2440 18th Street, NW
Back in July we learned Madam’s Organ had applied for a sidewalk cafe across the street from Millie and Al’s at 2461 18th Street, NW. Millie and Al’s application is one of the first I’ve seen for a sidewalk cafe on the west side of 18th Street.
Here’s how that side of 18th Street currently looks:
Dear PoPville,
On Friday night, at around 11 PM, I was out in Adams Morgan with friends when I received a call and voicemail from an unknown number. The caller was one of my landlords, who had received a message from their alarm security company that an alarm had gone off at their unit above mine. The cops had responded, and although nothing seemed out of place, they wanted me to take a look. At about 12:30 I got home with my girlfriend and everything at the apartment looked normal (nothing out of the ordinary in front of the house, and the gate was locked in the back). About 20 minutes later I walked back into the kitchen and happened to look under our deck area, which was covered in shattered glass. I opened the door, ran upstairs, and saw that my landlord’s sliding glass door had been broken, most likely by a brick or rock of some kind.
I immediately went back downstairs and called the police station at the top of 18th Street (again, Adams Morgan), who subsequently connected me to 911. I placed that call at 12:58 AM. After getting off the phone with 911, who assured me that a unit was being dispatched, I called my landlords to tell them what had happened. I told them that I would wait outside for the police to come, and they directed me to not enter the house for fear that someone might still be inside.
Following that initial call, I followed up with the police EIGHT times – between 12:58 AM and 2:48 AM – and not a single police officer showed (please see screenshots of my call history above).
By the fourth time I called 911 I was getting frustrated, and the operator – who was clearly annoyed that I had called again – stated that a unit had stopped by the house and no one had been there to talk to them. Ironically I placed each call from the front steps of the house, while my girlfriend waited inside. By my fifth call at 2:09 AM – over an hour after my initial call – the operator stated that there had been “an incident of higher priority in the third district, and that the police would respond to my call as soon as possible.”
While I understand that the District is a major city where violent crimes occur every day, and that being a police officer must be an extremely challenging line of work, I am shocked and disappointed that a home burglary was not a higher priority for them. Over the course of nearly two hours not a single police officer came to our residence, and for all we know someone may still have been upstairs (something I reiterated to the operator more than once).
I reviewed different DC blogs and the Washington Post’s crime section Saturday morning, but saw no mention of major incidents that occurred last night. I’m curious about what the “incident of higher priority” was, and would like the police to explain to me how they are able to allocate dozens of resources to oversee the drunken shenanigans occurring on 18th street but are incapable of sending a single unit to the scene of an actual burglary.
I contacted my landlords via email on Saturday afternoon and learned that the police eventually showed up at 3:30 AM. Not only had their house been robbed, but our neighbors had been broken into as well.
If you know of anything that happened on Friday night, or have other thoughts/opinions, please share.
Photo by PoPville flickr user sciascia
From WMATA:
Metrobus routes 90, 92, 93, 96, and X3 will return to their regular routes in both directions along 18th Street, Northwest, between Florida Avenue and Columbia Road beginning Sunday, Aug. 12.
The buses will resume making stops on 18th Street NW at California Street, Belmont Street and Columbia Road, and on U Street NW at Florida Avenue. Buses had been detoured to Columbia Road, and Florida Avenue at T Street and 18th Street.
The detours have been in place since April 2011 for a DC Department of Transportation streetscape project on 18th Street in Adams Morgan.
1825 18th St, NW
Cajun Experience closed in mid-July at 1825 18th St, NW. The Craigslist ad says:
Located mid block between Swann and T Streets, NW., 2 doors south of Lauriol Plaza on 18th Street—substantial day and night foot traffic and good customer base with surrounding residential and business buildings—-an active retail strip with other restaurants and small shops—-4 blocks east from Dupont Circle and 3 blocks south of Adams Morgan——previously the Cajun Experience Restaurant— had an established customer base, eat in and carry out/delivery.
Interior space of 1550 +/- sf— has full commercial grade kitchen, fully vented to roof, with 2 freezers,refrigerator, ovens, fryers, woks and grille, Vulcan stove,—- all gas fired, dishwasher and disposal——- new custom hand crafted wood bar and serving area with sinks, kegs, refrigeration,chiller and ice machine and small office area———, 2 front entrances, one main and one for carry out —-2 large bay windows on 18th Street sidewalk——- interior total seating of 45 with wood floors and original 120 year old exposed brick walls, pre-wired sound system and multiple TV stations———–rear double french doors lead to the back patio 600 sf. +/- with staging area and 25 seats.
Recent interior build out and HVAC system——– all kitchen and restaurant equipment is functional and ready to go— finishings, furniture and equipment are available at best offered price. An ABC License is available for this property.MUST have successful existing restaurant management OR ownership experience and a viable product to be considered for tenancy. We require GOOD CREDIT SCORES and personal guarantees from all owners and documentation of financial strength SUFFICIENT to start and maintain the business—- NO EXCEPTIONS.
Base rent is reduced for the first six months to $6950, after which base rent for the balance of the first lease year becomes $8300 or best above—– this INCLUDES base year real estate taxes—–tenant maintains premises and pays utilities and some small annual CAM charges.
