U Street

Photo by PoPville flickr user mosley.brian

From a Change.org petition:

Once again we’re hearing the idea of a Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) License (a/k/a “a liquor license”) Moratorium being discussed for the Greater 14th and U Street Neighborhoods here in the District of Columbia.

Please sign this petition and express your support for our vibrant 14th and U Street and MidCity neighborhoods by saying “NO ABC License Moratorium for Greater 14th & U Street/MidCity Neighborhood!”

Our neighborhoods today are a vibrant mix of residents, businesses, and services and continue to grow and flourish. There are many other more effective ways to manage multi-use districts like our incredible neighborhoods. An ABC license moratorium is a short sighted and ineffective “solution” to what really is complex mix of many quality of life issues.

Only by bringing together residents, local businesses of all types, government, public safety, and developers, to work together to address all of the quality of life issues can we plan and work toward the common goal of making the Greater 14th and U Street and MidCity Neighborhoods safe and vibrant places to live, work, and socialize.

An ABC License moratorium is an ineffective way to deal with the many quality of life issues that exist in the neighborhood and unfairly places the burden and responsibility of the many issues of our vibrant neighborhood only on our local businesses that happen to hold alcohol licenses. No one is saying that serving alcohol doesn’t create issues, however blaming alcohol for all of the issues of a neighborhood and targeting only alcohol is short sighted and ineffective.

Only five (5) ABC Moratoriums exist today in DC, and all of the neighborhoods with moratoriums continue to struggle with the same issues that the proponents of the moratoriums said they would solve. These same neighborhoods now also struggle to attract new development, residents and business as well as to keep their neighborhoods vibrant and full of the mix of residents, retail, and services they desire (and even once had).

If you oppose a liquor license moratorium you can sign here.

“Dear PoPville,

I noticed today an alcohol license sign in the window of the building next to Montserrat House at 2014 9th st NW (to the left of it if you’re facing it). It says it will be a bar with music, a cover, and bar food. No name or other details. There is a recent building permit in the doorway window that lists Montserrat House as the applying party, so I am not sure if this is an expansion or what. Have you heard anything?”

The liquor license says:

“New Tavern. Neighborhood gathering place, offering music and tavern food, with Entertainment, Cover Charge, Dancing, and DJ or band (maximum 7 pieces). No designated dance floor. Total occupancy load of 100 and total number of seats is 49. Summer Garden with 49 seats.”

As you noted this building is owned by the same folks who own Montserrat House – the Hilton brothers (Marvin, Gibson, Blackbyrd, Chez Billy etc.) Stay tuned for more info on the concept of this one as it becomes available.