Columbia Heights

Good Deal or Not? Dig The Triangle Window Edition

By Prince Of Petworth

This condo is located at 3321 Holmead Place, NW:


View Larger Map

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.

Second Hand Scuttlebutt

By Prince Of Petworth

The last second hand scuttlebutt we heard about the space next to Columbia Heights Coffee speculated that a vintage furniture store was on the way. A reader sends in some different speculation:

“I hear that the vacant space next to CH coffee will be a restaurant, three guys partnering up, a small, neighborhood tapas sort of place. Build out may start as early as this summer.”

I am a huge tapas fan so I’d be psyched if this was the case. You?

Good Deal or Not? It Doesn’t Take a King’s Ransom Edition

By Prince Of Petworth

This condo building is located at 1321 Fairmont Street, NW:


View Larger Map

The flier says:

“Cute, well maintained recently renovated building/unit 1BR/1BA. Granite, stainless, hardwood floors, Perfect for 1st time buyer. Low fee. Close to Columbia Heights Metro and all shopping.”

More info and photos found here.

It’s been a while since we’ve seen a price that is isn’t jaw dropping. This condo is one the first floor and is asking $219,000. Also in a quick search there is also a basement unit going for $229,000. But let’s consider the featured one on the first floor for $219,000 – sound reasonable?

Dear PoP – Trees Ripped Out of Park Triangle

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

Ran by there this morning. Digging machine was tearing out the trees.

With groups like Casey Trees advocating us to plant more, I’m sure these could’ve been relocated instead of destroyed.”

And in other news, remember the house collapse on Quincy of New Hampshire Ave back in Feb. 08? Well, I saw some workmen finally getting to work on the place:

View More Stories