Columbia Heights

This is why we can’t have nice things Vol. 37

By Prince Of Petworth

It’s just painful to see this after so many months of construction when the road was still all shiny and new. And I know sometimes it can’t be helped but it was looking so good…

From a DDOT press release for the Thurs evening rush hour:

“The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is advising motorists that there are road closures in Columbia Heights due to a possible gas leak. 14th Street, NW is currently closed from Newton Street to Monroe Street, and Monroe is closed between 13th and 16th Streets.

Drivers are advised to use alternator routes including 13th, 15th and 16th Streets for north and south travel, and Irving Street for eastbound travel in Columbia Heights instead of Monroe.

Washington Gas is on the scene investigating the leak, but the closures are expected to last through rush hour.”

Again, this was the scene from Thurs. evening. Hopefully it will all be cleared up by morning.

Good Deal or Not? “2 front porches & rear deck” edition

By Prince Of Petworth

This home is located at 2927 11th St, NW:


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The flier says:

“Updated, EASY TO SHOW. Well appointed 3br/2.5ba w/ new baths and kitchen open to dining room. Lots of original details, wood floors throughout, finished basement & generously sized rooms w/ large closets; 2 front porches & rear deck. Walk to Columbia Heights & U St Metro, 2 blocks to Wonderland Ballroom, Red Rock Pizza & development along 11th St. and TIVOLI! Full renovated, ready to just move in!”

You can find more info here and photos here.

What do you think of the house itself? Do you think they did a good job of updating while keeping original details? This 3 bed/2.5 bath is going for $589,000 – sound reasonable?

Attempted Robbery at CH Plaza Citibank Wed. Afternoon

By Prince Of Petworth

Yesterday afternoon I happened to notice some police tape up around the Citibank on the Columbia Heights Plaza across from the Giant. I wasn’t able to find a lot of info and was in a rush but I did tweet some photos and the fact that an attempted robbery occurred. A reader sends in a few more details:

“I was sitting in the Columbia Heights Sticky Fingers yesterday, and it appears the Citibank on the corner was either robbed or there was an attempted robbery. They got at least one suspect. When they were transferring the suspect, a woman, from one car to another, they pulled out a black stocking mask with eye holes. The FBI and local PD were on the scene. They closed the bank due to an “emergency situation” by the time I left the coffee shop. I’ve been looking for it to come up in the news, but so far, I haven’t been able to find anything. They cordoned off the whole bank with police tape.”

Good Deal or Not? “2 br condo with washer and dryer” (Owner Request)

By Prince Of Petworth

This home is located at 1495 Newton St, NW:


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The flier says:

“Great 2 br condo with washer and dryer, hard wood floors, updated bathroom. Close to Columbia Hgts metro, restaurants, Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, Wash Sports Club, Giant, 11th St Bars. Circulator Bus, downtown DC. Possible parking space available to rent.”

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

The owner writes:

“My boyfriend and I found and got our dream apartment in Adams Morgan. Now I’m a very motivated seller trying to find a very eager buyer for my condo. For what it’s worth, I bought it for a song because the owner got engaged and was eager to get a new place with her fiance. While I’m not saying the apartment is a good luck charm for finding love, the evidence seems to speak for itself…”

What do you guys think – does $264,900 ($250 condo fee) sound reasonable for this 2 bed/1 bath?

New Mexican Restaurant Coming to 3313 11th St, NW From Owners of Quarry House Tavern in Silver Spring

By Prince Of Petworth

Thanks to all the readers who sent in word about this exciting development. We’ve been following this property closely last hearing that it might become a bakery back in May. Ed. Note: I have a very good feeling we will be hearing about a new bakery for Columbia Heights soon but more on that when deals have been signed. Many folks sent emails after they saw the liquor license application which says:

“New restaurant serving casual Mexican cuisine. Full menu with breakfast, lunch and dinner. Seating capacity of 75. Total occupancy load of 99. Summer Garden with 37 seats and Sidewalk Café with 16 seats.”

That great news on it’s own but I was able to find out a little bit more info about the folks behind the restaurant. So here it is – this space will be put together by the owner of Jackie’s in Silver Spring. However Jackie and her colleagues from Quarry House Tavern, also in Silver Spring, will be working together on this new restaurant. I hear that the food will be quality Mexican, both authentic original and also some ideas inspired from Los Angeles. I found this pretty funny since we literally just had a huge discussion about the best Mexican spots in the city. Last bit of exciting news about is that at some point they will be expanding the space to include a roof deck (knock wood, knock wood).

