Brookland

GDoN Revisited by Hipchickindc – 1909 Randolph St NE

By Prince Of Petworth

Hipchickindc is a licensed real estate broker. She is the founder of 10 Square Team and is affiliated with Keller Williams Capital Properties. 10 Square Team is a princeofpetworth.com advertiser. Unless specifically noted, neither she nor the company that she is affiliated with represented any of the parties or were directly involved in the transaction reported below. Unless otherwise noted, the source of information is Metropolitan Regional Information Systems (MRIS), which is the local multiple listing system. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Featured Property: 1909 Randolph St NE
Legal Subdivision: Michigan Park
Advertised Subdivision per Listing: Brookland
Original List Price: $450,000.
List Price at Contract: $429,000.
List Date: 09/08/2011
Days on Market: 45
Settled Sales Price: $429,000.
Settlement Date: 04/27/2012
Seller Subsidy: $0.
Bank Owned?: No Short Sale? No
Type Of Financing: FHA
Original GDoN post is: here.
The listing can be seen: here. To see pics, open the listing link and scroll through the arrows on the main photo.

Many Good Deal or Not (GDoN) properties that are reviewed for this feature happen to be in neighborhoods that have seen a recent surge in pricing. Lack of inventory and sub-4% mortgage interest rates are driving many buyers to the brink of frustration. Hence, it is somewhat refreshing to be able to present a property that was on the market for over a month before going to contract, possibly because it was identified as a potential short sale (the current market price was less than what the seller owed).

This area saw quite the activity during the housing bubble years such that in 2005 the subject property sold for $630,000. net. The recent listing states that there was a professional short sale negotiator involved (a good thing). Short sales often require much patience by all parties involved. There appears to have been an early contract that fell through, however, the process for the contract that ultimately went to closing started in late February, reflecting a two month time period between contract and closing, which is not exceptionally long for a short sale.

Although identified by the agent as “Brookland”, this property located in the NE quadrant of DC is a tad further east in Michigan Park. Both Brookland and Michigan Park are off of Rhode Island Avenue. Although many city buyers might generally dismiss Brookland and Michigan Park as “too far away from everything”, Rhode Island Avenue is a quick route both in and out of DC. A few minutes into Maryland finds you close to Community Forklift, the Arts Districts of Mount Rainier and Hyattsville, Franklins (an easy place to park and have a sit down dinner), and downtown College Park. For those who like their space, it’s not impossible to find a detached home with a real yard and a garage for an otherwise townhouse price.

Menomale, Pizza Napoletana and Craft Beer, Signs Voluntary Agreement in Brookland

By Prince Of Petworth


2711 12th St, NE

It’s been quite the saga for Menomale to get their liquor license in Brookland. Good news came via the Brookland listserv yesterday afternoon from the folks behind Menomale:

“Thank you so much for your support this experience has been invaluable. We literally just signed a voluntary agreement w Mr Bennett on behalf of the ANC. We have agreed to not serve alcohol from 2-5 schooldays as a show of good faith towards the community. With this we have also received the ANC’S approval for our sidewalk cafe in the process gathering friends and not enemies. We absolutely love this communities support and will make an announcement following our hearing tomorrow.”

Should Liquor Licenses for Restaurants and/or Bars Not Be Issued Near Rehabilitation Centers?

By Prince Of Petworth


2711 12th St, NE

On Monday we learned that Menomale, Pizza Napoletana and Craft Beer, was facing a liquor license fight in Brookland. Commissioner Vaughn Bennett, ANC 5B04, has released more info about the objection:

As an elected official, (ANC Commissioner), I have a duty to properly represent all of the residents in my Single Member District.

While I personally am not in opposition to a liquor license for Menomale, I must assist those who oppose it because of their anonymity and sobriety in an alcohol and drug rehabilitation center, who would be immediately adversely impacted by an alcohol serving establishment at 2711 12th Street NE.

The rehabilitation center is in close proximity to Menomale.

The rehabilitation center is closer to Menomale than anyone’s house or apartment who has posted about this topic on the list-serves.

I believe that the location of the rehabilitation center was selected years ago due to the fact that there are no alcohol serving establishments in very close proximity. Can you imagine the impact that the daily scent of alcohol (Menomale seeks an alcohol serving sidewalk cafe) would have on a recovering alcoholic who is just trying to get home after work?

In addition, the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA) regulations require a tavern liquor license applicant to be at least 400 feet away from a school. The 400 foot distance is taken into consideration for restaurant liquor license applicants.

The regulations were put in place to protect the children! I give an exclamation because of the many condescending comments made regarding our children walking past the establishment, yet no one has challenged the ABRA regulations. So do we ignore the regulations and the purpose of their creation for our personal benefit? I can’t.

