Logan Circle

“Logan Circle ANC Balks at Aiding Church Avoid $1 Million Tax Bill”

By Prince Of Petworth

The following was written by PoPville contributor David McAuley, founder of Short Articles about Long Meetings.


Photo via Google Street View

If New Bethany Baptist Church (1300 10th Street NW) cannot regain its lost real property tax exemption, it will owe the DC government more than $1 million in taxes. So, the leaders of the church, along with their attorneys, appeared before a committee of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 2F/Logan Circle last night (January 24) to ask the ANC’s support a new real property tax exemption for the church, which has been operating on that location for 84 years.

ANC2F’s Community Development Committee was not inclined to support the request. Members of the committee and the public recalled years of strained relations between the church and the community under the church’s former leadership. The church’s new leader asked the committee to look ahead.

“This is a new day. We want to correct as much as we can,” said Reverend Jesse J. Jackson.

In addition to the church’s main building (which is still exempt from property taxes), the church owns a few lots nearby on 10th and 11th Streets, including one next to the church at the northeast corner of 11th and N Streets. (more…)

“Half a block from the White House”!!!

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

Last week, a horrific crime was committed when two Ken’s and their boat were snatched from their perch in The Barbie Pond. While not returned, there has now been a “Ken sighting” (see below). I request, however, for the safety of all involved – including the Ken’s – do NOT try to get them back. Just wanted to provide this update for the two or three concerned citizens. 😀😀😀”

Flipped Car in Logan Circle

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Rachel

Thanks to all who messaged. Chris reports:

“It appears that the vehicle entered the Circle from P Street, but instead of merging right, kept going straight up the Circle’s walkway, hit the fence and rolled over.”


Photo by Chris

Nathan reports: (more…)

Sold in 54 Days, The “BANISHMENT HOUSE”

By Prince Of Petworth

Good Deal or Not Revisited (GDoN-R) is a weekly post that reviews the settled sales data of a recent individual real estate transaction in the District of Columbia. Each post is intended as a case study and a snapshot of the real estate market at a particular moment in time. GDoN-R generally posts on Friday in the late morning.

GDoN-R has been written exclusively for PoPville since 2009 by Suzanne Des Marais. Suzanne is a practicing Realtor with Compass. 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 MRIS (Metropolitan Regional Information Systems), which is the local multiple listing system and/or Smartcharts by Showingtime. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Featured Property: 1636 13th St NW
Legal Subdivision: Old City #2
Advertised Subdivision per Listing: Logan Circle
Bedrooms: 2 Baths: 2 Parking: Street Ownership: Fee Simple
House Square Footage per Listing: 1300
Original List Price: $999,000. List Price at Contract: $945,000.
List Date: 9/28/2017 Days on Market: 54
Settled Sales Price: $935,000.
Seller Subsidy: $0.
Settlement Date: 1/5/2018
Transaction type: Standard
Original GDoN post can be seen: here.
The original listing can be seen here: here.

This Logan Circle townhome makes efficient use of a very small (360 square feet per tax record) lot. The very vertical fee simple house has a bedroom each on the main and top levels, and the kitchen is below grade, where it likely was when originally built. We used to see a lot more of these around, but the kitchens often get moved up to make room for rental units. The lower level kitchen is/was sometimes seen in homes based on shallow lots.

In poking around through the old MRIS listings for this property, I came across a very intriguing comment in the agent remarks from when it was on the market in 2000. Paul Sliwka, still very active in DC real estate and now the Broker for Central Properties on V St, wrote “SPECTACULAR, FRESH, CONTEMPORARY RENOVATION OF “BANISHMENT HOUSE”(SEE FARM REMARKS)”. (more…)

Enticing Coming Soon Signage for Players Club coming to Logan Circle

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Graham

Thanks to Graham for sending the coming soon signage for Players Club coming to 14th and Rhode Island Ave, NW in Logan. As a result we got a few more details from one of the owners, Ian Hilton (yes that Ian Hilton) and thanks to Steph for asking the questions about the plans. So according to Ian we can expect Players Club to feature:

“6 pinball machines. Also skee ball, b-ball, bubble hockey and like 20 old school video games including my personal favorite, Gauntlet.”

STAY TUNED.


1400 14th Street, NW (RIP Hit Item)

So What’s The Story with Blue Bottle Coffee and Sweetgreen on P Street in Logan Circle?

By Prince Of Petworth


1461 P Street, NW

After yesterday’s huge Union Station news about Blue Bottle Coffee (and others) coming, I received a number of emails asking about the status of Blue Bottle coming to Logan Circle:

“Dear PoPville,

you had mentioned in a post that the Blue Bottle Coffee in Logan was going in the old Lululemon store front in the Metropole building at 15/P NW. This has changed as Sweetgreen is moving there! They have the windows covered up and says that they are expanding into a bigger space. Maybe Blue Bottle is going where the old Sweetgreen is now?”


1471 P Street, NW

My sources deep in the trenches echo the theory above – Sweetgreen will be moving next door into the old Lululemon space while Blue Bottle will eventually come to the current Sweetgreen space. Anyone else hear that? STAY TUNED.

Yesterday’s Big Balcony Fire in Logan Circle caused by “improperly discarded smoking materials.”

By Prince Of Petworth


1400 block of Rhode Island Ave, NW around 5pm Tuesday. Photo by Joe Flood.

DCFD reported:

“Cause of today’s fire in the 1400 block of R.I. Ave NW was improperly discarded smoking materials. Fortunately we confined the flames to the balcony. #DCsBravest urge you to use caution with any smoking materials, and NEVER smoke in bed.”

Fire Burns Bodega in Logan Circle Saturday Night, Row House in Park View and Boats at James Creek Marina Sunday Night

By Prince Of Petworth


12th and N St, NW photo by Nicole

Thanks to David and Nicole for sending about 12th and N St, NW.


Photo by David 1am Saturday

3600 block Park Place, NW DCFD reported “We have requested @RedCrossNCR to Park Place NW Fire for 4 adults & 1 child displaced. Cause of fire remains under investigation.”:

And James Creek Marina Sunday night:

“Logan Circle ANC Trades a Unit of Affordable Housing for $25K+ Package of Benefits”

By Prince Of Petworth

The following was written by PoPville contributor David McAuley, founder of Short Articles about Long Meetings.

At its regularly-schedule monthly meeting January 3, Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 2F/Logan Circle voted to support releasing a developer from a legal obligation to add a single studio apartment at the Logan Station Conominiums (1210 R Street NW) to the city’s affordable housing pool.

In compensation, the developer agreed to add a one-bedroom apartment at 721 Kennedy Street NW (more than three miles away) to the city’s affordable housing pool. In addition, the developer will provide the following to the Logan Circle area: (more…)

Today’s Rental is at the “Corner of 14th and Everything”

By Prince Of Petworth

This rental is located at 14th and S Street, NW. The Craigslist ad says:

“$1999 / 1br – 790ft2 – Very Large 1BR/Den 14th and S NW !!

New Listing. Rarely available unit at the “Corner of 14th and Everything”.

New kitchen in big second floor apartment. in the middle of everything at 14th and S Streets NW. Next to Ted’s Bulletin and 1blocks from Trader Joes. Whatever you want is steps away. DCs best location! (more…)

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