August 4, 2009 · 10:00 am

July Crime Numbers Way Up In Georgetown

A couple weeks ago GM published this post arguing that despite the sense among people that crime was increasing, the overall crime numbers were not really up year-to-date for Georgetown. For July in particular, GM calculated that as of half-way through the month, July 2009 did not have a spike in crime. Now that the month is over, GM went back and re-crunched the numbers and compared July 2009 crime stats to July 2008. They’re not good. Check out the numbers:

2009

2008

 Change
Total:

87

67

30%
Theft:

46

48

-4%
Burglary

11

5

120%
ADW

3

2

50%
Robbery

5

2

150%
Theft F/Auto

19

9

111%

The overall numbers are up 30%. Robberies almost tripled. Granted, the change from 2 to 5 isn’t as significant as if it were 20 to 50, but nonetheless it’s troubling.

The only numbers close to level reflect theft, i.e. shop-lifting. These crimes normally represent the majority of crimes in Georgetown, but they don’t directly affect residents very much. If you take out thefts, the overall numbers are up 116% for July.

Many have sensed that there has been a particularly strong crime spike recently in Georgetown. These numbers seem to justify those senses.

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August 4, 2009 · 8:00 am

The Morning Metropolitan

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

  • Want to lease out your Georgetown townhouse for a year or so and travel the world? Call this guy.
  • Missing a gray scooter? It may be sitting in an alley behind N St.
Photo of Dolcezza by Flickr user Roboppy used under Creative Commons license.

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August 3, 2009 · 1:00 pm

The Georgetown Metropolis

1500 block of 30th St.

1500 block of 30th St.

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August 3, 2009 · 10:00 am

After Cafritz Fire, Do You Feel Safe?

After Cafritz Fire, Do You Feel Safe?

Even before the embers of Peggy Cafritz’s home ceased smoldering, residents throughout the District began wondering whether the fire hydrant on their street has the pressure to put out a fire at their house. After the Georgetown Library fire two years ago, Georgetown residents are particularly worried about the matter.

It’s not the first time it’s come up since the library fire. WASA got a tounge lashing from the ANC last February. WASA came back in March to the ANC and in April to CAG to let us know that everything is OK. Nonetheless, when we see fire crews having to walk blocks away looking for water pressure, it’s not difficult to doubt their assurances.

According to the Post, the problems for the water pressure didn’t begin until the fire crews attached a third hose to the same water main. That would suggest that the hydrants worked as expected, but they simply aren’t expected to work that well. This adds to Georgetowners’ anxiety since they’ve been telling us how our hydrants (at least those marked correctly) work as expected.

How do you feel? Do you feel safe?

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August 3, 2009 · 8:00 am

The Morning Metropolitan

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

  • Georgetown fire call-boxes among those still not re-done under the city’s Art-On-Call program, whose future is uncertain.
  • New bartender at Bourbon Steak comes over from H St.’s Sova.
  • The Georgetowner attends the big party at Urban Chic.
Photo of Evolve salon by Flickr user Kevin H. used under Creative Commons.

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July 31, 2009 · 1:25 pm

The Georgetown Metropolis

1300 block of 30th St.

1300 block of 30th St.

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July 31, 2009 · 10:00 am

Marketing Georgetown

This month, the Georgetowner has an interesting piece about the internal skirmishes at the Georgetown BID over the proper approach to improve the business climate in Georgetown. According to the article, two camps emerged over the $5 million budget in particular:

Few disagreed that marketing is essential to Georgetown’s business campaign. The line in the sand is drawn, however, over how exactly these funds should be appropriated. The resulting skirmish looks microcosmically like a Congressional budgetary war, with one side advocating greater revenue, the other more judicious spending of present funds.

By the end of the meeting, it would appear the first side carried the day; by strawpoll the group decided to reconsidered (upward)  the tax assessment structure.

While they are considering their marketing budget and strategy GM has one suggestion for the BID: Update your webpage and initiate an integrated advertising campaign. Continue reading →

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July 31, 2009 · 8:00 am

The Morning Metropolitan

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

  • Vox Populi explores GU’s lobbying effort to build its controversial boathouse.
  • GGW takes a look at the K ST. transitway project, which will significantly affect how Georgetowners get downtown by bus or car.
  • Public sex in Georgetown Park bathrooms?
Photo of Dumbarton Oaks statue by Flickr user Hellomarkers used under Creative Commons license.

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July 30, 2009 · 2:00 pm

The Georgetown Metropolis

1600 block of 30th St.

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July 30, 2009 · 10:00 am

DC Home Prices Bounce Off the Bottom

Last week GM explored the question of whether Georgetown’s real estate market thawed out in the spring only to crash again this summer. Yesterday the New York Times published an article claiming that homes in DC had actually risen 1.3 percent from April to May of this year. Here’s the chart of how the DC home prices have changed from the year earlier since 2001:

DC Real Estate Chart

Courtesy of the New York Times

From this chart, it would appear that the DC market has been pulling back from the brink steadily since the beginning of the year. Home prices are still down 14% from a year earlier, but in December it was almost 20% down.

Do you think this chart reflects Georgetown? GM still thinks home prices are at 2004ish levels, but perhaps they’re starting to turn back around. Will we see 2005 numbers by 2010?

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