The Georgetown Metropolitan

If you want a selfie with the Transformers statues, you better…well…not hurry, but don’t dawdle too long: the homeowner has changed his application for approval to limit their presence to six months.

This is revealed in the May ANC agenda:

23. SMD 2E05 – OG 21-157 (HPA 21-296)
    3614 Prospect Street, NW (Square 1202, Lot 59)
    Residence
    Install two sculptures in public space for a period of six months
    Permit

The writing was on the wall at this month’s Old Georgetown Board meeting. It was clear that Newton Howard was not going to get approval to keep the statues there indefinitely. However, some of the board members hinted that they’d be open to approving it temporarily. Howard appears to have taken them up on that suggestion and resubmitted the application with a time limit.

It’s unclear when the time would start ticking. Is it from January when they first went up, or upon approval of the board, which will take about a month to make its way through the full Commission of Fine Arts? That would mean the difference between them coming down in July and them coming down in November(ish).

In either event, it would appear the forces of No have stamped out another little glimmer of fun, all in the claimed interests of preserving history.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Great history of the blazingly yellow house on Volta Place.
• A defense of the Transformers. (GM has some news about them coming up later…)

A reader passed along this rather bizarre video above from Doug DeMuro. In it, he drives around Georgetown and points out interesting cars from the last couple decades. (“Interesting” in the sense that 99.9% of people would completely glaze past them, but he thinks they’re cool!).

GM couldn’t help but recognize a few of the cars in the video, particularly since it was briefly filmed on his street. Which got him wondering, what are the cars he sees around the neighborhood that he can’t help take note of each time?

Well, here are the ones that come to mind:

The first is one he hasn’t actually seen in a long time, but he can’t ignore it: Jean-Pierre Sarfati’s Fiat 500:

The photo above captured this adorable little car after its parking brake snapped and it came crashing down 30th St. back in 2010. It survived this and remained on the streets for years later, but as GM mentioned, it doesn’t seem to be around anymore. Too bad!

The next notable car GM notices around are actually three cars: the Ferraris of 30th St.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• GU continues to report lower numbers of Covid positives this week.
• MPD officers pulling over drivers for running stop signs on P St. More of this please!

This week on Georgetown Time Machine, GM is exploring a photo of a tiny church that once stood along the canal just outside Georgetown.

The photo, from the DCPL archives, is undated. The only information was written on the back of the photo: “unidentified church on towpath above Georgetown. B.Thompson, purchase. Rec’d: May 1, 1945.” This date listed is likely the date that B. Thompson purchased the photo, and not the date of the photo. But GM will see what he can do to put a rough date and location for it.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• GU students take a mass pledge to marry each other should they get really desperate.
• What inspires one of the Georgetown GLOW artists.