Author: Prince Of Petworth

An Update on “Protest Benches” at 14th and Oak Streets, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

You can see the original post and more photos of the benches here. The person behind the benches sends an email of explanation:

“Dear PoP,
I see you posted some photos on your blog about an art project I recently installed at 14th, Oak and Ogden Streets. Contrary to your commentary “I’ve always known there were benches here but I never noticed the writing on them before,” benches have not been a part of the park for the past 2.5-3 years but had been a part of the park for decades before that. I installed these benches early August.

Thank you,
Sarah Tooley

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For the installation Public Dialogues in Public Places, former neighborhood resident and artist Sarah Tooley interviewed 60 community members who live near or own a small business adjacent to the park at the intersections of 14th, Oak and Ogden Streets in Northwest, Washington, DC. She asked about their feelings and thoughts on their relationship to the park and community safety.

With the help of a Small Projects Grant from the DC Commission on Arts and Humanities she worked with a group of volunteers to paint and transcribe selected texts from the interviews onto the slats of seven brightly painted wooden benches. She met with the D.C Department of Parks and Recreation to create a Donation Agreement to allow for the public installation of the benches until renovation of the park begins.

Through the physical manifestation of the text painted on the benches privately expressed opinions are launches into the public realm. The differing views and experiences expressed lay side by side to confront and co-exists with the assumptions, stereotypes and lived realities of the people who choose to spend time in the park, who steer clear of it, or those who have felt pushed out.”

Reader Recounts His Experience with Police Activity on Irving St., NW Yesterday

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I thought I would write to you you and give you my account of the police activity that occurred yesterday afternoon on Irving street in between 14th and 15th streets. At around 4:45 PM I was walking east on the north side of Irving street after a ten hour work day at my office in Dupont. I was about 50 yards from the Five Guys when I heard someone yell, “Police! Stop!” I looked up and saw a man running full speed on the south side sidewalk with four or five street clothed police officers (the ones with the badges aroudn their neck) chasing after him. The suspect then ran across the street diagonally towards me. Realizing that I had an an angle on him I threw myself at him (kind of a hockey body check) and knocked the suspect onto the hood of a pickup truck. He then rolled off but by then the police had caught up and tackled him to the ground. The suspect had shoved his arm down the sewer drain and the Police kept yelling “drop it.” I heard a clanging sound from the sewer below and the cops pulled his hand out empty handed. One of the officers turned to me to say thanks and then got on his radio.

I didn’t stick around to see what he was suspected of as I was pretty freaked out at this point. On my walk home to 11th st I saw a lot more police cars on their way to the scene. Any idea what that was all about?”

Wow, that is insane. Props to you for helping out. I can imagine how scary that experience must have been. I think that is when instinct kicks in and you don’t really think about it, you just react. Obviously, I’m glad you didn’t get hurt. Folks have to remember to be careful though particularly if a weapon is involved. Reminds me a bit of this incident from the Columbia Heights metro where a reader helped break up an assault. But thanks again for your response, I’m glad the guy was caught.

Good Deal or Not? Converted Row House (Pop Up) Edition?

By Prince Of Petworth

These condos are located at 1449 Girard Street, NW:


View Larger Map

The flier says:

“Spectacular new condos in Columbia Heights with unique bi-level layout. All new construction. 2 BR & 2 FB. Premium finishes. Gourmet kitchen w/ granite counters and stainless steel appliances. Luxurious baths w/ travertine tiles. 2 private patios. In-unit W/ D, hardwood floors, low condo fees. Parking available. 3 blocks to Columbia Heights metro.”

More info found here and a virtual tour found here.

I always enjoy checking out the inside of buildings we’ve judged. I seem to recall folks weren’t huge fans of the outside. But having the opportunity to look inside is quite interesting. I happen to be a huge fan of exposed brick. I think these look pretty sweet. What do you guys think of the renovations? Others must like them as well because units 2 ($475k) and 3 ($469k) are already under contract. Unit 1 is still available for $445,000. Sound reasonable for this 2 bed/2 bath?

Obama at Habitat for Humanity in NE DC?

By Prince Of Petworth

A reader sends in a tip:

“Obama at Habitat for Humanity site in NE right now. Clay and 54th NE, look for a blue United We Serve Banner. And hulking Secret Service agents.”

I love how Obama is visiting and representing in DC proper!

Random Reader Rant and/or Revel

By Prince Of Petworth

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?

