Park View

CM Jim Graham Responds to Hate Crimes at IHOP Shooting and Assault on Georgia Ave

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Faucetini

Last Sunday’s shooting at IHOP in Columbia Heights and Monday night assault at Georgia and Irving St, NW have both been classified hate crimes targeting gay men.

CM Graham writes:

MPD now has more completed information on these crimes than was apparently initially available. I had inquired on Sunday, hours after the shooting, and I received a report different than what is available today. It is now clear that both are hate crimes, in fact, that targeted gay men.

Such crimes clearly will not be tolerated. And we are all agreed on that.

As to the shooting inside IHOP at 6:30 AM, the video camera footage has been obtained, and police are confident of a closure on this. During the meal time, there were homophobic slurs aimed at persons at another table. But what led to the shooting/fight, according to MPD, was an interaction at the cash register when the persons from each of the tables were paying their bills. Fortunately, an off duty MPD detective was eating at IHOP at this time and he intervened immediately.

As to the serious assault on George Avenue, that has now been classed as a hate crime based on the homophobic slurs that were made preceding the assault and robbery.

Other than the deplorable fact that in both cases the victims were gay men, there appears to be no connection between them.

I am prepared to work with all the victims, and other stakeholders, to see that justice is done here.

Dear PoPville – Assault, Robbery and Hate Crime Monday Night

By Prince Of Petworth


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Dear PoPville,

A Hate Crime Robbery, Force & Violence that occurred Monday evening in Columbia Heights / Park View. There are no suspects, and no witnesses have come forward.

My partner was assaulted twice in succession at 9:15 PM Monday, on Georgia Ave near Irving Street. The first assailants used homophobic language and violently assaulted and robbed him, dragged him down the sidewalk, and shattered his jaw in two places. Immediately afterward, another person or persons took advantage of the situation and robbed him further.

He is currently in ICU at a local hospital.

If anyone has any information regarding the assaults and/or his stolen iPad, iPhone, ID, and credit/debit cards, they should contact the police.

Floridano Food Truck Opening Brick and Mortar Spot in former Brown’s Caribbean Bakery at 3301 Georgia Ave, NW

By Prince Of Petworth


Floridano Food Truck at 3301 Georgia Ave, NW

Washington Post shares the good news:

…Boillon has his reasons for signing a 10-year lease for the former Brown’s Caribbean Bakery at 3301 Georgia Ave. NW, and they start in the kitchen. The space is crammed with all manner of tantalizing equipment: pizza ovens, rotating decks ovens, industrial dough mixers, dough sheeters, dough shapers, a walk-in and much more.

He’s envisioning small plates, long braises, gourmet pizzas, Jamaican patties and other dishes.

The chef has plenty of work to do before he opens (he hopes) in mid-May.

Awesome. We’ll def. revisit as they get closer to opening. Great news for Georgia Ave!

We first learned about El Floridano food truck back in April 2010.

Ed. Note: I believe Brown’s Caribbean Bakery opened a new location further north on Georgia Ave maybe in the 5000 block but I’ll grab a photo next time I pass it.

Wangari Gardens – New Garden Park Coming to 2.7 acre space of land by Washington Hospital

By Prince Of Petworth

Well this is freaking awesome.

From an email:

We are really excited to tell you about Wangari Gardens, a new garden park that is being established in Washington, DC, on a 2.7 acre space of land that is bursting with creative potential! With a mission inspired by the legacy that Professor Wangari Maathai left behind, we are in the brainstorming, planning, and outreach stages of things right now, trying to get as much input as possible from the community about how the space can best be used to benefit everyone. Some of the main ideas include a community garden, a playground, a fruit tree orchard, a butterfly/sensory garden, a walking/wheelchair trail, a rain garden, an outdoor classroom, and a dog park.

The most immediate plans are to begin constructing raised beds for the community garden on March 18th, with a park opening date set for April 1st. In order for this to happen, we need your help! There are endless opportunities for volunteering your time and skills, whether it be through fundraising, planning, building, planting, teaching, etc. Check out the attached flier for upcoming volunteer dates!

If you are interested in being a plot-holder in the community garden, please see the attached application.

If you would like to donate to the Wangari Gardens project, you can do so through a tax-deductible donation on Paypal, accessed through our website (this should be working in the next day or two). Your donation goes straight to the project through Groundwork Anacostia, an amazing environmental justice organization in DC who has agreed to be our fiscal agent.

We are so excited to get this project going, but understand and wish for it to be a fluid creative process, involving as many people and opinions as possible. All input is much appreciated. Feel free to use this flier to spread the word about Wangari Gardens, especially to those who live nearby the park site. We have some upcoming outreach days to make sure that all of the neighbors know what is going on, but the more people talking about it, the better.

Find out more information: www.facebook.com/wangarigardens
www.wangarigardens.wordpress.com (under construction)

Find the site!!
Wangari Gardens is located on a 2.7 acre space, bordered by Irving St. NW, Kenyon St. NW, and Park Pl. NW. It is north of Howard University, west of the Washington Hospital Center/Children’s Medical Center, south of the US Soldiers’ Home, and east of the Parkview and Pleasant Plains neighborhoods. The site is in Ward 5, but borders Ward 1.

outreach email flyer

Wangari Gardens Garden Plot-holder Application

Georgia Avenue Business Association (GABA) meeting tonight

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Edward Hoover

From an email:

The next Georgia Avenue Business Association (GABA) meeting will be on Tuesday, February 21, from 6:30 -8:30pm. A networking period will take place from 6:00 – 6:30pm.The meeting location is at the Roosevelt High School Library. Please enter the school from the Iowa Avenue and Georgia Avenue side.

