Anonymous wrote:Georgetown peaked in the 60s and had a little bump in the 80s but overall it’s pretty bad. It’s for tourists and suburban folks who don’t know where else to go in dc. I grew up here and there has always been a sad mix of sketchy stores, the worst rats in the city and petty crime.

Georgetown was awesome in the 80s. It was a mix of Gucci and Commander Salamander. Then it became all chain stores with nothing unique or interesting. Who wants to go to another TJ Maxx and pay $20 for underground parking (if you buy a lot of stuff, you kinda have to park underground to get the stuff to your car).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
If you feel so strongly, get involved. Make change. I’m not sure why you are arguing here as you are convincing no one and certainly hurting whatever cause you think you are supporting by denigrating and alienating people. If you want wider sidewalks, go talk to the ANC. Go talk to Cheh. Go talk to the BID. Go talk to DDOT. You’ve done none of these things. I think sometimes it’s easy convince oneself of your own righteousness when you don’t actually test your ideas in the real world. The real world right now does not agree with you but if you got off DCUM and stop behaving like a child, maybe you could? It’s up to you.

DCUM posts are anonymous. How do you know what anyone has done?

Not to mention, you're the one who said that the ANC commissioners voted for preserving street parking over wider sidewalks. That's not "denigrating," that's just a statement of fact (assuming that it is factual).

LOL No. But okay, let’s assume that you did all of these things and the result came out the same way, wouldn’t you suspect that maybe you had a bad idea or maybe you are a bad advocate if you cannot get anyone in the rest of the world to agree with you. If all of this is true, I’m going to guess that your problem is both because making snide remarks about people you should want to get in your side is a poor way to make coalitions to bring about the change you claim you want to see.

Or…. hear me out. You are just a random troll on an internet website that likes to kvetch and moan anonymously about things that very few other people actually care about or agree with and pretend that you have a have a lot of people that agree with you.

It’s a tough choice, but I’ve chosen.

Anonymous wrote:
If you feel so strongly, get involved. Make change. I’m not sure why you are arguing here as you are convincing no one and certainly hurting whatever cause you think you are supporting by denigrating and alienating people. If you want wider sidewalks, go talk to the ANC. Go talk to Cheh. Go talk to the BID. Go talk to DDOT. You’ve done none of these things. I think sometimes it’s easy convince oneself of your own righteousness when you don’t actually test your ideas in the real world. The real world right now does not agree with you but if you got off DCUM and stop behaving like a child, maybe you could? It’s up to you.

DCUM posts are anonymous. How do you know what anyone has done?

Not to mention, you're the one who said that the ANC commissioners voted for preserving street parking over wider sidewalks. That's not "denigrating," that's just a statement of fact (assuming that it is factual).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
So I guess you are arguing for the sake of arguing? Otherwise I don’t understand your point. No one should support streets lined with jersey barriers. M Street is not an interstate highway.

No, I am saying that wider sidewalks protected by jersey jersey walls are better than narrower sidewalks and more car lanes. Jersey walls are a quick, low-cost way to protect ped/bike facilities while we're waiting for more permanent changes.

The ANC commissioners unanimously voted in August to oppose sidewalk widening in exchange for parking spaces on M Street while continuing to support limited streateries. If you wanted your input heard beyond arguing on DCUM you should have participated in the Aug. 30 ANC meeting but those meetings are only for residents.

Oh, ANC commissioners voted to prioritize street parking over pedestrians? What a surprise.

Fortunately, ANC commissioners don't make the final decision.

It’s interesting, or not, that you claim to have such an interest in the community but you are not involved. If you live there get involved. Talk to your commissioners and convince your neighbors. If, as I suspect, you don’t live there, then maybe you should defer to the people who do and who perhaps have a better understanding of community needs than you do? Last time I checked, denigrating people probably doesn’t help.

Georgetown should be a destination for people who don't live there, but only the people who live there should get to make decisions about it.

