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BZA clears Culture Building’s live‑music venue in Ivy City with traffic management condition
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Summary
The Board approved a request to add an indoor music and entertainment use at 2002–2006 Fenwick St NE (application 21342), subject to a transportation demand management (TDM) plan. The ANC supported the proposal and OP recommended approval.
The Board of Zoning Adjustment on Sept. 24 approved a special exception to allow an indoor music and entertainment venue at 2002–2006 Fenwick Street NE, in Ivy City, and granted requested parking relief on condition the applicant adopts a transportation demand management plan.
The applicant, Culture Building LLC (application 21342), sought a special exception under Subtitle U §802.1(e) to add an entertainment, assembly and performing arts use in a PDR‑2 zone and parking relief under Subtitle C §703.2. The board voted 3–0 to approve the request with a condition requiring a TDM plan to reduce drive‑alone trips.
Meredith Moldenhauer, attorney for the applicant, and Mason Zatari, a managing partner with the project team, told the board the venue will be an indoor, ticketed music space that will operate primarily on weekend evenings and will continue an existing restaurant/bar operation on site. The applicant agreed to add bicycle parking and to publish guidance on the venue’s website to encourage patrons to use rideshares, transit and the nearby public parking garage.
Karen Thomas of the Office of Planning testified that OP supports bringing the operation into compliance and that OP found the proposal satisfies the three‑part special‑exception test in Subtitle U §802.1(e). The Office of Planning also noted the site is in an industrial/mixed‑use area with no immediately adjacent residential zone.
Sabrina Rhodes, ANC 5B02 commissioner for Ivy City, told the board the ANC vetted the proposal and recommended support; she said the applicant had offered community benefits including event access for local groups and help with neighborhood cleanups. “They sent me the community benefits agreement so that we can have community events or anything that we would like to have in the facility,” Rhodes said.
Vice Chair Carl Blake said the proposal met the zoning standard and that the TDM plan was an appropriate condition to manage traffic and parking impacts. The roll call vote to approve with the TDM condition was unanimous among the three participating members.
The board’s order will specify the TDM requirement and the bicycle‑parking commitment; after issuance the applicant may proceed with permitting and licensing required for the entertainment venue.
