Takoma (Takoma Park)

Biking Around Town – Two ways to get to the Takoma Park Co-Op

By Prince Of Petworth

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Biking around Town is written by Josh Nadas (@dcliterate), a daily bike commuter & avid rider who lives in Mount Pleasant. Josh previously wrote about biking to ice cream in Old Town Alexandria.

For this installment of Biking Around Town, I wanted to get some fresh fruit and veggies. I decided that it would be fun to ride to the Takoma Park Co-Op. As I was planning this ride, it struck me that there are two different ways to get there – so I rode out one way, and back another. For your convenience, I have edited the maps and described two, one-way routes that start in DC and end in Takoma Park.

The first route begins at the intersection of Park and Mount Pleasant street, NW. Head north up Mount Pleasant, and continue north on 17th street. As you descend down toward the parkway be advised that the sight lines are not great. Make a right on the parkway and continue a short ways to Arkansas avenue and make a right. You’ll continue along Arkansas until you get to 13th, where you will make a left and continue north. Be prepared, it’s a little bit hilly. Follow 13th until you reach Georgia avenue. Cross Georgia and continue on Piney Branch road. At this point you can find a bike lane, which makes the ride easier.

As you continue you’ll cross Eastern avenue on your way to Philadelphia avenue, and you will want to take advantage of a little side street that enables you to make the right onto Philadelphia more easily. Continue up Philadelphia until you get to Carroll avenue, where you will make a left. The Co-Op will be just on your left as you ride down Carroll. (more…)

Check Out a Rendering for Takoma Theatre Apartments

By Prince Of Petworth

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Rendering of 6833 4th Street, NW via DC Takoma Theatre.com

Thanks to a couple of readers for sending. From DC Takoma Theatre Proposal:

Adaptive Reuse Proposal
Takoma Theatre Apartments is a proposed adaptive reuse project that seeks to creatively convert the historic Takoma Theatre into a mixed-use building with apartment units and ground-level flex space. Working with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, this adaptive reuse proposal will retain the exterior of the historic structure and its vestibule and lobby configuration. In an attempt to retain the building’s historic association as a theatre, the exterior redesign will retain the scale and rhythm of openings and incorporate compatible material. Additionally, theatre signage and marquee will be retained and incorporated into the new design. This proposed new use as an apartment building with flex space will complement the current residential neighborhood and enhance the vitality of the community. In an effort to bring life back to this historic landmark and enhance to the vitality of the community, this project capitalizes on the historic building’s notable design, prominent location, and original mixed-use program.

You can learn more about the project here and more about the history of the Takoma Theatre here.

New Restaurant from the Black Restaurant Group, Republic, Opening in Takoma Park this Fall

By Prince Of Petworth

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Back in January we learned Jeff Black (owner of Logan Circle’s Pearl Dive and Black Jack among many others) would be opening up a new spot at 6937-6939 Laurel Ave not far from the Takoma metro in Takoma Park, MD. Thanks to a reader for sending photos of the coming soon signs for – Republic:

Coming Fall 2013

The restaurant will feature a bar, patio and raw bar in an offbeat, casual setting.

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UIPGC Completes $4.5 Million Renovation of Takoma Flats Apts in DC

By Prince Of Petworth

Takoma Flats exterior
7730 Eastern Ave. NW

From a press release:

UIP General Contracting, Inc. (UIPGC) has completed a full-scale $4.5 million renovation of Takoma Flats, located on the border of Washington, DC and Silver Spring, Maryland. The six-building garden style community consists of 71 existing units and 17 newly constructed units in previously non-leasable cellar space.

Rock Creek Property Group, LLC and Baybridge Group acquired the project formerly known as Juniper Gardens in November of 2011. They then hired UIPGC to provide plan review and value engineering services as well as perform the renovations. The scope of work, in addition to creating the 17 new units, included: replacing antiquated, inefficient central boiler systems with individual in-unit HVAC systems; installing new upgraded electrical systems; creating in-ground patios for the terrace level units; and full-scale interior renovation of all units including newly upgraded kitchens and bathrooms.

La Mano Coffee Bar Coming to Takoma Raising Money for Huge Pepco Bill

By Prince Of Petworth

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304 Carroll Street, NW

Back in Dec. 2012 we learned La Mano Coffee Bar was coming to Takoma. A reader sends word that they’ve started an indiegogo fundraising campaign:

Having already raised the vast majority of capital needed to open, we are seeking $15,000 to help ensure a timely opening and smooth transition into full operational status. We want to make sure we are fully powered, well-staffed and ready for the enthusiastic crowds from day one. Your funds will help us open our doors by:

Covering costs to connect to the electrical service from the public domain outside our front door into our meter inside. We, the small business owners, are responsible for paying Pepco to “flip the switch”. The price to do that is set at their discretion and their time frame. We do not receive any reimbursements, credits, or breaks for paying for this neighborhood improvement, from either our landlord, the city, or Pepco itself. We owe them over $10,000 within 30 days or we will lose permit approval of our request and have to start over from the beginning of the permit process again.

Covering payroll for the hiring and training of our employees. We expect to create eight to ten new jobs in Ward 4 of Washington, D.C.

You can make a contribution and see the rewards here.

Proposed New “255-unit, five-story residential structure” for Takoma Metro Site

By Prince Of Petworth


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From the TakomaDC Listserv:

We are elected officials representing the area that includes and surrounds the Takoma Metro station. As officials, we reached out to WMATA (Metro) to understand the agency’s intentions regarding development at the station. WMATA executives briefed us last Friday, May 31. We very much appreciate the executives’ willingness to meet, and we feel community members also deserve to know about WMATA’s plans.