-you

If you feel so strongly, get involved. Make change. I’m not sure why you are arguing here as you are convincing no one and certainly hurting whatever cause you think you are supporting by denigrating and alienating people. If you want wider sidewalks, go talk to the ANC. Go talk to Cheh. Go talk to the BID. Go talk to DDOT. You’ve done none of these things. I think sometimes it’s easy convince oneself of your own righteousness when you don’t actually test your ideas in the real world. The real world right now does not agree with you but if you got off DCUM and stop behaving like a child, maybe you could? It’s up to you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
So I guess you are arguing for the sake of arguing? Otherwise I don’t understand your point. No one should support streets lined with jersey barriers. M Street is not an interstate highway.

No, I am saying that wider sidewalks protected by jersey jersey walls are better than narrower sidewalks and more car lanes. Jersey walls are a quick, low-cost way to protect ped/bike facilities while we're waiting for more permanent changes.

The ANC commissioners unanimously voted in August to oppose sidewalk widening in exchange for parking spaces on M Street while continuing to support limited streateries. If you wanted your input heard beyond arguing on DCUM you should have participated in the Aug. 30 ANC meeting but those meetings are only for residents.

Oh, ANC commissioners voted to prioritize street parking over pedestrians? What a surprise.

Fortunately, ANC commissioners don't make the final decision.

It’s interesting, or not, that you claim to have such an interest in the community but you are not involved. If you live there get involved. Talk to your commissioners and convince your neighbors. If, as I suspect, you don’t live there, then maybe you should defer to the people who do and who perhaps have a better understanding of community needs than you do? Last time I checked, denigrating people probably doesn’t help.

Georgetown should be a destination for people who don't live there, but only the people who live there should get to make decisions about it.

-you

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
So I guess you are arguing for the sake of arguing? Otherwise I don’t understand your point. No one should support streets lined with jersey barriers. M Street is not an interstate highway.

No, I am saying that wider sidewalks protected by jersey jersey walls are better than narrower sidewalks and more car lanes. Jersey walls are a quick, low-cost way to protect ped/bike facilities while we're waiting for more permanent changes.

The ANC commissioners unanimously voted in August to oppose sidewalk widening in exchange for parking spaces on M Street while continuing to support limited streateries. If you wanted your input heard beyond arguing on DCUM you should have participated in the Aug. 30 ANC meeting but those meetings are only for residents.

Oh, ANC commissioners voted to prioritize street parking over pedestrians? What a surprise.

Fortunately, ANC commissioners don't make the final decision.

It’s interesting, or not, that you claim to have such an interest in the community but you are not involved. If you live there get involved. Talk to your commissioners and convince your neighbors. If, as I suspect, you don’t live there, then maybe you should defer to the people who do and who perhaps have a better understanding of community needs than you do? Last time I checked, denigrating people probably doesn’t help.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was through M Street this AM and was surprised. Pretty awful aesthetically and functionally, unless the goal is to discourage people from coming to Georgetown? If that’s the case, they’ve don’t a great job.

I completely disagree. Georgetown is much more pleasant with wider sidewalks. It seems most others agree, as it feels busier than ever.

Unfortunately, it’s not “busier than ever”. Do historic streets lined with depression grey-painted jersey barriers provide a welcoming aesthetic for a neighborhood highly dependent on attracting people to come and spend money? It looks it it’s working for you personally but it seems that you are not representative of general consumers.

https://dcist.com/story/21/03/11/georgetown-pushes-to-overcome-its-flurry-of-closures/

DP. I agree that the streets of Georgetown would be much more attractive with permanently wider sidewalks and fewer cars, driving or parked. The jersey walls should only be a temporary solution.

They could commission artists to paint them. They could instead use different materials in keeping with the historic character of the neighborhood, like iron. They could extend the sidewalk. They could go back to way it used to be. Instead they have chosen to make Georgetown look like it’s under military occupation, which is absolutely the worst possible choice for this historic neighborhood.

