Comment by Please Delete My Comment
@Ian Interesting. I wonder if that's why the Chik-Fil-A in Falls Church doesn't have a drive-thru. It's literally right on the Arlington County border so I don't know which county laws it has to follow..
View ArticleComment by NE John
Chick filler a would thrive in DC proper if it would change its bigoted ways.
View ArticleComment by Drumz
Chic fil a doesnt donate to those anti marriage equality charities anymore. Anyway, yeah a drive thru here is a bad idea. For everyone not just pedestrians. The one at the old Popeyes on 14th was a...
View ArticleComment by Chester B.
Is Chik-fil-a's opposition to same sex marriage a factor?I was wondering the same thing...could Chick-Fil-A use DC politicians' statements in court as evidence of bias against them?
View ArticleComment by Chester B.
Chick filler a would thrive in DC proper if it would change its bigoted ways.I think they already are thriving, if Please Delete My Comment's 10:53 am comment is correct.
View ArticleComment by John 2
Is Chik-fil-a's opposition to same sex marriage a factor?For some, sure, but the concerns over drive-thru traffic and the affect on pedestrians stand on their own merit.
View ArticleComment by JC
I like the ANC's logic. BK can have a drive thru because they are less popular, employ less people and generate less tax revenue, but CFA - you can't have a drive thru because people would actually use...
View ArticleComment by GWalum
No need for drive-through windows in urban locations and they are dangerous for pedestrians.
View ArticleComment by John 2
@JC, No, that is not the ANC's logic; no one on the ANC has said or insinuated the justification for BK's drive thru as what you said. I understand this makes it easier to dismiss the ANC's argument,...
View ArticleComment by Rick
I'm curious as to how many of the NIMBY's against this project have seen a chick-fil-a drive thru in action, or been in one at lunch. It moves. Quickly. I hope Chick-Fil-A's original plans prevail but...
View ArticleComment by Scoot
Ricks also said the drive-thru would create an unsafe environment for pedestrians and bicyclists – conditions that would run counter to DDOT's moveDC, the long-term DC transportation plan, and the...
View ArticleComment by MLD
@JCI like the ANC's logic. BK can have a drive thru because they are less popular, employ less people and generate less tax revenue, but CFA - you can't have a drive thru because people would actually...
View ArticleComment by John 2
@Rick, that "it moves quickly" is part of the problem for pedestrians. Also, the reason he is the co-chair of economic development might be because he understands second order effects. Perhaps the cost...
View ArticleComment by MS
Is Chik-fil-a's opposition to same sex marriage a factor?Based on the initial comments posted on the Forest Hills Connection when it was announced that CFA was interested in the Burger King site, I...
View ArticleComment by Rick
NE John, there are some extremely suburb-like neighborhoods inside the District.
View ArticleComment by David Jonas Bardin
I recommend CM Cheh's thoughtful comments in this case: April 27, 2016Matthew Marcou Acting Associate Director Public Space Regulation Administration District Department of Transportation 1100 4th St....
View ArticleComment by ArlingtonFlyer
I have lived in the Van Ness neighborhood since the 80s, and I have seen dozens of restaurants come, fail, and go, sometimes in months. There just isn't enough foot traffic to support a lot of...
View ArticleComment by Ryan Keefe
ArlingtonFlyer that's just not true. There are a substantial number residents and offices within two blocks including WAMU, UDC, the offices at 4303 and eventually the Intelsat building + several...
View ArticleComment by MLD
Per CFA's own report, the peak hours for the drive-thru would be weekday evenings and weekend mid-day. NOT weekdays at lunch.
View ArticleComment by John 2
"Based on the initial comments posted on the Forest Hills Connection when it was announced that CFA was interested in the Burger King site, I would say yes, the corporate owner's politics played a...
View ArticleComment by ArlingtonFlyer
Per CFA's own report, the peak hours for the drive-thru would be weekday evenings and weekend mid-day. NOT weekdays at lunch.And that's exactly the problem. A typical CFA makes their money during the...
View ArticleComment by MLD
And that's exactly the problem. A typical CFA makes their money during the lunch rush, this CFA can't make good money during the lunch rush, so they have to rely more heavily on evenings and Saturdays...
View ArticleComment by Andrew
I think you have to look at what has changed in Van Ness over the past few years: 1) A proactive ANC that 2) created the Main Street 3) a new, supported residential building with hundreds of units 4) a...
