A Joyful Georgetown BID Celebrates 25 Years

There were lots of familiar faces – Georgetown business and community leaders, supporters and friends — at the 25th anniversary party for the Georgetown Business Improvement District on Sept. 25 at 1310 Kitchen & Bar. (See photos below.)

The happy affair involved sipping wines and enjoying hearty hors d’oeuvres — and some speeches and awards. “How the h… did that happen?” asked Joe Sternlieb, BID President and CEO Executive Director for 12 years, who exclaimed with a laugh before announcing that he was stepping down from his position early in 2025.

“BID became much bigger than ever I had dreamed,” Sternlieb told The Georgetowner.

At the meeting to honor the Georgetown BID and to salute Sternlieb were Mayor Muriel Bowser and Ward 2 Council member Brooke Pinto, along with founding BID members like Richard Levy, who was BID’s first board chair.

Sternlieb recalled years of BID work on plans and projects, such as the development of membership and working boards of Georgetown business owners, the hiring of a professional staff of city planners and community relations liaisons and conducting planning meetings, project proposal town halls — along with budgets and reports and renderings and timelines for proposed projects. The BID also helps project supporters to liaison with city officials and funding sources and face community questions and conflicts and weave through the city’s maze of regulations, approvals and permits.

The revelers recalled the completion of numerous projects that BID steered, managed and lobbied for throughout the years: bikeways and parklets, street furniture (including sun umbrellas), streateries and expanded sidewalks, and seasonal events like Glow. Partnerships with D.C. organizations and officials, including initiatives to reduce crime and homelessness, were touted — along with a new canal boat.

Let’s not forget creative transportation ideas like an aerial gondola between Georgetown and Rosslyn. And ,of course, recognizing BID’s most visible, daily project of all: Georgetown Clean Team that sets up for community events access and cleans the sidewalks and curbs every day.

“We can’t take all of this for granted,” Bowser said. “But, thanks to BID, Georgetown is hot!”

Sternlieb confirmed that Georgetown is poised to continue to be thriving with two large new hotels being developed – like the José Andrés hotel — and new restaurants. “Barnes and Noble is coming back in October,” he said. “Our new public safety initiative and investments to reduce crime through Pinto’s safety plans are paying off.”

Richard Levy of the Levy Group received the 25th Anniversary Community Partner Award. Eugene Abbott received the Clean Team Member of the Year Award. Officer Natalie Charles of MPD, 2nd District Unhoused Outreach, and Paul Caswell of DC DLCP, Ward 2 Account Manager, also received Community Partner Awards. The BID thanked outgoing Board members Nayan Patel, Michael Savage, Susan Calloway and Aba Kwawu.

The mayor presented Sternlieb with a congratulatory proclamation by the city, and the 25th anniversary party continued. After all, the goal was … to party like it’s 1999.

tagsbusiness developmentD.C. Mayor Muriel BowserGeorgetown Business Improvement DistrictGeorgetown commercial districtGeorgetown restaurantsGeorgetown retailJoe SternliebRichard Levy