Town Topics

Robert Devaney • June 18, 2013

The swift Potomac River beat faulty human technology or vigilance during the morning of April 18, as its waters reached high tide and crested slightly over its banks. (A weather alert had been issued for high water.)

In the case of Washington Harbour on the Potomac, with its dock and walkway leading back into a lower semicircle of restaurants, this lapping wave proved disastrous. Not all of the floodwalls had been raised to protect the complex; such a failure has never occurred in the K Street complex’s 22-year history. Water poured down around the steps to the fountain, flooding restaurants, offices, shops, parking garages, and damaged electric and gas utilities. Popular eateries, such as Nick’s Riverside Grill, Tony and Joe’s, Sequoia and Fishers & Farmers, were flooded with up to 12 feet of water. Offices were evacuated, condo residents left because of lack of power and recovery units arrived to pump water out of the complex and back onto the drains of 30th Street near the Swedish Embassy. Washington Harbour’s management company, MRP Realty—founded by Robert Murphy and two other former Trammell Crow executives—is responsible for the damage. On the scene were Metro Police, DC Fire, US Park Police, Secret Service Police as well as disaster expert Rolyn Companies, headquartered in Rockville, Md. [gallery ids="99657,105339" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney •

A robbery at knife point occurred Palm Sunday, April 17, on the 1500 block area of 35th Street, N.W. The following morning, April 18, a robbery at gunpoint occurred on the 3500 block of Winfield Lane, N.W. The reported incidents were less than three blocks apart.

“On April 17, at approximately 7:35 a.m., an individual was robbed at knife point while walking to work in the 1500 block of 35th Street,” reported Georgetown University’s Department of Public Safety. “She was approached from behind by two suspects, who restrained her and displayed a knife forcing the complainant to hand over a backpack which contained her cell phone.” The suspects—one described as a black male, 18-20 years of age, medium build, 5’8”-5’9” wearing a gray jacket, another described as 5’8”-5’9” thin build, and black hair—drove off in a gray, four-door vehicle southbound on 35th Street. The complainant reported the case to Metropolitan Police Department, which is investigating the incident. No injuries were reported

On Monday, April 18, just before 6:30 a.m., a victim was robbed at gunpoint on the 3500 block of Winfield Lane, according to the Metropolitan Police Department. Two assailants, described as dressed in dark clothing with black masks, escaped in two separate vehicles.

Also reported was a burglary on 33rd Street: “On Tuesday, April 5, at 5:52 p.m., DPS received a call from a Georgetown student living in the 1200 block of 33rd Street, reporting that a male suspect had just burglarized her residence by forcing open the bathroom window. The student observed the suspect exiting the rear door. Nothing appeared to be missing from the residence. MPD officers and detectives were notified. The case will be handled by MPD detectives.” No one was harmed; there is no description of the suspect.

Crime reports or tips: Georgetown’s Department of Public Safety, 202-687-4343; Metropolitan Police Department, 202-727-9099.

Robert Devaney •

With a few rumors circulating that Serendipity 3 might not open at all after several delays, co-owner Rodrigo Garcia totally denied such talk and said that problems with the venting system were the cause of the latest wait. Pointing to the open ceiling where the duct was being worked on, Garcia showed off the nearly completed interior of Serendipity 3’s first floor during an April 18 impromptu tour.

Upon entering the restaurant at Wisconsin Avenue and M Street, which once housed the legendary Nathans, one is greeted by a wall sculpture of Abraham Lincoln sitting at his memorial holding a froho, the frozen hot chocolate dessert. Above the bar, cherubs fly the Serendipity 3 banner. Burgundy-cushioned chairs are at the tables on a burgundy-stained floor. Windows can open to the sidewalk (this prompted the powerful cooling system). Tiffany-like lamps abound as well as a centerpiece domed, one on the ceiling. Galt clocks are on the wall (neither First Lady Edith Galt Wilson nor “Atlas Shrugged” seem implicated) as is a porcelain Mobil Gas Pegasus. Fashion illustrations from the 1940s are ready to hang as well as a photo of Andy Warhol in front of the original Serendipity 3 on East 60th Street in New York, which opened in 1954, the same year this newspaper began printing.

