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Georgetowner • April 17, 2014

Georgetown Park retail space is getting an upgrade with three new additions this month, including shoe retailer DSW, the shop-in-shop Bhldn and a new Department of Motor Vehicles service center.

DSW opened this morning in Georgetown Park at the entrance near Washington Sports Center. The 22,000-square-foot space offers discount shoes, accessories, and handbags for Georgetown shoppers to enjoy. The store will be open Monday through Saturday from 10am to 8pm and Sunday from 12pm to 6pm.

Bhldn, Anthropology’s sister brand, is opening their shop-in-shop within Anthropology tomorrow. Bhldn (pronounced “beholden”) is a bridal boutique focused on vintage inspired gowns and accessories. The shop-in-shop will have their wedding dresses to choose from as well as reception gowns, bridesmaid dresses, and accessories. The store will be open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and noon to 7 p.m., Sunday.

While a ribbon-cutting with Mayor Vincent Gray is scheduled Monday, April 14, the DMV service center is slated to open April 29 at the Georgetown Park space. The center will share an entrance on M Street across from Dean & DeLuca with Washington Sports Club and DSW, but will actually be on the floor below. The new DMV comes just over two years after they shut own the previous Georgetown DMV center in 2013. “There will now be a D.C. DMV service center in every quadrant of the city,” said Vanessa Newton, DMV public affairs specialist.

Georgetown Park, originally an indoor mall, is now focused on retail space on the street.

Paulina Phelps •

With the beautiful weather and cherry blossoms in full bloom, it is easy to forget that “Potholepalooza” season is here.

For those unfamiliar, “Potholepalooza” is a month of the year, when the District Department of Transportation is totally dedicated to reporting and restoring potholes. While this is helpful and beneficial as it makes the road much more vehicle-friendly, it also infamously creates traffic jams and delays.

Due to the weather conditions, the start of “Potholepalooza, “which in past years begins at the end of March, was announced April 9. “The unusually cold winter coupled with the snow and temperature fluctuations have all taken a toll on our roads,” said Mayor Vincent Gray in a press release.

It has already been a very productive year for DDOT. The department has patched more than 9,000 potholes this winter alone — with crews patching up more than twice as many potholes this January and February as they did last year. DDOT has decided to step up its game in other ways as well. For instance, it added more patching crews and increased the goal for fixing potholes from 72 hours to 48 hours.

During “Potholepalooza,” Washingtonians are encouraged to report potholes to get in touch with the city through a number of avenues. For instance, one could call 311, tweet @DDOTDC, or email potholepalooza@dc.gov.

For more information, such as a map of the potholes that are closed, open, and pending is found on this website: [http://gis.ddot.dc.gov/potholeapp/](http://gis.ddot.dc.gov/potholeapp/)

Robert Devaney •

Mayor Vincent Gray and other D.C. officials cut the ribbon April 14 for the soon-to-reopen Georgetown service office of the Department of Motor Vehicles after its nearly two-year absence. As it was previously, the office is located in the Georgetown Park retail complex at 3222 M St., NW. Entry for the DMV center is the one at the western M Street entrance of the retail complex for DSW and Washington Sports Club.

The Georgetown DMV will open for business April 29: hours are 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. The new 12,000-square-foot space has 150 seats and is twice the area as the old center; it is on the lower level. On average, the Georgetown DMV has handled 500 persons per day; the new center will be able to handle at least 600 per day.

Speaking at the morning press conference were Gray, council members Jack Evans of Ward 2 (where the DMV office is located) Mary Cheh and advisory neighborhood commissioner Bill Starrels — along with Brian Hanlon, director of the D.C. Department of General Services, and Lucinda Babers, DMV director — and representatives of landlord Vornado Realty Trust and contractor Davis Construction.

Babers said she was grateful for all the teamwork to make the DMV office return to Georgetown after its May 2012 closing. Declaring it “a beautiful at the DMV,” Babers said, “It takes a village.” Meanwhile, she noted DMV workers were undergoing employee training.

Also coming are new requirements for DMV-issued identification cards. There are already newly designed driver IDs. On Oct. 1, updated federal IDs will be required for entry into federal buildings — a particularly acute need for those who work and live in D.C. The REAL ID Act will require revalidation of all driver’s licenses in the years ahead. By April 1, 2016, old IDs regardless of expiration date will not be acknowledged for air travel by the Transportation Security Adminstration.

