Public Meeting on 2 DC Bills Regarding Neighborhood Preservation and Blighted Properties

25 January 2010 11:00 AM |DC Government | 18 Comments

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This meeting will take place Wed. Jan. 27th at 2pm in room 412 of 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. The two bills to be discussed are B18-448 which was introduced by Evans and would eliminate the vacant property registration system and focus only on blighted properties.

and

B18-546 which was introduced by Bowser and would keep the vacant property registration system, eliminate the exemptions, allow for an upward sliding scale for registration fee depending on amount of time property is vacant, simplify the citation issuance process, and require property insurance for vacant properties.

You can find links to the full text of the bills here.

Do you think it is a good idea that the $5 – $10 tax penalties be removed for all vacant properties except for those determined to be “blighted.” Which properties do you think should be defined as “blighted”? Do you think the Council should support penalties for vacant properties or only ones deemed blighted?

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AM Wine Shoppe Opens at 2122 18th Street, NW

24 January 2010 10:50 PM |Neighborhoods - Adams Morgan, Retail | 22 Comments

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This was a pretty quick turn around since the coming soon signs went up in October. Sunday evening there was a soft opening and I was able to snap some photos.

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In addition to wine they will also be offering cured meats and cheeses:

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And very soon they will also be offering sandwiches. You’ll be able to find more information on their Web site here soon. They’ll be open Mon. – Thurs. 11am – 9pm; Fri. 11am – 10pm; Sat. 10am – 10pm; and Sun. 10am – 8pm. More photos after the jump. More… »

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Boundless Yoga Coming to 13th and U Streets, NW This Summer

24 January 2010 10:39 PM |Coming and Going, Neighborhoods - U Street | 7 Comments

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There was some discussion last week about the construction going on at 13th and U Streets, NW. I have confirmed one rumor with Kim Weeks the founder of Boundless Yoga. She writes:

“We plan to move in during the summer, and we’re expanding from our spot on the 1500 block of U Street to 2500 SF there at 13th/U, with two bright, sunny studios plus a space for Yoga Therapy and private yoga. We’ll be offering public yoga, private yoga, yoga training, Yoga Therapy, and energy healing!”

Now we just have to wait to see who takes over the first floor.

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Dear PoP – Roofdeck Suggestions

24 January 2010 10:28 PM |Dear PoP, Decks, Renovation | 21 Comments

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“Dear PoP,

Loved the post on the basement dig out. I think a lot of your readers would love to see a post on the costs associated with building a rooftop deck. There are a lot of great rooftop decks in the city. Are there architecture firms and/or contractors that specialize in rooftop decks? What are their fees? What unexpected costs do folks run into when building a rooftop deck? On the eve of winter weather, it is nice to consider enjoying nicer seasons on a new rooftop deck!”

Does anyone have any roofdeck photos they can share? If so please email me at princeofpetworth (at) gmail (dot) com. But in general does anyone know how cumbersome/expensive the process is to install one?

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Judging Art

24 January 2010 10:24 PM |Neighborhoods - Mt. Pleasant, art | 4 Comments

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I’ve never asked folks what they think of the piece of public art commisioned back in 1994 in Mt. Pleasant. I wonder what the debate was like before it was selected. Anyone from Mt. Pleasant remember the process? What’s the general feel – thumbs up or down?

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Porch Decoration of the Day

24 January 2010 10:21 PM |Sculpture | 2 Comments

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First turtle I’ve ever seen.

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Door of the Day

24 January 2010 10:16 PM |Door of the Day, vestibule | 2 Comments

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Great old door but also another opportunity to highlight a sweet vestibule.

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House of the Day

24 January 2010 10:15 PM |House of the Day | 4 Comments

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Looks like it’s actually split into apartments but it struck me because of the double bay windows.

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Dear PoP – What is the Building at Sherman and Park?

22 January 2010 4:30 PM |Buildings, Dear PoP, Neighborhoods - Columbia Heights | 11 Comments

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“Dear PoP,

What is the building on the east side of Sherman Ave NW at Park? It has a cutout of a red rooster on a weathervane over the door. Normally I don’t have a problem identifying the local cock in my neighborhood, but this one eludes me a bit.

On an unrelated note, does anyone know if there is anything to be done about random car alarms going off? I live at Iowa and Arkansas NW and for the past two nights, from 1:30am or so until 8am a car alarm goes off for about 20 seconds every 30 or 45 minutes. Is anyone else hearing this? Aside from a sledgehammer is there anything one can do?”

For car alarms we had a lengthy discussion here.

The building at Sherman and Park comes up in a Dear PoP every year or so.

I learned they have a great Web site that says:

“NationHouse was founded in July 1974 in Washington, D. C. NationHouse grew out of the student activism of Howard University community in the late 1960s.

We are one of the oldest independent Afrikan centered schools in the United States and in the DC metropolitan area serving the specific needs of children of Afrikan heritage from pre-school to twelfth grade. Today, NationHouse continues to serve families in the development and enculturation of responsible youth who are committed to their families, their community and their Afrikan culture/heritage.

Currently, NationHouse maintains three fully functioning programs. Watoto School, serving pre-kindergarten through fourth grade students and Sankofa Institute, for fifth through twelfth grade students, are the major programs. The Afrikan Youth Organization (AYO) provides after school activities for students.

