Columbia Heights

(Was it a) Good Deal or Not? “Penthouse unit in a classic townhouse” edition

By Prince Of Petworth

This condo is located at 1207 Girard St, NW:


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The flier says:

“Stunning 2BR/2.5BA Penthouse unit in a classic townhouse. Amazing outdoor spaces. Open floor plan on main level stretches 65′ with 10’+ ceilings. Gourmet Kitchen offers custom Euro cabinetry, 10′ long island, gorgeous marble counters, superior SS appliances. Upper level: owner’s suite with 2nd deck, 2nd BR, marble baths. Front attic storage space. Secured parking!”

You can find more info here and a mouse on house tour here.

I know people feel strongly about row houses that get divided into condos – so I was curious what you thought about this one. I thought it was particularly interesting that it went under contract so quickly. My goal is to get invited over to see that deck in person…

This 2 bed/2.5 bath was going for $739,900 ($212 condo fee).

Good Deal or Not? “regal living room w/ gorgeous stone fireplace” edition

By Prince Of Petworth

This home is located at 3573 10th St, NW:


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The flier says:

“Historic charm meets modern luxury-high ceilings, ornate woodwork, & fabulous pocket door! Features: regal living room w/ gorgeous stone fireplace, formal dining room, new custom kitchen & the master suite of your dreams w/ stunning bath-Jacuzzi tub & double vanity! Fully Finished basement opens to a grassy yard and rear parking. Perfect location just a short walk to restaurants, shops & Metro!”

You can find more info here and photos here.

A bit odd that they don’t show photos of the bedrooms but what do you think of the photos that they do share? Does $659,900 sound realistic for this 4 bed/3 bath?

IHOP Soon Offering Delivery to Columbia Heights

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

IHOP located on the 1400 block of Irving St, NW in DC USA announced some pretty sweet news for Columbia Heights residents:

“@IHOPDCUSA now delivers to Highland Park Apts. Soon we will be expanding our range to include the entire Columbia Heights neighborhood!”

I’ll be curious if they are able to keep to the food warm but if they are this is a very very sweet option.

What do you guys think – will IHOP make for a good delivery option?

Dear PoP – Requested update of former Horse’s Ass Award nominee – Old Alliance of Concerned Men (11th and Harvard St, NW)

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

A while back I wrote to nominate the old Alliance of Concerned Men at 11th and Harvard St NW that burned down for the Horse’s Ass award. At the time it looked like there was some hope that it would be converted to an “old person’s home.” Apparently the city or some developer had taken over the building after the AOCM had abandoned it after the fire.

Well, since then nothing seems to have happened. There are permits on the door but I haven’t seen a soul do any work on the property and I live across the street so I see it daily. The windows are still boarded up but some of the boards are loose or have come off allowing entrance into the abandoned structure. You can see sunlight coming through the roof which means the inside must be a mess now that the weather has gotten to it. I’m afraid that now it’s possible to get inside through the unboarded windows, it will become a magnet for ilicit activity in the neighborhood.

I would love it if you could get an update on what’s going on and why the progress has ground to a halt and also who or what I need to do to get the person(s) responsible to secure the building.”

Ward One Council Member Jim Graham writes:

“2905 11th St., the former Men’s Alliance building, was issued construction permits on 4/8/11 for renovations. DCHA has considered several options. Let me now ask Director Todman for their latest plan.

I am always available to provide updates, but DCRA also makes this information available here.”

Hopefully Director Todman will share some good news soon. I’m afraid the original reader is right that the area could become a nuisance property in its current state. When I went to check on the property last weekend I saw a discarded briefcase, possibly dumped after a robbery, (I called the police and they took it) as well as a door that was unlocked, not to mention the broken windows.

Whatever priority this building once had, I’d say it’s high time it moved up the list.


Unlocked door on first floor


Discarded briefcase behind front stairwell


False promises…?

Dear PoP – Gun pulled at Columbia Heights Metro Escalator

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Aziz .

“Dear PoP,

Someone pulled a gun while chasing a guy up the escalator at Columbia Heights Metro – I think the guy stole his backpack. A bystander claims that it was a cop, but he didn’t identify himself. About 5 minutes later there were a ton of sirens that sounded as if they were a couple of blocks away. Have you heard anything about it or an arrest?”

Haven’t heard anything yet. Will be sure to do so if/when I do.

This email was received about 7:30 pm Mon. evening. This follows the recent trouble at the Columbia Heights metro Friday morning.

The 5pm Post – New Play Festival at Gala Theater

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user kc.corcoran

From an email:

Please join us tonight at GALA Hispanic Theatre (3333 14th St. NW) for the first evening of the New Play Festival!

The show begins at 7:30pm, but we encourage you to come early for free snacks and drinks (including free cupcakes from Cake Love!) in the lobby beginning at 7pm.

Tonight, YPT will present plays by our elementary and middle school students that explore topics that range from a flatworm’s fear of peanut butter to the challenge of having superpowers. All plays will be family-friendly and suitable for audience members of all ages.

