Platinum Nightclub Swimming With The Fishes

We should get behind Chief Lanier. She has been tough and very pro-community on the issue of club closings. PQ residents should contact our city council members — Wells and Evans — to support closing Platinum, and we also should express support for the Chief.

Wooooo-hoooo! I won’t hold my breath but just hearing that it MIGHT shut down is exciting news to me. I have nothing against night clubs as a whole – but this one has caused lots of trouble in all the years I’ve lived behind it.

Very interesting that the shootings inside the club were not reported to the police. What the heck!? This goes along with my earlier post about what I saw/heard outside the club after the shooting…. A Platinum security guard outside, behind the club, ‘gettin busy’ with a leggy blonde as his walkie talkie was squawking out instructions and information. He sure wasn’t looking too concerned about reporting anything to the police….

I was never a big fan of platinum but I don’t know how I feel about closing it (and businesses like it).

Can we have something that caters to a young/alternate crowd? I think too many of the businesses in this area are serving the same public. 30-50 somethings with too much income. How about those of us 30 and under that like the noise, energy and excitement of the city? While it is exciting to live near chipotle and a lot of great art, that’s not precisely the kind of excitement I’m talking about. There is something about downtown that at times strikes me as a bit sterile. Does anyone agree or should I sell and move to New York city?

And don’t get me wrong… I’m not a fan of shootings, but maybe this is something we can blame on that pesky little amendment that allows us to own handguns; just in case the British decide they want their colony back.

As a neighborhood resident, I am happy our elected and appointed officials are taking serious action. I truly hope that we continue to have a strong club scene with responsible owners. We don’t need a violent culture to have a good time.

The cynic in me is happy it is an election year and Councilman Evans has discovered voters live in the neighborhood.

To provide additional emphasis, Chief Lanier also wrote a letter to ABRA stongly endorsing permanent closure (technical revocation of license) based on the history of events.

#2: The two previous incidents were not described in great detail, but they weren’t described as shootings. I’m guessing that they were fist fights..

good riddance.

awesome! I am so very happy Platinum is closing. goodbye to the obnoxious nights of the noise, the illegal parking, the screaming, the fighting… bring back the 9:30 club! punk rockers know how to behave. disco is dead!

Even in a downtown, clubs and residential condos should not be right next to each other as they are incompatible uses. Even in the Chelsea District of NYC, this has become a huge issue. So NYC is ahead of DC on this and the noise issue as well. I want to be part of the vibrancy of downtown but cleary the twenty-somethings don’t care about sleep the way the rest of us do. Put nightclubs in the downtown. Just not under bedroom windows.

For those who would like to express their support for Platinum’s closure (or opposition I guess), the best way to do this, per request of Jack Evan’s staff members, is to write a lettter within the next few days to the ABC board stating your support for Councilman Evans and Chief Lanier’s requests to close Platinum.

Letter’s should be addressed to the following and can be mailed to the address below or faxed to 202/442-9563 c/o Ms. Cynthia Simms.

Peter Feather, Chairman
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board
941 North Capitol Street, NE, 7th Floor
Washington, DC 20002

It is important to note that Platinum is right next door to another club that also attracts quite a large boisterous crowd but has a good relationship wtih the community and has not elicited any of the protests or opposition that Platinum does.

I don’t think downtown is sterile at all when it comes to nightlife. 14th and K is a hub of new nightlife with Park, KStreet, Lima, Tatoo Bar . . . 14th and K is more commercial and less mixed-use than where Platinum and UltraBar is. Plus there is still Avenue in the area.

Don’t sell (who would now?) and move to NY. Just head out to these places, or Adams Morgan, or H Street NE . . .

As mentioned in an earlier posting this morning, NOW (today, please)is the time to fax a letter to Mr. Peter Feather, the chairman of the Alcoholic Control Beverage Board. The letter can be short but should probably include: 1. I am writing to support Chief Lanier and Jack Evan’s request to permanently revoke the liquor license held by Platinum. 2. The record of violence and serious incidents associated with Platinum lead to one logical conclusion – revocation of the license. 3. I (we) appreciate the Board’s consideration of all the evidence that this establishment poses a threat to the community, which now includes children.

To the post from PQ resident living in France – Trust me, this is not about making downtown sterile. When we moved into the PQ, we knew there were clubs across the street and did not mind that. Lately, there has been an escalation in the violence related to the clubs. It has not been pleasant to view the scene on the street at 2:30 – 3:00 am and then have to deal with blood etc. on the sidewalk in front of our home the next morning (and I am not even talking about the shootings). I think when we choose to live in an urban area, we have to accept extra noise etc. But we don’t have to accept the violence or being afraid of what is happening in front of where we live.

The correct person at DC ABRA to email/phone is Ms. Cynthia Simms. She is the Community Resource Officer and is the very nice lady who receives the complaint letters and attaches them to the appropriate cases. Cynthia.Simms (at) dc (dot) gov phone: 202/442-4423

Great, thanks for the correct contact info.

