destination. Come see a play, hear a concert, take a ballroom dance class or bring your little ballerina to a Sat am ballet class,then grab some excellent Belgian food for dinner. You are still in a city of course and normal safety precautions should be taken but you will be sure to find something that will interest you on H Street. Check out:
http://www.atlasarts.org
http://www.hstreetplayhouse.com
http://www.rockandrollhoteldc.com
4:52 pm
Private investment and increased interest in the neighborhood as an entertainment destination have already started a positive change along the H ST corridor. Property values have continued to increase in the Atlas District even during a time of market correction. And that is due to the handful of businesses that have recently opened. No doubt H ST has long to go to be a model community but we cant say that its recent transformation has no connection to the new businesses in place. Bringing arts and entertainment will revive and attract other businesses and the neighborhood will be as lively during the day as it is at night. It has happened on U. ST and it will happen on H ST. as long as residents work with the people who are bringing change, the business owners.