Columbia Heights

Good Deal or Not? “Row House” Versus Condo Edition?

By Prince Of Petworth

These units are located at 1451 Belmont Street, NW:


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The flier for the “Row House” Unit 113 says:

“Very spacious 2 bedroom 2.5 bath plus den 2 level unit with private outdoor space and garage parking. 2nd garage space available for $25K. 19 large windows facing south and east and a private entrance makes it feel like a townhouse but with the benefits of a full-service bldg with doorman, AMAZING roof deck, etc. Largest unit in the bldg – sq ftg from builder.”

More info and a virtual tour found here.

The flier for the condo in Unit 419 says:

“This sought after top level unit offers a private balcony, gas fireplace, giant walk-in closest, an upgrade kitchen package which includes granite counter tops, NEW Hardwood Flrs. and much more! Assigned Garage PARKING included, Visitor parking as well! Common roof deck offers breath-taking panoramic views of the city. Courtyard with communal grills. . The amenities are endless!”

More info and a virtual tour for 419 found here.

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So Unit 113 is going for $609,000. Unit 419 is going for $569,900. Which do you like better? How do the prices sound?

PoP Pontificates

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by M.V. Jantzen

Well it’s been a while. Yesterday there was a post in the great H Street, NE blog, Frozen Tropics where, I feel, the author unfairly maligns Columbia Heights. I can understand her frustration but is it really necessary to make the point of defending one neighborhood by cutting on another? I can’t accept that provincial way of thinking. The author writes:

“But, to be frank, I feel safer living here than in Columbia Heights. Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like I know too many people who have been robbed in Columbia Heights. And when I say robbed, I mean pistol whipped, punched, or hit in the head with a brick. None of these people were resisting. By contrast, I only know (personally) one guy who was ever violently attacked during a robbery in this area.”

I really don’t mean to start a neighborhood war here. I’m a big fan of H Street, NE (in fact I just filmed a PoPtrekker there, stay tuned). I think what makes Washington DC great is that it has many great diverse neighborhoods that each have much to offer. You know, “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts” and all.

Nevertheless, let me make a few points in defense of Columbia Heights. You see Columbia Heights is a huge neighborhood. And lots of people live there. So yes, there is crime. In fact I was hit in the head with a rock not too long ago. But it has in no way diminished my love for it. I mean if we’re going to use the scientific method of how many people we personally know who’ve been mugged then I’d say it’s one of the safest neighborhoods in the city. Yeah, I don’t know anyone personally who’s been mugged there. Ok, obviously I don’t think it’s the safest neighborhood in the city but just making a point.

Here at PoP we’ve often discussed that everyone has their own comfort level. I happen to feel comfortable in Columbia Heights and H Street, NE. That doesn’t mean I walk the streets at 3am with dollars sticking out of my ears and a fresh can of airplane glue. I also happen to feel comfortable on Georgia Ave. And H Street, NE reminds me a lot of Georgia Ave. (except H St. has more new restaurants). But when I was recently filming the PoPtrekker there I couldn’t help but notice how many boarded up storefronts there were. It didn’t bother me. But I can see how some people might feel uncomfortable. It is what I call gritty. Which is far different, in my mind, than unsafe. Crime is a citywide problem. It may occur on some streets more than others but it is a problem we need to battle as a city.

But like I said, I love Columbia Heights. And I love H Street, NE. No need to justify loving one by taking down the other.

Good Deal or Not? Dig The Triangle Window Edition

By Prince Of Petworth

This condo is located at 3321 Holmead Place, NW:


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The flier says:

“Beautiful, pristine, two bedroom, two luxurious bath condo. Gourmet kitchen with stainless steel appliances, exceptional closets, a beautiful slate landscaped terrace and nearby rental parking available for $ 125 per month”

More info and a virtual tour found here.

Here’s another house that I’ve always wondered about. I hadn’t realized it was split into condos. It is located very close to the Giant which has to be a perk. I like the condo and the location but it is located on the lower level, right? I’ve often wondered how they price underground/basement apartments. How much do you think this would go for on a higher level? The asking price for this unit is $425,000. Sound reasonable?

Every Now and Then I Need A Post Like This To Restore My Faith in the Beautiful Life

By Prince Of Petworth

Given the crime we’ve heard about Friday and Saturday nights, I was relieved to capture this story. Actually, I was relieved to receive a tip from a reader to check it out. Thanks! The reader writes:

“Check out the garden behind the Girls and Boy’s Club at 14th and Chapin. The garden runs along the alley separating the club and the Hillside condo building. This area was completely overgrown with weeds, and a Hillside resident, Don (a retired Marine) got permission to cut it down and plant a community garden. He’s volunteered all of his own resources and time to make it happen because he believes every block should have a community garden. For people living on that block, they can probably secure a corner of it if they help him maintain the lot.”

