Latest News

Robert Devaney • July 18, 2013

Georgetown University continues its search for additional campus space. This week, it will appear before a local advisory neighborhood commission July 18 to present its potential use of the remaining area of the now-closed Walter Reed Army Medical Center, as explained by its COO, provost and medical school dean.

On 16th Street, NW, Walter Reed was located at 6900 Georgia Ave., NW. In August 2011, it moved its operations to Bethesda Naval Hospital. Part of the land is now used by the State Department, but the District controls 66.5 acres fit for redevelopment for offices, housing, shopping — and school buildings.

Developer Forest City Washington is partnered with the university and will make the pitch to the ANC that involves graduate programs and other uses, such as working with non-profits.

The following is the university’s statement by Christopher Augostini, senior vice president and chief operating officer; Robert Groves, executive vice president of main campus and provost; Howard Federoff, M.D., executive vice president for health sciences and executive dean of the School of Medicine:

Over the past year, Georgetown University has been engaged in a comprehensive master planning process. While recognizing that our historic main campus has limited space, we believe that future growth is necessary for our institutional health and sustainability.

Our integrated master planning process includes carefully looking at our options for growth as we develop a strategic vision for the future of our academic programs.

Opportunities are arising for growth and development in various parts of the District of Columbia and the surrounding metro area. We believe it is essential for us to position ourselves to look carefully at every opportunity for growth as we continue to learn and clarify our future needs. Our goal is to understand more about these opportunities as they become available, even as we clarify the activities we might undertake on future.

We believe Georgetown University is positioned to be a strong partner in meaningfully contributing to Washington in these coming years. We are engaged in constant conversation with the District about how we can best partner with them as they redevelop properties across the city that were once home to large federal programs and agencies.

As we move forward, you will likely hear that we are engaged in exploring various sites around the District. One such opportunity is the redevelopment of Walter Reed Army Medical Center in upper northwest Washington. There, the District has announced that the State Department will occupy part of the space and is soliciting development partners to re-imagine the remaining space. This is a tremendously important project for the District of Columbia and a possible development opportunity with many benefits for the university to explore.

The District has solicited developers to make presentations for Walter Reed. Forest City Washington has asked Georgetown University to partner on a proposal that includes exploring the possibility of expanding the university’s graduate education activities, research facilities, collaborations with private sector firms, and potentially other non profit and government entities to both accommodate growth and provide a catalyst for broader collaborations. This site has the potential to be a campus for innovation that could combine our institutional strengths with private sector, non-profit and other institutional entities, all focused on developing ideas and solutions for next generation global problem-solving.

While we are not far enough along in our master planning to determine specifically what programs and activities we would undertake at Walter Reed, we believe it is in the best interest of our institution to explore this potential partnership. As such, we will make a proposal with Forest City Washington to the District, which will be presented at a public meeting next Thursday at a meeting hosted by the local Advisory Neighborhood Commission near Walter Reed. Should we proceed in this process, we look forward to working with all of you to help invent and evaluate alternative uses of Walter Reed.

The city has also made clear their goal to develop areas in the south and the east of the District of Columbia. For example, the former St. Elizabeth’s Hospital is a site that may hold opportunity for consideration by Georgetown University. Additional opportunities east of the river may present in the future, and we will continue the conversation with the city regarding other development opportunities.

We wanted you to be aware of our engagement in these potential opportunities in the weeks and months ahead. We look forward to continuing our master planning work and are grateful for your continued participation and support in this important process. While all master planning activities require thinking far ahead of the easily foreseeable future, real decisions regarding academic uses of space must be taken with wide input from all the Georgetown community. We welcome your thoughts and comments at any time.

Rachel Scola • July 17, 2013

The first anniversary calls for a traditional paper gift. The 25th means a gift of silver, and the 50th means gold. But what do you get for a federal territory that is celebrating its 223 anniversary and already has it all?

Yes, the District of Columbia has formally been a territory for 223 years. President George Washington signed the Permanent Seat of Government Act on July 16, 1790, making D.C. the federal capital.

Happy birthday, D.C., as if any of us Washingtonians need more reasons to celebrate this great city and region.

