Written by DCist contributor Genevieve Smith.

In a deal brokered by the District government, the historic Carnegie Library will soon house the National Music Center (NMC), replacing the ill-fated City Museum of Washington and putting an end to speculation that it would re-open later this year after abruptly closing in 2004.

Though Mayor Williams announced that the deal will be beneficial for both the NMC and the Historical Society of Washington (HSW), which ran the City Museum, the change will mean a reorientation for HSW. “The Music Center will have a chance to test its ideas in a real world setting for an extended period of time, and the Historical Society gets a chance to take stock and reassess its future,” Williams said in a press statement. HSW will still maintain space on the second floor of the building under the new deal.

What kind of music extravaganzas can we expect from a center that bills itself as “a world class, one-of-a-kind entertainment destination”? Well, from the looks of its board, which includes the likes of Quincy Jones and Nancy Sinatra, the National Music Center is unlikely to revolutionize the D.C. music scene anytime soon. Upcoming performances include “The New Washingtonians” jazz ensemble and a male singing group, “Reverb.” The Music Center will also offer performances, classes, exhibits and other special events aimed at showcasing both local and national acts.

By the looks of its web site, it seems NMC was originally vying for more prime real estate. The new lease is for less than three years, with the option of renewing. So perhaps the Music Center is just biding its time until conditions are ripe for total world class music domination.