Neighbors Object to 7-Eleven on Wisconsin Avenue

7-Eleven has set its sights on opening a second Georgetown location, this time at 1344 Wisconsin Ave. NW, but some neighbors are unhappy with the move and design. The convenience store chain has another Georgetown shop at 2617 P St. NW.

The space, most recently a clothing store, has been vacant and for lease for more than a year.

The goal is to, "Bring that corner back—a presence that hasn’t existed for some time," Patrick Brown, 7-Eleven's zoning attorney, told the Georgetown Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) Monday.

7-Eleven will occupy both floors, with the ground floor serving as retail space and the second floor being used for storage and office space.

They plan to repaint the building, add signage and fix some of the brick work on the facade among other changes.

Commissioner Tom Birch brought up the 7-Eleven on P Street, which underwent review for a proposed expansion more than a year ago.

"Our objective there was to permit a presence that was very low key and had really an insignificant impact on the community," Birch explained. 

When Patch asked readers last year what type of business they would want to see open at 1344 Wisconsin Ave. NW, readers suggested uses like: "Saxbys for adults" or "A bagel shop and bakery. Bagels, french bread, maybe a green grocer with fresh fruit."

Based on comments at the ANC meeting, 7-Eleven was not quite what some neighbors had in mind.

Architect David Bell, who owns several properties around the corner from the shop, said 7-Eleven would "add nothing to the community" and its presence would be "a disaster."

"This is the first time I ever thought it was better to have a building vacant than to have a future tenant," Bell said about the 7-Eleven.

But the ANC was tasked with reviewing design, rather than the proposed use of the structure, so Bell went through a list of architectural concerns.

He said the design, including changes proposed for the door, privacy shading and signage, "Degrades the historic character of the building."

The ANC agreed with Bell on several of his design concerns, including "masking windows" and the use of a blade sign. The ANC sent comments to the Old Georgetown Board, which will review the design Thursday.