Word has arrived today (h/t
Barred in DC) that the city's Alcohol Beverage Control Board has denied the application for a liquor license submitted by
Bardo for its
proposed outdoor beer garden and "
neighborhood-oriented park" on the west end of the
Florida Rock site, just across Potomac Avenue from Nats Park.
This was Bardo's
second attempt at a license for this site (having withdrawn the original application before a ruling was made), and a previous similar notion for the site was
denied a liquor license for similar reasons back in 2013.
"While Bardo has presented a modified Application, the Board is not convinced that this new business plan alleviates the problems previously identified at this site. Specifically, the Board is still not convinced that an open air tavern has the capability to prevent unreasonable noise disturbances; that the neighborhood has a sufficient amount of parking; that Bardo can coexist or be included in the neighborhood's official traffic plan; that encouraging stadium attendees to cross Potomac Avenue, S.E., is safe; and that Bardo can exist without delaying or interfering with people and vehicles attempting to the leave Nationals Park after games or other events. Consequently, Board finds itself compelled to once again deny an application at this location."
In the meantime, construction continues on the
Dock 79 apartment building just to the east of the Bardo footprint, with leasing about to start and move-ins coming later in 2016.
Is the writing now perhaps on the wall/bulkhead for the notion of an outdoor drinking/congregation establishment on this site?
PS: It's probably worth emphasizing for people wandering through who don't read this stuff religiously that this is not the Fairgrounds site north of the ballpark.