While I’m not disappointed to see Platinum go, I would be remiss to not point out that the nightclub had one of the few nightscenes for adults between 18 and 21.

I also feel obligated express my disappointment to the reaction of the neighborhood. There seems to be a “not in my neighborhood” mentality with these postings. Go to Adams Morgan? H St? Do you people really think that the residents of either neighborhoods enjoy vomit in their yards in the morning, knife fights on the main strips at night, or at the least have a better tolerance of these events than you? And what kind of alternative to a decent night out for kids 18-21 is to sit in front of bars like the Park that they cannot get into?

I would like to point out that a lot of the larger residences in the area were built after Platinum had created a safe night scene environment for the aforementioned age group. Also, to my understanding, Platinum has never lost it’s license to serving under age drinking, or ever had the troubles inside the club that the other, more notorious places have had to endure.

I have to agree with one poster however: this is an election year. Again, I won’t be protesting Platinum’s closing, but the attitude towards the closing is dissapointing.

I’ve always loved the building Platinum is in, and if it does end up closing, I’d like to see it fully restored and put to a use that would keep it open to the public during daytime hours as well as nighttime. Here’s a photo I took recently: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_t_in_dc/2209478467/

M, I did not give any such NIMBY sentiments in my post when I talked about Adams Morgan and H Street NE. These are not sterile bar scenes, esp. H Street NE.

Also, I am a bit confused with your characterization of Platinum. Is it vomit and knife fights, or a “decent night out” for the kids.

what decent night out doesn’t involve a little vomitting and knife fighting?

We’re NIMBY if we react to uncivilized, illegal behavior. Clubs by residences would not have a bad rap if they weren’t consistently a problem and if the police enforced a standard of behavior. Residents have no choice but to protect their quality of life since the city is unable to do so.

“While I’m not disappointed to see Platinum go, I would be remiss to not point out that the nightclub had one of the few nightscenes for adults between 18 and 21.”

This is true. However, the nightscene that it provides for people between 18-21 gets more and more violent each week.

“I also feel obligated express my disappointment to the reaction of the neighborhood. There seems to be a “not in my neighborhood” mentality with these postings.”

This is correct

“Go to Adams Morgan? H St? Do you people really think that the residents of either neighborhoods enjoy vomit in their yards in the morning, knife fights on the main strips at night, or at the least have a better tolerance of these events than you?”

Probably not. However, that is their fight to take on, not ours. Residents of Chinatown and Penn Quarter are taking on a fight regarding violence in our neighborhood.

“And what kind of alternative to a decent night out for kids 18-21 is to sit in front of bars like the Park that they cannot get into?”

I am not sure what their options are. I am not between 18-21. However, I am certain that people in that age group should not be in any bars anyhow. Nightclubs without alcohol? Yes. Bars? No.

“I would like to point out that a lot of the larger residences in the area were built after Platinum had created a safe night scene environment for the aforementioned age group.”

Who came first or last is irrelevant. Neither residents nor clubs have priority due to seniority. Further, “a safe night scene environment” does not include shootings and stabbings. Platinum does.

“Also, to my understanding, Platinum has never lost it’s license to serving under age drinking, or ever had the troubles inside the club that the other, more notorious places have had to endure.”

Just because Platinum’s problems do not rise to the level of other notoriously dangerous clubs is not sufficient justification to consider it a safe environment.

Also, does everyone on this thread notice how NOBODY seems to have a problem with Ultra bar? So, any argument that residents just hate clubs is faulty. Residents hate violent clubs.

While Ultrabar is probably far from perfect, they really have made an attempt to work with the community on issues that have been raised. Do we hear horns honking, music blaring in the summer, loud noise at 2:30 to 3:15 am ? Yes, but it is a club. Would it be nice if it were quieter? Sure, but you learn to sleep through it. On the other hand, police sirens blaring, people screaming, blood on the sidewalk in the morning? You shouldn’t have to live with that in the PQ or any other neighborhood in the city. This is defintiely NOT a NIMBY issue.

Just one last piece of news for today.

ABRA ordered Platinum closed for 50 days starting March 29th. That order is actually a result of about 4 years worth of prior violations, and is not related to last weekend’s incident. After that announcement, ABRA reviewed the current incident and ordered Platinum closed indefinitely until a hearing is held on the shooting incident. The hearing will be on Thursday 3/27 at 9:30am – ABRA HQ (941 North Capitol St).

How does the Platinum situation with the circumstances surrounding the Pearl closing last year?

Do you know if the ABRA meeting on March 27 is an open or closed meeting?

#23, what were the circumstances surrounding Pearl closing? I do know that Pearl attracted a similar clientele as Platinum, including the 18-21 crowd on some nights.

Pearl’s situation was much worse from what I can tell. Their security system was a joke. The director of security was an 9-year former inmate (attempted murder) who did not keep adequate security journals, nor did they adequately frisk club-goers at the door. Females were groped, went to security for protection, and were laughed at. Another guy gets stabbed in the face. Plus I believe Pearl was operating outside of the scope of its liquor license somehow.

