Duke Ellington Gets Official Groundbreaking for Its Modernization Project

Robert Devaney • January 16, 2015

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Mayor Vincent Gray, D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson, other local politicians and school officials formally broke ground Dec. 19 for the Duke Ellington School for the Arts Modernization Project.

Ellington students have moved to Eugene Meyer Elementary School on 11th Street, NW. The 35th Street school is closed until September 2016 for redesign, renovation and additions.

The $82-million project will expand the historic school — built in 1898 and originally known as Western High School — to 294,900 square feet. The interior of the school will contain an atrium and a new 850-seat theater. The rooftop will have a classroom along with limited-use space. The school’s main portico will be preserved. Construction has already begun.

Among the speeches by Gray, Brian Hanlon of the Department of General Services and others, Father John Payne was remembered. Payne had become school principal this year and died suddenly Oct. 9.

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McFadden’s Closed After 5 Stabbed; 1 Stabbed at Zanzibar Club

Robert Devaney •

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Stabbings at late-night bars in the last 10 days have occurred on Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House and in the West End — adding to the recent uptick in violent crimes for the District of Columbia.

A Dec. 27 stabbing of five persons in McFadden’s has resulted in the restaurant’s closing by the Metropolitan Police Department with a Jan. 9 hearing with the D.C. Alcoholic Beverage and Control Board, which also suspended its license and said the restaurant “presents an imminent danger to the health and safety of the public.”

Located at 2401 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, three blocks from Georgetown, McFadden’s is popular with college students, especially those from nearby George Washington University.

None of the stabbing victims — who did not have life-threatening injuries — were identified as college students. The MPD has made no arrests or found the knife supposedly used by “a black man in a trench coat.”

At the time of the crime, neither security guards nor victims were said to be fully cooperative with the police.

According to the Washington Post, “no weapon was recovered, and two witnesses saw a bar-back ‘mopping up blood’ instead of preserving the crime scene. The manager admitted there were ‘about 215 patrons’ at McFadden’s, when the maximum capacity is 136. And though McFadden’s has a settlement agreement with neighbors that requires it to have a reimbursable detail, or officers assigned to monitor the location, police say McFadden’s hasn’t paid for one since June.”

A week after the McFadden’s stabbings and five blocks away, police arrested a man for stabbing and critically injuring another man in Zanzibar Night Club at 1901 Pennsylvania Ave., NW (its entrance is on 19th Street) on Jan. 3.

From the MPD: “The investigation revealed the stabbing occurred following a verbal dispute between two males. The victim was transported to a local hospital. The suspect 35-year-old Joseph Ricardo Johnson of Northeast, D.C. was arrested and charged with Assault with Intent to Kill.”

Like McFadden’s, Zanzibar is shut down and will face alcoholic beverage regulators on any other future issues.

Meanwhile, the MPD is looking for two persons of interest concerning the Dec. 27 incident at McFadden’s. It offers descriptions of the subjects as follows:

“Subject one: pictured below is a black male, approximately 28 years-old, approximately 5-feet-11-inches tall, with a slim build, medium complexion, and goatee. He was wearing a mid-length coat with a belt, a hat or hood.

“Subject two: pictured below is a black male, approximately 25 to 30 years-old, 5-feet-8-inches to 5-feet-10-inches tall, with a medium build and medium complexion. He was wearing a white shirt, dark jacket with a faux fur collar and trim, and light colored jeans.

“Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the police at 202-727-9099. Additionally, anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411. The Metropolitan Police Department currently offers a reward of up to $1,000 to anyone that provides information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons wanted for any assault committed in the District of Columbia.”

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mpdc.dc.gov

‘Je Suis Charlie’ Vigil at Newseum Joins Global Protest Against Paris Terror

Robert Devaney •

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Hundreds gathered inside and outside the Newseum on Pennsylvania Avenue Jan. 7 to stand with those in France and elsewhere in protest of the massacre of 10 journalists and two police officers earlier in the day in Paris by Islamic terrorists — and to stand for the right of free expression for everyone everywhere.

Three gunmen burst into the editorial offices of Charlie Hebdo, a satirical news publication also known for its provocative cartoons, shooting editors, writers and artists, and then shot a wounded police officer as they fled.

At the Newseum, many held signs that read, “Je Suis Charlie” (I am Charlie) and “Nous Sommes Tous Charlie” (We are all Charlie), supporting the right of the humor magazine to express itself, whoever or whatever is insulted. (The Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo had been bombed in 2011 because of its depiction of the Prophet Mohammed, founder of Islam.) Other signs read “The pen is mightier than the sword” and “Liberte. Egalite. Fraternite.” The group stood in front of the sidewalk display around 7 p.m. in temperatures dipping into the teens.

