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“Dear PoPville,

While walking by Lime yesterday, I noticed a sign that said “We are closed” taped on the outside of the door and a lot of activity inside, including removing the registers. Do you know if Lime is closing permanently? Or whether this is temporary for a remodel or something along those lines?”

Thanks to @wowindc for sending the photo above.

Another reader writes:

“Lime Fresh Closed. All belongings pulled/snatched out. Sunday.”

I called the store and the folks at Lime Fresh confirm that the Columbia Heights location has permanently closed. They note that the Chinatown location on 7th Street remains open. Lime Fresh opened in Columbia Heights in DC USA back in August 2012. We judged them here.

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3100 14th Street, NW


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14th and Meridian Place, NW

From an email:

“On January 2nd from 12-4 PM Rasmus Auctions will be opening The Getaway up one last time for people to come check out the items before they bid online. The online auction includes all of their automobile artwork and paraphernalia, flat screen TV’s, leather couches, patio furniture, and kitchen equipment. The online auction starts to close at 1:37 PM on Friday, January 3rd. You can check out the online auction here. The Getaway is located at 1400 Meridian Place NW Washington, DC 20010.”

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Photo by PoPville flickr user ekelly80

“Dear PoPville,

According to my building’s management, last night a guest of a tenant in my building was buzzed in and three men in their late 20s or early 30s who were hanging out in front followed him into the building. When they all were on the elevator, the men then robbed him of his wallet. He was not physically hurt thankfully. The robbery was reported to the police, who have reviewed the building’s security camera footage and are now investigating.

While I’ve heard of people sneaking into buildings to steal packages and the like, I have not heard of this robbery tactic before, and I thought it might be good to give people a head’s up. Just another reason to not let strangers into an apartment building. The locale of this crime was on 15th Street by Meridian Hill Park.”


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3449 14th Street, NW

Last week a reader wrote in expressing concerns over the blighted building to be the future Bacon Funeral Home.

CM Jim Graham responds via email:

“Yes, the building has been repeatedly inspected, Yes, we have had numerous meetings. The latest–positive– information is that their permits are being expedited so this should change soon.

I have held various meetings in my office, and pressed DCRA. Part of the issue is that, under DC law, as long as a building is stable and boarded up, it is not generally subject to condemnation.

Let me add, the best leverage we have at present with these properties is the $10 per $100 tax rate on blighted properties. A measure that I actively supported

Let me now check with DCRA Dir Majett on the status of those permits, and also Dir Cordi on the property tax status. It should be taxed at the high rate as vacant and blighted.”

@DCRA responds via twitter:

“its currently in a blighted tax class. We will have our enforcement unit do another survey on it this week.”


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3449 14th Street, NW

“Dear PoPville,

I was wondering about the progress on the Bacon Funeral Home at 3449 14th St. NW, and wonder if you have any information regarding recent developments on this property. From your last blog post on 03/21/13, Bacon Funeral Home was given 30 days to enclose the building by the city council. In any case that this did not occur, (still remains open to the elements) it would forward this matter on to DCRA. 30 days has already occurred, many times over.

I find it frustrating that we are talking about raising the building height restriction in DC, when developments like the Bacon property are left to languish for years without repercussion. Imagine if a huge, towering development like Louis at 14th and U had all the issues that Bacon Funeral Home has had. This sets a terrible precedent for other property owners and developers.”

Ed. Note: I’ll tweet this query to Council Member Jim Graham’s office and DCRA and post any updates they send. Anyone else hear anything about the status?

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