Arts Overlay Cap Seriously Spooking the Money People
Will this ever actually open?
The week-and-a-half-long 14th and U Street Arts Overlay quasi-crisis came to a quasi-resolution yesterday, when the Office of Planning recommended that the Zoning Commission take emergency action to lift the 25 percent cap on eating and drinking establishments. It might have been the fastest any agency has reacted on a regulation like this anyone can remember, and the MidCity Business Association seemed satisfied.
And one business seems to have taken special precautions. The recommendation includes a request that, if emergency action is not taken, a pending restaurant application for 1361 U Street be consolidated with the public hearing. That's about as good as a restaurant without a permit can get, at this point.
The address belongs to a joint project between Omar Miskinyar and Aman Ayoubi, owner of Local 16 and the forthcoming Table 14 as well as an unnamed steak place and music venue on the northeast corner of 14th and U street. Despite the Office of Planning getting his back, Ayoubi still worried–it already took them nine months to get the necessary liquor licenses, and further delay has freaked investors out.
“The investors are very very very nervous, and the only people who is making money is the lawyers,” Ayoubi told Housing Complex. “Nobody wants to put good money after bad. They are not going to put more money into construction.”
Meanwhile, it’s created problems with the landlord. “We don’t even know what we’re going to do with the building, “ Ayoubi went on. “Do we have to give the building back to them? I need something in writing to guarantee that they’re going to give us the permit to open. That will calm down the investors.”
Until the Zoning Commission rules—or Ayoubi can secure a special exception for his permits—he’s paying a collected $45,000 per month in rent, with no progress. And there’s no telling if he’ll make it through.
“Nobody knows how long this process takes. Another three months? Another four months?” he asked, rhetorically. “For a small business like me, Two months of rent can be a killer.”
6:39 am
Very hard to believe that two experienced business men, already operating established bars/eating places in the overlay district, and who pay prominent attorneys to help them get their alcohol licenses, are victims, except by their own doing: How can they already have an approved ABC license, be renovating a space, and not be in the 'approved' DCRA pipeline???
And now, their questionable process is being rewarded by 'emergency action' by city agencies that are supposed to be following regulations???
Why doesn't the city paper ask these questions?
10:01 am
Wait, is the pictured building the actual location where these owners want to open? Because I heard that new lounges and restaurants at that building are opening in the basement and on the second and third floors of the building... Aren't ONLY first floor establishments are subject to the 25% rule?
1:16 pm
Has anyone checked out the political contribution reports lately?
12:51 pm
This 'emergency' is clearly political. Otherwise, why would there be an emergency change granted for two of restaurant owners?
10:06 pm
Fenty doesn't care about what you want for your own neighborhood. He'll change the regs to prove it. To give his cronies what they want. $$$ hungry; $$$ talks. So what if the 'hood is ruined, as long as $$$ are rollin in.