Gay Pride Parade Comes to 14th and S

Our neighborhood has grown so much in recent years and now the organizers of the annual Gay Pride Parade have deemed us worthy of being incorporated into the parade route.  LGBT residents have lived here for many years and so it will be a celebration of their pioneer efforts to settle and thrive in this neighborhood.  We are PROUD of our neighborhood's diversity!

ABC Board Listens to Neighbors

On May 22 the ABC Board listened to neighbors regarding the proposed moratorium at 14th and U Street. They heard 18 witnesses (largely affected neighbors) who were in favor of the moratorium and a handful of witnesses who were opposed (largely the affected ANCs--1B, 2B, and 2F).  The one ANC that is largely affected is 1B, while only 5% of ANC2B and less than 1% of ANC2F are affected by the proposed 1800 foot radius.

Neighbors argued that late night noise and parking issues were affecting them as well as the cumulative effects of having over 120 licensees in their neighborhood.  They also argued that many businesses had left the neighborhood and had been replaced by alcohol serving establishments.  Moreover, they presented petitions signed by over 450 neighbors who live within the proposed zone.

The ABC Board will deliberate and issue a ruling within 90 days.  They can accept the 1800 foot radius or modify it by downsizing it to 1200 feet or 600 feet as allowed by the ABRA regulations.  They can also reject the petition submitted by the Shaw-Dupont Citizens Alliance. 

Other community organizations that represent affected residents have expressed their support for the moratorium and they include the Meridian Hill Neighborhood Association and the Dupont Circle Citizens Association.

Taqueria Nacional Opens on T Street

Taqueria Nacional has officially opened and the neighborhood is excited to have a reasonably priced eatery specializing in Mexican-inspired food. Owners John Fulchino and Ann Cashon are hopeful that their new venture will be supported by their new neighbors. The menu features tacos, quesadillas, tostadas, yucca fries, guacamole, several flavors of agua fresca, and huevos rancheros and cornmeal pancakes for the weekend breakfast crowd. Did I mention that they also serve margaritas and beer? Enjoy! We wish them BUENA SUERTE!

DCCA Elects New Officers and Directors

DCCA Elects New Board of Directors

Former ANC2B Commissioner and Chair Ramon Estrada Elected President of DCCA

Washington, DC, May 7, 2013 – The Dupont Circle Citizens Association announced the election of nine members to its Board of Directors for the 2013-2014 term. The election took place during its annual membership meeting on May 6 at the Hillyer Art Space.

Ramon Estrada will serve as President for a one-year term. Mr. Estrada has been a resident of the Dupont Circle neighborhood for over three decades. During this time, he has served the Dupont Circle community in a number of different capacities, including ANC2B Commissioner, a role which he held for 10 years. He served as Chairman of the ANC and its ABRA Policy Committee. He was acknowledged for his leadership by his fellow Commissioners who appointed him Chairman Emeritus. He continues his efforts as an activist by working with the District Government, businesses, his neighbors and several citizen organizations to improve the quality of life in his neighborhood. Professionally, Ramon has an MBA Degree and has been a CEO of several non-profit trade associations and a community economic development think tank.

Mr. Estrada stated, "I look forward to sharing my private and public sector expertise with the Board of Directors. I want to lead this very important organization into the future with all of the challenges facing us in order to enhance and support Dupont Circle's vibrancy and diversity."

Mr. Estrada succeeds Charlie Ellis, who served as DCCA’s President since September 2012. Mr. Ellis will continue his Board service as Second Vice-President. Other elected Officers include: Nelson Marban, First Vice-President; Susan Volman, Secretary; and Ruth Horn, Treasurer. Re-elected members include Nancy Desmond and Jim Dudney. They join continuing members, Robin Diener and Mary Lord, and newly elected members Marcy Logan and Stephanie Sheridan. Greg Milman and Matt Webster concluded their Board service in May.

Membership in DCCA is open to residents, businesses and supporters of the Dupont Circle neighborhood. To join, please go to www.Dupont-Circle.org/Membership.

About the Dupont Circle Citizens Association

Founded in 1922 in a townhouse at 1767 P Street, to promote and protect the interests of the residents, the Dupont Circle Citizens Association (DCCA) is the premier civic and residential organization in the Dupont Circle area. DCCA brings neighbors, including residents, businesses and non-profit organizations, together to improve the quality of life in an active and diverse urban neighborhood.

