Town Topics

Robert Devaney • June 18, 2013

-More than the usual number of Metropolitan Police Department squad cars and Georgetown University police have been traveling around 35th & Prospect streets as well as parked there, neighbors report. Here are a few crime notes:

After Georgetown University’s Department of Public Safety set up new security measures after a series of burglaries in the dormitory known as Village A, according to The Hoya, a student reported Nov. 9 that upon returning to his apartment at 9 p.m. he found that it had been burglarized and his laptop stolen. Between Oct. 16 and Oct. 31, four burglaries and an attempted burglary occurred in Village A, the newspaper reported. “Following the incidents, campus police increased night patrols and monitoring of overnight vehicular access to campus. DPS has also promised to provide personal safety consultations for Village A residents and set up brighter lighting features.” Village A is the dorm on the western end of Prospect Street between Lauinger Library and the New South building.

Highlighting the issue of students’ carelessness regarding the threat of crime, it was also reported that one Hoya left his room unlocked in Copley dormitory and an Xbox was stolen.

Seeming to say, “We are here,” Metropolitan Police questioned a neighborhood regular on Nov. 11 for fraudulent panhandling. He had been telling passers-by at 35th and Prospect streets that he was collecting donations for the Boys and Girls Club of Washington. A resident had called the 2nd District to complain, according to officer on hand, prompting the individual to be put in the back of the squad car. After letting
this “person of interest” go along his way, one neighbor said that the panhandler, dressed in a peacoat wearing a traditional skullcap, had a house arrest ankle bracelet on, and that his step brother, walking around with him, had an expired arrest warrant.

Also in crime news: The District of Columbia Crime Policy Institute, published through the Urban Institute, released a report showing crime levels for each census block in the city. The worst spots are well known: the center of the city and the eastern end of the District. According to the report, “More than one-fifth of the blocks in the District did not experience any crimes, and more than half saw fewer than five crimes in any given year. On average, then, these blocks saw crime occur less frequently than once every other month. Most crime is concentrated in a relatively small number of blocks in the District—in any given year, more than one-quarter of the crimes occur in just five percent of the blocks.” As for Georgetown, its less-than-best blocks were indicated in the report: around Wisconsin and M, below the C&O Canal to the Potomac, and within the Georgetown University campus.

Robert Devaney •

-The Georgetown Senior Center, founded by the late Virginia Luce Allen almost 30 years ago and located in the Parish hall of St. John’s Church on O Street, will close on Nov. 24.

Allen and her seniors met for years for lunch prepared by residents or donated by local restaurants. Educational or musical programs followed the Monday, Wednesday and Friday lunches. Once a month, there was usually a field trip to a museum or historic home. The seniors, who were regularly picked up and dropped back at their homes by the center’s bus, had visited the Washington Nationals several times this year.

The future of the non-profit, maintained by Allen for many years, was in question immediately
following her death in October 2009. She was the energy and spirit of the place, many of her friends said. With declining membership and its most persuasive fundraiser gone, the center decided to close and will meet one last time for a lunch to be prepared by 1789 Restaurant.

Robert Devaney •

-John E. Olsson, founder of the beloved and once-famous Olsson’s Books and Records, died Oct. 28 at the age of 78 in Silver Spring. He started his stores in Dupont Circle, eventually controlling a chain of nine shops, the best of which was on Wisconsin Avenue at Prospect Street (near the site of the Apple Computer store).

A graduate of Catholic University, Olsson made the merchandising leap to combine the love of music and reading in one place. His stores were popular for years, known for the ease of just walking along the aisles, of getting knowledgeable answers from the store staff and of possibly spying a famous politician or celebrity perusing the shop.

Bookstore chains, Internet shopping and downloadable tunes led to the demise of the Olsson’s empire, with the Georgetown store falling in 2002. Its last five stores closed two years ago.

Robert Devaney •

-A Burleith neighborhood group is checking properties for illegal rentals. It has reported what it believes are 134 illegal basement rentals to the DC Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs. Property owners without a proper occupation license may face a fine.

According to a comment on the website Urban Turf, Mike Rupert, DCRA communications manager, advised, “This effort is in direct response to concerns of neighbors. Like we have seen in basements across the District—and most publicly when a student at Georgetown died just a few years ago—some of these apartments are unsafe and potentially deadly.”

Earlier this year, The DCRA contacted 125 Georgetown landlords who had allegedly rented properties without a valid license. At the time, DCRA stated: “We have sent letters to each of the property owners identified on the list asking them to please respond. If you are renting your property, please contact us immediately and we can assist you in getting your property licensed and, most importantly, inspected. We will not assess fines if you voluntarily come in and begin the licensing and inspection process.”

