ANC Consensus
Dupont group unanimously supports few changes to 17th Street moratorium
(Note: This is an update for an earlier article: ”Status Quo on 17th”)
The Dupont Circle Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC 2B) voted unanimously at its March 11 monthly meeting to recommend that the city’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Board renew the liquor-license moratorium covering the stretch of 17th Street NW between P and S Streets, a corridor knows for both gay residents and venues.
”The vote was unanimous, which was surprising, because among the ANC commissioners there’s a wide range of views on the benefits of having a moratorium,” Commissioner Jack Jacobson, who is gay, said after the vote. ”I was pleasantly surprised that we were able to reach a consensus.”
ANC 2B’s proposed changes to the moratorium would allow a maximum of two businesses to apply for lateral expansions, and would allow some businesses to make use of ”summer gardens.” Summer gardens are patio, rooftop or outdoor seating, which in this case would face Stead Park, in an effort to combat the upcoming streetscape-improvement construction planned for 17th Street.
Jacobson added that the moratorium will be in place for five years, once approved by the ABC Board — which is likely in light of the ANC’s support — but could come up for review in two years if there is further economic crises or some other pressing circumstance. Jacobson added that the Dupont Circle ANC ”could consider, potentially,” allowing additional liquor licenses into the neighborhood in three years.
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