Photo by PoPville flickr user Annie Miller
“Dear PoPville,
Does DC have any plans for a bike path connecting the Wharf to Buzzard Point and the Yards Park via Fort Lesley McNair? I know that the NPS plan for Buzzard Point includes a bike path that extends to where the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail currently ends, but how about all the way around that point? (more…)
“Dear PoPville,
I live near the Convention Center and have always wondered what these metal tracks are in the sidewalk and street surrounding the Convention Center. The run most of the perimeter of the complex and in some areas they run perpendicular across the street. Anyone have any idea?”
It’s been a while since we’ve spoken about these guys – the first time was back in January 2010. Long story short – they are expansion joints. Slighter longer story:
“They are expansion joints. Due to changes in weather, hot and cold, materials expand or contract. You will most commonly see these on bridges. The reason why the convention center has these is because of the sky walks over the streets. The expansion joints allow the entire building to move together and prevents cracking.”
“Dear PoPville,
Are there any suggested trees I should park under if it would be financially advantageous for a tree to fall on my car? If mother nature is going to go on a wrecking spree this week, I am hoping she can start with my money pit of a vehicle.”
Hmm, Capital Weather Gang now reports:
“Since Tuesday, forecasts have shifted the storm track towards the south and southwest after it reaches the coast, which could increase the storm’s severity in coastal South Carolina through Myrtle Beach and Charleston and even into parts of Georgia.”
So you may need to drive south…
Photo by PoPville flickr user Jordan Barab
“Dear PoPville,
I have dreams of doing some occasional furniture refinishing, custom shelf building, and creative juice exercising. But I live in a one-bedroom condo with no outdoor space, and it becomes very clumsy and dusty to do some of these projects at home. Do any PoPvillers know of rentable DIY workshop space? I’m not looking for a studio space (I don’t think), but just a space that I can rent for a few days at a time, where I can do my sanding, painting, varnishing, etc. for small-ish home upgrade projects.”
14th and Kenyon Street, NW
Ed. Note: Back in July of 2016 we spoke about the New signs warning loiterers of ‘carnivorous plants’ at this location.
“Dear PoPville,
I live right near Columbia Heights Plaza, and over the last few weeks, I’ve noticed that the Columbia Heights Taproom–which you noted recently is in the middle of another facelift–is using a sprinkler to drench the homeless people that sometimes sit on the stone benches outside their property line.
This isn’t even subtle: The sprinklers are angled outward, and for many weeks were always directed at the same spot–wetting down the benches and not watering anything on their own property significantly. There is no other possible interpretation of why they’re running the sprinkler. (more…)
A reader passes on a letter she sent to Council Member Brandon Todd and DC Water:
“My neighbors and I have just cleaned the THIRD sewage back flow surge from our basements in the last 13 months!
This is absolutely devastating! Something needs to be done to update the infrastructure of the sewage lines to accommodate the demands on the system. The massive amounts of rain we’ve experienced is too much for the system to bear and unfortunately, we are at the bottom of a hill — receiving everyone else’s waste in our home. It’s not our responsibility to upgrade and snake our drains when everyone in our neighborhood has back flow problems. This is a city issue and it needs to be resolved.
You have a neighborhood with 70+ year-olds wading through raw sewage and cleaning out their basements alone because no-one has coverage anymore to help (nor can we afford to continually pay insurance co-pays and additional expenses to cover remediation costs). (more…)
Photo by PoPville flickr user Phil
“Dear PoPville,
I wonder if the community has any recommendations for a smart thermostat? I’m in the market for one but would like to know what readers think and hear their experiences.”
Ed. Note: They forgot the ‘end’ in North.
“Dear PoPville,
Went by the new “Trellis House” apartment building (Sherman Ave & Barry Place) this morning and saw Bozzuto had put out a bunch of signs, so I looked it up.
“We live where the iconic meets the worldly and style is supported by substance. Find us at the corner of Sherman Avenue and Barry Place, in the heart of the historic and dynamic North Shaw neighborhood.”
North Shaw?? (more…)
Photo by PoPville flickr user Tim Brown
“Dear PoPville,
Does anyone have recommendations on maternity and newborn photos? Do them? Don’t do them? Does a photographer come to the hospital? (I’m delivering at Sibley, in case that’s helpful.) As of now we have neither maternity or newborn photos planned. I’m less worried about maternity (I’ve been in photos for the duration of my pregnancy), but definitely want to capture our newborn in the first few days. I’m just not all that familiar with how that works and wondering if anyone had an experience with someone they loved.”
Photo by PoPville flickr user John Cochran
“Dear PoPville,
My neighbors and I are effectively trapped into our affordable housing coop units at the 1417 N Street Cooperative. We bought into a limited equity cooperative in which sales can only go to buyers making under 80% of the Area Median Income. Just like any condo/coop purchase, an owner is obligated to pay their monthly fees (950-1300 in this building) until they find another buyer, but no sales can happen unless the DC Department of Housing and Community Development approves their eligibility.
The problem is that the approval process for applicants is taking months at a time, applicants are not allowed to get updates or communicate with the agency, and the agency does not give estimated timelines. Can you imagine trying to buy an apartment and having to wait anywhere between a week and 6 months (which is how long it took one applicant) to hear back about your eligibility? (more…)