In 1788, James Madison wrote about the importance of a central location for the government. In 1790, Congress passed the Residence Act, approving the creation of a capital on the Potomac River. Congress held its first session in D.C. in November 1800.

Land from Virginia and Maryland was donated to form Washington, although Virginia’s land was later returned to the Old Dominion. The city was named after that first president who chose this very location on the Potomac. Today, the metro area has a population of approximately 5.7 million.

No word yet on who gets to blow out all 223 candles.

Racquel Richards • July 9, 2013

Calypso St. Barth is coming to Georgetown, as confirmed by EastBanc, Inc., and Jamestown. The upscale retailer will occupy the retail space at 3307 M St, NW; it signed a 10-year lease. The showroom space will replace both occupants, AT&T Wireless and Salon Rafik. Calypso St. Barth plans to open its first D.C. store in early spring 2014.

Originally, Calypso St. Barth was founded in 1992 as a modest resort-wear luxury brand. Since then, the boutique has grown into a luxury lifestyle brand. The high-end clothing store features pieces with rich textures, exotic colors and embellishments that appeal to modern women consumers.

Along Georgetown’s M Street corridor, the retail space represents prime commercial property. Apart from the lease agreement made between the retailer and Georgetown Renaissance, other deals have been made with popular retailers, such as CB2, West Elm and Intermix. With the Calypso St. Barth deal, Georgetown’s western movement in fashion will balance the current fashion tenants –Intermix, Bonobos, Babette, Relish, City Sports and the North Face.

“Calypso St. Barth will deliver a combination of sophistication in both fashion and design disciplines to the vibrant retail community in Georgetown,” said Anthony Lanier, president of Eastbanc. “The store’s blend of fashion and home furnishings makes this brand a perfect fit for the Georgetown Renaissance portfolio that supports our commitment to the neighborhood’s status as Washington’s premier retail destination.”

Rachel Scola • July 8, 2013

Fireworks, celebration and road closings oh my! The District Department of Transportation is advising participants to take notice of advisories that will impact July 4th travel on Thursday. As always, both motorists and pedestrians should be smart, aware and alert while traveling.

A Capitol 4th Celebration on the National Mall:

No Parking Restrictions from 5 AM to 11 PM:

• 3rd Street, from Independence to Constitution Avenue, NW

• 4th Street, from Independence to Constitution Avenue, NW

• 7th Street, from Independence to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

• 14th Street, from Independence to Constitution Avenue, NW

• 15th Street, from Constitution to E Street NW

• 17th Street, from Constitution to E Street NW

• Constitution Avenue, both sides, from Pennsylvania Avenue, west to 23rd Street, NW

• 10th Street, NW, between Constitution and Pennsylvania Avenues, NW

• 14th Street, NW, between Constitution and Pennsylvania Avenues, NW

• C Street, NW, from 17th to 18th Street (Both Sides)

Virginia Avenue, NW from Constitution Avenue to 21st Street, NW.

Streets Closed from 6 AM to 11 PM

• 4th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Constitution Avenue, NW

• 7th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Constitution Avenue, NW

• 15th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to Maine Avenue, SW

• 17th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to E Street, NW

• 19th Street, NW from C Street to Constitution Avenue

• 20th Street, NW from C Street to Constitution Avenue

• 21st Street, NW from C Street to Constitution Avenue

• 22nd Street, NW from C Street to Constitution Avenue

• 23rd Street, NW from Independence Avenue, SW to C Street, NW

• Virginia Avenue, NW from 18th Street to 20th Street

• Constitution Avenue, NW from 14th Street to 23rd Street

• Independence Avenue, SW from 14th Street to 23rd Street

July 4th Parade:

The total amount of time for the parades will be from about 1:30 AM to 5 PM. However, from 9 AM to 6 PM, Constitution Avenue NE will be closed between 7th and 23rd Streets. Also closed, 7th Street NW from Constitution Avenue NW to Independence Avenue SW.

Palisades & Capitol Hill Parades:

Both of these parades will have rolling closures throughout. They take place in the middle of the day, with the Palisades lasting from 12-2 and Capitol Hill running from 10-12.

