The Georgetown Metropolitan

Photo by bclinesmith.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Cafe La Ruche is closing but will reopen as Chez Billy Sud, a second location of the popular Petworth bistro.
• Moving goodbye letter from Georgetown resident and friend of GM Ken Archer.

2900 block of K St.

Yet another M St. address formerly occupied by a restaurant will be taken over by retail. In this case it’s the former Fino Italiano space at 3009 M St. which will soon be occupied by a store called “Free People”.

Free People appears to be a store that if it didn’t exist, Portlandia would have to invent it. It’s a self-described “Bohemian lifestyle” purveyor, and specializes it clothes designed for the manic pixie dream girl in your life. Despite projecting the insouciant vibe of a latter day hippy, it’s quite the corporate chain with almost 100 outposts. Actually what it really is is a spin off of Urban Outfitters, its parent company.

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Photo by Ehpien.

Good morning Geogetown, here’s the latest:

• Woman who washed up along the waterfront has died.
• If you’re an artist, contribute to this mural!

Potomac River

Yesterday, GM linked to the report that Eastbanc had a contract to buy the property under the gas station at M and Pennsylvania Ave. The report was short on details of what exactly the developer planned for the site. However it mentioned that

“I can’t tell you much more because I don’t know much more at this point,” said Lanier, who estimates the property could accommodate between 15,000 and 18,000 square feet of new development. He said a likely use would be residential.

So GM will have to do the speculating instead.

It’s an oddly shaped and placed property. In some ways the absence of direct neighbors increases the likelihood that they could build up high. But due to the gateway nature of the property, GM could envision the Old Georgetown Board insisting on a more restrained and less vista-denying property.

GM tried to mock up above how a medium sized building would impact the view as you come across the bridge into Georgetown. It would limit your view coming into the neighborhood, no doubt, but if done well it could create a more of a formal threshold.

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Photo by Michael Cisneros.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• The incomparable Sharon Lockwood, a Georgetown treasure.
• Return a fountain to M and Pennsylvania?

1300 block of 28th St.

Today

Three years ago

Two years in a row and two huge elms have been struck with disease and needed to be cut down near the corner of Q and 30th. GM is particularly worried about the next one down the line: the huge elm on the northwest corner of 30th and Q. This is perhaps one of the most beautiful trees in Georgetown. Let’s hope the disease was halted!

Photo by Kyle David Smith.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Eastbanc bought the gas station at the corner of M and Pennsylvania. No clear plans yet, but some sort of a residential development appears to be contemplated.
• Are “staged” homes dreary?