Mount Pleasant

Dear PoP – Fire at 16th & Monroe St NW

By Prince Of Petworth

Thanks to all the readers who sent the word about this incident. Following is the most specific though another reader wrote that seven fire trucks were on the scene:

“Dear PoP,

There was an apartment fire at 16th & Monroe Streets tonight at 7:30 p.m. A corner unit on the second floor looks substantially damaged.

The apartment building has a DHCD sign in front, but I believe it is a Coop. The building needs much repair and am hoping the fire is not indicating that the electrical system is going bad for the whole building. Can you tell us what a DHCD sign in front means? When was it was sold to the owners, do they have an obligation to keep up the building in good repair, can they refuse people of certain incomes/races from moving in? What does the DHCD designation mean? Does DHCD follow up with buildings like this to see if they are being maintained or kept in good order? Does Jim Graham know or care about these types of building that aren’t being maintained in the neighborhood?”

Can anyone explain the significance of a DHCD sign?

Dear PoP – Burritos Fast Closed?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I walked past Burritos Fast on Mt. Pleasant Street this morning and there was already paper on the window. Has it been sold?”

Back in August we learned that Burritos Fast was for sale 3213 Mount Pleasant St NW. They had been staying open in the interim but sadly have now closed. I’ll keep my eyes peeled to see what comes to this space. Will folks miss Burritos Fast? Tina had mixed emotions on the space back in May ’08.

Community Meetings – Neighborhood Watch Captains and General DC Cares Meeting

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user mediaslave

Block Captain Meeting RSVP by Sunday

Please spread the word about the next NWCHCA Neighborhood Watch Block Captains Training. If you’re interested in becoming a Block Captain, please come!

Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Time: 7:30 to 9 PM (please come by 7:15 to sign in, so that we can start on time)

Place: MPD 3D Substation, 750 Park Road NW (between Sherman and Georgia Ave)

Who Should Attend: People who want to become Neighborhood Watch Block Captains. Not sure? Please read the attached guide that describes Neighborhood Watch and Block Captain responsibilities. Businesses & Apartments: You can participate too.

Cost: Free! All are welcome, materials and refreshments are also free

RSVP: Please e-mail [email protected] to RSVP by Sunday, December 6.

We will have MPD support and participation!

PROGRAM:

Samantha Nolan, long-time Neighborhood Watch Director and MPD 2nd District Citizens Advisory Chair will conduct the training session

Topics:

* Starting and managing Neighborhood Watch programs
* Reporting crime: how to communicate effectively with police
* How communities can take back their neighborhoods by working effectively with police
* Tips for Block Captains and success stories

Samantha will be showing a brand new slide show of actual photographs taken in Columbia Heights. The photos will show real photographs of potential crime scenes. I’m sure that it will be very interesting and educational.

Jason Berry, a Columbia Heights community leader, will present a practical guide to being a Block Captain. Jason has years of experience in community organizing and will help us with the difficult work of outreach.

With the holidays coming, people are going to be busier and busier–please approach your neighbors who you know would make great Block Captains and ask that they put our training on their calendar now.

Greater DC Cares Meeting Wed.

Greater DC Cares encourages Columbia Heights, Mount Pleasant, U Street, and Petworth residents to attend a neighborhood meeting on December 2nd from 6:30-8:00pm at the Parkview Recreation Center, located at 693 Otis Pl NW. We will be introducing various projects that Greater DC Cares is forming in these communities, and discussing ways to increase involvement in the programs. To sign up, register at http://communitymeetingdecember2.eventbrite.com, or email Meghan at [email protected].

Rebbie on Making Farmers Markets More Accessible (By Danny Harris)

By Prince Of Petworth

Danny Harris is a DC-based photographer, DJ, and collector of stories. In September, he launched People’s District, a blog that tells a people’s history of DC by sharing the stories and images of its residents. Every day, People’s District presents a different Washingtonian sharing his or her insights on everything from Go Go music to homelessness to fashion to politics. You can read his previous columns here.

