“Dear PoPville,
I have two parking spots behind my house on 16th Street in an area where street parking is lacking. I want to rent the space out and wanted to hear from you or the commenters what a fair price to charge is. Or perhaps I could take a highest bidder?”
Georgia and Webster Street, NW
“Dear PoPville,
In partnership with the Latino Economic Development Center, we’ve been working with corner store owners on Georgia Avenue (Petworth) on re-merchandising and re-thinking their operations, product offerings for this new economy — vastly different than when they opened their operations 20+ years ago.
Especially with the recent chatter over this Silicon Valley startup, I would love to pose to the greater PoP community, what are they looking for from their local corner store? What types of products? What type of ambiance? What would make you frequent that corner store for a cup of sugar, a stick of butter — your neighborhood shop — instead of driving to Walmart?
I’d love to feature Uneeda Market (photo above.) The owner has an amazing vision and story. I’ve attached a few photos here: fresh baked cookies made each day; the best morning deal — a cup of coffee and breakfast sandwich for $4.50; and his homemade Ethiopian beef and curry chicken meals for $5.95.”
Photo by PoPville flickr user brunofish
“Dear PoPville,
My property management company Nest unexpectedly announced that they are changing our roommate swap policy. Now every time my group house changes roommates we will forfeit our portion of the security deposit instead of paying a flat $200 change fee. Nest argues that we are expected to come and go as a group, but this runs totally contrary to the group house dynamic in DC. No one who lives in the house even signed the original lease in 2013 — we were all added in addendums. This backdoor fee hike is asking a lot of us and I expect a lot of group houses will break apart before the new policy takes effect. My question to the community is whether there is anything in DC’s tenant law that would protect us from this unwelcome surprise?”
Full policy change announcement letter after the jump. (more…)
Photo by PoPville flickr user Jim Havard
“Dear PoPville,
This post yesterday brought out some very compassionate commenters: I am curious if any of your readers have an suggestions on a recent development in my neighborhood.
About two weeks ago two different cars with out-of-DC plates showed up and have not left. It appears people are living in both vehicles, but I have no reason to believe the two vehicles or people in them are related.
I’m not ok with people living in their cars on my residential street for myriad reasons stemming from both selfishness and concern for other humans. I assume that all goes without saying.
This is in the immediate neighborhood of SOME’s meals facility. I have reached out to both SOME and the Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness (referenced and linked on the DHS webpage about temporary shelter), but I have not received any response from either. My next step is to contact the Ward 5 councilmember’s office.
Understanding two caveats — I am not comfortable approaching any of these individuals personally and can we please not talk about Republic Cantina — what would PoPville suggest?”
“Dear PoPville,
Thanks for your previous coverage of the One Medical/Blue Cross Blue Shield debacle. I’m a government employee who has been using One Medical for years now and I don’t plan to switch providers, which means I need to find new insurance. I’m wondering if any of your other readers are experiencing the same problem and have recommendations for alternative coverage that is accepted by One Medical. I’ve been looking at plan brochures for the last couple of hours and I’m starting to drive myself crazy trying to compare all the available plans. Any advice or insight from other readers would be appreciated. Thanks!”
Thanks to Liz for sending me the above message she received this morning from Medical One.
Emily notes: “half of my office is scrambling to get a new provider”
3642 Georgia Ave, NW
“Dear PoPville,
This question makes me sound like I’m 70 years old but have you heard anyone else talking about how the CVS at Georgia/New Hampshire Avenue consistently disperses too few pills? Usually it’s just one or two but last night my asthma medicine was short by 6 pills. I didn’t notice until after they were closed but will go over today to tell them. I’m just wondering if this is only happening to me?”
Sadly more reports of anti-semitic graffiti. Above from “Franklin Square called in to 311 already.”
Another reader sends from 17th and Pennsylvania Ave, NW:
“outside peets coffee. my friend already reported to 311 RE graffiti removal. but how else to flag this?”
On Monday MPD told us:
“MPD is aware of the graffiti that has proliferated over the last several days. We are working to document it all, and coordinating with the Department of Public Works on its removal once we have taken a report and pictures.
If the public sees anti-Semitic graffiti regarding war with Russia, we ask that they look to see if it has also been marked “MPD CCN.” If it has, MPD has taken a report and it is on DPW’s list for clean-up, and there is no need to place a call. If it does not say “MPD CCN” on it, please call 311 to report the graffiti, noting the exact location, and, if available, any information about when the location was defaced.“
“Dear PoPville,
I’m a clinical social worker in the District who works with the homeless population. It’s that time of year again–hypothermia season. My suggestion is to avoid giving the homeless money, if you can, and instead give them a care package with information on where to receive services and shelter. The Shelter Hotline picks up anywhere in the District throughout days and nights when the hypothermia alert is on– the number is 1-800-535-7252. My bag has hand warmers, tissue, cough drops, lip balm, cleansing wipes, and a softer nutrition bar– we don’t know people’s dental hygiene situations, so be mindful of hard food. You can also slip in a prepaid Metro card, a thick pair of socks, gloves, scarves, foot warmers, hand lotion, etc. Anything any of us need, those on the streets need x 1,000. Let’s look out for our neighbors, DC.”
Photo by PoPville flickr user Eric P.
“Dear PoPville,
Can you bring a Christmas Tree on the metro?
This holiday season, my boyfriend and I are trying to figure out how to get a Christmas tree to Chinatown. Saw online there are delivery services, but they are pretty expensive. We don’t have a car, so I suggested that we carry it on the metro. My boyfriend doesn’t think that’s allowed. Thoughts? We would be carrying a wrapped five-foot Christmas tree for two stops during off-peak times.”
Where will you be buying your trees this year?
“Dear PoPville,
I was recently in a car accident in a very confusing and crappy intersection in dc (as we all know street signs around here aren’t always the clearest) (see the many stories on popville re: parking and other street signs).
The intersection in question is the “round about” from Montana ave heading south towards West Virginia ave and the exit towards Montana ave SE. In this same “round about,” and the reason for the quotations, is that there is also New York ave running through the middle of that roundabout (see below images).
So please imagine with me that you are at the red light on Montana ave and New York ave (see image below – between these two arrows). Yes, the map is backwards bc google maps puts everything headed north and the incident in question happened heading south. So I reversed it!
Right above the red light there is this street sign above those *two* lanes of traffic.
Seeing as there is no street names correlating to the arrows, as we all well know that dc has done with other traffic circles, one would safely assume a few things: a) the inside lane can go left and straight *only*; b) the outside lane can go right and straight *only*; c) the straight for those two lanes is the same straight, since the arrow isn’t a different size or doesn’t veer off sooner, thus the “straight” is in reference to *continuing* straight from Montana all the way through back onto Montana; d) the left for the inside lane could be argued to either turn left at the inside of the roundabout or to turn left directly at the light onto New York; e) the right for the outside lane is to exit onto West Virginia ave, and is the only legal way for a car to exit onto West Virginia ave; f) the right for the outside lane is not to turn an immediate right onto New York ave as there are street signs directly in front of that lane that say “no right turn” (see below) and there is a separate lane that veered off the circle to exit Montana to New York ave earlier, well before the posted sign above regarding the two lanes. Okay phew!
Now that we’ve cleared up all the possibilities, and explained how entirely f’in confusing this intersection is, let me explain what happened.
Myself and another driver were at the light on Montana ave, heading south, towards Montana ave. I was in the outside lane, she was in the inside lane. Right as we approached the exit for West Virginia ave, the other driver realized she needed to exit (or was supposed to exit and forgot) and tboned me on my drivers rear side. (more…)