Serving Communities in Northwest Washington Since 1967
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Vol. XLVIII, No. 41
The NorThwesT CurreNT
Nightlife bill sees revisions after feedback
Mayor finds funding for variety of projects
ALL ABOARD
■ Budget: Ellington School,
Lafayette Rec make the list
By MARK LIEBERMAN Current Staff Writer
A bill intended to address noise from the city’s exploding nightlife scene is still inching through the legislative process, even as many within the business community oppose it. At a committee meeting late last month, at-large D.C. Council member Vincent Orange announced plans for a second public hearing on Oct. 26 at 10 a.m. to discuss the particulars of the measure now that it has been revised from its July incarnation. The updated bill reflects changes suggested by Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration director Fred Moosally during the July hearing. Under the revised proposal, amplified noise like live music that can be heard from 100 feet away during the day (9 a.m. to 9:59 p.m.) and 50 feet away at night (10 p.m. to 8:59 a.m.) will violate the District’s noise ordinance. This represents what Orange’s committee argues is a more suitable policy that the current See Noise/Page 16
By BRADY HOLT Current Staff Writer
An unexpected $47 million windfall in city funds will go toward a series of projects across the District, Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office announced Friday evening. The projects selected by the mayor span all eight wards and in Northwest include $9.8 million to ensure timely completion of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts modernization in Burleith, $4.6 mil-
Starbucks seeks beer, wine sales at five D.C. locations Brian Kapur/The Current
The St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral on Massachusetts Avenue NW held its traditional Greek Festival over the weekend. The event featured live music and dancing, authentic Greek food and pastries, children’s games, train rides, a Greek market and international arts and crafts.
Neighbors work to address homelessness By MARK LIEBERMAN Current Staff Writer
In front of the Tenley-Friendship Library, five homeless men have taken up camp for more than a month. In Foggy Bottom, neighbors complain of seeing homeless residents relieving themselves on the sidewalk. Homelessness continues to plague the District in many ways, even as the office of Mayor Muriel Bowser kicks its campaign to end homelessness by 2020 into higher gear. The mayor has pledged to close the D.C. General shelter and find homes for the city’s entire population of homeless veterans by the end of the year.
NEWS
Brian Kapur/The Current
A group of homeless men lived in front of the Tenley-Friendship Library for several weeks.
At the neighborhood level, community members are voicing their concerns to local leaders. In Foggy Bottom, a working group has formed to bring forth tangible solutions to
homelessness problems, while Glover Park leaders recently hosted a panel discussion on the topic. And in Tenleytown, advisory neighborhood commissioners have been working to address the recent encampment at the Tenley-Friendship Library. This isn’t the first time that location has been a popular site for homeless people, according to neighborhood commissioner Amy Hall, but given the city’s new focus on homelessness, the community is hoping for concrete results. After a lengthy waiting period, Hall said, city officials were scheduled to clear out the encampment yesterday. When they arrived, Hall said, the residents had already See Homeless/Page 7
SPOR TS
Agency details plans for landscaping at Irish hero’s statue — Page 3
lion to renovate the Lafayette Recreation Center in Chevy Chase, $3 million to repair and improve the playground and field at Garrison Elementary School in Logan Circle, and $1.9 million to purchase vacant and blighted properties in Ward 4. The money came both from unspent funds from the 2015 fiscal year and from a $25 million agreement with Pepco that grants the firm naming rights to a yet-undecided street, park or other public facility. The deal emerged while the District arranged to buy land from Pepco for the planned Southwest soccer stadium. See Budget/Page 16
Georgetown Day soccer throttles Saints in 5-0 romp — Page 13
■ ABC: Company’s ‘Evenings’
program eyed for Northwest By BRADY HOLT Current Staff Writer
A Starbucks program that brings nighttime food and alcohol service to its coffee shops is on tap for five D.C. locations. The Seattle-based chain launched “Starbucks Evenings” in 2010 and it’s since spread to about 100 locations nationwide, according to a company spokesperson. The program’s menu varies by location but generally includes small appetizertype foods and a selection of wines and craft beer purchased at the counter. Starbucks posted notice of its plans at the five locations on Friday as part of the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration process. They are 443 7th St. NW, in Penn Quarter; 1301 Connecticut Ave. NW and 1700 Connecticut Ave. NW, in Dupont Circle; 5500 Connecticut Ave. NW, in Chevy Chase; and 1810 Wisconsin Ave. NW, in Georgetown. The plans were first reported by the Washington Business Journal.
BUSINESS
SunTrust highlights new technology at Georgetown branch — Page 5
Brian Kapur/The Current
The Chevy Chase Starbucks is among the company’s five D.C. shops seeking an alcohol license.
The applications seek operating hours that extend to 11 p.m. for both interior and outdoor seating areas in most cases; in some locations, Starbucks has proposed instead capping the sidewalk cafe hours at 10 p.m. some nights. The applications describe each of the planned operations as “a restaurant serving savory small plates and desserts meant for sharing, in addition to its coffee and breakfast offerings served all day, and offering wine & beer selections to its guest in a relaxing and comfortable environment.” The Starbucks spokesperson declined to say how the company See Starbucks/Page 16
INDEX Calendar/22 Classifieds/29 District Digest/2 Exhibits/23 In Your Neighborhood/18 Opinion/10
Police Report/4 Real Estate/17 School Dispatches/8 Service Directory/27 Sports/13 Week Ahead/3
Tips? Contact us at newsdesk@currentnewspapers.com