Georgetown BID Meeting with Mayor; ‘2028’ Meeting Tonight

The Georgetown Improvement District held its annual meeting June 11 at the Powerhouse building on Grace Street. Georgetown BID board president Crystal Sullivan welcomed the group and touted the BID’s “new era” under CEO Joe Sternlieb. Also recognized were new employees Jonathon Kass as the BID’s first ever transportation director and Joshua Hermias as its first ever economic development director.

The BID’s Clean Team under Bill Baker was applauded as well as “employee of the year” Andrew Gill. For its part in revitalizing Washington Harbour and establishing the popular ice skating rink, MRP Realty received the first ever Community Leadership Award, accepted by MRP’s Bob Murphy. The rink, which opened to the public in November, was “transformative,” Sternlieb said. MRP’s work made a big impact on Georgetown and has attracted new visitors.

The highlight of the meeting was an address by Mayor Vincent Gray, who likes to say that he loves to come to Georgetown and likes its Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E best. Gray complimented the BID for its 2028 plan and tacked about the District’s own five-year plan, which includes 100,000 new jobs and $1 billion in new tax revenue. Gray cited the ending of “retail leakage,” bringing businesses like Costco to the city, as well as regulation streamlining to make D.C. more business-friendly and adding new high-tech jobs — perhaps even Microsoft in Anacostia, he mused — thus allowing D.C. to be less dependent on the federal government for jobs. Gray also cited the medical industry and tourism as big employers, while he said D.C. was going after foreign investors, too.

Tonight, the Georgetown BID welcomes all to contribute to its 15-year plan, Georgetown 2028.
The Georgetown BID wrote: “The goal in doing such a plan is to help Georgetown maintain its status as a world-class commercial district, and ultimately continue to make it a thriving community for all. The process and final plan, which is set to be completed before Thanksgiving, focuses on transportation, economic development and public space issues. We value your opinion and invite you to take part in Georgetown 2028 by attending the first of two community engagement meetings.”

Again, the first meeting is tonight 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday, June 13, at the Foundry Office Building, 1055 Thomas Jefferson St., NW, 5th floor. RSVP to: georgetown2028@georgetowndc.com