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Georgetowner • November 19, 2014

Structural engineers disagree on the state of the empty West Heating Plant on 29th Street next to the C&O Canal and near the Fours Seasons Hotel. One says that the old heating plant is too far gone to be saved, while another says that the building could be preserved and revitalized. The structure, built in 1948, has been unused since the mid-1990s.

These conflicting views have stalled plans to convert the building into 60 luxury condos, as the developers wait for a decision from preservation authorities. The building was bought from the federal government by Levy Group, the New York-based Georgetown Company and the Fours Seasons nearly two years ago.

The Old Georgetown Board offered comments Nov. 6 about the conflicting reports. The amount of demolition needed on the plant depends on how the building will be reused. In addition, the building’s structure has been damaged by water and rust, making it vulnerable to wind and earthquakes.

Georgetowner •

D.C. police have set up new speed and stop-sign cameras in the District to crack down on reckless driving in areas where pedestrian safety has become a concern. Stop-sign cameras have been activated at the intersections of Fessenden and 44th Street, NW, and North Capitol Street and Chillum Place. In addition, new speed cameras have been installed on the 3600 block of Park Place, NW; the 2600 block of Lincoln Road, NE; the 3100 block of 4th Street, NE; and the 4000 block of 12th Street, NE. In the first 30 days of operation, which began Nov. 4, police will issue warning citations for violations. After that, violators will be ticketed for moving violations years ago.

Georgetowner •

This just in from the Georgetown BID:

Georgetown will be aglow for one weekend only during Georgetown Glow, Dec. 12 to 14, the new, signature winter event celebrating the holiday season organized by the Georgetown Business Improvement District. The weekend includes an innovative exhibition of light-art installations and lighting of major structures. The works will be on view from Friday, Dec. 12, to Sunday, Dec. 14, and lit nightly from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The Georgetown BID will host a neighborhood-wide public art exhibition that will feature the work of local, regional and international light artists in public and privately owned spaces. The site-specific works will use light in surprising, modern and impactful ways, transforming and activating spaces along M Street, the Book Hill section on the 1600 block of Wisconsin Avenue, Washington Harbour, and in office building plazas south of M Street. The Georgetown BID has retained Deirdre Ehlen MacWilliams, a public art expert and curator, to curate the exhibition. Citelum, the Paris-based global lighting firm that in 2012 established its North American headquarters in the District, is a major partner and technical advisor. Other key partners to date include Jamestown Properties, Eastbanc, Inc., The JBG Companies, MRP Realty, LSM, and M.C. Dean.

Robert Devaney •

Venture capitalist and Washington Kastles owner Mark Ein’s difficulties continue on the home renovation front. The newly married Ein wants to add a family room, a larger kitchen, a few bedrooms and an underground garage to his home at 2920 R St., NW.

Formerly owned by the late Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham, the 1864 house is landmarked by the Old Georgetown Board and is part of the Georgetown Historic District. Also, his plans have been opposed by neighbors, including well-known Georgetowner Calvin Cafritz.

A new design by local firm Outerbridge Horsey won support from the Citizens Association of Georgetown and the Advisory Neighborhood Commission, but the Old Georgetown Board remains steadfast in its resistance. The members of the board, all architects, questioned the garage scheme on the basis that it could upset the historic landscape. They also disapproved of the proposed larger windows and took issue with a planned two-story addition on the east side, calling it “too big.”

At a meeting early last month, Ein expressed irritation at the board, which has rejected a number of his renovation plans. The board insisted that Ein’s renovations could eventually move forward, with member Richard Williams saying, “We have a willingness to entertain this, if it was done well.” Ein has said he will continue to push for approval.

Georgetowner •

the Republicans will be in total control of the Congress in January. Let me strike the previous sentence.

Expect nothing, zero, nada, bubkes from the GOP. In the past, I’ve criticized the Democratic Party for its lack of ardor for this place. But we do have some real genuine fighters and champions in the party. First and foremost are Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer in the House; in the Senate, Harry Reid and former Sen. Joe Lieberman.

We better get accustomed to the Big Chill when the 114th Congress convenes in January. The new Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has shown neither interest nor affection for residents of the nation’s capital. Speaker John Boehner is equally bad. When I’ve tried to question or even inquire about this subject, he has given me the blank stare and, most often, not even responded.
The new chair of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in the Senate will be Sen. Ron Johnson. This committee has oversight over the District of Columbia. If the name Ron Johnson does not ring a bell, you are not alone. Johnson is a very conservative senator from Wisconsin. In no way should he be viewed as a potential ally or friend.