DMV will notify those whose IDs will become obsolete, Babers said, and assign appointment times to come into the DMV center to revalidate. Baber said DMV has issued 541,000 driver or non-driver IDs.

Nicole Cusick •

On April 16, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery in the District of Columbia. This act marked an important moment in American history, preceding Lincoln’s more famous Emancipation Proclamation, and is celebrated in D.C. with citywide events.

During the Civil War, D.C. was a common place of escape for slaves running from the slave states of the South. There was a lot of pressure on the president to abolish slavery in the city. In 1862, with the help of Henry Wilson of Massachusetts, Lincoln signed the D.C. Compensated Emancipation Act, a unique law by Congress that abolished slavery in the District and allowed compensation to the former owners.

The black community of the city organized a parade to celebrate the anniversary in 1866. After an absence of 100 years, the parade returned in the 21st Century as part of an annual tradition – and a heightened awareness by citizens of this important step in the march of freedom. Several additional events around April 16 have come along since then.
The D.C. Emancipation Day Parade will run 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday, April 16, along Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, between Third Street and 13th Streets. The parade will feature public officials, government agencies, community organizations, D.C. schools, the military, churches and universities. Since 2005, April 16 has been an official public holiday in the District of Columbia; local government offices will be closed.

At 3 p.m., Wednesday, there will be a free concert near the end of the parade location on 13th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. The concert will include performances by Talib Kweli, Dough E. Fresh, DJ Kool, J Ivy, and D.C.’s own Black Alley Band. There will be vendors with food and drinks to add to the celebration.

To end the day of celebration on a more contemplative note, go the Walter Pierce Park on Calvert Street, NW, at the Duke Ellington Bridge. There will be a luminaire to honor the 8,428 African Americans who are buried in the park.

For more information on Emancipation Day events and the history of the holiday, visit: http://emancipation.dc.gov/

Photos below are from The Emancipation Day Panel; Celebrity Town Hall Discussion at the Lincoln Theatre, April 13.

Centric, a BET Network, the Office of Cable Television, the office of District Council member Vincent Orange and Howard University’s WHUT partner to present the Emancipation Day Panel, a town hall-style discussion focused on important topics affecting youth and the African-American community. Topics involved education, employment, closures of hospitals and healthcare facilities, anti-violence, prison reform and other social issues. Moderated by TV host, reporter and producer Robyn Murphy, the event’s panelists included actress and recording artist Toni Blackman, hip hop artist MC Hammer, Public Enemy’s Chuck D, social and political correspondent Michael Skolnik, president of Russell Simmon’s GlobalGrind.com, and recording artist Monie Love, founder of the Ladies First Women’s Empowerment Organization. The town hall will air as a one-hour television special, complemented with highlights from all official D.C. Emancipation Day celebrations, for future broadcast on CentricTV and WHUT Television.
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Paulina Phelps •

Are doctors making a small fortune off Medicare?

On April 9, the Washington Post reported that, according to new data, Medicare, the government insurance program for elderly people, has paid nearly 4,000 physicians more than $1 million each in 2012.

These findings reveal the possibility of corruption in our government and its programs. “The release of the information gives the public access for the first time to the billing practices of individual doctors nationwide,” reported the Post. The highest billing totals could reflect for some physician’s extreme efficiency or an unusually high number of patients. However, it could also signal fraudulent behavior among doctors, as has been previously found by government inspectors.

The Washington Business Journal reported on April 9 that before the leak of this information, “The American Medical Association and other physician groups had resisted the data release, arguing the information violates doctor privacy and the public may misconstrue details about individual doctors.” The doctors who profited the most were those who specialize in procedures that require costly operations.

“The specialists most common at the top ranks of the Medicare payments were ophthalmologists, oncologists, and pathologists,” according to the Washington Post. Many of these doctors understandably worry this data released to the public could be misleading. For instance, the Post quoted Minh Nguyen, “a hematologist-oncologist at Orange Coast Oncology in Newport Beach, Calif.,” who said, “It looks like I’m getting paid $9 million .?.?. but it’s a pass-through,” he said. “The majority of the billing goes to pay the drug companies.”

Robert Devaney •

The Hyde-Addison Elementary School at 3219 O St., NW, has revised plans to expand its school and play areas, as it presents designs before community reviews groups like the Georgetown Advisory Neighborhood Commission.