On hand among the crowd, many of whom were French, was Christine Lagarde, head of the International Monetary Fund, who echoed the sentiments of many lovers of democracy and free expression: “It’s an attack against the freedom of speech, and what it changes is that you have masses of people gathered here in Washington. You have masses of people who are standing up today to say freedom of press is critical.”

The group had thought of standing in front of the White House but chose the Newseum because the non-profit is a well-known museum of journalism and its history along with its primary “mission is to champion the five freedoms of the First Amendment through exhibits, public programs and education.”

The sanctuary to news and reporting wrote this about the Jan. 7 terrorist act: “The Newseum joins with journalists and all others who support freedom of expression to declare that such cowardly attempts to thwart free speech and a free press will not succeed, and that all people should be able to express themselves freely and without fear.”
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Georgetowners of the Year

Robert Devaney • December 19, 2014

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A Georgetowner newspaper tradition for decades, the naming of Georgetowners of the Year include: a person who has devoted time and talent to keeping a lively band of senior citizens even more active with programs that range from recitals to lectures and field trips; a non-profit relocated to town that is making an impact in the world of music, science and social innovation; and an everyday service business that has stressed a personal touch and community involvement that leaves you feeling you’ve known them for years.

Wendy Erlanger: The Georgetown Senior Center

When co-founder Virginia Luce Allen died in 2009, the future of the Georgetown Senior Center seemed uncertain. This volunteer-run, non-profit provides lunches for older people three times a week (on Monday, Wednesday and Friday) at St. John’s Episcopal Church on O Street NW – along with special programs, whether it be a workshop on Facebook or an afternoon at Nationals Park. Through the year, special events include the Long and Foster picnic, an afternoon delight at Clyde’s of Georgetown, a Thanksgiving meal from 1789 and lunches at Paolo’s Restaurant and Martin’s Tavern.
While the center has quite a list of volunteers – Jill Altman, Cathy Applin, Jorge Bernardo, Barbara Downs, Claire-Lise Levin, Mary Meyer and Janice Rahimi, to name a few – we wish to single out Wendy Erlanger. She has organized the programs for years and helped to keep the center afloat after the passing of Allen. (Erlanger also volunteers at the Peabody Room at Georgetown Public Library, N Street Village and elsewhere.) Her devotion is complete, her winning positivity endearing and effective. For such accomplishments – above and beyond – Wendy Erlanger of the Georgetown Senior Center is a Georgetowner of the Year for 2014.

Sachiko Kuno and Ryuji Ueno: S&R Foundation

When Doctors Ryuji Ueno and Sachiko Kuno of Sucampo Pharmaceuticals in Bethesda made themselves known in Georgetown by purchasing Evermay Estate in 2011 and then Halcyon House in 2012, their S&R Foundation had already been encouraging young artists and scientists for 10 years. What the married couple did next was to usher in Overtures musical series at Evermay and a business incubator fellowship and entrepreneurship program at Halcyon House, known as the Halcyon Incubator.
Whether dealing with Georgetown University, the Kennedy Center or their neighbors on 28th Street or Prospect Street, S&R’s co-founders Kuno and Ueno are graceful, creative and thoughtful, as is the foundation’s chief operating officer Kate Goodall. In a short period of time, S&R has made a big splash in town with its unique dedication to the arts and the sciences for the betterment of all.
Besides its arts programs and other seminars, what S&R shows us is how innovation is alive and well in Georgetown. For such accomplishments – above and beyond – S&R Foundation is a Georgetowner of the Year for 2014.

Hamood Abutaa and the Ladson Brothers: Georgetown Shell and Georgetown Exxon

When a fire destroyed a service station in 2011, the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and Q Street looked half-ruined for more than a year. The owner of Georgetown Exxon, Hamood Abutaa, stepped up and put up a new gas station with service bays in 2013, inaugurating the Georgetown Shell. He also owns Capitol Hill Exxon and a gas station in Alexandria. Abutaa and his mechanics-in-chief, Bobby Ladson of Georgetown Shell and Jamie Ladson of Georgtown Exxon – yes, they are brothers – have made the town their own, quickly making friends and fixing all manner of cars. The businesses immediately embraced this community, signing up for the Georgetown Business Association, and sponsoring various town events. Meanwhile, Georgetown Exxon cannot renew its lease, as the land will become the site of another condo complex. That news is lamented by residents.
What these businesses reveal is that our local businesses can also be our friends – and when they keep the town’s cars running, especially so. For such accomplishments – above and beyond – Georgetown Shell and Georgetown Exxon are a Georgetowner of the Year for 2014.
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Schedule and Traffic Alert: 3 Days of Memorials for Mayor Marion Barry