When ANC 5B was tasked with scoring the medical marijuana cultivation centers (mmcc), the Department of Health (DOH) regulations (that ABRA helped create) stated that the mmcc had to be at least 300 feet from a school or a rehabilitation center.

I will forward additional information as soon as I can, (though I believe I may have already said too much).

Do you think it is reasonable to deny a liquor license due to proximity to a rehabilitation center?

Menomale, Pizza Napoletana and Craft Beer, Facing Liquor License Fight in Brookland

By Prince Of Petworth


2711 12th St, NE

Looks like All Souls isn’t the only one with a liquor license fight on its hands. There has been an epic back and forth on the Brookland listserv. The owners of Menomale write:

We could not be more thrilled with the out pour of support from the neighborhood! Though this has been one slowing process after the next, this has also been an invaluable opportunity to meet/chat with everyone personally.

When we had begun the process for our ABRA license we had invited Mr. Bennett over to the restaurant to view our progress. We had a wonderful talk for over an hour at which time Mr. Bennett pledged his support and invited us to introduce ourselves at an ANC Meeting. We attended several meetings even providing food. This again was awesome, and generally had a blast meeting everybody. Following the meetings Mr. Bennett did not return our calls or emails for 2 weeks. During which time we received a letter from ABRA stating that signatures had been collected against us initiating the protest process.

To be clear our license intentions have at all times been open and vocal. We clearly discussed this and even fielded questions at our first ANC meeting.

Collecting signatures this past weekend several neighbors informed us that Mr. Bennett had campused their house collecting protest signatures.

In all honesty we had felt a bit betrayed and hurt after his open pledge of support.

Thank you everyone for your time.

Your Friends,
-Menomale

We learned that Menomale hoped to come to 2711 12th St, NE back in Jan. 2012. Stay tuned.

GDoN Revisited by Hipchickindc – 2819 12th St NE

By Prince Of Petworth

Hipchickindc is a licensed real estate broker. She is the founder of 10 Square Team and is affiliated with Keller Williams Capital Properties. 10 Square Team is a princeofpetworth.com advertiser. Unless specifically noted, neither she nor the company that she is affiliated with represented any of the parties or were directly involved in the transaction reported below. Unless otherwise noted, the source of information is Metropolitan Regional Information Systems (MRIS), which is the local multiple listing system. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Featured Property: 2819 12th St NE
Legal Subdivision: Brookland
Advertised Subdivision per Listing: Brookland
Original List Price: $499,900.
List Price at Contract: $474,900.
List Date: 12/09/2011
Days on Market: 42
Settled Sales Price: $471,000.
Settlement Date: 02/17/2012
Seller Subsidy: $0.
Bank Owned?: No Short Sale? No
Type Of Financing: Conventional

Original GDoN post is: here.

The listing can be seen: here. To see pics, open the listing links and scroll through the arrows on the main pic. The link includes the pre-renovation listing with “Before” pics, as well as the first listing for this property (withdrawn) and then the re-listing.

Disclosure: An agent with Keller Williams Capital Properties, the same broker that the writer of this post is affiliated with, represented the buyer in this sale.

Last week Good Deal or Not Revisted (GDoN-R) looked at a recently renovated property on 12th Street NW. We’re still on 12th St, but shifted over to the Northeast quadrant of DC. This week’s subject is a detached home with a 500+ square foot lot, something we don’t usually see in DC for under $500,000., especially in renovated condition. As was noted in the original GDoN comments, the home does not have a finished basement and it is located on a somewhat busy street facing a gas station. Nonetheless, the Brookland neighborhood definitely has its fans.

Continues after the jump. (more…)

Stabbing Homicide in Brookland

By Prince Of Petworth

From MPD:


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Last night at about 2:30 am (Sunday morning) a 35 year old man was stabbed inside a nightclub in the 3500 block of 12th St., NE.

He was taken to a hospital where he died.

Homicide investigators are working on this case and ask that if anyone has any relevant information they call 727-9099 to report it.

MPD Report on Sat. Night/Sun. Morning’s Shots Fired and Car Crash Resulting in 2 Fatalities

By Prince Of Petworth


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From MPD:

Detectives assigned to the Metropolitan Police Department’s Major Crash Division are investigating a double fatal traffic crash that occurred in the 400 block of Taylor Street, NE at approximately 3:30 am today.

On Sunday, January 29, 2012, at approximately 2:56 am, units from the Fourth District received several calls for the sounds of gunshots in the 700 block of Otis Place, NW. While responding, a MPD cruiser was flagged down at the corner of Georgia Avenue and New Hampshire Avenue, NW, by an unidentified black male who stated that unknown suspects had just shot at him from a burgundy colored Plymouth minivan with Virginia tags.