“Food stamps used to be physical stamps that people would use in supermarkets or farmers markets. A number of years ago, the government switched to an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) swipe card. While it seemed like a great idea, it largely removed farmers markets as an option for lower income people because the farmers markets did not have access to wireless terminals. In places like California, the government went out and bought wireless terminals for every single farmers market. That didn’t happen in DC. Because of that, a whole generation of food stamp recipients here doesn’t know that they can access farmers markets. When I took over the Mt. Pleasant Farmers Market two years ago and heard that we didn’t have that capability, I just went out and bought one out of pocket. Four other area markets got a grant from the city for wireless devices. Now, we have gone from zero to five markets where you can use an EBT card in the DC area. The wireless machine handles EBT, credit and debit cards and costs $1100 plus a $45 monthly charge. The hope is that the fee we charge people for debit cards usage will eventually pay off the cost of the machine. We don’t break even, but it is important that we have it.  Continues after the jump (more…)

Good Deal or Not? 1915 Classic Row House Edition

By Prince Of Petworth

This home is located at 1838 Monroe Street, NW:


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The flier says:

“Historic integrity joins tasteful updates in this 1915 classic row on quiet strt. 3BR, 1.5BA (. 5Ba on main flr), covered fr prch, inlaid prqt flrs, wd brng frpl, pkt drs, updated kit w/ granite cntrs/new gas range & d/w, brkfst rm at rear, new bath w/ dbl vanity. Reces lts, 2nd flr balc/deck, full bsmnt frnt & rear entrs, fenced rear garden. Sold “as is” but w/ HMS Warranty”

You can find more info here and a virtual tour here.

I think the folks who like old school details are gonna love this one. Like a few other recent GDoN posts this one also has some sweet floors. One of the few negatives I can see folks bringing up is the fact that it only has 1.5 bathrooms. So do you think $599,000 sounds reasonable?

House of the Day

By Prince Of Petworth

This home located on Monroe Street, NW at the corner of Brown is one of my favorites in the city. It’s been getting a facelift and looks even better now.

Apparent Murder on 16th Street, NW Last Night – NBC Reports It is Co-owner of Coppi’s on U Street

By Prince Of Petworth


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“Dear PoP,

Just wanted to let you know, there was a murder at the Woodner last night (apparently a woman was strangled), along with a murder 10 days ago in the same building.” Ed. Note: Commenters dispute any such crime occuring 10 days ago.

MPD sent out an email saying that they were investigating a “suspicious death” at the 3600 block of 16th Street on Monday night. They wrote:

“Members of the Third District were called to an apartment at 3636 16th St. NW for an unconscious person. An adult female was found dead of undetermined causes. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death.”

I hadn’t heard any more details until the above email was sent in from a reader. I’ll be sure to update as more info becomes available from MPD.

Just got this update from NBC4:

“The co-owner of a popular U Street Corridor organic restaurant was found dead Monday night.

D.C. police received a report of an unconscious person at a home in the 3600 block of 16th Street NW at about 9 p.m., police said. They found 38-year-old Nora Amaya unconscious and not breathing.”

Good Deal or Not? Yeah It’s Under Contract But Man There is Some Sweet Wood Details Edition

By Prince Of Petworth

This home is located at 1937 Park Road, NW:


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The flier says:

“Beautiful 1912 “extra-width, ” four-level, 4/5 bedroom and two bath rowhouse on the quiet side of Park Road (as it winds down into Rock Creek Park). An inviting front porch, plus warm, original wood floors, mouldings, trim, decorative fireplaces, and staircases combine perfectly with an updated stainless kitchen, two-zone HVAC, a multi-level deck, and off-street parking.”

More info found here and a virtual tour found here.

So basically I find these homes by walking around town and if they have a for sale sign in front, I take a photo. Sadly/happily, some are already under contract by the time I get to posting them. But I think a few are still worth looking at. This one in particular has some of the greatest wood details I’ve seen in a while. The floors, fireplace and trims are super fresh. There is also a pretty interesting back yard. And it’s Friday – so enjoy! Asking price was $849,000 for this 5 bed/2 bath. How much value do you think the “extra-width” adds?

Past Tense Hosting Holiday Sale Dec. 5th Still has a few Spaces Available

By Prince Of Petworth

From an email:

“On December 5, Past Tense yoga studio (3253 Mt. Pleasant Street, NW) is hosting The Gift of Fab holiday sale featuring several of our talented staff like photographer Stacey Vaeth and students like pastry chef Josh Short. We are still looking for vendors so crafty locals should contact Kelly at [email protected] for more details.”

Ed. Note: Past Tense is a PoP advertiser

Dear PoP – Urban Gardening Center Coming to Mt. Pleasant

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville Flickr pool user jamietre.

“Dear PoP,

Saw this ad on craigslist.

Urban Sustainable, a new urban gardening retail store opening soon in the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood, is looking for some part-time help.

Qualified applicants will possess the knowledge of:

Outdoor/Indoor Gardening, Hydroponics, HID Lighting, Nutrients, Composting, Reverse Osmosis, Ventilation Systems, etc.”

Always nice to hear about new retail coming to Mt. Pleasant! Has anyone else heard about this store? I assume it’ll be on Mt. Pleasant Street, yeah? I’ll post more details as they become available. I’m intrigued by the hydroponics…

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