ANC Sides With Residents, Opposes Bowling Alley If Noise Agreement Not Made

Agreeing with residents who live in the Georgetown Park condominiums, Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E voted at its Jan. 2 monthly meeting to oppose the construction of a bowling alley in the former Shops at Georgetown Park if an enforceable agreement on noise is not made.

The request by new tenant, Pinstripes, a Illinois-based Italian bistro with bowling and bocce as well as banquet space, caught flak from condo residents, who fear more noise from the proposed bowling alley. Residents also voiced their frustration with living above an ongoing construction zone. One condo dweller, a veteran from Operation Enduring Freedom, told the crowd that living there was “hell” and that it was “worse than sleeping in Afghanistan.”

A representative from Vornado Realty, owner of the huge retail space at 3222 M Street, NW, was on hand to talk about Pinstripes and other new tenants — including T.J. Maxx and Home Goods. Pinstripes’s founder and CEO Dale Schwartz was also at the meeting to address the ANC about the quality and upscale nature of his food operation and talk to the crowd in the hall outside the meeting.

It came down to ANC chair Ron Lewis to offer a resolution that would oppose the bowling alley before the Board of Zoning Adjustment at its Jan. 15 meeting — if the condominium association and Pinstripes do not strike an agreement on vibration and noise control with an “enforceable mechanism for securing that assurance.” The ANC also opposed an outdoor patio, also proposed by Pinstripes.