Town Topics

Robert Devaney • October 3, 2012

With its 15-year lease expiring soon, the artists at the Jackson Art Center may have to settle down for a three-year lease extension with the District government, which owns the former school at 3050 R St., N.W. Why? There is talk that the property may be sold to private developers. Art center president Simma Liebman asked for the community’s help, and the Advisory Neighborhood Commission asked D.C. government to extend the center’s lease for “not less than five years.” Liebman noted that the non-profit has almost a $1 million in escrow from its rent money that could upgrade the building’s windows, making the historic structure look less run-down. The property is on the same block as the old Hurt Home which the D.C. government sold to developers.

Robert Devaney •

After serenading the late crowd at Tony & Joe’s 25th birthday on Sept. 13, Marion Barry, former mayor and now Ward 8 councilmember, returned to Georgetown Sept. 27 and met with Carol Joynt at her ongoing Q&A Cafe at the Ritz Carlton on South Street. Interviewer Joynt brought up many of Barry’s well-known foibles, citing “The bitch set me up.” D.C.’s “Mayor for Life” took it all in and responded: “I’m probably the most successful politician in Washington, D.C.” Barry will be writing an autobiography, he said. The Q&A Cafe interview segment with Marion Barry will air Oct. 5, 8 p.m., on Channel 16 (DCN).

Georgetowner • September 20, 2012

Pizzeria Uno Chicago Bar & Grill at 3211 M St., N.W., for more than 30 years has closed its doors. The once popular modest Italian restaurant follows its erstwhile neighbor from half a block away on Wisconsin Avenue, Papa-Razzi, which closed in May.

Georgetowner •

Less than a month to go before its Oct. 19 opening, Drybar — at 1825 Wisconsin Ave., N.W. — is now taking reservations (202-609-8644). The “No cuts. No color. Just blowouts.” salon is ready to rock D.C. for $40 a pop. All this is conveniently located next to the Georgetown Safeway and the upcoming Noodles & Company.

Georgetowner •

A Vornado Realty Trust retail opportunity flyer, obtained by the Georgetown Metropolitan blog, had the neighborhood’s attention over the weekend. A map of Georgetown Park — now closed and under reconstruction — revealed space available for two large restaurants along with space already made available to designer discounters, T.J. Maxx and HomeGoods.

The blog continued: “The flyer also shows an expanded J. Crew. GM also learned that while the flyer doesn’t show it, one of the other primary tenants will be a Michaels arts and craft store. Essentially, when Vornado is done with it, the bulk of the mall will have been converted into a couple big box stores that have all the charm and destination-appeal of Rockville Pike.”

As previously reported in the Georgetowner from an Aug. 20 hard-hat tour of the on-going reconstruction of the Shops at Georgetown Park by Vornado Realty Trust’s Jennifer Nettles, who is manager of the huge 3222 M St., NW, retail space:

“Escalators are gone and so are the fountains on either side of the complex. Demolition is moving along, as plans call for the floors to be extended from front to back. The group looked out at the open space of the atrium which once provided a dramatic look and feel for the shopping center, opened in 1981. The atrium and its green railings will soon disappear. ‘This is the de-mallization, Nettles said . . .

“Where once sat 130 stores, there will now be 15, she said. The largest one of them will take up 45,000 square feet, making it the largest retail space for Georgetown; another will be 31,000 square feet. Some will have multiple levels; all will have an entrance from the street, whether it is from M Street, Wisconsin Avenue or the remaining entrance next to Dean & Deluca. There will be no mall-like corridors for the public.”

The tight-lipped Vornado does not readily respond to media inquiries, especially those from Georgetown and other D.C. news outlets.

Georgetowner •

Here are highlights from the Sept. 4 meeting of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E:

Marvelous Market, the food specialty shop at Wisconsin Avenue and P Street, was criticized for its allegedly poor work in keeping trash bins properly contained — and too often overflowing — and thus open to pests and rodents. “It’s a buffet for rats,” said commissioner Tom Birch. Commissioners questioned a Department of Health official and a representative of Marvelous Market. The business said it had installed locked tops and apologized.

Ten cameras have been donated to the Metropolitan Police Department by the Georgetown Business Improvement District, John Weibenson said. The BID, he added, also approved $300,000 to its budget for police overtime work.

A representative from the Shops at Georgetown Park, owned by Vornado Realty Trust, gave an update with no specifics on future tenants but added the mall’s garage was being re-done. The Wisconsin Avenue garage entrance is now closed but the garage’s Potomac Street entrance, at the back of Dean & Deluca, has re-opened for tenants of Georgetown Park condos.

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E will meet Oct. 1, 6:30 p.m., at Georgetown Visitation Prep, 35th Street and Volta Place.

Georgetowner •

Someone call the Jeffersonian, and get Dr. Temperance Brennan on the case. It might make a great TV show. Name it “Bones.”

O.K., so the real Smithsonian Institution was contacted after contractors first called the Metropolitan Police last week because of bones found while digging along a driveway between 3333 and 3329 Q St., N.W., as first reported in Georgetown Patch. The contractors had discovered what looked like a skull of human skeleton. An expert from the Smithsonian told Patch that the discovery was not forensic, i.e., related to a crime, but rather the bones were “obviously historic in nature.”

The home where the bones were found is across from Volta Park which in the 19th century was a cemetery for the local Presbyterian church.

Georgetowner • September 5, 2012

After being honored by the community six days before, Timothy Downs died peacefully at his home on Aug. 22.

Born in Detroit, Mich., on April 26, 1942, Downs graduated from Wayne State University and Wayne State Law School. He practiced law in Detroit with Craig, Farber and Downs. Soon after moving to the Washington, D.C., area in 1988, he retired from law practice but continued to work nationally on many election contests, including the 2000 recount in Florida. He was active in the Georgetown community, most recently for his efforts on safety concerning the O and P Streets Rehabilitation Project, where historic trolley tracks and streets stones have been refitted and replaced, along with street lamps and other curb work. Downs regularly checked on the project on the west side of Georgetown; work was completed in front of his house. He was almost known as an avid tennis player.

?Tim was a dedicated man who truly cared about his community,? said Jeff Jones, an advisory neighborhood commissioner for Downs?s district. ?I found his conversations very engaging, and I enjoyed every minute I was able to spend with him. He will always be an inspiration to me.? Said another ANC member Ed Solomon: ?I will miss my friend. Tim was a voice of reason on many issues in Georgetown. I sought his advice and valued his judgement.?

Downs leaves his wife, Barbara; his son, Justin Downs of Brooklyn, N.Y.; three sisters, Elizabeth Collins of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Katherine Downs of Pinckney, Mich., and Sarah Downs of Orlando, Fla., as well as many devoted friends and admirers. A memorial service will be held at Dumbarton House on Sept 16; time still to be determined.