The focus of this meeting:
1. Getting organized
2. Becoming a legal entity
3. Our first project

Here are the notes from our first few meetings.

Thurs. Afternoon Rental Option – Park View

By Prince Of Petworth

This rental is located at 430 Irving St, NW:

The listing says:

“Great location. Not a lot of space, but everything you need. Washer and dryer in the unit. Dishwasher. Walk-in closet. Off-street, assigned parking. Convenient to Howard, Washington Hospital Center, Children’s Hospital and VA Hospital. Section 8 applicants accepted. Please include (refundable) security deposit with application, last two pay stubs (or other proof of income) and application fee”

This studio is going for $1,000/Mo.

Coffee, Condos and Jazz Coming to the 2900 Block of Georgia Ave, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

Thanks to a reader for sending word of a “new coffee roaster/cafe” coming to 2904 Georgia Ave, NW. He writes:

“The owner was one of those typical super nice, optimistic Ethiopian guys and stressed that they would have their own coffee roaster. They have the tables and a coffee bar already set up, so it looks like they should be open any day now. I also heard that the same builder of the new nearby Condo, is now going to build a twin condo building on the same block where the auto mechanic currently is located. All this with the Jazz club across the street should make the tiny 2900 Blk of Georgia Ave quite the happening place!”

The Enterprise Theater and Jazz Lounge’s website says:

“Grand Opening. Event consists of 3 days of Music, Theater and Art. Official Kick off is Thursday February 2nd, 3rd and 4th. All events start at 4pm.”


2917 Georgia Ave. NW

MPD Report on Sat. Night/Sun. Morning’s Shots Fired and Car Crash Resulting in 2 Fatalities

By Prince Of Petworth


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From MPD:

Detectives assigned to the Metropolitan Police Department’s Major Crash Division are investigating a double fatal traffic crash that occurred in the 400 block of Taylor Street, NE at approximately 3:30 am today.

On Sunday, January 29, 2012, at approximately 2:56 am, units from the Fourth District received several calls for the sounds of gunshots in the 700 block of Otis Place, NW. While responding, a MPD cruiser was flagged down at the corner of Georgia Avenue and New Hampshire Avenue, NW, by an unidentified black male who stated that unknown suspects had just shot at him from a burgundy colored Plymouth minivan with Virginia tags.

A lookout was broadcast and another MPD unit observed a burgundy minivan speeding in the 300 block of Upshur Street, NW, passing through stop signs without stopping. A pursuit was then initiated and ended in the 400 block of Taylor Street, NE, when the suspect vehicle lost control, struck a tree, and then struck another MPD vehicle that was responding to the scene for support.

Personnel from DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded at the scene of the crash. The two officers in the vehicle that was struck sustained non-life threatening injuries and were transported to a local hospital. All three occupants of the suspect vehicle were ejected. Two of suspects, an adult male and a juvenile male died of their injuries. The third male suspect was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. The identities of the decedents are being withheld at this time, pending next of kin notification.

Evidence recovered indicates that the vehicle was involved in a shooting. MPD units returned to the scene where the male flagged them down, but have been unable to locate him.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the police at (202) 727-9099. Additionally, anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411.

Demo at Lamont and Georgia Ave, Coming Soon The Heights

By Prince Of Petworth

These are gonna make for some sweet before and after photos.

According to the Neighborhood Development Company:

“The project will consist of a sustainable, mixed-use affordable rental housing development with ground floor retail to be built at the intersection of Georgia Avenue, NW and Lamont Street, NW of Washington, DC.

The project is being jointly developed by NDC and Mi Casa Inc. It will contain 69 units with 10,000 square feet of ground floor retail. At least 50% of the units will be affordable at 60% to 80% AMI. Delivery is scheduled for the 3rd Quarter 2011.”

Not sure when the delivery is scheduled for now, but it’s def. encouraging to see demo start. Here’s a rendering of The Heights on Georgia Avenue (3232 Georgia Avenue, NW):

Update on Dulcinea Restaurant Coming to 2618 Georgia Ave, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

Last week a reader wrote in about Dulcinea’s, a new Turkish/Mexican restaurant coming to 2618 Georgia Ave, NW. A new sign has gone up revealing more details. It’s a restaurant serving Mexican and Mediterranean food. Their Website says:

Dulcinea restaurant mexican (fajita, taco, enchiladas ets) and mediterranean food (humus, babaganuj, kababs)

Dulcinea Restaurant serving authentic Mexican and Mediterranean food. We pride ourselves on providing our customers with good service, reasonable prices, and a family restaurant atmosphere.

Our cooks are experienced and knowledgeable and our bilingual wait staff is prompt and friendly. Whether you’re dining in, delivery, or are just phoning in a carry-out order, we’ll make sure that you receive the best food and the best service at the best price every time!

Stay tuned for more updates as they get closer to opening.

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