The addition of a third building – with a playground on top – on the O Street side of the school property will house a cafeteria, gymnasium and extra classrooms, leading to an additional 25,000 square feet. The new building would be partly underground. While another plan adds a section to the back of Addison School, most favored is the O Street building with its greater use of light and smart connection to the old school. Hyde’s School Improvement Team expressed its frustration with approval delays for the start of construction at the overcrowded and popular school.

At the March 31 ANC meeting, commissioners approved the O Street concept. The Old Georgetown Board will look again at the concept.

During the March 31 ANC meeting, other decisions included:

• While the ANC supports 150 new apartments at the old Latham Hotel, 3000 M St., NW, it disapproved of the facade’s designs, especially the reconstruction of the retail building in front of the hotel.

• Concerning condos planned by EastBanc at 3601-3607 M St., NW, the ANC disliked the stark boxy look and also wanted the developer to lower rooftop fixtures. It asked that the stability of the hillside property of Prospect Street homeowners above be checked out.

•The ANC wants the D.C. Department of Public Works to work out a better way of picking up old trash cans when new trash and recycling containers are given out during the summer.

• Flexi-Pave material that overlies tree box space on crowded sidewalks along the commercial corridor of Wisconsin Avenue and M Street was approved. The special plastic protects the trees’ roots, while allowing water to penetrate and flow through the dirt to roots.

Robert Devaney •

Tonight, the Georgetown Burleith Advisory Neighborhood Commission will meet for its April meeting because of the Old Georgetown Board’s meeting on April 3.

The monthly meeting for ANC 2E begins 6:30 p.m., March 31, Heritage Room, second floor, Founders Hall (main administration building), Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, 35th Street and Volta Place, NW.

The following agenda was provided by ANC2E (202-724-7098 — anc2e@dc.gov — www.anc2e.com):

• Approval of March 31, 2014, ANC 2E Public Meeting Agenda

Administrative

• Approval of March 3, 2014, Meeting Minutes

• Public Safety and Police Report

• Financial Report

• Transportation Report

• DPW Report Community Comment

• Nike Half Marathon at the Waterfront New Business

• DC Water re: upstream fracking

• Wisconsin Ave/Whitehaven/35th Street – new traffic signal and traffic pattern

• Concerts in the Parks 2014 – Sunday, May 18, Volta Park, Sunday, June 15th, Volta Park, Sunday, July 13, Rose Park

• Nation’s Triathlon – Sunday, September 7, 2014

• 3040 O Street, NW – Temporary closing of the alley for 4 hours

• Delivery schedule for new trash cans

DDOT Public Space

• 1912 35th Street, NW, DDOT Tracking Number 92472, Application to occupy public space for the purpose of Paving: Driveway(s) Repair or Replace, Fixture: Wall/Fence Combo, Projections: Balcony, Projections: Stoop & Steps (April 7)

• 2810 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, DDOT Tracking Number 92496, Application to occupy public space for the purpose of PS Rental: Sidewalk Café (unenclosed).
(April 7)

ABC

• 1855 Wisconsin Ave, NW, ABRA License No. 75687, Safeway – hours for ABC license

Old Georgetown Board — Major and Public Projects

SMD 03, Government of the District of Columbia, Department of General Services, 3219 O Street, NW, OG 14-020 (HPA 14-024) Hyde-Addison Elementary School, Addition, Concept

SMD 05, M Street and Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Government of the District of Columbia, DC DDOT – Urban Forestry Administration, Installation of FlexiPave material on tree beds on M Street and on Wisconsin Avenue, Final

SMD 05, 3601-3607 M Street, NW, OG 14-113 (HPA 14-220) Residential, New building, Concept

PRIVATE PROJECTS:

1. SMD 07, 2703 P Street, NW, OG 14-126 (HPA 14-265) Residence, one-story rear addition, Concept

2. SMD 02, 3413 R Street, NW, OG 14-140 (HPA 14-280) Residence, two-story rear addition plus basement to replace porch, Concept

3. SMD 03, 1236 33rd Street, NW, OG 14-135 (HPA 14-275) Residence, Demolition of rear garage, new garage, Concept

4. SMD 03, 3422 P Street, NW, OG 14-144 (HPA 14-284) Residence, Alterations to carriage house, Concept

5. SMD 05, 3000 M Street, NW, OG 14-130 (HPA 14-270) Mixed-use, Partial demolition, addition, alterations, Concept

6. SMD 05, 3241 M Street, NW, OG 14-119 (HPA 14-233) Commercial, Awning and sign – Bandolero – existing, Permit

7. SMD 05, 3256 M Street, NW, OG 14-035 (HPA 14-057) Commercial, Rooftop antennas, Permit

8. SMD 05, 3600 M Street, NW, OG 14-120 (HPA 14-234) Office building, Demolition and reconstruction of brick walls, alterations to roof terrace, Permit

