(Foto: fonte Eastbanc)
My Kind of Town
Don't blink. You might miss Anthony Lanier's next big move in his kingdom of Georgetown.
by John Greenya
Washington Flyer Magazine Tuesday, July 24
Ask Anthony Lanier how he feels about being called "the King of Georgetown," and D.C.'s hottest real estate developer simply grins.
"Considering the names people have for some developers, I feel lucky to be called king—that's so much better than culprit," Lanier says. Aware from personal experience that anyone who changes anything in this historical section of Washington is a prime candidate for vocal abuse, he says, "It helps if you bring a large sense of humor to your job."
Lanier, founder and president of EastBanc Inc., already has made significant changes in Georgetown. The list includes such popular M Street spots as Barnes & Noble, Pottery Barn, BCBG, Baker Furniture, Smith & Hawken and Sephora. Wisconsin Avenue additions include the Gap, Britches and the French Connection. Size–wise, however, these are mini–projects compared with EastBanc's current plans.
Having just finished the massive Ritz–Carlton hotel and luxury residences on M Street between 22nd and 23rd (codeveloped with Millenium Partners of New York), Lanier has returned to Georgetown proper with three intriguing endeavors. The first will be a Ritz–Carlton boutique hotel—including 30 luxury residences and a 13–screen Loews Theatres Multiplex with stadium seating (another joint development with MilleniumPartners). The second project, called Cady's Alley (partnered with ING Real Estate), will include 150,000 square feet of retail space housed inside more than a dozen historic buildings in the 3300 block of M Street. The thirdproject is 3303 K Street, featuring 80 luxury waterfront condominiums.
Lanier and his partners have projects in several other major cities throughout the world. But the heart of this cosmopolite (Brazil–born, Austria–raised, fluent in English, German and Portuguese) is definitely in Georgetown, where he and his family live. Lanier loves to stroll along Georgetown's streets and schmooze with his fellow merchants, many of whom just happen to be EastBanc tenants.
"I think my fascination with Georgetown comes from having grown up in post–war Vienna as it was being revitalized into one of the most exciting, pedestrian–friendly downtowns in the world," he says. "One day, years later, it suddenly occurred to me that Georgetown was an unbelievable setup, with cosmopolitan people in an increasingly cosmopolitan city with all sorts of historic charm. Consider many of the cities that we all admire in Europe. At some point [these cities] picked their most treasured asset and made it a centerpiece by creating
pedestrian zones for shopping and a place where all the social interaction occurs. I think that's what Georgetown always was and what we're trying to re–establish in Washington—a pedestrian–oriented area where society interacts."
One has to listen closely to the King of Georgetown lest one miss, due to his wry delivery and a slight German accent, a royal pearl. For example, while expanding on his reasons for concentrating on Georgetown, Lanier says, almost as an aside, that real estate, in itself, is not an intelligent business. "You have two options," he says. "Either you're constructing buildings [that stand] on their own, or you look at what you do as a local business that creates value in the community with one building. As a fairly small company, we felt we should not diffuse our effort by trying to do the same thing somewhere else, so we'll work actively in Georgetown for
another three or four years."
Proof of that commitment? In 2000, EastBanc had $600 million in "active construction" (almost all of it in Georgetown and the West End), making it Washington's busiest developer. "Our goal from the beginning has been to make Georgetown the heartbeat of the city," he says.
Lanier becomes almost emotional talking about some of the revitalizing signs he sees around his village."We have a watch shop in Georgetown now, and it's operated by somebody who is in love with watches!" hesays. "There's an old shoemaker who's been [in business] for so long that people now know he makes great shoes,and we also have tailors re–emerging. It's exciting to know that we have tailors and shoemakers and watchmakers who can sustain themselves."
What pleases Lanier most is his dream that someday—somehow—Georgetown will no longer be a drive–throughenvironment. "We all have to put our heads together to see if Georgetown should be a limited–access, pedestrian–oriented environment, which I think would be great."
The King of Georgetown, who "landed here by default" some years ago, was helped in his eventual decision to stay by something one of his children said. It was the mid–1980s, and Lanier and his family were moving from the Washington suburbs to New York. One of his kids asked how someone could tell which window was his in the Big Apple. That was it. Lanier thought about that question—and its implication of facelessness in a big city—and decided to stay in Washington. "But we moved from the suburbs into the city and, luckily, into Georgetown."
Finally, what does Lanier say when people at cocktail parties ask him how he makes a living? "I say I'm a real estate developer," he says. "Some people understand, some people don't. But at the end of the day, I think we all sell apples." Hmm. Ritz–Carlton, Sephora, Smith & Hawken.
Some apples.
Regal notions: Anthony Lanier says his goal is to make "Georgetown the heartbeat of the city."
Portfolio
Anthony Lanier
What he drives: Black Mercedes M430 SUV ("until the lease runs out") and a VW Cabriolet ("a '76, I think").
What he's reading: The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money, and Power by Daniel Yergin and Big Deal: 2000 and Beyond by Bruce Wasserstein.
Favorite restaurants: "Some of my favorites are, obviously, in Georgetown, such as Cafe Milano, Mendocino Grille, Bistrot Lepic and Senses. Downtown, I love Taberna del Alabardero. I also like the Tabard Inn, a nice secret."
Biggest business influence: "Actually, no one. I've learned from everyone I've done business with. I think my biggest asset in life is to do things together with my family. My [three] kids know every aspect of my business. They're my partners".
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