“Dear PoPville,
This car in the picture has been parked on our block for over two weeks now. It has never moved and has out of state plates (I looked under the cover).
This morning I saw a parking officer and asked if she could check it out and see if they have a visitors permit or another legal reason to park there. She told me that they are not allowed to remove or lift up car covers for legal reasons… (more…)
From MPD:
“On August 19, 2018, the Metropolitan Police Department captured video footage of 21 individuals who were driving illegal minibikes, dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) in the 2500 block of Virginia Avenue, NW. Earlier this month, the MPD obtained video footage identifying 11 individuals doing the same thing in the 2300 block of 14th Street, NW; 1300 block of Connecticut Avenue, NW; 1600 block of Maryland Avenue, NE. The MPD is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying these persons of interest.
Help us keep our city safe. You could be eligible for a reward of $250 for your information. Call (202) 727-9099 or text 50411 with your information.”
Photo by PoPville flickr user Miki J.
Ed. Note: Back in May we spoke about “Are there legal issues with the way they are using this building as a hotel and long-term rental space?”
From a press release:
“AG RACINE DEMANDS LANDLORDS EXPLAIN SHORT-TERM RENTALS AT 33 RESIDENTIAL APARTMENT BUILDINGS
OAG Takes Action to Protect Long-Term Renters and Affordable Housing Supply
Attorney General Karl A. Racine today sent letters to 19 building owners and managers of 33 residential apartment buildings in the District seeking answers about short-term rentals being offered alongside long-term leases. The purpose of the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) requests for information is to determine if the landlords misled their long-standing residents about the short-term rental operations and if they violated District consumer protection or rent control laws. In a separate action related to short-term rentals, OAG recovered $100,000 in penalties from a Columbia Heights landlord for illegally converting a rent-controlled apartment building into a short-term rental hotel. (more…)
djwinterman reports:
“Uber drivers making illegal U-Turns causing accidents more & more. DC gov needs to do something about this ASAP.”
Are folks noticing an increase with ridesharing or same as it ever was?
From a press release:
“Attorney General Karl A. Racine today announced multiple actions against several residential and commercial property owners to end concentrated drug- and firearm-related activity taking place at their buildings. The Office of Attorney General (OAG) reached court-ordered settlements that require owners of two apartment buildings and two businesses in Deanwood to put in place strong new building security measures. In four new lawsuits, OAG is seeking to ensure the owners secure four apartment buildings in Anacostia, Eckington and Petworth to end drug- and gun-related nuisances. (more…)
Ed. Note: Back in 2014 then Mayor Gray Announced Plans to Build New Hospital on St. Elizabeths East Campus.
From a press release:
“Mayor Muriel Bowser today announced that her Administration and The George Washington University Hospital (GW Hospital) have signed a Letter of Intent to improve access to high quality healthcare services for Washingtonians, specifically for residents living in Wards 7 and 8. Together, the partners will develop a new acute care community hospital and health services complex located on the St. Elizabeths East campus in Ward 8, to be managed and operated by GW Hospital and fully integrated and aligned with the GW Hospital network of care and its affiliated faculty practice plan. The new hospital is expected to open in 2023 and include approximately 100-125 inpatient beds. (more…)
The following was written by PoPville contributor David McAuley, founder of Short Articles about Long Meetings.
3905 14th Street, NW at Randolph St. back in 2016
Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 4C/Petworth has voted unanimously to oppose an application by Golden Paradise Restaurant (3903-3905 14th Street NW) to operate a 26-seat sidewalk café with alcohol service. The vote took place at the ANC’s regularly-scheduled meeting on August 8.
“I did not get a single email in support. Everybody wants us to oppose this license,” one ANC Commissioner said.
The ANC’s draft letter to DC’s liquor licensing authorities notes that, in the last two years, there were 27 police reports in connection with the establishment. Over the same period, there were five additional police incidents that did not result in reports, as well as 16 occasions when the establishment was the subject of action by liquor licensing authorities, including three separate incidents which resulted in fines. Golden Paradise Restaurant also had its license suspended for four days in October 2016 as a result of a stabbing that occurred in May of that year.
“This is a tenfold increase on any other bar,” said Commissioner Jonah Goodman (district 10).
