18 Wednesday, October 5, 2011
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The Current
HOTEL From Page 7
rage; Winstanley said all staging could be managed in the building’s existing two-story underground parking garage. The garage has 24 spaces, but valets could fit 40 cars there, he said. The roof’s planned 12-footby-20 foot “plunge pool” also raised concerns for some commissioners regarding views to and from the roofs of nearby buildings. Winstanley said developers had already ensured that rooftop activities wouldn’t be visible from the street; the commission asked the Old Georgetown Board to also consider other views. In general, though, commissioners were supportive of the project.
WARD 4 From Page 9
2011
DC
College Fair
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Washington Convention Center
From Page 3
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OCTOBER 18, 2011 Over 300 Colleges & Universities represented.
9am–10am middle school
10am–1pm high school
PLEASE pre-register for the College Fair online at www.dconeapp.dc.gov
4D. But, he added, most of the issues affecting the district take place to its south. Martin pointed out that Ward 2’s Sheridan-Kalorama commission has only two members, but is “highly effective” and its residents do not want to be a part of a larger commission. Janet Myers, vice chair of 4C, said she understood the reasoning behind equalizing commissions, but 4C’s commissioners all work hard together and get things done. And she said many residents attend her commission’s meetings, thanks to the panel’s dynamic character. “Our commissioners have a strong rapport and are able to disagree, yet work together.” 4C got a vote of confidence at the task force meeting from TaalibDin Uqdah, head of the 14th Street Uptown Business Association. Uqdah said his group tried unsuc-
6pm–8pm high school and parents
the crowds it produced as a nightclub.” At the June protest hearing, an alcohol inspector testified that patrons causing havoc on P Street often seemed to be coming from other places, only to congregate near Marrakesh — an argument that attorney Grandis also made. The alcohol agency conducted 55 investigations at Marrakesh this year, according to hearing testimony. Last week the alcohol board ruled that Marrakesh’s tavern-class liquor license is “appropriate for the neighborhood” if owners take steps to preserve peace, order and quiet. The ruling requires Marrakesh to end entertainment — its upstairs room hosts music and dancing — by 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and by 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and to install security cameras that monitor at least 50 feet of sidewalk space in front of the establishment. It also orders Marrakesh to hire a
Bill Petros/Current File Photo
The project will convert office space to a boutique hotel.
“You’re taking a very drab building and dressing it up a bit, and we’re very appreciative of that,” said Bill Starrels, whose single-member district includes the property. “We’re turning a sow’s ear into a silk purse here,” added commissioner Tom Birch. cessfully to get cooperation from 4D commissioners in drafting a small-area plan for the Kennedy Street corridor between Georgia Avenue and North Capitol Street, all in 4D’s area. The plan became law in 2009 in spite of the lack of participation from 4D commissioners during a two-year process, he said. Commissioners from 4C, on the other hand, were helpful, Uqdah said. But equity should be the task force’s guiding principle, said task force member Gladys Mack, who voted in favor of the proposal to shift areas to 4D. “It shouldn’t be equity is nice, but not for me.” After voting 6-5 to keep 4D’s borders unchanged, the task force, on a 9-2 vote, urged the creation of a new task force to examine the question of “equity” or similarly sized commissions. A final meeting to go over the redistricting plan is scheduled for Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. at a location to be determined. “reimbursable detail” of overtime Metropolitan Police Department officers for at least an hour at closing time, and for at least four hours whenever there’s any entertainment or dancing. Neighbor Hammond said if Marrakesh fulfills these conditions, “it would basically achieve the result” residents have wanted, cutting out the troublesome nightlife elements. He added, though, that he has “no confidence that [the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration] will enforce these conditions.” Attorney Grandis, in a previous interview with The Current, said Marrakesh once contributed onefifth of the payment for a reimbursable detail on P Street, but couldn’t afford to continue when other businesses dropped out of the program. Both Hammond and neighborhood commissioner O’Connor said Marrakesh recently underwent a management change, but neither the managers at Marrakesh nor their attorney responded to a request for comment.