Compass Rose Asks ANC1B for Sidewalk Cafe

Rose Previte, one of the aspiring proprietors of the bar/restaurant Compass Rose (1346 T Street NW), came before Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 1B/U Street at its December 5 to ask for endorsement of a sidewalk cafe on T Street. However, no vote was taken because there were not enough Commissioners present to obtain a quorum (see December 9 SALM blog post).

1346 T Street (Luis Gomez Photos, used by permission)

ANC1B Chair Tony Norman (district 10) told Previte that the matter would be handled at the ANC's "executive session" on December 19, when Norman expected to be able to obtain a quorum.

Previte told the Commissioners in attendance that her public space permit for the sidewalk cafe from the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) had already been approved pending endorsement from ANC1B.

Previte also said Compass Rose hoped to open in January 2014.

According to documents submitted at the meeting, the sidewalk cafe will be tiny -- 11.5 feet deep by 17 feet wide. It will have four tables with 10 seats. The iron fence that surrounds the space now will not be altered.

Compass Rose is working with Baltimore-based design collaborative Alter Urban on the design of the establishment's physical space, including sidewalk cafe.

Compass Rose has had a struggle to open. After long negotiations with the community group Shaw Dupont Citizens Alliance (SDCA) and other actors, a detailed agreement on bar operating hours and other details was approved by ANC1B in April. Further conflict resulted in June when the SDCA attempted to block Compass Rose's opening on the basis of area zoning.