[Chat] Convenience Store on 27th Street

[SLG2700 at cs.com]

Dear Paul:

I will check my notes when I have more time but I think that this is the 
location from which the CVCA Land Use Committee received several complaints 
from residents about the size, color, illumination, etc of the sign over a 
period of several months. Some of the complaints were very passionate. We 
advised the complaining residents to call 311 to complain. I believe that zoning 
enforcement must have issued a citation because the awning had been 
installed without the proper permits and may not have conformed to code 
requirements.  I was not aware that the owner had to remove the sign until receiving 
your email.

I believe that this is also the location about which so many residents 
expressed concern as to the change in ownership, whether the new owner was 
changing the use and what that would mean to the neighborhood.  Because we were 
able to check with Zoning to confirm that the new owner did not intend to 
change the use, we were able to allay many concerns from the residents.  One 
resident contacted the owner and I told that resident to invite the new owner 
to our next committee meeting. At no time during the change in ownership did 
the new owner contact the CVCA to introduce himself to the community or to 
reach out for input.

Perhaps we should have done more to reach out to the business owner and 
warn him about the complaints or to advise him of what the community required 
before he installed the illegal awning. But we are dependent on the 
availability of volunteers many of whom devote long hours to the committee work. We 
barely have time to keep up with resident complaints and do not have as much 
time as we would like to be proactive. But actually, It is the business of 
the owner and the awning company hired, to apply for the proper permits, to 
follow the local laws, and to reach out to the residents for input before he 
or she installs such a sign as would any good neighbor who plans on making 
an improvement that would have a major impact on the esthetics of the 
surrounding blocks.

If anyone would like to join the CVCA Land Use Committee for the purpose of 
making sure that the business owners know and follow the local laws before 
they break them and cost themselves money unnecessarily, and to let business 
owners know that the community appreciates their bringing business into the 
neighborhood provided that they follow all laws that exist for the 
protection of the community, we would love to have someone be the watchdog for those 
issues. Just let me know.  We are always looking to do a better job.

Having to obey reasonable laws, which exist to protect residents, should 
never be viewed as a legitimate complaint or a valid reason for leaving the 
community.  And, communication is a two way street. Please encourage the owner 
to contact me so that we can begin to work together for the benefit of his 
business and the community.

Sharon Guida, CVCA Land Use Committee
410-467-4409
www.charlesvillage.net

n a message dated 12/16/2011 1:39:52 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
oldhousehistory at aol.com writes: 
> Many of you know that the former convenience store on 27th between 
> Guilford and Calvert Street that had been run by Ms Sue was sold over the summer 
> and completely gutted and renovated, inside and out.  
> 
>  
> 
>  The fellows that opened the new store are great!  Its clean, well stocked 
> with myriad needs, deli meats, eggs, and everything you need in the middle 
> of a recipe.  They also take requests to stock your any need.  It opened 
> under the name Jalines.
> 
>  
> 
>  They installed a huge canopy that kept you dry while coming and going, 
> and while it might not have been for everyone, it had the name and tag lines 
> of the store to advertise its presence.  I’m guessing it cost more than 
> $5,000.  Imagine our surprise last week when we saw them painting over the 
> sign, and removing any and all exterior signage.  The owners told us somebody 
> complained – not one house faces 27th Street – and they had to remove 
> everything.  They were visibly upset, and now are threatening to leave the 
> neighborhood.  Who would cause such a fuss?  
> 
>  
> 
> Paul K. Williams
> 
> Kelsey &Associates, Inc.
> 
> WashingtonHistory.com
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
> 
>
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