Robert Devaney •

-Advisory neighborhood commissioner Bill Starrels seems to be a verb, according to a Nov. 11 Georgetown Voice headline. In an editorial, the student newspaper cited the eagle eye of Bill Starrels, who challenged student voters’ eligibility at American University. The newest phrase to enter our lexicon is “Starrelled Down.” Hey, if Sarah Palin can get listed in the Oxford English Dictionary for “refudiate,” why not our own Bill Starrels? “Starrelled Down” just might catch on, but we’re not sure if something
like “Solomoned Up” would.

Robert Devaney •

-Georgetown’s ANC 2E held its monthly meeting Nov. 29 at Visitation Prep. Here are some results:

The Metropolitan Police’s Lt. J. Hedgecock reported on “out-of-control” students, especially those who held off-campus parties near 33rd and O streets last weekend. Hedgecock acknowledged the attempted abduction of a student in the early hours of Nov. 21 near the corner of 34th and Prospect Streets (See story below). The Bikeshare program appears so successful that other locales are being sought, especially in the east village. E-mail suggestions to anc2e@dc.gov.

The commission expressed the community’s mixed feelings about the many running events held along M Street or nearby. Traffic and shop openings can be delayed if not gridlocked. The operator-owner of the National Triathlon (Sept. 11, 2011) and the D.C. Triathlon (June 19, 2011) left disappointed after failing to explain the percentage of charitable proceeds to total revenue. The commission unanimously tabled the motion to approve the routes of the triathlon, though other ANCs affected have approved the races’ routes.

A resolution to appeal the zoning decision for GoFresh on Potomac Street was approved. The voluntary agreement with Lapis, a new restaurant planned by the owners of Cafe Bonaparte, in the 1000 block of Wisconsin Avenue, was approved unanimously, despite neighboring business owner Karen Brooks, who said that the exterior display of the liquor application was placed too late on the building.

License renewals for the Saloun and Nathan’s (now the building housing the upcoming Serendipity3, run by Britt Swan, whose Georgetown establishments include Modern and Rhino’s) were approved. The New York-based Serendipity3 has pushed back its opening at Georgetown’s most famous intersection—Wisconsin and M—to mid-January.

The commission found no opposition to the design concept of an addition of a new building to the rear of the soon-to-be rehabed Georgetown Post Office (its second floor has been vacant since 1971, according to Core Architects). The EastBanc project, which creates several floors of office space along with a 18-car garage, has been in the works for a while and has tried to contact the property owner of the house just North of the 1215 31st Street historic structure (built in 1856 as a custom house by the architect of the U.S. Treasury) for one year, developer Anthony Lanier said. The U.S. Postal Service will serve the neighborhood and maintain the first floor as before.

Robert Devaney •

-The Citizens Association of Georgetown met at Letelier Theater within Georgetown Court on Prospect Street, Nov. 22, for a show-and-tell on the proposed far-reaching changes to D.C. zoning rules. The packed house heard from D.C.’s Office of Planning’s Travis Parker and Nancy MacWood of the Committee of 100 on the Federal City.

“It is an immense undertaking,” said CAG member Richard Hinds. DC zoning code has not been revamped since 1958.

Parker said that the changes aimed to make regulations easier to look up and understand. He noted that the goals of zoning are to create “a successful place to live” and saw Georgetown as such an example. “We want to allow other neighborhoods to emulate Georgetown’s success,” he said.

Parker spoke of “a more flexible system” in the new zoning proposals and said that “two-thirds of Georgetown buildings are non-conforming.” By today’s rules, for example, if a non-conforming building, such as an old corner business, were lost to a fire, it could not be rebuilt as such. He said localized, flexible zoning would keep places like Sara’s Market. “Georgetown is the model for zoning everyone wants to be,” Parker said.

The changes in height and outside space dimensions are numerous. Public review of the zoning draft text continues through summer 2011. For details, visit www.DCzoningupdate.org.

“Ask questions now or plan to be surprised,” urged MacWood about the changes. The Zoning Commission has the sole authority to write regulations,

she noted and asked about saturation limits. “Zoning regulations must be consistent with the comprehensive plan.”

While some of the proposed changes would allow for more added useable space for institutions — like Georgetown University — residential homes would be even more effected. Also, the 2010 Georgetown University campus plan remains under the current rules. Some attendees wanted to discuss the campus plan. That did not happen.

