Last week a reader inquired about this building located at 17th and Kenyon St, NW. Lots of interesting info about it here.
But just wanted to add a quick update I received from CM Graham’s office. The National Housing Trust/Enterprise acquired the building on behalf of the Martinez family and construction will begin this month. They hope to finish by summer 2011 with “32 units of green, affordable rental housing”.
“Dear PoP,
I live in Mt. Pleasant on Kenyon and every day walk past this decaying building at 17th and Kenyon (the SE corner). I wonder if you or your readers know anything about it…?”
Sounds like this could be a potential horse’s ass award nominee but the story is a sad one. Turns out the Washington Post wrote an article on the building back in April ’08.
Seventy-three-year-old Eva Martinez and her two 30-something daughters have a contract to buy their apartment building in Northwest Washington. All they need is $3.4 million, and they need it by July 31 [2008].
Theirs is an unusual tale of tenant tenacity. For years, they fought illegal rent increases and landlords who let their four-story apartment building deteriorate into a hulk of crumbling bricks, loose windows, leaky ceilings, broken furnaces and rats.
And after every other tenant had left the St. Dennis, at 1636 Kenyon St. NW, the three women spent 2 1/2 years living there alone, the last holdouts amid boarded-up windows, unlit corridors, broken doors and gang graffiti.
You can read the full article here.
Perhaps there will be a happy ending after all. In an email inquiry, Council Member Jim Graham writes,
“Its funded, owned by tenants and moving forward to rehab. Bests Jim”
This home is located at 1483 Newton St, NW:
The flier says:
“Vacant. AS Is, Rehab. Bring your investors. 3bed up with one bath. Main level entrance hall, to livingroom, dinning room and kitchen. Small room in front could be office or study. all hardwood floors throught. Small fenced in back yard. Front and back entrance to basement with half bath unfinished. Unfinished basement waiting for a nice English Basement potential. Between16 & 14th st, near Columbia metro.”
You can find more info here and photos here.
I’ve had some requests to show some fixer uppers and when I saw this one I thought it was perfect. What do you think of the potential? How much will it cost to fix up? Does $375,000 sound reasonable given the work that is needed?
Photo by PoPville flickr user ewilfong
“Dear PoP,
Friday night around 2 am there was a woman walking home alone and intoxicated who was assaulted by 2 dudes in the alley off 18th street in Mt Pleasant. She luckily was only scuffed up and fortunately she’ll physically recover, but the incident rattled the woman and the neighbors. I think there are a couple important learning points we need to take away from what happened Friday night (and what happens too often in our city). Obviously, we’re not going to stop crime but there are important measures one can take to reduce the odds of becoming a victim. If you’re going to get lit (and I enjoying having drinks as much as anyone) then be smart about how you get home. For the past four years I’ve worked in one of the busiest ER’s in town and have been keeping a mental tally of the demographics behind assault victims that I treat. Where were they? Who were they with? Intoxicated? All too often, these people have been walking home alone, deep into the night, and are intoxicated. It’s not rocket science. Don’t make yourself an easy target. Take a cab, get a ride from a friend, or walk home with a friend (I rarely see an assault when people are walking in groups), especially if you’ve been drinking.”
I know I’ve certainly made the mistake of walking home when I should’ve taken a cab. As the original poster says this is not a case of blaming the victim but sadly, walking home alone after a night drinking can be like a form of Russian roulette. This is probably the best advice that was ever given to me years ago. When in doubt, don’t hesitate, and always take a cab home late at night especially if you have been drinking. The advice can be easy to shrug off but it’ll be the smartest money you ever spent if you consistently heed the advice. And remember this advice applies to all DC neighborhoods!
This condo is located at 1651 Lamont St, NW:
The flier says:
“MOVE IN READY!Lots of Bang for your Bucks. .. HdWd Flrs, Wd Burn FP, Built-in Shelves/Cabs, Sep Dining Area, Granite/SS Kit, Lge Mstr BR, W/ D, C/AC, Recessed Lts, Ceiling Fans, GARAGE PKG & Bike Storage. LOW Condo FEE, Pet Friendly, FHA APPROVED. 4 Blks to Columbia Hts Metro; Walk/Bike to Ad Morg/U St/RCPk. Buses (Metro Cntr, Dupont, Farragut), Farmers Mkt & Mt P Shops at Corner!”
You can find more info here and photos here.
This 2 bed/1 bath is going for $409,000 ($226.98 monthly fee) sound reasonable?
“Dear PoP,
Anybody know what’s up?
When I asked at the raven they told me they were being” bedazzeled”.
Back in July ’09 there were some upgrades on the inside. I also noticed some work going on outside. I just assumed that it was getting a little spit and polish. But it does look like the wood border might indicate something more intricate. Anyone know the scoop? I’ll be sure to update with new photos when the fascade renovation is completed.
Back in July the owner of Haydee’s had the tree cut down after an apparent miscommunication of whether or not it was actually legal to do so. Thanks to a reader for sending in the shot above of the newly planted tree in front of Haydee’s at 3102 Mount Pleasant Street NW.
Always happy to hear about more sports bar options. Stay tuned for more announcements in the Petworth/Park View/ Columbia Heights/Mt. Pleasant areas in the coming weeks and months. Tonic is located at 3155 Mt. Pleasant St, NW. From a press release:
“Tonic, situated on historic Mt. Pleasant Street, just a stone’s throw away from bustling Columbia Heights, has reinvented it’s upstairs dining room with a fun sports bar twist. From the comfy signature high-top wooden booths to the seven flat-screen televisions, watching the game has never been so easy.”
A few more photos after the jump. (more…)
photograph of the 5th floor hallway where the fire broke out
From a reader:
“FUNDRAISER FOR FIRE VICTIMS
Haydee’s Restaurant is holding a fundraiser in support of Byron Paredes, Katherine Alvarez, and their four-year-old daughter, who suffered extensive third-degree burns in a fire in their Mount Pleasant apartment building on September 29. They face months of hospitalization and painful recoveries, and they lost everything they owned.
Haydee’s Restaurant will donate a portion of all sales to the family, and donations will also be accepted from the public.
Haydee’s Restaurant, 3102 Mt Pleasant Street NW (two blocks west of Columbia Heights Metro station)
Thursday, October 21, from 4 pm til closing
**To donate by credit or debit card, go to Byron’s employer’s website, www.tonicrestaurant.com, and click on “Help Byron”**”
If intangible arts is reading this I hope he is sitting down. He is the only one I know who was as mesmerized by these pigs as I am. They are located at 1864 Monroe St, NW.
As I was making my regular rounds in Mt. Pleasant I was stopped dead in my tracks when I noticed the for sale sign was under contract. (Listing price was $835,000, for the curious you can see lot of photos of the interior here.)
So the only question I have is – will the new owners keep these beloved pigs? Or will they go the way of the knights…?
