I can’t believe it but it’s already been a year since The Burger Joint (BGR) opened up at 1514 Connecticut Ave, NW. Given all the new burger places coming soon, I figured it’s time for a proper judging of the ones we have. So what’s the word on BGR? You can see their menu here. Any must order burgers?
This is not to be mistaken with 1223 Conn. Ave, NW which has had a coming soon sign for a place called Dirty Martini (that was supposed to arrive in summer 2010, next to Lucky Bar). 1225 Connecticut Ave, NW is the new silver and glass building that recently went up on the corner of Connecticut and N St, NW. While the information is sparse at the moment, it it’ll be interesting to find out more about the restaurant. It’s liquor license application says simply:
“New global restaurant to seat 224. Total occupancy load is 391.”
I’m intrigued by a “global restaurant”. It also sounds like it’ll be huge. More details when they become available.
I noticed the new bike lane around 15th and R St, NW. Work was still going on north of U St, NW:
Additional they added a buffer zone by the parked cars so you are less likely to get “doored”:
I assume they’ll add some sort of directional so people know which lane to ride in. You guys like the new set up?
Here’s the old style:
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: 1731 20th St NW
Original List Price: $349,000.
List Price at Contract: $285,000.
List Date: 04/02/2010
Days on Market: 147
Settled Sales Price: $255,000.
Settlement Date: 09/27/2010
Seller Subsidy: $0.
Bank Owned?: No Short Sale? No
Type Of Financing: Since purchasing in a cooperative is not technically buying real estate, but rather buying a share in a corporation, co-op loans are an animal unto themselves. There are a small hand full of lenders who will do them. Because the financial health of the cooperative is tied together, co-ops often have their own rules regarding a minimum down payment.
Original GDoN is: here.
The Listing can be seen: here. To see the pics, after opening the listing link, click on the main pic and scroll through using the arrows.
As noted in the comments in the original Good Deal or Not (GDoN) post, this unit is in a building that is cooperatively owned. DC actually has a good number of co-op buildings all over the city. Although most were set up with that ownership structure several decades ago, both The Chastleton (at 16th and R St NW) and Capitol Hill Tower (near the new baseball stadium) are both examples of recently structured co-ops.
Living in a co-op feels a lot like living in a condo unit. (I’ve owned in both situations). With condominium ownership, each owner individually owns their unit, while co-op owners cooperatively own the building. What is effectively being purchased is a certain number of shares in a corporation and in turn the owner receives a proprietary lease to the unit. Given that purchasing a co-op is not technically a real estate transaction, one of the advantages used to be that the District did not expect transfer and recordation taxes at settlement, which meant for very low closing costs. Unfortunately, co-ops are now subject to both transfer and recordation, as in regular real estate transactions.
Continues after the jump. (more…)
Black Fox is located at 1723 Connecticut Ave, NW. Their Web site says:
“Offerings include: Classic and original cocktails, wines from luxury wineries around the world, a light Continental menu, and intimate live performances by some of the most talented musicians in the region including jazzy swing-outs, delicate piano balladry, soul, showtune stompers, piano and bass combos, and guitar solos.”
You can see their food and drink menus here. Any fans?
Photo by PoPville flickr user JRoseC
The 2010 Dupont Circle House Tour is this Sunday:
“Have you ever seen a 22-sided house? How about a swimming pool on the second floor? What’s a spite room? These are just some of the intrigues that await you on the 43rd Annual Dupont Circle House Tour, to be held on Sunday, October 17th, 2010, from 12:00noon until 5:00pm. This year’s Tour cuts a crescent swath through twelve square blocks, but you will never be far from afternoon Tea at Anderson House, 2118 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, or a nibble at the Hotel Tabard Inn, 1739 N Street, NW. Your ticket gives you entrée to both, as well as fourteen lovely homes and architecturally significant buildings.”
This home is located at 1824 R St, NW:
The flier says:
“THIS MAJESTIC, LIGHT FILLED, TRULY “ONE OF A KIND” 10,000 SQ. FT. DUPONT CIRCLE MANSION, WAS COMPLETELY RENOVATED FOR THE 21ST CENTURY IN 2006 COMBINING EVERY MODERN LUXURY WITH BEAUTIFUL HISTORIC ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES. EXQUISITE ANTIQUE FURNISHINGS/ART COLLECTION MAY BE PURCHASED WITH THE HOME. 5+ PARKING SPACES. ZONED R5: PERFECT FOR EMBASSY, FOUNDATION, GRAND HOME OR OFFICE.”
You can find more info here and photos here.
Some of these rooms are insane. What’s your favorite and/or least favorite part? And it’s a new record asking price for house porn – this 9 bed/10 bath mansion is yours for $14,950,000.
You may have heard yesterday that a ruling was made in the infamous burger fumes case pitting Rogue States vs. a neighboring law firm (Steptoe & Johnson). The Blog of Legal Times (BLT, seriously, BLT) wrote:
“As of 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, Rogue States, A Burger Company will have to cease operating to comply with a D.C. Superior Court judge’s verdict in the closely watched dispute between the restaurant and its neighbor, Steptoe & Johnson.
Judge John Mott’s ruling came after a three-day trial in which several Steptoe employees testified that fumes from the restaurant’s exhaust system were causing health problems, including watery eyes, headaches and nausea.”
This and the coming arrival of a Shake Shack nearby make this a very rough year. Rogue States is/was located at 1300 Connecticut Ave, NW. But I’m curious about the bottom line, were there many fans of the burgers?
Dalchinni is located at 1736 Connecticut Ave, NW in the former Polo India Club space. Their Web site (still being worked on) says:
“Dalchinni at Dupont Circle is an authentic Indian Restaurant serving Indian cuisine and specialty Himalayan Java Coffee. Our menu has been put together by very experience chef and we are proud to introduce a specialty Himalayan Java coffee first time in the US.”
But what I thought was the coolest was Karma Kitchen which they host every Sunday:
“Imagine a restaurant where there are no prices on the menu and where the check reads $0.00 with only this footnote: “Your meal was a gift from someone who came before you. To keep the chain of gifts alive, we invite you to pay it forward for those dine after you.”
That’s Karma Kitchen, a volunteer-driven experiment in generosity.”
You can learn more about it here.
Thanks to a reader for sending the sad news that Iron Gate Restaurant is closing at 1734 N St, NW at the end of the month. We judged Iron Gate almost exactly a year ago to mixed reviews. From what I hear the best part was the outdoor patio.
It’ll be interesting to see if a new restaurant takes over the space. I’ll be sure to update when/if that happens.
