Columbia Heights

Dear PoPville – Don’t Walk Home from the Bars Drunk and Alone – You are a Target for Muggers

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Joe in DC

Dear PoPville,

For the past 3 years, 6-7 guys love to hang out on the wall/sidewalk outside of our next door neighbors house. They do not reside there and my neighbor does not know them. We often call the police on them, as they smoke weed, trash our lawns, and harass us as we leave the house. Two of these guys, I believe, are to blame for a series of muggings where intoxicated people are targeted walking home at night. And, these two men have not been caught in the act by the police.

One instance occurred a couple months ago. My husband I were driving home from Baltimore on an early Sunday morning (around 3:30am) when parking into our garage, witnessed the same two casing a mid 20 something male in an attempt to mug him. This man was in bad shape from drinking and was unaware that the two men were following him as he stumbled in an alley behind our home. We intervened, convincing our drunk neighbor to let us give him a ride to his house, thus eluding the mugging.

We reported the incident to the police however the next day the two guys were sitting with their buddies in front of our neighbors home. So we called the police again to make a report. Two weeks later, one of our friends who lives a block over from us reported being mugged while returning home drunk after a night out after work. She works in the service industry and had deposits/tips on her at the time. Two men approached from behind on her porch before she could put the key in the lock. She gave us a similar description of the two guys.

Then, Saturday night, we were home watching movies and I saw blue and red lights flashing on my window. I went outside to investigate. The police had responded to another mugging. Same type of incident – intoxicated guy mugged and violently hit in the face. This man gave a another similar description. I told the police again about the earlier incidents and where we believe the party responsible hangs out.

As far as we can tell, they are targeting people between Columbia Road to Kenyon between Georgia and Warder. And they tend to “hang out” during the day and evenings on Kenyon between the same blocks.

I want readers to be aware of these two men and be safe. Readers be aware – If you are drunk, don’t walk home in this area – get a cab and have the driver wait until you are inside. If you walk, go in groups.

Our best description –
Approx 5′ 10” black male medium complexion with ‘freckle marks’ on his face dreads/braids slim build early 20’s maybe younger
Approx 5′ 5″ black male dark complexion short hair heavier build early 20’s maybe younger

Any advice or information you could provide and what can we do so that these guys stop getting away with this?

The OP assured me they’ve again reported this to the Police but I will make sure they see this as well. I think a dual approach is necessary – MPD needs to patrol this area and patrons need to heed the original advice of not walking home drunk alone late at night.

Arrest Made in Beating/Homicide that Took Place Outside the Tivoli Last Sat. Afternoon

By Prince Of Petworth

Thanks to a reader for sending an update about last Sat. afternoon’s beating outside the Tivoli at 14th and Park Rd, NW from the Washington Times:

Jeffrey Mills is accused of attacking 45-year-old Juan Antonio Paredes on Saturday and beating him unconscious with a metal pole, according to police and court records.

Mr. Paredes, of Northwest, was hospitalized and died from his injuries on Sunday.

Reader Nominated Horse’s Ass Award – Privado Condos

By Prince Of Petworth

Dear PoP,

Can you please give a horse’s ass award to the empty lot on the north side of the 1400 block of Chapin St NW? It once promised the “Privado Condos” but has been sitting accumulating garbage for at least two years. The fence, and accompanying weeds and trash, has also been encroaching on the sidewalk making it difficult to pass. Ruins what is otherwise one of my favorite blocks in DC.

Interestingly their Website is still live (thought the phone number listed is out of service):

And here’s the rendering of what could have been:

Police Investigating an Assault Outside Tivoli at 14th and Park Rd, NW Around 1:30pm Sat. Afternoon

By Prince Of Petworth

A bunch of folks following @PoPville on twitter were asking about a police presence at 14th and Park Rd, NW. I asked MPD on the scene what was going on and they said there was an assault with an investigation ongoing. Twitter follower @mlxa shares more details:

“Someone got beat up w/a crowbar is what we’ve heard. We saw a man (unconscious?) being tended to by medics ~1:30. Lots of blood.”

I’ll post the official word from MPD when it is released.

UPDATE: MPD Confirms an arrest was made and the victim has died from his injuries.

GDoN Revisited by Hipchickindc – 1454 Euclid St NW #5

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: 1454 Euclid St NW #5
Legal Subdivision: Columbia Heights
Advertised Subdivision per Listing: Columbia Heights
Original List Price 1st Listing: $439,000.
List Price at Contract: $419,000.
List Date: 07/07/2011
Days on Market: 147
Settled Sales Price: $395,000.
Settled Price Per Square Foot: $436.
Settlement Date: 12/30/2011
Seller Subsidy: $0.
Bank Owned?: No Short Sale? No
Type Of Financing: Conventional
Original GDoN post is: here.
The listing can be seen: here. Here is the virtual tour .

Meridian Hill Condominium is an eight unit conversion dating from the early 1990’s. There appear to be at least a couple of original owners, who no doubt have seen dramatic change to the neighborhood over the past two decades. Those original owners were smart to hold on though, as prices to buy these condos new were sub-$100,000. The subject property, unit five, was first purchased for $71,400. in May 1992. It later sold in June 2000 for $96,000.

For this listing, the unit remained on the market for 147 days before going under contract, which is a long time in relation to typical Good Deal or Not (GDoN) properties (the past ten GDoN Revisited properties averaged 17 days on the market). Although the original list price of $439,000. seems fairly reasonable for a duplex boutique condo with an attractive Victorian exterior, that put the price per square foot up into the high $400’s. While brand new high end condos in Columbia Heights can fetch into the mid $500’s per square foot, the final price of this unit reflects the differential of an older style unit.

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