More on the restaurant as progress is made.

GDoN Revisited by Hipchickindc – 1200 Euclid St NW #3

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 an Associate Broker with Urban Pace. 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: 1200 Euclid St NW #3
Original List Price: $425,000.
List Price at Contract: $425,000.
List Date: 07/26/2010
Days on Market: 7

Settled Sales Price: $425,000.

Settled Price Per Square Foot: $500 **Including 1 covered offstreet parking space
Settlement Date: 09/01/2010
Seller Subsidy: $0.
Bank Owned?: No Short Sale? No
Type Of Financing: Conventional
Original GDoN is: here.
The Listing can be seen: here. To see pics, after opening the listing link, click on the main pic and scroll through.

I’ve watched this building over the years since I had a listing across the street at the same time the property was sold as a shell. That was back in 2004. The entire building, in poor condition, was listed for $599,000. and sold for $725,000. Keep in mind this was pre a lot of the current Columbia Heights development but definitely in the midst of the condo boom.

Fortunately, the developer did a nice job with the space. They were able to get a total of four units plus some parking. This particular unit sold for $385,000. in late 2007 which means a $40k increase in three years. Not too shabby.

The original Good Deal or Not (GDoN) post was at the request of the owner. I have to say that for a GDoN post, there were a lot of comments. The last little bit of feedback from an anonymous poster pretty much summed up the gist of the rest of the comments. “FOR A ONE BEDROOM CONDO? INSANE!!” (All caps is from the original comment, not my edit).

I’m wondering if the newly former owner would like to step forward and take a bow.

Thurs. Afternoon Rental Option – Columbia Heights (Owner Request)

By Prince Of Petworth

This rental is located at 13th and Euclid St, NW:


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The Craigslist ad says:

“Beautifully renovated and fully furnished 2 floor condo in restored 13th St townhouse, 4 blocks from the U Street Metro and 5 blocks from Columbia Heights. Open floor plan with exposed brick, large kitchen with island, gas stove, and stainless steel appliances. First floor has full bathroom, living room with gas fireplace and 42″ mounted flat screen TV, and open dining area with table to seat 6+. 2nd floor has master bedroom suite including Jacuzzi tub and large private deck. Large second bedroom/office with customized walk in closet.

* Dishwasher
* Washer/Dryer
* Large front patio and rear 2nd floor deck
* Cable/WiFi/Gas/Water Included
* ADT Security Included
* 1 year lease minimum, 2 years max
* No Pets
* Family Friendly”

The owner writes:

“My husband and I bought our place just about a year ago, but now have an opportunity to live in Shanghai, China for the next two years and are looking to rent our place out. We have it posted on Craigslist, at $3,000 furnished, but would love to hear if your readers think that is a reasonable price. Also would love to know if you or your readers have any tips on getting it onto the World Bank listserve, or have other similar ideas.”

What do you guys think – does this 2 bed/3 bath converted condo sound like a reasonable deal for $3000 per month. Anyone know how to get listed on the World Bank or other helpful listserves?

Dear PoP – What is the building at 1436 Irving St, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I walk by this building on Irving Street everyday — what is it? All it says on the front is 1436.”

This is a shelter for men run by the Coalition for the Homeless:

“The Coalition operates one low-barrier overnight shelter for homeless men at La Casa Multi-Cultural Center. The shelter operates from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. daily and provides food and overnight shelter to 90 men. Low-barrier shelter is typically the entry point for many homeless men in the District of Columbia’s homeless continuum of care.”

Renovation Starts in Earnest at 3418 11th St, NW Next to Columbia Heights Coffee

By Prince Of Petworth

Back in July we learned that Barrio would no longer be coming to this spot. However, I spoke with some workers who said they think the space is still going to become a restaurant. Some folks I chatted with think it is going to become ‘Local 11’ from the owners of Local 16 (and also the folks behind the abandoned Barrio idea). I’ve sent some emails out but have not heard back yet. At the moment I’m not sure who is behind this project. Nevertheless, I think the important thing to note is that work has finally begun in earnest. There have been far too many teases with this spot. I’ll be sure to update when more info becomes available about the space.

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