GDoN Revisited (Again) by Hipchickindc

By Prince Of Petworth

In real life, hipchickindc is licensed as a real estate broker in the District of Columbia and Virginia, and as a real estate salesperson in Maryland.  Unless specifically noted, neither she nor the company that she is affiliated with represented any of the parties or were directly involved in the transaction reported below.  Unless otherwise noted, the source of information is Metropolitan Regional Information Systems (MRIS), which is the local multiple listing system.  Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Featured Property: 529 Newton Pl NW

Original List Price: $329,955.

List Price at Contract: $249,955.

List Date: 04/04/2009

Days on Market: 86 days

Settled Sales Price: $230,000.

Settlement Date:  08/24/2009

Seller Subsidy:  $8,500.

Bank Owned?: No

Type Of Financing: FHA with 3.5% down payment

1st GDoN Post is:  Here.

1st GDoN Revisited Post is: Here.

2nd GDoN Post is: Here.

All three listings of this property since 2005: Here.

If this house looks familiar, it might be because we’ve looked it over a few times already (see links above.)  A poster child for the changes in the DC real estate market over the past few years, this property has been through a foreclosure and two renovations since 2005.  In reviewing the listings, note that in 2005, it was listed as having three bedrooms and one bath.  By 2008, it was reconfigured to two bedrooms and two full baths.  In 2009, it took on a new life as a two bedroom, one bath home.

When we looked at the March 2009 sale of this property, I noted that it was a cash purchase and speculated that it was likely bought by an investor.  I learned later that it had been acquired by a group of investors that I’ve done a few deals with. 

The recent buyer of the newly renovated property paid (net) almost $30,000. less than the property changed hands for as a shell in 2005.

Well, I Pulled the Trigger – PoP Goes Pro Today

By Prince Of Petworth

I’ve been thinking long and hard about this. In the worst economy since the Great Depression do I really want to quit my well paid day job? Yes I do. Yes I did. I was recently rereading an old James Michener book and this quote jumped out at me:

“The permanent temptation of life is to confuse dreams with reality. The permanent defeat of life comes when dreams are surrendered to reality.”

I come from the generation where my parents encouraged me to find a job that I truly love. In my professional career I have been a paralegal, reporter, Air Force analyst, reporter again, congressional liaison, and finally a Homeland Security analyst. I’ve gained much from each of these experiences but I’ve never really loved them as a long term full time job. It was on a lark that I started neighborhood blogging in Nov. 2006 and it has become a true passion. When you find your passion sometimes you just have to pull the trigger. Thanks to the support of advertisers and the incredible growth the site has achieved, I am now able to make it a full time job. And for that I am most grateful to you guys who make the site what it is today through your comments and tips.

So mark your calendars, on Nov. 5th I’ll be throwing a big 3 year anniversary party and re-launch. Nothing is really going to change between now and November. However, in November I’ll be re-releasing the site with many upgrades that make the site easier to navigate. Part of that redesign will incorporate neighborhood specific pages. I have described my vision of PoPville here. In addition my goal is to bring the attention I give to Petworth and Columbia Heights to most of DC’s neighborhoods. I will never sacrifice my coverage of Petworth, Columbia Heights and my love of the Beautiful Life, but with more time I only hope to bring equal coverage to nearly all of DC’s neighborhoods. But more on that in the coming months.

I have one small request from you guys. For my neighborhood specific pages I’m looking for new banner photos that captures each neighborhood. I have chosen the tree from Grant Circle to represent Petworth. I’m looking for photos from you guys to represent – Columbia Heights, Mt. Pleasant, U Street, Shaw, Mt. Vernon Square, H Street, NE, Foggy Bottom, Bloomingdale, Georgetown, etc. really any neighborhood you’d like to see covered. Please send me your photos representing these neighborhoods to princeofpetworth(at)gmail(dot)com.

In the meantime I’m just gonna try to make my dreams a reality.

Friday Question of the Day – What’s the Best Movie of the Summer? The Worst?

By Prince Of Petworth

Well, I went into Inglourious Basterds hoping to see the best film of the summer. A number of friends highly recommended it. They are no longer my friends. Now, I’m a huge Tarantino fan. Violence in films doesn’t upset me. And of course, I’m Jewish, so I thought I’d love this film. I could not have been more wrong. I was constantly checking my watch throughout the film. It was utterly boring. There was no character development at all and scarcely any compelling plot. It was just plain boring. And like I said, I really enjoyed Kill Bill, Pulp Fiction and the other Tarantino films.

So help me out – what was the best film of this summer? And for fun, what was the worst?

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