Actually I think that the omnipresent, unhistorical cars have a far bigger aesthetic and functional impact than the jersey walls on the historic character of Georgetown.

I am not sure what you are advocating, unless less safe streets and a return to horses and buggies (notably automobiles were originally called horseless carriages afterall).

The unpleasant aesthetics aside, particularly on the quality of the streetscape, the jersey barriers make the neighborhood less safe. Research demonstrates that barriers, and a jersey barrier is the most extreme, create less safe road conditions. Shared streets, particularly removing barriers, is the safest approach that would improve safety and the quality of the neighborhood.

Banning cars built post-WWII in georgetown? that actually is a really good idea. Why do we only regulate the buildings, but not cars in georgetown? Seems like a missed opportunity.

Why stop at cars? Let’s ban all post WWII technology.

Did the history of Georgetown stop at WWII? I don’t get why that’s such an important date. Someone previously said the year 1800 was the most important date. Is there a reason for that? What was important about 1800?

Best period in the history of Georgetown was the early 1980s. 18 drinking age. St Elmos Fire.

If only they could have frozen that Georgetown in time. Best period in the history of Georgetown ever.

Georgetown was still relevant as a going-out destination in the 90s (at least the early 90s).

When I went to AU in the early aughts, it was very much still a going-out destination. Rhino Bar, the Tombs, Mr. Smith’s…

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
So I guess you are arguing for the sake of arguing? Otherwise I don’t understand your point. No one should support streets lined with jersey barriers. M Street is not an interstate highway.

No, I am saying that wider sidewalks protected by jersey jersey walls are better than narrower sidewalks and more car lanes. Jersey walls are a quick, low-cost way to protect ped/bike facilities while we're waiting for more permanent changes.

The ANC commissioners unanimously voted in August to oppose sidewalk widening in exchange for parking spaces on M Street while continuing to support limited streateries. If you wanted your input heard beyond arguing on DCUM you should have participated in the Aug. 30 ANC meeting but those meetings are only for residents.

Oh, ANC commissioners voted to prioritize street parking over pedestrians? What a surprise.

Fortunately, ANC commissioners don't make the final decision.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
So I guess you are arguing for the sake of arguing? Otherwise I don’t understand your point. No one should support streets lined with jersey barriers. M Street is not an interstate highway.

No, I am saying that wider sidewalks protected by jersey jersey walls are better than narrower sidewalks and more car lanes. Jersey walls are a quick, low-cost way to protect ped/bike facilities while we're waiting for more permanent changes.

The ANC commissioners unanimously voted in August to oppose sidewalk widening in exchange for parking spaces on M Street while continuing to support limited streateries. If you wanted your input heard beyond arguing on DCUM you should have participated in the Aug. 30 ANC meeting but those meetings are only for residents.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Best period in the history of Georgetown was the early 1980s. 18 drinking age. St Elmos Fire.

If only they could have frozen that Georgetown in time. Best period in the history of Georgetown ever.

Please present this viewpoint to the Old Georgetown Board at their next project review meeting!

Sure, but they all instinctively know it too. The days of the famous Georgetown political dinner parties. They want it back too. Kids at Georgetown University were wearing Izods up until at least the 2006. Tells you how influential that period was.

That was the 1960s.

Sally Quinn

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was through M Street this AM and was surprised. Pretty awful aesthetically and functionally, unless the goal is to discourage people from coming to Georgetown? If that’s the case, they’ve don’t a great job.

I completely disagree. Georgetown is much more pleasant with wider sidewalks. It seems most others agree, as it feels busier than ever.