9. SMD 05, 3604 Prospect Street, NW, OG 14-139 (HPA 14-279) Residence, Alterations to rear, decks, awnings, replacement windows, Permit

10. SMD 06, 1231-1235 31st Street, NW, OG 14-137 (HPA 14-277) Alterations, Concept

11. SMD 06, 3025 M Street, NW, OG 14-129 (HPA 14-268) Commercial, Awning and signs – American Apparel – existing, Permit

No Review At This Time by ANC 2E: The following additional projects, which are on the upcoming April 3, 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, March 28, 2014.

1. SMD 02, 1660 34th Street, NW, OG 14-062 (HPA 14-104) Residence, Rear additions, demolition and reconstruction of front façade, Revised Concept

2. SMD 07, 3205 R Street, NW, OG 14-127 (HPA 14-266) Residence, Alterations to pool house, Concept

3. SMD 02, 3520 Reservoir Road, NW, OG 14 -122 (HPA 14-239) Residence, Replacement windows and door, Permit

4. SMD 02, 3223 Volta Place, NW, OG 14-118 (HPA 14-230) Residence, Alterations to rear yard, brick wall, fence, pavers for parking pad, Permit

5. SMD 03, 1512 33rd Street, NW, OG 14-136 (HPA 14-276) Residence, Replacement fence, Permit

6. SMD 03, 3403 O Street, NW, OG 14-128 (HPA 14-267) Residence, Replacement windows, alterations to rear, Permit

7. SMD 03, 3238 P Street, NW, OG 14-103 (HPA 14-206) Residence, Two- story rear addition, Concept

8. SMD 03, 3240 P Street, NW, OG 14-053 (HPA 14-077) Commercial, 2- story rear addition plus basement, Revised Concept

9. SMD 03, 3107 Dumbarton Street, NW, OG 14-058 (HPA 14-100) Residence, 2-story rear addition to replace 2-story porch, Revised Concept

10. SMD 04, 3700 O Street, NW, OG 14-132 (HPA 14-272) Georgetown University – Athletic Training Facility, New construction, Concept—design development

11. SMD 04, 3700 O Street, NW, OG 14-141 (HPA 14-281) Georgetown
University – New Science Center, ADA ramp and curb-cut

12. SMD 05, 3000 K Street, NW, OG 14-133 (HPA 14-273) Mixed-use, Wall-mounted antenna for Verizon Wireless, Concept

13. SMD 05, 3286 M Street, NW, OG 14-034 (HPA 14-051) Commercial,
Signs for parking lot, Permit

14. SMD 05, 3314 M Street, NW, OG 14-111 (HPA 14-217) Commercial,
Alterations to Cady’s Alley: green screens, lighting, speeding tables, landscaping

15. SMD 05, 3323 Cady’s Alley, NW, OG 14-121 (HPA 14-236) Commercial, Banner sign – Artist’s Proof Gallery, Permit

16. SMD 05, 1209-1211 Potomac Street, NW, OG 14-070 (HPA 14-112)
Restaurant (Georgetown Cupcake), Alteration to first floor window, 2nd floor replacement windows – existing, Permit

17. SMD 05, 1025 Thomas Jefferson Street, NW, OG 14-138 (HPA 14-278) Office building, Alterations to paving, Concept

18. SMD 05, 1045 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 14-131 (HPA 14-271) Residential, Alteration, Permit – revised design

19. SMD 05, 1251 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 14-142 (HPA 14-282) Commercial, Back-lit sign, graphics – Reebok, Permit

20. SMD 06, 1510 30th Street, NW, OG 14-134 (HPA 14-274) Residence, Site work: stairs, replacement fence, paving, Permit

21. SMD 06, 2722 P Street, NW, OG 14-124 (HPA 14-263) Residence, Replacement windows and doors, alterations to rear, shutters, Permit

22. SMD 06, 2715 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, OG 14-102 (HPA 14-205) Commercial, Signs – Valero gas station, Permit

23. SMD 07, 1601 30th Street, NW, OG 14-123 (HPA 14-262) Residence, Brick wall and gate to replace fence, Permit

24. SMD 07, 3028 Cambridge Place, NW, OG 14-100 (HPA 14-203) Residence, Replacement windows, Permit

25. SMD 08, 3700 O Street, NW, OG 14-125 (HPA 14-264) Georgetown University – Healy Hall, Restoration, Concept

Agenda as of 2 p.m., March 24, 2014.

