Photo by Mr. T in DC.

Prince of Petworth passed along word this morning that the ownership of the Museum of Arts & Sciences, a dance hall which was supposed to open in the former Old Equitable Bank/Platinum Nightclub/Club Bounce space at 915 F Street NW, had “unexpectedly suspended all operations and shuttered the business” yesterday at noon.

The address has a checkered past: a history of scuffles and serious violence which occurred during its days as a nightclub and dance party house — and nearby neighbors weren’t terribly thrilled about there being another party space coming into the building. According to plans, the building was to host three large dance floors, serve alcohol and cater to mid-20s to mid-30s partygoers. But it had appeared that things were beginning to simmer down, at least according to local development blog DCMud:

Employing a more effective community relations campaign, the MoA&S is now moving quickly forward with their business plan. Addressing the next door residents’ security concerns, Beeker helped forge an in-depth security plan, laying out their strategy to maintain “neighborhood peace, quiet, safety and security” before, after, and during the Museum’s events; the plan also includes specific policy and procedure to curb, if not entirely eliminate, lines of patrons waiting to enter the property. In coordination with the surrounding community and their legal representative Manny Mpras, Beeker also developed a Voluntary Agreement incorporating specifics of the security plan and other stipulations such as noise abatement and parking issues; the Agreement was recently approved essentially as-is by ABRA.

But the balance between the site’s history, new owner Peter Andrulis’ lofty vision for the space and governmental regulations remained a tenuous one. DCist swung by the site this afternoon, finding only two pieces of signage: one saying all deliveries for the museum were to be made at the rear entrance and a public notice from DDOT which informed the public about the Museum’s application for a Valet Staging Zone which was scheduled to be held on November 18. The number listed on the front of the building on the delivery note led directly to an unidentified voicemail account. Otherwise, the exterior of the building was completely unmarked, while the handle to the building’s front door appeared to be torn off or hastily removed.

We have yet to be able to get in touch with anyone over at Museum of Arts and Sciences, LLC — the entity under which Andrulis purchased the building last summer — to confirm whether the plans for the space have been completely scrapped or are simply on hold pending tweaks. Have a tip about what’s going on at the space? You know what to do.