Training Center for Disabled Veterans Faces Design Hurdles

The owners of Dog Tag Bakery, a non-profit operation that will provide training and support for veterans with a service-connected disability, were turned down for a proposed elevator addition to the rooftop of a Georgetown building.

Dog Tag Bakery will be located at 3206 Grace St. NW, and will provide training for veterans and spouses in the craft of baking as well as provide courses through Georgetown University on entrepreneurship. The location will sell dog biscuits as well as baguettes, breakfast pastries and more to help support the training program. 

Dog Tag wants to build a flagpole on the roof of the building at 3206 Grace St. NW and to have an elevator go to the roof so veterans can raise and lower the flag each day.

Father Richard Curry S.J. who is a leading force behind the program told the ANC that in a program for veterans he ran in Maine, the veterans "felt absolutely religious about raising the flag every morning." He said having a flag pole and the ability to raise the flag each morning is "imperative" to the new Dog Tag program.

"We don't want to create any animosity within the community at all. We want to be part of it, but at the same time feel the integrity of these men and women would really be enhanced by the raising of the flag," said Curry.

But the Georgetown Advisory Neighborhood Commission opposed the proposed large elevator structure on the building in the historic district and asked the designers to find another way to raise and lower a flag, perhaps from street level. 

The architect said it would be difficult to be able to mount a flag pole and raise the flag from public space. 

The design discussion Tuesday included several uncomfortable comments by ANC commissioners about not being un-American or not patriotic enough. 

"We appreciate the mission very much. Personally I'd do everything I could to support the kind of work you are doing," said Commission Chairman Ron Lewis.

"At the same time we have a  mandate of our own here which is to preserve the look and feel of Georgetown," added Lewis. The building, said Lewis, would continue to exist long after Dog Tag Bakery might use it.

The commission approved a resolution that said they would be very supportive of having a flag pole located on the building, but oppose the addition of an elevator. They encouraged the bakery to work with the Old Georgetown Board to find an alternative design to allow for a flag at the property.