Monday, June 5, 2023
Coming Down: Remaining Structure at 3000 M Being Demolished
The rusting metal skeleton of the remains of the Latham Hotel at 3000 M St. NW is being taken down, piece by piece.
The work is by GCS-Sigal, along with Grunley, which did the initial demolition in 2017. (The property was also the site of Michel Richard’s Citronelle and La Madeleine Bakery.)
The property owner is Thor Equities, which told the Georgetown Advisory Neighborhood Commission at its December 2022 meeting that plans call for a new building with such features as 97 hotel rooms, 9,600 feet of retail along M Street, a restaurant with expansive windows overlooking the Mule Yard providing “a nice urban design for the project,” valet services to an off-site contracted garage and Uber and Lyft pick-up and drop-off zones. The developers will also be offering a “public benefits package” of $600,000 to the D.C. Affordable Housing Trust Fund, $400,000 for C&O Towpath improvements between 31st and 34th Streets NW, and a guarantee that at least 51 percent of the 150 to 200 hotel jobs expected on the project go to District residents.
After years as an eyesore, the property should celebrate a groundbreaking for a new structure before the end of the year.
Full demolition begins at 3000 M St. NW. Georgetowner photo.
In: The Poppy on P Replaces the Avery
The cozy and intimate boutique guesthouse Avery Georgetown has undergone a rebrand of sorts. Nico Vroom, general manager, told The Georgetowner that the venue at 2616 P St. NW would be officially “in bloom” as The Poppy Georgetown Guesthouse and Gardens come June.? And it has.
It was “love at first sight” when TBC Hotels acquired the property in February 2022, said Emily McAuley, director of digital strategy and communications for TBC Hotels. As the acquisition developed, it became apparent that TBC Hotels wanted to offer something “a little different, a little extra.”
The Poppy at 2616 P St. NW. Georgetowner photo.
In: Coffee Republic Annexes Saxbys
The Rockville-based business is now in Georgetown — having taken over Saxbys Coffee at 3500 O St. NW during Reunion Weekend. “Don’t mind the transition,” announced Coffee Republic, which tells us it “is a premier coffee shop that has been serving the finest quality coffee since 2003. Our mission is to provide our customers with a rich and flavorful coffee experience that is unmatched by any other coffee shop.” (The business has never to do with the Coffee Republic that operates in Europe and the Middle East.)
Coming Next Year: Pacci’s Trattoria on Penn.
Pacci’s Trattoria — with spots in Capitol Hill and Silver Spring — will be setting up another location at 2824 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, former space of luxury British retailer, Sterling & Burke Ltd. Expect Pacci’s next year — “Influenced by the Neapolitan tradition and a passion for fine food, our philosophy is simple: to use fresh and high quality ingredients, to prepare our food as Nonna taught us, and to serve it with love. Our wood-fired pizza ovens are what make our hand-crafted pizzas come alive with flavor and bring inspiration to the rest of our menu.”
ICYMI: Take Another Bite of Apple
The Apple Store at 1229 Wisconsin Ave. NW reopened a weekend ago after a few months of renovation. No word on the availability of VR googles.