Walk On By

Having decided to once again participate in mass transit and commute via Metro, I also decided it would be good to walk home from work. The weather has been unseasonably gorgeous the last few weeks, so being outside is actually enjoyable.

My walking route was direct--straight up Georgia Avenue toward home. Boy, what an eye-opener.

When you're in a car driving down Georgia, you certainly see some of the urban blight and the need for economic development on this neglected thoroughfare that connects Montgomery County, Maryland, with the District. But when you're on foot, you see it up close and personal. And sometimes, what you're seeing ain't so pretty.

Which makes me hopeful that the city's announcement that it will invest $100 million in the Georgia Avenue Corridor will actually result in some of the same turn around as has been witnessed in other sectors of the city. It will be a fine balance, for sure. Obviously, you don't want to force out current business owners who have stuck it out through the blight, (although, I wouldn't be all that sad to see the "Girls! Girls! Girls!" Club go, go, go.) At the same time, you also want to encourage new business to come in and generate new sources of tax revenue and employment opportunities for folks.

Either way, my walking days on Georgia Ave may be limited. But not so much by the not-so-pretty stuff I saw, but by the mere fact that walking up that hill at Howard U just about did my ass in!

P.S. I tried to find an old photo of Georgia Ave, but couldn't. I did find this link, though, on the DDOT site. Check 'em out!