421 H Street in its former life as Reader's Lounge
I was inside the future jazz club on Sunday and it is coming along nicely. I heard (from someone else) that they plan to put the kitchen in the basement. The upstairs is a small space, but very nice. Even if they end up doing mostly recorded music (they do plan to have some live music) it should still be a cool place to hang out. Pap & Petey's will be located in 421 H Street (the former site of Reader's Lounge & right next to Sidamo).
14 comments:
Off topic, but dunno how best to ask: have you heard anything about the status of Dr. Granville's, Sticky Rice, or the H Street Country Club?
Dr. Granville's & Sticky Rice are actively moving forward. I think the Country Club is in the next round. Expect them all to open this summer.
Is Pap & Petey's a done deal? Is community input time over?
5th Street,
Yes, this was approved by the ANC at its March meeting, but not before we negotiated a very strong Voluntary Agreement with the owners.
I and the rest of the ANC worked with both immediate neighbors and the wider community to craft an effective Voluntary Agreement with the owners.
The Voluntary Agreement provides standards with respect to things like the following:
--non-disposable untensils & plates (minimize takeout & trash)
--physical barriers to screen the outside seating area from residences
--outside seating closes by 10pm Sun-Thur, by 11pm Fri/Sat
--no loudspeakers, televisions or amplification equipment outdoors
--appropriate sound insulation indoors
--specific lighting requirements for alley and sidewalks
--requirements for picking up trash 2x per day and otherwise maintaining cleanliness
--mediation process to work out issues with the neighborhood
I found the owners to be very interested in being a good neighbor, and they agreed to almost everything that we requested in the Voluntary Agreement. The Voluntary Agreement is among the strongest anywhere on H Street.
Best,
Alan Kimber
ANC Commissioner, 6C05
To clarify, I meant to say that they have to pick up litter, etc. outside their building 2x per day.
For regular trash, they have to keep it locked and secured behind a barrier, and it would be emptied as needed.
Best,
Alan Kimber
ANC Commissioner, 6C05
Pap & Petey's sounds like it's going to be a great addition to the block. With Sidamo next door and rumors of another restaurant across the street on the 500 block, the western end of H seems like it's starting to come together nicely.
I mentioned this in another post, but when I spoke to the workers at Granville Moore's last week, they said they were shooting for an opening by the end of the month. But I would bet they'll be up and running by mid-June.
Thanks for the information, Alan. Just curious how you worked with them and "immediate neighbors"? I'm an immediate neighbor and heard nothing about any meetings. While I'm happy to hear that they're abiding by a "voluntary agreement", it's voluntary and I've got serious concerns about what amounts to a nightclub on the corner of a residential street.
5th street,
i believe everything the anc does is well publicized. it is an organization made up of volunteers that does its best to get the word out about pending decisions. i don't think it's reasonable to expect representatives from the anc to come knocking on your door to get your opinion about a pending decision. when alan says he worked with "immediate neighbors," i think it's reasonable to assume he means those who took the time to come discuss pap & petey's operation once the anc alerted the community about negotiations on a voluntary agreement. the best way to make sure you are included in the next discussion on a new h street establishment is to stay on top of the anc's activities (check out the website, join a listserv, etc.).
alan, great job on securing a strong voluntary agreement for our neighborhood.
5th Street,
I worked most directly with Sally Donner, who is either the first or second house South on 5th from the location of Pap & Petey's. She placed flyers on everyone's doors on both sides of that block to solicit additional feedback from the immediate neighbors. I'm sorry that this apparently did not reach you.
Although the agreement with the owner is "Voluntary Agreement", it is legally enforceable by the ANC, so the requirements are real, not just voluntary.
Given the small size and the restrictions the owner agreed to, I am very hopeful that what we will have is a low-key jazz club that will appeal to an older, more responsible crowd than the bars on the East end of H Street.
Additionally, it is intended by the owner to largely be a sit-down restaruant during the evening before the entertainment (whether live or recorded) begins.
Please let me know if you have issues with the establishment after it opens, and I will investigate and work to get the problems corrected.
Best,
Alan Kimber
ANC Commissioner, 6C05
alan@alankimber.org
I should also have mentioned that in addition to the flyering, I received comments from several folks directly via email.
Best,
Alan Kimber
ANC Commissioner, 6C05
Alan:
Sounds like you covered all the bases with this particular establishment.
While I understand 5th St's concerns, we have to remember that H Street is a major commercial corridor. Yes, we should insist that retail and nightclub establishments be good neighbors. But anyone that owns on an adjacent block had to know that H Street is commercial, and there will be restaurants, clubs, etc. No matter how hard the restauranteur or business owner tries there will be some impact on immediate neighbors. It's never going to be like living deep in a residential-only enclave.
That's part of living in a city.
More specifically, that's part of choosing to live in a residential block that butts right up against a commercial strip that is becoming a regional draw.
wow!
i actually agree with hillman on all accounts!
do the readers here on frozen tropics want to see another bookstore on h street? i was pretty sad when found out readers lounge closed. i trekked eight blocks on h to buy a book there one sunday only to see their inventory gone. *sigh*
can h street sustain a book store yet? opinions?
There's now (September) a sign on Pap & Petey's saying "Opening Soon" - anyone know any more details on the opening date?
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