Stop Work Order Issued at Original Taylor Gourmet on H Street

Columns

by Prince Of Petworth August 24, 2016 at 2:05 pm 16 Comments

taylor stop work
1116 H Street, NE

A reader reports:

“Taylor Gourmet tried to remodel their restaurant based on a simple post card permit and without structural drawings. The store is still closed with the stop work order issued and will likely not open for another six months.”

Stop work order was issued August 4th:

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Trinidaddy

goddammit
- Anon H St
  
  +1 this sucks. I miss them already and it’s been like two weeks
justinbc

Where did they read that it’s delayed for 6 months?
neighbor

DCRA: Screwing the wrong people since 1973.
- zed
  
  Seems like Taylor screwed themselves. How many restaurants have they opened, operated, and renovated? And they thought this would be OK?
L Street Local

DCRA needs to be stopped. Unless the property owner is doing something actively unsafe, I can’t understand the justification for an agency that leaves homeowners and local businesses stuck in permit hell for months and sometimes years. Is it too late to get a November ballot initiative disbanding the agency?
- justinbc
  
  So you don’t know anything about the actual situation, but it’s DCRA that needs to stop? If the law requires specific permits and someone is doing work without them then they’re breaking the law, it doesn’t matter how much you like the business in question.
  - textdoc
    
    +1.
  - Kingman Park It
    
    Agree with you in this instance, given the information readily available. That said, it seems like half of the DCRA rulings I’ve read seem very much like an agency that flexes muscle simply because they can.
- smh
  
  you don’t know if it’s “actively unsafe” and if they don’t get a permit, neither does DCRA. If a wall falls down, a gas line leaks or explodes, the plumbing backs up into neighboring buildings, or there’s an electrical fire, everyone will blame DC for not inspecting properly. There are a lot of problems at DCRA, but issuing a stop work order if folks try to do a major renovation on a postcard permit isn’t one of them.
anonymous

Postcard permits are supposed to be used to replace existing structure (e.g. fence). If you are moving plumbing, electrical, and/or structural support, you need to go thru proper permitting process. Regardless of whether DCRA sucks or not, the Taylor construction team (it probably isnt even Taylor Gourmet corporate’s fault) needs to follow the rules and not try to take short-cuts.
- Petworth Landlord
  
  Well, it is corporate’s restaurant, so it’s definitely corporate’s fault. Where does that buck stop? Who’s name is on the side of the building?
  
  I understand you like sandwiches, but fair is fair.
  - James W.
    
    The buck stops with the contractor that was hired to do the work. Highly doubtful that Taylor is directly hiring and supervising construction and more likely simply hired a general contractor. If you pay someone to build you a house, is it your fault if they violate code?
    - Lindsay
      
      The contractor is not responsible for filing the drawings to get the permits. Yes, they must be licensed in the city and the permit will be issued to their name, and the inspector will check the work and that contractor is on the hook for faulty work. But still, at the end of the day, Taylor didn’t file the drawings and get permission.
      
      Post-card permits are for easy things, like replacing drywall. If you’re moving a wall, plumbing or electric without a permit–you deserve to get in trouble. Sorry, end of story, your work could cause damage to neighboring properties and that just isn’t fair.
Jonny

Not sure what all the fuss is about. This place should just close down permanently. Terribly dry and plain tasting sandwiches. I am still in shock they manage to stay in business – and how there is more than one of these things. Hit up A. Litteri by Union Market if you want a decent cheap sandwich.
Anon

I checked out this location and although it doesn’t seem to be much in front, the back of the building is completely gone and structurally unstable. I can see why a stop work order was issued. If I were a neighboring business I would be worried about my building.

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