Columbia Heights

Dear PoP – Laptop stolen from Tynan’s Coffee & Tea in Columbia Heights

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

“Dear PoP,

I was working from the table in the window by the door at Tynan’s Cafe at the CH metro Thursday around 7pm. I stood up and turned my back on my computer while talking to a friend who had arrived to say hello, still within close proximity of the computer. A teenager (who had apparently been casing the place with his friends earlier) stepped inside, made eye contact with my friend and smiled, grabbed the computer, and sprinted off into the metro. He disappeared. No one stopped him, despite being a running young kid carrying a computer with my friend yelling after him.

Please let people know to avoid sitting by the door in cafes with their computers.”

Sorry to hear this. Definitely keep a close eye on your computers when at a cafe.

Good Deal or Not? “utilitarian but underneath is tons of character and charm” edition

By Prince Of Petworth

This home is located at 1646 Park Road, NW:


View Larger Map

The flier says:

“Owned by the Missionaries of Charity and very well cared for. House has been made very sparse and utilitarian but underneath is tons of character and charm. Large rooms filled with lots of light. Has 2 parking spaces in back with electric gate. Walking distance to Metro & Columbia Heights shopping corridor. On Sentri-lock, vacant, go anytime. Sold As-Is.”

You can find more info here and photos here.

Thanks to a reader for sending this one in. Back in July a reader had noticed that the shrine had been removed out front. Now we know why. Does $649,000 sound reasonable for this 4 bed/2.5 bath house?

Dear PoP – Help a new bakery come to Columbia Heights

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I’d love to get your readers’ thoughts on a business my family is trying to open. It’s a French coffee shop and bakery, with authentic French pastries and several varieties of bread– including real baguettes!– baked on site. We’re thinking wi-fi, comfy chairs and good coffee. It’s the sort of Mom and Pop operation where the proprietors will get to know their regulars, and take special orders, and keep little treats on hand for your kids.

We’ve found what seems to be an ideal spot, in DC USA. However, the main office of the development company has been blowing us off for months. The good folks of the Development Corporation of Columbia Heights are excited about our proposal, but have also expressed frustration with the passive resistance of the head office. It’s true, we don’t come with the backing of a nationwide chain. This is, however, a local, woman-owned business, exactly the sort of thing that the developers claimed they would be seeking out. We’ve just about given up on this property, but Jim Graham’s office has indicated some willingness to facilitate between us and the landlord; it’s too early to know if anything will come of that.

So if you think this sounds like the sort of place you might patronize, let’s hear it! Maybe some support from the community, along with our solid business plan, long small-business experience, and singleminded determination, will encourage the landlord to talk to us. We’d also love to hear suggestions for elements that would make you love a bakery/coffee shop even more.”

This sounds amazing. I’d definitely support it! I’m really frustrated reading about your experience. I can’t believe some people would rather have these store fronts sit empty than have a promising business like this. Would you guys like to see a bakery like this go into the DC USA? If so, show your support and let’s help them make it happen.

Good Deal or Not? “claw foot soaking tub and ambient heated floors” edition

By Prince Of Petworth

This home is located at 1530 Monroe St, NW:


View Larger Map

The flier says:

“Victorian Beauty in the heart of Columbia Heights! Rich period details include High ceilings, hardwood floors & exposed brick. Spacious kitchen w. breakfast bar. Master Suite w. tiled shower, claw foot soaking tub and ambient heated floors. Lower level office/4th bedroom w. rear entrance and ample storage. Fenced in backyard, double decks and 2 parking spots. Motivated Seller!”

You can find more info here and photos here.

What do you think of the house itself? Does $674,999 sound reasonable for this 4 bed/2.5 bath?

Stolen bike caught on video

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

On Thursday the 19th at 2:08 pm my bike was stolen right outside of my Apartment at 1701 Park Road NW. I got the two guys on video and was wondering if I could post the video on your site and ask your readers if any of them know the identity of the two youths. The police essentially told me they will not do anything unless I can call them and tell them that I can see the suspects and they should come get them. Give the video about 10 seconds to start and then you can see the whole thing in real time.”

If anyone thinks they know their identity please email me at princeofpetworth(at)gmail(dot)com and I’ll forward your info to the reader.

GDoN Revisited by Hipchickindc – 1321 Fairmont St NW #301

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: 1321 Fairmont St NW #301
Original List Price: $161,000.
List Price at Contract: $161,000.
List Date: 04/15/2010
Days on Market: 15

Settled Sales Price: $175,000.

Settled Price per Square Foot: $454.
Settlement Date: 07/15/2010
Seller Subsidy: $0.
Bank Owned?: No Short Sale?: Yes
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.

This multi-unit building in Columbia Heights was updated and converted to condo ownership in 2004. Unit 301 sold in January 2005 for $197,760. less a closing cost subsidy of $7948. Given that this studio unit shows in tax records as having a total living area of 385 square feet, it’s not surprising that the owner may have outgrown it within a period of five years. The property was listed for $161,000. on the 15th of April, just in time for the Federal Home Buyer Tax Credit contract deadline.

Continues after the jump. (more…)

Lost and Found: Keys and Bike

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

This bicycle has been left unclaimed at Duffy’s Irish Pub (2106 Vermont Ave. NW) locked to the bike rack in front for almost a week now. Its a beautiful bike and obviously well cared for by its owner.

It is a vintage cruiser-type bike, rust red in color, with a white wire basket in front, vintage bell and a Honolulu registration tag on the rear (22035) from 1966. It also has a sticker that states ‘mend your fuelish ways’.

Can you post this before it is declared abandoned and taken in by MPD for safekeeping (which almost gaurantees the owner will not be found)?

Duffy’s is closed until Thursday, so after Thursday they can either go directly to Duffy’s and let him know, or they can shoot me an email ([email protected]). Even if it’s after it’s taken in for safekeeping, I can help them retrieve it.”

That is a sweet bike!

And a reader lost some keys in northern Columbia Heights

“Dear PoP,

I seem to have lost a set of keys on Sunday afternoon. There’s a chance I dropped them on the way in from the grocery store. (It was the Harris Teeter, actually, and I drove home so if they did fall, it was somewhere near the car/house.) Could you see if any of your readers picked them up? There’s a car key plus four other keys on a Coach key ring.”

If anyone happened to pick up these keys please email me and I’ll put you in touch with the reader.

Mon. Afternoon Rental Option – Adams Morgan

By Prince Of Petworth

This studio is located at 2637 16th Street NW:


View Larger Map

The Craigslist ad says:

“Our only Available Studio —Oct 9th, Move In
Located in the heart of Adams Morgan
Updates that are sure To Wow

Amenties:
Laundry Room
Roof Deck
Walking distance to Columbia Hgts Metro, Restaurants, shopping and more”

I’ve always been curious about this building:

Does $1375 sound realistic for this studio?

Dear PoP – What’s Going on at 13th and Park Rd, NW?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

Howdy. With your vast intelligence and informant network, have you heard anything about the work that’s going on in the building on the SE corner of 13th and Park? It’s a big house right across from the Park Market, and looks like it’s going to be condo-fied, or maybe something commercial. Lots of below-the-radar construction going on, but no real public news about it. Just curious if you’d heard of anything…”

Yup, it’s gonna be 5 condos from Capital City Real Estate:

View More Stories