Click here to learn more about tonight’s program and read about the fifteen plays YPT will present April 11-13.

Remember, we have two special treats for you tonight.

Leon Harris, award-winning reporter for ABC7/WJLA-TV, will be the Welcoming Speaker for this event.

Don’t forget to come back to GALA Hispanic Theatre on Tuesday, April 12, and Wednesday, April 13, for two more nights of the New Play Festival.

YPT will present new plays each night, so each performance will be a unique and inspiring experience.

Please note that on April 12-13, YPT will present plays by our older students that explore themes that range from navigating a relationship with a gay parent to the devastating impact of addiction on families. These plays include mature themes and language and may not be suitable for children under thirteen.

Fri. Afternoon Rental Option – Columbia Heights (owner request)

By Prince Of Petworth

This rental is located at 14th and Clifton St, NW:


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The Craigslist ad says:

“Parking Included in secure underground lot

Only a Short walk to the U-Street Metro or Col Heights Metro for access to downtown.

Custom $17,000 Bose Surround System installed throughout whole unit, awesome for music/movie enthusiasts and entertaining.

Side Porch and Sunroom in Back Provide for a unique layout.

Washer Dryer in Unit

Flat Screen + Bose stereo system comes with it too!

12 month lease
Pets OK
1 month deposit
utilities separate
High end programmable thermostat keeps utilities low and environment pleasant”

$2565 sound right for this 2 bedroom?

GDoN Revisited by Hipchickindc – 1367 Perry Place, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

Voted one of the best real estate agents in DC by the Washington City Paper Readers’ Choice Poll in 2009, hipchickindc aka the not-so-hip Suzanne Des Marais is the Principal Broker (DC) for Urban Pace, LLC. She lives (and sells a lot of houses) in Bloomingdale, but works all over DC, with everyone from first time buyers to highly regarded developers. 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: 1367 Perry Pl NW
Legal Subdivision: Columbia Heights
Advertised Subdivision per Listing: Columbia Heights
Original List Price: $569,900.
List Price at Contract: $549,900.
List Date: 11/12/2010
Days on Market: 106
Settled Sales Price: $540,000.
Settlement Date: 03/24/2011
Seller Subsidy: $0.
Bank Owned?: No Short Sale? No
Type Of Financing: Conventional

Original Good Deal or Not post is: hereThe listing can be seen: here. A virtual tour can be seen here.

Located just north of the Columbia Heights 14th Street development, and a tad west of the development around the Petworth Metro, this location is in the midst of a surge of real estate activity. Given that prices have continued to rise around the Columbia Heights Metro and there are fewer opportunities for acquiring properties to develop, it makes sense that both investors and buyers are moving to the peripheral areas. In looking at the sales activity within ¼ mile of this property (active listings, pending sales, and settled sales since 09/01/2010), there are only four active listings at present, ten pending sales, and a whopping twenty one settled sales in this small boundary within only six or so months. Here is the market analysis.

Continues after the jump. (more…)

Shooting this morning at Columbia-Heights Metro

By Prince Of Petworth


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From the Washington Post:

“Shots have been fired near the intersection of 14th and Irving streets NW in Columbia Heights, disrupting rush hour along 14th Street and near the Columbia Heights metro station.

It is unclear whether anyone was hit or who fired the shots.”

Readers sent in word around 9am this morning. I’ll update when word is released from MPD. Anyone nearby when this happened?

UPDATE: A reader sends word on twitter:

“I was there right after. 5+ cop cars, bike cops & they had a kid (16 y.o.?) in custody & frisking. Air smelled of gunpowder.”

UPDATE from Council Member Graham:

“I want to provide information that I have received from MPD regarding the incident that occurred on the 3000 block of 14th St around 8:45 a.m. this morning.

MPD is in the very early stages of the investigation. But here is what I have been told.

A robbery occurred on the 2900 block of 13th St. NW. Moments later, Special Police Officers at Columbia Heights Village received information on the suspect. The suspect was seen on Columbia Heights Village property and pursuit of the suspect began. During the pursuit, shots were fired by Special Police on the 3000 block of 14th St.

Fortunately, there are no injuries. Both the robbery and the shots fired are under MPD investigation. And I am very concerned about shots being fired under any circumstance, but especially in a crowded area such as this.

If you have additional information please contact MPD or myself.”

UPDATE from MPD:

“This morning, a 17 year-old juvenile male attempted to rob a citizen at gunpoint in the 1300 block of Harvard Street, NW. The suspect tried to snatch the complainant’s purse but failed. He then fled the scene on foot. A witness that had observed the attack followed the suspect to the 1400 block of Columbia Road. The witness observed 2 Special Police Officers walking in the block and alerted them to the armed robbery suspect. The SPOs approached the suspect and ordered him to the ground. Instead, the suspect reached for his waistband. One of the SPOs drew his weapon and fired at the suspect. The shot did not take effect. The suspect continued to flee but was apprehended a short distance away at 14th & Irving Streets by the SPOs and an off-duty MPD officer.

Due to the seriousness of the offences, the suspect is being charged as an adult.”

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