Robert Devaney • December 8, 2014

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Thursday, Dec. 4, through Saturday, Dec. 6, the family of former Mayor Marion Barry, Jr., will have a Celebration of Life Remembrance Ceremony to honor Mayor Marion Barry, Jr. — it is being called “A Life Ends …The Legacy Begins.”

As provided by the Metropolitan Police Department, the following street and route closures for this celebration will take place in the District of Columbia. In conjunction with this event, there will also be several temporary street closures that motorists should take into consideration:

On Thursday, Dec. 4, from 8 a.m. to midnight, Mayor Marion Barry Jr., will lie in repose at the Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave., NW. During these hours, the road ways on Pennsylvania Avenue NW, between 12th Street and 14th Street, NW, will have intermitted street closures as needed.

On Friday, Dec. 5, from 6 a.m. until 9 a.m., Mayor Marion Barry Jr., will lie in repose at the Wilson Building. The road ways on Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., between 12th Street and 14th Street, NW, will have intermitted street closures as needed.

Following the viewing, there will be intermitted street closures from 9 a.m until 12:30 p.m., for the citywide processional, which was said to include all eights wards. It will begin at the Wilson Building and conclude at the Temple of Praise Church, located at 700 Southern Ave., SE.

On Saturday, Dec. 6, from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., street closures will occur at the Washington Convention Center for Mayor Barry’s Memorial Ceremony. Street closures will be on L Street, between 7th and 9th Streets, NW.

Immediately after the memorial service, there will be intermitted street closures from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. along the processional route from Convention Center to the Congressional Cemetery, located at 1801 E St., SE.

MPD will co-ordinate intermitted street closures affecting vehicular traffic, Dec. 4 through Dec. 6, as needed. The intermitted street closures will be lifted when the events have concluded and do not pose a safety hazard to the public.

Georgetown-Burleith ANC Meets Tonight: Hyde-Addison School; C&O Canal Dock

Robert Devaney • December 4, 2014

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Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E will hold its December meeting, 6:30 p.m., tonight, Dec. 1, at Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, 35th Street and Volta Place, NW, Heritage Room, main building, second floor. This following is tonight’s meeting agenda, as provided by ANC 2E.

Approval of the Agenda

Approval of December 1, 2014, ANC 2E Public Meeting Agenda

Administrative:

Approval of November 3, 2014 Minutes.

Approval of FY2014 Fourth Quarter financial report.

Transportation Report

Public Safety Report

DPW Report

New Business:

Introduction of new commissioners-elect and retiring commissioners.
Fiola Mare request for daytime valet parking staging area.

Community Comment ABC

Via Umbria, 1525 Wisconsin Ave., NW, ABRA-097178
Epicurean & Co., Georgetown University
J. Paul’s, 3218 M St., NW, ABRA-72358

BZA

1351 LLC, 1351 Wisconsin Ave., NW BZA # 18884

Old Georgetown Board

MAJOR AND PUBLIC PROJECTS

1. 3219 O Street, NW

Hyde-Addison Elementary School Addition Concept

2. National Park Service C & O Canal National Historical Park

C&O Canal at 34th Street, NW New dock Concept

PRIVATE PROJECTS

1. SMD 02 OG 15-057

1544 33rd Street, NW — Residence One-story rear addition, alterations
Concept

2. SMD 03 OG 15-012

3206 N Street, NW

Commercial Alterations, replacement curtain wall, sign pylon and covering
Concept

3. SMD 03 OG 15-054

1351 Wisconsin Avenue, NW

Commercial Alterations, new windows, sunken courtyard at rear
Permit – revised design

4. SMD 03 OG 14-321

1513 Wisconsin Avenue, NW

Commercial Rooftop and rear additions Revised concept

5. SMD 03 OG 15-048

1525 Wisconsin Avenue, NW

Commercial Alterations to front and rear, sign – Via Umbria
Concept

6. SMD 03 OG 15-040

1529 Wisconsin Avenue, NW

Commercial Awnings, menu boxes, sign, lights
Yummi Crawfish Seafood restaurant – existing Permit