#24: I think it’s open, but I’m not sure.

the hearings are usually open to watch, but there is not usually an opportunity for public comment unless you have written a letter and they invite / call you as a witness or otherwise.

FYI: I took GPliving’s advice and e-mailed my comments to Cynthia Simms yesterday. She responded this morning and asked me to pass this on:

“I am the one receiving the comments regarding Platinum’s closure but the comments should be addressed to Peter Feather, Chairman of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.”

(Clearly I missed LiveAndWorkInPQ’s earlier post!)

Personally, I am sad to see the clubs go. For all of the aggravation (I live directly behind Platinum and Ultrabar — I see lots of amazing things and hear some great fights), they are an important part of a vital downtown.

I used to go to these clubs (The Vault, 930, etc) more than 20 years ago — and have seen how these clubs have, in a small way, made headway for the neighborhood — and the recent revitalization. I know you are laughing at that last comment — but I believe that it is true. The clubs bring in people who eat out, spend money, pay sales taxes, parking fees, help an occasional homeless guy out — and in the case of some of my neighbors — ended up buying down here.

Will I miss the “skank parade” at 3:30? The shouting matches? The illegally parked cars? Probably not. Will I miss what the clubs bring to the neighborhood — you better believe it.

As a twenty-something with a second story view of the infamous alley that gets so very much traffic from club-goers, tourists, and (apparently) overly friendly security guards, I would just like to mention that the only thing I’ve ever had trouble sleeping through – and oh god, how miserable it makes me – is garbage pick-up. Clubbers can be annoying, but I hate those trucks. With a passion.

Kudos to whoever quickly removed the bullethole- ridden glass at future Peruvian Connection store which was hit by the shooter(s). Same for whoever cleaned up the blood on the sidewalk. On the truck noise in the alley by Platinum, I have shut down deliveries to 3 bldgs near Lafayette by emailing bldg mgmt and owners but results were best at VP level. A lot of work for one resident (a form letter from DCDNA and/or MPD would have carried more weight and got quicker results).

Here’s a copy of what Jo-Ann Neuhaus sent to PQ residents about revoking the liquor licence at Platinum – for those of you not on her email distribution list, please read:

————————————-

Support Revocation of Platinum’s Alcohol License
Send an email Letter to the ABC Board Today

Please join other Penn Quarter residents by registering your support for Metropolitan Police Department Chief Cathy Lanier’s request to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to “revoke the license for the ‘Platinum’ club to sell alcoholic beverages.”

Issues with Platinum came to a head for many of its neighbors and for Chief Lanier this past Friday when a police investigation linked the shooting of two people at 10th and F streets (from a car) around 2:35am to an unreported altercation earlier in the evening in Platinum. Many residents who live at The Ventana — across F Street from Platinum — have already sent letters requesting its permanent closure.

There have been numerous previous incidents involving this club. As a result of a hearing this week on a series of these past incidents, the ABC Board closed Platinum until May 10. We would like to see it closed permanently.

I was told this morning that a hearing on Chief Lanier’s request could be set for as early as next Tuesday. Community support for Chief Lanier’s request cannot hurt and may be helpful. Club incidents have been known to take place blocks from a club, so even if you live blocks away, your letter counts!

Please take a few minutes to craft words of support for the permanent revocation of Platinum’s license. See Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans’ letter below for the address and reference. Something as simple as saying you want to support MDP Chief Cathy Lanier and Council Member Jack Evans’ request to permanently revoke Platinum’s license and forbid its ability to be transferred to another should be sufficient.

Peter Feather, Chairman
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board
941 North Capitol Street, NE, 7th Floor
Washington, DC 20002

RE: Platinum
Class CN Nightclub
915 F Street, NW

Dear Chairman Feather and Members of the Board:

I am writing to state in the strongest terms my support of Chief Lanier’s request to permanently revoke this nightclub license.

The record of violent and other serious incidences, and still pending and continuing investigations and show cause hearings lead to only one logical conclusion – revocation. According to Chief Lanier’s letter, there are thirteen pending investigations from the past 18 months, of which eight are assaults. In short, there is ample and substantial evidence of this establishment’s threat not only to the peace, order and quiet of the community but that it poses a habitual threat to the public safety of the people of the District of Columbia. Their license should be revoked.

I greatly appreciate the Board’s deliberative process, and I strongly urge you to weigh not only the evidence from this most recent incident, but from all of the alleged incidences to more fully appreciate that this establishment poses a serious threat to the public safety of the community.

Sincerely,

Councilmember Jack Evans
Ward Two

Fax or email your letter to the Alcohol Beverage Regulation Administration to the attention of Cynthia Woodruff-Simms.

Fax: 202.442.9563
Email address: Cynthia.Simms@dc.gov
Cynthia’s phone number: 202.442.4496
Main phone number: 202.442.4423