DCCA’s major fundraising event, the Dupont Circle House Tour & Tea, will be held on Sunday, October 20 from 12 pm to 5 pm.

Pictured above: (L to R) Stephanie Sheridan, Jim Dudney, Ramon Estrada, Nancy Desmond, Robin Diener, Ruth Horn, Mary Lord, Susan Volman, Nelson Marban, Marcy Logan, and Charlie Ellis

Proposed Moratorium Captures Attention of Residents and Businesses in the 14th and U Corridors

The Shaw Dupont Citizens Alliance has filed a petition with the Alcohol and Beverage Regulatory Administration (ABRA) to establish a liquor license moratorium in the 14^th and U corridors.  ABRA has certified the petition and has scheduled a hearing for May 22. 

A listening session sponsored by the three affected ANCs was recently held at the Thurgood Marshall Center.  The northeast corner of ANC 2B is included in the proposed 1800 foot radius affecting the 1400 blocks of S, Swann, T, and U Streets and a small part of the eastern end of the 1500 block of U Street.

The residents group filed the petition to “give the neighborhood a chance to drive towards a more sustainable living model for all the residents. We are teetering on the verge of the same problems that have plagued Adams Morgan and forced them to institute a moratorium,” said SDCA President Joan Sterling in her opening remarks at the recent listening session.

She advises everyone that the moratorium idea is not new because previous ANC 1B Commissioners like Peter Raia had advocated for such a moratorium because there has been a proliferation of alcohol licenses. The ABRA definition of overconcentration is defined in their regulations.  The proposed moratorium zone is considered a “portion” of the neighborhood and is drawn using an1800ft. radius.  The regulations say that overconcentration in a portion is 18 establishments of a combination of all classes of licenses, or 9 of one class. New legislation was passed last December  that has now lowered the threshold from 18 to requiring only “several” in a portion. 

“The number of licenses in the proposed portion when we filed was 107 and this has reached approximately 120 currently, with others in the pipeline,” reported President Sterling.  In total, there are over 16,000 alcohol seats in the proposed moratorium zone (with higher numbers when you consider their occupancy).    

She notes that moratoriums are temporary, giving the neighborhood a chance to “catch its breath” and work toward filling the area with the services and amenities that we all need to remain long term residents.

There is always talk about how to attract new businesses to the area, and many suggestions are given. This discussion has been going on since Georgetown, Dupont, and Adams Morgan put moratoriums in place. So far nothing has been done to get those incentives instituted.

Unfortunately, most of the incentives suggested are dependent on the District Government to support and implement.  But in the mean time we need to fix the problem we have now with the over concentration of liquor licenses, to the exclusion of the other business and services we all need.

Moratoriums and incentives are not mutually exclusive – it will take both to drive the improvements we all need to live sustainably in this vibrant and diverse neighborhood.

 

ANC 2B Hosts Listening Session on Proposed Moratorium

The Dupont Circle Advisory Neighborhood Commission's Alcohol Policy Committee will host a listening session on the proposed liquor license moratorium for 14th and U Streets. The Dupont ANC (2B) will vote to support or oppose the moratorium petition at its May 8th meeting. This listening session is an opportunity for residents and business owners to speak directly to the 2B Alcohol Policy Committee, which may formulate a recommendation for consideration by the ANC.

2B Moratorium Listening Session
Wednesday April 17, 2013
7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Chastleton Cooperative Ballroom
1701 16th Street NW
(Location tentative and will be confirmed next week)

This is not your only chance to have your voice heard! You can also email your ANC Commissioner directly or send a note to the Alcohol Policy Committee with your thoughts on the proposal.

No Street Sweeping or Trash Collection on Emancipation Day April 16

The DC Department of Public Works will observe Emancipation Day, Tuesday, April 16. The result will be changes to trash collection and street sweeping. Sanitation services will be suspended for the holiday and will resume Wednesday, April 17. In Ward 2, Tuesday and Friday collections will be made Wednesday and Saturday. There will be no street sweeping on Tuesday. Regular street sweeping will resume on Wednesday, April 17.