7. SMD 05 OG 15-052

1132 29th Street, NW

Commercial
Rear additions, alterations
Concept

8. SMD 05 OG 14-279

1223 34th Street, NW

Residence

Alterations

Permit

9. SMD 05 OG 14-346 1065

Thomas Jefferson Street, NW

Residence

Additions and alterations

Revised concept

10. SMD 05 OG 15-042

3333 M Street, NW

Commercial
Replacement garage door
Concept

11. SMD 05 OG 15-039

1065 Wisconsin Avenue, NW

Commercial Sign – Nadeau
Concept

12. SMD 05 OG 15-020

1218 Wisconsin Avenue, NW

Commercial Alterations to rear fence for incinerator
Permit

13. SMD 05 OG 15-036

1218 Wisconsin Avenue, NW

Commercial Retractable skylight enclosure of rear yard
Permit / Concept

No Review at this Time by ANC 2E: The following additional projects, which are on the upcoming December 4, 2014, agenda of the Old Georgetown Board, have not been added to the ANC meeting agenda for OGB-related design review, and we do not propose to adopt a resolution on them at this time. If there are concerns about any of these projects, please contact the ANC office by Friday, November 28, 2014.

1. SMD 02 OG 15-056

1519 35th Street, NW

Residence Alterations to masonry openings on carriage house Concept
RECOMMENDATION: Returned without Action. Submission materials and a site visit on 18 November 2014 indicate that proposed alterations to masonry openings on west wall of carriage house would not be visible from a public thoroughfare. Refer to the Historic Preservation Review Board.

2. SMD 02 OG 15-051

3235 R Street, NW

Residence One-story rear addition, alterations to pergola
Permit

3. SMD 02 OG 14-349 3252 S Street, NW (Square 2154, Lot 852)

Residence
Site alterations Revised concept

4. SMD 02 OG 15-046 3246 Jones Court, NW

Residence

Replacement windows

Permit

5. SMD 02 OG 14-369 3252 Jones Court, NW

Residence
Replacement windows
Permit

6. SMD 02 OG 15-015 1728 Wisconsin Avenue, NW

Commercial
Demolition, 3-story building
Revised concept

7. SMD 02 OG 14-320

1826 Wisconsin Avenue, NW

Commercial
Two-story rear addition, roof deck, green wall
Revised concept

8. SMD 03 OG 14-370

1411 33rd Street, NW

Residence
Replacement windows
Permit

9. SMD 03 OG 15-019

1413 Wisconsin Avenue, NW

Commercial Replacement windows – existing
Permit

10. SMD 05 OG 15-050

1032 29th Street, NW

Commercial
Alterations, replacement door and gate
Permit

11. SMD 05 OG 15-044

1054 31st Street, NW

Commercial Replacement doors
Permit

12. SMD 05 OG 15-041

1028 33rd Street, NW

Commercial Sign – Thomas Moser
Permit

13. SMD 05 OG 14-329

3600 M Street, NW

Mixed-use Alterations to wood doors, replacement aluminum windows and storefront
Permit

14. SMD 05 OG 15-047

3330 Cady’s Alley, NW

Commercial Alterations to masonry openings Concept

15. SMD 05 OG 15-058

3069 Canal Street, NW

Residence Rear addition, replacement doors Permit

16. SMD 06 OG 14-289

1216 30th Street, NW

Residence Roof replacement Permit

17. SMD 06 OG 15-027

1319 30th Street, NW

Residence Alterations Concept

18.SMD06 OG15-055

1319 30th Street, NW

Residence Alterations Concept

19. SMD 07 OG 15-030

1633 31st Street, NW

Residence New garage Permit

20. SMD 07 OG 15-045

2703 P Street, NW

Residence Replacement front stairs and fence Permit / concept

21. SMD 07 OG 15-017

2523 Q Street, NW

Residence New window openings on side wall Permit

22. SMD 07 OG 15-007

2715 Q Street, NW (Square 1285, Lot 801)

Dumbarton House Replacement garage door Permit

23. SMD 07 OG 15-008

1901 Wisconsin Avenue, NW

Commercial Awning, alterations Permit

24. SMD 08 OG 14-264

3614 Prospect Street, NW

Residence Partial demolition, 2-story rear/ rooftop addition, alterations to front, replacement windows
Revised concept

25. OG 14-292

3700 O Street, NW

Georgetown University Site work for new bus turnaround
Concept

26. OG 15-049

3700 O Street, NW Georgetown University – Ryan and Mulledy Halls

Alterations and site work
Permit

27. OG 15-037 —

3700 O Street, NW Georgetown University – J.R. Thompson Intercollegiate Athletic Center

New construction
Permit

28. OG 14-353 —

3220 Prospect Street, NW

Commercial
New construction

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E — 3265 S St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20007 — 202-724-7098 — anc2e@dc.gov — www.anc2e.com.

