3000 block of O St.
How Georgetown Would’ve Looked if Metro Never Built
As reported by several outlets, WMATA just put out an interesting study that looked at what DC would look like if Metro were never built. While the focus elsewhere has been on how devastated a neighborhood like Mt. Vernon Triangle would be in this alternate universe, Georgetown wouldn’t fare that well either.
The study estimated what the road network would have to look like in order to deliver the same number of workers downtown. Here are what roads would have to be expanded:
Filed under Transportation
The Morning Metropolitan
Photo by M.V. Jantzen.
Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:
- More info on Mike Isabella’s Bandolero.
- Check out some local artists at Cafe Puro this Friday.
Filed under The Morning Metropolitan
Twenty-Four Year Old Plan Still Driving Today’s Debates
This year, the final phase of the Georgetown Waterfront Park was opened. This was the result of decades of efforts by residents, businesses, and government agencies. But what few have talked about is how this accomplishment was merely a part of a larger plan, a plan which is still at the heart of several of today’s debates.
The plan is a plan adopted by the National Park Service, and it lays out 30 actions to improve the Potomac waterfront through Georgetown. A surprising amount of these actions have been accomplished over the years. They include the construction of the park itself, many of the elements of the park, the creation of the Capital Crescent Trail, and the creation of Francis Scott Key Park.
Some elements of the plan that never came to fruition are as alive today as issues as they ever were.
The most contentious part of the plan is the establishment of a boating zone. This zone would allow for the construction of boathouses along the Potomac from 34th St. to about a 100 yards west of the Key Bridge. This has come up most recently due to Georgetown University’s plans to build a massive boathouse in this zone, just west of the Washington Canoe Club. G.U. has spent at least $1 million just lobbying for this project. After a long delay, NPS just announced it was reopening the feasibility review.
What’s funny is to see the plan account for the then-possible plan by Clyde’s to build a floating restaurant:
Under the terms of a 35-year lease signed by the District Government a private firm has docking and parking rights for a 200-seat capacity floating restaurant with space for 86 cars. The floating restaurant will be moored between 34th Street and Key Bridge and will be approximately 200-feet long by 50-feet wide. Once the park is developed, parking for the restaurant will be provided under the freeway (See Item 18). Parking will be located between K Street and the Potomac bulkhead on a short-term basis, but the area will become a landscaped park on completion of Item 18 below. The area designated for boathouse facilities (See Item 14), encompasses the restaurant on the basis that should the lessee not proceed with the restaurant plan, or the restaurant be discontinued, the area would then become available for boating facilities.
The restaurant obviously never came to pass, so this land should go back into the boating zone. However, GM would love to see a hybrid building constructed at the north end of the park providing for boating facilities and a restaurant or outdoor cafe.
Continue reading
Filed under Development
The Morning Metropolitan
Photo by M.V. Jantzen.
Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:
- Fleurir Chocolate Shop in Food & Wine magazine.
- This is not the sort of news item GU wants to see in the final days of the GU campus plan fight.
Filed under The Morning Metropolitan
Not So Long Ago: Wisconsin and S
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This week on Not So Long Ago, GM takes one last stop on upper Wisconsin Ave. These days, this stretch of Wisconsin hosts Hamrony Beauty Salon, Dalton Pratt, Sky Shoes, and Everards Clothing.
In 1993, the offerings were similar, but the names different.
On the far right, there was a hair salon called Summit for Hair. The summit reference may be reflective of the fact that it looks like multiple independent stylists worked there (including three sub salons called “Dominique”, “Survive” and “Antoine”). The name of the store has changed over the years (in 2004 it was called “Armanibeauty”) through to today.
Next door was Field Custom Tailor. This multigenerational tailor has served Georgetown since 1963. GM has long been told that this is the best place to get a bespoke suit in the city. Sadly this shop closed a year ago and the family set up a new shop in Glover Park (their north London roots on display with the Tottenham Hotspur flag). So if you need a custom suit, just head up the road a piece.
This space remained empty for a little while, and hosted a pop-up antique shop. In the last month, though, a new clothing boutique called Dalton Pratt has opened up.
In 1993, next to Field’s was an antiques store called Comprador. Apparently a comprador is a “native managers of European business in East Asia”. That would suggest that it sold Asian-style antiques. Sky Shoes was in this space by 2004, having changed its name from Hatum Valet and moved out of the space now occupied by Bacchus Wine Celler.
Next door to Comprador was another location for Collins Hospital for Animals (which has also occupied a space a couple doors down for at least as long). By 2004, this space was occupied by Everards, and has remained so since. Continue reading
Filed under Not So Long Ago
The Morning Metropolitan
Photo by M.V. Jantzen.
Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:
- GM realizes that the word “hipster” has lost much of its meaning due to overuse, but it hasn’t that much meaning.
- Remember how Hardy Middle School principal was supposedly removed in order to organize a new arts magnet school? Yeah, that never went anywhere.
Filed under The Morning Metropolitan
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