“Yes, they have a track record of incidents,” said Ana De Leon, who represented the owners at the meeting. “If you look at this, they feel they are being targeted.”
De Leon apologized for not reaching out to the ANC sooner, and promised to investigate every incident on the ANC’s list. (more…)
Photo by PoPville flickr user nevermindtheend
“Dear PoPville,
Following up on your post about wet bars in basements, the requirements of the Zoning Administrator at DCRA continues to evolve.
We are renovating the unfinished basement of our one-bathroom rowhouse to add a full bath and living room with a wet bar. In order to approve the building permit, the Zoning Administrator is requiring us to submit a covenant prohibiting the use of the space as a separate dwelling unit. The covenant would be attached to be our property in perpetuity. (more…)
Photo credit: Council of the District of Columbia
From the Council:
“One year ago, renowned local icon Cool “Disco” Dan (born Dan Hogg) passed away prematurely at age 46. To honor the anniversary of his passing, the Council today announced plans to exhibit two Cool “Disco” Dan works at the John A. Wilson Building, the District of Columbia’s city hall, county seat, and statehouse.
Anyone who lived in the District in the 1980s will recall how omnipresent Dan’s famous tag was DC-wide, but especially in one of his most famous haunts, along Metro’s Red Line. Cool “Disco” Dan and his tag were woven into the District’s visual tapestry in a way that few iconic images have been, before or since.
Dan’s legendary status was recognized early on by those in District, but his renown began to expand to federal Washington and beyond when he was featured in both a well-reviewed documentary film and in an exhibit on 1980s DC subcultures at the Corcoran Gallery of Art.
The work featured in the 2013 Corcoran exhibit is the first of two that will be on display at the Wilson Building. With the dissolution of the Corcoran, its collections were donated to the National Gallery of Art. The works that the National Gallery did not choose to retain were distributed by the Corcoran Board of Trustees to 22 worthy institutions in the District, including the Supreme Court, the Phillips Collection, and the Council. The Cool “Disco” Dan work is being provided to the Council via a long-term loan from its direct recipient, American University.
The second Cool “Disco” Dan work that will be displayed at the Wilson Building was gifted to the Council by CSX after Council staff discovered it along the aforementioned Metro Red Line. After hearing of Cool “Disco” Dan’s untimely demise, the Council put out a call to the public via social media for tips regarding any still-existing tags that remained in place roughly three decades after they were first painted. While none of the public tips panned out, Council staff did find one remaining work on a railroad signal box just off Puerto Rico Ave., NE. The box belonged to CSX, but it was no longer in use, so it was donated to the Council.
Cool “Disco” Dan’s family, as well as Roger Gastman and Joseph Pattisall (friends and supporters of Cool “Disco” Dan who were instrumental in both the documentary and the Corcoran exhibit that featured him), have been notified, are supportive, and will be involved in the Council’s planned exhibit.
The art is scheduled to be installed in early September.”
From the Mayor’s Office:
“Eight weeks after the kicking-off an intense focus on beautifying the District on May 24, 2018, the Department of Public Works (DPW) has completed Mayor Bowser’s third annual “Great Graffiti Wipeout.” Working throughout all eight District wards, DPW crews cleaned more than 900 graffiti markings and removed upwards of 3,000 posters and stickers from public spaces. (more…)
Rendering for 16th St NW & Crescent Pl NW
From a press release:
“ANC 1C Commissioners Disappointed By BZA Decision on Meridian Development Project
Look to Office of Planning and Zoning Commission to Address Ongoing Concerns
The BZA voted on Wednesday, July 25th, to approve two special exceptions for the Meridian development project (BZA App. 19689). ANC1C has opposed this project seven times as it has worked its way through the review process, beginning in 2015. The community’s opposition rests on the size and scope of the project, which would bring 110 luxury residential units, a 9,600 square foot conference center, and underground parking to the currently tree-covered lot in the Meridian Hill Historic District.
ANC1C’s long-standing opposition has been driven by overwhelming community objections and concern’s about the project’s impacts. ANC1C is also concerned that Meridian International, a non-profit leadership organization that is headquartered in the adjacent historic John Russell Pope mansions, is not a private school – a key requirement they must satisfy in order to obtain the relief needed for the conference center. (more…)