PROPOSED NEW BUILDING @ TAKOMA METRO

WMATA is working with development partner EYA toward creating a 255-unit, five-story residential structure at the Takoma Metro site. The five stories include ground-level parking for transit users and a level of parking for residents with three stories of one- and two-bedroom apartments above the parking. There would be a step-back of the upper levels on the Eastern Avenue side to three stories.

The structure would replace the current paved parking area. The current set of bus bays would be preserved in place, with the addition of one bus bay and three bus layover spaces carved from the current park. WMATA would claim the right to place an additional bus loop or other transit functions in the park in the future. WMATA would also construct a bicycle-parking structure, for transit users, on the station grounds.

The revised design is at least a partial victory for community members, who had pointed out that EYA’s previous design, over 80 townhouses with two-car garages and new surface streets to support them, was the antithesis of transit-oriented design.

But 255 residences are more than twice the 65-95 units called for in the District of Columbia’s Small Area Plan for the site. And this would be the largest project by far in the area around the station. The planned 255 units, supported by nearly 200 residential parking spaces, would have a significant Takoma-area impact that must be thoroughly analyzed.

Continues after the jump. (more…)

Randomly Awesome – French Open Watch Party at Takoma Station Tonight

By Prince Of Petworth


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From Council Member Bower’s Office:

We just found out today that the District Department of Parks and Recreation and the Citi Open Tennis Tournament are co-hosting a French Open Watch Party this evening at Takoma Station located at 6914 4th St NW. There will be complimentary food buffet (until 7pm), drink specials all night and prizes will be raffled off as well. So, if you are a tennis fan or want to check out a Ward 4 gem, do stop by and enjoy!!

Busboys & Poets Applies for Liquor License in Takoma, Will have 112 Seat Summer Garden

By Prince Of Petworth

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235 Carroll Street, NW

Back in Feb. 2012 scuttlebutt was confirmed that a new Busboys & Poets would be coming to the Takoma Central project in Takoma DC. The building is slowly starting to rise and Busboys has recently applied for a liquor license:

“American Bistro with full entrée menu serving breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner with a seating capacity of 216. Total occupancy load of 237. Background music and live entertainment will be provided to include, but not limited to, poetry readings, occasional showing of films, and a pianist. Summer garden with 112 seats.”

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Officer Involved Shooting: 700 Block of Tewkesbury Place, NW

By Prince Of Petworth


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From MPD:

On Wednesday, April 3, 2013, at approximately 9:10 pm, members of the Fourth District Vice unit received information that there was a man armed with a gun in the 700 block of Tewkesbury Place, NW. Upon arrival, officers attempted to stop an individual who ran and pointed a gun at an officer. That officer discharged their weapon but did not strike the suspect. The suspect was apprehended and a gun was recovered on the scene. There were no injuries to the officers or the suspect.

Dolci Gelati Café Coming to Takoma Park this Spring and to Shaw next Spring

By Prince Of Petworth

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7000 Carroll Ave

From a press release:

More than six years after Dolci Gelati first came to DC, Chef Gianluigi Dellaccio and his business partner/wife Anastasia have announced that they will open Dolci Gelati Café, their first storefront, in Takoma Park this spring—a second location will follow next year in the Shaw neighborhood, at the City Market at O. Dolci Gelati can currently be found at Nationals’ Stadium and the National Zoo as well as in restaurants and markets throughout the Washington Metro area such as Whole Foods and Taylor Gourmet.

The first planned location will open its doors in Takoma Park early this spring and is being opened in tandem with fellow Italian and local entrepreneur Marcello Mina. This first shop, just 10 minutes from the Dolci Gelato laboratorio “kitchen”, will be on 7000 Carroll ave., in the heart of the trendy neighborhood.

Dolci Gelati Café will open their second location next spring at the City Market at O development on 8th street between O and P Street. The complex will be erected in Shaw and will also include a renovated state of the art Giant as well as a hotel, apartment complex and other retail and restaurants.

Chef Gianluigi currently has created more than 300 varieties of homemade gelato, and will bring his crowd-pleasing favorites such as salted caramel, white chocolate raspberry and bacio to the store daily. The Chef will also experiment with fresh, new flavors including creating a health-conscious line with tantalizing treats like Green Tea, Pomegranate Powerberry and a Super Citrus Antioxidant sorbet. Dolci Gelati Café will also feature a Social Good flavor, from which the profits will go to a variety of great causes.

“For years my creations have been bound by what the markets would order. I have so many new ideas that I want to try both in gelato and pastry and now I have my own place to do so,” said Chef Gianluigi. “I can’t wait to connect with our customers on a new level and offer new varieties that they have only imagined, while staying true to my family’s recipe that I learned growing up in Italy.”

Before creating Dolci Gelati, Chef Gianluigi was a Pastry Chef at Galileo, as well as an Italian Water Polo Champion. The Chef plans to incorporate his background as a pastry chef to develop many new items. The menu will include “cupcake cones”- ice cream cones filled with cupcake and chocolate ganache center, gelato sundaes, pastry and several varieties of praline nuts and artisan kettle corn (chocolate covered, cotton candy, bacon, and parmesan).

Dolci Gelati was started in 2005 by Former Italian champion water polo player turned pastry chef Gianluigi Dellaccio. Dolci Gelati offers many great varieties of gelato with a consistent level of quality that can only be achieved with artisan precision. The process starts every morning with deliveries from local dairy farms and other handpicked fruits, fine chocolates and other fresh ingredients. Gelato offers the same great taste as ice cream with 1/3 the fat and none of the artificial ingredients. Gianluigi uses a 100% authentic Italian recipe and local fresh ingredients to bring you a little bit of Italy across the Atlantic.

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City Market at O

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