Don (on the left of the photo above) was a super nice guy. He started the garden about 3 weeks ago. He thought it was a shame that the lot “was all weedy when we can make something beautiful”. Ah, music to my ears. A neighbor helped him clean the lot and some other neighbors have already done some planting. Roland (on the right hand side of the photo above), also a former Marine, will help maintain the plot along with some other neighbors. Folks have already planted an herb garden, blueberries, grapes, apple trees, a sunflower bed and a vegetable garden including celery, beans, tomatoes, carrots, peppers, sweet corn and more.

I’m so glad to hear about this type of development. I think it is equally as important as the new dining and drinking options. Thank God folks like Don are willing and able to see a garden where others see a weedy lot.

More photos after the jump. (more…)

Dear PoP – Is Ellwood Thompson’s Back On?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

Shortly after the announcement that Ellwood Thompson would not be moving to DCUSA, the one sign advertising the opening was removed from the window. When I was walking home on Monday, I noticed that there were two new signs in the window (one was lying on its side, one was posted in the window, in a different location than it originally was.) It looked as if there had been people working throughout the day – lights were on, ladders were out.

This morning, on my way to work, I saw that the door to the building was open, and a construction worker was standing outside. I asked him if he was working inside the building and he confirmed that he was. I asked him if he was working on the grocery store, and if it was scheduled to move in and he said “As far as we know, it is.”

A few people have written me asking the same question. Sadly, no it is not back on at the moment. I emailed Garland McQueen, Ellwood Thompson’s general manager, and he says:

“ET still would very much like to be in the Columbia Hts community. Due to the economy we have been delayed our expansion there. There is no construction by ET occurring in the space. We continue to work w/ the developer of DCUSA and others to overcome the obstacles associated w/ this recession.”

I Think The Columbia Heights Plaza Is Gonna Be Pretty Sick

By Prince Of Petworth

I know we were lamenting the removal/destruction of the trees in the plaza at Park Road and 14th Street but it’s starting to look promising. I’m guessing the big hole is where the fountain is going to go. I can sort of visualize now. I think it’s going to be pretty dope.

Dear PoP – Policy Activity Last Night (Friday)

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I’m surprised I didn’t see a post from you yet on what happened last night. (Although I know you don’t post on weekends regularly). I was walking home around midnight and there were 12-13 cop cars around the block of 14th street between Columbia and Irving. I walked up to a group of people that actually included Councilmember Graham. A cop explained what was going on, and when I asked someone what he said, I heard that someone was shot and killed.

This morning, I checked washingtonpost.com and found additional details.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/16/AR2009051600081.html?hpid=topnews

“In Columbia Heights, a 19-year-old man was shot to death last night in the heart of the neighborhood’s developing retail and residential district, D.C. police said.

The area was brimming with people on a warm and pleasant night when the shooting occurred about 11 p.m. in the 3000 block of 14th Street NW, near the busy intersection of 14th Street and Columbia Road. The burst of as many as six shots sent people racing in all directions, some of them darting into traffic in their efforts to flee, according to witnesses.

Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) said he believed that the killing might have represented “gang retribution.”

The victim, who was not identified immediately, was hit in the head and fell in front of an apartment house doorway.”

And from Ontarioroader’s comment in Rant and/or Revels:

“Yep, a 19 y/o shot in the head and killed at 14th and columbia. There was also a gunfight in Adams morgan at kalorama and Champlain. 2 MPD officers shot and injured, but it sounds like they were able to return fire and kill the shooter.

there was also some jerk-off on a mini-bike firing off a 9mm at 12th and Decatur [maybe it was delafield] last night. MPD was out picking up casings and looking for a victim. Not sure if anyone was hit. Oh and a stolen car crashed, ejecting and killing the driver somewhere else in 4d. Good times… Good times.”

 

Next PoP Clean Up May 30th!

By Prince Of Petworth

And this one is going to be even better than the first. We will be partnering with NCHCA. We will be cleaning in Columbia Heights this month (Mt. Pleasant in June). We plan on meeting at 10am and a meet up spot will be determined. So mark your calenders for Sat. May 30th 10am! Let’s represent, yeah? It’d be great to have the PoP contingent contribute 50 volunteers. I think we can do it.

Fire at 13th and Otis Streets, NW This Morning

By Prince Of Petworth

Thanks to a reader for sending the photo. It looks like it has been pretty well contained. I’m surprised it wasn’t the vacant (red) house on the corner as that house has been boarded up for ages.

From DCFireEMS on Twitter, it was a first floor fire with no injuries and is now out.

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