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Failure of liquor-license measure may hurt National Harbor
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Related Topics: Prince George’s County
Prince George’s County (Map, News) - The failure of a bill that would have granted 40 liquor licenses to National Harbor bars and clubs is making it harder for Prince George's County to attract new businesses to the resort and may hamper the $2 billion project's success.
"Anytime there's a setback or something that would make the county perceived as a difficult place to do business, it's a big concern," John Erzen, spokesman for County Executive Jack Johnson, told The Examiner. "We'll have to look at other ways for National Harbor to get what they need."
The bill had been cruising through the General Assembly since its introduction in late February, passing the House on March 29, and seemed destined for success in the Senate. But it was scuttled by a late-in-the-day play Monday by Sen. C. Anthony Muse, D-Prince George's, to add a requirement for greater commitments for minority contracts from developer Milton Perterson.
Now, some alcohol-selling venues won't be allowed.
The bill would have created special licenses for nightclubs that don't serve food; they're otherwise banned throughout Prince George's County. And drinking at outdoor festivals, which National Harbor officials have said are expected to boost local interest at the 300-acre project, won't be allowed either.
Meanwhile, the remaining bars and clubs interested in setting up shop at National Harbor will have to navigate what some county officials have called the county's highly political liquor board on their own.
Muse introduced the bill after Gaylord National Hotel and Resort sued the liquor board for denying it a license. The mega hotel said in court filings the board denied the license to obtain a higher fee. Gaylord has since obtained a license for its eight restaurants and bars and isn't affected by the bill's failure.
Since being elected, Johnson has focused his attention on making the county an easy place to do business, Erzen said, and political strife that sets up roadblocks gives the county a poor image.
NATIONAL HARBOR FAST FACTS:
300 acres set a long a 1 1/4 mile stretch of the Potomac River
1 million square feet of retail, dining and entertainment space
500,000 square feet of office space
4 piers, including two marinas
2,500 residential units
10,000 on-site parking spaces
fklopott@dcexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
12:55 PM MST on Wed., Aug. 6, 2008 re: "Police still working on plans for National Harbor security"
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11:10 AM MST on Sat., Jul. 5, 2008
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7:25 PM MST on Thu., Mar. 6, 2008
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11:44 AM MST on Mon., Dec. 10, 2007
re: "Project reaches out to local contractors"
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9:37 AM MST on Fri., May. 4, 2007
re: "Officials: Gaylord National Resort to open a year from today"
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Examiner Reader said:
I know some of the wealthiest crack dealers are in Oxon Hill. They have gold teeth, bling-bling, and M16s (not cheap AKs like in other PG counties).
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Examiner Reader said:
Oxon Hill is not a ghetto crime ridden area. I have lived in Oxon Hill and nearby Fort Washington since 1975. The crime rate in Oxon Hill is much lower than many places. The fact is when you get white flight and major disinvestment the quality of life deteriorates in Oxon Hill. Some of the wealthiest households in the United States live in this area, which has been woefully underserved.
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Gaylord said:
Face it, National Harbor is like a diamond in the rough. A paradise resort buffered and isolated from nearby slums and ghetto areas. Think of it as the green zone in Bagdagh, Iraq. Only the rich and privileges are allowed. Protecting this 4 billions dollars investment is critical to the survival of PGC. If they have to reroute all the policemen in the county to do it, so be it.
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Examiner Reader said:
This is good. This way PG will not be sponging off the other jurisdictions that patrol the waterway.
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Examiner Reader said:
"To get there, attendees will travel through Oxon Hill, where there have been more than a dozen homicides since 2005, according to police reports." What the hell? Oxon Hill is not some crime ridden waste land, where people are randomly 'popped' on the streets. This is where the media continues to perpetuate communities as crime zones. A dozen murders since 2005? Certainly, Oxon Hill is not the only community inside the beltway that's had homicides. In fact, statistically speaking, the crime rate in Oxon Hill is pretty low.
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Examiner Reader said:
O.k I was just wondering what kind of retail stores are we going to have because I think that we need more retail stores in this area like saks fifth ave, nordstroms, forever 21, charoltte ruuse, ninewest, more selections of resturants. As a prince georgs county resident If you want to attract people you need good retail and resturants.
79 agree | 88 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
108 room hotel? This thing is going to be 2000 rooms...nice fact checking, lol.
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