Make a difference. Your Voice Matters.

ACT NOW!

  • Sign the GCPS Petition. Together, we can make a difference for the Georgetown community.

  • We need you act! The District’s Public Space Committee meeting will review the BID’s permit request November 16th. Submit written testimony by emailing Catrina Folder at Catrina.felder@dc.gov or click on the Public Space email buttons below which automatically creates emails for your personalization.

  • Submit OGB Comments.   The talking points below are a good starting point.  Include the Project # OG 23-348 HP 23-555.  Use this link to access OGB Public Comment form https://www.cfa.gov/submit-public-comment.

  • Email the following DC leaders today and tell them it’s time to make a change to the Georgetown BID Wider Sidewalk and Streatery Pilot Program.  We’ve made it easy for you!  When you click on any of the buttons below, your email opens and suggested talking points are automatically inserted into a new email for your personalization.   

Talking points for Public Spaces.

Focus your remarks on:

1) the need to align the use of this space with the larger Transportation study underway,

2) the lack of a tested trash management plan

3) the lack of a loading/unloading plan

4) the lack of aesthetic enforcement strategy

5) the negative impact to traffic flow

6) the detrimental impact for bikers and other micro mobility users who visit our commercial areas.

Talking points.

The BID Wider Sidewalk and Streatery Pilot must fit into the context of the developing plan for Georgetown’s public spaces. In order to maintain the charm and livability of historic Georgetown, and, to keep our focus on a future vision. I urge any 2024 permit approved for the BID require the following:

1) There should be no plastic deck style sidewalks except directly in front of open restaurants. All other jersey barriers should be removed.

2) Like New York City and other cities around the world, the streateries should be seasonal if they sit empty for large parts of the year. Environmental impact, safety trade-offs, loss of parking spaces and lost income should also be studied. Finally, appropriate budgets should be in place for installation, removal, maintenance and storage of streatery materials during off-peak seasons.

3) Georgetown streateries must follow strict aesthetic conditions that are enforced by the Pilot sponsor, or appropriate city agencies and reviewed by the Old Georgetown Board (OGB).

4) As the permit holder, the BID holds the responsibility to proactively work with the community to address documented issues. If the BID cannot do so, the permit should be revoked and restaurants can directly apply to the city for a streatery permit by visiting DDOT Public Space Permits.

5) Any extension of the BID’s permit must align with community-wide priorities and timelines. Therefore, the BID's streatery pilot must be evaluated at the end of 2024, which will be nine months after the Georgetown Access and Circulation Study recommendations are issued. This Study, which has implementation funding, is taking a holistic approach to public space in Georgetown.