Georgetown's West Heating Plant: Yes, I Called It First

In all truth, there are few pleasures in journalism anymore, but every now and then something comes along to remind one of gut instinct and an old school nose for news. I scored today, in my own private and happy way, on Georgetown's West Heating Plant. Why? How? I'll tell you.

When it was made public that the GSA had settled on a bidder I sent email messages to all the people/men I knew who were bidding, figuring all but the winner would respond.  I called that right. I heard back from all but one. That one was Richard Levy. I knew he was representing the Four Seasons  Hotel chain and I knew they wanted the West Heating Plant with a passion. I'd known this going back 20 years, soon after the hotel first opened, and later when the chain started moving into residential towers. I wanted it to happen, too, because I think they do this well and it would be good for Georgetown.

Here's the email I received today from Richard: 

Yours (was) my favorite of all the e-mails and speculations.  Sorry that I was unable to respond at the time. And yes, I stayed very far away from the Four Seasons during this period, with the exception of lunch on Saturday with Chris Hunsberger. Fortunately you were not there.Let me know if you would like to talk. 

Of course I want to talk. Duh. Richard will be discreet and loyal to his overseers. It doesn't matter. I'm enjoying that I called it. I like that I have that radar, as useless as it is in today's PR-controlled world of journalsim. And, proudly, this scooplet had nothing to do with social media! btw, Topher Mathews at The Georgetown Metropolitan came to the same conclusion.

Congratulations Richard, congratulations Four Seasons.

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