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In honor of Black History Month, I am re-running a piece from 2016 touching on the complicated relationship between preservation and the Black community in Georgetown.

Most people with even just a passing knowledge of Georgetown history are aware that at some point in the neighborhood’s past there was once a significant African American population that is for the most part not around anymore. Those with a slightly deeper knowledge will attest to the fact that Georgetown was in the 1930s the first neighborhood in DC to undergo a process that was later to be called gentrification. But what most people don’t realize is how much the current state of Georgetown was intentionally built upon that process.

Among the first qualities of Georgetown cited by people extolling its charms is the historic architecture of the neighborhood. And it’s true that Georgetown as a neighborhood is a virtual ark of American architecture from the late 18th to the early 20th centuries. One of the reasons the building stock has survived is that Georgetown entered a long economic lull in the late 19th century. It was an age of benign neglect which spared Georgetown from dramatic demolition and expansion that a more prosperous time would have inevitably brought. By the time interest grew again for living in Georgetown in the 1930s, the fog of nostalgia had descended. The first flickers of a wider preservationist movement (Colonial Williamsburg was formed in the 1920s to wide acclaim) sparked a drive to save Georgetown as it stood.

That, at least, is the sanitized version of how Georgetown became Georgetown.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Wall with sketchy past, lowers its price.
• Great collection of old photos of industrial Georgetown.

Last week the Old Georgetown Board met for its February session. It was the first time they met since early December due to the Board taking a break in January (as it does in August). One of the projects on the Board’s agenda is the proposed office-to-residential conversion of two buildings at the bottom of Thomas Jefferson St.

It was the fifth time the project was brought before the Board, and it won’t be the last. As reported by the Washington Business Journal, the Board refused to approve the designs, as it has on the previous four occasions. So instead of the project getting underway months ago, it remains in limbo because it has failed to satisfy the personal tastes of three presidential appointees.

So despite the fact that the economic future of DC hinges largely on office-to-residential projects proceeding, this one will just sit there until these mandarins are fully satisfied. But don’t bother making an economic argument for advancing this project. The Board has made it clear that that is completely beyond their remit to consider. As WBJ reported, the developer argued that trimming the project down to the size that the board members want would make the project not economically viable. The board’s secretary responded to that argument:

Thomas Luebke, the CFA’s secretary, noted in the meeting economics aren’t considered by the OGB, which is charged under the federal law with preserving the historic fabric of the city’s oldest neighborhood.

“It’s not our concern about cost or any of these other issues,” Luebke said. “Unfortunately we can’t actually, literally consider or really honestly accommodate.”

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• A report from last week’s ANC meeting.
• Old Georgetown Board still not approving proposed office-to-residential conversion.

This is your Northwest Georgetown February ANC update!

SNOW

It finally snowed again! It’s been several years since we’ve had significant accumulation. I hope everyone got out and enjoyed it while it lasted. We enjoyed hitting a few of our favorite sledding hills.

While I’m writing this, it’s a balmy 60 degrees out. And maybe that will spell the end of snow for the season. But hopefully not! And should we get more snow accumulation I wanted to remind everyone about how to approach keeping the sidewalks safe and open.

If you are able, DC law mandates that the sidewalk outside your house be cleared within 8 hours of the end of a snowfall. If you live on a corner lot, lucky you! But that also means you have to clear the whole sidewalk around your house, not just the front.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• More information on the new Georgetown Hospital wing.
• Some retail updates.

Here are some retail updates drawn from recent permit filings:

Molteni & C

An expensive furniture shop is coming to 3306 M St. The company, Molteni & C, is nothing new for Cady’s Alley, which has long focused on such high end home wares.

Since Design Within Reach moved out of this particular storefront, it has struggled to find a long term tenant. We’ll see if this one sticks.

Catbird

The former Lush store at 3066 M St. is getting a store called Catbird. Given the trends and the name, I was pretty certain this would be some sort of a women’s athleisurewear store, but turns out it’s a jewelry store. Li,e many new shops in Georgetown, Catbird is yet another DTC store looking to expand into bricks and mortar. They’re due to open early February.

It’s time for another monthly update from Hyde-Addison parent Phil Mone:

It’s time for my monthly update for neighbors of Hyde Addison Elementary School, Georgetown’s only public elementary school! 

Students jumped right back in the swing of things after winter break and a few snow days.  I am looking forward to the school-wide spelling bee on January 30^th!

Hyde is renowned for excellence

Two Big pieces of news. DC releases a “report card” ranking all of its schools.  The 2023 report card was released last month and Hyde was ranked as the #2 school of ALL DCPS ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. 

Separately, Hyde’s principal Dr. Hooks was just announced by the DC Ed Fund as the recipient of the “Excellence Award for School Leaders”!!

The parents and students of Hyde are not surprised (based on their experiences at the school), but were very proud when we heard the news.

Fall 2024 school year: Apply now for a seat in PK3 or PK4 at Hyde!

The lottery for a spot in PK3 and PK4 at Hyde Addison Elementary School for the 2024/2025 school year has now opened.

You can submit your child’s application at https://apply.myschooldc.dc.gov/

You must submit your application by March 1, 2024 at the latest! The results will be posted on March 29, 2024.

Hyde has one PK3 class (16 students) and two PK4 classes (19 students in each class).  Hyde Addison has already hosted two Prospective Family Open Houses and there are three more scheduled, with the next one being held in person at the school on January 26 at 2pm. More details here: https://hydeaddisondc.org/open-houses

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Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Stephen Starr’s long awaited Italian restaurant, Osteria Mozza, is targeting a June opening.
• A peek into the new Greco restaurant. Anyone else try it out?

This week for Georgetown Time Machine, in honor of the new restaurant Greco moving in, I’m checking out the legendary: Au Pied de Cochon.

According to the Historical American Building Survey, this structure was constructed around 1890. Interestingly, the survey came to this conclusion based upon a 1960 interview with George Scheele from the Georgetowner. Scheele stated that he believed that the first business to occupy the new building was Robert Weaver who ran a meat market.

From then until 1928, the building hosted a series of grocers. After remaining vacant through 1929, Payne’s Millinery opened. It only lasted three years though. By 1934, the space was a restaurant, and has remained as such ever since.