The Georgetown Metropolitan

Last year the Georgetown Business Improvement District issued a dramatic plan charting out what Georgetown will need to look like in fifteen years if it will remain a viable commercial district. It was full of eye-catching details-like two new Metro stations and, yes, aerial gondolas-as well a more mundane improvements, like signage and repair to the canal. (Catch all disclaimer: GM was on the steering committee of the plan representing the Citizens Association of Georgetown.)

Coinciding with the first year anniversary of the plan Lavanya Ramanathan of the Washington Post reviewed the plan anew, and came away with a distinct case of cognitive dissonance:

One year after the plan’s splashy launch, the first palpable elements of Future Georgetown are coming after a series of government approvals: a dock on the C&O Canal could be installed by this summer. Micro leisure areas, known as “parklets,” are slated to open as soon as this summer.

So, why is it that we can’t quite square the European-style courtyards and contemporary light installations of Future Georgetown with Current Georgetown, a strange mosaic of wealth, history and buttercream-hungry tourists?

…

A gondola in Logan Circle or Shaw or on H Street NE, sure…This almost never happens in Georgetown, where the houses still go to buyers of a certain stratosphere and the sidewalks are still brick, never mind that it’s hell on the stilettos of today’s well-heeled Georgetowner. It’s a quarter that, depending on your vantage point, is either admirably quaint or kind of oblivious.

Perhaps expecting to find Nimby resistance to the radical ideas, Ramanathan reached out to various likely suspects. But she didn’t find it. The Citizens Association backs the effort. The University backs the effort. Even the stodgy Old Georgetown Board is open to ideas such as the aforementioned gondolas or the idea to use dramatic LED lights to illuminate the Key Bridge or the underside of the Whitehurst: Continue reading →

Photo by Daniel Lobo.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• GU to begin converting hotel rooms to dorms this spring.
• Georgetown-grown Blue Mercury bought by Macy’s for $210 big ones.

1300 block of 33rd St.

As predicted by GM, the most interesting item from last night’s ANC meeting was the future of the old Nathan’s Building. Anthony “Ankie” Barnes, of Barnes Vance Architects, presented a stunning renovation of the historic building and won approval from the commission.

Barnes took the commission and the audience through a fascinating history of this prominent building. It was built during the Civil War. No photos exist of what it looked like in its original form, however it is likely that the second two stories have been hardly touched and probably reflect what the first floor looked like. Barnes did, however, have a series of photos showing the dramatic changes that the first floor went through during the 20th century.

In the 1920s, the first floor was dramatically changed to include box windows, common through commercial corridors in DC at the time. Small balconies were added to the north and west facades for use by the upper floors. The original entrance, which was once on Wisconsin Ave., was rebuilt on the corner.

These changes were performed by the Heon family, who purchased the building shortly before. This was intended to increase the retail use for the first floor. For many years a pharmacy operated there.

The next dramatic change occurred in the 40’s when a neon sign was installed on the corner. Also, a metallic streamlined facade was applied to the first floor resembling a diner. This was the time that the first floor was converted to the Heon’s restaurant. The Heon family lived upstairs.

Starting in the fifties, an unfortunate brick treatment was applied on top of the first floor. This started the long slow decline of the building. Nathan’s restaurant brought the corner life, but the building continued to slowly decay. And we all know what happened when Serendipity got their hands on the building and degraded it further.

Barnes essentially wants to restore the building to its 1920s state (drawing above). The box windows will be restored along Wisconsin, and picture windows will be returned to the M St. side. A beautiful canopy over the corner entrance will also be restored.

And yes, the likely tenant is Under Armour, although Barnes stated last night that the decision isn’t final yet. Would GM prefer a more lively less-suburban mall use for this property? Sure, absolutely. But it will be a beautiful restoration.

GM remembered that one of the original reasons he even started the Georgetown Metropolitan back in 2008 was to push back on the common misconception held by writers like Marc Fisher, who wrote shortly after GM started that “This is How Georgetown Goes Generic” when contemplating the future of the then-Nathan’s building. “Sure”, GM argued, “there are a lot of chains, there are far more independent shops!” This is still true. But it is heartbreaking nonetheless to remember the charm and community created by a great tavern like Nathans. It’s gone. Its tacky successor is gone. And now we get Lycra.

But at least that building will be more beautiful than most anyone still alive has ever seen it.

Continue reading →

Photo by Daniel Lobo.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• GU students can take a bus directly to games at the Verizon Center. For what it’s worth, the D6 also goes directly from campus to the Verizon Center.
• Peeping Rabbi now squatting rabbi.

1700 block of 32nd St.

The flyer above, pretty much says it all, but if for some reason it’s not coming through, here are the details of next week’s Georgetown Arts show:

• It’s February 12th-15th at the House of Sweden
• The opening reception is the 12th from 6-9 pm
• The show continues till the 15th, opening from 11-5 daily

Continue reading →

Photo by Oren Levine.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• The original Hoyas swim team was called the Meremen.
• Georgetown is often in movies, but how often in comic books? (And the artist of that seems to have never actually been to Georgetown based upon the fact the drawings look more like Manhattan than Georgetown.)

3100 block of Q St.

It was just last year that Kate Spade moved out of its cramped quarters on M St. to take over the space previously occupied by Juicy Culture. In its wake swam in Kate’s spunkier little sister Kate Spade Saturday, which took over the store’s old space. Well the spunkier sister isn’t sticking around: Kate Spade is killing off its Kate Spade Saturday line, including the Georgetown store. While it’s at it, its taking out the lone brother, Jack Spade, too.

This is a similar move to Ralph Lauren’s decision to kill off the Rugby line a few years ago, which also took out a Georgetown store. In both instances, the stores decided to focus on the main, more expensive, brand.

One more thing that many people don’t realize: the real Kate Spade is David Spade’s sister-in-law. True story.