Robert Devaney •

For the Washington Nationals, the new baseball season brings new developments. Besides the new coach and players, check out these new options at National Park, which has new clubs, concessions, menu items, ticketing platforms and eCash apps.

“This is baseball. We’re blessed to work here,” said Valerie Camillo, who was recently appointed chief revenue and marketing officer for the Washington Nationals. Camillo was explaining what is new for the fans in the stands this season. It is all about making the best fan experience with “team service,” she said.

For season plan holders, here are some ballpark upgrades: a redesigned webpage and use of a personal dashboard, along with mobile apps and “eCash Only Lines,” a quick way to purchase. With their special access cards, fans can earn Red Carpet points, which can get them practice passes, autographed items and more.

Bobbleheads are popular, and the Nats have increased the give-aways to seven. There are redesigned stands with digital menus — and even an increased farm-to-table program.

The new concessions and food made the most news.

There is G at National Park from chef Mike Isabella with his sandwiches at Section 136. While there is a cauliflower veggie sandwich, there’s also the Drewno, centered on kielbasa, and called “a hot dog on steroids.”

There are Intentional Wok, a great name for stir fry noodles, Chesapeake Crab Cake (great crab nachos), Bullpen Burrito — and even South Capitol Sushi.

The Nats expanded Ben’s Chili Bowl, Hard Times, Change Up Chicken and Field of Greens.

For sophisticated drinks, there are aged bourbon at various spots and “Firkin Friday” with special beers in the Red Porch.

The team store will be expanded and moved to the right of center field plaza. There will also a shop dedicated to women’s wear with original designs.

As for new clubrooms in the suite level, Norfolk Southern Club replaces the Star & Stripes Club, along with the newly built Gold Glove Club and Silver Slugger Club.

The Heineken Red Star Bar, located near Section 205, should be a popular destination as D.C. is the number-one market for Heineken for volume per capita.

The Levy Restaurant Group runs the concessions for the stadium and manages other food businesses at many other stadiums and event arenas across America, including Wrigley Field and Verizon Center, as well as O2 Arena in London.

Meanwhile, Sport Illustrated and ESPN Magazine have picked the Washington Nationals to win the World Series. Now, that’s “Nothing But Natitude.”

the Georgetowner •

During a search for missing Relisha Rudd in Kenilworth Park March 31, Metropolitan Police said it discovered the body of an adult male.

During an afternoon press conference, D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier said that the dead man’s identity was not yet known but expected an ID soon and that the search for Rudd would continue. Lanier also told the media that the man appeared to have killed himself but could not confirm that.

According to ABC7 News, sources told the news outlet that “it is possible the body belongs to Kahlil Tatum, Relisha’s alleged kidnapper, who is also wanted by the FBI in connection with the death of his wife, Andrea Tatum.”

Those same sources told ABC7 News, it reported, “that the male victim appears to have been shot in the head and that a gun was found in his lap …”

During a March 27 press conference near Kenilworth Park, Lanier first announced, “We cannot ignore the possibility that he may have killed her.” Lanier was referring Tatum, the suspected abductor, who worked at the shelter, where Rudd and her mother lived. D.C. police also labeled their efforts “a recovery operation.”

The search at Kenilworth Park has involved the D.C. Fire Department and Emergency Services, the Metropolitan Police Department and a K-9 unit and the Prince George’s County Police, conducting a “grid search” of the wooded 700-acre area in Northeast D.C. on the Anacostia River.

After information was disclosed which tracked Tatum to the Kenilworth Park area, investigators began the search. Investigators also reported that on March 2, a day after Rudd was last seen, Tatum spent considerable time in Kenilworth Park. In addition, according to NBC4 News, on March 2 he had purchased suspicious items like garbage bags, a shovel, and lime, which can be used to speed up the decomposition of bodies as well.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Relisha Rudd or Kahlil Tatum is asked to call 911or the Command Information Center at 202-727-9099 or 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).