October 13, 2011 · 10:00 am

Georgetown Skyline: 1910

As the debate over the future of the West Heating Plant continued over here, the discussion turned instead to the past. Reader Walter directed our attention to a photo at the Library of Congress from 1910 (or thereabouts) taken from the top of the Washington Monument. It’s part of a 360 degree panoramic, but given the high quality of the large format photography used at the time, we can zoom in and get a wonderful snapshot of Georgetown’s skyline.

Here’s the overall shot:

The immediate point being addressed by Walter in linking to the photo was that at the time a gigantic tank of gas was stored at the corner of M and 30th. Here’s a shot of it:

What immediately jumps out at you when looking at this shot is the ramshackle state of the waterfront. It was still a very active and industrial area. There are five significant smokestacks, of which two remain today. But your eyes are also drawn to GU:

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October 13, 2011 · 8:00 am

The Morning Metropolitan

Photo by Funky Tee.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

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October 12, 2011 · 2:00 pm

The Georgetown Metropolis

Dumbarton Oaks Park

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October 12, 2011 · 10:00 am

Taste of Georgetown This Weekend

Photo by M.V. Jantzen.

This weekend the BID hosts one of its most popular annual events: the Taste of Georgetown. The even will be this Saturday from 11 AM to 4 PM. Wisconsin Ave. will be blocked off south of M down to K St. for the event.

As always, dozens of Georgetown restaurants will be on hand to offer samples of their goods to ticket-holding visitors. The proceeds of the event go to benefit Georgetown Ministry Center, a homelessness service provider based out of Grace Episcopal. Last year the BID raised $38,000 for the center.

One new feature of this year’s event that jumps out at GM is the new Wine, Ales & Spirits tasting pavilion, sponsored by the Citypaper. Beers including Shiner Bock, New Belgium, and Anchor brewery will be on tap.  Yum.

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October 12, 2011 · 8:00 am

The Morning Metropolitan

Photo by cranberries.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

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October 11, 2011 · 2:00 pm

The Georgetown Metropolis

1000 block of 29th St.

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October 11, 2011 · 10:00 am

Not So Long Ago: Wisconsin and Prospect

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This week on Not So Long Ago, GM moves up Wisconsin a few doors from last week. The stretch nowadays hosts the Adidas store and Uggs.

Back in 1993, there appears to have been a tailor up the steps called Georgetown Custom Tailors. The sign frame still remains, but the sign itself is long gone. It looks like the store showed off its wares in small boxes along the stairs. Nowadays those boxes are gone and the upstairs space holds either apartments or private offices.

Next door, was a store called Ladies & Gentlemen Footwear. It being 1993, there’s a large sign in the window for Dr. Marten’s. Other than that, it appears to have been a typical shoe store.

Adidas has been in here since at least 2004. GM’s not sure when then moved in or whether anything else was there between it and Ladies & Gentlemen Footwear.

GM can’t quite figure out what is in the next store down. It looks like a couple of suits are in the window, which would suggest it was a clothing store, but no name is visible on the storefront.

Like the Nobody Beats the Wiz building, this building appears to have benefited greatly from a new paint job between then and now. Continue reading →

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October 11, 2011 · 8:00 am

The Morning Metropolitan

Photo by Funky Tee.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

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October 7, 2011 · 2:00 pm

The Georgetown Metropolis

3100 block of P St.

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October 7, 2011 · 10:00 am

West Heating Plant Conversion Could Be Huge Opportunity

Photo by Mr. T in DC.

GM heard rumors about this, and then yesterday the Current reported on it: the massive West Heating Plant on 29th st. could be on the market soon.

The West Heating plant was built in 1946-48 in order to provide heat to federal building in northwest DC. Originally powered by coal, the plant was eventually converted to natural gas power (although it is supposedly still convertible back to coal). According to the Current, however, it hasn’t been used in over ten years.

For that reason, the General Service Administration is exploring whether the federal government needs to keep the property in reserve any longer or if it can be sold off.

The Current suggests that some find the building to be an eyesore, but GM could not disagree more. It’s a elegant Art Deco building modeled after the even more massive Central Heating Plant, located near L’Enfant Plaza.

The nearby residents of James Place condos want as much of the property turned into parkland as possible. The lot directly to the south of the building could be used in this manner since it runs right back to Rock Creek. GM wondered whether a park could be built with the old tanks still in place (like Seattle’s Gasworks park) but the fact is that most of the lot is a parking lot and the tanks are simply not attractive, even in an industrial sense.

Some condo owners want to level the building too, but GM thinks that’s completely unacceptable. This is an historic and landmark building and should be converted to a new use. Continue reading →

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