Photo by Pianoman75

A Georgetown ANC yesterday gave the thumbs down to a proposed bowling alley in the former Georgetown Park Mall, saying that the alley’s owner would first have to enter an agreement with residents that live above where it would go.

Last October the developer of the former mall along M Street asked D.C. to allow it to build an upscale 12-lane bowling alley and Italian restaurant in part of the building, to be run by Pinstripes, a Minnesota-based bowling alley with five locations in the Midwest. As we reported at the time, residents who live in condos atop the mall weren’t to thrilled with the idea, saying that they were concerned with the noise and possible clientele.

At a meeting last night, according to the Georgetown Dish (the Georgetown Metropolitan also has details), ANC 2E voted down the proposed bowling alley, saying that they wanted Pinstripes executives to sign an agreement with residents offering assurances on a number of concerns:

Responding to the residents, the ANC unanimously approved a resolution offered by Chair Ron Lewis to oppose the project before the Board of Zoning Adjustment unless a binding agreement, with an “enforceable mechanism,” is reached between Pinstripes and the residents. The ANC also specifically opposes the outdoor patio as an intrusion, for both the Georgetown Park residents and for the visitors to the C&O National Park.

The pressure is now on Pinstripes to negotiate an agreement with the residents or risk the Board of Zoning Adjustment—which will consider its proposal on January 15—turning it down. If the project moves forward, it would be only the second bowling alley in D.C.