View ArticleComment by John 2
@ArlingtonFlyer, If Van Ness had such good traffic as you claim, you'd have no problem attracting good restaurants. The fact that you're getting mostly "bad" restaurants speaks volumes.Oh please, bad...
View ArticleComment by wanderer
I certainly oppose Chick fil A's stand on same sex marriage (I might eat there otherwise). But in this situation, it looks like a record is being built that supports rejecting the drive through on city...
View ArticleComment by ArlingtonFlyer
Oh, so first it was that they needed the drive-thru so that people could drive there during the lunch hour because Van Ness is sleepy, but when it's pointed out that that's incorrect you backflip to...
View ArticleComment by Ryan Keefe
No, the "bad" restaurants speak to a number of factors, including retail space that has been traditionally less desirable, a historic dearth of mixed use + monolithic buildings/UDC campus in the area...
View ArticleComment by MLD
That's fine, but then you may not get certain restaurants to commit to Van Ness. CFA can't wait 20+ years to make a profit.Seems like you understand then why people don't really care if the drive-thru...
View ArticleComment by Scoot
If Van Ness had such good traffic as you claim, you'd have no problem attracting good restaurants. The fact that you're getting mostly "bad" restaurants speaks volumes.Until recently, Woodley Park,...
View ArticleComment by John 2
"That's fine, but then you may not get certain restaurants to commit to Van Ness. CFA can't wait 20+ years to make a profit." Understood, I realize we will probably also have to strike Checkers, Sonic,...
View ArticleComment by Jay
No traffic on Sunday - CFA is closed on that day to give their employees the time off.
View ArticleComment by John D
The article and commentary talk a lot about safety. Is there any data out there on pedestrian injuries nationwide at drive-in fast food joints? It's not a statistic that's been making a lot of...
View ArticleComment by Andrew
I doubt there are enough drive-thru places in urban areas to make such a meaningful study.
View ArticleComment by Rick
It seems that lost in the debate of when it would be busiest is the fact that chick fil a serves breakfast (a damn good breakfast at that). This location, on the inbound side of the street, could make...
View ArticleComment by Rick
A question for those opposed or neutral to the plans: Would you be less against, indifferent, or more against a reconfiguration of the building and kitchen area that would allow drive thru traffic to...
View ArticleComment by NE John
Well, their restaurants might have been bad, but the four-shot-per-drink bar "Royal Warrant" will always be remembered in a foggy foggy kind of way.
View ArticleComment by kk
Why build it there in the first wouldnt the Wallgreens site directly across from UDC, the Van Ness metro, two blocks from many embassies and apartments be a better spot ?
View ArticleComment by Steve
How much of this opposition is due to some not liking the conservative views of Chick-fil-A owners?
View ArticleComment by oboe
Would you be less against, indifferent, or more against a reconfiguration of the building and kitchen area that would allow drive thru traffic to either queue in the alley or be deposited in to the...
View ArticleComment by Alex B.
Chick-fil-A, McDonalds, Hardees, I don't think it matters. Hell, even if In-n-Out wanted to open up an east coast location here, that wouldn't make the drive thru appropriate.
View ArticleComment by A12
They'll go to court and win. They aren't doing anything different than the Burger King. DC will have a fun time explaining their rational basis for denying the drive through as an existing legally...
View ArticleComment by Scoot
Is there any data out there on pedestrian injuries nationwide at drive-in fast food joints? It's not a statistic that's been making a lot of headlines in my area.I don't believe the perceived risk is...
View ArticleComment by TJ
I've seen cars run into and back into pedestrians at the car wash, and I've seen the aftermath. We're not talking high speeds here, but if you get knocked down by a car going walking speed, it's going...
View ArticleComment by DC resident
1. Why would anyone want to tie up valuable urban real estate with a restaurant that is closed one day a week? 2. Why not ban cars but put in a bike-only drive-through?3. Is the design beaver-friendly?
View ArticleComment by Chester B.
1. Why would anyone want to tie up valuable urban real estate with a restaurant that is closed one day a week?Can't tell if serious...
View ArticleComment by Dave G
Chester, You didn't know that Chick-fil-A is closed every Sunday because of it's owner's (Dan Cathy) religious beliefs? I'm sure some of the opposition to this drive-thru is due to Cathy's stances on...
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