I arrived late—and walked into—can you guess?—a heated discussion about the liquor license pursuit of Big Bear Cafe. There are a group of nearby neighbors who circulated a petition opposing the granting of the liquor license. ANC 5C Commissioners Gigi Ransom and Sylvia Pickney discussed a document that they have put together—a draft document—titled "ANC 5C Guide on DC Alcoholic Beverage Licenses: Draft June 11, 2010, Edit: July 5, 2010." As the title suggests, it is intended to serve as a guide for the commissioners and the community about ABC licenses. And again, the commissioners stated that the document is a work-in-progress.ANC 5C 04 commissioner John Salatti has shared the latest version with us, and you can view it online.
Friday, July 9, 2010
ANC 5C writes up a guide to liquor licensing
This week's ANC 5C meeting of the whole included—what else?—discussion of the liquor license applications that have come up in Bloomingdale. As resident Scott Roberts reports on the Bloomingdale listserv:
9 comments:
so did they not vote on big bear?
So...why do people not want a liquor license at Big Bear? Though new to the community, I do live a few blocks away. What is the downside?
I mean the question seriously.
Some people are concerned that it will mean you won't ever be able to get a parking space, that there will be too much noise, that it will attract neer-do-wells and cause alcoholism in the community.
I'd guess that the lack of neighborhood parking spaces are the real reason.
I can see that there is a plausible worry about parking and possibly noise, but attracting a bad element/alcoholism doesn't seem to hold water in the case of Big Bear. It's not exactly budget coffee to start with (Dunkin Donuts might fill that bill), and there are plenty of opportunities get liquored up with the actual liquor store just up the street, and the several bodegas around selling beer and wine.
From my own selfish point of view, I'd enjoy a place to sit and have a coffee (or beer) sometime after 4pm or whenever Big Beer closes. I don't think there's much in the neighborhood that provides that.
I feel that there is also this fear of change that infects the neighborhood in addition to ones persons idea of alcohol bring completely different than anothers. i.e. alcohol will cause a spike in crime, loitering, public urination, etc... vs. I like to have a single glass of wine with dinner or while I read a book. Some of us like alcohol but don't like the hang over so we know how to limit ourselves. :-)
If people are truly worried about parking spaces, then they shouldn't have probably started living in a city to begin with. Parking is always going to be an "issue" when you don't have a designated spot. A lot of us don't have off street parking and yes, it does stink when you have to walk half a block with a car full of groceries...but that's life in a high density neighborhood.
Some people also just get kicks out of making things a bigger deal then they really are...
Flagler PL
how much is a coffee at dunkin donuts? its $2.00 at big bear. that's average in dc.
when a lot of people moved into or grew up in this neighborhood parking was not an issue at all. and no one who has lived here for a long time is going to listen to some newcomer telling about what a city it or isn't.
some people like the neighborhood the way it is. many live here precisely because its not a commercial area. they do not want to lose what they love.
thats silly, it s commercially zoned area, you should have known better.
6:05,
what exactly should i have know better?
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