There is a huge hole in the middle of the city near the George Washington University campus. I mean it is huge. I’m dying to know what it’s slated to become. You can’t miss it but you’ll find it at the corner of 23rd and I Streets, NW. Anyone know what the story is here?

Updated from Wikipedia:

“Square 54 Redevelopment is a complex of high-rise buildings located in Washington, D.C., United States. The complex will serve as mixed-use, two buildings will be used for residential use, while the third building will serve as an office-building. The complex will be completed with three buildings, Square 54 Residential I, Square 54 Residential II, and Square 54 Office. Square 54 Residential I is expected to rise 48 metres (160 ft), featuring 14 floors.[1][2] Square 54 Residential II is expected to rise 44 metres (140 ft), featuring 12 floors.[3][4] Finally, Square 54 Office, is expected to rise 45 metres (150 ft), featuring 11 floors.[5][6] Construction of every building will be completed in 2010. Each building will be designed by the architect, Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects.”

This one has a pretty cool back story. The owner tells me, it was inspired by some stained glass seen in an old church up in New Hampshire. Very cool.

I think someone mentioned this yesterday, so here is the community garden located at the corner of Taylor and 14th Streets, NW. It is called Twin Oaks and is currently all filled up. Though chatting with one of the owners of a plot, I learned that there is waiting list available. He mentioned the National Parks service but I couldn’t find a waiting list for it. Anyone know how to get on the waiting list?

This is my gutter. The weed grew up and around it in two days. I just find it amazing how fast weeds can grow and how they are able to wrap around obstacles in their way. While I think it is terribly annoying, I also think it’s pretty extraordinary.

Just thought this one had a bit of an unusual shape. Looks good though.

I think this is actually a bed and breakfast today. You can see it’s located on the corner of New Hampshire and Swann Streets, NW. No doubt, it’s pretty sweet whatever its function.

And some more love for H Street, NE. Well the name in and of itself is phenomenal! It is located at 1350-52 H Street, NE. The application in the window says:

“New restaurant with Italian dining and full service bar on the first floor.  Second floor features a dessert bar, liquors and coffees. Jukebox featuring Opera and Italian music occasional Accordion or instrumental musician and Bocce Ball courts in rear of the building…”

Holy cow, how freaking sweet does that sound!?!?!

This great sign and wild sculpture is from H Street, NE. I told you I had much love for H Street, NE…

Well this is one of the cooler old school buildings in DC. It’s located at 1250 H Street, NW 1307 New Hampshire Avenue, NW. You can read about it’s history here. Their Web site says:

“The Heurich Mansion was built in 1892-1894, during Dupont Circle’s golden era as the city’s premier residential neighborhood, by German immigrant, American citizen, brewer, real estate magnate, and philanthropist, Christian Heurich. The mansion was the city’s first fireproof home, having been built of reinforced steel and poured concrete, a novel construction technique at the time, and unheard of for residential construction. To ensure its safety, none of the fireplaces were ever used, and the top of the tower features a salamander, in mythology, a creature that guards against fire.

A distinguished example of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture, this Category Two Landmark on the National Register of Historic Places enjoys a reputation as the most intact late-Victorian home in Washington D.C., and has been featured on A&E’s “America’s Castles” and HGTV’s “Dream Builders.”

The 31-room home is replete with hand-carved wood, 15 fireplaces with individually carved mantles and cast bronze fire backs, hand-painted ceiling canvases, luxuriously furnished rooms, and original turn-of-the-century Heurich family collections.”

Lots more photos after the jump. (more…)

This cool night shot is from DG-rad. It is a view from Poplar Point.

Submit your photos via email or to the PoPville flickr pool here.

This home is located at 1442 Q Street, NW:

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The flier says:

“Beautiful 3 story, master suite with suana & private bath, living room on 1st & 2nd floors, sep dining room, hardwood floors. Additional bedroom & bath on 2nd flr, garage pkg, landscaped front yard. One of the best blocks in DC. AS IS condition.”

More info and a virtual tour found here.

This home is nearly a house porn edition but it just sneaked under. It was also featured as a door of the day, back in the day.

I think this is the first house I’ve seen that has a sauna. But does $997,300 sound right for a 2 bed 2.5 bathroom house? Also what do you think about the house itself?

In yesterday’s judging buildings, folks were already singing the praises of Founding Farmers restaurant. Robyn checked it out back in December. Founding Farmers is located at 1924 Pennsylvania Ave, NW. You can see their menus here. Anyone recommend a particular dish? Any new fans out there?

photo, originally uploaded by Prince of Petworth.

Insanity on both fronts. A reader sends in word about the shooting at 1st and Florida, NW:

“Someone was shot in the ankle at 9:45 in the children’s park; in a display of good faith the mayors office was there by 10:30. No one was hurt seriously (because the cops said he would be ok) but it is awful that this happened when children and families were at the park enjoying themselves.

Also, a petition is out there to stop the Bloomingdale farmers market and there is a rebuttal petition of appreciation at Big Bear for the community to sign. Please, hope the community doesn’t ban the farmers market because it make the neighborhood feel more inclusive!!”

A very rough week here in DC. And why on earth would anyone want to shut down the Bloomingdale Farmer’s Market?

OjO Latino is a feature by Néstor Sánchez Cordero. This week’s theme captures the bar scene. Néstor says, “Images are around, the secret is to catch them at the right moment and with the right light…”

Anyone recognize the bar? Two more shots after the jump. (more…)

Tivoli Corner, originally uploaded by M.V. Jantzen.

Well it’s been a while. Yesterday there was a post in the great H Street, NE blog, Frozen Tropics where, I feel, the author unfairly maligns Columbia Heights. I can understand her frustration but is it really necessary to make the point of defending one neighborhood by cutting on another? I can’t accept that provincial way of thinking. The author writes:

“But, to be frank, I feel safer living here than in Columbia Heights. Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like I know too many people who have been robbed in Columbia Heights. And when I say robbed, I mean pistol whipped, punched, or hit in the head with a brick. None of these people were resisting. By contrast, I only know (personally) one guy who was ever violently attacked during a robbery in this area.”

I really don’t mean to start a neighborhood war here. I’m a big fan of H Street, NE (in fact I just filmed a PoPtrekker there, stay tuned). I think what makes Washington DC great is that it has many great diverse neighborhoods that each have much to offer. You know, “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts” and all.

Nevertheless, let me make a few points in defense of Columbia Heights. You see Columbia Heights is a huge neighborhood. And lots of people live there. So yes, there is crime. In fact I was hit in the head with a rock not too long ago. But it has in no way diminished my love for it. I mean if we’re going to use the scientific method of how many people we personally know who’ve been mugged then I’d say it’s one of the safest neighborhoods in the city. Yeah, I don’t know anyone personally who’s been mugged there. Ok, obviously I don’t think it’s the safest neighborhood in the city but just making a point.

Here at PoP we’ve often discussed that everyone has their own comfort level. I happen to feel comfortable in Columbia Heights and H Street, NE. That doesn’t mean I walk the streets at 3am with dollars sticking out of my ears and a fresh can of airplane glue. I also happen to feel comfortable on Georgia Ave. And H Street, NE reminds me a lot of Georgia Ave. (except H St. has more new restaurants). But when I was recently filming the PoPtrekker there I couldn’t help but notice how many boarded up storefronts there were. It didn’t bother me. But I can see how some people might feel uncomfortable. It is what I call gritty. Which is far different, in my mind, than unsafe. Crime is a citywide problem. It may occur on some streets more than others but it is a problem we need to battle as a city.

But like I said, I love Columbia Heights. And I love H Street, NE. No need to justify loving one by taking down the other.