On the heels of Anne's post,From the Washington Business Journal:
"Developer Chris Donatelli, who is working on the property along with Mosaic Urban Partners LLC, confirmed that he is in talks with the group for a new restaurant at 3815 Georgia Ave. NW. Donatelli and the city recently negotiated a land deal for the spot."
The location, 3815 Georgia Ave. NW used to house Billy Simpson's House of Seafood and Steaks, a meeting place for civil rights organizers during desegregation. The building is a DC historic landmark and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
"Eric and Ian Hilton and the team behind the tremendously popular Marvin restaurant on U Street are eying a parcel in Petworth to open another restaurant concept."
"Developer Chris Donatelli, who is working on the property along with Mosaic Urban Partners LLC, confirmed that he is in talks with the group for a new restaurant at 3815 Georgia Ave. NW. Donatelli and the city recently negotiated a land deal for the spot."
I find it amusing that an important monument to the desegreation movement will now become yet another monument to gentrification. It will be "an establishment similiar to Marvin" which of course likely prices out most Petworth residents.
However, to preseve the history, maybe they will name it "Martin" or serve Malcolm X Salad and Medger Evers Mashed Potatoes.
We'll see if there are any protests to ensure that an actual historic landmark is repurposed in a respectful way.
Photos of the original restaurant [from the National Park Sevice]:
Is Billy Simpson's House of Seafood and Steaks now a rundown crack den?
ReplyDeleteUh, have you been to this address? If google maps and my memory are both correct, this is the vacant corner at Georgia and Quincy...Billy Simpsons was demolished, so, I dont see why building something that a plaque could be hung upon (like a sorely needed sit down resturant/club...not unlke Billy Simpsons was in its heyday)is a bad thing... As a resident of Upshur St. I welcome development of Georgia Ave!
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