After the evening’s fireworks, DDOT will be running Operation Fast-Forward to allow organizations to manage traffic and test evacuation plans. Signals will be retimed to allow those exiting the city more time; the total operation should take about 60 minutes. The routes are as follows:

• Constitution Avenue NW from Pennsylvania to Theodore Roosevelt Bridge

• Eastbound Pennsylvania from 3rd Street NW to Southern Avenue SE

• Southbound 14th Street from Pennsylvania NW to C Street SW

• Westbound K Street NW from 17th Street to Whitehurst Freeway, Canal Road and Chain Bridge

DDOT reminds everyone that parking will be very restricted on the 4th, and laws will be heavily enforced. Public transportation is recommended. For more information visit their website.

Jordan Hellmuth • July 2, 2013

There are many ways to serve up “Paula Deen.” Food Network prefers fried, and Smithfield will take her smoked. No matter how you’ll have it, Deen’s endorsements are going down the drain due to recent allegations of racial discrimination. Her brother Earl “Bubba” Hiers is also being sued for racial as well as sexual discrimination.

Deen has cleared up confusion about an age-old saying: You really can’t have your cake and eat it too. The celebrity chef’s reputation for being the cute little old lady cook with a southern accent has been thrown out of the kitchen window with the sink. Dealing with a racism scandal is no picnic, but if you think that anyone over the age of 50 has never used the N-word, then I challenge you to think again. They may not have used it in the past 20 years, but I assure you it was as common (at one point in time) as Deen putting butter in a dish.

The N-word faces no unfamiliarity in today’s generation either. I went to a high school in the first part of this decade, where I, as a Caucasian female, was a minority. My African-American and Hispanic-American peers used the N-word loosely and profusely.

Despite the loss of her partnership with Smithfield, Deen is hamming it up in front of cameras, posting not one but two videos online, apologizing for what she calls “mistakes.”

Not all partners have thrown in the towel just yet. The Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show is welcoming Deen back as the southern belle of the ball. Deen will be presenting at MetroCooking Shows in Houston, Dallas and Washington, D.C., relishing in MetroCooking’s believing in second chances. Food Network was incredibly quick to pull the plug on Deen, and Deen was quick to defend herself. She made an appearance on the Today Show Wednesday morning where she was politely yet sternly grilled by Matt Lauer.

Deen is continuing to receive tremendous support from her hometown, Savannah, Ga. President of “Visit Savannah’’s tourism organization, Joe Marinelli, tweeted his support for the southern sweetheart under scrutiny, saying, “she’s part of our @Savannah family and I’m here to support her.”

How can Paula get out of her pickle? She should take a page out of Martha Stewart’s cookbook and take some time to herself. I reckon some of her supporters may even welcome her back with a party. Given her fame, there will always be those who want to throw a pie in her face. Let whoever hasn’t made a racist remark cast the first pastry.

Jordan Hellmuth, who attended Mount Vernon High School in Alexandria, Va., is a Virginia Tech student and a writer at the Georgetowner.

Georgetowner • July 1, 2013

DDOT Streetcar Meeting

June 27th, 2013 at 06:30 PM | Event Website

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will provide updates and general information on various aspects of the DC Streetcar project. The format of the meeting will be an open house set-up featuring information stations staffed by members of the DC Streetcar team.

Address

Atlas Performing Arts Center – Great Hall; 1333 H Street, NE

WAR/PHOTOGRAPHY: Images of Armed Conflict and Its Aftermath

June 29th, 2013 at 10:00 AM | Event Website

This landmark exhibition revolutionizes our understanding of this subject, immersing viewers in the experience of soldiers and civilians during wartime. WAR/PHOTOGRAPHY brings together images by more than 200 photographers from 28 nations and covers conflicts from the past 165 years. Epic in scope and ambition, WAR/PHOTOGRAPHY takes us from the home front to the battlefield and back again. It is organized by the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and arrives on the East Coast as part of a nationwide tour. Runs to September 29.

Address

Corcoran Gallery of Art; 500 17th Street NW

Drink the District: Red, White, & Brew

June 29th, 2013 at 12:00 PM | $35 | jake@drinkthedistrict.com | Tel: 202-618-3663 | Event Website

Drink the District is back and better than ever with our all-American Red, White, and Brew edition. Join us on June 29th and 30th at Yards Park for a patriotic party complete with unlimited beer and wine, brewed and bottled in the U.S.A.

