The Georgetown Metropolitan

Last year, the DC council passed a little noticed law designed to force gas stations to stay open. While the intent of the law was to privilege driver convenience over the property rights of gas station owners, the impact may be felt particularly in Georgetown.

The Washington Post first brought this preposterous law to attention last month. They wrote:

The council has prohibited the sale of property containing a gas station for “any other use,” or even the conversion of a full-service operation to a gas-and-go — without prior approval from something called the Gas Station Advisory Board. Under the law, enacted to little fanfare last fall, the only exception is “extreme financial hardship,” as the D.C. government defines it. Also, there must be an “equivalent” station a mile or less away to take the departing one’s place.

Prior to this legislation, some were questioning the need for a Gas Station Advisory Board at all. Rather than agree with that, the Council doubled down and declared by fiat that no gas stations may close unless the government says so. Continue reading →

Photo by mararie.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Anyone find a violin around Rose Park? If so, let GM know, the owner is looking for it.
• Violent robbery on Reservoir late Wednesday night.

3000 block of P St.

Do you attend GU? Work at GU? Visit GU? Just live near GU? If you said yes to any of these, you can take a brief survey and enter to win some cold hard cash.

Every year as part of its transportation planning, GU conducts a survey of the population that comes to GU to learn how it gets there. It’s critical to know exactly this behavior to know how best to limit traffic and parking issues that arise from the daily immigration to the campus.

And every person who completes the survey is entered to win up to $500 cash. So do your part and possibly get paid by visiting www.gucommutesurvey.com!

Photo by Adrian Hu.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Peabody Room back open!
• Thieves made off with the Verizon wires from the back of Scheele’s earlier this week. Copper theft is suspected.

1200 block of 31st St.

It was just last Saturday when the Volta Pl. community gathered to unveil the newly named Cashell Alley. But we know that when it comes to locations, nothing is truly official until the great Google in the Cloud deems it so.

And so it is with pleasure that GM announces that this final hurdle has been cleared:

Continue reading →

Photo by Jason Vines.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• CM Evans introduces legislation to rename the Rose Park tennis courts after the Peters Sisters.
• Georgetown House Tour next week.

3200 block of Volta Pl.

GM spent much of last weekend strolling through the gardens of Dumbarton Oaks and Tudor Place. Despite having done so a million times before, GM finds it impossible not to take a dozens of photos. Enjoy:

Continue reading →