The Georgetown Metropolitan

GM reported yesterday that Eastbanc was going back to the OGB to renew their application to replace the Key Bridge Exxon with a condo building. Well the folks over at Urban Turf did GM one better and got some illustrations of the proposal.

Here’s another:

GM’s immediate response to these designs is mostly surprise. It’s an awfully dark and stark design. And it’s a dramatic departure from the earlier disavowed plans: Continue reading →

Photo by M.V. Jantzen.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Tim Sietsema likes the Grill Room.
• Is M St. on a weekend the “before” picture for what can be done? GM sure hopes so.

1300 block of Wisconsin Ave.

Photo by ThisisBossi.

Next week the ANC meets for its March session. Unlike the snooze-fest of last month’s meeting, this meeting has the potential to be quite interesting.

And the most interesting item up for discussion is the proposal to renovate the Duke Ellington School. This is the rare ANC matter that actually doesn’t involve Georgetown since the school is technically in Burleith. (The boundary between Georgetown and Burleith travels down the center of 35th St. in front of the school.)

Normally projects in Burleith are not subject to review of the Old Georgetown Board. And this project is no different. But since the school is a landmarked building, the changes must be approved by the OGB’s superiors at the Commission of Fine Arts. Continue reading →

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Celebrate St. Patrick’s at Bourbon Steak with fine Irish whiskey.
• And if you’re really looking to waste a lot of money on food and drink, head over to the Grill Room two days earlier where they’ll happily serve you a $3,500 per head dinner of fine wine and food.

1200 block of 31st St.

Photo by BoopBoopBoopBoop.

After lying publicly dormant for almost three years, Eastbanc has apparently decided to move forward once again with design approval for its proposed condos where the Key Bridge Exxon currently stands.

Here’s the brief history: Back in early 2011, Eastbanc announced that it had a deal to purchase the Exxon property and planned to construct condos on the site. Most people were generally ok with the idea, but the residents of Prospect street on the cliff above the property quickly became enraged once they realized the building would likely block a portion of their view.

There’s an interesting debate to be had on the question of whether someone has a right to a view (or in this case: a right to a complete and unfettered view). And there’s yet another interesting debate as to the question of whether historical preservation laws should be used to limit the size of a building being built to replace a gas station. Continue reading →

Photo by GW Special Collections.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Did you get your recycling picked up on Saturday? GM’s whole street, 33rd St., seems to have been skipped.
• Hey, Kojo Nnamdi is at the next Q and A Cafe at the George Town Club this Friday!
• And for those still curious: GM’s stolen car has apparently shown up at a Prince Georges County impound lot. Sadly, GM has already leased a new car and to recover his old car he needs to pay the towing fee, which is probably more than the tax write-off he’d get from donating it. Oh well…

3200 block of O St.

As you may have read, yesterday the Corcoran Gallery of Art announced that for all intents and purposes it will soon no longer exist. Specifically, the art collection will be largely transferred to the National Gallery and the art school will be sold to George Washington University.

The Corcoran name will go on as the second floor galleries will be run by the NGA as the Corcoran Contemporary. It will feature modern art pieces from the combined collections of the Corcoran and the NGA. Since most of the Corcoran’s permanent collection is pre-contemporary, most of it will no longer be shown at the historic building on 17th St. The NGA is expected to take up to 1/2 of the Corcoran’s collection for display at its buildings on Constitution Ave. Continue reading →