Session 1: Saturday, June 29th, 12 pm to 4 pm

Session 2: Saturday, June 29th, 6 pm to 10 pm

Session 3: Sunday, June 30th, 12 pm to 4 pm

Address

Yards Park; 355 Water Street SE

Charlie Palmer’s American Fare

June 29th, 2013 at 06:30 PM | $150-195 | Event Website

American Fare is Charlie Palmer’s first ever Celebration of American Regional Cuisine, teaming regional Charlie Palmer Group chefs with top Washington DC-area chefs and restaurants, designed to uncover the many layers of American cuisine in a fun, competitive event in the heart of Washington DC. Each team will create a unique American themed dish representative of their restaurant grouping and will collaborate to produce the best signature drink to pair with their dish.

Teams will compete and be judged by our esteemed panel of judges based on two factors: 1) Best “American” Dish and 2) Best “American” Food & Beverage Pairing. Attending guests will also have the opportunity to voice their opinion by taking part in the People’s Choice vote. Event proceeds will benefit Share our Strength and the winning team’s charity of choice.

Address

Charlie Palmer Steak DC; 101 Constitution Ave NW

Independence Day Tea

June 30th, 2013 at 01:00 PM | $25-30 | Event Website

Where better to celebrate the nation’s birthday than at the home of early patriots? Get “a taste” of first first family by enjoying a delicious tea with scones, sandwiches, and sweets. After the tea, visitors will join docents for a Washington Collection highlight tour of the historic mansion.

Address

Tudor Place; 1670 31st Street, NW

Brainfood Burger Battle

June 30th, 2013 at 03:30 PM | $75.00

Guests enjoy 10 burgers from 10 of DCs chefs, desserts from Small Comforts, and all you can drink from Mad Fox Brewing.
Raises funds for Brainfood- an organization that teaches teens healthy life skills.

Address

Poste Modern Brasserie; 555 8th St NW

Fifteenth Annual Four Seasons of Oatlands Art Show and Sale

July 1st, 2013 at 10:00 AM | Free | marcia@bendurepr.com | Tel: 703.777.3174 | Event Website

The fifteenth annual Four Seasons of Oatlands Art Show and Sale will be displayed in Oatlands’ historic Carriage House from July 1 through July 31. The show is free and open to the public, Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and Oatlands’ Carriage House is air-conditioned for a pleasant and unique gallery experience.

Address

20850 Oatlands Plantation Lane; Leesburg, VA 20175

Gary Tischler • June 24, 2013

Meaning no disrespect—I mean, hey, you never know—I think we know what happened to Tony Soprano.

Remember that last, monastic, almost zen-like episode of “The Sopranos,” where it went to fade-to-blank as Tony was talking with his wife in Holsten’s restaurant? It set heads to scratching and left Tony hanging, so to speak, in terms of his ultimate fate. Was he about to be killed? Why did he pick “Don’t Stop Believing” on the jukebox, not even knowing that “Glee” was coming? Did he write his memoirs? Was he secretly running the Russian mob?

Well, now we know. He was in an elaborate Department of Justice Witness Protection Program, hiding in plain sight as a gifted, versatile, modest and unforgettable actor named James Gandolfini, who appeared in dozens of movies, television roles and voice-overs, looking always, but never quite, just like Tony Soprano. You could never pin the guy down.

Gandolfini, who was only 51 and the proud father of a young child with his second wife, died while in Italy—go figure—while at a film festival. Gandolfini was that rare acting persona, a character actor who disappeared into his characters and then became—for the lifetime of seven seasons—a huge television star playing—yeah, that’s right—the mobster, the husband, the parent, the adulterer and killer. That’s right: he did his own dirty work. Remember when he and a pal snuffed out Pussy? Goes to show you how smart he was for a mob guy. Here he was being this guy doing all these little parts because he had a knack for it, then coming straight out into the wide open, playing Tony Soprano. Pretty slick. I mean the only time you see these guys is when they’re doing a perp walk or when they’re ratting out their buddies on “Law & Order.”