Unfortunately, it’s not “busier than ever”. Do historic streets lined with depression grey-painted jersey barriers provide a welcoming aesthetic for a neighborhood highly dependent on attracting people to come and spend money? It looks it it’s working for you personally but it seems that you are not representative of general consumers.

https://dcist.com/story/21/03/11/georgetown-pushes-to-overcome-its-flurry-of-closures/

DP. I agree that the streets of Georgetown would be much more attractive with permanently wider sidewalks and fewer cars, driving or parked. The jersey walls should only be a temporary solution.

They could commission artists to paint them. They could instead use different materials in keeping with the historic character of the neighborhood, like iron. They could extend the sidewalk. They could go back to way it used to be. Instead they have chosen to make Georgetown look like it’s under military occupation, which is absolutely the worst possible choice for this historic neighborhood.

Actually I think that the omnipresent, unhistorical cars have a far bigger aesthetic and functional impact than the jersey walls on the historic character of Georgetown.

I am not sure what you are advocating, unless less safe streets and a return to horses and buggies (notably automobiles were originally called horseless carriages afterall).

The unpleasant aesthetics aside, particularly on the quality of the streetscape, the jersey barriers make the neighborhood less safe. Research demonstrates that barriers, and a jersey barrier is the most extreme, create less safe road conditions. Shared streets, particularly removing barriers, is the safest approach that would improve safety and the quality of the neighborhood.

Banning cars built post-WWII in georgetown? that actually is a really good idea. Why do we only regulate the buildings, but not cars in georgetown? Seems like a missed opportunity.

Why stop at cars? Let’s ban all post WWII technology.

Did the history of Georgetown stop at WWII? I don’t get why that’s such an important date. Someone previously said the year 1800 was the most important date. Is there a reason for that? What was important about 1800?

Best period in the history of Georgetown was the early 1980s. 18 drinking age. St Elmos Fire.

If only they could have frozen that Georgetown in time. Best period in the history of Georgetown ever.

Georgetown was still relevant as a going-out destination in the 90s (at least the early 90s).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Georgetown peaked in the 60s and had a little bump in the 80s but overall it’s pretty bad. It’s for tourists and suburban folks who don’t know where else to go in dc. I grew up here and there has always been a sad mix of sketchy stores, the worst rats in the city and petty crime.

There's petty crime everywhere in DC, especially high-density retail places like Georgetown. So I'm not sure that's a realistic complaint. But I do agree with you that Georgetown is no longer a destination and hasn't been for decades (the jersey barriers don't really change this). Mediocre restaurants, retail that you can find in any suburban shopping mall (or sketchy-ass clothing stores that never have any customers and clearly are fronts for something), no mass transit apart from buses that take 20 minutes to go two blocks: there's no reason to go there. There's certainly no reason to go through the hassle that is driving there.

I agree it's for tourists and suburbanite rubes only these days.

I can tell you that suburbanites aren't going there. Too much of a hassle to park, and you can't metro.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Best period in the history of Georgetown was the early 1980s. 18 drinking age. St Elmos Fire.

If only they could have frozen that Georgetown in time. Best period in the history of Georgetown ever.

Please present this viewpoint to the Old Georgetown Board at their next project review meeting!

Sure, but they all instinctively know it too. The days of the famous Georgetown political dinner parties. They want it back too. Kids at Georgetown University were wearing Izods up until at least the 2006. Tells you how influential that period was.

That was the 1960s.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Best period in the history of Georgetown was the early 1980s. 18 drinking age. St Elmos Fire.

If only they could have frozen that Georgetown in time. Best period in the history of Georgetown ever.

Please present this viewpoint to the Old Georgetown Board at their next project review meeting!

Sure, but they all instinctively know it too. The days of the famous Georgetown political dinner parties. They want it back too. Kids at Georgetown University were wearing Izods up until at least the 2006. Tells you how influential that period was.

Anonymous wrote:
Best period in the history of Georgetown was the early 1980s. 18 drinking age. St Elmos Fire.

If only they could have frozen that Georgetown in time. Best period in the history of Georgetown ever.

Please present this viewpoint to the Old Georgetown Board at their next project review meeting!