Garcia says the famous $1,000 sundae will be happily prepared for those who desire to take a gold-plated spoon and taste the top-drawer ingredients with the edible 23k gold in its crystal goblet. There is an open kitchen, a display case for merchandise as well as a grab-and-go for pastries and such with entrance on the side. Washington-inspired images are on the menu with local favorites like chowder and crab cakes. The second floor will be for private events and a media room is being finished.

And this newspaper’s prediction: How about an opening by Memorial Day? Fourth of July?

Robert Devaney •

The D.C. Zoning commission met April 14 for the first of three hearings on Georgetown University’s campus plan. Georgetown administrators sat before the commissioners and made their case for the 2010-2020 outline. With their lawyer and architect, John DeGioia, university president, James O’Donnell, provost, and Todd Olson, dean of students, testified to the main points of “the modest and reasonable plan.” Acknowledging the opposition of residents to the university’s proposals of increased graduate student enrollment and on-campus road construction, DeGioia argued that the university had gone “more than halfway to meet neighbors.” (Visit Georgetowner.com to read past articles for more details.)

The zoning commission includes Anthony Hood, chairman, Konrad Schlater, Greg Selfridge, Peter May and Michael Turnbull.

In the room were neighborhood leaders as well as Georgetown students.

Commissioners offered some preliminary comments and questions. Asking about the percentage of students living on campus (79 percent), May said he did not like the sound of “a voluntary cap” on enrollments, which seemed to be “not setting a good tone for discussion.” Turnbull asked about how far or how long it would take to walk the campus north to south. Schlater was curious about such strong opposition to the plans by residents. DeGioia replied, “We are in the finest residential neighborhood.” Schlater requested the 10-year data on disorderly conduct by students.

The next hearing—with residents’ testimony—will be May 12, at 6:30 p.m. Third hearing is on May 16.

Robert Devaney •

Starting with a rooftop reception at the House of Sweden (aka the Swedish Embassy) for its April 18 meeting, members and guests of the Citizens Association of Georgetown first enjoyed the sunset and looked down on the flood damage at Washington Harbour across the street. Later, D.C. recycler Catherine Plume gave her take on “changing the world one water bottle at a time” through the proper uses of “reduce, re-use and recycle.” The event was all about being green for Earth Day. One of the greenest embassies, the House of Sweden has that in spades. “Electricity from wind power and not from Pepco,” noted its general manager Cecilia Browning, as she welcomed the crowd. On hand was Occasions, the first certified green caterer. CAG president Jennifer Altemus was nominated for a third year—along with vice president Gianluca Pivato, treasurer Robert Laycock and secretary Christopher Mathews. The vote will be at the May 17 gathering.

Robert Devaney •

EastBanc presented its design for a high-end condo complex at 3601-3607 M Street (the gas station property next to the Exorcist stairs) to the Old Georgetown Board, April 7, and was sent back to the drawing board. Residents may be fuming about the height of the complex against their backyards, but it was the way the condo looked and worked on the street that garnered the rejection. While some OGB officials agreed with Georgetown architect Robert Bell’s opinion that the condos as drawn had a look of “Marriott-hotel quality,” others found the design unfriendly or uninviting to pedestrians. While not exactly a high traffic area in terms of walkers, the Key Bridge Exxon will close by the end of July 2012. (The property is owned by D.C.’s gas station king, Joe Mamo, who also owns Parker’s Exxon on MacArthur Boulevard, Georgetown Exxon at Q Street and the Watergate Exxon.)

Meanwhile, EastBanc will be presenting designs to local officials, April 25—this time for the West End neighborhood—for the public library site (24th and L Streets) and fire station (23rd and M Streets). The library site involves a 10-story residence of up to 180 units above a new library and retail; the firehouse would have 52 units above its new building.

Robert Devaney •

Prospect Street residents whose backyards would be almost level with the top of the proposed Key Bridge Exxon condo on M Street are not feeling the love from their Advisory Neighborhood Commission, to say nothing of the developer EastBanc, which presented its redesign of the project after scrutiny by the Old Georgetown Board at the May 2 ANC meeting.