2104 18th St, NW
Meeps closed for renovations at 2104 18th St, NW in mid-June.
From a press release:
A Washington, DC fashion force for twenty years, Meeps has undergone a major renovation and is re-opening August 16th to reveal its metamorphosis. In the hands of new owners and expert vintage curators Cathy Chung and Katerina Herodotou from Treasury Vintage, Meeps will re-emerge with a newly infused, curated aesthetic that includes casual vintage, contemporary designers, a buy-sell-trade system, and a Cosmic Costume Room coming in the Fall. Meeps’ new era also includes a renewed emphasis on the local, with area artisanal wares, fun social happenings and DC artists and musicians taking center stage.
1819 Columbia Road, NW
From a press release:
Chef John Manolatos and partners Justin Abad and George Manolatos are pleased to announce that critically-acclaimed restaurant Cashion’s Eat Place, an Adams Morgan staple since 1995, recently launched its Sunday BBQ Bash at 1819. Available every Sunday evening through Labor Day, the series will feature a locally-sourced three-course menu, complete with a serving of Bulleit Berry Punch (Bulleit bourbon, black tea, fresh ginger, lemon and blackberries) for $30 per person (tax and gratuity not included).
Inspired by the casual and convivial feel of summertime picnics, the special menu combines the precision and quality of fine dining with the laid-back enjoyment of summer evenings. Though the menu is subject to change from week to week, a sample menu includes:
Course 1: Earth n’ Eats deviled eggs with fresh herbs and applewood smoked bacon
Course 2: Pipe Dreams pulled pork with Earth n’ Eats fried chicken drumsticks, corn on the cob, green beans, bread and butter pickles, Lauren’s Parker House rolls and Sammy’s mustard BBQ sauce
Course 3: Funnel cake with vanilla ice cream
“This menu is our way of celebrating the dog days of summer,” said chef and co-owner John Manolatos. “We want our guests to enjoy a fun, casual evening of delicious American classics without breaking the bank.”
The Sunday BBQ Bash at 1819 is an optional menu that is available exclusively on Sunday evenings. Sunday guests are welcome to forego the special menu and order from the nightly a la carte menu if they so choose. The $30, three-course menu includes one serving of the restaurant’s signature Bulleit Berry Punch.
2435 18th Street, NW
Toledo Lounge is located at 2435 18th St. NW in Adams Morgan. It was sold back in Feb. ’11 to the owners of the Black Squirrel and Ventnor Cafe. We rejudged them back in June 2011. The folks at Meze next door believe the renovations will be fairly extensive and Toledo Lounge will be re-branded with a new name. We’ll be sure to revisit as renovations progress.
2010 18th Street, NW
I’ve been long wondering who will be moving into the retail space next to Peking Garden at 2010 18th St, NW. Turns out it will be a barbershop:
“Dear PoPville,
Looks like the zoning meeting for the Adams Morgan church hotel is happening on 9/6 at 6:30. Some neat additions to the property are proposed including a youth center.”
From DC.gov:
On July 29, 2011, the Office of Zoning received an application from Adams Morgan Church Hotel, LLC, on behalf of First Church of Christ, Scientist, Washington, D.C., and Glancer Properties, LLC, the owners of the subject property (collectively, the “Applicant”). The Applicant is requesting approval of a consolidated planned unit development (“PUD”) and related map amendment for the property located at 1770 Euclid Street, N.W. (Lots 872 and 875 in Square 2560) and 2390 Champlain Street, N.W. (Lot 127 in Square 2560) (the “Property”). The Office of Planning provided its report to the Zoning Commission, dated November 4, 2011, and the case was set down for hearing by the Commission on November 14, 2011. The Applicant provided its prehearing statement to the Commission on April 30, 2012.
The Property consists of approximately 42,279 square feet. It is currently improved with the 100-year old First Church of Christ, Scientist (the “Church Building”), a surface parking lot, and an office building. Lot 872 of the Property is zoned R-5-B. Lots 875 and 127 of the Property are zoned RC/C-2-B. Through the requested PUD-related map amendment, all three lots in this Property would be rezoned to C-2-B. The purpose of the PUD and map amendment is to permit the development of an addition to the Church Building, which together with the restored Church Building will operate as a hotel with a maximum of 227 rooms, restaurant, related retail adjuncts, an underground parking garage, and a community center, with office and filing space, to be used by ANC 1C, Adams Morgan Youth Leadership Academy, and other Adams Morgan community groups and non-profits. (the “Project”).
The proposed PUD will have a total gross floor area of approximately 182,612 square feet. The Church Building will serve as the main entrance to the hotel, with a secondary and vehicular entrance on Champlain Street. The parking garage will be accessed from Champlain Street, N.W., and will contain approximately 174 parking spaces.
The Project will have a total floor area ratio (“FAR”) of approximately 4.32 and building heights ranging from approximately 53 feet to 90 feet.
This public hearing will be conducted in accordance with the contested case provisions of the Zoning Regulations, 11 DCMR § 3022.
For more information about this case, please review a copy of the public hearing notice:
