January 9, 2009 · 5:30 am

Why Not: Bring Back Those Old Street Names?

Congress and Bridge?

The Georgetown Metropolitan is proud to present the first in an ongoing series of thought pieces titled “Why Not”, wherein we explore different ideas for our neighborhood that are not typically discussed. The first installment relates to the street names. As described ad naseum last week, most of the streets in Georgetown used to have different names. They were changed in 1880 to be consistent with the rest of the District’s street grid. In the interests of celebrating Georgetown’s past as an independent city, should we consider changing them back?

Of course not, but there’s another option for recognizing the past that comes from the Crescent City. Find out after the jump:

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January 8, 2009 · 12:00 pm

Georgetown’s Elms

Q St. - Georgetown's "Elm Street"

As the fruits of Ginkgogate still lay festering on our sidewalks, it may be a tad difficult to look up at our trees with much warmth these days. However, many don’t realize that at least one Georgetown street is like an arbor Brigadoon. That’s because despite the wide scale ravages of Dutch Elms Disease, Georgetown still has a decent collection of American Elms. In particular, a walk down Q St. is like a walk back through time.

Find out why after the jump:

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January 8, 2009 · 6:00 am

Safeway’s Curb Cuts

 

The New Social Safeway

The New Social Safeway

As described earlier, the Social Safeway as it currently exists isn’t long for this world. They have put forward a dramatic new design whereby the whole building will be moved up to front Wisconsin. However, Safeway plans to keep the same ingress and egress. DDOT may have something to say about that though. Will there be one or two driveways for Social Safeway, Mark II? More after the jump:

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January 7, 2009 · 2:00 pm

IceBerry: Fun Design or Eyesore?

IceBerry - The Dayglow Makes it Tastey

At last night’s ANC meeting, the proprieter of the new frozen yogurt shop at the corner of 30th and M came to request the permission to install some awnings. The ANC rejected the proposal (and it didn’t matter because there’s an historic easement on the property that would bar it too. Even for an old building on M St., this place is pretty damn historical.)

While discussing the proposal, Commissioner Starrels said that he thought the current paint scheme was great. GM thinks it’s an eyesore (Maybe that’s just cause he’s still a bit salty over the loss of the CD Warehouse). What do you think of the dayglo paint job: fun or eyesore?

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January 7, 2009 · 11:30 am

About Those Later Hours

As we all know, the DC Council voted in emergency legislation last month to allow bars to stay open till 5:00 AM. Following some Congressional heat, they moved the hours back to 4:00 AM. Well then someone asked, “What about all those voluntary agreements?”  Newly minted DC Attorney General Peter Nickles responded with an opinion that said that the terms of the voluntary agreements superseded the Council’s action.

So what’s that mean? Well if you own a bar that’s not subject to a voluntary agreement, drink up! If you are subject to a voluntary agreement, you need to get all parties to the agreement to agree to an amendment (by today, by the way). This issue lead to some fireworks at last night’s ANC meeting. Read more after the jump

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January 6, 2009 · 11:29 pm

ANC Round Up

GM gets bored so you don’t have to!

Some fireworks tonight at the ANC. Some of which will result in full posts; but for now here are the high points:

  • Key Bridge will be closed for the inauguration (not to pedestrians though); the DC Chamber of Commerce will hold a meeting this Thursday at the Four Points Hotel at 8:00 pm to discuss all the inauguration issues like these
  • Crime is up 3% in PSA 206, but apparently that’s better than citywide
  • Georgetown gets to renovate 60-120 street lights, should we do them all in one area or the worst first? Tell the ANC what you think
  • The ANC supported Social Safeway’s proposal to keep two driveways for the new building despite DDOT’s inclination to insist on only one
  • ANC voted not to amend the voluntary agreements with the few bars that showed up hoping to get the go-ahead to stay open later for the inauguration (definitely more on this to come)
  • Apple decided not to show up despite the fact that they were on the agenda to present a new concept (GM’s hoping to get a copy of the most recently rejected design soon)
  • ANC rejected Ice Berry’s request for new awnings; but that didn’t matter cause there’s a historical protection easement that banned it anyway. There’s some good news for Ice Berry though, apparently half the Commissioners wanted to leave right there and buy a few scoops
  • The neighbors around Philly Pizza & Grill on Potomac St. are piiiii-isssssed, as would you if your piano teacher neighbor’s house got turned into a late night drunk student hang-out where the pizza delivers block your driveway and the restaurant fumes flood your house. Oh and if they pretty much ignored every zoning rule in the book on the way there.

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January 6, 2009 · 2:00 am

Evermay Update

Everymay

No, GM doesn’t haven’t any info about a certain possible new owner, but another piece of information may have slipped by unnoticed. Owner Harry Belin apparently withdrew his appeal to the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA). It’s not clear whether this move is a predicate to a sale, but it seems clear now that regardless of who owns it, Evermay isn’t going to be hosting any weddings for a long time.

More after the jump:

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January 5, 2009 · 7:39 am

ANC Meeting

ANC2E

There will be a meeting of the ANC 2E tomorrow night at 6:30 at the normal location at Georgetown Visitation. According to the Georgetown Current the items on the agenda will include (among other things):

  • Election of ANC officers and committees
  • Discussion of construction time table and transportation issues for the new Social Safeway
  • Discussion of Old Georgetown Board matters including the Apple Store and Iceberry

GM will attend and report back. Hopefully we’ll get our hands on some mock-ups of the rejected Apple design.

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January 4, 2009 · 6:55 pm

MPD No Longer Providing Daily Crime Summaries

MPD Logo

Members of the MPD2d listserv may have noticed that they haven’t received a daily summary of crimes for the last two weeks. For those not receiving this listserv, the daily update of crimes provides a listing and description of each crime that occurred in the Second District separated into each PSA (Georgetown’s is 206). For instance, on December 14th, PSA 206 reported the following crimes:

Assault occurred in the 1300 b/o Wisconsin Ave. NW on 12/13/2008
3am. 2 citizens reported they were approached from the rear by 4
suspects, knocked to the ground and beaten and kicked. One suspect
described as a white male, no further description.

Theft occurred in the 3100 b/o M St. NW on 12/13/2008 2- 250pm.
Citizen reports a wallet, laptop, cash and papers were stolen when
left unattended in a store.

Theft occurred in the 1800 b/o Wisconsin Ave. NW on 12/13/2008 5pm.
Citizen reports the suspect, a black male, 42yoa, 5’11, 240 lbs.
stole property from the display shelf. CASE ClOSED with the arrest
of the suspect.

Theft occurred in the 3100 b/o M St. NW on 12/12/2008 315- 715pm.
Citizen reports the suspect, a black male, 6′, dark complexion stole
watches from the store and fled.

Theft occurred in the 3100 b/o M St. NW on 12/13/2008 235- 305pm.
Citizen reports the suspect, a black female, 5’9, 125lbs., stole
clothing from the store by removing security sensors.

These are valuable pieces of information that keep citizens informed. They are also apparently no more. Find out more after the jump:

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January 4, 2009 · 1:17 am

What’s In Store for Social Safeway?

Social Safeway Mark II

Sometime this year, the Social Safeway at 1855 Wisconsin Ave. will shut its doors and be torn down. The mid-century suburban style grocery store will eventually be replaced by a brand new “lifestyle center” grocery store.

What does that mean? See after the jump:

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