Our graduates from Sankofa Institute, eighth grade and twelfth grade have gone on to be successful students at their matriculating high schools and colleges respectively. Amongst our alumni, we have, successful mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, doctors, future lawyers, teachers, musicians who have graduated at the top of their class…. Our graduates have attended B. Banneker H.S., Howard University, U.D.C., Hampton University, Spelman, Morgan State University, Coppin State, Cheney State University, etc…

True to its dedication to the preservation and transfer of Afrikan heritage, NationHouse has counted within its community families from all over Afrika and the diaspora; from Ethiopia, Azania, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Mali, Senegal, Zimbabwe, Liberia and Gambia; the Virgin Islands, Trinidad and Jamaica; from Los Angeles to Miami, New Haven to Chicago and back again; from Anacostia and the Gold Coast, suburban Maryland and Northern Virginia; and from all economic strata – professionals, students, and the unemployed. The common thread has been conscious will to protect, preserve and transmit our unique cultural heritage to our children and the broader world community.”

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Haiti Fundraisers and Weekend Pick

22 January 2010 4:00 PM |Fundraiser | 1 Comment

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From emails:

“Local 16, and a group of friends calling our organization Do Good, Feel Good DC (DGFG), will host an event called Friday for Haiti to benefit Oxfam America’s Haitian Earthquake Response Fund. The cause is especially personal to DGFG because one of our members was born in Haiti and his family is among those in need of help. One-hundred percent of the proceeds generated from the $25 admission price and 10 percent of the evening’s bar tab will go directly to Oxfam America.”

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=252016704930&ref=mf#/event.php?eid=252016704930&ref=mf

http://act.oxfamamerica.org/goto/dogoodfeelgood

http://dogoodfeelgooddc.com/About_Us.html

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“A dedicated group of Washington, DC’s leading EDM producers and DJ’s have joined together to raise support for the relief effort in Haiti. On Sunday January 24th at Modern in Washington, DC will be a very special benefit event “Funkin’ 4 Haiti.” 100% of the door proceeds from this event will be donated to the International Committee of the Red Cross. This is going to be a real party with a purpose!

Fort Knox Recordings and Blisspop have teamed up to present a line-up of epic proportions. DC’s Finest EDM Producers & DJs have all dedicated time from their busy touring schedules to raise funds for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. Performing at “Funkin’ 4 Haiti” will be DC’s own globetrotting talent NADASTROM, FORT KNOX FIVE, JOE NICE, WILL EASTMAN and STYLUS CHRIS. This line-up of A-List dj’s will help the event raise thousands of dollars for the International Red Cross.

“Funkin’ 4 Haiti” will take place on Sunday January 24th, 2010 from 9:00 PM to 2:00 AM at Modern in Georgetown. Modern has generously agreed to donate a portion of the bar sales from the evening. Modern is located at 3287 M St NW. A minimum donation of $10 will be collected at the door, patrons will be encouraged to donate more.”

Nerd Nite after the jump. More… »

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Friday Afternoon Rental Option

22 January 2010 3:00 PM |Neighborhoods - Mt. Pleasant, Rentals of the Week | 18 Comments

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I’ve always been curious about this building located at 1701 Park Road, NW in Mt. Pleasant.


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The Craigslist ad says:

“On-site Laundry, On-site Manager, Exercise Room, Bicycle Storage, High-Speed Internet, Hardwood Floors, Microwave, 9′ Ceilings”

You can find more info and photos here. Does $1100 sound reasonable for this efficiency?

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Dear PoP – Piano Help and Streetcars Schedule

22 January 2010 2:30 PM |Dear PoP, Transit, music | 11 Comments

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“Dear PoP,

I am being given my grandmother’s lovely old grand piano. It needs some fairly extensive repairs, and of course I will need a regular tuner. And I need to move it long distance from NC. Recommendations for piano repair, tuner, and/or movers? I have gotten a number of reasonable-sounding quotes for movers, but I don’t know of any that have used them. Anyone had bad experiences with local piano people? Has anyone used Georgetown Piano for repairs?”

We had a discussion on moving companies here.

and

“Sometimes you report on street cars development in H St but can you please find out the schedule for street cars along GA ave? Last I heard Phase 1 street car development (H St/Anacostia/Georgia Ave) will be complete by 2011, but how is that possible when they haven’t even put in rails for GA Ave? Me and my roommates all just really want this project to happen for our peeps in Petworth, so if we’re informed, maybe we can work on making sure it happens?”

You can read about the planned streetcar phases here. But if memory serves, they still have to decide how these are going to be powered, with overhead wires etc.

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Photos From PoPville

22 January 2010 2:00 PM |Photo Archives, PoPville photos | 1 Comment

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These great shots are from fromcaliw/love. Can’t believe I’ve never spotted the door from above before…

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

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Good Deal or Not? 2 bed/2 bath Condo Edition (Reader Request)

22 January 2010 1:00 PM |Good Deal or Not?, Real Estate - Shaw | 21 Comments

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This condo is located at 1102 R Street, NW:


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The flier says:

“THIS IS A 10! BRIGHT, SPACIOUS 2 BR/2 BA TOP FLOOR CORNER UNIT IN BEAUTIFUL CONDITION. HARDWOOD FLOORS, RECESSED LIGHTING, HANDSOME KITCHEN WITH SS APPLIANCES, LARGE CENTER ISLAND, GRANITE COUNTERTOPS, DESK AREA, W/ D. BEDROOMS HAVE BAY WINDOWS, W/ W CARPETING, CUSTOM SHADES. 6 UNIT BUILDING COMPLETELY RENOVATED IN 2005.”

You can find more info and photos here.

I think the photos look pretty nice but I was still a bit surprised at the asking price. Does $519,000 seem reasonable?

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Random Reader Rant and/or Revel

22 January 2010 12:00 PM |Open Thread | 47 Comments

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Photo from PoPville flickr user Crosb

You can talk about whatever is on your mind – quality of life issues, a beautiful tree you spotted, scuttlebutt, or any random questions/thoughts you may have. I’ll open this thread every Monday and Friday. Anything good happen this week?

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47 Comments