Neam’s Property Under Contract to Roadside Development

Robert Devaney • December 1, 2014

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Known for its mindful remaking of historic properties, Roadside Development has the old Neam’s Market property at 3215-3217 P St. NW, also known as the Marvelous Market property, under contract.

Roadside — which is the development firm that recast the old Sears and Hechinger property in Tenleytown with retail and residential units and is set to remake Frager’s Hardware on Capitol Hill — is still in the planning stages for what to do with the closed building with a 13-car parking lot at the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and P Street, where the last Marvelous Market stood until the end of April. The legendary Neam’s Market closed in 2001.

“We don’t own the Marvelous Market property,” Richard Lake, one of Roadside’s founding partners, told The Georgetowner. “We have it under contract. We aren’t talking about plans because we haven’t formulated them completely.”

Roadside has listed the property on its website as part of its portfolio: “Prime Georgetown Retail space available. Ideally situated at the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue, NW and P Street, NW, this marquee corner location has 13 dedicated retail parking spaces. The site offers tremendous branding, visibility and unparalleled accessibility.” According to Roadside, the building space totals 5,873 square feet.

“It’s a really cool corner, and it has a lot of history,” Lake said. “Neam’s Market was on that site for years. The corner is a Washington institution. Obviously, it’s a small piece of property. We want to do something neat there, if we are able to.”

Led by founding partners, Lake, Armond Spikell and Todd Weiss, the D.C.-based Roadside also redeveloped the old market hall at 8th and O Streets into the Market at O with a new Giant food store along with a condominium and Cambria Suites hotel. It also has projects in Virginia and Maryland.
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Rent the Runway Opens in Georgetown

Robert Devaney •

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Rent the Runway, the women’s online service that rents luxury gowns, designer dresses and accessories, opened a store at 3336 M St. NW on Nov. 24. Checking out flashy, stylish outfits and sipping wine, influential women of D.C. flooded the 4,354-square-foot Georgetown space that is larger than its New York store. [gallery ids="101933,136078,136072,136076" nav="thumbs"]

Lolo Sarnoff, Arts for Aging Founder, Dies at 98

Robert Devaney • November 26, 2014

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Scientist, sculptor and arts patron Lolo Sarnoff died Nov. 9 at the age of 98. She was best known later in later as the founder of Arts for the Aging, a nonprofit which provides arts engagement programs for older adults in the greater Washington area.

Lili-Charlotte (Lolo) Sarnoff was born in Frankfurt, Germany, daughter of Willy and Martha Dreyfus, nee Koch. Later, the family moved to Berlin and after 1936 to Switzerland. Her big dream was to be a fashion designer. She studied at the University of Zurich and married her first husband an American doctoral student, Stephen Heineman.

After World War II and serving as a nurse at New York’s Bellevue Hospital, she met her second husband, Stanley Sarnoff.

In 1954, with their young children Robert and Dana, the Sarnoffs moved to Bethesda to work at the National Institutes of Health. The couple co-invented the electro-phrenic respirator, a device that replaced the iron lung in the treatment of bulbar polio. They also formed their scientific research company.

In the 1960s, Sarnoff began to become more active in the arts community. She co-founded the Washington Performing Arts Society Women’s Committee and the Washington Opera Women’s Committee. She is a trustee of the Washington Ballet and involved with the Corcoran Women’s Committee.

In 1971, one of Sarnoff’s sculptures, “The Flame,” was installed at the Kennedy Center’s Opera House. Later, after she taught art at an NIH program for those with Alzheimer’s disease, Sarnoff began Arts For The Aging, Inc., with its arts education programs for those will all forms of dementia.

Sarnoff is survived by her children, Dana Bargezi and Robert and Tricia Sarnoff; four grandchildren, Nick Bargezi, Ivan and Genesis Belanger, Kyle and Patrick Feinson, and by one great-granddaughter, Lily Sophie Bargezi. (Her husband died in 1990.)

Memorial services and burial will be held in Vermont at a later date. The Cabot Funeral Home in Woodstock, Vt., is assisting the family.