Dear PoPville

“Short term rentals / current and proposed legislation concerns”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

I’m reaching out regarding Mayor Bowser’s proposed changes to short term rentals. Please indulge me with some context first that powers my alarm. And I’d like to be anonymous please.

I saw your recent posts on rats. In Brightwood they are bad, and on our block getting worse due to a short term rental that isn’t owner occupied and appears to be owned by a VA resident. There are numerous large parties generating lots of garbage. And in recent months no one is putting the trash in the alley. The piled up garbage on the property is feeding a surge in rats on our block.

For many, many months my neighbors and I have been going from DC department to department and to Airbnb directly to try to address the non-owner-occupied full time Airbnb (violation of current law) on our street and as noted the numerous parties that often exceed quiet hours and generate uncontrolled garbage.

In researching links to share with Airbnb, (more…)

“Plumbing conundrum”

By Prince Of Petworth

photo by Mike Rucki

“Dear PoPville,

We have a row house in Adams Morgan, and we’ve been told we have roots in our cast iron sewer line and that it should be relined with a spray or UV cured liner. Looking for advice or a reference from someone who’s had to do this. Thanks!”

“I’ve seen a single spotted lantern fly this summer.” Have you seen any?

By Prince Of Petworth

Ed. Note: KNOCK WOOD. Sadly, I’ve seen a bunch. Not massive swarms but at least one or two a day.

“Dear PoPville,

Was up on my building’s roof this morning and realized that I don’t think I’ve seen a single spotted lantern fly this summer. They were all over the place on the roof and walking around last year, so I was curious whether the community has noticed a difference as well or if I’ve just been lucky this season. (more…)

“the coffee date predator is REALLY not giving up!”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

I’m writing to alert you that the coffee date predator is REALLY not giving up!

This is in reference to your posts, and I luckily found today after running into him last week and having the same experience as so many other women in DC!

He approached me – and everything that happened to the woman in your article ALSO happened to me. I was at the Safeway in Southwest, (more…)

“Kitchen Reno Recs?”

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by Pablo Raw

“Dear PoPville,

My wife and I would like to renovate our older-than-me kitchen in our DC rowhouse. Our plan includes a full gut renovation down to the studs, installation of IKEA cabinets, converting from a gas range to induction, and replacing an existing back door and window with a large sliding door. We have our permits, but are looking for recommendations for a new general contractor who is communicative and reliable. I’d really appreciate any recommendations from the community!”

“A Better Rat zapper?”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

Anyone have advice as to how to make the rats more “Fully committed to the trap?” My old rat zapper actually worked well. The new model – sadly total fail.”

Anyone know the process for planting a tree in someone’s memory?

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by John Sonderman

“Dear PoPville,

A close colleague (and friend) recently passed away. He was very instrumental in ag policy and green space revitalization and protection. We would like to plant a tree in his memory. Anyone know who we can talk to at Urban Forestation at DDOT or NPS to make this a reality?”

Has anyone ever done something like this before? What were the steps you took to make it a reality?

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