The Georgetown Metropolitan

Potomac River

After a long and tortured process, the Zoning Commission is on the verge of adopting the final changes to the zoning code as part of the dramatic zoning rewrite. There is one final opportunity to chime in. Assuming the plan goes forward as it stands, it will mean some significant changes for Georgetown. Here are two of them:

Corner Stores

Corner stores like Scheele’s and Sara’s are a critical part of the appeal of living in Georgetown. But the thing is, they only exist where they are due to grandfathering. The current zoning code would consider them illegal if they hadn’t existed for as long as they have. And consequently, if any of them closed, unless a new store were opened there shortly after, the grandfathering would expire and no new store would be allowed.

This potentially has real consequences. When the future of Scheele’s was in doubt due to the Scheele family putting the building up for sale, it was never an option for the store to simply pick up and move across the street. The grandfathering isn’t portable. So if a store loses its lease, it cannot simply move to another building unless that building is already zoned commercial. There are only a few small pockets in the side streets of Georgetown that are zoned commercial.

The new rules would loosen the general prohibition on commercial activity in residential zones. You could open a corner store in any property literally on a corner. Some conditions apply, but the main one is that there cannot be more than three other corner stores within 500 feet and it cannot be within 750 feet of M and Wisconsin.

That last condition is a little odd, but the idea is that corner stores are supposed to be neighborhood serving and not simply be an extension of the existing commercial areas.

Admittedly, these rules would not allow for many new stores popping up in the side streets of Georgetown. But the idea isn’t necessarily to add more corner stores (the demand probably couldn’t support it anyway) as it is to make it easier for new stores to open should the existing ones ever close. Continue reading →

Photo by Ehpien.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Bearded Papa delayed again.
• Places to get your basic on.

1200 block of 31st St.

Photo by RobertTotmn.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Cat Cafe adds yoga. Singularity approaches ceaselessly.
• What $3,000 gets you in Georgetown (and some other places)

2800 block of M St.

Park(ing) Day returns to Georgetown this Friday! And to celebrate, the BID is once again arranging for four “parklets” to be created for the day.

The purpose of the day is to challenge people to consider what exactly is the best use of public space: the storage of a handful of people’s cars or the creation of a vibrant pedestrian zone?

The parklets have been successful in Georgetown over the few years that the BID has helped set them up. And two of the old parklet spaces are returning, including the parklet seen above in front of Luke’s Lobsters, and the space in front of Baked and Wired. Two new locations are debuting this year: the space in front of the Urban Land Institute (which is right next to Baked & Wired, so it’ll probably just be one big one) and one parklet by DC Water “at the intersection of K and Wisconsin”. Continue reading →

Photo by Paul Goddin.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Lots of GU grads have life given to them on a silver platter. Some literally so.
• A nice primer on the upcoming campus plan process.

While the storefront has a modern feel with its gigantic sports posters, 3140 M St. has a rather old facade. Today GM plugged in a photo of the store window from 1922. At the time is hosted the Kendrick Harrison Furniture Co.

Shorpy took a look at this photo back in 2008. A commenter had this to add:

Kendrick-Harrison Furniture Co. was located in Georgetown at 3140 M street. They opened in the fall of 1922, advertising furniture, bedding, carpets and stoves. Additionally they claimed to be the “Headquarters for Toys in Georgetown.” By 1926 they were bankrupt with their goods being sold at auction on March 3rd of that year.

The clairvoyant next door was Mme. Trent, located at 3138 M street, above the Hench Shoe Store. She was an all-around low cost palmist.

Will tell you when and whom you will marry; tells of friends and enemies; your SECRET TROUBLES; the cause and remedy; in fact, tells everything; locates absent ones, reunites the separated and causes quick and happy marriages with the one you love; overcomes your rivals and enemies; gives infallible advice on all affairs of life, including business, law, health, changes, travel, patents, investments, etc. LOW FEE.

Hours Daily 10 A.M. to 8 P.M.
50 cents
3138 M street N.W.

3100 block of N St.