Robert Devaney •

-Early Sunday morning, Nov. 21, three unknown men attempted to abduct a male student near the corner of 34th Street and Prospect Street, reported Georgetown University’s Department of Public Safety.

According to the DPS alert, “at approximately 2:15 a.m., a student reported to MPD that while walking in the vicinity of 34th and Prospect Streets, three suspects approached him and attempted to engage him in conversation. One of the three unknown suspects then grabbed the student’s arm and began to pull him toward a black SUV that was parked nearby. He was released and the suspects fled when an MPD [Metropolitan Police Department] police car appeared. The three suspects are described as Hispanic males wearing black clothing. One of the suspects wore his hair in a ponytail.”

The Department of Public Safety says it has increased East Campus patrols after the attempted abduction, according to the Georgetown Voice news blog. “We are stepping up patrols of the East campus area in search of the suspects,” wrote Joseph Smith with university public safety. “I think this case demonstrates how important it is to walk in groups or pairs whenever possible and to report suspicious activity to the police.” He added: “To my knowledge, nothing of this sort has occurred in recent years within the campus vicinity.”

As indicated by Lt. Hedgecock, the Metropolitan Police Department and the university police are conducting an ongoing investigation into the crime.

Robert Devaney •

-It seemed serendipitous, even if it was not, to see developer Anthony Lanier and restaurant owner Britt Swansitting near each other during the last ANC meeting of the year. While explaining his urban design and development philosophy to news blog Georgetown Patch, Lanier said: “The perfect example is the former Nathan’s building [at Wisconsin Ave. and M St.]. How is it possible that the number one corner in Washington, DC, is being fixed by the blind and the one-eyed to make a hokey ice cream store and a bar on the second floor? How is that possible?” That corner will be known next year as the spot for Serendipity3, its Georgetown location for the famous New York eatery, headed by Swan. (Not to worry: Lanier is not a big fan of Chipotle’s land owner either.)

Georgetowner •

-Holiday Shoppers Beware

It’s that time of year again — when the holiday madness causes some to go against their better judgement. According to an Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) report, the night of November 30, a woman was robbed shortly after purchasing two laptops from the Apple Store on the 1200 block of Wisconsin Avenue NW. Headed from the store to the 3300 block of N Street NW, she was knocked to the ground by two suspects, who made off with the computers.

The police are operating under the assumption that the thieves followed the woman from the store, having targeted her because of her large purchase. As a result, police presence has been increased in the area, and the store is taking additional precautionary measures.

Additionally, the MPD is warning iPhone users to proceed cautiously when using them in public. Instances of iPhones being snatched from their users on the street and off outdoor café tables have become more common. At night, it’s best to avoid using your iPhone while walking.

The MPD wishes to remind would-be shoppers that criminals are out in force this time of year. They prey on those who are not mindful of their surroundings. A good rule of thumb is to take valuables with you when leaving your car unoccupied and to remain vigilant when traveling to and from stores with large items. Report suspicious activity by calling 911 immediately. This season, you’re better safe than sorry.

HomeMade Pizza Co. Expands

The Chicago-based HomeMade Pizza Co. will open a store on the 1800 block of Wisconsin Avenue. Other than Illinois and Minnesota, Washington, D.C. is a top spot for the bake-at-home gourmet pizzeria, with five other locations.

You can bake their cookies at home too, and they offer ready-made salads for pick up.

New Cupcakes in Town

Sprinkles Cupcakes, founded in Beverly Hills in 2005, will open January 2011, near the Old Stone House at 3015 M Street NW.

BID Gifts MPD Segways

The Georgetown BID donated two segways to the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) Public Service Area 206 police officers on December 2. This donation is the latest example of the continued partnership between the BID and MPD to keep Georgetown safe. The segways will enable the officers to cover more territory and have a greater presence in Georgetown. They will be used exclusively by the officers for patrolling the Georgetown area.

National Pinball Museum Opens Doors

The National Pinball Museum opened December 4 at the Shops at Georgetown Park. The 14,000-square foot museum, in the old F.A.O. Schwartz toy store space on the M Street level, looks like a giant pinball machine, complete with pinball flippers. The “pay-to-play” area offers games for as little as $.50 a play. Admission is $13.50 for ages 9 and up, and kids 8 and under get in for free. Annual passes cost $80. For more information visit www.nationalpinballmuseum.org.

Legislative Update from the DC BID Council Homeless Services Reform

DC City Council is deliberating passing the “Homeless Reform Amendment,” Bill 18-1059, to change how DC provides homeless services. The bill would limit services to DC residents.

For more information about the DC BID Council, visit www.dcbidcouncil.org.