It’s fair to say that Gandolfini will always be Tony Soprano, which, thanks to him and director David Chase had a huge following on HBO. “The Sopranos” was something of a pioneer in television series work, leading eventually to other conflicted hero-villains, good guy-bad-guy (and good and bad woman), including characters as diverse as “Dexter,” “Mad Men” and Julius Caesar (“Rome”) and Edie Falco—nee Mrs. Tony Soprano as “Nurse Jackie.”

It might have been frustrating for him—if you look at a list of those films he made where he slipped out of Soprano’s loud and big suburban men’s shirt. They’re small parts in smallish thrillers, or called indy films, many of them not particularly successful, but all of them memorable in a disturbing way, sort of like any single episode of “The Sopranos.”

If you look at the titles and the characters, they appear elusive, like refrains from songs you don’t quite remember but haunt you nevertheless, people that made you slow down in the middle of a crowded street or stories that never resolved themselves, leaving a question mark—oops, like the last of Tony. He played guys named Tony Baldessari, Angelo, Billy Coyle, Vinnie, Ben Pinkwater, Bobby Dougherty, Bear, Joey Alegretto, Willie “Woody” Dumas, Winston Baldry, Big Dave Brewster, Nick Murder (ya gotta be kiddin’ me) Tiny Duffy, Mr. G. and in a yet unreleased film, called “Nicky Deuce,” a character named Bobby Eggs. And let us not forget the CIA director (Leon Panetta) in “Zero Dark Thirty,” Juror No. 6, the Mayor of New York City, and an orderly in a 1987 movie called “Shock! Shock! Shock!”

Even the titles resonate: “Mr. Wonderful,” “The Mighty,” “Fallen,” “The Man Who Wasn’t There,” “The Last Castle” (he had Robert Redford killed), “Cinema Verite,” “Get Shorty,” an ultimate kind of sleaze ball in “8mm” and the dizzy, violent “True Romance.”

It’s fair to say he was an actor’s actor—everybody loved and respected him. Yet even at the height of Soprano dazzle, he avoided the dazzle. In “The Sopranos,” Tony Soprano took over—he became an icon like Marshall Dillon, Archie and Edith Bunker, Seinfeld in “Seinfeld,” Lucy, Maverick, Joe Friday, every character from which the actor could never quite escape, even Lennie Briscoe on “Law & Order.”

Gandolfini had never really aspired to being a television superstar. So, in a sense, he did escape but just working all the time—three movies in 2012, three this year already.

Or you could say that Tony Soprano and his gang took over—there’s an entire Wiki website separately from Gandolfini—on Tony Soprano his life and times—his parents (mom tried to kill him), wife, son and daughter, and, of course his girlfriends and his rivals and pals, his other family and, let’s not forget, his shrink Dr. Melfi. It’s like an alternative universe narrative, set in New Jersey.

James Gandolfini was lionized by his fellow actors and peers online and elsewhere. Chase, “The Sopranos” creator, said of him, “A great deal of that genius resided in those sad eyes.” James Gannascoli (Vito Spatafore on “The Sopranos”) said, “He came with his son and spoke at my wedding, came to my restaurant to meet fans sick as a dog in the rain and stayed for hours . . . Just a humble and gifted actor and person.”

And this from New Jersey Governor Chris Christie “He was a fine actor, a Rutgers alum and a true Jersey guy.”

The true Jersey guy—coulda been talking about: Tony Soprano, the guy who said, “With marriage, you’ll understand the importance of fresh produce” as well as “What use is an unloaded gun?”

Robert Devaney •

The Georgetown Business Association held its annual Leadership Awards Luncheon at Sea Catch Restaurant & Raw Bar June 19 to posthumously honor Jim Weaver of W.T. Weaver & Sons with its Lifetime Achievement Award. The Weaver family has run the Weaver Hardware business — founded in 1889 — at 1208 Wisconsin Ave., NW, for generations. Weaver’s widow Peggy Weaver accepted the award along sons Bryce and Mike Weaver and daughter Joan Weaver Inglesby.

Introduced by GBA president Riyad Said, Ward 2 councilmember Jack Evans was the first of several speakers. Evans had just arrived from the dedication of the Frederick Douglass statue at the U.S. Capitol and said, for D.C., “it’s a start.” Evans then listed a string of decade-long Georgetown successes and called Jim Weaver “a stalwart of the community.”

Bryce Weaver (James B. Weaver III) said that his father is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery on R Street and noted his parents would have celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary a few weeks ago. “It is still raw for us,” Weaver said of his father, who died at the age of 81 on April 24 of cancer after being diagnosed only months earlier. “Our father was a wonderful gentleman.”

Weaver spoke of the business community’s “grand old parades,” put together by the likes of his father, Tim Jackson of Swensen’s Ice Cream Parlor, Arnie Passman of the Hallmark Gallery, Rick Hinden of Britches men’s store and David Roffman, retired publisher of the Georgetowner newspaper. (The parades in the 1980s were dedicated to “the Star-Spangled Banner” and its author Francis Scott Key, a Georgetown resident.)

Weaver said the business award was “a consolation to our whole family” and that he accepted “for our dad and all those who passed away.”

Councilmembers Muriel Bowser, Vincent Orange and Tommy Wells also spoke of the importance of local businesses — as well as keeping D.C. business dollars in D.C. — and saluted the Weaver family.

Kate Carr, president of Cardinal Bank, a major sponsor of the event, likewise praised the Weaver family and said that her company was excited to be coming to Georgetown soon, on Wisconsin Avenue near Safeway.

GBA vice president Janine Schoonover wrapped up the meeting and reminded all that D.C. is not just the president, Congress or monuments but has businesses with “regular folks.” She also noted that the next GBA networking reception would be on July 17 at F. Scott’s.
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Robert Devaney • June 17, 2013

Paint, not manufactured for underwater use, has closed the public pool at Francis School at 2435 N St., NW, two blocks east of Georgetown. Seems it was getting on the swimmers, including infants in the pool. It took complaints by the public to get this safety issue addressed.

The Michiels-Markowski family from 30th Street visited Francis Pool June 2 and found a host of problems with the pool and its facility and contacted Ward 2 Councilman Jack Evans and the Georgetowner newspaper.

As of June 7, the family received confirmation from Councilmember Evans that Jesus Aguirre, director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, was aware of the problem. The department reportedly used the wrong paint yet kept the pool open. The pool closed June 9 and is scheduled to re-open June 22. “We are so glad that this will be remedied,” Megan Markowski said.

Here’s what Markowski first told the Georgetowner:

“Our visit on Sunday [June 2] was just shocking. It was our first visit this summer season. The exterior of the park entrance had trash strewn about. The insides of the facility were filthy. The ladies bathroom was disgusting — clogged toilets and no toilet paper in any stall.

“The pool and pool deck were horrendous. The zero-entry shallow end of the kiddie pool was marked off with caution tape because the blue paint in the pool bleeds onto your skin. Are you kidding me? How could this pool even be open? As the parent to a 20-month-old child, this is beyond unacceptable, it is unsafe. How could they have a pool open with its paint rubbing onto children’s and other users’ skin? There are bright blue foot prints in the pool. Unbelievable.

“In addition, there was only one lifeguard for the entire three pools. So, he was calling “all break” for all three pools. Only about half of the pool deck chairs were out. So, half of the users had to put towels down.

“As a D.C. resident family and taxpaying household, we are outraged. We contacted D.C. Parks & Recreation. We want other Georgetowners to know about the conditions at Francis Pool and that D.C. allowed this place to be open to the public as is.”

Thanks to attention by Evans, D.C. parks boss Aguirre wrote back to the councilman: “DGS [Department of General Services] has assessed the issue, and it turns out there are problems with the paint used in prepping for the season. The only way to repair is to drain the pool and that will result in a substantial shutdown. (For example, it takes at least two to three days to drain the pool and another two to three days to fill gain due to the volume of water.) Of course, DGS would also address the other concerns in the looker rooms and site during the shutdown.”

For her part, Markowski has one more thing to say the District government: “We need answers why this paint was used in the first place and why the pool was open for three weeks.”

The Georgetowner called the office of Jesus Aguirre for comment but did not receive a response in time for the posting of this article.
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Robert Devaney •

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