Prospect Street resident Jack Davies said that the redrawn design “doesn’t address our concerns,” and argued further that “the view from Key Bridge [looking toward Georgetown and the homes up on Prospect Street] is iconic.”

“The ANC should reflect the needs of the neighbors,” Davies said. “The ANC resolution lacked teeth.” He said neighbors had asked for a delay and for more discussion about a 40-foot limit. However, he was not suggesting that nothing be built, he said. “We could live with a compromise.”

Robert O’Malley, who lives right next to the infamous Exorcist steps, said he hoped people would not be looking back at the project “after five years and asking, ‘How did that get by?’ The Old Georgetown Board brushed us off. They don’t have their heads screwed on right. The ANC needs to be more emphatic. Think about the future before it is too late.” Shannon Pryor, another Prospect Street resident, cited the natural green strip of land in the back of the properties and added, “You’re devaluing our property.”

Commissioner Bill Starrels, whose district within the condo project and the Prospect Street homes lie, said the ANC resolution “could have been tougher.” Commissioner Tom Birch said that the ANC could ask the Old Georgetown Board to lower the project’s height to 40 feet.

EastBanc presented its design for a high-end condo complex at 3601-3607 M Street to the Old Georgetown Board April 7, and was sent back to the drawing board. While some OGB officials agreed with Georgetown architect Robert Bell’s opinion that the condos, as drawn, had a look of “Marriott-hotel quality,” others found the design unfriendly and uninviting to pedestrians. The OGB did not object to the 50 feet of the condo project. EastBanc modified the design with a more brick look and a more obvious sidewalk and entryway as well as making the rooftop pool area smaller and the penthouses lower.

The Key Bridge Exxon will close by the end of July 2012. The property is owned by D.C.’s gas station king, Joe Mamo, who also owns Parker’s Exxon on MacArthur Boulevard, Georgetown Exxon at Q Street and the Watergate Exxon.

During the same presentation, EastBanc said it had “simplified and cleaned up” its design for the Verizon property at the C&O Canal and Wisconsin Avenue, after OGB review, and added more red brick to the look of the future condos.

The Old Georgetown Board will meet May 5 at 9:15 a.m. at the National Building Museum.

Robert Devaney •

Leaders of the aging-in-place Georgetown Village met with an overflowing hall of neighbors at the Georgetown Presbyterian Church on P Street on April 26 to discuss their nonprofit service helping elderly neighbors stay in their homes. The group has 57 members pledged and needs 47 more to hit its goal of 100 to get the service up and running.

“I want to leave the house feet first,” said founder Sharon Lockwood, a Georgetown resident of 43 years. The aging-in-place concept of trusted neighborhood helpers and contacts has caught on throughout nation, including Capitol Hill and Bethesda. Involving volunteers, especially young people, the service will provide handyman help around the house, transportation, food carryout tips as well as group activities, such as book clubs. Founding member’s annual fee is $500; that makes for a monthly fee of around $42 ($800 annually for households). Already, the group has raised $45,000 and has a list of 60 volunteers.

For more information, contact Sharon Lockwood, founder and chair: SharonLockwood100@hotmail.com, 202-361-2482 or visit Georgetown-Village.org.

Robert Devaney •

The Citizens Advisory Council for the Second District of the Metropolitan Police Department will hold its Police Appreciation Luncheon on May 11, “to show the officers and staff of the Second District Police Force how much the community appreciates the work they do protecting our neighborhoods against crime.” The luncheon will be at the Second District Police Station on Idaho Avenue. Last year, over 300 officers and staff members enjoyed lunch during the day. The CAC is seeking help with the luncheon. Beverage donations are needed. For more information, contact Samantha Nolan at NolanTutor@yahoo.com.

Robert Devaney •

Some Georgetown residents have heard loud booms as early as 6:30 a.m. recently. The sounds are from World War 2 era howitzers used for ceremonies at Fort Myer and Arlington Cemetery. Seems the army turned the guns around the other way and pointed them towards D.C. after Arlington residents had been complaining. If you wish to comment, contact D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton.