Columbia Heights

What Columbia Heights Looked Like in 2005

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user rockcreek

For the photo above rockcreek orients us:

“Fourteenth and Irving Streets, NW DCUSA site, NW corner of 14th and Irving Sts., NW, 10/28/05. Looking SE to 14th and Irving from Hiatt Pl.”

Yesterday we noted google street view’s awesome historical photos that go back to 2007. I was searching the PoPville flickr pool earlier today looking for a vacant lot and stumbled across these wild photos from rockcreek. We’ve seen this site before but it’s truly amazing to remember what parts of Columbia Heights looked like in 2005. For the photo below:

“Fourteenth and Irving Streets, NW DCUSA site, NW corner of 14th and Irving Sts., NW, 10/28/05. Looking east to 14th from Hiatt Pl.”

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Photo by PoPville flickr user rockcreek

Sympathies to our Cousins in Columbia Heights – Another Power Outage

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user nevermindtheend

Power outages continue to plague parts of Columbia Heights at the most inopportune times. Last night on twitter lots of Columbia Heights residents tweeted us news of another power outage. @cafedarkness at Lamont and 11th St, NW first let us know around 7:15pm. In addition to parts of 11th Street @nnaroosa later tweeted:

“recent outages along 13th street as well with no restoration estimate #hotmess”

The frustration was echoed on the Columbia Heights listserv this morning:

“Last summer you along with other Pepco executives came to our neighborhood in Columbia Heights DC to discuss the Pepco work done to increase capacity of underground feeders from 4kV to 13–

Our neighborhood sat on the sidelines of messy, loud, and intrusive work for months.

Roads were blocked, cars ticketed and towed without notice — all in the name of the Harvard Conversion project to provide increased capacity.

Since Pepco completed their work last summer we experienced a series of brownouts and a number of blackouts.

This didn’t happen before Pepco did work in our neighborhood.

Fast forward to this evening 6/18 a hot day and night — and our power has been out since 11pm– it’s now 6 am. The longest outage to date (and still not fixed)

Could you pls explain what is being done to provide a reliable power supply to the CH neighborhood?”

Pepco’s response at 8:45am:

“We have identified the cause of the outage. It is due to a failed transformer and the new transformer is enroute to be set. I will update you on the Estimated Time of Restoration.

I do understand the impact and will be looking into this further.”

Will Blighted Bacon Funeral Home Property Ever Progress?

By Prince Of Petworth

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3449 14th Street, NW

“Dear PoPville,

Any movement on the Bacon Funeral Home property? This ‘construction project’ has been on going on for 6 years, and it has been well over 6 months since Jim Graham’s response (Dec 2013) yet it still continues to sit with no tangible action. The new timeline feature on Google maps certainly highlights this fiasco. I wonder if this will continue to languish in its current state now that Graham did not win re-election. It is painstakingly obvious that this project will never be finished, so what is the city prepared to do?”

Maybe there will be a new opportunity with a new Council Member here to kick start some progress? I’m not holding my breath but certainly worth giving to give the new CM a chance first?

Filipino Restaurant Coming to 11th Street Applies for Liquor License

By Prince Of Petworth

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3226 11th Street, NW looking north towards Lamont Street and Room 11

Progress continues at the Filipino restaurant coming to the former El Rinconcito Deportivo space on 11th Street between Kenyon and Lamont. It’s gonna be called Chikiting Ed. Note: Owner Nick Pimentel says Chikiting is just the trade name, no official name yet and a liquor license placard posted out front says:

“We will be an upscale neighborhood restaurant serving Filipino cuisine. Total Occupancy
Load 15.”

Hours of operation are listed as Sunday through Thursday: 10am – 2am, Friday and Saturday: 10am – 3am.

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looking south towards Bloombars and Wonderland

What’s Up with the Guy with a telescopic lens at 13th and Clifton St, NW?

By Prince Of Petworth

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“Dear PoPville,

Just curious- has anyone else reported a guy standing on the roof of Cardozo HS by the parking lot with a giant, camo colored telescopic lens? He’s been there around 8:30/8:45a the past 2 days, taking pictures of either an apartment in the Wardman Court apartments or the roof. Really weird, but he’s not trying to hide himself, everyone who walks by notices him.”

Photo of Person of Interest Sought in Two (Unsuccessful) Bank Robberies Yesterday

By Prince Of Petworth

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From MPD:

“The Metropolitan Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying a person of interest in reference to two Bank Robberies which occurred at Wells Fargo Banks, located in the 3300 block of 14th Street, NW and the 3200 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, on Thursday, June 12, 2014.

At approximately 10:00 am on Thursday, June 12, 2014, an unknown individual entered the Wells Fargo Bank located at 3325 14th St., NW, approached the teller and demanded money. Without receiving money, the individual left the bank. At approxi­mately noon, the same individual entered the Wells Fargo Bank located at 3200 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, approached the teller and demanded money. Without receiving money, the individual left the bank. The unknown bank robber is described as a black male, 30-40 years old, with a moustache and goatee. He was wearing a black suit and tie with a blue shirt and black sneakers. He also wore black sunglasses and a black knit hat with a brim.

Anyone who has information regarding this case should call police at 202-727-9099. Additionally, information may be submitted to the TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411. A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for these offenses.”

Wells Fargo Bank just Robbed in Columbia Heights

By Prince Of Petworth

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A reader writes:

“14th Street location [3325 just north of Park Road in the Tivoli] in Columbia Heights. Police everywhere. Caution yellow tape, cop cars rushing to the scene. Must have just happened.”

@DCPoliceDept tweet:

“Robbery Investigation: 3300 blk of 14th St NW LOF B/M, all black clothing, sunglasses & a wool cap/ L/S running W/B 1400 blk of MonroeStNW”

Dear PoPville – Advice on Dealing with Street Harassment

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user nevermindtheend

“Dear PoPville,

This weekend I heard about something that happened to a friend of mine a few weeks back. He was exiting Coffy Cafe (14th street and Park rd) at about 8 pm on a Friday night and trying to catch a cab when three teenagers blocked his way and started asking him for bus fare (he couldn’t quite make out what they said but thinks it was something about a bus fare). When he ignored them and tried to move on, they kept blocking him and verbally threatening him. My friend then turned back and went back inside the coffee shop, and they followed him inside. He ordered a cab on his phone from inside the coffee shop, and the teens hanged around the coffee shop for a few minutes and left.

I’m not really sure what the goal was here on their part, and I know harassment happens, but what surprised/alarmed me personally about this is that it happened in the middle of a busy street. I’m new to DC and I try to be aware of my surroundings and avoid secluded areas at night but I’m wondering what to do if harassed like this in the middle of a busy place.”

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