A lookout was broadcast and another MPD unit observed a burgundy minivan speeding in the 300 block of Upshur Street, NW, passing through stop signs without stopping. A pursuit was then initiated and ended in the 400 block of Taylor Street, NE, when the suspect vehicle lost control, struck a tree, and then struck another MPD vehicle that was responding to the scene for support.

Personnel from DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded at the scene of the crash. The two officers in the vehicle that was struck sustained non-life threatening injuries and were transported to a local hospital. All three occupants of the suspect vehicle were ejected. Two of suspects, an adult male and a juvenile male died of their injuries. The third male suspect was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. The identities of the decedents are being withheld at this time, pending next of kin notification.

Evidence recovered indicates that the vehicle was involved in a shooting. MPD units returned to the scene where the male flagged them down, but have been unable to locate him.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the police at (202) 727-9099. Additionally, anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411.

Menomale Pizza Napoletana and Craft Beer Coming Soon to Brookland

By Prince Of Petworth

Pizza and Craft Beer is coming to Brookland. Menomale is coming soon to 2711 12th St, NE:


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Their Facebook page says:

“We are Americans inspired by our Italian and Irish roots to bring authentic beer and real pizza to the Brookland area of Washington D.C.”

It sounds like the pizza is gonna be the real deal:

Our oven was custom built and imported by us from Naples, Italy. Weighing in at 5,500 lbs, it’s made of a particular salt based stone only found in Positano, Italy. American manufacturers of this oven use a sand based stone, though it retains heat, the salt adds a unique texture and flavor to the crust. Typically US pizza ovens are most often gas fired, 550 degrees, and cook a pizza in about 8-10 minutes. Menomale’s centerpiece is wood-fired, 900 degrees, and will cook a pizza in about 90 seconds.

I emailed the owner who is hesitant to announce an exact opening date but believes they should be open by mid-Feb. They have already received their liquor license so beer will be pouring at that time as well. I’ll update with an exact opening date when it is finalized.

Note of Caution to Brookland Drivers

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Barbara.K

From the Brookland listserv:

I wanted to take this opportunity to give a word of caution to women/and men drivers in the neighborhood. Last night when I was pulling out of our parking lot and onto Monroe St. (near the metro tracks), a man in a beat up red van frantically motioned me to roll my window down. He said my font tire was extremely wobbly and that I should pull over immediately. He offered to fix it for me if I pulled over. I turned down his offer, but he proceeded to try and convince me that I would never make it home with my tire in that condition. Nervous about my tire I turned down his offers and slowly drove home.

My husband checked my tire at home and announced that nothing was wrong with it. This was the SECOND time that this has happened to me in the last few months. I don’t know if it was the same man, or a different man, but both times I thought it smarter to keep driving. I don’t know what this man’s intent was if I were to have pulled over and gotten out of my car. I am sharing this story though, so that the neighborhood drivers can be aware that this kind of thing happening. Please be careful!

Round House Nominated for a DC landmark status in Brookland

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Lalaroo

Some interesting info from the Brookland listserv on this oft nominated House of the Day:

Working with John Feeley, I have researched the history of the Round House (1001 Irving) and nominated it as a DC landmark building. The nomination was filed by the DC Preservation League. The building is protected from major changes (to the exterior only — the nomination is only for the exterior of the building) until the city’s Historic Preservation Review Board actually hears the case, and at that time the protection becomes permanent or disappears. Some cases are heard fairly soon and some wait for years. The owner, a local developer who has begun a good restoration of the building anyway, and the ANC, all are consulted before the hearing, naturally, but the Board will base its decision largely on the historical and artistic aspects of the building itself. The building permits already issued to the owner remain in force, because they were validly issued. Visiting the place recently, the developer seems to be maintaining not only the exterior as it was but also the interior. (There were three rooms surrounding a central spiral staircase that goes to the second floor. A skylight tops the house.

The house was built in 1901 by a prominent Brookland builder, John C. Louthan, who lived in another house he himself built at 12th and Irving (now gone). His architect was a very busy designer of modest houses in the city, Edward Woltz. This was one of only a handful of larger buildings Woltz designed. Over its life the house has seen only four owners; Mrs. McKinney, who died last year, had lived there since about 1950. There is no information about why Woltz and Louthan chose the odd shape for their house — octagon and round houses were a short fad in the US in the 1850s but had stopped being built by the Civil War and revivals of this style are rare. Nonetheless, that is what Woltz seems to have done. There are no other round houses in Washington.

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