In the House, ironically, we’ve lost a semi-advocate in Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.). He was no Tom Davis, who resigned his seat in November 2008, but Issa was interested and friendly. The Republicans term-limit their chairs. So, Issa will step down as chairman of Committee of Oversight and Government Reform. Republicans attempting to succeed him are uninterested or downright hostile to D.C. — names being floated are Jason Chaffetz of Utah and Jim Jordan of Ohio.

D.C.’s problem with the GOP is, as Sen. Ted Kennedy memorably noted, that “D.C. suffers from the four toos: too liberal, too urban, too Democratic and, finally, too black.” I believe “too Democratic” is the major irritant. Seventy-six percent of registered voters are Dems. The Republican Party sees no benefit in helping us in any way.

There is one Republican who has publicly said that the Republican Party brand “sucks.” That is Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky. He advocates reaching out to new groups, especially minorities. This guy has presidential ambitions. Maybe he will put D.C. on his agenda, but don’t hold your breath.

What makes this predicament even more depressing is our local political establishment. Mayor-elect Muriel Bowser has shown no passion for Capitol Hill relationships. District Council Chair Phil Mendelson is invisible and ineffective. Worst of all is our elected representative Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, who one former D.C. elected politician says protects only the “federal interest,” not our interest.

Mark Plotkin is a political analyst and contributor to the BBC on American politics.

Georgetowner •

Congratulations to Mayor-elect Muriel Bowser! After a spirited race, Mayor-elect Bowser is now building her team to address the issues facing our city. I also want to congratulate the individuals who will join me on the District Council for the next four years. Re-elected were chairman Phil Mendelson and councilmembers Anita Bonds, Mary Cheh and Kenyan McDuffie. We will be joined by Elissa Silverman (At-Large), Brianne Nadeau (Ward 1) and Charles Allen (Ward 6).

Four years ago, I wrote to you about the challenges facing our incoming elected officials in the face of an anemic recovery from the recession. Today, our city is facing a very different set of challenges and opportunities to continue to move the city forward. Among them are:

Education. We have made progress in the past few years to improve our school system, but education remains the most important issue for our city. Our biggest challenge is the ability to teach all students regardless of socio-economic condition, neighborhood, learning ability or assistance at home. We must continue to ensure that every neighborhood has excellent schools to meet the needs of our children. It’s important to remember that the quality of our school system has far-reaching effects, including whether families will stay in the District, employers locate here and create jobs, and we end the “school-to-prison” pipeline.

Homelessness. Helping our homeless residents this winter will be the first big test of Mayor-elect Bowser’s administration and the transition from Mayor Gray to Bowser. I’ve met with Mayor Gray and advocacy organizations to make plans for the 800 families that will need shelter this winter. Finding safe accommodations for these families is the immediate concern, but we need to do more to solve homelessness in the District, including funding the Housing Production Trust Fund to ensure affordable housing continues to be available in the District.

Right-Sizing City Services. Most projections expect that the city will grow by more than 100,000 people in the next 25 years. Those new residents create challenges and opportunities that the city must begin planning for now. This includes making investments in our police force, fire and EMS department, and our trash, recycling and litter collection resources. Additionally, we will need to evaluate our power and sewer infrastructure to prevent undue strain on those systems in the years ahead.

Statehood and Self-Determination. The national election results were a setback for our statehood efforts. However, one aspect of self-determination on which we should redouble our efforts is local control of land in the District. From the Georgetown Waterfront to Franklin Square to Pennsylvania Avenue, local control of parks and roads in the District is a win-win for the District and Federal governments. The Republican Congress can shrink the size of the Federal Government, and the District can more appropriately utilize those spaces for city residents.

I also want to congratulate the newly elected and re-elected Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners here in our own ANC 2E. We’ll continue to have the valuable guidance of Ed Solomon, Ron Lewis, Jeff Jones, Bill Starrels, and Tom Birch, as well as the fresh perspective of Monica Roache. I look forward to continuing to work with the ANC to help make our neighborhood a great place to live.

Jack Evans is the Ward 2 Councilmember, representing Georgetown since 1991.

Georgetowner •

Georgetowner • November 18, 2014